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SCENE I.

A Street.

ACT II.

Enter two Gentlemen at feveral doors.

1 Gen.

HITHER away fo faft?

2 Gen. 0,-God fave you!

Even to the hall, to hear what fhall become

Of the great duke of Buckingham.

1 Gen. I'll fave you

Then deputy of Ireland; who remov'd,
Earl Surrey was dent thither, and in hafte too,
Left he should help his father,

2 Gin. That trick of ftate
Was a deep envious one.

1 Gen. At his return,
No doubt, he will requite it. This is noted,
And generally; whoever the king favours,
The cardinal inftantly will find employment,

That labour, fir. All's now done, but the ceremony And far enough from court too.

Of bringing back the prifoner,

2 Gen. Were you there?

1 Gen. Yes, indeed, was I.

2 Gen. Pray, fpeak, what has happen'd?

I Gen. You may guefs quickly what.

2 Gen. Is he found guilty?

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1 Gen. Yes, truly, is he, and condemn'd upon it. And fee the noble ruin'd man you speak of.

2 Gen. I am forry for't.

I Gn. So are a number more.

The great duke

2 Gen. But, pray, how pafs'd it?
1 Gen. I'll tell you in a little.
Came to the bar; where, to his accufations,

He pleaded itill, not guilty, and alledg'd
Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.
The king's attorney, on the contrary,
Urg'd on the examinations, proofs, confeffions
Of divers witneffes; which the duke defir'd
To have brought, vivá voce, to his face :
At which appear'd against him, his furveyor;
Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Court,
Confeffor to him; with that devil-monk
Hopkins, that made this mifchief.

2 Gen. That was he,

That fed him with his prophecies?

1 Gen. The fame.

All these accus'd him ftrongly; which he fain
Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could
And fo his peers, upon this evidence, fnot:
Have found him guilty of high-treaton. Much
He spoke, and learnedly, for life; but all
Was either pitied in him, or forgotten.

2 Gen. After all this, how did he bear himfelf?
1 Gen. When he was brought again to the bar,
-to hear

His knell rung out, his judgment,--he was ftir'd With fuch an agony, he fweat extremely I, And fomething spoke in choler, ill, and hasty ; But he fell to himself again, and, fweetly, In all the reft shew'd a most noble patience. 2 Gen. I do not think, he fears death. 1 Gen. Sure, he does not,

He never was fo womanifh; the caufe

He may a little grieve at.

2 Gen. Certainly,

The cardinal is the end of this.

1 Gen. 'Tis likely,

By all conjectures: First, Kildare's attainder,

Enter Buckingham from his arraignment, (Tipfiaves before him, the axe with the edge toward him; bilberds on each Jide) accompanied with Sir Tho mas Lovel, Sir Nicholas Vaux, Sir William Sands, and common people, Ic.

2 Gen. Let's ftand 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.

I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgment,
And by that name muft die; Yet, heaven bear

witness,

And, if I have a confcience, let it fink me,
Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful!

The law I bear no malice for my death,
I has done, upon the premises, but juftice;
But thofe, that fought it, I could with more chiri-
ftians :

Be what they will, I heartily forgive 'em:
Yet let 'em look they glory not in mifchief,
Nor build their evils on the graves of great men;
For then my guiltless blood muft cry against 'em.
For further life in this world I ne'er hope,
Nor will I fue, although the king have mercies
You few that
More than I dare make faults.

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, as the long divorce of iteel falls on me,
Make of your prayers one fweet facrifice,
And lift my foul to heaven.-Lead on, o' God's

name.

Lov. I do befeech your grace, for charity,

If ever any malice in your heart

Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.

Buck. Sir Thomas Lovel, I as free forgive you, As I would be forgiven: I forgive all ; There cannot be thofe numberlefs offences

This circumftance is taken from Holinfhed.
X X 4

'Gait

'Gainft me, that 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 heaven: my vows and
prayers

Yet are the king's; and, 'till my foul forfake me,
Shall cry for bleffings 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 fhall lead him to his end,
Goodness and he fill up one monument! [grace;

Lov. To the water-fide I must conduct your Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux, Who undertakes you to your end.

Vaux. Prepare there,

The duke is coming: fee, the barge be ready;
And fit it with fuch furniture, as fuits
The greatness of his perfon.

Buck. Nay, Sir Nicholas,

Let it alone; my state now but will mock me. When I came hither, I was lord high conftable, And duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun:

Yet I am richer than my bafe accufers,

That never knew what truth meant: Inow feal it; And with that blood, will make 'em one day groan for't.

