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?

Serv.

A noble troop of strangers;

For so they seem: they have left their barge, and

landed;

And hither make, as great ambassadors

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,
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 Torch-bearers; 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;

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.

Wol. My lord,

[Musick. Dance.

Your grace?

Cham.

Wol. 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.5

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, lord:
You are a churchman, or I'll tell you, cardinal,
I should judge now unhappily."

6

take it.] That is, take the chief place.
unhappily.] That is, unluckily, mischievously.

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. dainty one. Sweet

heart,

I were unmannerly, to take you out,

And not to kiss you.7-A health, gentlemen,
Let it go round.

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

Lov.

Wol.

Yes, my lord.

Your grace,

I fear, with dancing is a little heated.

K. Hen. I fear, too much.

Wol.

In the next chamber.

There's fresher air, my lord,

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 musick knock it.

[Exeunt, with Trumpets.

7 I were unmannerly, to take you out,

And not to kiss you.] A kiss was anciently the established fee of

a lady's partner.

ACT II.

SCENE I.- A Street.

Enter Two Gentlemen, meeting.

1 Gent. Whither away so fast? 2 Gent.

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. 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.

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 alledg'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, vivá 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 fed him with his prophecies ?

1 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.
He spoke, and learnedly, for life; but all

Was either pitied in him, or forgotten.

Much

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 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