The willing'st sin I ever yet committed,
May be absolved in English.
I am sorry, my integrity should breed
(And service to his majesty and you)
So deep suspicion, where all faith was meant.
We come not by the way of accusation,
To taint that honor 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.
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
His service and his counsel.
My lords, I thank you both for your good wills;
Ye speak like honest men; (pray God, ye prove so!)
But how to make you suddenly an answer,
In such a point of weight, so near mine honor,
(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:
Your hopes and friends are infinite.
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 out1 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.
I would, your grace Would leave your griefs, and take my counsel.
Cam. Put your main cause into the king's pro
He's loving, and most gracious: 'twill be much
Both for your honor better and your cause;
For, if the trial of the law o'ertake you,
You'll part away disgraced.
Q. Kath. Ye tell me what ye wish for both, my
Is this your christian counsel ? out upon ye!
Heaven is above all yet; there sits a Judge,
That no king can corrupt.
Q. Kath. The more shame for ye; holy men I
Upon my soul, two reverend cardinal virtues ;
But cardinal sins, and hollow hearts, I fear ye:
Mend them for shame, my lords. Is this your com-
The cordial that ye bring a wretched lady?
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
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:
You turn the good we offer into envy.
Q. Kath. Ye turn me into nothing. Woe upon
And all such false professors! Would ye
(If you have any justice, any pity;
If ye be any thing but churchmen's habits)
Put my
sick cause into his hands that hates me?
Alas! he 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.
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