The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 6 of 9]
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Title: The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 6 of 9]
Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: William George Clark
William Aldis Wright
Release date: May 21, 2015 [eBook #49007]
Most recently updated: August 24, 2025
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/49007
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE [CAMBRIDGE EDITION] [VOL. 6 OF 9] ***
_THE WORKS_
OF
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
[Illustration]
THE WORKS
OF
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
EDITED BY
WILLIAM GEORGE CLARK, M.A.
FELLOW AND TUTOR OF TRINITY COLLEGE, AND PUBLIC ORATOR IN THE
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE;
AND WILLIAM ALDIS WRIGHT, M.A.
LIBRARIAN OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.
_VOLUME VI._
Cambridge and London:
MACMILLAN AND CO.
1865.
CAMBRIDGE:
PRINTED BY C. J. CLAY, M.A.
AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
THE Preface vii
KING HENRY VIII 1
Notes to King Henry VIII 117
TROILUS AND CRESSIDA 123
Notes to Troilus and Cressida 263
CORIOLANUS 271
Notes to Coriolanus 423
TITUS ANDRONICUS 429
Notes to Titus Andronicus 533
PREFACE.
1. 'The Famous History of the Life of KING HENRY THE EIGHT' was printed
for the first time in the Folio of 1623.
2. The earliest edition of 'TROILUS AND CRESSIDA' of which we have any
knowledge was the Quarto which was printed in 1609 with the following
title:
The | Historie of Troylus | and Cresseida. | _As it was acted
by the Kings Maiesties_ | seruants at the Globe. | _Written
by_ William Shakespeare. | LONDON | Imprinted by _G. Eld_ for
_R. Bonian_ and _H. Walley_, and | are to be sold at the spred
Eagle in Paules | Church-yeard, ouer against the | great North
doore. | 1609. |
In the same year was issued another edition, printed from the same form
as the preceding, but with the following title:
The | Famous Historie of | Troylus _and_ Cresseid. |
_Excellently expressing the beginning_ | of their loues, with
the conceited wooing | of _Pandarus_ Prince of _Licia_. |
_Written by_ William Shakespeare. | LONDON | Imprinted by _G.
Eld_ for _R. Bonian_ and _H. Walley_, and | are to be sold at
the spred Eagle in Paules | Church-yeard, ouer against the |
great North doore. | 1609. |
Besides the variations in the title-page this edition differs from the
preceding in having a preface, apparently the work of the publisher,
of which the heading is 'A neuer writer, to an euer reader. Newes.'
In this preface the play is called a new one, 'neuer stal'd with the
Stage, neuer clapper-clawd with the palmes of the vulger,' and hence
it has been inferred that the edition with the preface is the earlier
of the two. It appears, however, upon a close examination, that all
the copies were printed from the same form, that the title which we
have recorded first was the original one, and that in some copies
this was cancelled, and the new title and preface inserted on a new
half-sheet and with a new signature. The title-page of the edition with
the preface is printed from the same form as the other title-page, as
is evident from a comparison of the parts in each, from 'Written by
William Shakespeare' to the end, which are absolutely identical. As
the running title, 'The history of Troylus and Cresseida' corresponds
with the first quoted title-page, we believe that the copies with this
title-page were first issued for the theatre, and afterwards those with
the new title-page and preface for general readers. In this case the
expression 'neuer stal'd with the Stage, neuer clapper-clawd with the
palmes of the vulger' must refer to the first appearance of the play in
type, unless we suppose that the publisher was more careful to say what
would recommend his book than to state what was literally true.
Since, in the play itself, these two editions are identical, we refer
to them by one symbol, Q.
It appears from an entry in the Stationers' Registers, 7 Feb. 1602/3,
that a play called 'Troilus and Cressida' had been acted by the Lord
Chamberlain's Servants, and this Mr Staunton conjectures may have
been the same as that upon which Decker and Chettle are known, from
Henslowe's _Diary_, to have been engaged in 1599, and may possibly have
formed the foundation of the later play.
In the Folio of 1623, TROILUS AND CRESSIDA stands between the Histories
and the Tragedies. The Tragedies at first began with _Coriolanus_. Then
followed _Titus Andronicus_ and _Romeo and Juliet_, and it appears upon
examination that the editors intended _Troilus and Cressida_ to be next
in order. With this view the first three pages were actually printed
and paged so as to follow _Romeo and Juliet_, and the play was called
'The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida.' Whether it was found that the
title of tragedy could not with propriety be given to it, or whatever
may have been the cause, the editors changed its position, cancelled
the leaf containing the end of _Romeo and Juliet_ on one side and the
beginning of _Troilus and Cressida_ on the other, but retained the
other leaf already printed, and then added the prologue to fill up the
blank page, which in the original setting of the type had been occupied
by the end of _Romeo and Juliet_. The rest of the play was printed with
a new set of signatures and without any pagination, and was simply
called 'Troylus and Cressida.'
There are very remarkable discrepancies between the Quarto and the
Folio text of this play, similar in character to those which are found
on comparing the two texts of _Richard III_. In the present case,
however, they are not nearly so frequent, nor, as a general rule, so
important. Some of the most important have been mentioned specially
in the notes at the end of the play, and all the others recorded in
the foot-notes. We find in the Folio several passages essential to
the sense of the context which do not exist in the Quarto, and which
therefore must have been omitted by the negligence of a copyist or
printer. On the other hand we find some passages in the Quarto, not
absolutely essential to the sense, though a decided improvement to
it and quite in the author's manner, which either do not appear in
the Folio at all, or appear in a mutilated form. Sometimes the lines
which are wrongly divided in the Quarto are divided properly in the
Folio, and vice versa: in this point, however, the former is generally
more correct than the latter. The two texts differ in many single
words: sometimes the difference is clearly owing to a clerical or
typographical error, but in other cases it appears to result from
deliberate correction, first by the author himself, and secondly
by some less skilful hand. The main duty of an editor must be to
discriminate the one from the other, and in the first case to prefer
the text of the Folio, and in the second to reject it in favour of the
Quarto. On the whole we are of opinion that the Quarto was printed
from a transcript of the author's original MS.; that this MS. was
afterwards revised and slightly altered by the author himself, and that
before the first Folio was printed from it, it had been tampered with
by another hand. Perhaps the corrections are due to the writer who did
not shrink from prefixing to Shakespeare's play a prologue of his own.
3. CORIOLANUS was first published in the Folio of 1623. The text
abounds with errors, due, probably, to the carelessness or the
illegibility of the transcript from which it was printed.
4. TITUS ANDRONICUS was, so far as we know[A], published for the first
time in the year 1600, in Quarto, with the following title-page:
The most lamenta-|ble Romaine Tragedie of _Titus_ |
_Andronicus_. | As it hath sundry times beene playde by the |
Right Honourable the Earle of Pembrooke, the | Earle of Darbie,
the Earle of Sussex, and the | Lorde Chamberlaine theyr |
Seruants. | AT LONDON, | Printed by I. R. for Edward White |
and are to bee solde at his shoppe, at the little | North doore
of Paules, at the signe of | the Gun. 1600. |
[A] In the Registers of the Stationers' Company are the following
entries with regard to a book called 'Titus Andronicus,' but it is
more than doubtful whether any of them refer to the editions of the
play of that name which have come down to us. It will be seen that
the entry under the date, 19 April, 1602, speaks of a transference of
copyright from Thomas Millington to Thomas Pavier, but as both the
extant editions of the play, printed respectively in 1600 and 1611,
were published by Edward White, the entry can have reference to neither
of these.
6 February, 1593.
John Danter. Entered for his copye under handes of
bothe the wardens a booke intituled, A Noble
Roman-Historye of Tytus Andronicus. vjᵈ.
1602. 19 April.
Tho. Pavier. Entred for his copies by assignmᵗ from
Thomas Millington these bookes folowing; salvo
jure cuiuscumque--
viz.
A booke called Thomas of Reading. vjᵈ.
The first and second pts of Henry the VIᵗ. ij
bookes. xijᵈ.
A booke called Titus and Andronic'. vjᵈ.
Under the date 14ᵒ Dec. 1624, among a list of 'Ballades' is mentioned
'Titus and Andronmus.' Again, on 8ᵒ Novemb. 1630, is an entry assigning
to Ric. Cotes from Mr Bird 'all his estate right title and interest in
the Copies hereafter menconed,' and in the list which follows is 'Titus
and Andronicus.' On 4 Aug. 1626, Thomas Pavier had assigned his right
in Titus Andronicus to Edw. Brewster and Rob. Birde, so that apparently
the same book is spoken of here as in the entry under the date 19
April, 1602. This being the case, it is difficult to account for the
fact that a book, which in 1602 was the property of Thomas Millington,
should in 1600 have been printed for Edward White, and that, after
the transference of the copyright from Millington to Pavier, a second
edition of the same book should have been printed in 1611 for the same
Edward White. No edition with Millington's name on the title has yet
been found.
Langbaine, in his _Account of the English Dramatick Poets_, p. 464
(ed. 1691), says of Titus Andronicus, 'This Play was first printed 4ᵒ.
Lond. 1594. and acted by the Earls of Derby, Pembroke, and Essex, their
Servants.' Whether or not this is the same as 'titus and ondronicus'
mentioned in Henslowe's _Diary_ (p. 33, ed. Collier) as acted for the
first time on the 23 Jan. 1593, it is impossible to say.
Only two copies of this edition are known to exist, one in the library
at Bridgewater House, and one in the library of the University of
Edinburgh[B]. From a tracing of the title-page of the latter, kindly
sent us by Mr D. Laing, we find that it agrees in every particular with
the above, which we have copied from the Bridgewater Quarto, now before
us.
[B] _Not_ the Signet Library, as stated by Mr Collier.
For some time the Bridgewater copy was believed to be unique. Todd
was the first to collate it, somewhat hastily as it would seem, with
Steevens' edition of 1793, and the results were given in the notes to
the first variorum edition (1803). Subsequent editors were content to
accept Todd's authority till Mr Collier consulted the original for
himself. Lady Ellesmere's kind liberality has enabled us to do the
like. We have gone over it with great care, and succeeded in recovering
a considerable number of readings which had escaped the notice of
previous collators. Taking its rarity into account, we have recorded
the variations of this edition with unusual minuteness. They are the
better worth notice, as the book is printed with remarkable accuracy.
We call it Q₁.
The second edition of _Titus Andronicus_ was published in 1611. This
we call Q₂. Its title-page is as follows:
The | most lamen-|table Tragedie | _of Titus Andronicus_. | _As
it hath sundry_ | _times beene plaide by the Kings_ | Maiesties
Seruants. | LONDON, | Printed for Eedward White, and are to be
solde | at his shoppe, nere the little North dore of | Pauls,
at the signe of the | Gun. 1611. |
This edition was printed from that of 1600, from which it varies only
by some printer's errors and a few conjectural alterations.
The first Folio text was printed from a copy of the second Quarto
which, perhaps, was in the library of the theatre, and had some MS.
alterations and additions made to the stage directions. Here, as
elsewhere, the printer of the Folio has been very careless as to metre.
It is remarkable that the Folio contains a whole scene, Act III. Sc. 2,
not found in the Quartos, but agreeing too closely in style with the
main portion of the play to allow of the supposition that it is due to
a different author. The scene may have been supplied to the players'
copy of Q₂ from a manuscript in their possession.
Ravenscroft's version quoted in our notes is an alteration of the play,
published in 1687 under the title of 'Titus Andronicus: or the Rape of
Lavinia.'
We have to thank Dr Delius of Bonn, for sending us the second edition
of his 'Shakespeare,' and for the interest he has taken in our work,
Dr Leo of Berlin, for a present of his edition of 'Coriolanus,' Mr
Rivington and Mr Greenhill, for procuring us access to the registers of
the Stationers' Company, and Sir S. M. Peto, Sir J. Claridge, Professor
Blackie, Mr D. Laing, the Rev. T. J. Rowsell, Dr Kingsley, Mr R. H.
Martley, Mr L. Booth, and Mr H. Peto, for various acts of kindness.
W. G. C.
W. A. W.
ERRATUM.
Coriolanus, I. 9. 45. note,
_for_ Collier conj. _read_ Singer conj.
KING HENRY THE EIGHTH.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ[C].
KING HENRY the Eighth.
CARDINAL WOLSEY.
CARDINAL CAMPEIUS.
CAPUCIUS, Ambassador from the Emperor Charles V.
CRANMER, Archbishop of Canterbury.
DUKE OF NORFOLK.
DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.
DUKE OF SUFFOLK.
EARL OF SURREY.
Lord Chamberlain.
Lord Chancellor.
GARDINER, Bishop of Winchester.
Bishop of Lincoln.
LORD ABERGAVENNY.
LORD SANDS.
SIR HENRY GUILDFORD.
SIR THOMAS LOVELL.
SIR ANTHONY DENNY.
SIR NICHOLAS VAUX.
Secretaries to Wolsey.
CROMWELL, Servant to Wolsey.
GRIFFITH, Gentleman-usher to Queen Katharine.
Three Gentlemen.
DOCTOR BUTTS, Physician to the King.
Garter King-at-Arms.
Surveyor to the Duke of Buckingham.
BRANDON, and a Sergeant-at-Arms.
Door-keeper of the Council-chamber. Porter, and his Man.
Page to Gardiner. A Crier.
QUEEN KATHARINE, wife to King Henry, afterwards divorced.
ANNE BULLEN, her Maid of Honour, afterwards Queen.
An old Lady, friend to Anne Bullen.
PATIENCE, woman to Queen Katharine.
Several Lords and Ladies in the Dumb Shows; Women attending
upon the Queen; Scribes, Officers, Guards, and other Attendants.
Spirits.
SCENE: _London_; _Westminster_; _Kimbolton_.
[C] DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. First given, imperfectly, by Rowe.
THE FAMOUS HISTORY OF THE LIFE OF
KING HENRY VIII.
THE PROLOGUE.
I come no more to make you laugh: things now,
That bear a weighty and a serious brow,
Sad, high and working, full of state and woe,[1]
Such noble scenes as draw the eye to flow,
We now present. Those that can pity, here[2] 5
May, if they think it well, let fall a tear;
The subject will deserve it. Such as give
Their money out of hope they may believe,
May here find truth too. Those that come to see
Only a show or two and so agree[3] 10
The play may pass, if they be still and willing,
I'll undertake may see away their shilling
Richly in two short hours. Only they
That come to hear a merry bawdy play,
A noise of targets, or to see a fellow 15
In a long motley coat guarded with yellow,
Will be deceived; for, gentle hearers, know,
To rank our chosen truth with such a show
As fool and fight is, beside forfeiting[4]
Our own brains and the opinion that we bring 20
To make that only true we now intend,[5]
Will leave us never an understanding friend.[6]
Therefore, for goodness' sake, and as you are known[7]
The first and happiest hearers of the town,
Be sad, as we would make ye: think ye see[8] 25
The very persons of our noble story[9]
As they were living; think you see them great
And follow'd with the general throng and sweat
Of thousand friends; then, in a moment, see
How soon this mightiness meets misery: 30
And if you can be merry then, I'll say
A man may weep upon his wedding-day.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] _high and working_] _and high-working_ Staunton.
_full_] F₁ F₄. _fall_ F₂ F₃.
[2] _now_] _shall_ Pope.
[3] _agree_] Pope, _a gree_, F₁. _agree,_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4] _beside_] _besides_ Pope (ed. 2).
[5] _To make_] _That make_ Rowe. _To make ... intend_] _Or make; that
only truth we now intend_ Johnson conj. _That only true to make we now
intend_ Tyrwhitt conj.
[6] _never] ne'er_ S. Walker conj.
[7] _and as_] _as_ Pope.
[8] _ye see_] _before ye_ Theobald. _you see_ Delius.
[9] _noble story_] _history_ Capell (Heath conj.)
ACT I.
SCENE I. _London. An ante-chamber in the palace._
_Enter the_ DUKE OF NORFOLK _at one door: at the other, the_ DUKE OF
BUCKINGHAM _and the_ LORD ABERGAVENNY.[9a]
_Buck._ Good morrow, and well met. How have ye done
Since last we saw in France?[10]
_Nor._ I thank your grace,
Healthful, and ever since a fresh admirer
Of what I saw there.
_Buck._ An untimely ague
Stay'd me a prisoner in my chamber when 5
Those suns of glory, those two lights of men,[11]
Met in the vale of Andren.[12]
_Nor._ 'Twixt Guynes and Arde:
I was then present, saw them salute on horseback;[13]
Beheld them, when they 'lighted, how they clung
In their embracement, as they grew together; 10
Which had they, what four throned ones could have weigh'd[14]
Such a compounded one?
_Buck._ All the whole time
I was my chamber's prisoner.
_Nor._ Then you lost
The view of earthly glory: men might say,
Till this time pomp was single, but now married 15
To one above itself. Each following day
Became the next day's master, till the last[15]
Made former wonders its. To-day the French,[16]
All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods,[17]
Shone down the English; and to-morrow they 20
Made Britain India: every man that stood
Show'd like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were
As cherubins, all gilt: the madams too,
Not used to toil, did almost sweat to bear
The pride upon them, that their very labour 25
Was to them as a painting: now this masque
Was cried incomparable; and the ensuing night
Made it a fool and beggar. The two kings,
Equal in lustre, were now best, now worst,
As presence did present them; him in eye 30
Still him in praise; and being present both,
'Twas said they saw but one, and no discerner
Durst wag his tongue in censure. When these suns--[18]
For so they phrase 'em--by their heralds challenged
The noble spirits to arms, they did perform 35
Beyond thought's compass; that former fabulous story,[19]
Being now seen possible enough, got credit,
That Bevis was believed.[20]
_Buck._ O, you go far.
