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Came to the bar, where, to his accufations,
He pleaded ftill Not guilty, and alledg'd
Many fharp reafons to defeat the law.
The King's attorney, on the contrary,
Urg'd on examinations, proofs, confeffions
Of divers witneffes, which the Duke defir'd
To have brought viva voce to his face;
At which appear'd against him, his furveyor,
Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor, and John Court
Confeffor to him, with that devil-monk
Hopkins, that made this mischief.

2 Gen. That was he

That fed him with his prophecies.

I Gen. The fame.

All these accus'd him ftrongly, which he fain Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could

not:

And fo his peers, upon this evidence,

Have found him guilty of high treafon. Much
He fpoke, and learnedly, for life; but all
Was either pitied in him, or forgotten.

2 Gen. After all this, how did he bear himself? 1 Gen. When he was brought again to th' bar, to hear 1

His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr'd
With fuch an agony, he sweat extremely;
And fomething spoke in choler, ill and hafty;
But he fell to himself again, and sweetly
In all the reft fhew'd a moft noble patience.
2 Gen. I do not think he fears death.
1 Gen. Sure he does not,

He never was fo womanifh; the caufe
He may a little grieve at.

2 Gen. Certainly

The Cardinal is the end of this.

1 Gen. 'Tis likely,

By all conjectures. Firft, Kildare's attainder,
Then Deputy of Ireland; who remov'd,

Earl Surrey was fent thither, and in haste too,
Left he fhould help his father.

2 Gen. That trick of stateWas a deep envious one.

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1 Gen. At his return,

No doubt he will requite it; this is noted,
And, generally, whoever the King favours,
The Cardinal inftantly will find employment. for,
And far enough from court too.

2 Gen All the Commons

Hate him perniciously, and, o' my confcience,
With him ten fathom deep; this Duke as much
They love and doat on, call him bounteous Buck-
The mirror of all curtesy.
[ingham,

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Enter Buckingham from his arraignment, (Tipftaves before him, the axe with the edge toward him, halberds on each side) accompanied with Sir Tho mas Lovel, Sir Nicholas Vaux, Sir William Sands, and common. people, &c.

1 Gen. Stay there, Sir,.

And fee the noble ruin'd man you speak of."

2 Gen. Let's ftand close, and behold him.
Buck. All good people,

You that thus far have come to pity me,

[nels,

Hear what I fay, and then go home and lofe me: :
I have this day received a traitor's judgment,
And by that name must die; yet, Heav'n bear wit➡
And if I have a confcience, let it fink me
Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful,
To the law I bear no malice for my death,
It has done, upon the premises, but justice
But thofe that fought it I could wish more Christians :
Be what they will, I heartily forgive 'em;
Yet let 'em look they glory not in mifchief,
Nor build their evils on the graves of great men;
For then my guiltlefs blood muft cry against 'em.
For further life in this world I ne'er hope,
Nor will I fue, although the King have mercies-
More than I dare make faults. Ye few that lov'd
And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham, [me,
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 fweet facrifice,

And lift my foul to heav'n.—Lead on, o' God's

name.

Lov. I do befeech your Grace for charity; If ever any malice in your heart

Were hid against me, now forgive me frankly. Buck. Sir Thomas Lovel, I as free forgive you, As I would be forgiv'n; I forgive all.

There cannot be thofe numberlefs offences 'Gainft me, I can't take peace with; no black envy Shall make * my grave: Commend me to his

Grace;

And if he fpeak of Buckingham, pray tell him,
You met him half in heav'n: my vows and pray'rs
Yet are the King's; and, till my foul forfake me,
Shall cry for bleflings on him. May he live
Longer than I have time to tell his years!
Ever belov'd and loving may his rule be!
And when old Time fhall lead him to his end,
Goodness and he fill up one monument !

Lov. To th' water-fide 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 fuch furniture as fuits

The greatness of his person.

Buck. Nay, Sir Nicholas,

Let it alone; my ftate now will but mock me.
When I came hither I was Lord High Conftable,.
And Duke of Buckingham; now poor Edward Bo-
Yet I am richer than my bafe accusers, [hun:
That never knew what truth meant; I now feal it,
And with that blood will make 'em one day groan
My noble father, Henry of Buckingham, [for't.
Who firft rais'd head againft ufurping Richard,
Flying for fuccour to his fervant Banister,
Being diftrefs'd, was by that wretch betray'd,
And without trial fell; God's peace be with him!:

* Shall mark my grave. Warburton.

Henry the Seventh fucceeding, truly pitying
My father's lofs, like a moft royal Prince,
Reftor'd to me my honours; and, from ruins,
Made my name once more noble. Now his fon,
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 fay, a noble one, which makes me
A little happier than my wretched father;
Yet thus far we are one in fortune, both
Fell by our fervants, by thofe men we lov'd most.
A moft unnatural and faithlefs fervice!

Heav'n has an end in all: yet, you that hear me,
This from a dying man receive as certain;
Where you are lib'ral of your loves and counfels,
Be fure you be not loofe; thofe you make friends,
And give your hearts to, when they once perceive
The leaft rub in your fortunes, fall away

Like water from ye, never found again,
But where they mean to fink ye. All good people
Pray for me! I muft leave ye; the laft hour
Of my long weary life is come upon me.
Farewell; and when you would fay fomething fad,
Speak how I fell.-I've done; and God forgive me!
[Exeunt Buckingham and Train.

1 Gen. O this is full of pity; Sir, it calls, I fear, too many curses on their heads

That were the authors.

2 Gen. If the Duke be guiltless,

'Tis full of woe; yet I can give you inkling Of an enfuing evil, if it fall,

Greater than this.

1 Gen. Good angels keep it from us!

What may it be? You do not doubt my faith, Sir? 2 Gen. This fecret is fo weighty, 'twill require Aftrong faith * to conceal it.

1 Gen. Let me have it;

I do not talk much.

2 Gen. I am confident;

You fhall, Sir. Did you not of late days hear

• Strong faith is great fidelity. Johnson.

A buzzing of a separation

Between the King and Catharine?

1 Gen. Yes, but it held not;

For when the King once heard it, out of anger
He fent command to the Lord Mayor strait
To ftop the rumour, and allay those tongues
That durft difperle it.

2 Gen. But that flander, 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 fome about him near, have, out of malice
To the good Queen, poffefs'd him with a fcruple
That will undo her. To confirm this too,
Cardinal Campeius is arriv'd, and lately,
As all think, for this business.

1 Gen. 'Tis the Cardinal;

And merely to revenge him on the Emperor,
For not beftowing on him, at his asking,
The Archbishopric of Toledo, this is purpos'd.

2 Gen. I think you've hit the mark; but is't not

cruel

That fhe thould feel the fmart of this? The Car

Will have his will, and fhe must fall.

1 Gen. 'Tis woful.

We are too open here to argue this:

Let's think in private more.

[dinal

[Exeunt.

III.

SCENE

An Antechamber in the Palace.

Enter Lord Chamberlain reading a letter.

My Lord, the horfes your Lordship fent for, with all the care I had I saw well chofen, ridden, and furnished. They were young and handfome, and of the best breed in the North. When they were ready to fet out for London, a man of my Lord Cardinal's, by commiffion and main power, took 'em from me, with this reafon, his mafter would be ferv'd before a fubject, if not before the King; which stopped our mouths, Sir.

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