And lift
my
foul to heav'n. Lead on a God's name.
Lov. I do beseech your Grace for charity,
If ever any malice in your heart
Were hid against me, now forgive me frankly.
Buck. Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you
As I would be forgiven: 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 heaven: my vows and pray'rs
Yet are the King's; and 'till my foul forfake me,
Shall cry for bleffings 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,
Goodnefs 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.
The Duke is coming fee the barge be ready,
And fit it with fuch furniture as fuits
The greatnefs of his perfon.
Buck. Nay, Sir Nicholas,
Let it alone; my ftate now will but mock me.
When I came hither, I was Lord high constable,
And Duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bobun.
Yet I am richer than my bafe accufers,
That never knew what truth meant; I now feal it ;
And with that blood will make 'em one day groan for't.
My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,
Who first rais'd head againft ufurping Richard,
Flying for fuccour to his fervant Banister,
Being diftrefs'd, was by that wretch betray'd,
And without tryal fell; God's peace be with him!
Henry the Sev'nth 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, a name, honour, life, and all
That made me happy, at one ftroak has taken
For ever from the world. I had my tryal,
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.
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 counsels,
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 last hour
Of my long weary life is come upon me:
Farewel; 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 curfes 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,
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 A strong faith to conceal it.
I 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
A buzzing of a feparation
Between the King and Kath'rine?
1 Gen. Yes, but it held not;
a life, honour, name, and all
For when the King once heard it, out of anger
He fent command to the Lord Mayor ftrait-
To ftop the rumour, and allay those tongues
That durft difperse 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.
I Gen. 'Tis the Cardinal;
And meerly to revenge him on the Emperor,
For not beflowing on him, at his asking,
The Arch-bifhoprick of Toledo, this is purpos'd.
2 Gen. I think you've hit the mark; but is't not cruel, .That she should feel the fmart of this? the Cardinal Will have his will, and fhe muft fall,
1 Gen. 'Tis woful..
We are too open here to argue this ::
Let's think in private more.
Enter Lord Chamberlain, reading a letter.
Mr Y lord, the horfes your lordship fent for, with all the care I had I faw well chofen, ridden, and furnifh'd. 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 stopp'd our mouths, Sir.
I fear he will indeed; well, let him have them, he will have all, I think.
Enter to the Lord Chamberlain the Dukes of Norfolk
and Suffolk.
Nor. Well met, my Lord Chamberlain.
Cham. Good day to both your Graces.
Suf. How is the King employ'd?
Cham. I left him private,
Full of fad thoughts and troubles.
Nor. What's the cause ?
Cham. It feems the marriage with his brother's wife Has crept too near his confcience.
Suf. No, his confcience
Has crept too near another lady.
Nor. 'Tis fo;
This is the Cardinal's doing; the King-Cardinal :
That blind priest, like the eldest fon of fortune,
Turns what he lift. The King will know him one day.
Suf. Pray God he do; he'll never know himself elfe.
Nor. How bolily he works in all his business,
And with what zeal? for now he has crackt the league
'Tween us and th' Emperor, the Queen's great nephew:
He dives into the King's foul, and there fcatters
Doubts, dangers, wringing of the confcience,
Fears, and defpair, and all these for his marriage;
And out of all thefe to reftore the King,
He counfels a divorce, a lofs of her
That like a jewel has hung twenty years
About his neck, yet never loft her luftre;
Of her that loves him with that excellence,
That angels love good men with; even of her,
That, when the greateft ftroke of fortune falls,
Will blefs the King; and is not this courfe pious?
Cham. Heav'n keep me from such counsel! 'tis moft
These news are ev'ry where, ev'ry tongue fpeaks 'em,
And ev'ry true heart weeps for't. All that dare
Look into thefe affairs, fee his main end,
The French King's fifter. Heav'n will one day open
The King's eyes, that fo long have flept upon.
This bold, bad man..
Suf. And free us from his flavery.
Nor. We had need pray, and heartily, for deliv'rance; Or this imperious man will work us all
From Princes into pages; all mens honours
Lye like one lump before him, to be fashion'd
Into what pitch he pleafe.
I love him not, nor fear him, there's my creed ::
As I am made without him, fo I'll stand,
If the King please: his curfes and his bleffings
Touch me alike; they're breath I not believe in.
I knew him, and I know him; fo I leave him
To him, that made him proud, the Pope.
Nor. Let's in ;
And with fome other bufinefs, put the King
From thefe fad thoughts that work too much upon him,
My lord, you'll bear us company?÷
The King hath fent me other-where :: befides
You'll find a moft unfit time to difturb him:
Health to your lordships..
[Exit Lord Chamberlain. Nor. Thanks, my good Lord Chamberlain.
The Scene draws, and difcovers the King fitting and reading penfively.
Suf. How fad he looks! fure he is much afflicted.
King.
Who's there? ha?
Nor. Pray God he be not angry.
King. Who's there, I fay how dare you thruft your. felves
Into my private meditations?
Who am I? hạ ?
Nor. A gracious King, that pardons all offences Malice ne'er meant: our breach of duty this way, Is bufinefs of eftate; in which we come
To know your royal pleasure..
King. Ye are too bold:
Go to; I'll make ye know your times of bufinefs:
Is this an hour for temporal affairs? ha?.
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