To oppofe your cunning. You are meek, and
humble-mouth'd;

You fign' your place and calling, in full seeming,
With meekness and humility: but your heart
Is cramm'd with arrogancy, fpleen, and pride.
You have, by fortune, and his highness' favours,
Gone flightly o'er low steps; and now are mounted,
Where powers are your retainers: and your words,
Domesticks to you, ferve your will, as't please
Yourself pronounce their office 2. I must tell you,
You tender more your person's honour, than
Your high profeffion spiritual: That again
I do refuse you for my judge; and here,
Before you all, appeal unto the Pope,
To bring my whole caufe 'fore his holiness,
And to be judg'd by him.

[She curt'fies to the King, and offers to depart.

Cam. The queen is obftinate,
Stubborn to juftice, apt to accuse it, and
Disdainful to be try'd by it; 'tis not well.
She's going away.

King. Call her again.

5

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 to village curs,
Bark when their fellows do: by fome of thefe
The queen is put in anger. You are excus'd:
But will you be more justify'd? you ever
10 Have with'd the fleeping of this business; never
Defir'd it to be ftirr'd: but oft have hindred, oft,
The paffages made toward it :-5 on my honour,
I fpeak my good lord cardinal to this point,
And thus far clear him. Now, what mov'd me
15
to 't,-

I will be bold with time, and your attention:-
Then mark the inducement. Thus it came ;-give
heed to 't:-.

My confcience first receiv'd a tenderness,
20 Scruple, and prick, on certain speeches utter'd
By the bishop of Bayonne, then French ambassador;
Who had been hither fent on the debating
A marriage, 'twixt the duke of Orleans and
Our daughter Mary: I'the progress of this business,
Ere a determinate refolution, he

[the court.
Crier. Katharine, queen of England, come into
Uber. Madam, you are call'd back.
Queen. What need you note it? pray you, keep 25

your way:

When you are call'd, return.-Now the Lord help,
They vex me past my patience !--pray you, país on:
I will not tarry; no, nor ever more,
Upon this business, my appearance make
In any of their courts.

[Exeunt Queen and ber Attendants.

King. Go thy ways, Kate:
That man i' the world, who fhall report he has
A better wife, let him in nought be trusted,
For fpeaking false in that: Thou art, alone,
(If thy rare qualities, fweet gentleness,
Thy meekness faint-like, wife-like government,-
Obeying in commanding,—and thy parts
Sovereign and pious elfe, could speak thee out 3)
The queen of earthly queens:-She is noble born;
And like her true nobility she has
Carried herself towards me.

Wel. Moft gracious fir,

In humbleft manner I require your highness,
That it fhall please you to declare, in hearing
Of all these ears, (for where I am robh'd and bound,
There muft I be unloos'd; although not there
At once and fully fatisfy'd 4) whether ever I
Did broach this business to your highness; or
Lay'd 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

(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,
30 Sometime our brother's wife. This refpite fhook
The bofom of my confcience, enter'd me,
Yea, with a splitting power, and made to tremble
The region of my breast; which forc'd fuch way
That many maz'd confiderings did throng,
35 And prefs'd in with this caution. First, methought,
I ftood not in the fmile of heaven; who 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

40 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'the world, fhould not
45 Be gladded in't by me: Then follows, that
I weigh'd the danger which my realms stood in
By this my iffue's fail; and that gave to me
Many a groaning throe. Thus hulling 7 in
The wild fea of my confcience, I did ftcer
50 Toward this remedy, whereupon we are
Now prefent here together; that's to say,
I meant to rectify my confcience,-which
I then did feel full fick, and yet not well,
By all the reverend fathers of the land,

A royal lady,-spake one the leaft word, that might|55| And doctors learn'd.-Firft, I began in private
Be to the prejudice of her present state,

With you, my lord of Lincoln; you remember

1i. e. you fhew or denote. 2 That is, Having now got power, you do not regard your word. 3 i.e. if thy feveral qualities could speak thy praise. 4 The fenfe is, "I owe fo much to my own innocence, as to clear up my character, though I do not expect my wrongers will do me juftice." The king, having firft addreffed to Wolfey, breaks off; and declares upon his honour to the whole court, that he speaks the cardinal's fentiments upon the point in queftion; and clears him from any attempt, or wish, to stir that business. 6 i. e. prick of confcience, which was the term in confeffion.