_Nor._ As I belong to worship and affect
In honour honesty, the tract of every thing 40
Would by a good discourser lose some life
Which action's self was tongue to. All was royal;[21][22]
To the disposing of it nought rebell'd;[22]
Order gave each thing view; the office did[22][23]
Distinctly his full function.[22]
_Buck._ Who did guide,[22] 45
I mean, who set the body and the limbs[22]
Of this great sport together, as you guess?[22][24]
_Nor._ One, certes, that promises no element[22][24][25]
In such a business.[22]
_Buck._ I pray you, who, my lord?[26]
_Nor._ All this was order'd by the good discretion 50
Of the right reverend Cardinal of York.
_Buck._ The devil speed him! no man's pie is freed
From his ambitious finger. What had he
To do in these fierce vanities? I wonder
That such a keech can with his very bulk[27] 55
Take up the rays o' the beneficial sun,
And keep it from the earth.
_Nor._ Surely, sir,[28]
There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends;
For, being not propp'd by ancestry, whose grace
Chalks successors their way, nor call'd upon 60
For high feats done to the crown; neither allied
To eminent assistants; but, spider-like,
Out of his self-drawing web, he gives us note,[29]
The force of his own merit makes his way;
A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys[30] 65
A place next to the king.
_Aber._ I cannot tell
What heaven hath given him; let some graver eye
Pierce into that; but I can see his pride
Peep through each part of him: whence has he that?[31]
If not from hell, the devil is a niggard,[31] 70
Or has given all before, and he begins
A new hell in himself.
_Buck._ Why the devil,[32]
Upon this French going out, took he upon him,
Without the privity o' the king, to appoint
Who should attend on him? He makes up the file 75
Of all the gentry; for the most part such[33]
To whom as great a charge as little honour[33]
He meant to lay upon: and his own letter,[34][35][36]
The honourable board of council out,[35][37]
Must fetch him in he papers.[35][37][38]
_Aber._ I do know[35] 80
Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
By this so sicken'd their estates that never[39]
They shall abound as formerly.
_Buck._ O, many
Have broke their backs with laying manors on 'em[40]
For this great journey. What did this vanity[41] 85
But minister communication of[42]
A most poor issue?
_Nor._ Grievingly I think,
The peace between the French and us not values
The cost that did conclude it.
_Buck._ Every man,
After the hideous storm that follow'd, was 90
A thing inspired, and not consulting broke
Into a general prophecy: That this tempest,
Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded
The sudden breach on't.
_Nor._ Which is budded out;
For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath attach'd 95
Our merchants' goods at Bourdeaux.[43]
_Aber._ Is it therefore
The ambassador is silenced?
_Nor._ Marry, is't.
_Aber._ A proper title of a peace, and purchased[44]
At a superfluous rate!
_Buck._ Why, all this business
Our reverend cardinal carried.
_Nor._ Like it your grace,[45] 100
The state takes notice of the private difference
Betwixt you and the cardinal. I advise you--
And take it from a heart that wishes towards you[46]
Honour and plenteous safety--that you read
The cardinal's malice and his potency 105
Together; to consider further that
What his high hatred would effect wants not[47]
A minister in his power. You know his nature,
That he's revengeful, and I know his sword
Hath a sharp edge; it's long and 't may be said 110
It reaches far, and where 'twill not extend,
Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel;
You'll find it wholesome. Lo, where comes that rock
That I advise your shunning.[48]
_Enter_ CARDINAL WOLSEY, _the purse borne before him, certain
of the Guard, and two_ Secretaries _with papers_. _The_
CARDINAL _in his passage fixeth his eye on_ BUCKINGHAM,
_and_ BUCKINGHAM _on him, both full of disdain_.
_Wol._ The Duke of Buckingham's surveyor, ha?[49] 115
Where's his examination?
_First Sec._ Here, so please you.[50]
_Wol._ Is he in person ready?
_First Sec._ Ay, please your grace.[51]
_Wol._ Well, we shall then know more; and Buckingham[52]
Shall lessen this big look. [_Exeunt Wolsey and his Train._[52][53]
_Buck._ This butcher's cur is venom-mouth'd, and I[54] 120
Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore best
Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book[55]
Outworths a noble's blood.
_Nor._ What, are you chafed?[56]
Ask God for temperance; that's the appliance only
Which your disease requires.
_Buck._ I read in's looks 125
Matter against me, and his eye reviled[57]
Me as his abject object: at this instant[57]
He bores me with some trick: he's gone to the king;[58]
I 'll follow and outstare him.
_Nor._ Stay, my lord,
And let your reason with your choler question 130
What 'tis you go about: to climb steep hills
Requires slow pace at first: anger is like
A full-hot horse, who being allow'd his way,[59]
Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in England
Can advise me like you: be to yourself 135
As you would to your friend.
_Buck._ I'll to the king;
And from a mouth of honour quite cry down
This Ipswich fellow's insolence, or proclaim
There's difference in no persons.
_Nor._ Be advised;
Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot 140
That it do singe yourself: we may outrun,
By violent swiftness, that which we run at,
And lose by over-running. Know you not,[60]
The fire that mounts the liquor till't run o'er
In seeming to augment it wastes it? Be advised:[61] 145
I say again, there is no English soul
More stronger to direct you than yourself,[62]
If with the sap of reason you would quench,
Or but allay, the fire of passion.
_Buck._ Sir,
I am thankful to you; and I'll go along 150
By your prescription: but this top-proud fellow--
Whom from the flow of gall I name not but[63]
From sincere motions--by intelligence
And proofs as clear as founts in July when[64]
We see each grain of gravel, I do know 155
To be corrupt and treasonous.
_Nor._ Say not 'treasonous.'
_Buck._ To the king I'll say 't; and make my vouch as strong
As shore of rock. Attend. This holy fox,
Or wolf, or both--for he is equal ravenous[65][66]
As he is subtle, and as prone to mischief[65] 160
As able to perform't; his mind and place[65]
Infecting one another, yea, reciprocally--[65]
Only to show his pomp as well in France
As here at home, suggests the king our master
To this last costly treaty, the interview, 165
That swallow'd so much treasure, and like a glass
Did break i' the rinsing.[67]
_Nor._ Faith, and so it did.
_Buck._ Pray, give me favour, sir. This cunning cardinal[68]
The articles o' the combination drew[69]
As himself pleased; and they were ratified 170
As he cried 'Thus let be,' to as much end[70]
As give a crutch to the dead: but our count-cardinal[71]
Has done this, and 'tis well; for worthy Wolsey,
Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows--
Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy 175
To the old dam, treason--Charles the emperor,
Under pretence to see the queen his aunt--
For 'twas indeed his colour, but he came
To whisper Wolsey--here makes visitation:
His fears were that the interview betwixt 180
England and France might through their amity
Breed him some prejudice; for from this league
Peep'd harms that menaced him: he privily[72]
Deals with our cardinal; and, as I trow--[73]
Which I do well, for I am sure the emperor 185
Paid ere he promised; whereby his suit was granted
Ere it was ask'd--but when the way was made
And paved with gold, the emperor thus desired,[74]
That he would please to alter the king's course
And break the foresaid peace. Let the king know, 190
As soon he shall by me, that thus the cardinal
Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases
And for his own advantage.[75]
NOR. I am sorry
To hear this of him, and could wish he were[76]
Something mistaken in't.
_Buck._ No, not a syllable: 195
I do pronounce him in that very shape
He shall appear in proof.
_Enter_ BRANDON, _a_ Sergeant at arms _before him, and two or three of
the_ Guard.[77]
_Bran._ Your office, sergeant; execute it.
_Serg._ Sir,[78]
My lord the Duke of Buckingham, and Earl
Of Hereford, Stafford, and Northampton, I[79] 200
Arrest thee of high treason, in the name
Of our most sovereign king.
_Buck._ Lo you, my lord,[80]
The net has fall'n upon me! I shall perish
Under device and practice.
_Bran._ I am sorry[81]
To see you ta'en from liberty, to look on[81] 205
The business present: 'tis his highness' pleasure[81][82]
You shall to the Tower.[81]
_Buck._ It will help me nothing
To plead mine innocence; for that dye is on me
Which makes my whitest part black. The will of heaven
Be done in this and all things! I obey. 210
O my Lord Abergavenny, fare you well![83]
_Bran._ Nay, he must bear you company. [_To Abergavenny._] The king[84]
Is pleased you shall to the Tower, till you know
How he determines further.
_Aber._ As the duke said,
The will of heaven be done, and the king's pleasure 215
By me obey'd!
_Bran._ Here is a warrant from
The king to attach Lord Montacute; and the bodies[85]
Of the duke's confessor, John de la Car,[86]
One Gilbert Peck, his chancellor,--[87]
_Buck._ So, so;
These are the limbs o' the plot: no more, I hope. 220
_Bran._ A monk o' the Chartreux.
_Buck._ O, Nicholas Hopkins?[88]
_Bran._ He.
_Buck._ My surveyor is false; the o'er-great cardinal
Hath show'd him gold; my life is spann'd already:
I am the shadow of poor Buckingham,
Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on,[89][90] 225
By darkening my clear sun. My lord, farewell. [_Exeunt._[89][91]
SCENE II. _The same. The council-chamber._
_Cornets. Enter_ KING HENRY, _leaning on the_ CARDINAL'S
_shoulder; the Nobles, and_ SIR THOMAS LOVELL: _the_
CARDINAL _places himself under the_ KING'S _feet on his
right side_.[92]
_King._ My life itself, and the best heart of it,
Thanks you for this great care: I stood i' the level
Of a full-charged confederacy, and give thanks[93]
To you that choked it. Let be call'd before us[94]
That gentleman of Buckingham's; in person[95] 5
I'll hear him his confessions justify;
And point by point the treasons of his master[96]
He shall again relate.
_A noise within, crying_ 'Room for the Queen!' _Enter_ QUEEN
KATHARINE, _ushered by the_ DUKE OF NORFOLK, _and the_ DUKE
OF SUFFOLK: _she kneels. The_ KING _riseth from his state,
takes her up, kisses and placeth her by him_.[97]
_Q. Kath._ Nay, we must longer kneel: I am a suitor.
_King._ Arise, and take place by us: half your suit[98] 10
Never name to us; you have half our power:
The other moiety ere you ask is given;
Repeat your will and take it.
_Q. Kath._ Thank your majesty.
That you would love yourself, and in that love
Not unconsider'd leave your honour nor[99] 15
The dignity of your office, is the point
Of my petition.
_King._ Lady mine, proceed.
_Q. Kath._ I am solicited, not by a few,[100]
And those of true condition, that your subjects
Are in great grievance: there have been commissions 20
Sent down among 'em, which hath flaw'd the heart[101]
Of all their loyalties: wherein although,
My good lord cardinal, they vent reproaches
Most bitterly on you as putter on
Of these exactions, yet the king our master-- 25
Whose honour heaven shield from soil!--even he escapes not
Language unmannerly, yea, such which breaks
The sides of loyalty and almost appears[102]
In loud rebellion.
NOR. Not almost appears;
It doth appear; for, upon these taxations, 30
The clothiers all, not able to maintain
The many to them 'longing, have put off[103]
The spinsters, carders, fullers, weavers, who,
Unfit for other life, compell'd by hunger
And lack of other means, in desperate manner 35
Daring the event to the teeth, are all in uproar,
And danger serves among them.
_King._ Taxation!
Wherein? and what taxation? My lord cardinal,
You that are blamed for it alike with us,
Know you of this taxation?
_Wol._ Please you, sir, 40
I know but of a single part in aught
Pertains to the state, and front but in that file
Where others tell steps with me.
_Q. Kath._ No, my lord,[104]
You know no more than others: but you frame[104]
Things that are known alike, which are not wholesome[105] 45
To those which would not know them and yet must
Perforce be their acquaintance. These exactions,
Whereof my sovereign would have note, they are
Most pestilent to the hearing; and, to bear 'em,[106]
The back is sacrifice to the load. They say 50
They are devised by you; or else you suffer[107]
Too hard an exclamation.
_King._ Still exaction!
The nature of it? in what kind, let's know,
Is this exaction?
_Q. Kath._ I am much too venturous[108]
In tempting of your patience, but am bolden'd 55
Under your promised pardon. The subjects' grief
Comes through commissions, which compel from each[109]
The sixth part of his substance, to be levied
Without delay; and the pretence for this
Is named your wars in France: this makes bold mouths: 60
Tongues spit their duties out, and cold hearts freeze
Allegiance in them; their curses now[110]
Live where their prayers did; and it's come to pass,
This tractable obedience is a slave[111]
To each incensed will. I would your highness 65
Would give it quick consideration, for
There is no primer business.[112]
_King._ By my life,
This is against our pleasure.
_Wol._ And for me,
I have no further gone in this than by
A single voice, and that not pass'd me but 70
By learned approbation of the judges. If I am[113]
Traduced by ignorant tongues, which neither know[114]
My faculties nor person, yet will be
The chronicles of my doing, let me say
'Tis but the fate of place and the rough brake 75
That virtue must go through. We must not stint
Our necessary actions, in the fear
To cope malicious censurers; which ever,
As ravenous fishes, do a vessel follow
That is new-trimm'd, but benefit no further 80
Than vainly longing. What we oft do best,
By sick interpreters, once weak ones, is[115]
Not ours or not allow'd; what worst, as oft,
Hitting a grosser quality, is cried up
For our best act. If we shall stand still,[116] 85
In fear our motion will be mock'd or carp'd at,[117]
We should take root here where we sit, or sit[118][119]
State-statues only.[119]
_King._ Things done well,[120]
And with a care, exempt themselves from fear;
Things done without example, in their issue 90
Are to be fear'd. Have you a precedent[121]
Of this commission? I believe, not any.
We must not rend our subjects from our laws,
And stick them in our will. Sixth part of each?
A trembling contribution! Why, we take[122] 95
From every tree lop, bark, and part o' the timber,[123]
And though we leave it with a root, thus hack'd,[124]
The air will drink the sap. To every county
Where this is question'd send our letters, with
Free pardon to each man that has denied 100
The force of this commission: pray, look to't;
I put it to your care.
_Wol._ [_To the Secretary_] A word with you.[125]
Let there be letters writ to every shire,
Of the king's grace and pardon. The grieved commons[126]
Hardly conceive of me: let it be noised 105
That through our intercession this revokement
And pardon comes: I shall anon advise you
Further in the proceeding. [_Exit Secretary._
_Enter_ Surveyor.
_Q. Kath._ I am sorry that the Duke of Buckingham[127]
Is run in your displeasure.
_King._ It grieves many:[128] 110
The gentleman is learn'd and a most rare speaker;[129]
To nature none more bound; his training such
That he may furnish and instruct great teachers
And never seek for aid out of himself. Yet see,[130]
When these so noble benefits shall prove[131] 115
Not well disposed, the mind growing once corrupt,
They turn to vicious forms, ten times more ugly
Than ever they were fair. This man so complete,[132]
Who was enroll'd 'mongst wonders, and when we,[133]
Almost with ravish'd listening, could not find[133][134] 120
His hour of speech a minute; he, my lady,
Hath into monstrous habits put the graces
That once were his, and is become as black
As if besmear'd in hell. Sit by us; you shall hear--[135]
This was his gentlemen in trust--of him 125
Things to strike honour sad. Bid him recount
The fore-recited practices; whereof[136]
We cannot feel too little, hear too much.
_Wol._ Stand forth, and with bold spirit relate what you,
Most like a careful subject, have collected 130
Out of the Duke of Buckingham.
_King._ Speak freely.
_Surv._ First, it was usual with him, every day[137]
It would infect his speech, that if the king
Should without issue die, he'll carry it so[138]
To make the sceptre his: these very words 135
I've heard him utter to his son-in-law,
Lord Abergavenny, to whom by oath he menaced[139]
Revenge upon the cardinal.
_Wol._ Please your highness, note[140]
This dangerous conception in this point.[141][142]
Not friended by his wish, to your high person[142] 140
His will is most malignant, and it stretches
Beyond you to your friends.
_Q. Kath._ My learn'd lord cardinal,
Deliver all with charity.
_King._ Speak on:
How grounded he his title to the crown
Upon our fail? to this point hast thou heard him 145
At any time speak aught?
_Surv._ He was brought to this[143]
By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Henton.[144]
_King._ What was that Henton?[145]
_Surv._ Sir, a Chartreux friar,
His confessor, who fed him every minute
With words of sovereignty.
_King._ How know'st thou this? 150
_Surv._ Not long before your highness sped to France,
The duke being at the Rose, within the parish
Saint Lawrence Poultney, did of me demand
What was the speech among the Londoners
Concerning the French journey: I replied, 155
Men fear'd the French would prove perfidious,[146]
To the king's danger. Presently the duke
Said, 'twas the fear indeed, and that he doubted
'Twould prove the verity of certain words
Spoke by a holy monk; 'that oft,' says he, 160
'Hath sent to me, wishing me to permit
John de la Car, my chaplain, a choice hour[147]
To hear from him a matter of some moment:
Whom after under the confession's seal[148][149]
He solemnly had sworn that what he spoke[148] 165
My chaplain to no creature living but[148]
To me should utter, with demure confidence[148][150]
This pausingly ensued: Neither the king nor's heirs,[151]
Tell you the duke, shall prosper: bid him strive
To gain the love o' the commonalty: the duke[152] 170
Shall govern England.'[153]
_Q. Kath._ If I know you well,
You were the duke's surveyor and lost your office
On the complaint o' the tenants: take good heed
You charge not in your spleen a noble person
And spoil your nobler soul: I say, take heed;[154] 175
Yes, heartily beseech you.[155]
_King._ Let him on.[156]
Go forward.[156]
_Surv._ On my soul, I'll speak but truth.
