Sands.
Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks,
And save me so much talking.

Your grace is noble :

Wol.

My lord Sands,
I am beholden to you: cheer your neighbours.-
Ladies, you are not merry;-Gentlemen,
Whose fault is this?

Sands.

The red wine first must rise

In their fair cheeks, my lord; then we shall have them

Talk us to silence.

Anne.

My lord Sands.

Sands.

You are a merry gamester,

Yes, if I make my play.

Here's to your ladyship; and pledge it, madam,
For 'tis to such a thing,-

Anne.

You cannot show me.

Sands. I told your grace, they would talk anon. [Drum and Trumpets within: Chambers

Wol.

discharged.

What's that?

Cham. Look out there, some of you.

Wol.

[Exit a Servant.

What warlike voice?

And to what end is this?-Nay, ladies, fear not;
By all the laws of war you are privileg'd.

Re-enter Servant.

Cham. How now? what is't?

A noble troop of strangers;

Serv. For so they seem: they have left their barge, and landed; And hither make, as great ambassadors

Good lord chamberlain,

Go, give them welcome; you can speak the French

tongue;

And, pray, receive them nobly, and conduct them
Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
Shall shine at full upon them :-Some attend him.-
[Exit Chamberlain, attended. All arise, and
Tables removed.

You have now a broken banquet; but we'll mend it.
A good digestion to you all: and, once more,
I shower a welcome on you;-Welcome all.

Hautboys. Enter the KING, and twelve others, as Maskers, habited like Shepherds, with sixteen Torchbearers; ushered by the Lord Chamberlain. They pass directly before the CARDINAL, and gracefully salute him.

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 so noble and so fair assembly

This night to meet here, they could do no less,
Out of the great respect they bear to beauty,
But leave their flocks; and, under your fair conduct,
Crave leave to view these ladies, and entreat

An hour of revels with them.

Wol. Say, lord chamberlain, They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay

them

A thousand thanks, and pray them take their pleasures. [Ladies chosen for the Dance. The King chooses Anne Bullen.

K. Hen. The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O, beauty, Till now I never knew thee. [Music. Dance.

Wol. My lord,

Cham.

Wol.

Your grace?

Pray, tell them thus much from me:

There should be one amongst them, by his person,
More worthy this place than myself; to whom,

If I but knew him, with my love and duty

I would surrender it.

Cham.

I will, my lord.

[Cham. goes to the Company, and returns.

Wol. What say they?

Cham.

Such a one, they all confess,

There is, indeed; which they would have your grace

Find out, and he will take it.

Wol.

Let me see then.-
[Comes from his State.

By all your good leaves, gentlemen ;-Here I'll make

My royal choice.

K. Hen.

You have found him, cardinal:

[Unmasking. You hold a fair assembly; you do well, my lord: You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you, cardinal,

I should judge now unhappily.

Wol.

Your grace is grown so pleasant.

K. Hen.

I am glad

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. K. Hen. By heaven, she is a dainty one.--Sweetheart, I were unmannerly, to take you out,

And not to kiss you. A health, gentlemen,

Let it go round.

Wol. Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready I'the privy chamber?

Lov.

Wol.

I fear, with dancing is a little heated.

Yes, my lord.

Your grace,

There's fresher air, my lord,

K. Hen. I fear, too much.

Wol.

In the next chamber.

K. Hen. Lead in your ladies, every one.-Sweet partner,

I must not yet forsake 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 best in favour.-Let the music knock it.
[Exeunt, with Trumpets.

O, God save you!

Even to the hall, to hear what shall become

Of the great duke of Buckingham.

1 Gent.

I'll save you

That labour, sir. All's now done, but the ceremony

Of bringing back the prisoner.

2 Gent.

1 Gent. Yes, indeed, was I.

2 Gent.

Were you there?

Pray, speak, what has happened?

1 Gent. You may guess quickly what. 2 Gent.

Is he found guilty? 1 Gent. Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon it. 2 Gent. I am sorry for't.

1 Gent.

So are a number more.

2 Gent. But, pray, how pass'd it?

1 Gent. I'll tell you in a little. The great duke Came to the bar; where, to his accusations,

He pleaded still, not guilty, and alleg'd
Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.
The king's attorney, on the contrary,
Urg'd on the examinations, proofs, confessions
Of divers witnesses; which the duke desir'd
To him brought, viva voce, to his face:
At which appear'd against him, his surveyor;
Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Court,
Confessor to him; with that devil-monk,

Hopkins, that made this mischief.

2 Gent.

That was he,

The same.

All these accus'd him strongly; which he fain

Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could not: And so his peers, upon this evidence,

Have found him guilty of high treason. Much
He spoke, and learnedly, for life: but all
Was either pitied in him, or forgotten.

2 Gent. After all this, how did he bear himself? 1 Gent. When he was brought again to the bar,-to hear His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr'd With such an agony, he sweat extremely, And something spoke in choler, ill, and hasty: But he fell to himself again, and, sweetly, In all the rest show'd a most noble patience. 2 Gent. I do not think, he fears death. 1 Gent.

Sure, he does not.

He never was so womanish: the cause

He may a little grieve at.

2 Gent.

The cardinal is the end of this.

1 Gent.

Certainly,

"Tis likely,

By all conjectures: First, Kildare's attainder,
Then deputy of Ireland; who remov'd,

Earl Surry was sent thither, and in haste too,
Lest he should help his father.

2 Gent.

That trick of state

At his return,