Shakspeare's Dramatic Works

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IV.

6. Marquis Dorfet, bearing a fcepter of gold, on his head a demi-coronal of gold. With him, the Earl of Surrey, bearing the rod of filver with the dove, crown'd with an earl's coronet. Collars of SS. 7. Duke of Suffolk, in his robe of eftate, his coronet on his head, bearing a long white wand, as high fteward. With him the Duke of Norfolk, with the rod of marfhalfhip, a coronet on his head.Collars of SS. 8. A canopy borne by four of the Cinque ports; under it the Queen in her robe; her hair richly adorn'd with pearl, crowned. On each fide her, the bishops of London and Winchester.

9. The old Dutchefs of Norfolk, in a coronal of gold, wrought with flowers, bearing the Queen's train.

to. Certain Ladies or Counteffes, with plain circlets of gold without flowers.

They pafs over the stage in order and state.

2 Gen. A royal train, believe me.-Thefe I Who's that, that bears the fceptre ? [know ;

And that the earl of Surrey, with the rod.

1 Gen. Marquis Dorfet:

2 Gen. I thank you, fir; had I not known thofe customs,

I fhould have been beholden to your paper.
But, I beseech you, what's become of Katharine,
The princefs dowager? how goes her but nefs?
1 Gen. That I can tell you too. The archbishop
Of Canterbury, accompanied with other
Learn'd and reverend fathers of his order,
Held a late court at Dunstable, fix miles off
From Ampthill, where the princefs lay; to which
She oft was cited by them, but appear'd not :
And, to be short, for not appearance, and
The king's late fcruple, by the main affent
Of all these learned men, fhe was divorc'd,
And the late marriage made of none effect:
Since which, fhe was remov'd to Kimbolton,
Where the remains now, fick.

1 Gen. Alas, good lady!—

The trumpets found: stand close, the queen is coming.

[Hautboys.

2 Gen. A bold brave gentleman. That should be

The duke of Suffolk.

1 Gen. 'Tis the fame, high-steward.

2 Gen. And that my lord of Norfolk.

I Gen. Yes.

1 Gen. No more of that.

[Exit Proceffion, with a great flourish of trumpets. Enter a third Gentleman.

50 God fave you, fir! Where have you been broiling? 3 Gen. Among the crowd i' the abbey; where a Could not be wedg'd in more: I am stified [finger With the mere ranknefs of their joy.

[Mufic. 55

Then

5. Mayor of London, bearing the mace. Garter, in his coat of arms, and on his head a gilt copper crown.

2 Gen. You saw the ceremony?

3 Gen. That I did.

1 Gen. How was it?

3 Gen. Well worth the feeing.

2 Gen. Good fir, fpeak it to us.

Alluding to their former meeting in the fecond act.

Y y 3

3 Gen

3 Gen. As well as I am able. The rich stream Of lords, and ladies, having brought the queen To a prepar'd place in the choir, fell off

A diftance from her; while her grace fat down
To reft awhile, fome half an hour, or so,
In a rich chair of ftate, oppofing freely
The beauty of her person to the people.
Believe me, fir, fhe is the goodliest woman
That ever lay by man: which when the people
Had the full view of, fuch a noise arose
As the fhrouds make at fea in a stiff tempeft,
As loud, and to as many tunes: Hats, cloaks,
(Doublets, I think) flew up; and had their faces
Been loofe, this day they had been loft. Such joy
I never faw before. Great-belly'd women,
That had not half a week to go, like rams I
In the old time of war, would shake the prefs,
And make 'em reel before 'em. No man living
Could fay, This is my wife, there; all were woven
So ftrangely in one piece.

2 Gen. But what follow'd?

[paces

3 Gen. At length her grace rofe, and with modeft Came to the altar; where the kneel'd, and, faintlike,

Caft her fair eyes to heaven, and pray'd devoutly.
Then rofe again, and bow'd her to the people:
When by the archbishop of Canterbury,
She had all the royal makings of a queen ;
As holy oil, Edward Confeffor's crown,
The rod, and bird of peace, and all fuch emblems
Lay'd nobly on her: which perform'd, the choir,
With all the choiceft mufick of the kingdom,
Together fung Te Deum. So the parted,
And with the fame full state pac'd back again
To York place, where the feaft is held.

1 Gen. You must no more call it York place, that's paft:

For, fince the cardinal fell, that title's loft;
'Tis now the king's, and call'd-Whitehall.
3 Gen. I know it;

But 'tis fo lately alter'd, that the old name
Is fresh about me.

2 Gen. What two reverend bishops Were thofe that went on each fide of the queen?

Both. You may command us, fir. [Exeunt.

SCENE

Kimbolton.

II.

Enter Katharine, Dowager, fick, led between Griffith ber Gentleman-ufher, and Patience her woman. Grif. How does your grace?

