They love and doat on, call him bounteous Bucking The mirror cf all courtesy. SCENE II. [ham, Enter Buckingham from his arraignment, (tipftaves before him, the ax with the edge towards him, halberts on each fide), accompanied with Sir Thomas Lovell, Sir Nicholas Vaux, Sir William Sands, and commen people, &c. 1 Gen. Stay there, Sir, And fee the noble ruin'd man you speak of. 2 Gen. Let's Stand clofe, and behold him. Buck. All good people, You that thus far have come to pity me, Hear what I fay, and then go home, and lofe me. And by that name muft die; yet, Heav'n bear witness, Even as the ax falls, if I be not faithful. But thofe that fought it, I could wish more Chriftians, Nor will I fue, although the King have mercies More than I dare make faults. You few that lov'd me, And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham. His noble friends and fellows, whom to leave Is only bitter to him, only dying; Go with me, like good angels, to my end: And lift my foul to heav'n. Lead on, o'God's name. 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 thofe numberlefs offences 'Gainft me, I can't take peace with: no black envy Lov. To th' water-fide I must conduct your Grace, Vaux. Prepare there, The Duke is coming: fee the barge be ready; Buck. Nay, Sir Nicholas, Let it alone; my ftate now will but mock me. That never knew what truth meant. I now feal it ; Who first rais'd head against usurping Richard, Flying for fuccour to his fervant Banister, Now his fon, Henry the Eighth, life, honour, name, and all And must needs fay, a noble one; which makes me A little happier than my wretched father. Yet thus far we are one in fortune, both Heav'n has an end in all: yet, you that hear me, Where you are lib'ral of your loves and counfels, Like water from ye, never found again, All good people, Pray for me! I muft leave ye; the laft hour Of my long weary life is come upon me. Farewel; and when you would fay fomething fad, Speak, how I fell.—I've done; and God forgive me! [Exeunt Buckingham and train, 1 Gen. O, this is full of pity; Sir, it calls, I fear, too many curfes 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 enfuing 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 fo weighty, 'twill require A frong faith to conceal it. 1 Gen. Let me have it; I do not talk much. 2 Gen. I am confident; You fhall, Sir. Did you not of late days hear Between the King and Cath'rine ? 1 Gen. Yes; but it held not; For when the King once heard it, out of anger 2 Gen. But that flander, Sir,' Is found a truth now; for it grows again Cardinal Campeius is arriv'd, and lately, 1 Gen. 'Tis the Cardinal; And merely to revenge him on the Emperor, Th' archbishoprick of Toledo, this is purpos'd. 2 Gen. I think you've hit the mark; but is't not cruel, That the fhould feel the fmart of this? the Cardinal Will have his will, and the muft fall. I Gen. 'Tis woeful. We are too open here to argue this. [Exeunt. SCENE IH. An antichamber in the palace. r Lord, the borfes your Lordship fent for, with all M the care I had, I faw well chofen, ridden, and fur nifh'd. They were young and handjome, and of the best breed in the north. When they were ready to fet out for London, a man of my Lord Cardinal's, by commiffion and main power, took 'em from me, with this reafon, His ma- · fter would be ferv'd before a fubject, if not before the King; which topp'd our mouths, Sir. I fear he will indeed: well, let him have them; Enter to the Lord Chamberlain, the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk. Nor. Well met, iny 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 fo. This is the Cardinal's doing, the King-Cardinal. That blind prielt, like the eldelt ion of Fortune, Turns what he lifts. The King will know him one day. And with what zeal! for now he has crack'd the league These news are ev'ry where; ev'ry tongue fpe ks 'em, The French King's fifter. Heav'n will one day open Suf. And free us from his flavery. 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 Suj. For me, my Lords, I love him not, nor fear him, there's my creed. If the King pleafe: his curfes and his bleffings Nor. Let's in ; And with fome other business put the King From thefe fad thoughts, that work too much upon My Lord, you'll bear us company? Cham. Excufe me. [him. |