So deep suspicion, 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 sorrow-
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 censure
Both of his truth and him, which was too far,
Offers, as I do, in a sign of peace,

His service and his counsel.

Q. Kath. [Aside.] To betray me.

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 set at work
Among my maids, full little, God knows, looking
Either for such men or such business.
For her sake that I have been-for I feel
The last fit of my greatness-good your graces,
Let me have time and counsel for my cause:
Alas, I am a woman, friendless, hopeless!

Wol. Madam, you wrong the king's love with these fears: 80 Your hopes and friends are infinite.

Q. Kath.
In England
But little for my profit: can you think, lords,

That any Englishman dare give me counsel?

Or be a known friend, 'gainst his highness' pleasure—
Though he be grown so desperate to be honest-
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 other comforts, far hence
In mine own country, lords.

88

85

I would your grace

90

Cam.
Would leave your griefs, and take my counsel.

Q. Kath.

How, sir?

Cam. Put your main cause into the king's protection;
He's loving and most gracious: 't will be much

Both for your honour better and your cause;
For if the trial of the law o'ertake ye,

You'll part away disgrac❜d.

Wol.

He tells you rightly.

Q. Kath. Ye tell me what ye wish for both, my ruin: Is this your Christian counsel? out upon ye!

Heaven is above all yet; there sits a Judge

That no king can corrupt.

Cam.

Your rage mistakes us.

Q. Kath. The more shame for ye: holy men I thought ye, Upon my soul, two reverend cardinal virtues;

95

100

But cardinal sins and hollow hearts I fear ye:

Mend 'em, for shame, my lords. Is this your comfort?
The cordial that ye bring a wretched lady,

105

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 heed, for heaven's sake, take heed, lest at once
The burden of my sorrows fall upon ye.
Wol. Madam, this is a mere distraction;

110

You turn the good we offer into envy.

Q. Kath. Ye turn me into nothing: woe upon ye,

And all such false professors! would you have me―
If you have any justice, any pity,

115

If ye be anything but churchmen's habits—

Put my sick cause into his hands that hates me?

Alas, has banish'd me his bed already,

His love, too long ago! I am old, my lords,

And all the fellowship I hold now with him

Is only my obedience. What can happen
To me above this wretchedness? all your studies
Make me a curse like this.

120

Cam.

Your fears are worse.

Q. Kath. Have I liv'd thus long--let me speak myself,

Since virtue finds no friends-a wife, a true one?

125

Still met the king? lov'd him next heaven? obey'd him?
Been, out of fondness, superstitious to him?

Almost forgot my prayers to content him?

130

And am I thus rewarded? 'tis not well, lords.
Bring me a constant 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.

135

Q. Kath. My lord, I dare not make myself 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.

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

Wol. Madam, you wander from the good we aim at.

140

Ye have angels' faces, but heaven knows your hearts.
What will become of me now, wretched lady!

I am the most unhappy woman living.

Shipwreck'd upon a kingdom, where no pity,

145

Alas, poor wenches, where are now your fortunes? [To her Women.

No friends, no hope; no kindred weep for me;
Almost no grave allow'd me: like the lily,
That once was mistress of the field and flourish'd,
I'll hang my head and perish.

If your grace

Wol.
Could but be brought to know our ends are honest,

150

You'd feel more comfort: why should we, good lady,
Upon what cause, wrong you? alas, our places,
The way of our profession is against it:

155

We are to cure such sorrows, not to sow 'em.

For goodness' sake, consider what you

do;

How you may hurt yourself, ay, utterly

Grow from the king's acquaintance, by this carriage.

160

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 soul as even as a calm: pray think us

165

Those we profess, peace-makers, friends and servants.

Cam. Madam, you'll find it so. You wrong your virtues

With these weak women's fears: a noble spirit,

As yours was put into you, ever casts

Such doubts, as false coin, from it. The king loves you;

170

Beware, you lose it not: for us, if you please

To trust us in your business, we are ready

To use our utmost studies in your service.

Q. Kath. Do what ye will, my lords: and, pray forgive me,

If I have us'd myself unmannerly;

175

You know I am a woman, lacking wit

To make a seemly answer to such persons.

Pray do my service to his majesty:

He has my heart yet, and shall have my prayers

While I shall have my life. Come, reverend fathers,
Bestow your counsels on me: she now begs

180

That little thought, when she set footing here,

[Exeunt.

She should have bought her dignities so dear.

SCENE II.-Antechamber to the KING'S Apartment.

Enter the DUKE OF NORFOLK, the DUKE OF SUFFOLK, the EARL
OF SURREY, and the Lord Chamberlain.

Nor. If you will now unite in your complaints
And force them with a constancy, the cardinal
Cannot stand under them: if you omit
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 least occasion 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 deserves of you and me I know;
What we can do to him, though now the time
Gives way to us, I much fear. If you cannot
Bar his access to the king, never attempt
Anything on him; for he hath a witchcraft
Over the king in's tongue.

Nor.

5

10

15

O, fear him not;

20

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 settled,
Not to come off, in his displeasure.

Sur.

Sir,

D

O, how, how?

Suf. The cardinal's letters to the pope miscarried,
And came to the eye o' the king: wherein was read
How that the cardinal did entreat his holiness
To stay the judgment o' the divorce; for if

It did take place, 'I do,' quoth he, ‘perceive
My king is tangled in affection to

A creature of the queen's, Lady Anne Bullen.'
Sur. Has the king this?

Suf.

Sur.

Believe it.

Will this work?

Cham. The king in this perceives him, how he coasts
And hedges his own way. But in this point

All his tricks founder, and he brings his physic
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 my joy

My amen to 't!

All men's!

Suf. There's order given for her coronation :
Marry, this is yet but young, and may be left
To some ears unrecounted. But, my lords,
She is a gallant creature and complete

In mind and feature: I persuade me, from her
Will fall some blessing to this land, which shall
In it be memoriz'd.

Sur.

But will the king

Digest this letter of the cardinal's ?

The Lord forbid !