Sir Thomas, To the cardinal's; O, 'tis true: Nor shall not, while I have a stump. Cham. Whither were you a going? Lov. Your lordship is a guest too. Cham. This night he makes a supper, and a great one, To many lords and ladies; there will be Lov. That churchman bears a bounteous mind in deed, A hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us; Cham. Sands. He may, my lord, he has wherewithal; in him, Sparing would show a worse sin than ill doctrine : Men of his way should be most liberal, They are set here for examples. True, they are so : Cham. But few now give so great ones. My barge stays8; Your lordship shall along:-Come, good Sir Thomas, We shall be late else: which I would not be, For I was spoke to, with Sir Henry Guildford, This night to be comptrollers. Sands. I am your lordship's. [Exeunt. 7 Hold current music too. Held is the reading of the first folio, an evident misprint. The speaker is now in the king's palace at Bridewell, from whence he is proceeding by water to York Place (Cardinal Wolsey's house), now Whitehall. SCENE IV. The Presence Chamber in York Place. Hautboys. A small table under a state for the Cardinal, a longer table for the guests. Enter at one door Anne BULLEN, and divers Lords, Ladies, and Gentlewomen, as guests; at another door, enter SIR HENRY GUILDFORD. Guild. Ladies, a general welcome from his grace Salutes ye all: This night he dedicates To fair content, and you: none here, he hopes, Enter Lord Chamberlain, LORD SANDS, and SIR The very thought of this fair company Clapp'd wings to me. Cham. You are young, Sir Harry Guildford. Sands. Sir Thomas Lovell, had the cardinal But half my lay-thoughts in him, some of these Should find a running banquet ere they rested, I think, would better please them: By my life, They are a sweet society of fair ones. Lov. O, that your lordship were but now confessor To one or two of these! Sands. I would, I were ; They should find easy penance. 'Faith, how easy? A bevy is a company. In the curious catalogue of "The companyes of bestys and foules" in the Book of St. Albans, it is said to be the proper term for a company of ladies, of roes, and of quailes. Its origin is yet to seek. Spenser and Milton both use it. Sands. As easy as a down bed would afford it. Cham. Sweet ladies, will it please you sit? Sir Harry, Place you that side, I'll take the charge of this: His grace is ent'ring. Nay, you must not freeze; Two women plac'd together makes cold weather: My Lord Sands, you are one will keep them waking; Pray, sit between these ladies. Sands. By my faith, And thank your lordship.-By your leave, sweet ladies: [Seats himself between ANNE BULLEN and another Lady. If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me; I had it from my father. Anne. Was he mad, sir? Sands. O! very mad, exceeding mad, in love too : But he would bite none; just as I do now, He would kiss you twenty with a breath. Cham. [Kisses her. Well said, my lord.So, now y'are fairly seated :-Gentlemen, The penance lies on you, if these fair ladies Pass away frowning. Sands. Let me alone. For my little cure, Hautboys. Enter CARDINAL WOLSEY, attended; and takes his state. Wol. Y'are welcome, my fair guests; that noble lady, Or gentleman, that is not freely merry, Is not my friend. This, to confirm my welcome; Sands. Let me have such a bowl [Drinks. Your grace is noble ; And save me so much talking. Wol. 2 I am beholding to you: cheer your neighbours. 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. You are a merry gamester, my Lord Sands. Here's to your ladyship: and pledge it, madam, Anne. You cannot show me. Sands. I told your grace, they would talk anon. Wol. 4 [Drum and trumpets within: Chambers + discharged. What's that? [Exit a Servant. What warlike voice? Cham. Look out there, some of you. Wol. 2 Beholding. Boswell has cited a passage from Butler's English Grammar, 1623, which vindicates this form of the word upon principles which he explains, and adds "yet some now-a-days had rather write it-beholden.” 3 Yes, if I make my play, i. e. if I may choose my game. 4 Chambers are short pieces of ordnance, standing almost erect upon their breechings, chiefly used upon festive occasions, being so contrived as to carry great charges, and make a loud report. They had their name from being little more than mere chambers to lodge powder; that being the technical name for that cavity in a gun which contains the powder or combustible matter. Cavendish, describing this scene as it really occurred, says that against the king's coming "were laid charged many chambers, and at his landing they were all shot off, which made such a rumble in the air that it was like thunder." So in a New Trick to Cheat the Devil, 1636: "I still think o' the Tower ordnance, Or of the peal of chambers, that's still fired When my lord mayor takes his barge." Re-enter Servant. Cham. How now? what is't? Serv. For so they seem: they've left their barge, and landed: And hither make, as great ambassadors A noble troop of strangers; From foreign princes. Wol. Good lord chamberlain, Go, give them welcome, you can speak the French tongue; And, pray, receive them nobly, and conduct them and Tables removed. You have now a broken banquet; but we'll mend it. 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 This night to meet here, they could do no less, An hour of revels with them. Wol. Say, lord chamberlain, They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay them |