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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:

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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

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

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..

ACT III. SCENE I.

Enter Queen and her Women, as at work.

QUEEN,

AKE thy lute, wench, my foul grows fad with troubles:

Sing and difperfe 'em if thou canst leave working.

OR

SONG

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.

Enter a Gentleman.

Queen. How now?

Gent. And't please your Grace, the two great Cardinals

Wait in the presence.

Queem

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.

Queen. Speak it here.

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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