The question did at first so stagger me,-
Bearing a state of mighty moment in't,
And consequence of dread,—that I committed
The daring'st counsel which I had, to doubt
And did entreat your highness to this course,
Which you are running here.

K. Hen.

;

I then mov'd you,
My lord of Canterbury; and got your leave
To make this present summons:-Unsolicited
I left no reverend person in this court;
But by particular consent proceeded,
Under your hands and seals. Therefore, go on:
For no dislike i' the world against the person
Of the good queen, but the sharp thorny points
Of my alleged reasons, drive this forward:
Prove but our marriage lawful, by my life,
And kingly dignity, we are contented

To wear our mortal state to come, with her,
Katharine our queen, before the primest creature
That's paragon'd' o' the world.

Cam.
So please your highness,
The queen being absent, 'tis a needful fitness
That we adjourn this court till further day:
Meanwhile must be an earnest motion
Made to the queen, to call back her appeal
She intends unto his holiness. [They rise to depart.

K. Hen.

Enter WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS

Peace to your higħiness!
Q. Kath. Your graces find me here part of a
housewife
;

I would be all, against the worst may happen.
What are your pleasures with me, reverend lords?
Wol. May it please you, noble madam, to with
draw

Into your private chamber, we shall give you
The full cause of our coming.

my I may perceive, [Aside.

These cardinals trifle with me: I abhor
This dilatory sloth, and tricks of Rome.
My learn'd and well-beloved servant, Cranmer,
Pr3ythee return!2 with thy approach, I know,
My comfort comes along. Break up
the court:
say, set on. [Exeunt, in manner as they entered.

I

Orpheus with his lute made trees,
And the mountain-tops, that freeze,

Bow themselves, when he did sing
To his music, plants, and flowers,
Ever sprung; as sun, and showers,
There had been a lasting spring.
Every thing that heard him play,
Even the billows of the sea,

Hung their heads, and then lay by.
In sweet music is such art
Killing care, and grief of heart,

;

Fall asleep, or, hearing, die.

Enter a Gentleman.

Q. Kath. How now?

i

Q. Kath.
· Speak it here
There's nothing I have done yet, o' my conscience,
Deserves a corner: 'Would, all other women
Could speak this with as free a soul as I do!
My lords, I care not, (so much I am happy
Above a number,) if actions
Were tried by every tongue, every eye saw them,
Envy and base opinion set against them,
I know my life so even: If your business
Seek me out, and that way I am wife in,"
Out with it boldly; Truth loves open dealing.
Wol. Tanta est ergà te mentis integritas, regina
serenissima,

Q. Kath. O, good my lord, no Latin;8

I am not such a truant since my coming,
As not to know the language I have liv'd in:
A strange tongue makes my cause more strange,
suspicious;

;

Pray, speak in English: here are some will thank you,
If
you speak truth, for their
Believe me, she has had much wrong: Lord car-
mistress' sake
poor

dinal,

The willing'st sin I ever yet committed,
May be absolv'd in English.

Wol.

Noble lady,

I am sorry, my integrity should breed
(And service to his majesty and you,)9
So deep suspicion, where all faith was meant.
We come not by the way of accusation,

To taint that honour every good tongue blesses
Nor to betray you any way to sorrow;
You have too much, good lady: but to know
How you stand minded in the weighty difference
Between the king and you; and to deliver,
Like free and honest men, our just opinions,
And comforts to your cause.

Cam.
Most honour'd madam.
My lord of York,-out of his noble nature,
Zeal and obedience he still bore your grace,
Forgetting, like a good man, your late censure

Gent. An't please your grace, the two great car-Both of his truth and him (which was too far,)—

3 Cavendish, who appears to have been present at this interview of the cardinals with the queen, says ' She 8 Then began my lord to speak to her in Latin.- · came out of her privy chamber with a skein of white" Nay, good my lord (quoth she,) speak to me in Enthread about her neck into the chamber of presence.'glish, I beseech you, though I understand Latin."— A subsequent speech of the queen's is nearly conform Cavendish. able to what is related in Cavendish, and copied by Holinshed.

