1

ye,

Orti

e

ne

Is only by obedience. What can happen
To me, above this wretchedness? all your studies
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 say without vain-glory)
Never yet branded with suspicion?
Have I, with all my full affections

Still met the King? lov'd him next heav'n? obey'd him?
Been, out of fondness, supertitious to him?
Almost 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 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.
Queen. My lord, I dare not make my self 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

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 shall 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!
Almost no grave allow'd me! like the lilly,
That once was mistress of the field and flourish'd,
I'll hang my head, and perifh.

Wol. If your Grace

Could but be brought to know our ends are honest,
You'll feel more comfort. Why should we, good lady,
Upon what cause, wrong you? alas, our places,

The way of our profeffion is against it:

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We are to cure such forrows, not to sow 'em.
For goodness sake 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 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 foul as even as a calm; pray think us
Those we profess, peace-makers, friends and servants.

Cam. Madam, you'll find it so:

virtues

you wrong your

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

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

you;

Beware you lose it not; for us (if you please
To truft us in your business) we are ready
To use our utmost studies in your service.

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

give me,

If I have us'd my felf unmannerly.
You know I am a woman, lacking wit
To make a seemly answer to such perfons.

Pray do my service to his Majesty.

He has my heart yet; and shall have my prayers,
While I shall have my life. Come, rev'rend fathers,
Bestow your counsels on me. She now begs,
That little thought when she set footing here,

She should have bought her dignities fo dear. (Exeunt.

SCENE II.

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

Nor.

I

F yo you will now unite in your complaints,
And force them with a conftancy, the Cardinal

Cannot stand under them. If you omit

The

The offer of this time, I cannot promise

But that you shall sustain more new disgraces,
With these 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 stamp of nobleness in any person
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 spell 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 most high displeasure.
Sur. I should be glad to hear such 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 wish mine enemy.

Sur. How came

His practices to light?

Suf. Most strangely.

Sur. How?

Suf, The Cardinal's letters to the Pope miscarried, 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

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A crea

1

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 physick
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. 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 blessing to this land, which shall
In it be memoriz'd.

Suf. No, no:

There be more wasps that buz about his nose,

Will make this sting thee sooner. Cardinal Campeius

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

Hath left the cause to th' King unhandled, and

Is posted as the agent of our Cardinal,

To fecond all his plot. I do assure 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
Almost in Christendom; soon, I believe,
His second Marriage shall be publish'd, and
Her coronation. Katharine no more

Shall be call'd Queen, but Princess dowager,
A widow to Prince Arthur.

Nor. This same Cranmer's

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

Suf. He has, and we shall see him

For it an Archbishop.

Nor. So I hear.

Suf. 'Tis so.

Enter Wolfey and Cromwell.

The Cardinal.

Nor. Observe, observe, 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' inside of the Paper ?

Crom. Presently

He did unseal 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 sister he shall marry her.
Anne Bullen! - no, I'll no Anne Bullens for him,-
There's more in't than fair visage-Bullen! -
No, we'll no Bullens! - speedily I wish

To hear from Rome - the marchioness of Pembrook!

Nor. He's discontented.

Suf. May be he hears the King

Does whet his anger to him.
Sur. Sharp enough,

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Lord