Kath. O, Griffith, fick to death:

My legs, like loaded branches, bow to the earth, Willing to leave their burden: Reach a chair;So,-now, methinks, I feel a little ease.

Did'st thou not tell me, Griffith, as thou led'ft me, 20 That the great child of honour, cardinal Wolsey, Was dead?

Grif. Yes, madam: but, I think, your grace, Out of the pain you fuffer'd, gave no ear to 't. Kath. Pr'ythee, good Griffith, tell me how he dy'd: 25 If well, he stepp'd before me, happily 2, For my example.

Grif. Well, the voice goes, madam : For after the ftout earl Northumberland Arrested him at York, and brought him forward 30(As a man forely tainted) to his answer, He fell fick fuddenly, and grew fo ill, He could not fit his mule.

[cefter,

Kath. Alas, poor man! Grif. At laft, with easy roads 3 he came to Lei35 Lodg'd in the abbey; where the reverend abbot, With all his convent, honourably receiv'd him; To whom he gave thefe words-" O father abbot, "An old man, broken with the ftorms of state,

Is come to lay his weary bones among ye; 40" Give him a little earth for charity!"

So went to bed: where eagerly his fickness
Purfu'd him ftill; and, three nights after this,
About the hour of eight, (which he himself
Foretold fhould be his laft) full of repentance,

3 Gen. Stokely, and Gardiner; the one, of 45 Continual meditations, tears, and forrows,

Winchester,

(Newly preferr'd from the king's fecretary)

The other, London.

2 Gen. He of Winchester

He gave his honours to the world again,
His bleffed part to heaven, and slept in peace. [him!
Kath. So may he reft; his faults lie gently on
Yet thus far, Griffith, give me leave to speak him,

Is held no great good lover of the archbishop's, 50 And yet with charity,—He was a man
The virtuous Cranmer.

i. e. like battering rams.

Of an unbounded ftomach, ever ranking Himfelf with princes; one, that by suggestion Ty'd all the kingdom: simony was fair play; His own opinion was his law: I' the presence 55 He would fay untruths; and be ever double,

Both in his words and meaning: He was never,
But where he meant to ruin, pitiful:
His promifes were, as he then was, mighty:
But his performance, as he is now, nothing.

Happily feems to mean on this occafion-peradventure, haply. 3 i. e. by fhort ftages. 4 i. e. (fays Mr. Tollet) He was a man of an unbounded ftomach, or pride, ranking himfelf with princes, and by fuggeftion to the king and the pope, he ty'd, i. e. limited, circumfcribed, and fet bounds to the liberties and properties of all perfons in the kingdom. That he did fo, appears from various paffages in the play.

But, to thofe men that fought him, sweet as fummer. 15 Invite me to a banquet; whofe bright faces

Caft thousand beams upon me, like the fun?
They promis'd me eternal happiness;
And brought me garlands, Griffith, which I feel
I am not worthy yet to wear: I fhall,

[dreams Grif. I am moft joyful, madam, fuch good Poffefs your fancy.

Kath. Bid the mufick leave,
They are harsh and heavy to me.

And though he were unfatisfy'd in getting,
(Which was a fin) yet in bestowing, madam,
He was moft princely: Ever witness for him
Thofe twins of learning, that he rais'd in you,
Ipfwich, and Oxford! one of which fell with him, 20 Affuredly.
Unwilling to out-live the good he did it;
The other, though unfinish'd, yet so famous,
So excellent in art, and still fo rifing,
That Christendom shall ever speak his virtue.
His overthrow heap'd happiness upon him;
For then, and not 'till then, he felt himself,
And found the bleffednefs of being little:
And, to add greater honours to his age
Than man could give him, he dy'd fearing God.
Kath. After my death I with no other herald, 30
No other speaker of my living actions,

To keep mine honour from corruption,

But fuch an honest chronicler as Griffith.
Whom I most hated living, thou haft made me,
With thy religious truth, and modefty,
Now in his afhes honour: Peace be with him!-
Patience, be near me ftill; and fet me lower:
I have not long to trouble thee.-Good Griffith,
Cause the musicians play me that fad note
I nam'd my knell, whilst I fit meditating
On that celeftial harmony I go to.

Sad and folemn mufick.

Grif. She is afleep: Good wench, let's fit down quiet,

Pat. Do you note,

[Mufick ccafes.

How much her grace is alter'd on the fudden?
How long her face is drawn? How pale the looks,
And of an earthy cold? Mark her eyes.
Grif. She is going, wench; pray, pray.
Pat. Heaven comfort her!
Enter a Milenger.

Mef. An't like your grace,

Kath. You are a fawcy fellow:
Deferve we no more reverence?

Grif. You are to blame,

Knowing, fhe will not lofe her wonted greatness,
To ufe fo rude behaviour: go to, kneel.