4 Presence chamber.

5 Being churchmen they should be virtuous, and every business they undertake as righteous as their sacred office: but all hoods make not monks' In allu.!

9 This line stands so awkwardly, and out of its place, that Mr. Edwards's proposition to transpose it, should be adopted, thus:

"I am sorry my integrity should breed

So deep suspicion, where all faith was meant,
And service to his majesty and you.'

Offers, as I do, in a sign of peace,
His service and his counsel.

Q. Kath.
To betray me. [Aside.
My lords, I thank you both for your good wills,
Ye speak like honest men, (pray God, ye prove so!)
But how to make you suddenly an answer,
In such a point of weight, so near mine honour,
(More near my life, I fear,) with my weak wit,
And to such men of gravity and learning,
In truth, I know not. I was set at work
Among my maids, full little, God knows, looking
Either for such men, or such business.
For her sake that I have been1 (for I feel
The last fit of my greatness,) good your graces,
Let me have time, and counsel, for my cause;
Alas! I am a woman, friendless, hopeless.

Wol. Madam, you wrong the king's love with
these fears;

Your hopes and friends are infinite.

Q. Kath.

In England,
But little for my profit: Can you think, lords,
That any Englishman dare give me counsel ?
Or be a known friend, 'gainst his highness' pleasure
(Though he be grown so desperate to be honest,)
And live a subject? Nay, forsooth, my friends,
They that must weigh out? my afflictions,
They that my trust must grow to, live not here;
They are, as all my other comforts, far hence,
In mine own country, lords.
Cam.

I would, your grace
Would leave your griefs, and take my counsel.
Q. Kath.
How, sir?
Čam. Put your main cause into the king's pro-
tection;

He's loving, and most gracious; 'twill be much
Both for your honour better, and your cause;
For, if the trial of the law o'ertake you,
You'll part away disgrac'd.

Wol.

He tells you rightly. Q. Kath. Ye tell me what ye wish for both, my

ruin :

Is this your Christian counsel? out upon ye!
Heaven is above all yet; there sits a judge,
That no king can corrupt.
Cam.
Your rage
mistakes us.
Q. Kath. The more shame for ye; 3 holy men I
thought ye,

Upon my soul, two reverend cardinal virtues :
But cardinal sins, and hollow hearts, I fear ye:
Mend them for shame, my lords. Is this your com-
fort?

The cordial that ye bring a wretched lady?
A woman lost among ye, laugh'd at, scorn'd?
I will not wish half
ye my miseries,

I have more charity: But say,
I warn'd ye;
Take heed, for heaven's sake, take heed, lest at once
The burden of my sorrows fall upon ye.

Wol. Madam, this is a mere distraction;
You turn the good we offer into envy.

Q. Kath. Ye turn me into nothing: Woe upon ye,
And all such false professors! Would ye have me
(If you have any justice, any pity,

If ye be any thing but churchmen's habits,)
Put my sick cause into his hands that hates me?
Alas! he has banish'd me his bed already;
His love too long ago: I am old, my lords,
And all the fellowship I hold now with him,
Is only my obedience. What can happen

To me, above this wretchedness? all your studies
Make me a curse like this.

1 For the sake of that royalty which I have heretofore possessed.

2 Weigh out for out-weigh. In Macbeth we have overcome for come over.

3 If I mistake you, it is by your fault, not mine; for I thought you good.

4 Served him with superstitious attention.

ō This is an allusion to the old jingle of Angli and Angeli. Thus Nashe in his Anatomy of Absurdity, 1589-For my part I meane to suspend my sentence, and let an author of late memorie be my speaker; who affirmeth that they carry angels in their faces, and devils in their devices.'

|

Cum. Your fears are worse.

Q. Kath. Have I lived thus long-(let me speak

myself,

Since virtue finds no friends,)-a wife, a true one?
A woman (I dare say, without vain-glory,)
Never yet branded with suspicion?

Have I with all my full affections

Still met the king? lov'd him next heaven? obey's
him?

Been, out of fondness, superstitious to him?4
Almost forgot my prayers to content him?
And am I thus rewarded? 'tis not well, lords.
Bring me a constant woman to her husband,
One that ne'er dream'd a joy beyond his pleasure;
And to that woman, when she has done most,
Yet will I add an honour,—a great patience.