My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,
Who first rais'd head againft ufurping Richard,
Flying for fuccour to his fervant Banister,
Being diftrefs'd, was by that wretch betray'd,
And without trial fell; God's peace be with him!
Henry the feventh fucceeding, truly pitying
My father's lofs, like a moft royal prince,
Reftor'd me to my honours, and, out of ruins,
Made my name once more noble. Now his fon,
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, muft needs fay, 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 fervants, by thofe men we lov'd
most;

--

A most unnatural and faithlefs fervice!
Heaven has an end in all: Yet, you that hear me,
This from a dying man receive as certain
Where you are liberal of your loves and counfels,
Be fure, you be not loofe; for thofe you make
friends,

And give your hearts to, when they once perceive
The least 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 now forfake you; the last

hour

Of my long weary life is come upon me,
Farewel :

And when you would fay fomething that is fad, Speak how I feil.-I have 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, fir? 2 Gen. This fecret is fo weighty, 'twill require Aftrong faith 2 to conceal it.

1 Gen. Let me have it;

I do not talk much.

2 Gen. I am confident;

You fhall, fir: Did you not of late days hear
A buzzing, of a feparation

Between the king and Katharine ?

1 Gen. Yes, but it held not:

For when the king once heard it, out of anger
He fent command to the lord mayor, ftraight
To ftop the rumour, and allay those tongues
That durft difperfe it.

2 Gan. But that flander, fir,
Is found a truth now: for it grows again
Frefher than e'er it was; and held for certain,
The king will venture at it. Either the cardinal,
Or fome 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 bufinefs.

1 Gen. 'Tis the cardinal;
And meerly to revenge him on the emperor,
For not beftowing on him, at his asking,
The archbishoprick of Toledo, this is purpos'd.

2 Gen. I think, you have 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.
1 Gen. 'Tis woeful.

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

SCENE

II.

[Exeunt.

An Antichamber in the Palace. Enter the Lord Chamberlain, reading a Letter. My Lord, the knifes your lordfrip fent for, with all the care I had, I faw well chefin, ridden, and furnished. They were young, and handfome; und of the best breed in the north. When they were ready to fet out for London, a man of my iard cardinal'ı, by commiffion, and main power, tosk 'em from me; with this reafon,-His mafier would be fert'd before a fubject, if not before the king: which jiopp'd cur mouths, fir.

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

Enter the Dukes of Norfolk, and Suffolk. Nor. Well met, my lord chamberlain. Cham. Good day to both your graces.

Meaning, that envy fhould not procure or advance his death. 2 i. e. great fidelity.

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King. Who's there? ha?

Nor. Pray God, he be not angry!

King. Who's there, I fay? How dare you thrust yourfelves

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 bufinefs of eftate; in which, we come
To know your royal pleature.
King. You are too bold:

Between us and the emperor, the queen's great Go to; I'll make ye know your times of business:

nephew,

He dives into the king's foul; and there scatters
Doubts, dangers, wringing of the confcience,
Fears, and defpairs, and all these for his marriage :
And, out of all these to restore the king,
He counfels 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 greateft ftroke of fortune falls,
Will blefs the king: And is not this courfe pious?
Cham. Heaven keep me from fuch counfel! 'Tis
molt true,
['em,
Thefe news are every where; every tongue speaks
And every true heart weeps for't: All, that dare
Look into thefe affairs, fee his main end, [open
The French king's fifter.
I
Heaven will one day

The king's eyes, that fo long have slept upon

This bold bad man.

Suf. And free us from his flavery.
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 fafhion'd
Into what pitch 2 he pleafe.

Suf. For me, my lords,

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I The duchefs of Alencon. Pitch here implies height.

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I'll venture one heave at him.

Afide.

Suf. I another. [Exeunt Norf. and Suf.)
Wol. Your grace has given a precedent of
wifdom

Above all princes, in committing freely
Your fcruple to the voice of Christendom:
Who can be angry now? what envy reach you?
The Spaniard, ty'd by blood and favour to her,
Muft now confefs, if he have any goodnels,
The trial juft and noble. All the clerks,

I mean, the learned ones, in chriftian kingdoms, Have their free voices: Rome, the nurfe of judg ment,

Invited by your noble felf, hath fent

One general tongue unto us, this good man,
This juft and learned prieft, cardinal Campeius;
Wnom, once more, I prefent unto your highness.
King. And, once more, in mine arms I bid him
welcome,

And thank the holy conclave for their loves;
They have fent me fuch a man I would have
with'd for.
[loves,
Cam. Your grace muft needs deferve all ftrangers'

2 Meaning, that the cardinal can, as he pleafes, make high or low. 3 i. e. fo fick as he is proud.

You

You are fo noble: To your highness' hand
I tender my commiffion; by whofe virtue,
(The court of Rome commanding)-you, my lord
Cardinal of York, are join'd with me their fervant,
In the unpartial judging of this bufinefs.