I told my lord the duke, by the devil's illusions
The monk might be deceived; and that 'twas dangerous for him[157]
To ruminate on this so far, until[157] 180
It forged him some design, which, being believed,
It was much like to do: he answer'd 'Tush,
It can do me no damage;' adding further,
That, had the king in his last sickness fail'd,
The cardinal's and Sir Thomas Lovell's heads 185
Should have gone off.
_King._ Ha! what, so rank? Ah, ha!
There's mischief in this man: canst thou say further?
_Surv._ I can, my liege.
_King._ Proceed.
_Surv._ Being at Greenwich,
After your highness had reproved the duke
About Sir William Blomer--[158]
_King._ I remember[159] 190
Of such a time: being my sworn servant,[159][160]
The duke retain'd him his. But on; what hence?
_Surv._ 'If' quoth he 'I for this had been committed,
As to the Tower I thought, I would have play'd[161]
The part my father meant to act upon 195
The usurper Richard; who, being at Salisbury,
Made suit to come in's presence; which if granted,[162]
As he made semblance of his duty, would[163]
Have put his knife into him.'
_King._ A giant traitor!
_Wol._ Now, madam, may his highness live in freedom, 200
And this man out of prison?[164]
_Q. Kath._ God mend all!
_King._ There's something more would out of thee; what say'st?
_Surv._ After 'the duke his father,' with the 'knife,'[165]
He stretch'd him, and with one hand on his dagger,
Another spread on's breast, mounting his eyes, 205
He did discharge a horrible oath, whose tenour
Was, were he evil used, he would outgo
His father by as much as a performance
Does an irresolute purpose.
_King._ There's his period, 210
To sheathe his knife in us. He is attach'd;
Call him to present trial: if he may
Find mercy in the law, 'tis his; if none,
Let him not seek't of us: by day and night![166]
He's traitor to the height. [_Exeunt._[167]
SCENE III. _An antechamber in the palace._
_Enter the_ LORD CHAMBERLAIN _and_ LORD SANDS.[168]
_Cham._ Is't possible the spells of France should juggle[169]
Men into such strange mysteries?[170]
_Sands._ New customs,
Though they be never so ridiculous,
Nay, let 'em be unmanly, yet are follow'd.[171]
_Cham._ As far as I see, all the good our English 5
Have got by the late voyage is but merely[172]
A fit or two o' the face; but they are shrewd ones;
For when they hold 'em, you would swear directly
Their very noses had been counsellors
To Pepin or Clotharius, they keep state so. 10
_Sands._ They have all new legs, and lame ones: one would take it,[173]
That never saw 'em pace before, the spavin[174]
Or springhalt reign'd among 'em.[175]
_Cham._ Death! my lord,
Their clothes are after such a pagan cut too,[176]
That, sure, they've worn out Christendom.
_Enter_ SIR THOMAS LOVELL.[177]
How now! 15
What news, Sir Thomas Lovell?
_Lov._ Faith, my lord,
I hear of none but the new proclamation
That's clapp'd upon the court-gate.
_Cham._ What is't for?
_Lov._ The reformation of our travell'd gallants,
That fill the court with quarrels, talk, and tailors. 20
_Cham._ I'm glad 'tis there: now I would pray our monsieurs[178]
To think an English courtier may be wise,
And never see the Louvre.[179]
_Lov._ They must either,
For so run the conditions, leave those remnants
Of fool and feather that they got in France, 25
With all their honourable points of ignorance
Pertaining thereunto, as fights and fireworks,[180]
Abusing better men than they can be
Out of a foreign wisdom, renouncing clean[181]
The faith they have in tennis and tall stockings, 30
Short blister'd breeches and those types of travel,[182]
And understand again like honest men,
Or pack to their old playfellows: there, I take it,
They may, 'cum privilegio,' wear away[183]
The lag end of their lewdness, and be laugh'd at. 35
_Sands._ 'Tis time to give 'em physic, their diseases[184]
Are grown so catching.
_Cham._ What a loss our ladies
Will have of these trim vanities!
_Lov._ Ay, marry,
There will be woe indeed, lords: the sly whoresons
Have got a speeding trick to lay down ladies; 40
A French song and a fiddle has no fellow.
_Sands._ The devil fiddle 'em! I am glad they are going,[185]
For, sure, there's no converting of 'em: now[186]
An honest country lord, as I am, beaten
A long time out of play, may bring his plain-song, 45
And have an hour of hearing; and, by'r lady,
Held current music too.[187]
_Cham._ Well said, Lord Sands;
Your colt's tooth is not cast yet.[188]
_Sands._ No, my lord;
Nor shall not, while I have a stump.[189]
_Cham._ Sir Thomas,
Whither were you a-going?[190]
_Lov._ To the cardinal's: 50
Your lordship is a guest too.
_Cham._ O, 'tis true:
This night he makes a supper, and a great one,
To many lords and ladies; there will be
The beauty of this kingdom, I'll assure you.
_Lov._ That churchman bears a bounteous mind indeed,[191] 55
A hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us;
His dews fall every where.[192]
_Cham._ No doubt he's noble;
He had a black mouth that said other of him.
_Sands._ He may, my lord; has wherewithal: in him[193]
Sparing would show a worse sin than ill doctrine: 60
Men of his way should be most liberal;[194]
They are set here for examples.[195]
_Cham._ True, they are so;
But few now give so great ones. My barge stays;[196]
Your lordship shall along. Come, good Sir Thomas,
We shall be late else; which I would not be, 65
For I was spoke to, with Sir Henry Guildford
This night to be comptrollers.
_Sands._ I am your lordship's. [_Exeunt._
SCENE IV. _A Hall in York Place._
_Hautboys. A small table under a state for the_ CARDINAL, _a
longer table for the guests. Then enter_ ANNE BULLEN _and
divers other_ Ladies _and_ Gentlemen _as guests, at one
door; at another door, enter_ SIR HENRY GUILDFORD.[197]
_Guild._ Ladies, a general welcome from his grace[198]
Salutes ye all; this night he dedicates
To fair content and you: none here, he hopes,
In all this noble bevy, has brought with her
One care abroad; he would have all as merry[199] 5
As, first, good company, good wine, good welcome,[200]
Can make good people.
_Enter_ LORD CHAMBERLAIN, LORD SANDS, _and_ SIR THOMAS LOVELL.[201]
O, my lord, you're tardy:
The very thought of this fair company
Clapp'd wings to me.
_Cham._ You are young, Sir Harry Guildford.[202]
_Sands._ Sir Thomas Lovell, had the cardinal 10
But half my lay thoughts in him, some of these
Should find a running banquet ere they rested,
I think would better please 'em: by my life,
They are a sweet society of fair ones.
_Lov._ O, that your lordship were but now confessor 15
To one or two of these!
_Sands._ I would I were;
They should find easy penance.
_Lov._ Faith, how easy?
_Sands._ As easy as a down-bed would afford it.
_Cham._ Sweet ladies, will it please you sit? Sir Harry,
Place you that side; I'll take the charge of this: 20
His grace is entering. Nay, you must not freeze;
Two women placed together makes cold weather:[203]
My Lord Sands, you are one will keep 'em waking;
Pray, sit between these ladies.
_Sands._ By my faith,
And thank your lordship. By your leave, sweet ladies:[204] 25
If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me;
I had it from my father.
_Anne._ Was he mad, sir?
_Sands._ O, very mad, exceeding mad, in love too:
But he would bite none; just as I do now,
He would kiss you twenty with a breath. [_Kisses her._[205]
_Cham._ Well said, my lord. 30
So, now you're fairly seated. Gentlemen,[206]
The penance lies on you, if these fair ladies
Pass away frowning.
_Sands._ For my little cure,[207]
Let me alone.
_Hautboys. Enter_ CARDINAL WOLSEY, _and takes his state_.
_Wol._ You're welcome, my fair guests: that noble lady[208] 35
Or gentleman that is not freely merry,
Is not my friend: this, to confirm my welcome;[209]
And to you all, good health. [_Drinks._[210]
_Sands._ Your grace is noble:
Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks,
And save me so much talking.
_Wol._ My Lord Sands, 40
I am beholding to you: cheer your neighbours.[211]
Ladies, you are not merry: gentlemen,
Whose fault is this?
_Sands._ The red wine first must rise
In their fair cheeks, my lord; then we shall have 'em
Talk us to silence.
_Anne._ You are a merry gamester,[212] 45
My Lord Sands.[212][213]
_Sands._ Yes, if I make my play.
Here's to your ladyship: and pledge it, madam,
For 'tis to such a thing--[214]
_Anne._ You cannot show me.
_Sands._ I told your grace they would talk anon.
[_Drum and trumpet: chambers discharged._[215]
_Wol._ What's that?
_Cham._ Look out there, some of ye. [_Exit Servant._[216]
_Wol._ What warlike voice, 50
And to what end, is this? Nay, ladies, fear not;
By all the laws of war you're privileged.[208]
_Re-enter_ Servant.[217]
_Cham._ How now! what is't?
_Serv._ A noble troop of strangers;
For so they seem: they've left their barge, and landed;[218]
And hither make, as great ambassadors 55
From foreign princes.
_Wol._ Good lord chamberlain,
Go, give 'em welcome; you can speak the French tongue;[219][220]
And, pray, receive 'em nobly and conduct 'em[219]
Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him. 60
[_Exit Chamberlain, attended. All rise, and tables removed._[221]
You have now a broken banquet; but we'll mend it.[222]
A good digestion to you all: and once more[223]
I shower a welcome on ye; welcome all.
_Hautboys. Enter the_ KING _and others, as masquers, habited
like shepherds, ushered by the_ LORD CHAMBERLAIN. _They
pass directly before the_ CARDINAL, _and gracefully salute
him_.[224]
A noble company! what are their pleasures?
_Cham._ Because they speak no English, thus they pray'd[225] 65
To tell your grace, that, having heard by fame
Of this so noble and so fair assembly
This night to meet here, they could do no less,
Out of the great respect they bear to beauty,
But leave their flocks, and under your fair conduct 70
Crave leave to view these ladies and entreat
An hour of revels with 'em.[226]
_Wol._ Say, lord chamberlain,[226]
They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay 'em[226][227][228]
A thousand thanks and pray 'em take their pleasures.[226][227]
[_They choose. The King chooses Anne Bullen._[229]
_King._ The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O beauty, 75
Till now I never knew thee! [_Music. Dance._
_Wol._ My lord![230]
_Cham._ Your grace?
_Wol._ Pray, tell 'em thus much from me:[231][232]
There should be one amongst 'em, by his person,[231]
More worthy this place than myself; to whom,
If I but knew him, with my love and duty 80
I would surrender it.
_Cham._ I will, my lord.
[_Whispers the Masquers._[233]
_Wol._ What say they?
_Cham._ Such a one, they all confess,
There is indeed; which they would have your grace
Find out, and he will take it.
_Wol._ Let me see then.[234]
By all your good leaves, gentlemen; here I'll make 85
My royal choice.
_King._ [_Unmasking_] Ye have found him, cardinal:[235]
You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord:
You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you, cardinal,
I should judge now unhappily.[236]
_Wol._ I am glad
Your grace is grown so pleasant.
_King._ My lord chamberlain, 90
Prithee, come hither: what fair lady's that?
_Cham._ An't please your grace, Sir Thomas Bullen's daughter,[237]
The Viscount Rochford, one of her highness' women.[237][238]
_King._ By heaven, she is a dainty one. Sweetheart,[239]
I were unmannerly, to take you out, 95
And not to kiss you. A health, gentlemen!
Let it go round.
_Wol._ Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready
I' the privy chamber?
_Lov._ Yes, my lord.
_Wol._ Your grace,
I fear, with dancing is a little heated. 100
_King._ I fear, too much.
_Wol._ There's fresher air, my lord,
In the next chamber.
_King._ Lead in your ladies, every one. Sweet partner,
I must not yet forsake you. Let's be merry,[240]
Good my lord cardinal: I have half a dozen healths[240][241] 105
To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure
To lead 'em once again; and then let's dream
Who's best in favour. Let the music knock it.[242]
[_Exeunt with trumpets._
FOOTNOTES:
[9a] ACT I. SCENE I.] Actus Primus. Scæna Prima. Ff. The Acts and Scenes are
indicated throughout in Ff.
London. An ante-chamber in the palace.] Theobald.
[10] _saw_] F₁ F₂. _saw y'_ F₃ F₄.
[11] _suns_] _sunnes_ F₁ F₂. _sons_ F₃ F₄.
[12] _Andren_] F₁. _Arde_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _Ardres_ Rowe.
_Arde_] Ff. _Ardres_ Rowe.
[13] _them_] _'em_ Pope.
[14] _Which ... weigh'd_] One line in Rowe (ed. 2). Two lines, the
first ending _they,_ in Ff.
[15] _next ... last_] _last ... next_ Capell (Theobald conj.)
[16] _wonders_] _wond'rers_ Theobald conj.
_its_] _it's_ Ff. _his_ Hanmer.
[17] _heathen_] F₁. _Heathens_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[18] _censure. When_] Rowe. _censure, when_ Ff.
[19] _former_] _old_ Pope.
[20] _That_] _And_ Seymour conj.
[21] _to_] _too_ F₁.
[22] _All was royal ... business._] Arranged as by Theobald. Buc.
_All ... function: who ... together?_ Nor. _As you ... businesse._ F₁
F₂ F₃. Buck. _All ... function: who ... together, As you guess._ Nor.
_Once certes ... business._ F₄.
[23] _the office_] _each office_ Roderick conj.
[24] _guess?_ Nor. _One, certes_] Theobald, _guesse: One certes_ F₁.
_guesse: Once certes_ F₂ F₃. _guess?_ Nor. _One sure_ Pope.
[25] _that_] om. Seymour conj.
[26] _I pray_] _Pray_ Pope.
[27] _keech_] _Ketch_ F₄.
_bulk_] _hulk_ Grey conj.
[28] _Surely_] _Yet surely_ Pope. _Now, surely_ Seymour conj.
[29] _his self-drawing_] _his self-drawn_ Rowe (ed. 2) and Capell.
_himself drawing_ Theobald conj. _his self drawing_ Staunton. _'s
self-drawing_ Dyce (ed. 2). _his self-wrapping_ Bullock conj.]
_web, he gives us note_] Capell. _web, a' gives us note or web erecting
all The building of his greatness, he gives us note_ Id. conj. _web. O
gives us note_ F₁. _web. O! gives us note_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _web; this gives
us note_ Pope. _web. O! it gives us note_ Singer. _web,--O! give us
note!_--Knight. _web. O! this gives us note,_ Hunter conj. _web,--Oh,
give it note!_ Keightley.
[30] _gives for him, which buys_] _gives, which for him buys_ Hanmer.
_gives; which buys for him_ Warburton. _gives to him, which buys_
Johnson conj. _has given him buys for him_ Hunter conj. _gives him, and
which buys_ Collier MS. _gives: for him which buys_ Jervis conj.
[31] _that?... hell,_] Theobald (Warburton). _that, ... hell?_ Ff.
[32] _himself_] _himself now_ Keightley.
_Why_] _But why_ Hanmer. _And why_ Capell.
[33] _such To whom_] _such On whom_ Hanmer. _such Too, whom_ Capell.
_such, too, On whom_ Keightley (S. Walker conj.)
[34] _meant_] _means_ Dyce conj.
[35] _and ... papers._] Erased in Collier MS.
[36] _letter_] _letter only_ Hanmer.
[37] _council out, ... him in he_] _councell, out ... him in, he_ F₁
F₂. _council, out ... him in, he_ F₃. _council out ... him in, he_ F₄.
_council out) ... in him he_ Pope.
[38] _he papers_] _the papers_ Campbell. _he paupers_ Staunton conj.
_he prefers_ Keightley conj.
[39] _sicken'd_] _slacken'd_ Theobald conj.
[40] _'em_] _them_ Capell.
[41] _What_] _And what_ Capell conj.
_vanity_] _great vanity_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[42] _communication_] _the consummation_ Collier MS. _consummation_
Collier (ed. 2).
[43] _Bourdeaux_] F₄. _Burdeux_ F₁. _Burdeaux_ F₂ F₃.
[44] _a peace_] _peace_ F₄.
[45] _Like it_] _Like't_ Hanmer.
[46] _towards you_] F₁ _towards your_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _you_ Pope.
[47] _effect_] _affect_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[48] _advise_] _advice_ F₁.
[49] SCENE II. Pope. Wol.] Rowe. Car. Ff. (and throughout.)
[50] First Sec.] 1 Sec. Capell. Secr. Ff.
[51] _please_] _an't please_ F₃ F₄.
[52] _Well, ... look._] As in Ff. As prose in Rowe (ed. 1). In Rowe
(ed. 2), the lines end _more ... look. It is well, ... look._ Hanmer,
ending lines 117, 118, _an't please ... more._
[53] _this_] F₁ F₂. _his_ F₃ F₄.
Wolsey] Cardinall Ff.
[54] _venom-mouth'd_] Pope. _venome mouth'd_ Rowe. _venom'd-mouth'd_ Ff.
[55] _book_] _boche_ Becket conj. _brood_ Collier (Collier MS). _look_
Staunton conj. _brat_ Lettsom conj.
[56] _chafed_] _chaf'd_ F₃ F₄. _chaff'd_ F₁ F₂.
