Lov. O, that your lordship were but now confeffor To one or two of thefe ! Sands. I would I were; They fhould find eafy penance. Lov. 'Faith, how eafy? Sands. As eafy as a down-bed would afford it. Cham. Sweet ladies, will it please you fit ?-Sir Harry, Place you that fide, I'll take the charge of this: His grace is ent'ring.-Nay, you must not freeze; Two women, plac'd together, make cold weather :My lord Sands, you are one will keep 'em waking; Pray, fit between thefe ladies. Sands. By my faith, And thank your lordship.-By your leave, sweet ladies; If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me ; Anne. Was he mad, Sir? [Sits. Sands. O, very mad, exceeding mad, in love too : But he would bite none; juft as I do now, He'd kifs you twenty with a breath. Cham. Well faid, my lord. [Kiffes her. So, now you are fairly feated :-Gentlemen, The penance lies on you, if these fair ladies Sands. For my little cure, Let me alone. Hautboys. Enter Cardinal WOLSEY, and takes his flate. Wol. You are welcome, my fair guefts: That noble lady, Or gentleman, that is not freely merry, Is not my friend: This, to confirm my welcome ; And to you all, good health. Sands. Your grace is noble : [Drinks. Let me have fuch a bowl may hold my thanks, Wol. My lord Sands, I am beholden to you: cheer your neighbours. Sands. The red wine first must rife In their fair cheeks, my lord; then we shall have 'em Talk us to filence. Anne. You are a merry gamefter, My lord Sands. Sands. Yes, if I make my play. Here's to your ladyship, and pledge it, madam, Anne. You cannot fhew me. Sands. I told your grace, they would talk anon. [Drum and Trumpets, Chambers discharg'd.(1) Wol. What's that? Cham. Look out there, fome of you. [Exit Servant. And to what end is this?—Nay, ladies, fear not; Re-enter Servant. Cham. How now? what is't? Serv. A noble troop of strangers; For fo they seem: they have left their barge, and landed ; And hither make, as great ambaffadors From foreign princes. Wol. Good lord chamberlain, Go, give 'em welcome, you can speak the French tongue; Hautboys. Enter King, and others, as Mafkers, habited like Shepherds, ushered by the Lord Chamberlain. They pass directly before the Cardinal, and gracefully falute bim. A noble company! What are their pleasures? Cham. Because they speak no English, thus they pray'd To tell your grace :-That, having heard by fame Of this fo noble and fo fair affembly This night to meet here, they could do no lefs, (1) Chambers are very fmall guns, ufed only on occafions of rejoicing. They are fo contrived as to carry great charges, and thereby to make a noifé more than proportioned to their fize. Some of them are still fired in the Park, and at the places oppofite to the parliament-houfe, when the king goes thither. Camden enumerates them among other guns, as fol lows,cannons, demi-cannons, chambers, arquebufe, mufquet,' STEEV, VOL. VI. с Out of the great refpect they bear to beauty, But leave their flocks; and under your fair conduct, Crave leave to view thefe ladies, and entreat An hour of revels with them. Wol. Say, lord chamberlain, They have done my poor houfe grace, for which I pay 'em A thousand thanks, and pray 'em take their pleasures. [Choofe Ladies. King and ANNE BULLEN. King. The faireft hand I ever touch'd! O, beauty! Till now I never knew thee. [Mufic. Dance. Wol. My lord, Cham. Your grace? Wol. [To Cham. afide.] Pray, tell 'em thus much from me: There fhould be one amongst 'em, by his perfon, Cham. I will, my lord. [Chamberlain goes to the Company, and returns. Wol. What fay they? Cham. Such a one, they all confefs, There is, indeed; which they would have your grace Find out, and he will take it.(2) Wol. Let me fee then. By all your good leaves, gentlemen :-Here I'll make King. You have found him, cardinal: You hold a fair affembly; you do well, lord: Wol. I am glad, Your grace is grown fo pleasant. King. My lord chamberlain, Pr'ythee, come hither: What fair lady's that? Cham. An't please your grace, Sir Thomas Bullen's daughter, The viscount Rochford, one of her highness' women. King. By heaven, fhe's a dainty one.-Sweet heart, I were unmannerly to take you out, [To ANNE BULLEN. And not to kifs you.-A health, gentlemen ; Let it go round. (2) That is, take the chief place. JOHNS. Wol. Sir Thomas Lovel, is the banquet ready I' the privy chamber? Wol. Your grace, I fear, with dancing is a little heated. Wol. There's fresher air, my lord, In the next chamber. King. Lead in your ladies, every one.-Sweet partner, I must not yet forfake you :-Let's be merry ;— Good my lord cardinal, I have half a dozen healths To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure To lead them once again; and then, let's dream Who's beft in favour.-Let the mufic knock it. [Exeunt, with Trumpets. ACT II. SCENE I. A Street. Enter two Gentlemen at several Doors. I Gentleman. WHITHER away fo faft? 2 Gen. O, God fave you ! Even to the hall, to hear what fhall become Of the great duke of Buckingham. 1 Gen. I'll fave you That labour, fir. All's now done, but the ceremony Of bringing back the prifoner. 2 Gen. Were you there? I Gen. Yes, indeed, was I. 2 Gen. Pray, fpeak, what has happen'd? I Gen. You may guefs quickly what. 2 Gen. Is he found guilty? 1 Gen. Yes, truly, is he, and condemn'd upon it. 2 Gen. I am forry for't. I Gen. So are a number more. 2 Gen. But, pray, how pafs'd it? 1 Gen. I'll tell you in a little. The great duke Urg'd on the examinations, proofs, confeffions Hopkins, that made this mischief. 2 Gen. That was he That fed him with his prophecies ? I Gen. The fame. All these accus'd him ftrongly; which he fain Have found him guilty of high treafon. Much 2 Gen. After all this, how did he bear himself? 1 Gen. Sure, he does not; He never was fo womanish; the caufe 2 Gen. Certainly, The cardinal is the end of this. 1 Gen. 'Tis likely, By all conjectures: Firft, Kildare's attainder, Earl Surrey was fent thither, and in hafte too, Left he fhould help his father. 2 Gen. That trick of ftate Was a deep envious one. 1.Gen. At his return, No doubt, he will requite it. This is noted, (4) This circumftance is taken from Holinfhed." After he was found guilty, the duke was brought to the bar, fore chafing, and fweat marvelloufly," STEEV. |