Wol. What warlike voice?
And to what end is this?-Nay, ladies, fear not;
By all the laws of war you are privileg'd.
Re-enter Sercant.

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'em welcome, you can speak the French

tongue;

15

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 3.

By all your good leaves, gentlemen;-Here l'Il
My royal choice.

King. You have found him, cardinal:

You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord: 20 You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you, cardinal, I should judge now unhappily,

25

And, pray, receive 'em nobly, and conduct 'em
Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
Shall shine at full upon them:-Some attendhim.—
[All arise, and tables removed.
Youhave 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. 30
Hautboys, Enter the King, and others, as Maskers,
habited like Shepherds, usher'd 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
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.

35

Wol, I am glad,

Your grace is grown so pleasant.

King. My lord chamberlain,

Pr'ythee, come hither; What fair lady's that? Cham. An't please your grace, Sir Thomas Bullen's daughter,

Theviscount Rochford, oneof herhighness'women, King. By heaven, she is a dainty one.-Sweet heart,

I were unmannerly, to take you out,

[To Anne Bullen, And not to kiss you'.-A health, gentlemen, Let it go round.

Wol. Sir Thomas Lovel, is the banquet ready I' the privy chamber?

Lov. Yes, my lord.

Wol. Your grace,

I

fear, with dancing is a little heated.

40

In the next chamber,

[partner,

King. Lead in your ladies, every one.-Sweet
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.

1 i, e. if I make my party, 2 A chamber is a gun (used only on occasions of rejoicing) which stands erect on its breech, and so contrived as to carry great charges, and thereby to make a noise more than proportioned to its bulk. They are called chambers, because they are mere chambers to lodge powder; a chamber being the technical term for that cavity in a piece of ordnance which contains the combustibles. Chambers are still fired in the Park, and at the places opposite to the Parliament-house, when the king goes thither. 3i. e. take the chief place. i. e. unluckily, mischievously. kiss was anciently the established fee of a lady's partner.

A

ACT

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

Then deputy of Ireland; who remov'd,
Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too,
Lest he should help his father.

2 Gent. That trick of state

5 Was a deep envious one.

1 Gent. At his return,

No doubt, he will requite it. This is noted,
And generally; whoever the king favours,
The cardinal instantly will find employment,

That labour,sir. All's now done, but the ceremony 10 And far enough from court too.

Of bringing back the prisoner.

2 Gent. Were you there?

1 Gent. Yes, indeed, was I.

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 alledg'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 have brought, vivá voce, to his face:
At which appear'd against him, his surveyor;

2 Gent. All the commons

Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience, Wish him ten fathom deep: this duke as much They love and doat on; call him, bounteous Buck15 The mirrour of all courtesy ;- [ingham,

20

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 toward him; halberds on each side,) accompanied with Sir Thomas Lovel, Sir Nicholas Vaux, Sir William Sands, and common people, &c.

2 Gent. Let's stand close, and behold him.
Buck. All good people,

25 You that thus far have come to pity me,
Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me.
I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgement,
And by that name must die; Yet, Heaven bear
witness,

Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Court, 30 And, if I have a conscience, let it sink me,
Confessor to him; with that devil monk

Hopkins, that made this mischief.

Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful!
The law I bear no malice for my death,
T has done, upon the premises, but justice;
But those, that sought it, I could wish more
christians:

Be what they will, I heartily forgive 'em:
Yet let 'em look they glory not in mischief,
Nor build their evils on the graves of great men;
For then my guiltless blood must cry against 'em.
For further life in this world I ne'er hope,
Nor will I sue, 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, as the long divorce of steel falls on me,
Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice,
50 And lift my soul to heaven.-Lead on, o' God's

name.

Lov. I do beseech your grace, for charity,
If ever any malice in your heart

Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.
55 Buck. Sir Thomas Lovel, I as free forgive you,
As I would be forgiven: I forgive all;
There cannot be those numberless offences

! This circumstance is taken from Holinshed.

Xx 4

'Gains

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,
Tis full of woe: yet I can give you inkling
Of an ensuing evil, if it fall,
Greater than this.

1 Gent. Good angels keep it from us!
What may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir?
2 Gent. This secret is so weighty, 'twill require
A strong faith to conceal it,

1 Gent. Let me have it;

I do not talk much.

2 Gent. I am confident;

15 You shall, sir: Did you not of late days hear A buzzing, of a separation

Between the king and Katharine?