[57] Keightley ends the lines _reviled me, ... instant he._
[58] _bores_] _bords_ Becket conj.
_to the_] _to' th'_ F₁ F₂. _to th'_ F₃ F₄.
[59] _full-hot_] F₄. _full hot_ F₁ F₂ F₃.
[60] _by_] _by our_ F₄.
[61] _In seeming to_] _Seeming t'_ S. Walker conj.
[62] _More_] om. Pope, ending lines 145, 146 at _be ... English._
[63] _name_] _blame_ Johnson conj.
[64] _July_] _Inly_ F₁.
_when_] _where_ Long MS.
[65] _for ... reciprocally_] Put in parentheses by Capell. (_for ...
perform't) ... reciprocally,_ Ff.
[66] _ravenous_] _ray'nous_ F₂.
[67] _rinsing_] Pope. _wrenching_ Ff. See note (I).
[68] _sir_] om. Seymour conj.
[69] _o' the_] _o' th'_ F₁ F₂. _oth'_ F₃ F₄.
[70] _Thus let_] F₁ F₂. _thus let it_ F₃ F₄. _let it_ Pope.
[71] _count-cardinal_] _court-cardinal_ Pope.
[72] _he_] om. F₁. _he therefore_ Capell.
[73] _trow_] F₃ F₄. _troa_ F₁ F₂.
[74] _thus_] _then_ S. Walker conj.
[75] _advantage._] _advantage,--_ Anon. conj.
[76] _he_] _you_ F₄.
[77] Brandon,] Marney, Capell conj.
[78] SCENE III. Pope.
[79] _Hereford_] Capell. _Hertford_ Ff.
[80] _lord_] _lord,_ [to Nor. Capell.
[81] Bran. _I ... Tower._] Nor. _I ... liberty._ Bran. _To look ...
Tower._ Anon. conj.
[82] _business present_] _business, present_ Deluis.
[83] _Abergavenny_] _Aburgany_ Ff.
_you_] _ye_ Rowe.
[84] [To Abergavenny.] Johnson.
[85] _Montacute_] _Mountacute_ Ff. _Montague_ Rowe.
[86] _Car_] _Court_ Warburton.
[87] _One_] _And_ Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald).
_chancellor,--_] Chappel. _chancellor._ Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald).
_councellour._ F₁ F₂. _counsellour._ F₃ F₄.
[88] _O_] om. Hanmer.
_Nicholas_] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald, from Holinshed). _Michaell_ F₁ F₂
F₃. _Michael_ F₄.
[89] _Whose ... darkening_] _Whose figure, e'en this instant, clouds
jut on, Dark'ning_ Becket conj.
[90] _instant_] _upstart_ Jackson conj.
_puts on_] _puts out_ Rann (Theobald conj.) _pouts on_ Steevens conj.
[91] _By darkening_] _Bedarkening_ Steevens conj.
_lord_] Rowe. _lords_ Ff.
[92] SCENE II.] SCENE IV. Pope.
The same. The council-chamber.] The council-chamber. Theobald.
Cornets. Enter ...] Ff. See note (II).
[93] _give_] _gives_ F₃.
[94] _choked_] _check'd_ Keightley conj.
[95] _Buckingham's; in person_] Johnson. _Buckinghams, in person,_ Ff.
_Buckingham's in person,_ Rowe.
[96] _of_] om. F₂.
[97] within] F₁. with F₂ F₃ F₄.
Queen!] Queene, vsher'd by the Duke of Norfolke. Ff.
Enter ... Suffolk:] Enter the Queene, Norfolke and Suffolke: Ff. Enter
the Queen, usher'd by the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk. Warburton.
[98] _place_] _your place_ Theobald.
[99] _unconsider'd_] Pope. _unconsidered_ Ff.
[100] _few_] _few, to tell you_ Keightley.
[101] _hath_] _have_ F₄.
[102] _sides_] _tides_ Becket conj. _ties_ Collier (Collier MS.)
[103] _many_] _meiny_ Johnson conj.
_'longing_] F₄. _longing_ F₁ F₂ F₃.
[104] _lord, ... others:_] F₄. _lord? ... others?_ F₁ F₂ F₃.
[105] _Things that_] _The things_ Seymour conj.
_known alike_] _known, belike_ Collier (Theobald conj.)
[106] _bear 'em_] _bear them_ Capell.
[107] _or else_] _if not_ Seymour conj.
[108] _Is_] _In_ Pope (ed. 2).
[109] _compel_] Pope. _compels_ Ff.
[110] _their_] Ff. _all their_ Pope. _nay, their_ Capell. _that their_
Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.)
[111] _This_] _That_ Rowe. _Their_ Collier (Collier MS.)
[112] _business_] Hanmer (Warburton) and Southern conj. MS. _basenesse_
F₁ F₂ F₃. _baseness_ F₄.
[113] _learned_] _learn'd_ Keightley.
_of the judges_] Omitted by Capell.
[114] _ignorant_] om. Pope, reading as one line _If I'm traduc'd ...
know._
[115] _sick_] _such_ Keightley conj.
_interpreters, once weak ones_] _interpreters' conceivance_ Anon. conj.
_once_] Ff. _or_ Pope. _and_ Becket conj.
[116] _act_] _action_ Capell.
_shall_] om. Rowe (ed. 2) and Pope, who ends the line at _fear_.
[117] _carp'd_] _carped_ Pope.
[118] _we sit, or sit_] _we sir; Or sir_ F₂ F₃.
[119] _or sit State-statues_] Hanmer. _Or sit state-statues_ F₁ F₄,
ending the previous line at _we sit_.
[120] _done_] _that are done_ Hanmer.
_well,_] _well, my lord,_ or _well, lord cardinal,_ Keightley conj.
[121] _precedent_] _president_ Ff. (_ptesident_ F₂).
[122] _trembling_] _trebling_ Collier (Collier MS.)
[123] _lop_] _top_ Anon. conj.
[124] _root, thus_] Theobald (Warburton). _roote thus_ Ff (_root_ F₃
F₄).
[125] [To the Secretary] Rowe.
[126] _grieved_] _griev'd_ Rowe.
[127] SCENE V. Pope.
_I am_] _I'm_ Pope.
[128] _run_] _one_ Collier MS.
King.] Quee. F₃.
[129] _learn'd ... rare_] _learn'd, a most rare_ Pope. _learned; a
rare_ Seymour conj.
[130] _never seek for_] _ne'er seek_ Ritson conj.
_Yet see_] Put in a separate line by Capell.
[131] _these so_] om. Pope, reading _Yet ... prove_ as one line.
[132] _complete_] _'complish'd_ Hanmer.
[133] _'mongst wonders ... ravish'd_] _with wonder, and whom we Almost
were ravish'd_ Johnson conj.
[134] _ravish'd listening_] _list'ning ravish'd_ Pope.
[135] _by us_] om. Pope.
[136] _The fore-recited_] _To force-recited_ Rowe (ed. 2). _To
fore-recited_ Pope.
[137] _him, every day_] Pope. _him; every day_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _him every
day_ F₄. _him every day_, Rowe.
[138] _he'll_] _he'd_ Pope.
[139] _Abergavenny_] _Aburgany_ Ff.
[140] _your highness_] _you_ Hanmer.
[141] _This_] _His_ Pope.
[142] _point. Not ... person_] _point: Not ... person_ Capell. _point,
Not ... wish to ... person_; Ff.
[143] _brought_] _wrought_ S. Walker conj.
[144] _Henton_] Ff. _Hopkins_ Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). _Hopkins'_
Keightley.
[145] _Henton_] Ff. _Hopkins_ Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald).
[146] _fear'd_] Pope. _feare_ F₁ F₂ _fear_ F₃ F₄.
[147] _Car_] _Court_ Warburton.
[148] _Whom after ... utter_] Ff. _Who (after ... utter)_ Pope.
[149] _confession's_] Theobald (from Holinshed). _commissions_ Ff.
_communion's_ Warburton conj. (withdrawn).
[150] _demure confidence_] _confidence demure_ Hanmer.
[151] _This_] _Thus_ F₄.
_nor's_] _nor his_ Capell.
[152] _To gain_] F₄. _To_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _For_ Steevens (1773, 1778). _To
win_ Grant White conj.
[153] _England._] Ff. _England--_ Rowe.
[154] _nobler_] F₁. _noble_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[155] _beseech_] F₁ F₂. _I beseech_ F₃ F₄.
[156] _Let him ... forward_] As in Pope. One line in Ff.
[157] _dangerous for him To ... until_] Capell. _dangerous For this
to ... untill_ Ff. _dang'rous For him to ... until_ Rowe. _dang'rous
For him to ruminate on this, until_ Pope. _dangerous From this to
ruminate on it so far, until_ Collier (Collier MS.) _dangerous From
this to ruminate on it, until_ Collier conj. _dangerous For him to
ruminate this so far, until_ Lettsom conj.
_for him_] om. Anon. conj.
[158] _Blomer_] Pope. _Blumer_ Ff (_Bulmer_ Holinshed).
[159] _I remember ... servant_] Arranged as in Pope. One line in Ff.
[160] _being_] _he being_ Pope.
_sworn servant_] _servant sworn_ Steevens (1793).
[161] _As to the Tower I thought_] _To the Tower, as I thought_ Hanmer.
_As I thought to the Tower_ Keightley.
_thought,_] _thought;_ Ff.
[162] _in's_] _in his_ Capell.
[163] _would_] _he would_ Hanmer.
[164] _prison?_] Rowe. _prison._ Ff.
[165] _'the duke his father'_] First marked as a quotation by Capell.
_'knife'_] First marked as a quotation by Capell.
[166] _night!_] _night,_ Theobald. _night_ Ff.
[167] _He's traitor_] _He is a daring traitor_ Collier (Collier MS.)
[168] SCENE III.] SCENE VI. Pope.
antechamber ...] apartment ... Theobald. Anti-room ... Capell.
Sands] Rowe. Sandys Ff.
Seymour conjectures that this Scene is interpolated by Ben Jonson.
[169] _Is't_] _Is it_ Steevens.
[170] _mysteries_] _mimick'ries_ Hanmer. _mockeries_ Warburton.
[171] _'em_] _them_ Malone.
[172] _late_] _last_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[173] _They ... take it_] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.
[174] _never_] _ever_ Capell conj.
_saw 'em_] Pope. _see 'em_ Ff. _saw them_ Capell.
[175] _Or_] Verplanck. _And_ Pope. _A_ Ff.
_springhalt_] _stringhalt_ Hanmer (Theobald conj.)
_reign'd_] _rain'd_ F₁.
[176] _too_] F₄. _too'_ F₃. _too't_ F₁ F₂.
[177] _they've_] Pope. _th' have_ Ff.
Enter ...] Ff, after _Lovell_, line 16.
[178] _I'm ... monsieurs_] As in Pope. Two lines in Ff.
_I'm_] _I' me_ F₃.
[179] _Louvre_] Rowe. _Louure_ F₁ F₂. _Lovure_ F₃ F₄.
[180] _thereunto_] _thereupon_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[181] _renouncing clean_] _clean renouncing_ Pope.
[182] _blister'd_] _blistred_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _bolstred_ F₄.
_those_] _such_ Hanmer.
[183] _wear_] F₂ F₃ F₄. _wee_ F₁. _'oui'_ Anon. conj.
[184] _'em_] Capell. _them_ F₄. _him_ F₁ F₂ F₃.
[185] _The ... going_] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.
[186] _of 'em: now_] F₁ F₂ F₃. _'em: now_ F₄. _'em: now sirs,_ Pope.
[187] _Held_] Ff. _Hold_ Boswell.
[188] _yet._] Capell. _yet?_ Ff.
[189] _shall_] _shalt_ F₂.
[190] _were_] _are_ Rowe (ed. 2).
_a-going_] _a going_ Ff. _going_ Warburton.
[191] _That ... indeed_] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.
[192] _dews fall_] _dew falls_ Rowe.
[193] _He ... him_] One line in Rowe (ed. 2). Two in Ff.
_has_] _ha's_ Ff. _h'as_ Rowe (ed. 2). _he has_ Capell.
_wherewithal: in him_] _wherewithal: in him,_ Theobald (Thirlby conj.)
_wherewithall in him;_ Ff.
[194] _way_] _sway_ Collier (Collier MS.)
[195] _They are_] _They're_ Pope.
_set_] _sent_ Collier MS.
[196] _But ... stays_] One line in Rowe (ed. 2). Two in Ff.
[197] SCENE IV.] SCENE VII. Pope.
A Hall in York Place.] Capell. York-house. Theobald.
Gentlemen] Gentlewomen. Steevens.
[198] _Ladies ... grace_] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.
[199] _merry_] _merry,_ F₄. _merry:_ F₁ F₂ F₃.
[200] _first, good_] F₁ F₂ F₃. _first good_ F₄. _first-good_ Theobald.
_fairs, good_ Mason conj. _feast, good_ Staunton conj. _just, good_
Grant White conj. _far as good_ Dyce, ed. 2 (Halliwell conj.) _thirst,
good_ Anon. conj.
_good wine_] _then good wine_ Hanmer.
[201] _you're_] Capell. _y'are_ Ff. _you are_ Steevens.
Sir Thomas Lovell.] Capell. Lovell. Ff.
[202] _You are_] _You're_ Pope.
[203] _makes_] _make_ Pope.
[204] [Seating himself between Anne Bullen, and another Lady. Capell.
[205] _He would_] _He'd_ Hanmer.
[Kisses her.] Steevens.
[206] _you're_] Capell. _y'are_ Ff. _you are_ Steevens.
[207] _cure_] _cue_ Rowe.
[208] _You're_] Capell. _Y'are_ Ff. _You are_ Steevens. _Ye're_ Dyce.
[209] _friend_] _fiend_ F₂.
[210] [Drinks.] Theobald. om. Ff.
[211] _beholding_] _beholden_ Pope.
_neighbours_] F₁. _neighbour_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[212] _You are ... Sands_] As one line, Boswell conj.
[213] _make_] _may make_ Hanmer. _may choose_ Capell. _can make_
Keightley.
[214] _thing--_] Rowe. _thing._ Ff.
[215] _they_] _that they_ Rowe (ed. 2). _how they_ Collier (Collier MS.)
[Drum ...] Ff (trumpets. F₄), after line 48. Trumpets within ... Capell.
[216] [Exit Servant.] Steevens. Exit an Att. Capell. om. Ff.
[217] Re-enter Servant.] Steevens. Re-enter an Attendant. Capell. Enter
a servant. Ff.
[218] _they've_] Collier. _th' have_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _they have_ F₄. _have_
Pope.
[219] _'em_] Ff. _them_ Malone.
[220] _the French tongue_] _the French-tongue_ F₄. _the French or their
tongue_ Anon. conj.
[221] [Exit ... attended.] Capell. om. Ff.
[222] _You have_] _You've_ Pope.
[223] _digestion_] F₁. _disgestion_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
_and_] om. Seymour conj.
[224] _ye_] _you_ Capell.
the King and others] King and others. Ff. the King and twelve others.
Malone (from Holinshed).
shepherds] shepherds, with sixteen torch-bearers. Malone (from
Holinshed).
[225] _pray'd_] _pray'd me_ Collier, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.)
[226] _'em_] Ff. _them_ Capell.
[227] _They have_] _They've_ Pope.
[228] _They have ... pleasures_] As in Pope. As three lines in Ff,
ending _grace ... thankes ... pleasures_.
[229] [They choose ...] Choose Ladies, King and Anne Bullen. Ff (An.
F₁).
[230] _My lord_] _Good my lord_ Hanmer.
[231] _’em_] Ff. _them_ Malone.
[232] _from me_] _as from me_ Hanmer.
[233] [Whispers the Masquers] Capell. Whisper. Ff (after _it_, line 81).
[234] [Comes from his State. Capell.
[235] _Ye have_] _You have_ Rowe. _You've_ Pope.
[Unmasking] Capell. om. Ff.
[236] _now_] _you_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[237] _An’'t ... women_] As in Pope. As three lines in Ff, ending
_Grace ... Rochford ... women._
[238] _highness'_] _Highnesse_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _Highnesses_ F₄.
[239] _she is_] Ff. _she's_ Rowe.
[To Anne Bullen. Rowe.
[240] _merry, ... cardinal:_] Ff. _merry. Good ... cardinal,_ Warburton.
[241] _half_] om. Rowe (ed. 2).
[242] _knock it] strike_ Hanmer. Westminster ...] Edd. A Street.
Theobald. London ... Dyce.
ACT II.
SCENE I. _Westminster. A street._
_Enter two_ Gentlemen, _meeting_.[243]
_First Gent._ Whither away so fast?
_Sec. Gent._ O, God save ye![244]
Even to the hall, to hear what shall become[245]
Of the great Duke of Buckingham.
_First Gent._ I'll save you
That labour, sir. All's now done, but the ceremony
Of bringing back the prisoner.
_Sec. Gent._ Were you there? 5
_First Gent._ Yes, indeed was I.
_Sec. Gent._ Pray, speak what has happen'd.[246]
_First Gent._ You may guess quickly what.
_Sec. Gent._ Is he found guilty?
_First Gent._ Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon 't.[247]
_Sec. Gent._ I am sorry for 't.[248]
_First Gent._ So are a number more.
_Sec. Gent._ But, pray, how pass'd it? 10
_First Gent._ I'll tell you in a little. The great duke
Came to the bar; where to his accusations
He pleaded still not guilty and alleged[249]
Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.
