This night to be comptrollers.
Sands. I'm your lordship's.

SCENE changes to York-house.

[Exeunt.

Hautboys. A small table under a state for the Cardinal, a longer Table for the guests. Then enter Anne Bullen, and divers other ladies and gentlemen, as guests, at one door; at another door, enter Sir Henry Guilford.

Guil. Ladies, a gen'ral welcome from his Grace Salutes ye all: this night he dedicates To fair content and you: none here, he hopes, In all this noble bevy, has brought with her One care abroad: he would have all as merry, As, first-good company, good wine, good welcome, (12) Can make good people.

Enter Lord Chamberlain, Lord Sands and Lovell.

O my lord, y'are tardy;
The very thoughts of this fair company
Clap'd wings to me.

Cham. You're young, Sir Harry Guilford.

Sands. Sir Thomas Lovell, had the Cardinal But half my lay-thoughts in him, fome of these Should find a running banquet, ere they rested: I think, would better please 'em: by my life, They are a sweet fociety of fair ones.

Lov. O, that your lordship were but now confeffor To one or two of thefe.

Sands. I would I were

They should find eafie penance.
Lov, 'Faith, how easie?

Sands. As eafie, as a down-bed would afford it.

(12) As, first, good Company, good Wine, &c.] As this Passage has been all along pointed, Sir Harry Guilford is made to include All these under the first Article; and then gives us the Drop as to What should follow. The Poet, I am perswaded, wrote;

As first-good Company, good Wine, good Welcome, &c. i. e. he would have you as merry as these 3 Things can make You, the best Company in the Land, of the best Rank, good Wine, &c.

B 4

Cham.

Cham. Sweet ladies, will it please you fit? Sir Harry, Place you that side, I'll take the charge of this : His Grace is entring; nay, you must not freeze: Two women, plac'd together, make cold weather: My lord Sands, you are one will keep 'em waking; Pray, fit between these ladies.

Sands. By my faith,

And thank your lordship. By your leave, sweet ladies ;
If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me :
I had it from my father.

Anne. Was he mad, Sir?

Sands. O, very mad, exceeding mad, in love too;
But he would bite none; just as I do now,
He'd kiss you twenty with a breath.
Cham. Well faid, my lord:
So now y'are fairly feated: gentlemen,
The penance lyes on you, if these fair ladies
Pass away frowning.

Sands. For my little cure, (13)

Let me alone.

Hautboys. Enter Cardinal Wolfey, and takes his state. Wol. Y'are welcome, my fair guests; that noble lady,

Or gentleman, that is not freely merry,

Is not my friend. This, to confirm my welcome;

And to you all good health.

Sands. Your Grace is noble:

Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks,

And fave me fo much talking.

Wol. My lord Sands,

I am beholden to you; cheer your neighbour :
Ladies, you are not merry; gentlemen,
Whose fault is this?

Sands. The red wine first must rise

[Drinks.

In their fair cheeks, my lord, then we shall have 'em
Talk us to filence.

(13) For my little Cure,] This Word I have restor'd from the first Folio. Some of the modern Editions read, Cue. But Lord Sands seems to me to prosecute the Idea of penance, mention'd by the Lord Chamberlain, and. humourously alluded to the Cure of Souls.

Anne. You're a merry gamefter,

My lord Sands.

Sands. Yes, if I make my play:

Here's to your ladyship, and pledge it, madam:

For 'tis to such a thing

Anne. You cannot shew me.

Sands. I told your Grace, that they would talk anon.

[Drum and trumpets, chambers discharged.

Wol. What's that?

Cham. Look out there, some of ye.

Wol. What warlike voice,

And to what end is this? nay, ladies, fear not;

By all the laws of war y'are privileged.

Enter a Servant.

Cham. How now, what is't?

Ser. A noble troop of strangers,

For so they feem, have left their barge and landed;

And hither make, as great ambaffadors

. From foreign Princes.

Wol. Good Lord Chamberlain,

Go, give 'em welcome; you can speak the French tongue;

And, pray, receive 'em nobly, and conduct 'em
Into our prefence, where this heav'n of beauty

Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him.

[All arise, and tables removed.

You've now a broken banquet, but we'll mend it.
A good digestion to you all; and, once more,
I showre a welcome on ye: welcome all.

Hautboys. Enter King and others as Maskers, habited like Shepherds, usher'd by the Lord Chamberlain. They pass directly before the Cardinal, and gracefully falute 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 'em.

Wol. Say, Lord Chamberlain,

They've done my poor house grace: for which I pay 'em A thousand thanks, and pray 'em, take their pleasures. [Chufe ladies, King and Anne Bullen.

King. The faireft hand I ever touch'd! O beauty,

'Till now I never knew thee.

Wol. My lord,

Cham. Your Grace;

[Mafick. Dance.

Wol. Pray tell 'em thus much from me :

There should be one amongst 'em by his person

More worthy this place than my self, to whom,

If I but knew him, with my love and duty

I would furrender it.

Cham. I will, my Lord.

Wol. What say they?

Cham. Such a one, they all confefs,

[Whisper.

There is indeed, which they would have your Grace

Find out, and he will take it.

Wol. Let me fee then:

By all your good leaves, gentlemen, here I'll make
My royal choice.

King. You've found him, Cardinal :
You hold a fair assembly: you do well, lord.
You are a church-man, or I'll tell you, Cardinal,
I fhould judge now unhappily.

Wol. I'm glad,

Your Grace is grown so pleasant..

King. My lord Chamberlain,

Pr'ythee come hither, what fair lady's that? (daughter,
Cham. An't please your Grace, Sir Thomas Bullen's
(The Viscount Rochford,) one of her Highness' women.
King. By heaven, she's 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 Lovell, is the banquet ready

I'th' privy chamber;

Lov. Yes, my lord.

Wol.

Wol. Your Grace,

I fear, with dancing is a little heated.
King. I fear, too much.

Wol. There's fresher air, my lord,

In the next chamber.

King. 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.

W

ACT II.

SCENE, a Street.

Enter two Gentlemen at several Doors.

I GENTLEMAN.

HITHER away fo faft ?

2 Gen. O Sir, God save ye: Ev'n to the hall, to hear what shall become

Of the great Duke of Buckingham.

1 Gen. I'll fave you

That labour, Sir. All's now done, but the Ceremony

Of bringing back the pris'ner.

2 Gen. Were you there?

1 Gen. Yes, indeed, was I.

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

1 Gen. You may guess quickly what.

2 Gen. Is he found guilty?

I Gen. Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon't.

2 Gen. I'm sorry for't.