Sands. I told your grace they would talk anon. [Drum and trumpets within. Chambers dis

Wol.

charged.

Cham. Look out there, some of ye.

Wol.

What's that?

[Exit a Servant.

What warlike voice?

And to what end is this?-Nay, ladies, fear not;
By all the laws of war ye are privileged.

Re-enter Servant.

Cham. How now? what is't?

Serv.

A noble troop of strangers;

For so they seem; they have left their barge,

and landed;

And hither make, as great ambassadors

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 rise, and tables removed.

You have now a broken banquet; but we'll
mend it.

A good digestion to you all: and, once more,
I shower a welcome on you;-welcome all.

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?

1

Cham. Because they speak no English, thus

they pray'd

To tell your grace;-that, having heard by fame Of this so noble and so fair assembly

This night to meet here, they could do no less, Out of the great respect they bear to beauty,

But leave their flocks; and, under your fair conduct,

Crave leave to view these ladies, and entreat
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 pleasures.

[Ladies chosen for the dance. The KING chooses ANNE BULLEN.

K. Hen. The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O,

Your grace?

[Music. Dance.

Wol. Pray, tell them thus much from me: There should be one amongst them, by his

person,

More worthy this place than myself; to whom,
If I but knew him, with my love and duty

I would surrender it.

Cham.

will, my lord.

[CHAMBERLAIN 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

Your grace has grown so pleasant.

My lord chamberlain

K. Hen. 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.
Wol.

In the next chamber.

There's fresher air, my lord,

K. Hen. Lead in your ladies, every one

Sweet partner,

I must not 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 music knock it.
[Exeunt with trumpets.

That labour, sir. All's now done, but the cere

1 Gent. Yes, truly he is, and condemn'd upon

it.

2 Gent. I am sorry for't.

I Gent.

So are numbers 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 alleged
Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.
The king's attorney, on the contrary,

Urged on the examinations, proofs, confessions,
Of divers witnesses; which the duke desired
To have brought vivâ voce, to his face :

At which appeared against him, his surveyor;
Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Car,
Confessor to him; with that devil-monk,
Hopkins, that made this mischief.

2 Gent.

That fed him with his prophecies ?

:

That was he

The same.

I Gent.
All these accused 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 tteason.
He spoke, and learnedly, for life; but all
Was either pitied in him, or forgotten.

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.
I Gent.

Sure, he does not.

He never was so womanish; the cause
He may a little grieve at.