The king's attorney on the contrary 15
Urged on the examinations, proofs, confessions[250]
Of divers witnesses; which the duke desired
To have brought viva voce to his face:[251]
At which appear'd against him his surveyor;
Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Car, 20
Confessor to him; with that devil monk,
Hopkins, that made this mischief.
_Sec. Gent._ That was he
That fed him with his prophecies?[252]
_First Gent._ The same.
All these accused him strongly; which he fain
Would have flung from him, but indeed he could not: 25
And so his peers upon this evidence
Have found him guilty of high treason. Much
He spoke, and learnedly, for life, but all
Was either pitied in him or forgotten.
_Sec. Gent._ After all this, how did he bear himself? 30
_First Gent._ When he was brought again to the bar, to hear
His knell rung out, his judgement, he was stirr'd
With such an agony, he sweat extremely[253]
And something spoke in choler, ill and hasty:
But he fell to himself again and sweetly 35
In all the rest show'd a most noble patience.
_Sec. Gent._ I do not think he fears death.
_First Gent._ Sure, he does not;
He never was so womanish; the cause
He may a little grieve at.
_Sec. Gent._ Certainly
The cardinal is the end of this.[254]
_First Gent._ 'Tis likely, 40
By all conjectures: first, Kildare's attainder,[255]
Then deputy of Ireland; who removed,
Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too,
Lest he should help his father.
_Sec. Gent._ That trick of state
Was a deep envious one.[256]
_First Gent._ At his return 45
No doubt he will requite it. This is noted,
And generally, whoever the king favours,
The cardinal instantly will find employment,[257]
And far enough from court too.
_Sec. Gent._ All the commons
Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience, 50
Wish him ten fathom deep: this duke as much
They love and dote on; call him bounteous Buckingham,
The mirror of all courtesy--[258]
_First Gent._ Stay there, sir,
And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of.
_Enter_ BUCKINGHAM _from his arraignment, tipstaves before him,
the axe with the edge towards him, halberds on each side,
accompanied with_ SIR THOMAS LOVELL, SIR NICHOLAS VAUX, SIR
WALTER SANDS, _and common people, &c._[259]
_Sec. Gent._ Let's stand close, and behold him.
_Buck._ All good people,[260] 55
You that thus far have come to pity me,[261]
Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me.
I have this day received a traitor's judgement,
And by that name must die: yet, heaven bear witness,
And if I have a conscience, let it sink me, 60
Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful!
The law I bear no malice for my death;[262]
'T has done upon the premisses but justice:[263]
But those that sought it I could wish more Christians:
Be what they will, I heartily forgive 'em:[264] 65
Yet let 'em look they glory not in mischief,[264]
Nor build their evils on the graves of great men;[265]
For then my guiltless blood must cry against 'em.
For further life in this world I ne'er hope,
Nor will I sue, although the king have mercies[266] 70
More than I dare make faults. You few that loved me[267]
And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham,
His noble friends and fellows, whom to leave
Is only bitter to him, only dying,
Go with me, like good angels, to my end, 75
And, as the long divorce of steel falls on me,
Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice
And lift my soul to heaven. Lead on, o' God's name.[268]
_Lov._ I do beseech your grace, for charity,
If ever any malice in your heart 80
Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.[269]
_Buck._ Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you
As I would be forgiven: I forgive all;
There cannot be those numberless offences
'Gainst me, that I cannot take peace with: no black
envy[270][271][272][273] 85
Shall make my grave. Commend me to his grace,[270][272]
And if he speak of Buckingham, pray tell him
You met him half in heaven: my vows and prayers
Yet are the king's, and, till my soul forsake,[274]
Shall cry for blessings on him: may he live 90
Longer than I have time to tell his years!
Ever beloved and loving may his rule be![275]
And when old time shall lead him to his end,
Goodness and he fill up one monument!
_Lov._ To the water side I must conduct your grace; 95
Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux,
Who undertakes you to your end.
_Vaux._ Prepare there;
The duke is coming: see the barge be ready,
And fit it with such furniture as suits
The greatness of his person.
_Buck._ Nay, Sir Nicholas, 100
Let it alone; my state now will but mock me.[276]
When I came hither, I was lord high constable
And Duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun:[277]
Yet I am richer than my base accusers,
That never knew what truth meant: I now seal it; 105
And with that blood will make 'em one day groan for't.
My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,
Who first raised head against usurping Richard,
Flying for succour to his servant Banister,
Being distress'd, was by that wretch betray'd, 110
And without trial fell; God's peace be with him!
Henry the Seventh succeeding, truly pitying
My father's loss, like a most royal prince,
Restored me to my honours, and out of ruins
Made my name once more noble. Now his son, 115
Henry the Eighth, life, honour, name and all[278]
That made me happy, at one stroke has taken
For ever from the world. I had my trial,
And must needs say, a noble one; which makes me
A little happier than my wretched father: 120
Yet thus far we are one in fortunes: both[279]
Fell by our servants, by those men we loved most;[280]
A most unnatural and faithless service!
Heaven has an end in all: yet, you that hear me,
This from a dying man receive as certain: 125
Where you are liberal of your loves and counsels
Be sure you be not loose; for those you make friends[281]
And give your hearts to, when they once perceive
The least rub in your fortunes, fall away
Like water from ye, never found again 130
But where they mean to sink ye. All good people,[282]
Pray for me! I must now forsake ye: the last hour[283]
Of my long weary life is come upon me.[284]
Farewell:[285]
And when you would say something that is sad,[284][286] 135
Speak how I fell. I have done; and God forgive me![287]
[_Exeunt Duke and Train._
_First Gent._ O, this is full of pity! Sir, it calls,
I fear, too many curses on their heads
That were the authors.
_Sec. Gent._ If the duke be guiltless,
'Tis full of woe: yet I can give you inkling 140
Of an ensuing evil, if it fall,
Greater than this.
_First Gent._ Good angels keep it from us!
What may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir?[288]
_Sec. Gent._ This secret is so weighty, 'twill require
A strong faith to conceal it.
_First Gent._ Let me have it; 145
I do not talk much.
_Sec. Gent._ I am confident;
You shall, sir: did you not of late days hear
A buzzing of a separation
Between the king and Katharine?
_First Gent._ Yes, but it held not:[289]
For when the king once heard it, out of anger 150
He sent command to the lord mayor straight[290]
To stop the rumour and allay those tongues
That durst disperse it.
_See. Gent._ But that slander, sir,
Is found a truth now: for it grows again[291]
Fresher than e'er it was, and held for certain 155
The king will venture at it. Either the cardinal,
Or some about him near, have, out of malice
To the good queen, possess'd him with a scruple
That will undo her: to confirm this too,
Cardinal Campeius is arrived, and lately; 160
As all think, for this business.
_First Gent._ 'Tis the cardinal;
And merely to revenge him on the emperor,
For not bestowing on him at his asking
The archbishopric of Toledo, this is purposed.
_Sec. Gent._ I think you have hit the mark: but is't not
cruel[292] 165
That she should feel the smart of this? The cardinal
Will have his will, and she must fall.
_First Gent._ 'Tis woeful.
We are too open here to argue this;
Let's think in private more. [_Exeunt._[293]
SCENE II. _An ante-chamber in the palace._
_Enter the_ LORD CHAMBERLAIN, _reading a letter_.[294]
_Cham._ 'My lord, the horses your lordship sent for, with all the[295]
care I had, I saw well chosen, ridden, and furnished. They were[295]
young and handsome, and of the best breed in the north. When they[295]
were ready to set out for London, a man of my lord cardinal's, by[295]
commission and main power, took 'em from me; with this reason:
His[295][296] 5
master would be served before a subject, if not before the king; which[295]
stopped our mouths, sir.'[295][297]
I fear he will indeed: well, let him have them:[298]
He will have all, I think.[298]
_Enter to the_ LORD CHAMBERLAIN, _the_ DUKES OF NORFOLK _and_
SUFFOLK.
_Nor._ Well met, my lord chamberlain.[299] 10
_Cham._ Good day to both your graces.
_Suf._ How is the king employ'd?
_Cham._ I left him private,
Full of sad thoughts and troubles.
_Nor._ What's the cause?
_Cham._ It seems the marriage with his brother's wife
Has crept too near his conscience.
_Suf._ No, his conscience 15
Has crept too near another lady.
_Nor._ 'Tis so:
This is the cardinal's doing, the king-cardinal:[300]
That blind priest, like the eldest son of fortune,
Turns what he list. The king will know him one day.[301]
_Suf._ Pray God he do! he'll never know himself else.[302] 20
_Nor._ How holily he works in all his business![303]
And with what zeal! for, now he has crack'd the league
Between us and the emperor, the queen's great nephew.[304]
He dives into the king's soul, and there scatters
Dangers, doubts, wringing of the conscience,[305] 25
Fears and despairs; and all these for his marriage:[306]
And out of all these to restore the king,
He counsels a divorce; a loss of her
That, like a jewel, has hung twenty years
About his neck, yet never lost her lustre, 30
Of her that loves him with that excellence
That angels love good men with, even of her
That, when the greatest stroke of fortune falls,
Will bless the king: and is not this course pious?
_Cham._ Heaven keep me from such counsel! 'Tis most true 35
These news are every where; every tongue speaks 'em,
And every true heart weeps for't: all that dare
Look into these affairs see this main end,[307]
The French king's sister. Heaven will one day open
The king's eyes that so long have slept upon 40
This bold bad man.
_Suf._ And free us from his slavery.
_Nor._ We had need pray,
And heartily, for our deliverance;[308]
Or this imperious man will work us all
From princes into pages: all men's honours 45
Lie like one lump before him, to be fashion'd[309]
Into what pitch he please.[310]
_Suf._ For me, my lords,
I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed:
As I am made without him, so I'll stand,
If the king please; his curses and his blessings 50
Touch me alike; they're breath I not believe in.[311]
I knew him, and I know him; so I leave him
To him that made him proud, the pope.
_Nor._ Let's in;
And with some other business put the king
From these sad thoughts that work too much upon him: 55
My lord, you'll bear us company?
_Cham._ Excuse me;
The king has sent me otherwhere: besides,
You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him:[312]
Health to your lordships.
_Nor._ Thanks, my good lord chamberlain.
[_Exit Lord Chamberlain; and the King
draws the curtain and sits reading
pensively._[313]
_Suf._ How sad he looks! sure, he is much afflicted.[314] 60
_King._ Who's there, ha?
_Nor._ Pray God he be not angry.[315]
_King._ Who's there, I say? How dare you thrust yourselves
Into my private meditations?
Who am I? ha?
_Nor._ A gracious king that pardons all offences 65
Malice ne'er meant: our breach of duty this way
Is business of estate, in which we come
To know your royal pleasure.
_King._ Ye are too bold:[316]
Go to; I'll make ye know your times of business:
Is this an hour for temporal affairs, ha? 70
_Enter_ WOLSEY _and_ CAMPEIUS, _with a commission_.[317]
Who's there? my good lord cardinal? O my Wolsey,
The quiet of my wounded conscience,
Thou art a cure fit for a king. [_To Camp._] You're welcome,[318]
Most learned reverend sir, into our kingdom:
Use us and it. [_To Wols._] My good lord, have great care[319] 75
I be not found a talker.
_Wol._ Sir, you cannot.
I would your grace would give us but an hour
Of private conference.
_King._ [_To Nor. and Suf._] We are busy; go.
_Nor._ [_Aside to Suf._] This priest has no pride in him?[320]
_Suf._ [_Aside to Nor._] Not to speak of:[321][322]
I would not be so sick though for his place:[321] 80
But this cannot continue.[321][323]
_Nor._ [_Aside to Suf._] If it do,[321][323]
I'll venture one have-at-him.[324]
_Suf._ [_Aside to Nor._] I another.
[_Exeunt Norfolk and Suffolk._
_Wol._ Your grace has given a precedent of wisdom[325]
Above all princes, in committing freely
Your scruple to the voice of Christendom: 85
Who can be angry now? what envy reach you?
The Spaniard, tied by blood and favour to her,
Must now confess, if they have any goodness,
The trial just and noble. All the clerks,
I mean the learned ones, in Christian kingdoms[326] 90
Have their free voices: Rome, the nurse of judgement,[327]
Invited by your noble self, hath sent
One general tongue unto us, this good man,
This just and learned priest, Cardinal Campeius;[328]
Whom once more I present unto your highness. 95
_King._ And once more in mine arms I bid him welcome,
And thank the holy conclave for their loves:
They have sent me such a man I would have wish'd for.[329]
_Cam._ Your grace must needs deserve all strangers' loves,
You are so noble. To your highness' hand 100
I tender my commission; by whose virtue,
The court of Rome commanding, you, my lord[330]
Cardinal of York, are join'd with me their servant
In the impartial judging of this business.
_King._ Two equal men. The queen shall be acquainted 105
Forthwith for what you come. Where's Gardiner?
_Wol._ I know your majesty has always loved her
So dear in heart, not to deny her that[331]
A woman of less place might ask by law,
Scholars allow'd freely to argue for her. 110
_King._ Ay, and the best she shall have; and my favour
To him that does best: God forbid else. Cardinal,
Prithee, call Gardiner to me, my new secretary:
I find him a fit fellow. [_Exit_ Wolsey.
_Re-enter_ WOLSEY, _with_ GARDINER.[332]
_Wol._ [_Aside to Gard._] Give me your hand: much joy
and favour to you;[333] 115
You are the king's now.
_Gard._ [_Aside to Wol._] But to be commanded[333]
For ever by your grace, whose hand has raised me.
_King._ Come hither, Gardiner. [_Walks and whispers._[334]
_Cam._ My Lord of York, was not one Doctor Pace
In this man's place before him?
_Wol._ Yes, he was. 120
_Cam._ Was he not held a learned man?
_Wol._ Yes, surely.
_Cam._ Believe me, there's an ill opinion spread then,
Even of yourself, lord cardinal.
_Wol._ How! of me?
_Cam._ They will not stick to say you envied him,
And fearing he would rise, he was so virtuous, 125
Kept him a foreign man still; which so grieved him
That he ran mad and died.
_Wol._ Heaven's peace be with him!
That's Christian care enough: for living murmurers
There's places of rebuke. He was a fool;
For he would needs be virtuous: that good fellow, 130
If I command him, follows my appointment:
I will have none so near else. Learn this, brother,
We live not to be grip'd by meaner persons.
_King._ Deliver this with modesty to the queen.
[_Exit Gardiner._
The most convenient place that I can think of 135
For such receipt of learning is Black-Friars;
There ye shall meet about this weighty business.
My Wolsey, see it furnish'd. O, my lord,
Would it not grieve an able man to leave
So sweet a bedfellow? But, conscience, conscience! 140
O, 'tis a tender place; and I must leave her. [_Exeunt._
SCENE III. _An ante-chamber of the Queen's apartments._[335]
_Enter_ ANNE BULLEN _and an old_ Lady.
_Anne._ Not for that neither: here's the pang that pinches:
His highness having lived so long with her, and she[336]
So good a lady that no tongue could ever
Pronounce dishonour of her--by my life,
She never knew harm-doing--O, now, after 5
So many courses of the sun enthroned,
Still growing in a majesty and pomp, the which[337][338]
To leave a thousand-fold more bitter than[337]
'Tis sweet at first to acquire--after this process,[337]
To give her the avaunt! it is a pity 10
Would move a monster.
_Old L._ Hearts of most hard temper
Melt and lament for her.
_Anne._ O, God's will! much better[339]
She ne'er had known pomp: though 't be temporal,
Yet, if that quarrel, fortune, do divorce[340]
It from the bearer, 'tis a sufferance panging 15
As soul and body's severing.
_Old L._ Alas, poor lady![341]
She's a stranger now again.[342]
_Anne._ So much the more
Must pity drop upon her. Verily,
I swear, 'tis better to be lowly born
And range with humble livers in content 20
Than to be perk'd up in a glistering grief
And wear a golden sorrow.
_Old L._ Our content
Is our best having.
_Anne._ By my troth and maidenhead,
I would not be a queen.
_Old L._ Beshrew me, I would,
And venture maidenhead for't; and so would you, 25
For all this spice of your hypocrisy:
You, that have so fair parts of woman on you,
Have too a woman's heart; which ever yet
Affected eminence, wealth, sovereignty;
Which, to say sooth, are blessings; and which gifts-- 30
Saving your mincing--the capacity
Of your soft cheveril conscience would receive,[343]
If you might please to stretch it.
_Anne._ Nay, good troth.[344]
_Old L._ Yes, troth, and troth; you would not be a queen?
_Anne._ No, not for all the riches under heaven. 35
_Old L._ 'Tis strange: a three-pence bow'd would hire me,[345]
Old as I am, to queen it: but, I pray you,
What think you of a duchess? have you limbs
To bear that load of title?
_Anne._ No, in truth.
_Old L._ Then you are weakly made: pluck off a little;[346] 40
I would not be a young count in your way,
For more than blushing comes to: if your back
Cannot vouchsafe this burthen, 'tis too weak
Ever to get a boy.
_Anne._ How you do talk![347]
I swear again, I would not be a queen 45
For all the world.
_Old L._ In faith, for little England
You'ld venture an emballing: I myself[348]
Would for Carnarvonshire, although there 'long'd[349]
No more to the crown but that. Lo, who comes here?
_Enter the_ LORD CHAMBERLAIN.
_Cham._ Good morrow, ladies. What were't worth to know 50
The secret of your conference?
_Anne._ My good lord,
Not your demand; it values not your asking:
Our mistress' sorrows we were pitying.
_Cham._ It was a gentle business, and becoming
The action of good women: there is hope 55
All will be well.
_Anne._ Now, I pray God, amen!
