Bearing a state of mighty moment in't,
And confequence of dread, that I committed
The daring'st counsel 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 present summons. Unfollicited I left no rev'rend person in this court, But by particular consent proceeded Under your hands and feals. Therefore go on; For no dislike i' th' world against the person Of our good Queen, but the sharp thorny points Of my alledged 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, Catharine our Queen, before the primeft creature That's paragon'd + i' th' world.
Cam. So please your Highness,
The Queen being absent, '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 to his Holinefs.
[They rise to depart. The King speaks to Cranmer, King. I may perceive
These Cardinals trifle with me; I abhor
This dilatory sloth, and tricks of Rome.
My learn'd and well-beloved servant Cranmer,
Prythee return! with thy approach, I know, kno
My comfort comes along. -Break up the court.
-I say, set on. [Exeunt, in manner as they enter'd.
† Hanmer reads, I think, better,
-The primeft creature
That's paragon o'th' world. Johnson.
The Queen's Apartments.
The Queen and her women, as at work.
TAKE thy lute, wench, my soul grows fad with
-Sing, and difperfe'em, if thou canst. Leave working.
Orpheus with his lute made trees,
And the mountain-tops that freeze,
Bow themselves when he did fing.
To his music, plants and flowers
Ever sprung, as fun and showers
There had made a lasting spring.
Ev'ry thing that heard him play,
Ev'n the billows of the sea,
Hung their heads, and then lay by.
In sweet music is fuch art,
Killing care, and grief of heart
Fall asleep, or hearing die.
Enter a Gentleman.
Gent. An't please your Grace, the two great Car
Wait in the prefence.
Queen. Would they speak with me?
Gent. They will'd me say so, Madam.
Queen. Pray their Graces
To come near. What can be their business
With me, a poor weak woman, fall'n from favour?
I do not like their coming. Now I think on't,
They should be good men, their affairs * are righ-
But all hoods make not monks.
[teous =
Affairs for professions. Warb.
Enter the Cardinals Wolfey and Campeius. Wol. Peace to your Highness!
Queen. Your Graces find me here part of a house
I would be all, against the worst may happen.
What are your pleasures with me, rev'rend Lords?
Wol. May't please you, noble Madam, to withdraw
Into your private chamber, we shall give you
The full cause of our coming.
There's nothing I have done yet, o my confcience,
Deserves a corner: 'would all other women
Could speak this with as free a foul as I do!
My Lords. I care not, to much I am happy
Above a number, if my actions
Were try'd by ev'ry tongue, ev'ry eve saw 'em,
Envy and bate opinion fet against 'em;
I know my life to even. If your basiness
Do seek me out, and that way I an wife in,
Out with it boldly. Truth loves open dealing.
Wol. Tanta eft erga te mentis integritas, Regina
Queen. O, good my Lord, no Latin; I am not fuch a truant, fince my coming, As not to know the language I have lived in. A ftrange tongue makes my cause more strange,
Pray, speak in English; here are some will thank you,
If you speak truth, for their poor mistress' fake.
Believe me, she has had much wrong. Lord Car-
The willing'ft in I ever yet committed,
[dinal,
May be abfolv'd in English.
I'm 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 How you stand minded in the weighty difference VOL. VII.
Between the King and you; and to deliver,
Like free and honeft men, our just opinions
And comforts to your caufe.
Cam. Moft honour'd Madam,
My Lord of York, out of his noble nature,
Zeal and obedience he still 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.
My Lords, I thank you both for your good wills:
Ye speak like honeft men; pray God ye prove so!
But how to make you fuddenly an answer
In fuch a point of weight, so 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 set 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 last fit of my greatness, good your Graces,
Let me have time and counsel for my caufe.
Alas! I am a woman, friendless, hopeless.
Wol. Madam, you wrong the King's love with
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' pleasure,
Though he be grown so defp'rate to be honeft,
And live a subject? Nay, forsooth, my friends;
They that must weigh out my afflictions,
They that my truft must grow to, live not here;
They are, as all my comforts are, far hence,
"In my own country, Lords.
Cam. I would your Grace
Would leave your griefs, and take my counsel.
Queen. How, Sir?"
Cam. Put your main cause into the King's pro-
tection;.
He's loving, and most gracious: 'twill be much
Both for your honour better, and your cause;
For if the trial of the law o'ertake you,
You'll part away disgrac'd.
Wol. He tells you rightly.
Quzen. Ye tell me what ye wish for both, my ruin. Is this your Chriftian counsel? Out upon you! Heav'n is above all yet; there sits a Judge That no King can corrupt.
Cam. Your rage mistakes us.
Queen. The more shame for you: holy men I
Upon mv foul, two rev'rend Cardinal Virtues ;
But Cardinal fins, and hollow hearts, I fear you;
Mend 'em for thame, my Lords. Is this your com-
The cordial that you bring a wretched lady? [fort,
A woman loft among you, laugh'd at, scorn'd:
I will not wish you half my miferies,
I have more charity; but fay I warn'd ye;
Take heed, take heed, for Heav'n's fake, leit at once
The burden of my forrows fall upon you.
Wol. Madam, this is a mere diftraction;
Ye turn the good we offer into envy.
Queen. Ye turn me into nothing Wo upon you, And all fuch falte profeffors! Would you have me, If ve have any justice, any pity,
If ye be any thing but churchmen's habits,
Put my fick cause into his hands that hates me?
Alas! his banith'd me his bed already;
His love too, long ago. I'm 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!
Cam. Your fears are worfe
Queen. Have I liv'd thus long-let me speak my
Since virtue finds no friends-a wife, a true one?
A woman, I dare say, without vain-glory,
Never vet branded with fufpicion?
Have. I with all my full affections
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