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And lift my foul to heav'n. Lead on a God's name.
Lov. I do beseech your Grace for charity,

If ever any malice in your heart
Were hid against me, now 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

'Gainst me, I can't take peace with: no black envy
Shall make my grave - Commend me to his Grace :
And if he speak of Buckingham, pray tell him,
You met him half in heav'n: my vows and pray'rs
Yet are the King's; and 'till my foul forsake me,
Shall cry for blessings on him. May he live
Longer than I have time to tell his years;
Ever belov'd and loving may his rule be;
And when old time shall lead him to his end,
Goodness and he fill up one monument.

Lov. To th' water-side I must conduct your Grace,
Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux,
Who undertakes you to your end.

Vaux. Prepare there,

The Duke is coming: see the barge be ready,
And fit it with such furniture as suits

The greatness of his person.

Buck. Nay, Sir Nicholas,

Let it alone; my state now will but mock me.
When I came hither, I was Lord high constable,
And Duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun
Yet I am richer than my base accufers,

That never knew what truth meant; I now seal it;
And with that blood will make 'em one day groan før't
My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,
Who first rais'd head against ufurping Richard,
Flying for fuccour to his fervant Banister,
Being distress'd, was by that wretch betray'd,
And without tryal fell; God's peace be with him!
Henry the Sev'nth succeeding, truly pitying
My father's loss, like a most royal Prince
Restor'd to me my honours; and from ruins,
Made my name once more noble. Now his son,

B3

Henry

Henry the Eight, a name, honour, life, and all
That make me happy, at one stroak has taken
For ever from the world. I had my tryal,
And must needs say, a noble one; which makes mes
A little happier than my wretched father :
Yet thus far we are one in fortune, both
Fell by our servants, by those men we lov'd.
A most unnatural and faithless service!
Heav'n has an end in all: yet, you that hear me,
This from a dying man receive as certain;
Where you are lib'ral of your loves and counsels,
Be sure you be not loose; those you make friends,
And give your hearts to, when they once perceive
The leaft rub in your fortunes, fall away
Like water from ye, never found again,
But where they mean to fink ye. All good people
Pray for me! I must leave ye; the last hour
Of my long weary life is come upon me:

Farewel; and when you would say something sad, Speak how I fell I've done; and God forgive me. [Exeunt Buckingham and Traine

1 Gen. O, this is full of pity; Sir, it calls,

I fear, too many curses on their heads,
That were the authors.

2 Gen. If the Duke be guiltless,

'Tis full of woe; yet I can give you inkling. Of an ensuing evil, if it fall,

Greater than this.

1 Gen. Good angels keep it from us: What may it be; you do not doubt my faith, Sir? 2 Gen. This fecret is so weighty, 'twill require

A ftrong faith to conceal it.

1 Gen. Let me have it;

I do not talk much.

2 Gen. I am confident;

You shall, Sir; did you not of late days hear

A buzzing of a feparation

Between the King and Kath'rine?

1 Gen. Yes, but it held not;

• life, honour, name, and all.

For

For when the King once heard it, out of anger
He fent command to the Lord Mayor strait
To stop the rumour, and allay those tongues
That durst disperse it.

2. Gen. But that slander, Sir,
Is found a truth now; for it grows again
Fresher than e'er it was, and held for certain
The King will venture at it. Either the Cardinal,
Or some about him near, have (out of malice
To the good Queen) poffefs'd him with a fcruple
That will undo her: to confirm this too,
Cardinal Campeius is arriv'd, and lately,
As all think for this business.

1 Gen. 'Tis the Cardinal;
And meerly to revenge him on the Emperor,
For not bestowing on him, at his asking,
The Arch-bishoprick of Toledo, this is purpos'd.

2 Gen. I think you have hit the mark; but is't not cruel, That she should feel the smart of this? the Cardinal Will have his will, and the must fall.

Gen. 'Tis woful,

We are too open here to argue this :
Let's think in private more.

the

SCENE III.

[Exeunt:

Enter Lord Chamberlain, reading a letter. M3 Y lord, the horses your lordship sent for, with all care I had 1 faw well chosen, ridden, and furnish'd. They were young and handsome, and of the best breed in the North. When they were ready to set out for London, a man of my lord Cardinal's, by commission and main power took 'em from me, with this reason; his master would be feru'd before a subject, if not before the King, which stopp'd our mouths, Sir.

I fear he will indeed; well, let him have them; he will have all, I think.

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Enter to the Lord Chamberlain the Dukes of Norfolk and
Suffolk.

Nor. Well met, my Lord Chamberlain.
Cham. Good day to both your Graces.

Suf. How is the King employ'd?

Cham. I left him private,

Full of fad thoughts and troubles.

Nor. What's the cause ?

Cham. It seems the marriage with his brother's wife

Has crept too near his confcience.

Suf. No, his confcience

Has crept too near another lady.

Nor. 'Tis so;

This is the Cardinal's doing; the King-Cardinal :
That blind priest, like the eldest son of fortune
Turns what he lift. The King will know him one day.
Suf. Pray God he do; he'll never know hiinfelf else.
Nor. How holily he works in all his business,
And with what zeal? for now he has crackt the league
'Tween us and th' Emperor, the Queen's great nephew :
He dives into the King's foul, and there scatters
Doubts, dangers, wringing of the confcience,
Fears, and despair, and all these for his marriage;
And out of all these to restore the King,
He counsels a divorce, a loss of her
That like a jewel has hung twenty years
About his neck, yet never loft her luftre;
Of her that loves him with that excellence,
That angels love good men with; even of her,
That, when the greatest stroke of fortune falls,
Will bless the King; and is not this course pious?

Cham. Heav'n keep me from such counsel! 'tis most

true,

These news are ev'ry where, ev'ry tongue speaks 'em, And ev'ry true heart weeps for't. All that dare

Look into these affairs, see his main end,

The French King's sister. Heaven will one day open The King's Eyes, that so long have slept upon

This bold, bad man.

Suf.

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Suf. And free us from his slavery.

Nor. We had need pray, and heartily, for deliv'rance

Or this imperious man will work us all

From Princes into pages; all mens honours

Lie like one lump before him, to be fashion'd

Into what pitch he please.

Suf. For me, my lords,

I love him not, nor fear him, there's my creed
As I am made without him, so I'll stand,
If the King please: his curses and his blessings
Touch me alike; they're breath I not believe in,
I knew him, and I know him; so I leave him
To him, that made him proud, the Pope.

Nor. Let's in;

And with some other business, put the King
From these sad thoughts that work too much upon him

My lord, you'll bear us company?

Cham. Excuse me,

The King hath sent me other-where: befides

You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him:

Health to your lordships.

[Exit Lord Chamberlain

Nor. Thanks, my good Lord Chamberlain.

The Scene draws, and discovers the King sitting and

reading pensively.

Suf. How sad he looks! sure he is much afflicted. King. Who's there? ha?

Nor. Pray God he be not angry.

King. Who's there, I say? how dare you thruft

your selves

Into my private meditations?

Who am I? ha?

Nor. A gracious King, that pardons all offences, Malice ne'er meant, our breach of duty this way, Is business of estate; in which we come

To know your royal pleasure.

King. Ye are too bold:

Go to; I'll make ye know your times of business:

Is this an hour for temporal affairs? ha?

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