_Cham._ You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly blessings
Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady,
Perceive I speak sincerely, and high note's[350]
Ta'en of your many virtues, the king's majesty 60
Commends his good opinion of you, and[351]
Does purpose honour to you no less flowing
Than Marchioness of Pembroke; to which title
A thousand pound a year, annual support,[352]
Out of his grace he adds.
_Anne._ I do not know 65
What kind of my obedience I should tender;[353]
More than my all is nothing: nor my prayers[354]
Are not words duly hallow'd, nor my wishes
More worth than empty vanities; yet prayers and wishes[355]
Are all I can return. Beseech your lordship, 70
Vouchsafe to speak my thanks and my obedience,
As from a blushing handmaid, to his highness,
Whose health and royalty I pray for.
_Cham._ Lady,
I shall not fail to approve the fair conceit[356]
The king hath of you. [_Aside_] I have perused her well;[357] 75
Beauty and honour in her are so mingled[357]
That they have caught the king: and who knows yet[357]
But from this lady may proceed a gem[357]
To lighten all this isle?--I'll to the king,[357]
And say I spoke with you.[357]
_Anne._ My honour'd lord. 80
[_Exit Lord Chamberlain._[358]
_Old L._ Why, this it is; see, see!
I have been begging sixteen years in court,
Am yet a courtier beggarly, nor could[359]
Come pat betwixt too early and too late
For any suit of pounds; and you, O fate! 85
A very fresh fish here--fie, fie, fie upon[360]
This compell'd fortune!--have your mouth fill'd up
Before you open it.
_Anne._ This is strange to me.
_Old L._ How tastes it? is it bitter? forty pence, no.[361]
There was a lady once, 'tis an old story,[362] 90
That would not be a queen, that would she not,
For all the mud in Egypt: have you heard it?
_Anne._ Come, you are pleasant.
_Old L._ With your theme, I could
O'ermount the lark. The Marchioness of Pembroke!
A thousand pounds a year for pure respect! 95
No other obligation! By my life,[363]
That promises moe thousands: honour's train[364]
Is longer than his foreskirt. By this time
I know your back will bear a duchess: say,
Are you not stronger than you were?
_Anne._ Good lady, 100
Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy,
And leave me out on't. Would I had no being,
If this salute my blood a jot: it faints me,[365]
To think what follows.
The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful 105
In our long absence: pray, do not deliver
What here you've heard to her.
_Old L._ What do you think me?[366]
[_Exeunt._
SCENE IV. _A hall in Black-Friars._
_Trumpets, sennet and cornets. Enter two_ Vergers, _with short
silver wands; next them, two_ Scribes, _in the habit of
doctors; after them, the_ ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY _alone;
after him, the_ BISHOPS OF LINCOLN, ELY, ROCHESTER, _and_
Saint ASAPH; _next them, with some small distance, follows
a_ Gentleman _bearing the purse, with the great seal, and a
cardinal's hat; then two_ Priests, _bearing each a silver
cross; then a_ Gentleman Usher _bare-headed, accompanied
with a_ Sergeant at arms _bearing a silver mace; then two_
Gentlemen _bearing two great silver pillars; after them,
side by side, the two_ CARDINALS; _two_ Noblemen _with the
sword and mace. The_ KING _takes place under the cloth of
state; the two_ CARDINALS _sit under him as judges. The_
QUEEN _takes place some distance from the_ KING. _The_
BISHOPS _place themselves on each side the court, in manner
of a consistory; below them, the_ Scribes. _The_ LORDS _sit
next the_ BISHOPS. _The rest of the_ Attendants _stand in
convenient order about the stage_.[367]
_Wol._ Whilst our commission from Rome is read,
Let silence be commanded.
_King._ What's the need?
It hath already publicly been read,
And on all sides the authority allow'd;
You may then spare that time.
_Wol._ Be't so. Proceed. 5
_Scribe._ Say, Henry King of England, come into the
court.
_Crier._ Henry King of England, &c.
_King._ Here.
_Scribe._ Say, Katharine Queen of England, come into[368] 10
the court.[368]
_Crier._ Katharine Queen of England, &c.
[_The Queen makes no answer, rises out of her
chair, goes about the court, comes to the
King, and kneels at his feet; then speaks._
_Q. Kath._ Sir, I desire you do me right and justice,[369]
And to bestow your pity on me; for
I am a most poor woman and a stranger, 15
Born out of your dominions; having here
No judge indifferent, nor no more assurance[370]
Of equal friendship and proceeding. Alas, sir,
In what have I offended you? what cause
Hath my behaviour given to your displeasure, 20
That thus you should proceed to put me off
And take your good grace from me? Heaven witness,
I have been to you a true and humble wife,[371]
At all times to your will conformable,
Ever in fear to kindle your dislike, 25
Yea, subject to your countenance, glad or sorry
As I saw it inclined: when was the hour[372]
I ever contradicted your desire,
Or made it not mine too? Or which of your friends[373]
Have I not strove to love, although I knew 30
He were mine enemy? what friend of mine[374]
That had to him derived your anger, did I
Continue in my liking? nay, gave notice[375]
He was from thence discharged? Sir, call to mind[376]
That I have been your wife, in this obedience, 35
Upward of twenty years, and have been blest
With many children by you: if in the course
And process of this time you can report,
And prove it too, against mine honour aught,
My bond to wedlock or my love and duty,[377][378] 40
Against your sacred person, in God's name,[378]
Turn me away, and let the foul'st contempt[379]
Shut door upon me, and so give me up
To the sharp'st kind of justice. Please you, sir,[380]
The king, your father, was reputed for 45
A prince most prudent, of an excellent[381]
And unmatch'd wit and judgement: Ferdinand,
My father, king of Spain, was reckon'd one
The wisest prince that there had reign'd by many
A year before: it is not to be question'd 50
That they had gather'd a wise council to them
Of every realm, that did debate this business,
Who deem'd our marriage lawful: wherefore I humbly[382][383]
Beseech you, sir, to spare me, till I may[383]
Be by my friends in Spain advised, whose counsel 55
I will implore: if not, i' the name of God,
Your pleasure be fulfill'd!
_Wol._ You have here, lady,
And of your choice, these reverend fathers; men
Of singular integrity and learning,
Yea, the elect o' the land, who are assembled 60
To plead your cause: it shall be therefore bootless
That longer you desire the court, as well[384]
For your own quiet, as to rectify
What is unsettled in the king.
_Cam._ His grace
Hath spoken well and justly: therefore, madam, 65
It's fit this royal session do proceed,
And that without delay their arguments
Be now produced and heard.
_Q. Kath._ Lord cardinal,[385]
To you I speak.[385]
_Wol._ Your pleasure, madam?
_Q. Kath._ Sir,[386][387]
I am about to weep; but, thinking that[386] 70
We are a queen, or long have dream'd so, certain
The daughter of a king, my drops of tears
I'll turn to sparks of fire.
_Wol._ Be patient yet.[388]
_Q. Kath._ I will, when you are humble; nay, before,
Or God will punish me. I do believe,[389] 75
Induced by potent circumstances, that
You are mine enemy, and make my challenge[390]
You shall not be my judge: for it is you
Have blown this coal betwixt my lord and me;
Which God's dew quench! Therefore I say again, 80
I utterly abhor, yea, from my soul
Refuse you for my judge; whom, yet once more,
I hold my most malicious foe and think not
At all a friend to truth.
_Wol._ I do profess
You speak not like yourself; who ever yet 85
Have stood to charity and display'd the effects
Of disposition gentle and of wisdom
O'ertopping woman's power. Madam, you do me wrong:[391]
I have no spleen against you, nor injustice
For you or any: how far I have proceeded,[392] 90
Or how far further shall, is warranted[393]
By a commission from the consistory,
Yea, the whole consistory 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[394] 95
That I gainsay my deed, how may he wound,[395]
And worthily, my falsehood! yea, as much
As you have done my truth. If he know[396]
That I am free of your report, he knows
I am not of your wrong. Therefore in him 100
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 beseech
You, gracious madam, to unthink your speaking
And to say so no more.[397]
_Q. Kath._ My lord, my lord, 105
I am a simple woman, much too weak
To oppose your cunning. You're meek and humble-mouth'd;[398]
You sign your place and calling, in full seeming,
With meekness and humility; but your heart
Is cramm'd with arrogancy, spleen, and pride.[399] 110
You have, by fortune and his highness' favours,[400]
Gone slightly o'er low steps and now are mounted[401]
Where powers are your retainers, and your words,[402]
Domestics to you, serve your will as't please
Yourself pronounce their office. I must tell you, 115
You tender more your person's honour than
Your high profession spiritual; 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, 120
And to be judged by him.
[_She curtsies to the King, and offers to depart._
_Cam._ The queen is obstinate,
Stubborn to justice, apt to accuse it and
Disdainful to be tried by't: 'tis not well.
She's going away.
_King._ Call her again. 125
_Crier._ Katharine Queen of England, come into the court.
_Gent. Ush._ Madam, you are call'd back.[403]
_Q. Kath._ What need you note it? pray you, keep your way:
When you are call'd, return. Now the Lord help![404]
They vex me past my patience. Pray you, pass on: 130
I will not tarry, no, nor ever more
Upon this business my appearance make
In any of their courts. [_Exeunt Queen, and her Attendants._[405]
_King._ Go thy ways, Kate:
That man i' the world who shall report he has
A better wife, let him in nought be trusted,[406] 135
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,[407] 140
The queen of earthly queens. She's noble born,
And like her true nobility she has
Carried herself towards me.
_Wol._ Most gracious sir,
In humblest manner I require your highness,
That it shall please you to declare in hearing 145
Of all these ears--for where I am robb'd and bound,
There must I be unloosed, although not there[408]
At once and fully satisfied--whether ever I[409]
Did broach this business to your highness, or
Laid any scruple in your way which might 150
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 might[410]
Be to the prejudice of her present state[411]
Or touch of her good person?
_King._ My lord cardinal, 155
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,[412]
Bark when their fellows do: by some of these 160
The queen is put in anger. You're excused:[413]
But will you be more justified? you ever
Have wish'd the sleeping of this business, never desired[414]
It to be stirr'd, but oft have hinder'd, oft,[414]
The passages made toward it: on my honour,[415] 165
I speak my good lord cardinal to this point,[416]
And thus far clear him. Now, what moved me to't,[417]
I will be bold with time and your attention:
Then mark the inducement. Thus it came; give heed to't:
My conscience first received a tenderness, 170
Scruple, and prick, on certain speeches utter'd
By the Bishop of Bayonne, then French ambassador;[418]
Who had been hither sent on the debating
A marriage 'twixt the Duke of Orleans and[419]
Our daughter Mary: i' the progress of this business, 175
Ere a determinate resolution, he,
I mean the bishop, did require a respite,[420]
Wherein he might the king his lord advertise
Whether our daughter were legitimate,
Respecting this our marriage with the dowager, 180
Sometimes our brother's wife. This respite shook[421]
The bosom of my conscience, enter'd me,[422]
Yea, with a splitting power, and made to tremble[423]
The region of my breast; which forced such way
That many mazed considerings did throng 185
And press'd in with this caution. First, methought
I stood not in the smile of heaven, who had[424]
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 190
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, should not 195
Be gladded in't by me: then follows that[425]
I weigh'd the danger which my realms stood in[426]
By this my issue's fail; and that gave to me
Many a groaning throe. Thus hulling in[427]
The wild sea of my conscience, I did steer 200
Toward this remedy whereupon we are[428]
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 205
And doctors learn'd. First I began in private
With you, my Lord of Lincoln; you remember
How under my oppression I did reek,[429]
When I first moved you.
_Lin._ Very well, my liege.
_King._ I have spoke long: be pleased yourself to say 210
How far you satisfied me.
_Lin._ So please your highness,
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 to doubt, 215
And did entreat your highness to this course[430]
Which you are running here.
_King._ I then moved you,
My Lord of Canterbury, and got your leave
To make this present summons: unsolicited[431]
I left no reverend person in this court; 220
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[432]
Of my alleged reasons, drive this forward:[433] 225
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.[434]
_Cam._ So please your highness, 230
The queen being absent, 'tis a needful fitness
That we adjourn this court till further day:[435]
Meanwhile must be an earnest motion
Made to the queen, to call back her appeal
She intends unto his holiness.
_King._ [_Aside_] I may perceive[436][437] 235
These cardinals trifle with me: I abhor[437]
This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome.[437][438]
My learn'd and well-beloved servant, Cranmer,[437][439]
Prithee, return; with thy approach, I know,[437][440]
My comfort comes along.--Break up the court:[437] 240
I say, set on.
[_Exeunt in manner as they entered._
FOOTNOTES:
[243] meeting.] Capell. at severall Doores. Ff.
[244] _fast?_] _fast, sir?_ Capell.
_O,_] _O sir,_ Pope.
_ye_] _you_ Capell. _you, sir_ Keightley.
[245] _Even_] _Ev'n_ Ff.
[246] _happen'd._] _happened._ Rowe (ed. 2). _happen'd?_ Pope.
[247] _Yes ... upon 't._] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.
[248] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.
[249] _not_] _nor_ F₂.
[250] _the_] om. Pope.
[251] _have_] F₄. _him_ F₁ F₂ F₃.
[252] _prophecies?_] Capell. _prophecies._ Ff.
[253] _sweat_] _swet_ Dyce.
[254] _the end_] _at the end_ Long MS.
[255] _attainder_] _attendure_ F₁ F₂. _attaindure_ F₃ F₄.
[256] _deep envious_] _deep-envious_ Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.)
[257] _instantly ... employment_] _instantly ... employment_ for F₄.
will _find employment for_ Hanmer.
[258] _courtesy--_] _courtesy;--_ Steevens. _courtesie._ Ff.
[259] _Enter ..._] Ff (after _courtesie_, line 53). Transposed by
Capell.
Sir Walter Sands,] F₁. Walter Sands, F₂ F₃ F₄. Sir William Sands,
Theobald (from Holinshed).
[260] SCENE II. Pope.
[261] _far_] _farre_ F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.
[262] _The law_] F₁ F₂. _To th' law_ F₃ F₄.
[263] _'T has_] F₃ F₄. _T' has_ F₁ F₂. _It has_ Malone.
[264] _'em_] _them_ Malone.
[265] _evils_] _evies_ Grey conj.
[266] _have_] _hath_ or has Seymour conj.
[267] _More ... me_] One line in Rowe (ed. 2). Two in Ff.
_dare_] _could_ or _durst_ Delius conj.
[268] _And ... name_] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.
_o'_] Theobald. a Ff.
[269] _to_] om. Pope.
[270] _'Gainst ... grace,_] Two lines in Pope. Three lines, ending
_with: ... grave ... grace:_ in Ff.
[271] _that I cannot_] _I can't_] Pope. _that I can't_ Malone.
[272] _take ... make_] take ... _mark_ Hanmer (Warburton). _make ...
take_ Johnson conj. _take ... shake_ Heath conj.
[273] _no black ... grave_] _no! black ... grave_ Anon. conj. (Gent.
Mag.) _With no black envy shall I make my grave_ Martley conj., reading
as a separate line.
[274] _forsake_] _forsake me_ F₄.
Keightley conjectures that a line is lost here.
[275] _may ... be_] _be his rule_ Seymour conj.
[276] _now will_] _will now_ Whalley conj.
[277] _Bohun_] _Stafford_ Peck conj.
[278] _life, honour, name_] _name, honour, life_ Pope.
[279] _we are_] F₁ F₂. _are we_ F₃ F₄.
_fortunes_] _fortune_ Rowe.
[280] _most_] om. Pope.
[281] _for_] om. Pope.
[282] _where_] _when_ Collier (Collier MS.)
[283] _now forsake_] _leave_ Pope.
[284] _long weary_] _long-weary_ S. Walker conj.
[285] _Farewell: ... sad,_] As in Capell. One line in Ff.
[286] _that is_] om. Pope, reading 134, 135 as one line.
[287] _Speak ... me!_] Two lines in Ff. One line in Pope, reading
_I've_ for _I have_.
[288] _What_] _Where_ Reed (1803).
[289] _Yes,_] om. Hanmer.
[290] _to_] _unto_ S. Walker conj.
[291] _found a_] F₁ F₂. _a sound_ F₃ F₄.
[292] _I think ... cruel_] As two lines, the first ending _think_, in
Ff. one line in Pope, reading _you've_ for _you have_.
_is't_] _is it_ Delius.
[293] _think_] _talk_ Anon conj.
[294] SCENE II.] SCENE III. Pope
An ante-chamber ...] Theobald.
the Lord] Lord. Ff.
a letter.] Rowe. this letter. Ff.
[295] _My lord ... sir._] S. Walker would read _horse_ for _horses_,
_sent me_ for _sent_, _o' th'_ for _of the_, _o' the'_ for _in the_,
_them_ for _'em,_ and print as nine verses, ending _me for_, ...
_chosen_, ... _handsome_, ... _north_, ... _London_, ...
_commission_, ... _reason_, ... _subject_, ... _sir_.
[296] _commission_] _compulsion_ Long MS.
[297] _sir_] om. Collier MS.
[298] _I fear ... think._] As verse first by Theobald. As prose in Ff.
[299] _my lord_] _my good lord_ Hanmer, reading _He ... good Lord ...
graces_ as two lines.
[300] _doing, ... cardinal:_] _doing; ... cardinal:_ Rowe. _doing: ...
cardinall_, Ff.
[301] _list_] _lists_ Theobald.
[302] _Pray ... else_] As in Pope. Two lines in Ff.
[303] _his_] _this_ Capell.
[304] _Between_] _'Tween_ Pope.
