Sands. Your grace is noble;
Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks,

And save me so much talking.

Wol. My Lord Sands,

[SERVANT gives him Wine.

I am beholden to you: cheer your neighbours.-
Ladies, you are not merry; -Gentlemen,
Whose fault is this?

Sands. The red wine first must rise

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

Anne. You are a merry gamester,

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 show me.

[Drinks.

Sands. I told your grace they would talk anon.
[Drums and Trumpets,-Cannon discharged, All

rise.

Wol. What's that?

Look out there, some of you.

What warlike voice?

[Exit CROMWELL.

And to what end is this?-Nay, ladies, fear not; By all the laws of war you are privileged. [All sit.

Enter CROMWELL.

How now? what is't?

Crom. A noble troop of strangers;

For so they seem: they've left their barge, and

landed;

And hither make, as great ambassadors

From foreign princes.

Wol. Good lord chamberlain,

Go, give them welcome;

And, 'pray, receive them nobly, and conduct them

C

Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
Shall shine at full upon them: -Some attend him.-
[Exeunt CHAMBERLAIN, CROMWELL, and Two
GENTLEMEN.

You've 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.-

Music.

Enter CROMWELL and CHAMBERLAIN, introducing the KING, NORFOLK, and SUFFOLK, in Masks, and Eight ATTENDANTS, habited as Shepherds, followed by Two GENTLEMEN.

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.

Wol. Say, lord chamberlain,

They've done my poor house grace; for which I pay

them

A thousand thanks, and pray them take their plea

sures.

[The KING converses with ANNE BULLEN.

A Dance.

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

Till now I never knew thee.

Wol. My lord,

Cham. Your grace?

Wol. 'Pray, tell them thus much from me :

There should be one amongst them, by his person, More worthy this place than myself; to whom,

If I but knew him, with my love and duty

I would surrender it.,

Cham. I will, my lord.

[CHAMBERLAIN goes to the Company.

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.

Wol. Let me see then.

By all your good leaves, gentlemen: - Here I'll make My royal choice.

King. You've found him, cardinal :

[The KING unmasks all rise and bow.

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

I should judge now unhappily.

Wol. I am glad,

Your grace is grown so pleasant.

King. My lord chamberlain,

What fair lady's that?

Cham. An't please your grace, Sir Thomas Bul

len's daughter,

The Viscount Rochford, one of her highness' 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, 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.-Nay,

come;

I must not yet forsake you: let's be merry;
Good my lord cardinal, I've half a dozen healths
To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure
To lead them once again;

Which being ended, they shall all go sleep:
Then this, which doth a happy vision seem,
May be again repeated in a dream.

[Flourish of Drums and Trumpets.]
[Exeunt WOLSEY, with Lights, the KING and
ANNE BULLEN, CHAMBERLAIN, NOR-
Folk, and SuFFOLK, LORD SANDS, and
LADY DENNY, CROMWELL, Two PAGES,
Lovel and Guildford, and the rest of
the Guests.

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE I.

A Street.

A Bell tolls, and muffled Drums beat.

Enter GUARDS, TIPSTAVES, LOVEL, EXECUTIONER, BUCKINGHAM, GUILDFORD, GENTLEMEN, and GUARDS.

Buck. 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 bears wit-

ness,

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 Chris

tians;

Be what they will, I heartily forgive 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. You few, that

loved 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,
And lift my soul to heaven. [Bell tolls.] Lead on.

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 Lovel, I as free forgive you,
As I would be forgiven.
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 soul forsake me,
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.