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King. I then mov'd you, (19)
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 confent proceeded

Under your hands and feals. Therefore go on;
For no dislike i'th' world against the perfon
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 primest 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 Holiness.

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,
Pr'ythee, return! with thy approach, I know,
My comfort comes along. Break up the Court:

I fay, fet on.

(19)

:

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[Exeunt, in manner as they enter'd.

My Lord of Canterbury, and got your Leave To make this present Summons unsollicited.] Thus all the Impressions. But these Sagacious Editors have palm'd a strange Piece of Nonsense upon us, from a false Pointing. What! did the King move the Bifhop, nay, and so move him as to get his Leave, and yet could the Summons be said to be unfollicited? I have rescued the Text from such an absurd Contradiction : and, again, done it upon the Authority of honest Holing shead. “I " moved it in Confeffion to You, my Lord of Lincoln, then ghostly Father. " And forasmuch as then you yourself were in some Doubt, you mov'd me " to ask the Counsel of all these my Lords. Whereupon I moved you, my "Lord of Canterbury, first to have your Licence, in as much as you were "Metropolitan, to put this Matter in Question; and fo I did of All you, " my Lords." Hollingshead. ibid. p. 908.

ACT

T

ACT III.

SCENE, the Queen's Apartments.

The Queen and her Women, as at Work.

QUEEN.

AKE thy lute, wench, my soul grows fad with troubles :

Sing, and disperse 'em, if thou canst : leave working.

SONG.

Orpheus with his leader

And the mountain tops, that freeze,
Bow themselves when he did fing.
To bis musick, plants and flowers
Ever fprung, as fun and showers
There had made a lasting spring.
Ev'ry thing that heard him play,
Evn the billows of the sea,

Hung their heads, and then lay by.
In fweet mufick is such art,
Killing care, and grief of heart
Fall asleep, or bearing die.

Enter a Gentleman.

Queen. How now?

Gent. And't please your Grace, the two great Cardinals

Wait in the Prefence.

Queen. Would they speak with me?

Gent. They will'd me say so, Madam.

Queen. Pray their Graces

VOL. V.

D

To

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 as righteous,
But all hoods make not monks.

Enter the Cardinals Wolfey and Campeius.

Wol. Peace to your Highness!

Queen. Your Graces find me here part of a house-wife, (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.

Queen. Speak it here.

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 (so much I am happy
Above a number) if my actions

Were try'd by ev'ry tongue, ev'ry eye faw 'em;
Envy and base opinion set against 'em;
I know my life so even. If your business
Do seek me out, and that way I am wise in,
Out with it boldly: truth loves open dealing.

Wol. Tanta est erga te mentis integritas, Regina Serenif

fima,

Queen. O, good my lord, no Latin;

I am not such a truant fince my coming,

As not to know the language I have liv'd in.

[ous:

A strange tongue makes my cause more strange, fufpici-
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 Cardinal,
The willing'st sin I ever yet committed,

May be absolv'd in English.

Wol. Noble lady,

I'm forry my Integrity should breed

(And Service to his Majesty and you)

So deep fufpicion, where all faith was meant.

We

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
Between the King and you: and to deliver,
Like free and honest men, our just opinions
And comforts to your caufe.

(

Cam. Most 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 sign of peace
His service and his counsel.

Queen. To betray me.

My lords, I thank you Both for your good wills,
Ye speak like honest men; pray God, ye prove so!
But how to make ye suddenly an answer

In such 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 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 last fit of my Greatness) good your Graces,
Let me have time and council for my cause :

Alas! I am a woman, friendless, hopeless.

:

Wol. Madam, you wrong the King's love with those

Your hopes and friends are infinite.

[fears,

Queen. In England,

But little for my profit: can you think, lords,
That any English man dare give me counsel?
Or be a known friend 'gainst his Highness' pleasure,
(Though he be grown so desp'rate to be honeft,)
And live a subject? nay, forsooth, my friends

They, that must weigh out my afflictions,
They, that my trust must grow to, live not here;

44

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 protection;

He's loving and most gracious. 'Twill be much

Both for your honour better, and your cause :

For if the tryal of the law o'er-take ye,

You'll part away disgrac'd.

Wol. He tells you rightly.

Queen. Ye tell me what ye wish for Both, my ruin :

Is this your christian counsel? out upon ye!
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 ye; holy men I thought ye,
Upon my foul, two rev'rend Cardinal virtues;
But Cardinal fins, and hollow hearts, I fear ye:
Mend 'em for shame, my lords: is this your comfort?
The cordial, that ye bring a wretched lady ?
A woman lost among ye, laugh'd at, scorn'd?
I will not wish ye half my miseries,

I have more charity. But say, I warn'd ye;
Take heed, take heed, for heavn's fake, left at once
The burthen of my forrows fall upon ye.
Wol. Madam, this is a meer distraction;
You turn the good we offer into envy.

Queen. Ye turn me into nothing. Wo upon ye, And all Such false professors! Would you have me (If you have any justice, any pity,

If ye be any thing, but churchmens habits)
Put my fick cause into his hands that hates me?
Alas, h'as banish'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. Haye I lived thus long (let me speak my self,

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