_great nephew_] _nephew_ Seymour] conj. _great-nephew_ Dyce.
[305] _Dangers, doubts,_] _Doubts, dangers,_ Pope.
_doubts, wringing_] _doubts wringing_ Anon. conj.
_wringing_] _wringings_ Anon. conj.
[306] _despairs_] _despair_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[307] _this_] _his_ F₄.
[308] _our_] om. Pope, reading _We ... deliv'rance_ as one line.
[309] _like_] _in_ Steevens.
[310] _Into_] _E'en to_ Lettsom conj.
_pitch_] _pinch_ Hanmer (Warburton).
_batch_ Theobald conj.
[311] _they're_] Pope. _th' are_ Ff. _they are_ Capell.
[312] _find_] F₃ F₄. _finde_ F₁ F₂. _find 't_ Anon. conj.
[313] and ... pensively.] Ff. The Scene draws, and discovers the King
sitting and reading pensively. Rowe. They go towards the Door: Door
opens; and the King is discover'd, sitting to a Table, pensively,
and reading. Capell. Norfolk opens a folding-door. The King is
discovered.... Malone.
[314] SCENE IV. Warburton. Pope and Hanmer continue the scene by
mistake.
[315] _Pray_] _I pray_ Capell.
[316] _Ye are_] _You're_ Capell. _You are_ Steevens.
[317] _and ... commission._] with Campeius. Capell.
Campeius,] Campeius the Pope's Legat, Rowe.
[318] _a king_] F₁. _the king_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[To Camp.] Theobald.
[319] [To Wols.] Johnson.
[320] [To Nor. and Suf.] Theobald.
[321] The 'Asides' first marked by Capell.
[322] _him?_] _him._ Collier. _him!_ Delius.
[323] _If ... him._] Arranged as in Pope. As one line in Ff.
[324] _one have-at-him._] Dyce and Staunton. _one; have at him._ F₁.
_one heave at him._ F₂ F₃ F₄. _one;--have at him._ Knight.
[325] _precedent_] F₄. _president_ F₁ F₂ F₃.
[326] _I ... ones, in ... kingdoms_] Theobald. (_I ... ones in ...
kingdomes_) Ff.
[327] _Have_] _Gave_ Grant White. _voices:_] _voyces._ or _voices._ Ff.
_voice._ Rowe (ed. 2). _voices_--Knight.
[328] _learned_] _learn'd_ Anon. conj.
_Cardinal_] _Cardnall_ F₁.
[329] _They have_] _They've_ Pope.
[330] _commanding, you_] F₄. _commanding._ _You_ F₁. _commanding:_
_You_ F₂ F₃.
[331] _So_] _Too_ Keightley conj.
_that_] _that,_ F₄. _what_ Pope.
[332] [Exit Wolsey. Re-enter ...] Capell. Cardinal goes out and
re-enters with Gardiner. Johnson. Enter Gardiner. Ff.
[333] The 'Asides' first marked by Capell.
[334] [Walks and whispers.] Ff. Talk apart. Capell.
[335] SCENE III.] SCENE V. Pope.
An ante-chamber ...] Theobald.
[336] _having_] om. Pope.
[337] See note (III).
[338] _a majesty_] _majesty_ Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.)
[339] _O,_] _Oh_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _O'_ F₄.
[340] _that quarrel_] _that quarr'ler_ Hanmer. _that quarr'lous_
Warburton conj. (withdrawn). _at quarrel_ Mason conj. _that queller_
Jackson conj. _that_ _squirrel_ Staunton conj.
_quarrel, fortune, do_] _quarrell. Fortune, do_ F₁. _quarrel fortune
to_ Steevens conj. _carle, ill-fortune, do_ Becket conj. _cruel fortune
do_ Collier (Collier MS.) _quarrel, by fortune_ Keightley. _fortune's
quarrel do_ Lettsom conj.
[341] _Alas_] _Ah_ Pope.
[342] _a stranger_] F₁. _stranger_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[343] _cheveril_] Theobald. _chiverell_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _chiverel_ F₄.
[344] _good troth_] Ff. _good troth--_ Rowe.
[345] _bow'd_] _bowed_ Reed (1803).
_would_] F₁. _now would_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[346] _off_] _up_ Johnson conj.
[347] _you do_] _do you_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[348] _You'ld_] F₁. _you'l_ F₂. _you'll_ F₃ F₄.
_emballing_] _empalling_ Malone conj. _embalming_ Whalley conj.
_empaling_ Jackson conj.
[349] _although there 'long'd_] _though there belong'd_ Pope.
[350] _and high note's_] Theobald. _and high notes_ Ff. _and high note
is_ Hanmer. _an high note's_ Johnson. _and that high note's_ Capell.
[351] _of you_] Capell. _of you, to you_ Ff. _to you_ Pope.
[352] _pound_] _pounds_ Theobald.
[353] _kind_] _sign_ or _hint_ Anon. conj.
[354] _is_] _which is_ Warburton.
_nor_] _for_ Pope.
[355] _empty_] om. Pope.
[356] _approve_] _improve_ Collier MS.
[357] [Aside] Pope.
[358] [Exit....] Exit.... Ff (after _you._).
[359] _nor_] _ne'er_ Anon. conj.
[360] _fie, fie, fie_] _fie, fie_ Pope.
[361] _bitter?... pence_] _not bitter for thy sense_ Jackson conj.
_forty pence_] _for two pence_ Roderick conj. _for fi' pence_ Anon.
conj.
[362] _a lady_] F₁ F₂. _no lady_ F₃ F₄. _an old lady_ Rowe.
[363] _By_] _But_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[364] _moe_] F₃ F₄. _mo_ F₁ F₂. _more_ Rowe.
[365] _salute_] _elate_ Collier MS. See note (IV).
[366] _you've_] _y' have_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _y' ave_ F₄. _you have_ Capell.
_me?_] _me?--_ Pope. _me--_ Ff.
[367] SCENE IV.] SCENE VI. Pope.
A hall....] Capell. Black-Fryers. Theobald.
sennet] F₁. Sonnet F₂ F₃ F₄. om. Hanmer. See note (V).
habit] habite F₁ F₂. habits F₃ F₄.
Archbishop] Johnson. Bishop Ff.
pillars] F₃ F₄. piller F₁ F₂.
below] between Reed (1803).
stage] hall Dyce.
[368] _Say ... court_] As two lines in Ff. As prose first by Capell.
[369] Q. Kath.] Queen. Warburton. om. Ff.
[370] _nor_] _and_ Pope.
[371] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.
[372] _inclined:_] _inclin'd:_ Rowe (ed. 2). _inclin'd?_ Ff.
[373] _Or which_] _which_ Pope.
[374] _were_] _was_ Seymour conj.
[375] _nay, gave_] _nay, gave not_ Hanmer. _nay, give_ Jackson conj.
_nor gave_ Boswell conj.
[376] _discharged?_] _discharg'd._ Theobald.
[377] _to wedlock_] _of wedlock_ F₄.
_or my love and duty,_] _my love and duty, or_ Mason conj.
[378] _duty, Against_] Malone. _dutie Against_ F₁. _duty Against_ F₂ F₃
F₄.
[379] _the_] F₁. om F₂ F₃ F₄.
[380] _sharp'st_] _sharpest_ Theobald.
_kind_] _knife_ Collier MS.
[381] _of_] F₁. _and_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[382] _wherefore I humbly_] _humbly I_ Seymour conj.
[383] _I humbly Beseech you, sir, to spare_] _humbly, Sir I beseech you
spare_ Pope.
[384] _That ... court_] Printed by Keightley as an imperfect line.
_desire_] _defer_ F₄.
_court_] _court delay'd_ Keightley conj., reading _As well ... rectify_
as one line.
[385] _Lord ... speak_] As in Pope. One line in Ff.
[386] _Sir ... that_] As in Pope. One line in Ff.
[387] _Sir,_] _Sir...._ Keightley.
[388] _yet._] Ff. _yet--_ Rowe.
[389] _Or ... believe,_] See note (VI).
[390] _challenge You_] _challenge, You_ Johnson. _challenge; You_
Theobald. _challenge. You_ Ff.
[391] _Madam_] om. Seymour conj.
[392] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.
[393] _shall,_] Rowe. _(Shall)_ Ff.
[394] _if it_] _if 't_ Pope.
[395] _how_] _now_ Delius conj.
[396] _If he_] _But if he_ Pope. _If he then_ Keightley. _An if_ Anon.
conj.
[397] _to say so_] F₁. _to say_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _say_ Pope, ending this and
the next line, _I am ... t' oppose. say it_ Collier MS.
[398] _You're_] _Y' are_ Ff. _You are_ Pope.
[399] _arrogancy_] _arrogancie_ F₁. _arrogance_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _arrogance,
with_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[400] _favours_] _favour_ S. Walker conj.
[401] _slightly_] _lightly_ S. Walker conj.
[402] _powers_] _towers_ Jackson conj.]
_your words_] _your wards_ Tyrwhitt conj. _our lords_ Mason conj.
_proud lords_ Anon. conj.
[403] Gent. Ush.] Grif. Malone.
[404] _help_] _help me_ S. Walker conj.
[405] [Exeunt....] Ff. Exeunt Queen, Griffith, and her other
Attendants. Malone.
SCENE VII. Pope.
[406] _nought_] _naught_ F₁.
[407] _else, could_] _els, could_ F₁. _could_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _could but_
Pope.
[408] _unloosed_] _enloos'd_ Seymour conj.
[409] _At once_] _Atton'd_ Hanmer (Warburton).
_whether ever_] _if_ Pope.
[410] _spake_] _spoke_ Hanmer.
_that_] om. Capell.
[411] _to the_] _the_ Rowe (ed. 1). In Rowe (ed. 2), _that might ...
state_ is read as one line, as by Pope who omits _to the_.
[412] _to_] F₁ _the_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[413] _You're_] _Y'are_ Ff. _You are_ Capell.
[414] _never desired It ... hinder'd, oft_] _never desir'd It ...
hindred, oft_ Ff. _never Desir'd it ... hindred_ Pope. _never Desir'd
it ... hinder'd, oft_ Capell.
[415] _toward_] _towards_ Rowe (ed. 2). _tow'rds_ Pope.
[416] _speak my ... cardinal_] F₁ F₂. _speak, my ... cardinal_ F₃ F₄.
_speak, my ... card'nal,_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[417] _And ... to't_] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.
[418] _Bayonne_] Capell. _Bayon_ Ff.
[419] _A_] Rowe (ed. 2). _And_ Ff.
[420] _require_] _requite_ F₂.
[421] _Sometimes_] _Sometime_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[422] _bosom_] _bottom_ Hammer (Thirlby conj., from Holinshed). See
note (VII).
[423] _splitting_] _spitting_ F₁.
[424] _who_] _which_ Pope.
[425] _gladded in 't_ F₁. _glad in 't_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _glad in one_ Pope.
[426] _which_] F₁ F₂. _that_ F₃ F₄.
_realms_] _realm_ Anon. conj.
[427] _throe_] Pope. _throw_ Ff.
[428] _Toward_] F₁ F₂. _Towards_ F₃ F₄.
_whereupon_] _whereon_ Pope.
[429] _reek_] _reel_ Rowe.
[430] _to this_] F₁. _in this_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[431] _summons: unsolicited_] Theobald. _summons unsolicited._ Ff.
[432] _the good_] F₁. _our good_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[433] _drive_] Pope. _drives_ Ff.
[434] _paragon'd o'the_] _paragon'd i' th'_ Pope. _paragon o' th'_
Hanmer.
[435] _till_] F₁. om. F₂. _to a_ F₃ F₄. _to_ Pope.
[436] [They rise to depart. The King speaks to Cranmer. Johnson.
[437] _I may ... along._] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.
[438] _This_] _The_ Hanmer.
[439] _learn'd_] _learned_ Rowe.
_well-beloved_] _well-belov'd_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[440] _return; ... approach,_] F₄. _return, ... approch:_ F₁ F₂ F₃.]
ACT III.
SCENE I. _London. The Queen's apartments._
_The_ QUEEN _and her_ Women, _as at work_.[441]
_Q. Kath._ Take thy lute, wench: my soul grows sad with troubles;[442]
Sing, and disperse 'em, if thou canst: leave working.[443]
SONG.
Orpheus with his lute made trees,
And the mountain tops that freeze,
Bow themselves when he did sing; 5
To his music plants and flowers
Ever sprung, as sun and showers[444]
There had made a lasting spring.[445]
Every thing that heard him play,
Even the billows of the sea, 10
Hung their heads, and then lay by.
In sweet music is such art,
Killing care and grief of heart[446]
Fall asleep, or hearing die.
_Enter a_ Gentleman.
_Q. Kath._ How now! 15
_Gent._ An't please your grace, the two great cardinals[447]
Wait in the presence.
_Q. Kath._ Would they speak with me?
_Gent._ They will'd me say so, madam.
_Q. Kath._ Pray their graces
To come near. [_Exit Gent._] What can be their business[448]
With me, a poor weak woman, fall'n from favour? 20
I do not like their coming. Now I think on't,[449]
They should be good men, their affairs as righteous:[450]
But all hoods make not monks.
_Enter the two_ CARDINALS, WOLSEY _and_ CAMPEIUS.[451]
_Wol._ Peace to your highness!
_Q. Kath._ Your graces find me here part of a housewife;
I would be all, against the worst may happen.[452] 25
What are your pleasures with me, reverend lords?[453]
_Wol._ May it please you, noble madam, to withdraw
Into your private chamber, we shall give you
The full cause of our coming.
_Q. Kath._ Speak it here;
There's nothing I have done yet, o' my conscience, 30
Deserves a corner: would all other women
Could speak this with as free a soul as I do!
My lords, I care not, so much I am happy
Above a number, if my actions
Were tried by every tongue, every eye saw 'em, 35
Envy and base opinion set against 'em,
I know my life so even. If your business[454]
Seek me out, and that way I am wife in,[454][455]
Out with it boldly: truth loves open dealing.
_Wol._ Tanta est erga te mentis integritas, regina serenissima,-- 40
_Q. Kath._ O, good my lord, no Latin;[456]
I am not such a truant since my coming,
As not to know the language I have lived in:
A strange tongue makes my cause more strange, suspicious;[457] 45
Pray speak in English: here are some will thank you,
If you speak truth, for their poor mistress' sake;
Believe me, she has had much wrong: lord cardinal,
The willing'st sin I ever yet committed
May be absolved in English.
_Wol._ Noble lady, 50
I am sorry my integrity should breed,[458]
And service to his majesty and you,[459]
So deep suspicion, where all faith was meant.[459]
We come not by the way of accusation,
To taint that honour every good tongue blesses, 55
Nor to betray you any way to sorrow--
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 60
And comforts to your cause.
_Cam._ Most honour'd madam,[460]
My Lord of York, out of his noble nature,
Zeal and obedience he still bore your grace,
Forgetting, like a good man, your late censure
Both of his truth and him, which was too far, 65
Offers, as I do, in a sign of peace,
His service and his counsel.
_Q. Kath._ [_Aside_] To betray me.--[461]
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, 70
In such a point of weight, so near mine honour,
More near my life, I fear, with my weak wit,
And to such men of gravity and learning,
In truth, I know not. I was set at work
Among my maids, full little, God knows, looking 75
Either for such men or such business.
For her sake that I have been--for I feel
The last fit of my greatness--good your graces,
Let me have time and counsel for my cause:[462]
Alas, I am a woman, friendless, hopeless! 80
_Wol._ Madam, you wrong the king's love with these fears:[463]
Your hopes and friends are infinite.
_Q. Kath._ In England[464]
But little for my profit: can you think, lords,[465]
That any Englishman dare give me counsel?
Or be a known friend, 'gainst his highness' pleasure--[466] 85
Though he be grown so desperate to be honest--
And live a subject? Nay, forsooth, my friends,[467]
They that must weigh out my afflictions,[468]
They that my trust must grow to, live not here:
They are, as all my other comforts, far hence[469] 90
In mine own country, lords.
_Cam._ I would your grace
Would leave your griefs, and take my counsel.
_Q. Kath._ 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;[470] 95
For if the trial of the law o'ertake ye,
You'll part away disgraced.
_Wol._ He tells you rightly.
_Q. Kath._ Ye tell me what ye wish for both, my ruin:
Is this your Christian counsel? out upon ye!
Heaven is above all yet; there sits a judge 100
That no king can corrupt.
_Cam._ Your rage mistakes us.[471]
_Q. Kath._ The more shame for ye: holy men I thought ye,[472]
Upon my soul, two reverend cardinal virtues;
But cardinal sins and hollow hearts I fear ye:[472][473]
Mend 'em, for shame, my lords. Is this your comfort?[474] 105
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, for heaven's sake, take heed, lest at once[475] 110
The burthen of my sorrows fall upon ye.
_Wol._ Madam, this is a mere distraction;[476]
You turn the good we offer into envy.
_Q. Kath._ Ye turn me into nothing: woe upon ye,
And all such false professors! would you have me-- 115
If you have any justice, any pity,
If ye be any thing but churchmen's habits--[477]
Put my sick cause into his hands that hates me?
Alas, has banish'd me his bed already,[478]
His love, too long ago! I am old, my lords,[479] 120
And all the fellowship I hold now with him
Is only my obedience. What can happen[480]
To me above this wretchedness? all your studies
Make me a curse like this.
_Cam._ Your fears are worse.[481]
_Q. Kath._ Have I lived thus long--let me speak myself, 125
Since virtue finds no friends--a wife, a true one?
A woman, I dare say without vain-glory,
Never yet branded with suspicion?