1 Gent. Yes, but it held not:

For when the king once heard it, out of anger 20 He sent command to the lord mayor, straight Tos o 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,
The king will venture at it. Either the cardinal,
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,
30 Cardinal Campeius is arriv'd, and lately;
As all think, for this business.

And merely to revenge him on the emperor, For not bestowing on him, at his asking, 35 The archbishoprick of Toledo, this is purpos'd. 2 Gent. I think, you have hit the mark: But is't

That she should feel the smart of this? The car-
dinal

40 Will have his will, and she must fall.
1 Gent, 'Tis woeful,

55

60

Meaning, that envy should not procure or advance his death.

Cham. It seems, the marriage with his brother's 5
Has crept too near his conscience.
Suf. No, his conscience

Has crept too near another lady.
Nor. 'Tis so;

This is the cardinal's doing, the king-cardinal:
That blind priest, like the eldest son of fortune,
Turns what he lists. This king will know him

one day.

[else. Suf. Pray God, he do! he'll never know himself Nor. How holly he works in all his business! And with what zeal! For, now he has crack'd the league

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

10

15

Nor. Thanks, my good lord chamberlain. [Exit Lord Chamberlain. A door opens, and discovers the King sitting and reading pensively.

Suf. How sad he looks! sure, he is much afflicted.

King. Who's there? ha?

Nor. Pray God, he be not angry!

King. Who's there, I say? How dare you thrust
yourselves

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 business of estate; in which, we come
To know your royal pleasure.

King. You are too bold:

Go to; I'll make ye know your times of business:
Is this an hour for temporal affairs? ha?
Enter Wolsey, and Campeius with a Commission.
Who's there? my good lord cardinal?——O my
Wolsey,

The quiet of my wounded conscience,
Thou art a cure fit for a king,-You're welcome,
25
[To Campeius.
Most learned reverend sir, into our kingdom;
Use us, and it:-My good lord, have great care
I be not found a talker.
[To Wolsey.

He dives into the king's soul; and there scatters 20
Doubts, dangers, wringing of the conscience,
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
Cham. Heaven keep me from such counsel!
'Tis most true,

30

['em,
These news are every where; every tongue speaks
And every true heart weeps for 't: All, that dare
Look into these affairs, see his main end, [open 35
The French king's sister. Heaven will one day
The king's eyes, that so long have slept upon
This bold bad man.

Suf. And free us from his slavery.
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.

Suf. For me, my lords,

I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed:
As I am made without him, so I'll stand,
If the king please; his curses and his blessings
Touch me alike, they are breath I not believe in.
I knew him, and I know him; so I leave him
To him that made him proud,—the pope.
Nor. Let's in;

And, with some other business, put the king
From these sad thoughts, that work too much
upon him;

My lord, you'll bear us company?
Cham. Excuse me;

The king hath sent me other-where; besides,
You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him:
Health to your lordships.

The duchess of Alençon,

Pitch here implies height.

Wol. Sir, you cannot.

I would, your grace would give us but an hour
Of private conference.

King. We are busy; go.

[To Norf. and Suf.

Nor. This priest has no pride in him?
Suf. Not to speak of;

I would not be so sick though, for his
place:

But this cannot continue.

Nor. If it do,

I'll venture one heave at him.

Aside

40 Suf. I another. [Exeunt Norf. and Suf.!
Wol. Your grace has given a precedent of
wisdom

Above all princes, in committing freely
Your scruple to the voice of Christendom:

45 Who can be angry now? what envy reach you!
The Spaniard, ty'd by blood and favour to her,
Must now confess, if he have any goodness,
The trial just and noble. All the clerks,

I mean, the learned ones, in christian kingdoms, 50 Have their free voices: Rome, the nurse of judge ment,

Invited by your noble self, hath sent

One general tongue unto us, this good man, This just and learned priest, cardinal Campeius; 55 Whom, once more, I present unto your highness. King. And, once more, in mine arms I bid him welcome,

And thank the holy conclave for their loves; They have sent me such a man I would have 60 wish'd for. [gers' loves, Cam. Your grace must needs deserve all stran

Meaning, that the cardinal can, as he pleases, make high or low. i. e. so sick as he is proud.

