[Aside. Beauty and honour in her are so mingled, My honour'd lord. This compell'd fortune!) have your mouth fill'd up, Anne. Old L. How tastes it? is it bitter? forty pence, no. That promises more thousands: Honour's train The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful What do you think me? SCENE IV. A Hall in Blackfriars. Trumpets, Sennet, and Cornets. Enter two Vergers, with short Silver Wands; next them, two Scribes, in the Habits of Doctors; after them, the Archbishop of Canterbury alone; after him, the Bishops of Lincoln, Ely, Rochester, and St. Asaph; next them, with some small distance, follows Gentleman bearing the Purse, with the Great Seal, and a Cardinal's Hat; then two Priests, bearing each a Silver Cross; then a Gentleman Usher bareheaded, accompanied with a Sergeant at Arms, bearing a Silver Mace; then two Gentlemen, bearing two great Silver Pillars; after them, side by side, the two Cardinals Wolsey and Campeius: two Noblemen with the Sword and Mace. Then The enter the King and Queen, and their Trains. The King takes Place under the Cloth of State; the two Cardinals sit under him as Judges. Queen takes Place, at some distance from the King The Bishops place themselves on each side the Court, in manner of a Consistory; between them, the Scribes. The Lords sit next the Bishops. The Crier and the rest of the Attendants stand in convenient order about the Stage. Wol. Whilst our commission from Rome is read, Let silence be commanded. What's the need? K. Hen. It bath already publicly been read, Wol. Be't so: Proceed. Scribe. Say, Henry, king of England, come into the court. Crier. Henry, king of England, &c. K. Hen. Here. Scribe. Say, Katharine, queen of England, come into court. Crier. Katharine, queen of England, &c. [The Queen makes no Answer, risesout of her Chair, goes about the Court, comes to the King, and kneels at his Feet; then speaks.] Q. Kath. Sir, I desire you, do me right and justice; And to bestow your pity on me for I am a most poor woman, and a stranger, Yea, subject to your countenance; glad, or sorry, Or made it not mine too? Or which of your friends Yea, the elect of the land, who are assembled Cam. Hath spoken well, and justly: Therefore, madam, Q. Kath. Lord cardinal, Sir, Your pleasure, madam? I am about to weep; but, thinking that We are a queen (or long have dream'd so), certain, I'll turn to sparks of fire. The daughter of a king, my drops of tears Wol. Be patient yet. Or God will punish me. I do believe, Q. Kath. I will, when you are humble; nay, before, Induc'd by potent circumstances, that You are mine enemy; and make my challenge, You shall not be my judge: for it is you Have blown this coal betwixt my lord and me,Which God's dew quench!-Therefore, I say again, I utterly abhor, yea, from my soul, Refuse you for my judge; whom, yet once more, I hold my most malicious foe, and think not At all a friend to truth. Wol. I do profess You speak not like yourself; who ever yet O'ertopping woman's power. Madam, you do me And worthily, my falsehood? yea, as much Remove these thoughts from you: The which before Q. Kath. To bring my whole cause 'fore his holiness, Cam. [She courtesies to the King, and offers to depart. The queen is obstinate, Stubborn to justice, apt to accuse it, and Disdainful to be tried by it; 'tis not well. She's going away. K. Hen. Call her again. [court. Crier. Katharine, queen of England, come into the Grif. Madam, you are call'd back. [your way: Q. Kath. What need you note it? pray yon, keep When you are call'd, return.-Now the Lord help, They vex me past my patience!-pray you, pass on: I will not tarry; no, nor ever more, Upon this business, my appearance make In any of their courts. [Exeunt Queen, Griffith, and her other Attendants. That man i'the world, who shall report he has Thy meekness saint-like, wife-like government,- Wol. Most gracious sir, In humblest manner 1 require your highness, That it shall please you to declare, in hearing Of all these ears (for where I am robb'd and bound, There must I be unloos'd; although not there At once and fully satisfied), whether ever I Did broach this business to your highness; or Laid any scruple in your way, which might Induce you to the question on't? or ever Have to you, but with thanks to God for such A royal lady, spake one the least word, might Be to the prejudice of her present state, Or touch of her good person? K. Hen. My lord cardinal, I do excuse you; yea, upon mine honour, I free you from't. You are not to be taught That you have many enemies, that know not Why they are so, but, like to village curs, Bark when their fellows do: by some of these The queen is put in anger. You are excus'd: But will you be more justified? you ever Have wish'd the sleeping of this business; never Desir'd it to be stirr'd; but oft have hinder'd; oft The passages made toward it :-on my honour, I speak my good lord cardinal to this point, And thus far clear him. Now, what mov'd me to'tI will be bold with time, and your attention:Then mark the inducement. Thus it came ;-give heed to't: My conscience first receiv'd a tenderness, Our daughter Mary: I'the progress of this business, (I mean the bishop) did require a respite; Wherein he might the king his lord advertise Whether our daughter were legitimate, Respecting this our marriage with the dowager, And press'd in with this caution. First, methought, The grave does to the dead for her male issue Lin. Very well, my liege. K. Hen. I have spoke long; be pleas'd yourself to How far you satisfied me. [say Lin. So please your highness, 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 bands 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. K. Hen. 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. 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, Pr'ythee return with thy approach, I know, My comfort comes along. Break up the court: I say, set on. [Exeunt, in manner as they entered. Wol. Enter Wolsey and Campeius. Peace to your highness! Q. Kath. Your graces find me here part of a housewife; I would be all, against the worst may happen. Q. Kath. 