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. 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;-That, having heard by fame This night to meet here, they could do no less, But leave their flocks; and, under your fair conduct, 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 plea sures. [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, Cham. Your grace? [Musick. Dance. 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. 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. 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' wo men. K Hen. By heaven, she is a dainty one.-Sweet heart, I were unmannerly, to take you out, 6 take it.] That is, take the chief place. And not to kiss you."-A health, gentlemen, Wol. Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready 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;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. 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. 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. 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 alleg'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, viva 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. Much Was either pitied in him, or forgotten. 2 Gent. After all this, how did he bear him self? 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: Sure, he does not, 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, 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, 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 Buckingham, 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 Axe 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, |