Is only by obedience. What can happen
To me, above this wretchednefs? all your ftudies
Make me a curse, like this.

Cam. Your fears are worse

Queen. Have I liv'd thus long (let me speak my self,
Since virtue finds no friends) a wife, a true one?
A woman (I dare fay without vain-glory)
Never yet branded with fufpicion?

Have I, with all my full affections

Still met the King? lov'd him next heav'n? obey'd him?
Been, out of fondness, fuperftitious to him?
Almoft forgot my prayers to content him?
And am I thus rewarded? 'tis not well lords,
Bring me a conftant woman to her husband,
One that ne'er dream'd a joy beyond his pleafure;
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.
Queen. My lord, I dare not make my self so guilty,
To give up willingly that noble title

Your mafter wed me to: nothing but death
Shall e'er divorce my dignities.

Wol. Pray hear me

Queen. Would I had never trod this English earth,
Or felt the flatteries that grow upon it!

Ye've angels faces, but heav'n knows your hearts.
What fhall become of me now! wretched lady!
I am the most unhappy woman living.

Alas, poor wenches, where are now your fortunes?
[To her women
Ship-wrack'd upon a kingdom, where no pity,
No friends, no hope! no kindred weep for me!
Almoft no grave allow'd me! like the lilly,
That once was miftrefs of the field and flourish'd,
I'll hang my head, and perifh.

Wel. If your Grace

Could but be brought to know our ends are honest,
You'll feel more comfort. Why fhould we, good lady,
Upon what caufe, wrong you? alas, our places,
The way of our profeffion is against it:

Cz

We

We are to cure fuch forrows, not to fow 'em.
For goodness fake confider what you do,
How you may hurt your felf, nay utterly

Grow from the King's acquaintance, by this carriage.
The hearts of Princes kifs obedience,

So much they love it: but to ftubborn fpirits,
They fwell and grow as terrible as ftorms.
I know you have a gentle, noble temper,
A foul as even as a calm; pray think us

Thole we profefs, peace-makers, friends and fervants. Cam. Madam, you'll find it fo: you wrong your virtues

With these weak womens fears. A noble spirit,
As yours was put into you, ever cafts

Such doubts, as falfe coin, from it. The King loves

you;

Beware you

lofe it not; for us (if you please To truft us in your bufinefs) we are ready To use our utmoft ftudies in your service.

Queen. Do what you will, my lords; and pray forgive me,

If I have us'd my felf unmannerly.

You know I am a woman, lacking wit

To make a feemly answer to fuch perfons.

Pray do my fervice to his Majefty.

He has my heart yet; and fhall have my prayers,
While I fhall have my life. Come, rev'rend fathers,
Beftow your counfels on me. She now begs,
That little thought when the fet footing here,
She fhould have bought her dignities fo dear. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Enter the Duke of Norfolk, Duke of Suffolk, Lord
Surrey, and Lord Chamberlain.

will now unite in your complaints,

Nor. IF you will now with a conftancy, the Cardinal

Cannot stand under them. If you omit

The

The offer of this time, I cannot promife

But that you fhall fuftain more new difgraces,
With thefe you bear already.

Sur. I am joyful

To meet the leaft occafion 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? when did he regard
The ftamp of nobleness in any perfon
Out of himself?

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

Nor. O fear him not,

His fpell in that is out; the King hath found
Matter against him that for ever mars

The honey of his language. No, he's fettled,
Not to come off, in his moft high difpleasure.
Sur. I fhould be glad to hear fuch news as this
Once every hour.

Nor. Believe it this is true.

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

As I would with mine enemy.

Sur. How came

His practices to light?

Suf. Moft ftrangely.

Sur. How?

Suf, The Cardinal's letters to the Pope mifcarried, And came to th' eye o'th' King; wherein was read, How that the Cardinal did intreat his holiness To stay the judgment o'th' divorce; for if It did take place, I do, quoth he, perceive My King is tangled in affection to

C 3

A crea

A creature of the Queen's, lady Anne Bullen.'

Sur. Has the King this?

Suf. Believe it.

Sur. Will this work?

Cham. The King in this perceives him, how he coafts And hedges his own way. But in this point All his tricks founder; and he brings his phyfick 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 profefs you have it.

Sur. Now all joy

Trace the conjunction.
Suf. My Amen to't.
Nor. All men's.

Suf. There's order given for her coronation :
Marry this is but young, and may be left
To fome ears unrecounted. But, my lords,
She is a gallant creature, and compleat
In mind and feature. I perfuade me from her
Will fall fome bleffing to this land, which shall
In it be memoriz'd.

Sur. But will the King

Digeft this letter of the Cardinal's?

The lord forbid.

Nor. Marry, Amen.

Suf. No, no:

There be more wafps that buz about his nofe,
Will make this fting thee fooner. Cardinal Campeins

Is ftol'n away to Rome, has ta'en no leave,

Hath left the cause to th' King unhandled, and

Is pofted as the agent of our Cardinal,

To fecond all his plot. I do affure you,

The King ery'd ha! at this.

Cham. Now God incense him ;

And let him cry ha, louder.

Nor. But, my lord,

When returns Cranmer?

Suf. He is return'd with his opinions, which

Have fatisfy'd the King for his divorce,
Gather'd from all the famous colleges
Almoft in Chriftendom; foon, I believe,
His fecond Marriage fhall be publish'd, and
Her coronation. Katharine no more
Shall be call'd Queen, but Princess dowager,
A widow to Prince Arthur.

Nor. This fame Cranmer's

A worthy fellow, and hath ta'en much pain
In the King's business.

Suf. He has, and we fhall fee him
For it an Archbishop.

Nor. So I hear.

Suf. 'Tis fo.

Enter Wolfey and Cromwell.

The Cardinal.

Nor. Obferve, obferve, he's moody.

Wol. The packet, Cromwell,

Gave it you the King?

Crom. To his own hand, in's bed-chamber.'
Wol. Look'd he o'th' infide of the Paper?
Crom. Presently

He did unfeal them, and the first he view'd,
He did it with a ferious mind; a heed
Was in his countenance. You he bad
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. [Afide.

It shall be to the Dutchess of Alenson,
The French King's fifter he fhall marry her.
Anne Bullen! -no, I'll no Anne Bullens for him,
There's more in't than fair vifage- •Bullen!
No, we'll no Bullens!fpeedily I wifh
To hear from Rome-the marchionefs of Pembrook !
Nor. He's discontented.

Suf. May be he hears the King

Does whet his anger to him.

Sur. Sharp enough,