His highnefs having liv'd fo long with her; and the
So good a lady, that no tongue could ever
Pronounce difhonour of her,by my life,
She never knew harm-doing-O now, after
So many courfes of the fun enthron'd,

King. Two equal men. The queen fhall be Still growing in a majesty and pomp,-the which
acquainted
To leave is a thoufand fold more bitter, than
Forthwith, for what you come :-- Where's Gardiner?'Tis fweet at first to acquire,-after this procefs,
Wol. I know, your majefty has always lov'd her To give her the avaunt 2! it is a pity

So dear in heart, not to deny her that
A woman of leis place might afk by law,
Scholars, allow'd freely to argue for her.
King. Ay, and the beft, the thall have ;

favour

and my

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Would move a monfter.

Old L. Hearts of moft hard temper
Melt and iament for her.

inne. O, God's will! much better,

She ne'er had known pomp: though it be tempos.",
Yet, if that quarrel 3, fortune, do divorce
It from the bearer, 'tis a fufferance, panging
As foul and body's fevering.

Old L. Alas, poor lady!
She's ftranger now again 4.

Anne. So much the more
Muft pity drop upon her. Verily,
I fwear, 'tis better to be lowly born,
And range with humble livers in content,
Than to be perk'd up in a glittering grief,
And wear a golden forrow,

Old L. Our content,

Is our belt having 5.

Anne. By my troth, and maidenhead,
I would not be a queen.

Old L. Befhrew me, I would,

And venture maidenhead for't; and fo would yea, [him; For all this fpice of your hypocrify:

Cam. They will not stick to fay, you envy'd And, fearing he would rife, he was fo virtuous, Kept him a foreign man ftill: which to griev'd That he ran mad, and dy'd.

[him,

Wol. Heaven's peace be with him!
That's christian care enough: for living murmurers,
There's places of rebuke. He was a fool;
For he would needs be virtuous: that good fellow,
If I command him, follows my appointment;
I will have none fo near elfe. Learn this, brother,
We live not to be grip'd by meaner perions.
King. Deliver this with modesty to the queen.
[Exit Gardiner.
The most convenient place that I can think of,
For fuch receipt of learning, is Black-friars ;
There ye fhall meet about this weighty bufinefs:--
My Wolfey, fee it furnifn'd.-O my lord,
Would it not grieve an able man, to leave
So fweet a bedfellow? but, confcience, confcience,-
O, 'tis a tender place, and I must leave her. [Excunt.
SCE N E III.

An Antichamber of the Queen's Apartments.
Enter Anne Bullen, and an el Lady.
Anne. Not for that neither;-Here's the pang
that pinches :

You, that have fo fair parts of woman on you,
Have too a woman's heart; which ever yet
Affected eminence, wealth, fovereignty;
Which, to fay footh, are bleffings; and which gifts
Saving your mincing) the capacity

Of your foft cheveril confcience would receive,
If you might pleafe to ftretch it.

[be a queen?

Anne. Nay, good troth.—
Old L. Yes, troth and troth,-You would 1.0%
Anne. No, not for all the riches under heaven.
Old L. 'Tis ftrange; a three-pence bow'd would
hire me,

Old as I am, to queen it: but, I pray you,
What think you of a dutchefs? have you limbs
To bear that load of title?

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i. e. kept him out of the king's prefence, by employing him in foreign emballies. 2 i. c. to fend her away contemptuously. 3 Dr. Warburton fays, "the calls fortune a quarrel or arrow, from her ftriking fo deep and fuddenly. Quarrel was a large arrow fo called.". Dr Johnson, however, thinks the poet may be eafily fuppofed to use quarrel for quarreller, as murder for murderer, the aft for the agent. 4 i. c. fhe is again an alien; not only no longer queen, but no longer an Englishwoman. 5 i. e. our belt poffeffion. 6 Cheveril, kid-fkin, foft leather. 7 i. e. let us defçend full lowa, and more upon a level with your own quality,

You'd

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Old L. With your theme, I could
O'er-mount the lark. The marchionefs of Pem-
broke !

