Re-enter GRIFFITH, with CAPUCIUS.

If my sight fail not,

You should be lord ambassador from the emperor,
My royal nephew, and your name Capucius.
Cap. Madam, the same, your servant.

Kath.
O my lord,
The times, and titles, now are alter'd strangely
With me, since first you knew me. But, I pray you,
What is your pleasure with me?

Cap.
Noble lady,
First, mine own service to your grace; the next,
The king's request that I would visit you;

Who grieves much for your weakness, and by me
Sends you his princely commendations,

And heartily entreats you take good comfort. Kath. O my good lord, that comfort comes too late;

'Tis like a pardon after execution:

That gentle physick, given in time, had cur'd me; But now I am past all comforts here, but prayers. How does his highness?

Cap.

Madam, in good health. Kath. So may he ever do! and ever flourish, When I shall dwell with worms, and my poor name Banish'd the kingdom!-Patience, is that letter,

I caus'd you write, yet sent away?

Pat.

No, madam.

[Giving it to KAtharine.

Kath. Sir, I most humbly pray you to deliver This to my lord the king.

Cap.

Most willing, madam. Kath. In which I have commended to his goodness The model of our chaste loves, his young daugh

♦ The model of our chaste loves,] Model is image, or representative.

The dews of heaven fall thick in blessings on her!—
Beseeching him, to give her virtuous breeding;
(She is young, and of a noble modest nature;
I hope, she will deserve well;) and a little

To love her for her mother's sake, that lov'd him,
Heaven knows how dearly. My next poor petition
Is, that his noble grace would have some pity
Upon my wretched women, that so long,
Have follow'd both my fortunes faithfully:
Of which there is not one, I dare avow,
(And now I should not lie,) but will deserve,
For virtue, and true beauty of the soul,
For honesty, and decent carriage,

A right good husband, let him be a noble;
And, sure, those men are happy that shall have them.
The last is, for my men;-they are the poorest,
But poverty could never draw them from me;-
That they may have their wages duly paid them,
And something over to remember me by;

If heaven had pleas'd to have given me longer life,
And able means, we had not parted thus.

These are the whole contents:-And, good my lord,
By that you love the dearest in this world,

As you wish christian peace to souls departed,
Stand these poor people's friend, and urge the king
To do me this last right.

Cap.

By heaven, I will; Or let me lose the fashion of a man!

Kath. I thank you, honest lord. Remember me In all humility unto his highness:

Say, his long trouble now is passing

Out of this world: tell him, in death I bless'd him,
For so I will.-Mine eyes grow dim.-Farewell,
My lord.-Griffith, farewell.-Nay, Patience,
You must not leave me yet. I must to bed;
Call in more women. When I am dead, good
wench,

Let me be us'd with honour; strew me over
With maiden flowers, that all the world may know
I was a chaste wife to my grave: embalm me,
Then lay me forth: although unqueen'd, yet like
A queen, and daughter to a king, inter me.
I can no more.-

[Exeunt, leading KATHARINE.

ACT V.

SCENE I. A Gallery in the Palace.

Enter GARDINER, Bishop of Winchester, a Page with a Torch before him, met by Sir THOMAS LOVELL.

Gar. It's one o'clock, boy, is't not?

Boy. It hath struck. Gar. These should be hours for necessities, Not for delights; times to repair our nature With comforting repose, and not for us

To waste these times.-Good hour of night, sir Thomas!

Whither so late?

Lov.

Came you from the king, my lord?

Gar. I did, sir Thomas; and left him at primero With the duke of Suffolk.

I must to him too,

Lov.
Before he go to bed. I'll take my leave.

Car. Not yet, sir Thomas Lovell. What's the
matter?

It seems, you are in haste; an if there be,

5

at primero -] Primero and Primavista, two games at cards, H. I. Primera, Primavista. La Primiere, G. prime, f. Prime veue. Primum, et primum visum, that is, first, and first seen: because he that can show such an order of cards first, wins the game.

No great offence belongs to't, give your friend Some touch of your late business: Affairs, that walk (As, they say, spirits do,) at midnight, have

In them a wilder nature, than the business

That seeks despatch by day.

Lov.

My lord, I love you;

And durst commend a secret to your ear

Much weightier than this work. The queen's in

labour,

They say, in great extremity; and fear'd,

She'll with the labour end.

I

Gar.

The fruit, she goes with,

pray for heartily; that it may find

Good time, and live: but for the stock, sir Thomas, I wish it grubb'd up now.

Lov. Methinks, I could Cry the amen; and yet my conscience says She's a good creature, and, sweet lady, does Deserve our better wishes.

But, sir, sir,

Gar. Hear me, sir Thomas: You are a gentleman Of mine own way;' I know you wise, religious; And, let me tell you, it will ne'er be well,"Twill not, sir Thomas Lovell, take't of me, Till Cranmer, Cromwell, her two hands, and she, Sleep in their graves.

Lov. Now, sir, you speak of two The most remark'd i'the kingdom. As for Crom

well,

Beside that of the jewel-house, he's made master
O'the rolls, and the king's secretary; further, sir,
Stands in the gap and trade of more preferments,*

• Some touch of your late business:] Some hint of the business that keeps you awake so late.

7

mine own way;] Mine own opinion in religion.

& Stands in the gap and trade of more preferments,] Trade is the practised method, the general course.

With which the time will load him: The archbishop Is the king's hand, and tongue; And who dare speak One syllable against him?

Gar. Yes, yes, sir Thomas, There are that dare; and I myself have ventur'd

To speak my mind of him: and, indeed, this day,
Sir, (I may tell it you,) I think, I have

Incens'd the lords o'the council, that he is
(For so I know he is, they know he is,)
A most arch heretick," a pestilence

That does infect the land: with which they moved,
Have broken with the king;' who hath so far
Given ear to our complaint, (of his great grace
And princely care; foreseeing those fell mischiefs
Our reasons laid before him,) he hath commanded,
To-morrow morning to the council-board

He be convented. He's a rank weed, sir Thomas,
And we must root him out. From
From your affairs
I hinder you too long: good night, sir Thomas.
Lov. Many good nights, my lord; I rest your
[Exeunt GARDINER and Page.

servant.

As LOVELL is going out, enter the King, and the Duke of SUFFOLK.

K. Hen. Charles, I will play no more to-night; My mind's not on't, you are too hard for me. Suf. Sir, I did never win of you before.

K. Hen. But little, Charles;

Nor shall not, when my fancy's on my play.

Incens'd the lords o'the council, that he is, &c.

A most arch heretick,] This passage, according to the old elliptical mode of writing, may mean-I have incens'd the lords of the council, for that he is, i. e. because.

broken with the king;] They have broken silence: told their minds to the king.

2

He be convented.] Convented is summoned, convened.