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Wol.

In the next chamber.

There's fresher air, my lord,

K. Hen. 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 'em once again; and then let's dream
Who's best in favour.-Let the music knock it.

[Exeunt, with trumpets.

ACT SECOND

SCENE I.-Westminster. A Street

Enter two Gentlemen, meeting

1 Gent. Whither away so fast ?

2 Gent.

O,-God save you.

E'en to the hall, to hear what shall become

Of the great Duke of Buckingham.

1 Gent.

I'll save you

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

Of bringing back the prisoner.

2 Gent.

Were you there?

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1 Gent. Yes, truly is he, and condemned upon 't.

2 Gent. I am sorry for 't.

1 Gent.

So are a number more.

2 Gent. But, pray, how passed 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, viva 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 ?

1 Gent.

That was he

The same.

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 treason.
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 stirred
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 showed a most noble patience.
2 Gent. I do not think he fears death.
1 Gent.

Sure, he does not;

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

2 Gent.

The Cardinal is the end of this.

1 Gent.

Certainly,

'T is likely,

By all conjectures: first, Kildare's attainder,"
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.

1 Gent.

That trick of state

At his return

No doubt he will requite it. This is noted,
And generally,—whoever the King favours,
The Cardinal instantly will find employment,
And far enough from court too.

2 Gent.

All the 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,

1 Gent. Stay there, sir And see the noble ruined man you speak of.

Enter BUCKINGHAM from his arraignment; tip staves 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, &c

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; yet, 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;
"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 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 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,

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.

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