Mes. I humbly do entreat your highness' pardon;
My hafte made me unmannerly: There is ftaying
40 A gentleman, fent from the king, to see you.
Kath. Admit him entrance, Griffith: But this
Let me ne'er fee again.
[fellow

[Exeunt Griffith, and Mejenger. Re-enter Griffith, with Capucius.

If my fight fail not,
You should be lord ambaffador from the emperor
My royal nephew, and your name Capucius.
Cap. Madam, the fame, your fervant.
Kath. O my lord,

50The times, and titles, now are alter'd strangely
With me, fince first you knew me. But, I pray
What is your pleasure with me?
[you,

Cap. Noble lady,

For fear we wake her:-Softly, gentle Patience. The vifion. Enter, folemnly tripping one after an ether, fix perfonages, clad in white robes, wearing on their beads garlands of bays, and golden wizards on their faces; branches of bays, or palm, in their hands. They first congee unto ber, then dance; and, at certain changes, the first tw bold a fpare garland over her head; at which, the other four make reverend curtfies; then the trvo, that held the garland, deliver the fame to the other next two, who obferve the fame order in 55 their changes, and holding the garland over ber bead: which done, they deliver the fame garland to the laft izvo, tubo likewise observe the fame order :| 'A criminal connection with women was anciently call'd the vice of the body. So, in Holinfbed, P. 1258,"he labour'd by all means to cleare miftreffe Sanders of committing evill of ber bodie with him." 2 Dr. Percy remarks, that "this reflection bears a great refemblance to a paffage in Sir Tho mas More's Hiftory of Richard III. where, fpeaking of the ungrateful turns which Jane Shore experienced from thofe whom the had ferved in her profperity; More adds, "Men ufe, if they have an evil turne, to write it in marble, and whofe doth us a good turne, we write it in dufte.”.

Firft, mine own fervice to your grace; the next,
The king's request that I would vifit you;
Who grieves much for your weakness, and by me
Sends you his princely commendations,
And heartily entreats you take good comfort.

Yy4

Kath.

Kath. In which I have commended to his goodThe model of our chafte loves, his young daughter: The dews of heaven fall thick in bleffings on her! Befeeching him, to give her virtuous breeding; (She is young, and of a noble modest nature; I hope, the will deferve well) and a little

To love her for her mother's fake, that lov'd him, Heaven knows how dearly. My next poor petition

Is, that his noble grace would have fome pity
Upon my wretched women, that so long
Have follow'd both my fortunes faithfully:
Of which there is not one, I dare avow,
(And now I should not lye) but will deferve,
For virtue, and true beauty of the foul,

For honesty, and decent carriage,

A right good husband; let him be a noble :
And, fure, thofe men are happy that shall have 'em.
The laft is, for my men;-they are the pooreft,

5 But poverty could never draw 'em from me ;-
That they may have their wages duly paid 'em,
And fomething over to remember me by:
If heaven had pleas'd to have given me longer life,
And able means, we had not parted thus. [lord,

10 Thefe are the whole contents:-And, good my
By that you love the dearest in this world,
As you wish christian peace to souls departed,
Stand thefe poor people's friend, and urge the king
To do me this last right.

20 Out of this world: tell him, in death I bleft him, For fo I will.-Mine eyes grow dim.-Farewel, My lord.-Griffith, farewel.-Nay, Patience, You must not leave me yet. I must to bed;Call in more women.When I am dead, good 25 wench,

Let me be us'd with honour; ftrew me over With maiden flowers, that all the world may know was a chafte wife to my grave: embalm me, Then lay me forth: although unqueen'd, yet like |3c|A queen, and daughter to a king, interr me.

can no more.

[Exeunt, leading Katharine,

SCENE I.

Some Part of the Palace.

ACT V.

Enter Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, a Page with
a torch before him, met by Sir Thomas Lovel.
Gard. TT's one a'clock, boy, is't not?

Gard. Thefe fhould be hours for neceffities,
Not for delights; times to repair our nature
With comforting repofe, and not for us [Thomas!
To wafte these times.Good hour of night, fir 5
Whither fo late?

Lov. Came you from the king, my lord?

Gard. I did, Sir Thomas; and left him at priWith the duke of Suffolk.

Lov. I must to him too,

[mero

Before he go to bed. I'll take my leave.
Gard. Not yet, Sir Thomas Lovel. What's
the matter?

It feems, you are in hafte: an if there be
No great offence belongs to 't, give your friend

Some touch of your late bufinefs: Affairs, that

walk

(As, they fay, fpirits do) at midnight, have In them a wilder nature, than the bufinefs That feeks difpatch by day.

