Crier. Katharine queen of England, come into
Grif. Madam, you are call'd back.
2. Kath. What need you note it? pray you, keep your way:
When you are call'd, return.-Now the Lord help,
They vex me past my patience!—pray you, pass
I will not tarry: no, nor ever more,
Upon this business, my appearance make In any of their courts.
[Exeunt QUEEN, GRIFFITH, and her other Attendants.
That man i' the world who shall report he has A better wife, let him in nought be trusted, For speaking false in that: thou art, alone, (If thy rare qualities, sweet gentleness,
Thy meekness saint-like, wife-like government,— Obeying in commanding, and thy parts Sovereign and pious else, could speak thee out,) The queen of earthly queens :-she is noble born; And, like her true nobility, she has
Carried herself towards me.
In humblest manner I require your highness, That it shall please you to declare, in hearing Of all these ears, (for, where I am robb'd and bound,
There must I be unloosed; although not there At once and fully satisfied,) whether ever I Did broach this business to your highness; or Laid any scruple in your way, which might Induce you to the question on't? or ever Have to you, but with thanks to God for such
A royal lady, -spake one the least word that
Be to the prejudice of her present state, Or touch of her good person?
I do excuse 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 so, but, like to village curs, Bark when their fellows do; by some of these The queen is put in anger. You are excused:
But will you be more justified? you ever Have wish'd the sleeping of this business; never Desired it to be stirr'd; but oft have hinder'd, oft, The passages made toward it :-on my honour, I speak my good lord cardinal to this point, And thus far clear him. Now, what moved me to't,
I will be bold with time, and your attention :- Then mark the inducement. Thus it came;-
My conscience first received a tenderness, Scruple, and prick, on certain speeches utter'd By the bishop of Bayonne, then French ambas- sador:
Who had been hither sent on the debating
A marriage, 'twixt the duke of Orleans and Our daughter Mary: i'the progress of this busi-
Ere a determinate resolution, he
(I mean the bishop) did require a respite ; Wherein he might the king his lord advertise Whether our daughter were legitimate,
Respecting this our marriage with the dowager, Sometime our brother's wife. This respite shook The bosom of my conscience, enter'd me,
Yea, with a splitting power, and made to tremble The region of my breast; which forced such way, That many mazed considerings did throng, And press'd in with this caution. First, me- thought,
I stood not in the smile of Heaven; who had Commanded Nature, that my lady's womb, If it conceived a male child by me, should Do no more offices of life to't, than
The grave does to the dead: for her male issue 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, should
Be gladded in't by me; then follows, that I weigh'd the danger which my realms stood in By this my issue's fail: and that gave to me Many a groaning throe. Thus hulling in The wild sea of my conscience, I did steer Toward this remedy, whereupon we are Now present here together; that's to say, I meant to rectify my conscience,-which I then did feel full sick, and yet not well,- By all the reverend fathers of the land, And doctors learn'd. First, I began in private With you, my lord of Lincoln; you remember How under my oppression I did reek,
When I first moved you.
The question did at first so stagger me,—
Bearing a state of mighty moment in't, And consequence of dread,-that I committed The daring'st counsel which I had, no doubt; And did entreat your highness to this course, Which you are running here.
K. Hen. My lord of Canterbury; and got your leave To make this present summons. Unsolicited I left no reverend person in this court; But by particular consent proceeded, Under your hands and seals.
Therefore, go on; For no dislike i' the world against the person Of the good queen, but the sharp thorny points Of my alleged reasons, drive this forward? Prove but our marriage lawful, by my life, And kingly dignity, we are contented To wear our mortal state to come with her, Katharine our queen, before the primest creature That's paragon'd o' the world.
Cam. So please your highness, The queen being absent, 'tis a needful fitness, That we adjourn this court till further day · Meanwhile must be an earnest motion
Made to the queen, to call back her appeal She intends unto his holiness. [They rise to depart. K. Hen. [aside.]
These cardinals trifle with me: I abhor This dilatory sloth, and tricks of Rome. My learn'd and well-belovèd servant, Cranmer, Pr'ythee, return! with thy approach, I know, My comfort comes along. Break up the court : I say, set on. [Exeunt in manner as they entered.
SCENE I.-Palace at Bridewell. A Room in the Queen's Apartment.
The QUEEN, and some of her Women, at work. Queen Katharine.
JAKE thy lute, wench: my soul grows
Sing, and disperse them if thou canst : leave working.
Orpheus with his lute made trees, And the mountain-tops that freeze, Bow themselves, when he did sing; To his music, plants and flowers Ever sprung; as sun and showers There had made a lasting spring.
Everything that heard him play, Even the billows of the sea,
Hung their heads, and then lay by. In sweet music is such art:
Killing care and grief of heart Fall asleep, or, hearing, die.
Gent. An't please your grace, the two great
Would they speak with me?
Gent. They will'd me say so, madam.
To come near. [Exit Gent.] What can be their
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