Hautboys. Enter the King, and Others, as Maskers, habited like Shepherds, 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 takes ANNE
BULLEN.

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

[Music. Dance.

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.

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.

You hold a fair assembly; you do well, 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.

[Unmasking.

I am glad,

My lord chamberlain,

Sir Thomas Bullen's

Pr'ythee, come hither. What fair lady 's that?

The viscount Rochford,

daughter,

one of her highness' women.

K. Hen. By heaven, she is a dainty one.

I were unmannerly to take you out,

And not to kiss you.

Let it go round.
Wol.

A health, gentlemen!

Sweet-heart,

K. Hen. Lead in your ladies, every one.
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;
Who's best in favour.

and then let's dream Let the music knock it.

[Exeunt with Trumpots.

Enter Two Gentlemen, meeting.

1 Gent. Whither away so fast?

2 Gent.

O! God save you.

E'en 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.

Were you there?

1 Gent. Yes, indeed, was I. 2 Gent.

Pray, speak what has happen’d.

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

Is he found guilty?

1 Gent. Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon it. I am sorry for 't.

2 Gent.

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 have brought, vivá voce, to his face:
At which appeared against him, his surveyor;
Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Car,
Confessor to him; with that devil-monk,
Hopkins, that made this mischief.

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.

He was never so womanish: the cause
He may a little grieve at.

2 Gent.

The cardinal is the end of this.

1 Gent.

Certainly,

"T is likely,

Sure, he does not

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

Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too,

Lest he should help his father.

2 Gent.

Was a deep envious one.

1 Gent.

That trick of state

At his return,

No doubt, he will requite it. This is noted,
And generally; whoever the king favours,
The cardinal instantly will find employment,
And far enough from court too.

2 Gent.

All the commons

Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience,

Wish him ten fathom deep: this duke as much

They love and dote on; call him, bounteous Buckingham,
The mirror of all courtesy

1 Gent.

Stay there, Sir;

And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of.

Enter BUCKINGHAM from his Arraignment; Tipstaves before him; the Axe with the Edge towards him; Halberds on each Side; accompanied with Sir THOMAS LOVELL, Sir NICHOLAS VAUX, Sir WILLIAM SANDS, and common people.

2 Gent. Let's stand close, and behold him. Buck.

You that thus far have come to pity me,

Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me.

I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgment,

All good people,

And by that name must die: yet, heaven bear witness
And if I have a conscience let it sink me,
Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful.
The law I bear no malice for my death,
It has done upon the premises but justice;

But those that sought it I could wish more Christians:
Be what they will, I heartily forgive them.

Yet let them look they glory not in mischief,
Nor build their evils on the graves of great men;

For then my guiltless blood must cry against them.
For farther life in this world I ne'er hope,

Nor will I sue, although the king have mercies

More than I dare make faults. You few that lov'd me,

And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham,

His noble friends and fellows, whom to leave

Is only bitter to him, only dying,

Go with me, like good angels, to my end;

And, as the long divorce of steel falls on me,

Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice,

And lift my soul to heaven. — Lead on, o' God's name.
Lov. I do beseech your grace for charity,

If ever any malice in your heart

Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.

Buck. Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you,

As I would be forgiven: I forgive all ;

There cannot be those numberless offences

that I can not take peace with: no black envy