Lov. My lord, I love you;

45 And durft commend a fecret to your ear

Much weightier than this work. The queen's in

Lov. Methinks, I could

55 Cry the Amen; and yet my confcience fays She's a good creature, and, fweet lady, does Deferve our better wishes.

Gard. But, fir, fir,

Hear me, Sir Thomas: You are a gentleman 160Of mine own way 2; I know you wife, religious;

1 Primero and primavifta, two games at cards, that is, firft, and first feen: because he that can fhew fuch an order of cards firft,.wins the game. 2 i. e. of mine own opinion in religion.

And,

The most remark'd i' the kingdom. As for Crom-
Befide that of the jewel-house, he's made mafter
O' the rolls, and the king's fecretary; further, fir,
Stands in the gap and trade of more preferments,
With which the time will load him: The arch-10
bishop
[fpeak

Is the king's hand, and tongue; And who dare
One fyllable against him?

Gard. Yes, yes, Sir Thomas,

There are that dare; and I myself have ventur'd
To speak my mind of him: and, indeed, this day,
Sir, (I may tell it you) I think, I have
Incens'd the lords o' the council, that he is
(For fo I know he is, they know he is)
A most arch beretick, a peftilence

That does infect the land: with which they mov'd,|
Have broken 2 with the king; who hath fo far
Given ear to our complaint, (of his great grace
And princely care; forefceing thofe fell mifchiefs

15 What!

[Exeunt Lovel, and Denny. Cran. I am fearful:-Wherefore frowns he thus? 'Tis his afpect of terror. All's not well. [know King. How now, my lord? You do defire to Wherefore I fent for you.

Cran. It is my duty,

To attend your highnefs' pleasure.

King. Pray you, arife,

My good and gracious lord of Canterbury.
Come, you and I must walk a turn together;

your hand.

Ah, my good lord, I grieve at what I speak,
And am right forry to repeat what follows:

Our reafons laid before him) he hath commanded, 25I have news to tell you: Come, come, give me
To-morrow morning to the council-board [mas,
He be convented 3. He's a rank weed, Sir Tho-
And we must root him out. From your affairs
I hinder you too long: good night, Sir Thomas.
Lev. Many good nights, my lord; I rest your 30
fervant. [Exeunt Gardiner and Page.
As Lovel is going out, enter the King, and the Duke
of Suffolk.

King. Charles, I will play no more to-night;
My mind's not on't, you are too hard for me.
Suf. Sir, I did never win of you before.
King. But little, Charles;

Nor fhall not, when my fancy's on my play.—
Now, Lovel, from the queen what is the news?
Lov. I could not perfonally deliver to her
What you commanded me, but by her woman
I fent your meffage; who return'd her thanks
In the greatest humbleness, and defired your high-
Moft heartily to pray for her.

King. What fay'st thou? ha!

[nefs

To pray for her? what, is the crying out? [made
Lov. So faid her woman; and that her fufferance
Almost each pang a death.

King. Alas, good lady!

Suf. God fafely quit her of her burden, and
With gentle travail, to the gladding of
Your highness with an heir!

King. 'Tis midnight, Charles,

Pr'ythee, to bed; and in thy prayers remember
The eftate of my poor queen. Leave me alone;
For I must think of that, which company
Would not be friendly to.

Suf. I wish your highness

A quiet night, and my good mistress will
Remember in my prayers.

King. Charles, good night

[Exit Suffolk.

I have, and most unwillingly, of late
Heard many grievous, I do fay, my lord,
Grievous complaints of you; which, being con-
fider'd,

Have mov'd us and our council, that you shall
This morning come before us; where, I know,
35 You cannot with fuch freedom purge yourself,
But that, 'till further trial, in those charges
Which will require your answer, you must take
Your patience to you, and be well contented
To make your house our Tower: You a brother
of us 4,

It fits we thus proceed, or else no witness
Would come against you.

Cran. I humbly thank your highness;

And am right glad to catch this good occafion

45 Moft thoroughly to be winnow'd, where my chaff
And corn fhall fly afunder: for, I know,
There's none ftandsunder more calumnioustongues,
Than I myself, poor man.

King. Stand up, good Canterbury;

50 Thy truth, and thy integrity, is rooted
In us, thy friend: Give me thy hand, stand up;
Pr'ythee, let's walk. Now, by my holy dame,
What manner of man are you? My lord, I look'd
You would have given me your petition, that
551 fhould have ta'en fome pains to bring together
Yourself and your accufers; and to have heard you
Without indurance, further.

i.e. the practifed method, the general course. minds to the king. 3 i. e. fummon`d, conten'd.

Cran. Moft dread liege,

The good I ftand on is my truth and honesty; 60 If they fhall fail, I, with mine enemies, Will triumph o'er my perfon! which I weigh not,

2 i. e. they have broken filence, and told their

4 i. e. you being one of the council.

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Shakspeare's Dramatic Works: With Explanatory Notes, Volume 2