If it conceiv'd a male child by me,
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 Itooka thought,
This was a judgment on me; that my kingdom,
Well worthy the best heir o' the world, fhould not
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. This hulling in
The wild fea of my conscience, I did steer
Toward this remedy, whereupon we are
Now present here together: that's to fay,
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,
And doctors learn'd.-First, I began in private
With you, my lord of Lincoln; you remember
How under my oppreffion I did reek,
When I first mov'd you.
Lin. Very well, my liege.
King. I have fpoke long; be pleas'd yourself to How far you fatisfy'd me?
Lin. So please your highness,
The question did at first so stagger me—
Bearing a state of mighty moment in't,
And confequence of dread—that I committed
The daring'ft counfel which I had, to doubt;
And did entreat your highness to this course,
Which you are running here.
King. I then mov'd you,
My lord of Canterbury; and got your leave
To make this prefent fummons:- -Unfolicited
I left no reverend perfon in this court;
But, by particular confent, proceeded
Under your hands and feals. Therefore, go on;
For no diflike i' the world against the perfon
Of our good queen, but the fharp thorny points
Of my alleged 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,
Katharine our queen, before the primest creature
That paragon'd o' the 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 earnest motion
Made to the queen, to call back her appeal
She intends unto his holinefs. [They rife to depart.
King. I may perceive,
Thefe cardinals trifle with me: I abhor
This dilatory floth, and tricks of Rome.
My learn'd and well-beloved fervant, Cranmer,
Pr'ythee, return! with thy approach, I know, 1
My comfort comes along. Break
the court:
up
I say, fet on. [Exeunt, in manner that they entered.
SCENE I. The Queen's Apartment.
The Queen, and her Women, as at Work.
TAKE thy lute, wench: my foul grows troubles;
Sing, and difperfe them, if thou canft: leave work
Orpheus with his lute made trees,
And the mountain-tops, that freeze,
Bow themfelves, when he did fing:
To his mufick, plants, and flowers,
Ever fprung; as fun, and showers,
There had made a lafting fpring.
Every thing that heard him play,
Even 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.
Gent. An't pleafe your grace, the two great car
Wait in the prefence.
Queen. Would they fpeak with me?
Gent. They will'd me fay fo, madam.
Queen. Pray their graces
To come near. [Exit Gent.] What can be their bu
With me, a poor weak woman, fallen from favour? I do not like their coming, now I think on't. They fhould be good men; their affairs are righBut, All hoods make not monks.
Enter WOLSEY, and CAMPEIUS. Wol. Peace to your highnefs!"
find me here part of a houfe
Iwould be all, against the worst may happen. [wife;
What are your pleasures with me, reverend lords?
Wol. May it pleafe you, noble madam, to withdraw
Into your private chamber, we shall give you
The full caufe of our coming.
Queen. Speak it here;
There's nothing I have done yet, o' my conscience,
Deferves a corner: 'Would, all other women
Could speak this with as free a foul as I do!
My lords, I care not (so much I am happy
Above a number), if my actions
Were try'd by every tongue, every eye faw 'em,
Envy and bafe opinion fet against 'em,
I know my life fo even: If your business
Seek 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 fere-
Queen. O, good my lord, no Latin; [nissima-
I am not fuch a truant fince my coming,
As not to know the language I have liv'd in:
Aftrange tongue makes niy caufe more ftrange, fuf-
picious;
Pray, speak in English: here are fome will thank you,
If you speak truth, for their poor mistress' fake;
Believe me, the hashad much wrong: Lord cardinal,
The willing'ft fin I ever yet committed,
May be abfolv'd in English.
I am forry my integrity should breed
(And fervice to his majesty and you)
So deep fufpicion, where all faith was meant.
We come not by the way of accufation,
To taint that honour every good tongue blesses;
Nor to betray you any way to forrow;
You have too much, good lady: but to know
Aa 117. 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.
Cam. Moft honour'd madam,
My lord of York-out of his noble nature,
Zeal and obedience he ftill bore your grace;
Forgetting, like a good man, your late cenfure
Both of his truth and him (which was too far)→
Offers, as I do, in a fign of peace,
His fervice, and his counsel.-
Queen. To betray me.
[Afide.
My lords, I thank you both for your good wills,
Ye fpeak like honeft men (pray God, ye prove io!)
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 fuch business.
For her fake that I have been (for I feel
The last fit of my greatnefs), good your graces,
Let me have time, and counfel, for my caufe;
Alas! I am a woman, friendlefs, hopeless.
Wol. Madam, you wrong the king's love with thefe
Your hopes and friends are infinite.
But little for my profit: Can you think, lords,
That any Englishman dares give me counsel?
Or be a known friend, 'gainft his highness' pleasure
(Though he be grown fo defperate to be honest),
And live a fubject? Nay, forfooth, my friends,
They that mult weigh out my afflictions,
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