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, Wol. Tanta est erga te mentis integritas, regina serenissima,---- Q. Kath. O, good my lord, no Latin; A strange tongue makes my cause more strange, suspicious; Pray, speak in English: here are some will thank you, Wol. Noble lady, I am sorry my integrity should breed So deep suspicion, where all faith was meant. Cam. 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 meu 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 been (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 Your hopes and friends are infinite. [lears; 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. Your rage mistakes us. Q Kath. The more shame for ye; holy men I thought I have more charity: But say, I warn'd ye; Wol. Madam, this is a mere distraction; 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), Cam. [him? Q. Kath. Have I liv'd thus long-(let me speak myself, Since virtue finds no friends), a wife, a true one? A woman (1 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'd Been, out of fondness, superstitions to him? 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 Wol. 'Pray, hear me. Q. Kath. 'Would I had never trod this English So much they love it; but, to stubborn spirits, To trust us in your business, we are ready [Exeunt. But that you shall sustain more new disgraces, Surry. I am joyful To meet the least occasion that may give me Suff. Cham. 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. Surry. I should be glad to Once every hour. Nor. Sir, hear such news as this Believe it, this is true. In the divorce, his contrary proceedings Are all unfolded; wherein he appears, As I could wish mine enemy. Surry. How came Most strangely. His practices to light? A creature of the queen's, lady Anne Bullen. Surry. Believe it. Will this work? Cham. The king in this perceives him, how he daughter, To be her mistress' mistress! the queen's queen!— A spleeny Lutheran; and not wholesome to Nor. He is vex'd at something. Suff. I would, 'twere something that would fret the The master-cord of his heart! [string, Enter the King, reading a Schedule; and Lovell. The king, the king. K. Hen. What piles of wealth hath he accumulated To his own portion! and what expense by the hour Seems to flow from him! How, i'the name of thrift, Does he rake this together?-Now, my lords: Saw you the cardinal? Nor. My lord, we have Stood here observing him: Some strange commotion Is in his brain he bites his lip, and starts; Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground, Then lays his finger on his temple; straight, Springs out into fast gait; then, stops again, Strikes his breast hard; and anon, he casts His eye against the moon: in most strange postures We have seen him set himself. K. Hen. It may well be; There is mutiny in his mind. This morning, Papers of state he sent me to peruse, As I requir'd; And, wot you, what I found There; on my conscience, put unwittingly? Forsooth, an inventory, thus importing, The several parcels of his plate, his treasure, NN Wol. [He takes his Seat, and whispers Lovell, who goes to Wolsey. Heaven forgive me! Ever God bless your highness! Good, my lord, Sir, For holy offices I have a time a time To think upon the part of business, which I bear i'the state; and nature does require Her times of preservation, which, perforce, I her frail son, amongst my brethren mortal, Must give my tendance to. K. Hen. You have said well. Wol. And ever may your highness yoke together, As I will lend you canse, my doing well With my well saying! K. Hen. 'Tis well said again; I have kept you next my heart; have not alone Wol. What should this mean? If you are bound to us, or no. What say you? K. Hen. Fairly answer'd; A loyal and obedient subject is My heart dropp'd love, my power rain'd honour, more K. Hen. 【Giving him Papers. And, after, this: and then to breakfast, with What appetite you have. [Exit King, frowning upon Cardinal Wolsey ; the Nobles throng after him, smiling, and whispering. Wol. What should this mean? What sudden anger's this? how have I reap'd it? He parted frowning from me, as if ruin Leap'd from his eyes: So looks the chafed lion I writ to his holiness. Nay, then, farewell! I have touch'd the highest point of all my greatness; I haste now to my setting: I shall fall Stav, Re-enter the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, the Earl of Surry, and the Lord Chamberlain. Nor. Hear the king's pleasure, cardinal: who comTo render up the great seal presently [mands you Into our hands; and to confine yourself To Asher-house, my lord of Winchester's, Till you hear further from his highness. Wol. Where's your commission, lords? words cannot carry Authority so weighty. Suff Who dare cross them? Bearing the king's will from his mouth expressly! Wol. Till I find more than will, or words, to do it (I mean, your malice), know, officions lords, I dare, and must deny it. Now I feel Of what coarse metal ye are moulded,-envy. How eagerly ye follow my disgraces, As if it fed ye! and how sleek and wanton Ye appear in every thing may bring my rain! Follow your envious courses, men of malice; You have Christian warrant for them, and, no doubt, In time will find their fit rewards. That seal, You ask with such a violence, the king (Mine, and your master), with his own hand gave me : Bade me enjoy it, with the place and honours, During my life; and, to confirm his goodness, Tied it by letters patents: Now, who'll take it? Surry. The king, that gave it. Wol. It must be himself then. Surry. Thou art a proud traitor, priest. Wol. Proud lord, thou liest; Within these forty hours Surry durst better Have burnt that tongue, than said so. Surry. Far from his succour, from the king, from all Wol. By my soul, [feel Surry. Your long coat, priest, protects you; thou shouldst My sword i'the life-blood of thee else.-My lords, Can ye endure to hear this arrogance? |