5

You are so noble: To your highness' hand
I tender my commission; by whose virtue,
(The court of Rome commanding)—you, my lord
Cardinal of York, are join'd with me their servant,
In the unpartial judging of this business.
King. Two equal men. The queen shall be
acquainted
[diner?
Forthwith, for what you come:-Where's Gar-
Wol. I know, your majesty has always lov'd
So dear in heart, not to deny her that [her 10
A woman of less place might ask by law,
Scholars, allow'd freely to argue for her.
King. Ay, and the best, she shall have; and
my favour

To him that does best, God forbid else. Cardinal, 15
Pr'ythee, call Gardiner to me, my new secretary ;|
I find him a fit fellow.

Cardinal goes out, and re-enters with Gardiner.
Wol. Give me your hand: much joy and favour
You are the king's now.

[to you; 20
Gard. But to be commanded
[me.
For ever by your grace, whose hand has raised
[Aside.

King.Comehither, Gardiner. [Walksandwhispers. Cam. My lord of York, was not one doctor Pace 25 In this man's place before him?

Wol. Yes, he was.

Cam. Believe me, there's an ill opinion spread 30 Even of yourself, lord cardinal.

Wol. How! of me?

[him; Cam. They will not stick to say, you envy'd And, fearing he would rise, he was so virtuous, Kept him a foreign man still: which so griev'd 35 That he ran mad, and dy'd.

[him,

45

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, 40
If I command him, follows my appointment;
I will have none so near else. Learn this, brother,
We live not to be grip'd by meaner persons.
King. Deliver this with modesty to the queen.
[Exit Gardiner
The most convenient place that I can think of,
For such receipt of learning, is Black-friars;
There ye shall meet about this weighty business :-
My Wolsey, see it furnish'd.-O my lord,
Would it not grieve an able man, to leave
So sweeta bedfellow?but,conscience, conscience,--|
O,'tis a tender place, and I must leave her,[Exeunt.
SCENE III.

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

that pinches :

His highness having liv'd so long with her; and she
So good a lady, that no tongue could ever
Pronounce dishonour of her,-by my life,
She never knew harm-doing;-O now, after
So many courses of the sun enthron'd,

Still growing in a majesty and pomp,-the which
To leave is a thousand-fold more bitter, than
"Tis sweet at first to acquire,-after this process,
To give her the avaunt! it is a pity
Would move a monster.

2

Old L. Hearts of most hard temper
Melt and lament for her.

Anne. O, God's will! much better,
She ne'er had known pomp: though it be temporal,
Yet, if that quarrel', fortune, do divorce
It from the bearer, 'tis a sufferance, panging
As soul and body's severing.
Old L. Alas, poor lady!
She's stranger now again *.

Anne. So much the more

Must pity drop upon her. Verily,
I swear, 'tis better to be lowly born,
And range with humble livers in content,
Than to be perk'd up in a glistering grief,
And wear a golden sorrow.

I

Old L. Our content,

Is our best having'.

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

Old L. Beshrew me, I would,

And venture maidenhead for't; and so would you,
For all this spice of your hypocrisy :

You, that have so fair parts of woman on you,
Have too a woman's heart; which ever yet
Affected eminence, wealth, sovereignty;
Which, to say sooth, are blessings; and which
(Saving your mincing) the capacity [gifts
Of your soft cheveril conscience would receive,
If
you might please to stretch it.
Anne. Nay, good troth.-

[be a queen? Old L. Yes, troth and troth,-You would not Anne. No, not for all the riches under heaven. Old L. 'Tis strange; a three-pence bow'd would hire me,

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

Anne. No, in truth.

[a little';

Old L. Then you are weakly made; pluck off
50I would not be a young count in your way,
For more than blushing comes to if your back
Cannot vouchsafe this burden, 'tis too weak
Ever to get a boy.

Anne. How you do talk!
55I swear again, I would not be a queen
For all the world.

Old L. In faith, for little England

2 i. e. to send

1i. e. kept him out of the king's presence, by employing him in foreign embassies, her away contemptuously. Dr. Warburton says, "she calls fortune a quarrel or arrow, from her striking so deep and suddenly. Quarrel was a large arrow so called."-Dr. Johnson, however, thinks the poet may be easily supposed to use quarrel for quarreller, as murder for murderer, the act for the agent. 1. e. she is again an alien; not only no longer queen, but no longer an Englishwoman. i. e. our best possession. Cheveril, kid-skin, soft leather, i, e. let us descend still lower, and more upon a level with your own quality,

4

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