Now present here together; that's to say;
I meant to rectifie my confcience, (which
I then did feel full fick, and yet not well)
By all the rev'rend fathers of the land
And doctors learn'd. First, I began in private
With you my lord of Lincoln; you remember
How under my oppression I did reel,
When I first mov'd you.
Lin. Very well, my liege.
King. I have spoke long; be pleas'd your self to say
How far you fatisfy'd me.
Lin. Please your Highness,
The question did at first so stagger me,
Bearing a state of mighty moment in't,
And confequence of dread; that I committed
The daring'st counsel which I had to doubt.:
And did intreat your Highness to this course
Which you are running here
King. I then mov'd you
My lord of Canterbury, and got your leave
To make this present summons unfollicited.
I left no rev'rend person in this court,
But by particular consent proceeded
"Under your hands and feals. Therefore go on;
For no dislike i'th' world against the perfon
Of our good Queen, but the sharp thorny points
Of my alledged 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.
(Katherine our Queen) before the primest creature
That's paragon'd i'th' world.
Cam. So please your Highness
The Queen being absent, 'tis a needful fitness
That we adjourn this court to further day;
Mean while must be an earnest motion
Made to the Queen, to call back her appeal
She intends to his Holinefs.
King. I may perceive
These Cardinals trifle with me: I abhor
This dilatory floth, 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 enter'd,
ACT III. SCENE I.
Enter Queen and ber Women, as at work.
AKE thy lute, wench, my soul grows fad
Sing and disperse 'em if thou canst : leave working.
Orpheus, with his lute, made trees,
And the mountain tops that freeze,
Bow themselves when he did fing.
To his musick, plants and flowers
Ever rose, as fun and showers
There had made a lasting spring.
Ev'ry thing that heard him play,
Ev'n the billows of the fea,
Hung their heads, and then lay by
In Sweet musick is such art,
Killing care and grief of heart,
Fall asleep, or hearing die.
Gent. And't please your Grace, the two great Cardinals
Queen. Would they speak with me?
Gent. They will'd me say so, Madam.
Queen, Pray their Graces
To come near; what can be their business
With me a poor weak woman, fall'n from favour?
I do not like their coming. Now I think on't,
They should be good men, their affairs are righteous,
But all hoods make not monks.
Enter the Cardinals Wolsey and Campeius.
Wol. Peace to your Highness.
Queen. Your Graces find me here part of a House-wife,
(I would be all) against the worst may happen:
What are your pleasures with me, rev'rend lords?
Wol. May't please you, noble Madam, to withdraw
Into your private chamber; we shall give you
The full cause of our coming.
There's nothing I have done yet, o'my confcience,
Deserves a corner; would all other women
Could speak this with as free a foul as I do!
My lords, I care not (so much I am happy
Above a number) if my actions
Were try'd by ev'ry tongue, ev'ry eye saw 'em,
Envy and base opinion set against 'em:
I know my life so even. If your business
Do seek me out, and that way I am wife in;
Out with it boldly: truth loves open dealing.
Wol. Tanta est erga te mentis integritas, Regina Sere
Queen. Good my lord, no Latin;
I am not such a truant since my coming,
As not to know the language I have liv'd in.
A range tongue makes my cause more strange, suf
Pray speak in English, here are some will thank you
If you speak truth, for their poor mistress sake
Believe me she has had much wrong. Lord Cardinal,
The willing'st sin I ever yet committed
May be abfolv'd in English.
I'm forry my integrity should breed
(And service to his Majesty and you)
So deep fufpicion, 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 forrow;
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 cenfure
Both of his truth and him, (which was too far)
Offers, as I do, in a sign of peace
His service and his counsel.
My lords, I thank you both for your good wills,
Ye speak like honest men, pray God ye prove so.
But how to make ye 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 fet at work
Among my maids; full little, God knows, looking
Either for fuch men, or fuch business.
For her fake that I have been, (for I feel
The last fit of my greatness) good your Graces,
Let me have time and council for my cause:
Alas, I am a woman, friendless, hopeless.
Wol. Madam, you wrong the King's love with those
Your hopes and friends are infinite.
Queen. In England,
But little for my profit: can you think, lords,
That any English man dare give me counsel?
Or be a known friend 'gainst his Highness' pleafure,
Though he be grown so desp'rate to be honeft,
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 comforts are, far hence
In my own country, lords.
Cam. I would your Grace
Would leave your griefs, and take my counsel.
Queen. How, Sir?
Cam. Put your main cause into the King's protection,
He's loving and most gracious. 'Twill be much
Both for your honour better, and your cause :
For if the tryal of the law o'er-take ye,
You'll part away disgrac'd.
Wol. He tells you rightly.
Queen. Ye tell me what ye wish for both, my ruin : Is this your christian counsel? out upon ye. Heav'n is above all yet; there sits a judge, That no King can corrupt.
Cam. Your rage mistakes us.
Queen. The more shame for ye; holy men I thought ye, Upon my foul two rev'rend Cardinal virtues; But Cardinal sins and hollow hearts, I fear ye: Mend 'em for shame, my lords: is this your comfort? The cordial that you bring a wretched lady? A woman lost among ye, laugh'd at, scorn'd? I will not wish ye half my miseries, I have more charity. But say I warn'd ye; Take hoed, take heed for heav'ns fake, left at once The burthen of my forrows fall upon ye. Wol. Madam, this is a meer distraction, You turn the good we offer into envy.
Queen. Ye turn me into nothing. Wo upon ye,
And all such false professors! Would you have me
(If you have any justice, any pity,
If ye be any thing, but churchmens habits)
Put my fick cause into his hands that hates me?
Alas, h'as banish'd me his bed already,
His love too, long ago. I'm old, my lords,
And all the fellowship I hold now with him
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