First Gent.
Whither away so fast? ^note

Sec. Gent.
O, ^note God save ye ^note!
Even ^note to the hall, to hear what shall become
Of the great Duke of Buckingham.

First Gent.
I'll save you
That labour, sir. All's now done, but the ceremony
Of bringing back the prisoner.

Sec. Gent.
Were you there?

First Gent.
Yes, indeed was I.

Sec. Gent.
Pray, speak what has happen'd. ^note

First Gent.
You may guess quickly what.

Sec. Gent.
Is he found guilty?

First Gent.
Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon't. ^note

Sec. Gent.
I am ^note sorry for't.

First Gent.
So are a number more.

Sec. Gent.
But, pray, how pass'd it?

First Gent.
I'll tell you in a little. The great duke
Came to the bar; where to his accusations
He pleaded still not ^note guilty and alleged
Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.
The king's attorney on the contrary
Urged on the ^note examinations, proofs, confessions
Of divers witnesses; which the duke desired
To have ^note brought viva voce to his face:
At which appear'd against him his surveyor;
Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Car,
Confessor to him; with that devil monk,
Hopkins, that made this mischief.

Sec. Gent.
That was he
That fed him with his prophecies? ^note

First Gent.
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. Much
He spoke, and learnedly, for life, but all
Was either pitied in him or forgotten.

Sec. Gent.
After all this, how did he bear himself?

First Gent.
When he was brought again to the bar, to hear
His knell rung out, his judgement, he was stirr'd
With such an agony, he sweat ^note extremely
And something spoke in choler, ill and hasty:
But he fell to himself again and sweetly
In all the rest show'd a most noble patience.

Sec. Gent.
I do not think he fears death.

First Gent.
Sure, he does not;
He never was so womanish; the cause
He may a little grieve at.

Sec. Gent.
Certainly
The cardinal is the ^note end of this.

First Gent.
'Tis likely,
By all conjectures: first, Kildare's attainder ^note,
Then deputy of Ireland; who removed,
Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too,
Lest he should help his father.

Sec. Gent.
That trick of state
Was a deep envious ^note one.

First Gent.
At his return
No doubt he will requite it. This is noted,
And generally, whoever the king favours,
The cardinal instantly will find employment ^note,
And far enough from court too.

Sec. 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— ^note

First Gent.
Stay there, sir,
And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of. ^noteEnter ^note 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 Walter Sands, ^note and common people, &c.

Sec. Gent.
Let's stand close, and behold him.

Buck.
All good people,

You that thus far ^note have come to pity me,
Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me.
I have this day received a traitor's judgement,
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 ^note I bear no malice for my death;
'T has ^note done upon the premisses but justice:
But those that sought it I could wish more Christians:
Be what they will, I heartily forgive 'em ^note:
Yet let 'em ^note look they glory not in mischief,
Nor build their evils ^note on the graves of great men;
For then my guiltless blood must cry against 'em.
For further life in this world I ne'er hope,
Nor will I sue, although the king have ^note mercies
More than I dare ^note make faults. You few that loved me ^note
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' ^note God's name ^note.

Lov.
I do beseech your grace, for charity,
If ever any malice in your heart
Were hid against me, now to ^note 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 ^note take peace with: no black envy

Shall make ^note my grave ^note. Commend me to his grace, ^note
And if he speak of Buckingham, pray tell him
You met him half in heaven: my vows and prayers ^note
Yet are the king's, and, till my soul forsake ^note,
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 ^note!
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 ^note but mock me.
When I came hither, I was lord high constable
And Duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun ^note:
Yet I am richer than my base accusers,
That never knew what truth meant: I now seal it;
And with that blood will make 'em 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 pitying
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 ^note 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 ^note one in fortunes ^note: both
Fell by our servants, by those men we loved most;
A most ^note 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 ^note 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 ^note they mean to sink ye. All good people,
Pray for me! I must now forsake ^note ye: the last hour
Of my long weary ^note life is come upon me.
Farewell:
And when you would say something that is ^note sad, ^note
Speak how I fell. I have done; and God forgive me! ^note [Exeunt Duke and Train.

First Gent.
O, this is full of pity! Sir, it calls,
I fear, too many curses on their heads
That were the authors.

Sec. 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.

First Gent.
Good angels keep it from us!
What ^note may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir?

Sec. Gent.
This secret is so weighty, 'twill require

A strong faith to conceal it.

First Gent.
Let me have it;
I do not talk much.

Sec. Gent.
I am confident;
You shall, sir: did you not of late days hear
A buzzing of a separation
Between the king and Katharine?

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

Sec. Gent.
But that slander, sir,
Is found a ^note 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 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.

First Gent.
'Tis the cardinal;
And merely to revenge him on the emperor,
For not bestowing on him at his asking
The archbishopric of Toledo, this is purposed.

Sec. Gent.
I think you have hit the mark: but is't ^note not cruel ^note
That she should feel the smart of this? The cardinal
Will have his will, and she must fall.

First Gent.
'Tis woeful.
We are too open here to argue this;
Let's think ^note in private more. [Exeunt.

^note

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