Or how far further fhall, is warranted
By a commiffion from the confistory,
Yea, the whole confiftory of Rome. You charge me,
That I have blown this coal: I do deny it :
The king is present: If it be known to him,
That I gainfay my deed, how may he wound,
And worthily, my falsehood? yea, as much
As you have done my truth. But if he know
That I am free of your report, he knows,
I am not of your wrong. Therefore in him
It lies, to cure me: and the cure is, to
Remove these thoughts from you: The which before
His highness shall speak in, I do befeech
You, gracious madam, to unthink your speaking,
And to fay fo no more.
I am a fimple woman, much too weak
To oppose your cunning.
You fign your place and calling, in full feeming,
With meekness and humility: but your heart
Is cramm'd with arrogancy, fpleen, and pride.
You have, by fortune, and his highness' favours,
Gone flightly o'er low steps; and now are mounted,
Where powers are your retainers: and your words,
Domefticks to you, ferve your will, as't please
Yourself pronounce their office. I must tell you,
You tender more your person's honour, than
Your high profeffion fpiritual: That again
I do refuse you for my judge; and here,
Before you all, appeal unto the pope,
To bring my whole cause 'fore his holiness,
And to be judg'd by him.
[She curt'fies to the King, and offers to depart.
When you are call'd, return.-Now the L
They vex me paft my patience!-pray you
I will not tarry; no, nor ever more,
Upon this bufinefs, my appearance make
of their courts.
[Exeunt Queen, GRIFFITH, and her o Go thy ways, Kate That man i'the world, who fhall report he A better wife, let him in nought be trufted For speaking false in that: Thou art, alon If thy rare qualities, fweet gentleness, Thy meekness faint-like, wife-like govern Obeying in commanding,-and thy parts Sovereign and pious elfe, could fpeak thee The queen of earthly queens :-She is nob And, like her true nobility, she has Carried herself towards me.
Wol.
In humblest manner I require your highne
That it shall please you to declare, in hear
Of all these ears, (for where I am robb'd a
There must I be unloos'd; although not t
At once and fully fatisfied,) whether ever
Did broach this business to your highness;
Laid any scruple in your way, which migh
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, might
Be to the prejudice of her prefent state,
Or touch of her good perfon?
I do excuse you; yea, upon mine honour,
Į 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 excus'd:
But will you be more justify'd? you ever
Have wish'd the fleeping of this business; never
Defir'd it to be stirr'd; but oft have hinder'd; oft
The paffages made toward it :-on my honour,
I speak my good lord cardinal to this point,
And thus far clear him. Now, what mov'd me to't,—
I will be bold with time, and your attention:-
Then mark the inducement. Thus it came ;-give heed
My confcience first receiv'd a tenderness,
Scruple, and prick, on certain fpeeches utter'd
By the bishop of Bayonne, then French ambassador;
Who had been hither fent on the debating
A marriage, 'twixt the duke of Orleans and
Our daughter Mary: I'the progrefs of this business,
Ere a determinate refolution, he
(I mean, the bishop) did require a respite;
Wherein he might the king his lord advertise
Whether our daughter were legitimate,
Refpecting this our marriage with the dowager,
Sometimes our brother's wife. This refpite fhook
The bofom of my confcience, enter'd me,
Yea, with a splitting power, and made to tremble
The region of my breaft; which forc'd fuch way,
That many maz'd confiderings did throng,
And press'd in with this caution. First, methought,
I ftood not in the fmile of heaven; who had
Commanded nature, that my lady's womb,
If it conceiv'd 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 judgement 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 ftood in
By this my iffue's fail; and that gave to me
Many a groaning throe. Thus hulling in
The wild fea of my confcience, 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,
K. Hen. I have spoke long; be pleas'd yourself to say How far you fatisfy'd me.
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 counsel which I had, to 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 prefent fummons :--Unfolicited
I left no reverend person in this court;
But by particular confent proceeded,
Under your hands and feals.
Therefore, go on:
For no diflike i'the world against the person
Of the 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,
Katharine our queen, before the primest creature
That's paragon'd o'the world.
Cam. So please your highness, The queen being abfent, 'tis a needful fitness That we adjourn this court till further day: Mean while must be an earnest motion Made to the queen, to call back her appeal She intends unto his holiness.
Thefe cardinals trifle with me: I abhor
This dilatory floth, 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, set on.
[Exeunt, in manner as they enter`d.
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