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Now present here together; that's to fay;
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 oppreffion I did reel,
When I first mov'd you.

Lin. Very well, my liege.

King. I have fpoke long; be pleas'd your felf to fay How far you fatisfy'd me.

Lin. Pleafe your Highness,

The queftion did at first fo ftagger me,
Bearing a state of mighty moment in't,

And confequence of dread; that I committed
The daring'ft counsel which I had to doubt.:
And did intreat your Highness to this courfe
Which you are running here

King. I then mov'd you

My lord of Canterbury, and got your leave
To make this prefent fummons unfollicited.
I left no rev'rend person in this court,
But by particular confent proceeded

Under your hands and feals. Therefore go on;
For no diflike i'th' world against the perfon
Of our good Queen, but the Tharp thorny points
Of my alledged reafons drive this forward.
Prove but our marriage lawful, by my life
And kingly dignity, we are contented

To wear our mortal ftate to come, with her.
(Katherine our Queen) before the primeft creature
That's paragon'd i'th' world.

Cam. So please your Highness

The Queen being abfent, 'tis a needful fitnefs
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

Thefe Cardinals trifle with me: I abhor

I

This

This dilatory floth, and tricks of Rome.
My learn'd and well-beloved fervant Cranmer,
Pr'ythee return; with thy approach, I know,
My comfort comes along. Break up the court:
I fay, fet on.

[Exeunt, in manner as they enter'd,

ACT III. SCENE I.

Enter Queen and her Women, as at work.

QUEEN.

CAKE thy lute, wench, my foul grows fad with troubles:

Sing and difperfe 'em if thou canst leave working.

SONG:

Orpheus, with his lute, made trees,

And the mountain tops that freeze,
Bow themselves when he did fing.
To his mufick, plants and flowers
Ever rofe, 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 fweet mufick is fuch art,
Killing care and grief of heart,
Fall asleep, or hearing die.

Enter a Gentleman.

Queen. How now?

Gent. And't please your Grace, the two great Cardinals

Wait in the presence.

Queen.

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Queen. Would they speak with me?
Gent. They will'd me fay fo, Madam.
Queen. Pray their Graces

To come near; what can be their bufinefs

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 Wolfey and Campeius.

Wol. Peace to your Highness.

Queen. Your Graces find me here part of a Houfe-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 caufe of our coming.

Queen. Speak it here.

There's nothing I have done yet, o'my confcience,
Deferves a corner; would all other women
Could fpeak this with as free a foul as I do!
My lords, I care not (fo much I am happy
Above a number) if my actions

Were try'd by ev'ry tongue, ev'ry eye saw 'em,
Envy and bafe opinion fet against 'em :

I know my life fo even. If your business

Do feek me out, and that way I am wife in;
Out with it boldly: truth loves open dealing.

Wol. Tanta eft erga te mentis integritas, Regina Sere-
niffima,

Queen. Good my lord, no Latin;

I am not fuch a truant fince my coming,

As not to know the language I have liv'd in.

A range tongue makes my cause more strange, fuf-
picious:

Pray fpeak in English; here are fome will thank you
If you fpeak truth, for their poor mistress' fake
Believe me fhe has had much wrong. Lord Cardinal,
The willing'ft fin I ever yet committed

May be abfolv'd in English.

1

Wol.

Wol. Noble lady,

I'm forry my integrity fhould breed
(And fervice to his Majefty and you)
So deep fufpicion, where all faith was meant.
We come not by the way of accufation,
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 ftand minded in the weighty difference
Between the King and you? and to deliver,
Like free and honeft men, our just opinions
And comforts to your cause.

Cam. Moft honour'd madam,

My lord of York, out of his noble nature,
Zeal and obedience he ftill 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 fervice and his counsel.
Queen. To betray me.

My lords, I thank you both for your good wills,
Ye fpeak like honeft men, pray God ye prove fo.
But how to make ye fuddenly an answer

In fuch a point of weight, fo near mine honour,
(More near my life, I fear) with my weak wit,
And to fuch 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 laft fit of my greatnefs) good your Graces,
Let me have time and council for my caufe:
Alas, I am a woman, friendless, hopeless.

Wol. Madam, you wrong the King's love with those fears,

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 counfel?

Or be a known friend 'gainst his Highnefs' pleasure,
C

Though

Though he be grown fo defp'rate to be honeft,
And live a fubject? nay forfooth, my friends
They, that muft weigh out my afflictions,
They, that my truft 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 caufe into the King's protection,
He's loving and moft gracious. 'Twill be much
Both for your honour better, and your caufe:
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 with for both, my ruin : Is this your chriftian counsel? out upon ye. Heav'n is above all yet; there fits a judge, That no King can corrupt.

Cam. Your rage mistakes us.

Queen. The more fhame for ye; holy men I thought ye, Upon my foul two rev'rend Cardinal virtues; But Cardinal fins and hollow hearts, I fear ye: Mend 'em for fhame, my lords: is this your comfort? The cordial that you bring a wretched lady?

A woman loft among ye, laugh'd at, scorn'd?

I will not with ye half my miferies,

I have more charity. But fay I warn'd ye;

Take heed, take heed for heav'ns fake, left at once
The burthen of my forrows fall upon ye.
Wel. Madam, this is a meer diftraction,
You turn the good we offer into envy.

Queen. Ye turn me into nothing. Wo upon ye, And all fuch falfe profeffors! Would you have me (If you have any juftice, any pity,

If ye be any thing, but churchmens habits)
Put my fick caufe into his hands that hates me?
Alas, h'as banifh'd me his bed already,
His love too, long ago. I'm old, my lords,
And all the fellowship I hold now with him

I's

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