7 A fhip is faid to bull, when she is difmafted, and only her bull, or bulk, is left at the direction and mercy of the waves.

How

My lord of Canterbury; and got your leave
To make this prefent fummons :-Unfolicited
I left no reverend person in this court;
But by particular confent proceeded,
Under your hands and feals. Therefore, go on;
For no diflike i'the world against the person
Of our good queen, but the sharp thorny points 201

1i. e. in the presence-chamber.

(And service to his majesty and you)

So deep fufpicion, where all faith was meant.
We come not by the way of accusation,
To taint that honour every good tongue blesses;
Nar to betray you any way to forrow;
You have too much, good lady: but to know
How you ftand minded in the weighty difference
Between the king and you; and to deliver,
Like free and honeft men, our just opinions,
And comforts to your cause.

Cam. Moft honour'd madam,

10

My lord of York,-out of his noble nature,
Zeal and obedience he full bore your grace;
Forgetting, like a good man, your late cenfure
Both of his truth and him, (which was too far)-15
Offers, as I do, in a fign of peace,

His fervice, and his counfel.

Queen. To betray me.

[Afide.

My lords, I thank you both for your good wills,

I have more charity: But fay, I warn'd ye;
Take heed, for heaven's fake, take heed, left at

once

The burdens of my forrows fall upon ye.

Wol. Madam, this is a mere distraction;
You turn the good we offer into envy.

Queen. Ye turn me into nothing: Woe upon ye, And all fuch falfe profeffors! Would ye have me (If you have any juftice, any pity;

If you be any thing but churchmen's habits)
Put my fick caufe into his hands that hates me ?
Alas! he has banish'd me his bed already;

Ye speak like honest men, (pray God, ye prove fo!) |20|His love, too long ago; I am old, my lords,

But how to make ye fuddenly an answer,

In fuch a point of weight, fo near mine honour,
(More near my life, I fear) with my weak wit,
And to fuch men of gravity and learning,
In truth, I know not. I was fet at work
Among my maids; full little, God knows, looking
Either for fuch men, or such business.
For her fake that I have been ', (for I feel
The laft fit of my greatness) good your graces,
Let me have time, and counsel, for my caufe;
Alas! I am a woman, friendless, hopeless.
Wal. Madam, you wrong the king's love with
these fears;

Your hopes and friends are infinite.

Queen. 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' plea-
fure,

2

25

And all the fellowship I hold now with him
Is only my obedience. What can happen
To me, above this wretchedness? all your ftudies
Make me a curfe like this.

[myfelf,

Cam. Your fears are worfe.
Queen. Have I liv'd thus long,-let me speak
Since virtue finds no friends,-a wife, a true one?
A woman, (I dare say, without vain-glory)
Never yet branded with fufpicion ?

[him?

30 Have I with all my full affections
Still met the king? lov'd him next heaven? obey'd
Been, out of fondness, fuperftitious 3 to him?
Almoft forgot my prayers to content him?
And am I thus rewarded? 'tis not well, lords.
35 Bring me a conftant 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.
Wel. Madam, you wander from the good we

(Though he be grown fo defperate to be honeft) 40
And live a fubject? Nay, forfooth, my friends,
They that must weigh out 2 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.

Cam. I would, your grace
Would leave your griefs, and take my counfel.
Queen. How, fir?

[tection;

Cam. Put your main caufe into the king's pro-
He's loving, and most gracious: 'twill be much
Both for your honour better, and your caufe;
For, if the trial of the law o'ertake you,
You'll part away disgrac'd.
Wel. He tells you rightly.

[ruin :

45

50

Queen. Ye tell me what ye with for both, my 55
Is this your chriftian counsel? out upon ye!
Heaven is above all yet; there fits a judge,

Queen. The more fhame for ye; holy men 160 Could but be brought to know, our ends are ho

1i. e. for the fake of that royalty I have formerly poffeffed. 2 To weigh out here implies the fame as to outruigh. 3 i. e. ferved him with fuperftitious attention. ✦ A quibble, faid to have been originally the quibble of a faint." England, a little ifland, where, as Saint Auguftin faith, there be people with angels faces, so the inhabitants have the courage and hearts of lyons."