Wol. Madam, you wander from the good we
aim at.

Q. Kath. My lord, I dare not make myself so guilty To give up willingly that noble title Your master wed me to: nothing but death Shall e'er divorce my dignities. Wol. 'Pray, hear me. Q. Kath. 'Would I had never trod this English earth, Or felt the flatteries that it! Ye have angels' faces, but heaven knows your hearts.

5

grow upon

What will become of me now, wretched lady?
I am the most unhappy woman living.—
Alas! poor wenches, where are now your fortunes!
[To her Women.
Shipwreck'd upon a kingdom, where no pity,
No friends, no hope; no kindred weep for me,
Almost, no grave allow'd me :-Like the lily,
That once was mistress of the field, and flourish'd,
I'll hang my head, and perish.
Wol.
If your grace
Could but be brought to know, our ends are honest,
You'd feel more comfort: why should we, good lady,
Upon what cause, wrong you? alas! our places,
The way of our profession is against it;

We are to cure such sorrows, not to sow them
For goodness' sake, consider what you do;
How you may hurt yourself, ay, utterly
Grow from the king's acquaintance, by this carriage.
The hearts of princes kiss obedience,

So much they love it; but to stubborn spirits,
They swell, and grow as terrible as storms."
I know, you have a gentle, noble temper,
A soul as even as a calm; Pray, think us
Those we profess, peace-makers, friends, and ser-

you;

us,

Beware, you lose it not: For if you please
To trust us in your business, we are ready
To use our utmost studies in your service.

Q. Kath. Do what ye will, my lords: And, prav,
forgive me,

If I have us❜d myself unnannerly;
You know, I am a woman, lacking wit
To make a seemly answe. to such persons.
Pray, do my service to his majesty:

He has my heart yet; and shall have my prayers,
While I shall have my life. Come, reverend fathers,
Bestow your counsels on me she now begs,

6 Spenser, F Q. b. ii. c. vi. st. 16. 7 It was one of the charges brought against Lord Es sex, in the year before this play was written, by his un grateful kinsman Sir Francis Bacon, when that noble man, to the disgrace of humanity, was obliged by a junto of his enemies to kneel at the end of the councii table for several hours, that in a letter written during his re tirement in 1598 to the lord keeper, he had said, 'There is no tempest to the passionate indignation of a prince 8 Behaved.

'The lily, lady of the flow'ring field.'

That little thought, when she set footing here,
She should have bought her dignities so dear.

[Exeunt

Nor. All men's.

6

Suf. There's order given for her coronation: Marry, this is yet but young, and may be left To some ears unrecounted.-But, my lords, SCENE II. Antechamber to the King's Apart-She is a gallant creature, and complete ment. Enter the DUKE of NORFOLK, the DUKE of SUFFOLK, the EARL of SURREY, and the Lord Chamberlain.

I am joyful

To meet the least occasion, that may give me
Remembrance of my father-in-law, the duke,
To be reveng'd on him.

Suf.
Which of the peers
Have uncontemn'd gone by him, or at least
Strangely neglected ?2 when did he regard
The stamp of nobleness in any person,
Out of himself?

Cham. My lord, you speak your pleasures:
What he deserves of you and me, I know;
What we can do to him (though now the time
Gives way to us,) I much fear. If you cannot
Bar his access to the king, never attempt
Any thing on him; for he hath a witchcraft
Over the king in his tongue.

Nor.
O, fear him not
His spell in that is out: the king hath found
Matter against him, that for ever mars
The honey of his language. No, he's settled,
Not to come off, in his displeasure.

Sur.

Sir,

I should be glad to hear such news as this

Once

every

hour.

Nor.

;

In mind and feature: I persuade me, from her
Will fall some blessing to this land, which shall
In it be memoriz’d."

Sur.

But, will the king
Digest this letter of the cardinal's ?
The Lord forbid!

There be more wasps that buz about his nose,
Will make this sting the sooner. Cardinal Campeius
Is stolen away to Rome; hath ta'en no leave;
Has left the cause o' the king unhandled; and
Is posted, as the agent of our cardinal,
To second all this plot. I do assure you
The king cry'd, ha! at this.