A thousand pounds a year! for pure refpect;
No other obligation: by my life,

Is longer than his fore-fkirt. By this time,
I know, your back will bear a dutchefs;-fay,
Are you not stronger than you were?

Anne. Good lady,

Anne. Now I pray God, Amen! [bleffings That promifes more thoufands: honour's train Cham. You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly Follow fuch creatures. That you may, fair lady, Perceive I speak fincerely, and high notes Ta'en of your many virtues, the king's majesty Commends his good opinion to you, and Does purpofe honour to you no lefs flowing Than marchionefs of Pembroke; to which title A thoufand pounds a year, annual fupport, Out of his grace he adds.

Anne. I do not know,

What kind of my obedience I fhould tender;
More than my all is nothing: nor my prayers
Are not words duly hallow'd, nor my wishes
More worth than empty vanities; yet prayers, and
wishes,

Are all I can return. Befeech your lordship,
Vouchsafe to speak my thanks, and my obedience,
As from a bluthing handmaid, to his highnefs;
Whofe health, and royalty, I pray for.

Cham. Lady,

I shall not fail to approve the fair conceit
The king hath of you.-I have perufed her well;
Beauty and honour in her are fo mingled, [ide.
That they have caught the king, and who knows
yet,

But from this lady may proceed a gem,
To lighten au this ifle -I'll to the king,

And fay, I spoke with you.
Anne. My honour'dlord. [Exit Lord Chamberlain.
Old L. Why, this it is; fee, fee!

I have been begging fixteen years in court,
(Am yet a courtier beggarly) nor could
Come pat betwixt too early and too late,
For any fuit of pounds: and you, (0, fate !)

Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy,
And leave me out on't. 'Would I had no being,
If this falute my blood a jot; it faints me,
To think what follows.

The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful
In our long abfence: pray, do not deliver
What here you have heard, to her.
Old L. What do you think me ?

4

SCENE IV.

[Exeunt.

A Hall in Black-Fryars. Trumpets, Sennt, and Cornets. Enter two Vergers with fhort Silver Wands; next them, tron Scribes in the babits of Dottors; after them, the archbishop of Canterbury alone; after him, the Biflops of Lincoln, Ely, Rockefer, and Saint japh; next them, with fome small diftance, follows a Gentleman bearing the l'ufe, with the Great Seal, and a Cardinal's Hat; then two Priefts, bearing each a Silver Grofs; then a Gentleman-ujher bareLeaded, accompanied with a Serjeant at Am», bearing a Silver Mace; then two Genti men, bearing two great Silver Pillars 5; after them, fide by jid, the two Cardinals; two Noblemen with the Sword and Mace. The King takes place under the Cloth of State; the two Cardinals fit under him, as Judges. The Ducen takes plate fone distance om the King The Bishops place themselves on each fide the Court, in manner of a Conijny ; below them, the Scribes. The Lo as fit next the Bighops.

f

1 The meaning, according to Dr. Johnfon, is," You would venture to be diftinguished by the ball, the enfign of royalty." Mr. Tollet, however, fays, "Dr. Johnton's explanation cannot be right, becaule a queen-confort, fuch as Anne Bullen was, is not diftinguished by the ball, the enlign of royalty, nor has the poet exprefied that he was so distinguished.” 2 From this and many other artful ftrokes of addrefs the poet has thrown in upon queen Elizabeth and her mother, it should feem, that this play was written and performed in his royal miftrefs's time: if fo, fome lines were added by him in the laft fcene, after the acceffion of her fucceffor, king James. 3 Mr. Steevens on this paffage remarks," Forty pence was in thofe days the proverbial expreffion of a mall wage, or a imall fum. Money was then reckoned by pounds, marks, and nobles. Forty fence is half a noble, or the fixth part of a pound. Forty pence, or three and four pence, ftill remains in many offices the legal and etablished fer." 4 Dr. Burney in his General Hiflory of Mufic conjectures,, that fennet may mean a flourish for the purpose of affembling chicfs, or apprizing the people of their approach. Mi. Steevens adds, that he has been informed that fenefte is the name of an antiquated French tune5 Pillars were fome of the enfigns of dignity carried before cardinals. Wolfey had two great fler pillars ufually borne before him by two of the talleft priefts that he could get within the realm. This remarkable piece of pageantry did not efcape the notice of Shakspeare.

The

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