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 A thousand thanks, and pray them take their plea sures. [Ladies chosen for the dance. The King chooses Anne Bullen. K. Hen. The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O, Wol. Pray, tell them thus much from me: There should be one amongst them, by his person, 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, lord: You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you, cardinal, I should judge now unhappily. Wol. I am glad, grown so pleasant. K. Hen. 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. Yes, my lord. Your grace, I fear, with dancing is a little heated. K. Hen. I fear, too much. 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; [Exeunt, with trumpets. ACT II. SCENE 1. A STREET. Enter two Gentlemen, meeting. O,-God save you! 1 Gent. Whither away so fast? 2 Gent. 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 happen'd? Is he found guilty? 1 Gent. You may guess quickly what. 2 Gent. 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 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, 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 2 Gent. The cardinal is the end of this. 1 Gent. Certainly, 'Tis likely, By all conjectures: First, Kildare's attainder, No doubt, he will requite it. This is noted, All the commons 2 Gent. Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience, Wish him ten fathom deep: this duke as much They love and dote on; call him, bounteous Buck ingham, 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 are with the edge towards him; halberds on each side: with him, Sir Thomas Lovell, Sir Nicholas Vaux, Sir William Sands, and common people. 2 Gent. Let's stand close, and behold him. Buck. All good people, You that thus far have come to pity me, ness, And, if I have a conscience, let it sink me, D |