When you are call'd, return. Now the Lord help, They vex me paft my patience- -pray pass on; I will not tarry, no, nor ever more
Upon this bufiness my appearance make In any of their courts.
[Exeunt Queen and her Attendants.
SCENE VII.
King. Go thy ways, Kate,
That man i'th world, who fhall report he has A better wife, let him in nought be trufted, For fpeaking falfe in that. Thou art alone, (If thy rare qualities, fweet gentleness,
Thy meeknefs faint-like, wife-like government, Obeying in commanding, and thy parts Sovereign and pious, could but fpeak thee out) The Queen of earthly Queens. She's noble born; And like her true nobility, fhe has
Carried her felf tow'rds me.
Wol. Moft gracious Sir,
In humbleft manner I require your Highness That it fhall please you to declare, in hearing Of all thefe ears (for where I'm robb'd and bound, There must I be unloos'd, although not there At once, and fully fatisfy'd) if I
Did broach this bufinefs to your Highness, or Laid any fcruple in your way, which might Induce you to the queftion on't; or ever Have to you, but with thanks to God for fuch A royal lady, fpake one the leaft word, That might be prejudice of her prefent ftate, Or touch of her good perfon?
King. My lord Cardinal,
I do excufe you; yea, upon mine honour, I free you from't: you are not to be taught, That you have many enemies, that know not Why they are fo, but like the village curs, Bark when their fellows do. By fome of thefe The Queen is put in anger; y'are excus'd:
But will you be more juftify'd? you ever Have with'd the fleeping of this bufinefs, never Defir'd it to be stirr'd; but oft have hindred The paffiges made tow'rds it: on my honour I fpeak, my good lord Cardinal, to this point; And thus far clear him. Now, what mov'd me to't. I will be bold with time and your attention: Then mark th' inducement. Thus it came; give heed to't My confcience first receiv'd a tenderness,
Scruple, and prick'd, on certain fpeeches utter'd By th' bishop of Bayon, then French Ambaffador, Who had been hither fent on the debating A marriage 'twixt the Duke of Orleans and Our daughter Mary: I'th' progress of this business, Ere a determinate refolution, he
(I mean the bishop) did require a refpite, Wherein he might the King his lord advertise, Whether our daughter were legitimate; Refpecting this our marriage with the Dowager, Sometime our brother's wife. This respite shook The bofom of my confcience, enter'd me, Yea with a fplitting power; and made to tremble The region of my breaft, which forc'd fuch way, That many maz'd confiderings did throng And preft it with this caution. First, methought I ftood not in the fmile of heav'n, which had Commanded nature, that my lady's womb (If it conceiv'd a male-child by me) should Do no more offices of life to't, than
The grave does to the dead; for her male-iffue, Or died where they were made, or shortly after This world had air'd them. Hence I took a thought, This was a judgment on me, that my kingdom (Well worthy the best heir o'th' world) fhould not Be glad in one by me. Then follows, that I weigh'd the danger which my realms ftood in By this my iffie's fail, and that gave to me Many a groaning throe: thus hulling in The wild fea of my confcience, I did steer Towards this remedy, whereon we are
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 firft 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 perfon 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 fharp 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 fitness That we adjourn this court to further day;
'Mean while must be an earneft motion
Made to the Queen, to call back her appeal She intends to his Holiness.
King. I may perceive
Thefe Cardinals trifle with me: I abhor
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 1 manner as they enter'd..
Enter Queen and her Women, as at work.
AKE thy lute, wench, my foul grows fad with troubles:
Sing and difperfe 'em if thou canst leave working.
Rpheus, with his lute, made trees, And the mountain tops that freeze, Bow themfelves when he did fing. To bis 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.
Gent. And't please your Grace, the two great Cardinals
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 business 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 House-wife, (I would be all) against the worst may happen: What are your pleafures with me, rev'rend lords? Wol. May't please you, noble Madam, to withdraw Into your private chamber; we shall give you The full cause of our coming.
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.
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