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himself again； and sweetly In all the rest show'd a most noble patience。
SECOND GENTLEMAN。 I do not think he fears death。 FIRST
GENTLEMAN。 Sure； he does not； He never was so womanish； the cause
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He may a little grieve at。 SECOND GENTLEMAN。 Certainly The
Cardinal is the end of this。 FIRST GENTLEMAN。 'Tis likely； By all
conjectures： first； Kildare's attainder； Then deputy of Ireland； who remov'd；
Earl Surrey was sent thither； and in haste too； Lest he should help his
father。 SECOND GENTLEMAN。 That trick of state Was a deep envious
one。 FIRST GENTLEMAN。 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。 SECOND
GENTLEMAN。 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
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
SANDYS； and common people； etc。
FIRST GENTLEMAN。 Stay there； sir； And see the noble ruin'd man
you speak of。 SECOND GENTLEMAN。 Let's stand close； and behold him。
BUCKINGHAM。 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 receiv'd 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 'em look they glory not in
mischief Nor build their evils 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 mercies More than I dare
make faults。 You few that lov'd 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。 Lead on； a God's name。 LOVELL。 I do
beseech your Grace； for charity； If ever any malice in your heart Were hid
against me； now to forgive me frankly。 BUCKINGHAM。 Sir Thomas
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KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
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 take peace
with。 No black envy Shall mark my grave。 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； Shall
cry for blessings 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 shall
lead him to his end； Goodness and he fill up one monument！ LOVELL。 To
th' 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。 BUCKINGHAM。 Nay； Sir Nicholas；
Let it alone； my state now will but mock me。 When I came hither I was
Lord High Constable And Duke of Buckingham； now； poor Edward
Bohun。 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 rais'd 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； Restor'd me to my honours； and out of ruins
Made my name once more noble。 Now his son； 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 say a noble one；
which makes me A little happier than my wretched father； Yet thus far we
are one in fortunes： both Fell by our servants； by those men we lov'd most…
… A most 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 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 they mean to sink ye。 All good people； Pray for me！ I must now
forsake ye； the last hour Of my long weary life is come upon me。 Farewell；
And when you would say something that is sad； Speak how I fell。 I have
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KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
done； and God forgive me！ Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and train FIRST
GENTLEMAN。 O； this is full of pity！ Sir； it calls； I fear； too many curses
on their heads That were the authors。 SECOND GENTLEMAN。 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 GENTLEMAN。 Good
angels keep it from us！ What may it be？ You do not doubt my faith； sir？
SECOND GENTLEMAN。 This secret is so weighty； 'twill require A strong
faith to conceal it。 FIRST GENTLEMAN。 Let me have it； I do not talk
much。 SECOND GENTLEMAN。 I am confident。 You shall； sir。 Did you
not of late days hear A buzzing of a separation Between the King and
Katharine？ FIRST GENTLEMAN。 Yes； but it held not； For when the King
once heard it； out of anger He sent command to the Lord Mayor straight
To stop the rumour and allay those tongues That durst disperse it。
SECOND GENTLEMAN。 But that slander； 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 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 arriv'd and lately； As all
think； for this business。 FIRST GENTLEMAN。 '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 purpos'd。 SECOND
GENTLEMAN。 I think you have hit the mark； but is't not cruel That she
should feel the smart of this？ The Cardinal Will have his will； and she
must fall。 FIRST GENTLEMAN。 'Tis woeful。 We are too open here to
argue this； Let's think in private more。 Exeunt
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KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
ACT II。 SCENE 2。
London。 The palace
Enter the LORD CHAMBERLAIN reading this letter
CHAMBERLAIN。 'My lord； 'The horses your lordship sent for； with
all the care had； I saw well chosen； ridden； and furnish'd。 They were young
and handsome； and of the best breed in the north。 When they were ready to
set out for London； a man of my Lord Cardinal's； by commission； and
main power； took 'em from me； with this reason： his master would be
serv'd before a subject； 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