Cham.

And let him cry ha, louder!
Nor.

When returns Cranmer ?

8

Now, God incense him,

But, my lord,

Suf. He is return'd, in his opinions; which
Have satisfied the king for his divorce,
Together with all famous colleges
Almost in Christendom: shortly, I believe,
His second marriage shall be publish'd, and
Her coronation. Katharine no more
Shall be call'd queen; but princess dowager,
And widow to Prince Arthur.
Nor.

This same Cranmer s
A worthy fellow, and hath ta'en much pain
In the king's business.
Suf.

For it, an archbishop.

Believe it, this is true

Nor.
Suf.

The cardinal

In the divorce, his contrary proceedings3
Are all unfolded; wherein he appears,

As I could wish mine enemy.

Sur.

How came

Most strangely.

O, how, how?
Suf. The cardinal's letter to the pope miscarried,
And came to the eye o' the king: wherein was read,
How that the cardinal did entreat his holiness
To stay the judgment o' the divorce: For if
It did take place, I do, quoth he, perceive
My king is tangled in affection to

A creature of the queen's, Lady Anne Bullen.
Sur. Has the king this?
Suf.
Sur.

C

Believe it.
Will this work?
Cham. The king in this perceives him, how he
coasts,

And hedges, his own way. But in this point
All his tricks founder, and he brings his physic
After his patient's death; the king already
Hath married the fair lady.

Sur.
'Would he had!
Suf. May you be happy in your wish, my lord!
For, I profess, you have it.

Sur.

Traces the conjunction!
Suf.

Now all my joy
My amen to't!

Nor.

He has and we shall see him

So I hear.

'Tis so

Enter WOLSEY and CROMWELL.

Observe, observe, he's moody.
Wol. The packet, Cromwell, gave it you the king?
Crom. To his own hand, in his bedchamber.
Wol. Look'd he o' the inside of the paper?
Crom.

Presently

He did unseal them; and the first he view'd,
He did it with a serious mind; a heed
Was in his countenance: You, he bade
Attend him here this morning.
Wol.

Is he ready

To come abroad?
Crom.
I think, by this he is.
Wol. Leave me a while. [Exit CROMWELL.
It shall be to the duchess of Alençon,
The French king's sister: he shall marry her.
Anne Bullen! No; I'll no Anne Bullens for him:
There is more in it than fair visage.-Bullen!
No, we'll no Bullens.--Speedily I wish

To hear from Rome.-The marchioness of Pem-
broke!

We!. The late queen's gentlewoman; a knight's
daughter,

To be her mistress' mistress! the queen's queen!-
This candle burns not clear: 'tis I must snuff it;
Then,out it goes.-What though I know her virtuous,
And well deserving? yet I know her for

7 To memorize is to make memorable.

9 Suffolk means to say Cranmer is returned in his opinions, i. e. with the same sentiments which he enter tained before he went abroad, which (sentiments) have satisfied the king, together with all the famous colleges

6 This same phrase occurs again in Romeo and Juliet, referred to on the occasion. Or perhaps the passage (as

Acti Sc. 1:

Mr. Tyrwhitt observes) may mean, He is returned in effect, having sent his opinions, i. e. the opinions o, divines, &c. collected by him

And 'tis a kind of good deed, to say well:
And yet words are no deeds. My father lov'd you :

Suf. I would 'twere something that would fret He said, he did; and with his deed did crown the string,

5 Your royal benefits, showered upon me daily, have been more than all my studied purpose could do to re- The chiding flood is the resounding food. To raide quite, for they went beyond all that man could effect into babble, and to brawl, were synonymous

Wol. It must be himself then. Sur. Thou art a proud traitor, priest. Wol. Proud lord, thou liest; Within these forty hours Surrey durst better Have burnt that tongue, than said so. Sur.

Thy ambition, Thou scarlet sin, robb'd this bewailing land Of noble Buckingham, my father-in-law: The heads of all thy brother cardinals (With thee, and all thy best parts bound together) Weigh'd not a hair of his. Plague of your policy! You sent me deputy for Ireland ;