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 end of this.[254]
First Gent. 'Tis likely, 40
By all conjectures: first, Kildare's attainder,[255]
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 one.[256]
First Gent. At his return 45
No doubt he will requite it. This is noted,
And generally, whoever the king favours,
The cardinal instantly will find employment,[257]
And far enough from court too.
Sec. Gent. All the commons
Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience, 50
Wish him ten fathom deep: this duke as much
They love and dote on; call him bounteous Buckingham,
The mirror of all courtesy—[258]
First Gent. Stay there, sir,
And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of.
Enter 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, and common people, &c.[259]
Sec. Gent. Let's stand close, and behold him.
Buck. All good people,[260]55
You that thus far have come to pity me,[261]
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, 60
Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful!
The law I bear no malice for my death;[262]
'T has done upon the premisses but justice:[263]
But those that sought it I could wish more Christians:
Be what they will, I heartily forgive 'em:[264] 65
Yet let 'em look they glory not in mischief,[264]
Nor build their evils on the graves of great men;[265]
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[266] 70
More than I dare make faults. You few that loved me[267]
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, 75
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' God's name.[268]