Then deputy of Ireland; who removed,

Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too,
Lest he should help his father.

2 Gent.

Was a deep envious one.

I Gent.

No doubt he will requite it.

That trick of state

At his return,

This is noted,

And generally, whoever the king favours,
The cardinal instantly will find employment,

And far enough from court too.

2 Gent. All these commons Hate him perniciously, and o' my conscience, Wish him ten fathom deep: this duke as much They love and dote on; call him bounteous Buckingham,

The mirror of all courtesy.

Stay there, sir,

I Gent.
And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of.

Enter BUCKINGHAM from his arraignment; Tipstaves before him; the axe with the edge towards him; halberds on each side; accompanied with Sir THOMAS LOVELL, Sir NICHOLAS VAUX, Sir WILLIAM SANDS, and common people.

2 Gent. Let's stand close, and behold him. Buck. All good people, You that thus far have come to pity me, Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me I have this day received a traitor's judgment, And by that name must die: vet, heaven bear

witness,

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

The law I bear no malice for my death,
It has done, upon the premises, but justice:
But those that sought it I could wish more
Christians :

Be what they will, I heartily forgive them :
Yet let them look they glory not in mischief,
Nor build their evils on the graves of great men;
For then my guiltless blood must cry against
them.

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.

loved me,

You few that

And dare be boid 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,

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. Buck. Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you As I would be forgiven: I forgive all;

There cannot be those numberless offences

'Gainst me that I cannot take peace with: no

black envy

Shall make my grave.

grace;

Commend me to his

And if he speak of Buckingham, pray tell him, You met him halt in heaven: my vows and

prayers

Yet are the king's; and, till my soul forsake,
Shall cry for blessings on him: may he live
Longer than I have time to tell his years!
Ever beloved, and loving, may his rule be!
And, when old Time shall lead him to his end.
Goodness and he fill up one monument!

Lov. To the water side I must conduct your

grace;

Then give my charge up to sir Nicholas Vaux,
Who undertakes you to your end.

Vaux.

Prepare there, The duke is coming; see the barge be ready; And fit it with such furniture as suits

The greatness of his person.

Buck.

Nay, sir Nicholas,

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

Yet I am richer than my base accusers,

'That

never knew what truth meant: I now seal it ;

And with that blood will make them one day groan for't.

My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,

Who first raised head against usurping Richard,
Flying for succour to his servant Banister,
Being distress'd, was by that wretch betray'd,
And without trial fell; God's peace be with him!
Henry the seventh succeeding, truly pittying
My father's loss, like a most royal prince,
Restored me to my honours, and, out of ruins,
Made my name once more noble.
Now his son,
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, must needs say, 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 servants, by those men we loved most;

A most unnatural and faithless service!
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 counsels,
Be sure you be not loose; for those 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 sink ye.

people,

All good

Pray for me! I must now forsake ye; the last hour

Of my long weary life is come upon me.
Farewell:

And when you would say something that is sad,
Speak how I fell.—I have done; and God forgive
me! [Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and Train.
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.

I Gent.

What may it be?

sir ?

Good angels keep it from us!

You do not doubt my faith,

2 Gent. This secret is so weighty, 'twill require A strong faith to conceal it.

I Gent.

I do not talk much.

2 Gent.

Let me have it;

I am confident;

You shall, sir did you not of late days hear
A buzzing, of a separation

Between the king and Katharine ?

VOL. VIII.

19

I Gent.

Yes, but it held not: For when the king once heard it, out of anger He sent command to the lord mayor, straight To stop the rumour, and allay those tongues That durst disperse it.

2 Gent.

Is found a truth now

But that slander, sir, 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,
Cardinal Campeius is arrived, and lately;
As all think, for this business.

'Tis the cardinal;

I Gent. And merely to revenge him on the emperor, For not bestowing on him, at his asking, The archbishopric of Toledo, this is purposed. 2 Gent. I think you have hit the mark: but is't not cruel

That she should feel the smart of this? The

cardinal

Will have his will, and she must fall.

I Gent.

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

'Tis woeful.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-An Antechamber in the Palace.

Enter the LORD CHAMBERLAIN, reading a letter.
Cham.

My lord,-The horses your lordship sent for, with all the care I had I saw well chosen, ridden, and furnished. They were young and handsome; and of th best breed in the north. When they were ready to set out for