You'd

You'd feel more comfort: why fhould we, good
lady,

Upon what cause, wrong you? alas! our places,
The way of our profeffion is against it;
We are to cure fuch forrows, not to fow 'em.
For goodness' fake, confider what you do ;
How you may hurt yourself, ay, utterly
Grow from the king's acquaintance, by this carriage.
The hearts of princes kiss obedience,

So much they love it; but, to stubborn spirits,
They fwell, and grow as terrible as storms.
I know, you have a gentle, noble temper,

A foul as even as a calm; Pray, think us
Those we profess, peace-makers, friends, and

fervants.

5

10

[virtues 15

Cam. Madam, you'll find it fo. You wrong your With these weak woman's fears. A noble spirit, As yours was put into you, ever cafts

Such doubts, as false coin, from it. The king

Suf. The cardinal's letter 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
25 It did take place, I do, quoth he, perceive,
My king is tangled in affection to

Antichamber to the King's Apartment.

[Exeunt.

A creature of the queen's, lady Anne Bullen.
Sur. Has the king this?
Suf. Believe it.

Sur. Will this work?

[coafts,

Cham. The king in this perceives him, how he
And hedges, his own way. But in this point
All his tricks founder, and he brings his phyfick
After his patient's death; the king already
35 Hath married the fair lady.

Sur. Would he had!

Suf. May you be happy in your wish, my lord; For, I profefs, you have it.

Sur. Now all my joy

Enter Duke of Norfolk, Duke of Suffolk, the Earl of 40 Trace 5 the conjunction!

Surrey, and the Lord Chamberlain.

Nor. If you will now unite in your complaints,
And force them with a conftancy, 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 occafion, 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 ftamp of nobleness in any person,
Out of himself 2 ?

Cham. My lords, you speak your pleasures:
What he deferves of you and me, I know;
What we can do to him, (though now the time

1 i. e. enforce, urge. 2 i. e. except in himself.

3 i. e. his private practices oppofite to his public procedure. 4 To hedge, is to creep along by the hedge: not to take the direct and open path, 5 To trace is to follow, To memorize is to make memorable.

ΤΟ

Nor. He's difcontented.

Suf. May be, he hears the king

Does whet his anger to him.

Sar. Sharp enough,

Lord, for thy juftice!

Stood here obferving him: Some ftrange commotion
Is in his brain: he bites his lip, and starts;
Stops on a fudden, looks upon the ground,
20 Then, lays his finger on his temple; ftraight,
Springs out into faft gait; then, stops again,
Strikes his breaft hard; and anon, he cafts
His eye against the moon: in most strange poftures
We have feen him fet himfelf.

25 King. It may well be;

There is a mutiny in his mind. This morning
Papers of ftate he fent me to perufe,

As I requir'd; And, wot you, what I found
There; on my confcience, put unwittingly?
30 Forfooth, an inventory, thus importing,-
The feveral parcels of his plate, his treasure,
Rich ftuffs, and ornaments of houthold; which
I find at fuch proud rate, that it out-speaks
Poffeffion of a fubject.

35

Nor. It is heaven's will;

Some fpirit put this paper in the packet,
To blefs your eye withal.

King. If we did think

You are full of heavenly stuff, and bear the inven

[daughter, 50 Of your best graces in your mind; the which You were now running o'er: you have scarce

Wol. The late queen's gentlewoman; a knight's
To be her mistress' miftrefs! the queen's queen!--
This candle burns not clear: 'tis I muft fnuff it;
Then, out it goes.-What though I know her
virtuous,

And well-deferving? yet I know her for
A spleeny Lutheran; and not wholesome to
Our caufe, that she should lie i' the bofom of
Our hard-rul'd king. Again, there is fprung up
An heretic, an arch one, Cranmer; one

time

To fteal from fpiritual leifure a brief span,
To keep your earthly audit: fure, in that
55I deem you an ill hufband; and am glad
To have you therein my companion.
Wol. Sir,

For holy offices I have a time; a time

To think upon the part of bufinefs, which 601 bear i' the ftate; and nature does require

i. e. with the fame fentiments he entertained before he went abfoad, which fentiments justify the king's divorce. 2 Mr. Steevens on this paffage remarks thus: "That the cardinal gave the king an inventory of his own private wealth, by mistake, and thereby ruined himself, is a known variation from the truth of hiftory. Shakspeare, however, has not injudiciously reprefented the fall of that great man, as owing to a fimilar incident which he had once improved to the deftruction of another." See Holinfhed, vol. ii. p. 796.

Y y

Her