Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux,
Who undertakes you to your

Vaux.

end.

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, 100

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 accusers,

104

That never knew what truth meant: I now seal it; And with that blood will make 'em one day groan

for 't.

My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,

Who first rais'd head against usurping Richard,

108

Flying for succour to his servant Banister,
Being distress'd, was by that wretch betray'd,
And without trial fell: God's peace be with him!
Henry the Seventh succeeding, truly pitying
My father's loss, like a most royal prince,
Restor❜d me to my honours, and, out of ruins,
Made my name once more noble. Now his son,
Henry the Eighth, life, honour, name, and all
That made me happy, at one stroke has taken
For ever from the world. I had my trial,
And must needs say, a noble one; which makes me
A little happier than my wretched father:
Yet thus far we are one in fortunes; both
Fell by our servants, by those men we lov'd most:
A most unnatural and faithless service!

103 Edward Bohun; cf. n. 107 My noble father; cf. n.

112

116

120

105 seal it: i.e. with my blood

108 head: an armed force

Heaven has an end in all; yet, you that hear me, 124 This from a dying man receive as certain:

Where you are liberal of your loves and counsels

Be sure you be not loose; for those you make friends And give your hearts to, when they once perceive 128 The least rub in your fortunes, fall away

Like water from ye, never found again

But where they mean to sink ye. All good people, Pray for me! I must now forsake ye: the last

hour

Of my long weary life is come upon me.

Farewell:

132

And when you would say something that is sad,
Speak how I fell. I have done; and God forgive

me!

136

Exeunt Duke and Train.

1. Gent. O this is full of pity! Sir, it calls,

I fear, too many curses on their heads

That were the authors.

2. Gent.

If the duke be guiltless,

140

'Tis full of woe; yet I can give you inkling

Of an ensuing evil, if it fall,

Greater than this.

1. Gent.

What may it be?

Good angels keep it from us!
You do not doubt my faith, sir?

2. Gent. This secret is so weighty, 'twill require 144 A strong faith to conceal it.

1. Gent.

I do not talk much.

2. Gent.

Let me have it;

I am confident:

You shall, sir. Did you not of late days hear

127 loose: careless

147 shall: shall hear it

129 rub: obstacle

A buzzing of a separation Between the king and Katharine? 1. Gent.

148

Yes, but it held not;

For when the king once heard it, out of anger
He sent command to the lord mayor straight
To stop the rumour, and allay those tongues
That durst disperse it.

2. Gent.

But that slander, sir,

Is found a truth now; for it grows again

Fresher than e'er it was; and held for certain

152

The king will venture at it. Either the cardinal, 156
Or some about him near, have, out of malice
To the good queen, possess'd him with a scruple
That will undo her. To confirm this too,
Cardinal Campeius is arriv'd, and lately;
As all think, for this business.

1. Gent.

"Tis the cardinal;

And merely to revenge him on the emperor
For not bestowing on him, at his asking,
The archbishopric of Toledo, this is purpos'd.

160

164

2. Gent. 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 she must fall.

1. Gent.

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

'Tis woeful.

168 Exeunt.

152 allay: quiet

Scene Two

[An antechamber in the Palace]

Enter Lord Chamberlain, reading this letter. L. Ch. 'My lord, The horses your lordship sent for, with all the care I had, I saw well chosen, ridden, and furnished. They were young and handsome, and of the best breed in 4 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 served 8 before a subject, if not before the king; which stopped our mouths, sir.'

I fear he will indeed. Well, let him have them:
He will have all, I think.

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

Nor. Well met, my Lord Chamberlain.

L. Ch. Good day to both your Graces.
Suf. How is the king employ'd?
L. Ch.

Full of sad thoughts and troubles.

Nor.

12

I left him private,

What's the cause? 16

L. Ch. It seems the marriage with his brother's wife

Has crept too near his conscience.

Suf.

Has crept too near another lady.

No; his conscience

'Tis so:

Nor.
This is the cardinal's doing: the king-cardinal,
That blind priest, like the eldest son of Fortune,

18, 19 No. . . lady; cf. n.

20

21 blind; cf. n.

Turns what he list. The king will know him one day. Suf. Pray God he do! he'll never know himself else. Nor. How holily he works in all his business,

24

And with what zeal! for, now he has crack'd the

league Between us and the emperor, the queen's great nephew,

He dives into the king's soul, and there scatters
Dangers, doubts, wringing of the conscience,

28

Fears, and despairs; 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 lost her lustre;
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?

32

36

L. Ch. Heaven keep me from such counsel! 'Tis most true

These news are everywhere; every tongue speaks 'em,
And every true heart weeps for 't. All that dare 40
Look into these affairs see this 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.

And free us from his slavery. 44

Nor. We had need pray,

And heartily, for our deliverance;

Or this imperious man will work us all

From princes into pages. All men's honours
Lie like one lump before him, to be fashion'd
Into what pitch he please.

50 pitch: height (?), black defilement (?)

48