Have I with all my full affections
Still met the king? loved him next heaven? obey'd him? 130
Been, out of fondness, superstitious to him?
Almost forgot my prayers to content him?
And am I thus rewarded? 'tis not well, lords.
Bring me a constant woman to her husband,
One that ne'er dream'd a joy beyond his pleasure, 135
And to that woman, when she has done most,
Yet will I add an honour, a great patience.
_Wol._ Madam, you wander from the good we aim at.[476][482]
_Q. Kath._ My lord, I dare not make myself so guilty,[483]
To give up willingly that noble title 140
Your master wed me to: nothing but death
Shall e'er divorce my dignities.
_Wol._ Pray, hear me.[484]
Q. Kath. Would I had never trod this English earth,
Or felt the flatteries that grow upon it!
Ye have angels' faces, but heaven knows your hearts.[485] 145
What will become of me now, wretched lady![486]
I am the most unhappy woman living.
Alas, poor wenches, where are now your fortunes![487]
Shipwreck'd upon a kingdom, where no pity,
No friends, no hope; no kindred weep for me; 150
Almost no grave allow'd me: like the lily,
That once was mistress of the field and flourish'd,
I'll hang my head and perish.
_Wol._ If your grace[476]
Could but be brought to know our ends are honest,
You'ld feel more comfort: why should we, good lady,[488] 155
Upon what cause, wrong you? alas, our places,
The way of our profession is against it:
We are to cure such sorrows, not to sow 'em.[489]
For goodness' sake, consider what you do;
How you may hurt yourself, ay, utterly[490] 160
Grow from the king's acquaintance, by this carriage.
The hearts of princes kiss obedience,
So much they love it; but to stubborn spirits
They swell, and grow as terrible as storms.[491]
I know you have a gentle, noble temper,[492] 165
A soul as even as a calm: pray think us
Those we profess, peace-makers, friends and servants.
_Cam._ Madam, you'll find it so. You wrong your virtues[493]
With these weak women's fears: a noble spirit,
As yours was put into you, ever casts 170
Such doubts, as false coin, from it. The king loves you;[494]
Beware you lose it not: for us, if you please[495]
To trust us in your business, we are ready
To use our utmost studies in your service.
_Q. Kath._ Do what ye will, my lords: and pray forgive
me,[496][497] 175
If I have used myself unmannerly;[497]
You know I am a woman, lacking wit
To make a seemly answer to such persons.
Pray do my service to his majesty:
He has my heart yet, and shall have my prayers 180
While I shall have my life. Come, reverend fathers.
Bestow your counsels on me: she now begs
That little thought, when she set footing here,
She should have bought her dignities so dear. [_Exeunt._
SCENE II. _Ante-chamber to the King's apartment._
_Enter the_ DUKE OF NORFOLK, _the_ DUKE OF SUFFOLK, _the_ EARL OF
SURREY, _and the_ LORD CHAMBERLAIN.[498]
_Nor._ If you will now unite in your complaints
And force them with a constancy, the cardinal
Cannot stand under them: if you omit
The offer of this time, I cannot promise
But that you shall sustain moe new disgraces,[499] 5
With these you bear already.
_Sur._ I am joyful
To meet the least occasion that may give me
Remembrance of my father-in-law, the duke,
To be revenged on him.
_Suf._ Which of the peers
Have uncontemn'd gone by him, or at least[500] 10
Strangely neglected? when did he regard[501]
The stamp of nobleness in any person[502]
Out of himself?[502]
_Cham._ My lords, you speak your pleasures:
What he deserves of you and me I know;
What we can do to him, though now the time 15
Gives way to us, I much fear. If you cannot[503]
Bar his access to the king, never attempt
Any thing on him; for he hath a witchcraft
Over the king in's tongue.
_Nor._ O, fear him not;
His spell in that is out: the king hath found 20
Matter against him that for ever mars
The honey of his language. No, he's settled,
Not to come off, in his displeasure.
_Sur._ Sir,[504]
I should be glad to hear such news as this
Once every hour.
_Nor._ Believe it, this is true: 25
In the divorce his contrary proceedings
Are all unfolded; wherein he appears
As I would wish mine enemy.[505]
_Sur._ How came
His practices to light?
_Suf._ Most strangely.
_Sur._ O, how, how?[506]
_Suf._ The cardinal's letters to the pope miscarried,[507] 30
And came to the eye o' the king: wherein was read[508]
How that the cardinal did entreat his holiness
To stay the judgement o' the divorce; for if
It did take place, 'I do' quoth he 'perceive
My king is tangled in affection to 35
A creature of the queen's, Lady Anne Bullen.'
_Sur._ Has the king this?
_Suf._ Believe it.
_Sur._ Will this work?[509]
_Cham._ The king in this perceives him, how he coasts
And hedges his own way. But in this point[510]
All his tricks founder, and he brings his physic 40
After his patient's death: the king already
Hath married the fair lady.
_Sur._ Would he had!
_Suf._ May you be happy in your wish, my lord![511]
For, I profess, you have it.
_Sur._ Now, all my joy[512]
Trace the conjunction!
_Suf._ My amen to't!
_Nor._ All men's! 45
_Suf._ There's order given for her coronation:
Marry, this is yet but young, and may be left[513]
To some ears unrecounted. But, my lords,
She is a gallant creature and complete
In mind and feature: I persuade me, from her 50
Will fall some blessing to this land, which shall
In it be memorized.
_Sur._ But will the king
Digest this letter of the cardinal's?[514]
The Lord forbid![515]
_Nor._ Marry, amen!
_Suf._ No, no;
There be moe wasps that buzz about his nose[516] 55
Will make this sting the sooner. Cardinal Campeius
Is stol'n away to Rome; hath ta'en no leave;[517]
Has left the cause o' the king unhandled, and[518]
Is posted as the agent of our cardinal,
To second all his plot. I do assure you 60
The king cried 'Ha!' at this.
_Cham._ Now God incense him,
And let him cry 'Ha!' louder!
_Nor._ But, my lord,
When returns Cranmer?
_Suf._ He is return'd in his opinions, which[519]
Have satisfied the king for his divorce, 65
Together with all famous colleges[520]
Almost in Christendom: shortly, I believe,
His second marriage shall be publish'd, and
Her coronation. Katharine no more
Shall be call'd queen, but princess dowager 70
And widow to Prince Arthur.[521]
_Nor._ This same Cranmer's
A worthy fellow, and hath ta'en much pain[522]
In the king's business.
_Suf._ He has; and we shall see him
For it an archbishop.
_Nor._ So I hear.
_Suf._ 'Tis so.
The cardinal!
_Enter_ WOLSEY _and_ CROMWELL.
_Nor._ Observe, observe, he's moody.[523] 75
_Wol._ The packet, Cromwell,[524]
Gave 't you the king?[524]
_Crom._ To his own hand, in's bedchamber.[525]
_Wol._ Look'd he o' the inside of the paper?[526]
_Crom._ Presently
He did unseal them, and the first he view'd,
He did it with a serious mind; a heed 80
Was in his countenance. You he bade[527]
Attend him here this morning.[528]
_Wol._ Is he ready[528]
To come abroad?[528]
_Crom._ I think, by this he is.[528]
_Wol._ Leave me awhile. [_Exit Cromwell._
[_Aside_] It shall be to the Duchess of Alençon,[529] 85
The French king's sister: he shall marry her.
Anne Bullen! No; I'll no Anne Bullens for him:
There's more in't than fair visage. Bullen![530]
No, we'll no Bullens. Speedily I wish
To hear from Rome. The Marchioness of Pembroke! 90
_Nor._ He's discontented.
_Suf._ May be, he hears the king
Does whet his anger to him.
_Sur._ Sharp enough.
Lord, for thy justice!
_Wol._ [_Aside_] The late queen's gentlewoman, a knight's
daughter,[529][531]
To be her mistress' mistress! the queen's queen! 95
This candle burns not clear: 'tis I must snuff it;
Then out it goes. What though I know her virtuous
And well deserving? yet I know her for
A spleeny Lutheran, and not wholesome to
Our cause, that she should lie i' the bosom of[532] 100
Our hard-ruled king. Again, there is sprung up[532]
An heretic, an arch one, Cranmer, one
Hath crawl'd into the favour of the king,
And is his oracle.
_Nor._ He is vex'd at something.[533]
_Sur._ I would 'twere something that would fret the string,[534] 105
The master-cord on's heart![535]
_Enter_ KING, _reading of a schedule, and_ LOVELL.
_Suf._ The king, the king!
_King._ What piles of wealth hath he accumulated
To his own portion! and what expense by the hour[536]
Seems to flow from him! How, i' the name of thrift,
Does he rake this together! Now, my lords, 110
Saw you the cardinal?
_Nor._ My lord, we have
Stood here observing him: some strange commotion
Is in his brain: he bites his lip, and starts;[537]
Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground,
Then lays his finger on his temple; straight 115
Springs out into fast gait; then stops again,
Strikes his breast hard, and anon he casts[538][539]
His eye against the moon: in most strange postures[539]
We have seen him set himself.[539][540]
_King._ It may well be;[541]
There is a mutiny in's mind. This morning[541] 120
Papers of state he sent me to peruse,
As I required: and wot you what I found
There, on my conscience, put unwittingly?
Forsooth, an inventory, thus importing,
The several parcels of his plate, his treasure, 125
Rich stuffs, and ornaments of household, which
I find at such proud rate that it out-speaks[542]
Possession of a subject.
_Nor._ It's heaven's will:
Some spirit put this paper in the packet,
To bless your eye withal.
_King._ If we did think, 130
His contemplation were above the earth,[543]
And fix'd on spiritual object, he should still[544]
Dwell in his musings: but I am afraid
His thinkings are below the moon, not worth[545]
His serious considering.
[_King takes his seat; whispers Lovell, who
goes to the Cardinal._
_Wol._ Heaven forgive me! 135
Ever God bless your highness!
_King._ Good my lord,
You are full of heavenly stuff, and bear the inventory
Of your best graces in your mind; the which[546]
You were now running o'er: you have scarce time
To steal from spiritual leisure a brief span[547] 140
To keep your earthly audit: sure, in that
I deem you an ill husband, and am glad[548]
To have you therein my companion.
_Wol._ Sir,
For holy offices I have a time; a time[549]
To think upon the part of business which[550] 145
I bear i' the state; and nature does require
Her times of preservation, which perforce
I, her frail son, amongst my brethren mortal,
Must give my tendance to.
_King._ You have said well.
_Wol._ And ever may your highness yoke together, 150
As I will lend you cause, my doing well
With my well saying!
_King._ 'Tis well said again;
And 'tis a kind of good deed to say well:
And yet words are no deeds. My father loved you:
He said he did, and with his deed did crown[551] 155
His word upon you. Since I had my office,[552]
I have kept you next my heart; have not alone
Employ'd you where high profits might come home,
But pared my present havings, to bestow
My bounties upon you.
_Wol._ [_Aside_] What should this mean?[553] 160
_Sur._ [_Aside_] The Lord increase this business![553]
_King._ Have I not made you
The prime man of the state? I pray you, tell me,
If what I now pronounce you have found true:
And, if you may confess it, say withal,
If you are bound to us or no. What say you? 165
_Wol._ My sovereign, I confess your royal graces,
Shower'd on me daily, have been more than could
My studied purposes requite; which went[554]
Beyond all man's endeavours: my endeavours[555]
Have ever come too short of my desires, 170
Yet filed with my abilities: mine own ends[556]
Have been mine so that evermore they pointed[557]
To the good of your most sacred person and
The profit of the state. For your great graces
Heap'd upon me, poor undeserver, I 175
Can nothing render but allegiant thanks,
My prayers to heaven for you, my loyalty,
Which ever has and ever shall be growing[558]
Till death, that winter, kill it.
_King._ Fairly answer'd;
A loyal and obedient subject is 180
Therein illustrated: the honour of it
Does pay the act of it; as, i' the contrary,[559]
The foulness is the punishment. I presume
That, as my hand has open'd bounty to you,
My heart dropp'd love, my power rain'd honour, more 185
On you than any; so your hand and heart,
Your brain and every function of your power,
Should, notwithstanding that your bond of duty,
As 'twere in love's particular, be more
To me, your friend, than any.
_Wol._ I do profess[560] 190
That for your highness' good I ever labour'd
More than mine own; that am, have, and will be--[561]
Though all the world should crack their duty to you,[562]
And throw it from their soul; though perils did
Abound, as thick as thought could make 'em, and[563] 195
Appear in forms more horrid--yet my duty,
As doth a rock against the chiding flood,
Should the approach of this wild river break,
And stand unshaken yours.
_King._ 'Tis nobly spoken.
Take notice, lords, he has a loyal breast, 200
For you have seen him open't. [_Giving him papers._] Read
o'er this;[564]
And after, this: and then to breakfast with
What appetite you have.[565]
[_Exit King, frowning upon the Cardinal: the nobles
throng after him, smiling and whispering._
_Wol._ What should this mean?
What sudden anger's this? how have I reap'd it?[566]
He parted frowning from me, as if ruin 205
Leap'd from his eyes. So looks the chafed lion
Upon the daring huntsman that has gall'd him;
Then makes him nothing. I must read this paper;
I fear, the story of his anger. 'Tis so;[567]
This paper has undone me: 'tis the account 210
Of all that world of wealth I have drawn together[568]
For mine own ends; indeed, to gain the popedom,
And fee my friends in Rome. O negligence![569]
Fit for a fool to fall by: what cross devil[569]
Made me put this main secret in the packet 215
I sent the king? Is there no way to cure this?
No new device to beat this from his brains?
I know 'twill stir him strongly; yet I know
A way, if it take right, in spite of fortune
Will bring me off again. What's this? 'To the Pope!' 220
The letter, as I live, with all the business
I writ to's holiness. Nay then, farewell![570]
I have touch'd the highest point of all my greatness;[570]
And, from that full meridian of my glory,
I haste now to my setting: I shall fall 225
Like a bright exhalation in the evening.
And no man see me more.[571]
_Re-enter to_ WOLSEY _the_ DUKES OF NORFOLK _and_ SUFFOLK, _the_
EARL OF SURREY, _and the_ LORD CHAMBERLAIN.
_Nor._ Hear the king's pleasure, cardinal: who commands you[572]
To render up the great seal presently
Into our hands; and to confine yourself 230
To Asher-house, my Lord of Winchester's,[573]
Till you hear further from his highness.
_Wol._ Stay:
Where's your commission, lords? words cannot carry[574]
Authority so weighty.[575]
_Suf._ Who dare cross 'em,
Bearing the king's will from his mouth expressly? 235
_Wol._ Till I find more than will or words to do it--[576]
I mean your malice--know, officious lords,
I dare, and must deny it. Now I feel
Of what coarse metal ye are moulded--envy:[577]
How eagerly ye follow my disgraces,[578] 240
As if it fed ye! and how sleek and wanton[579]
Ye appear in every thing may bring my ruin![580]
Follow your envious courses, men of malice;[580]
You have Christian warrant for 'em, and, no doubt,[581]
In time will find their fit rewards. That seal 245
You ask with such a violence, the king,[582]
Mine and your master, with his own hand gave me;
Bade me enjoy it, with the place and honours,
During my life; and, to confirm his goodness,
Tied it by letters-patents: now, who'll take it?[583] 250
_Sur._ The king, that gave it.
_Wol._ It must be himself, then.
_Sur._ Thou art a proud traitor, priest.[584]
_Wol._ Proud lord, thou liest:
Within these forty hours Surrey durst better[585]
Have burnt that tongue than said so.
_Sur._ Thy ambition,
Thou scarlet sin, robb'd this bewailing land 255
Of noble Buckingham, my father-in-law:
The heads of all thy brother cardinals,
With thee and all thy best parts bound together,
Weigh'd not a hair of his. Plague of your policy!
You sent me deputy for Ireland; 260
Far from his succour, from the king, from all
That might have mercy on the fault thou gavest him;
Whilst your great goodness, out of holy pity,
Absolved him with an axe.
_Wol._ This, and all else
This talking lord can lay upon my credit, 265
I answer, is most false. The duke by law
Found his deserts. How innocent I was
From any private malice in his end,
His noble jury and foul cause can witness.
If I loved many words, lord, I should tell you 270
You have as little honesty as honour,[586]
That in the way of loyalty and truth[587]
Toward the king, my ever royal master,
Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be,[588]
And all that love his follies.
_Sur._ By my soul, 275
Your long coat, priest, protects you; thou shouldst feel[589]
My sword i' the life-blood of thee else. My lords,
Can ye endure to hear this arrogance?
And from this fellow? If we live thus tamely,
To be thus jaded by a piece of scarlet,[590] 280
Farewell nobility; let his grace go forward,
And dare us with his cap like larks.[591]
_Wol._ All goodness
Is poison to thy stomach.
_Sur._ Yes, that goodness
Of gleaning all the land's wealth into one,
Into your own hands, cardinal, by extortion; 285
The goodness of your intercepted packets
You writ to the pope against the king: your goodness,
Since you provoke me, shall be most notorious.
My Lord of Norfolk, as you are truly noble,[592]
As you respect the common good, the state 290
Of our despised nobility, our issues,
Who, if he live, will scarce be gentlemen,[593]
Produce the grand sum of his sins, the articles
Collected from his life. I'll startle you
Worse than the sacring bell, when the brown wench[594] 295
Lay kissing in your arms, lord cardinal.
_Wol._ How much, methinks, I could despise this man.
But that I am bound in charity against it![595]
_Nor._ Those articles, my lord, are in the king's hand:
But, thus much, they are foul ones.
_Wol._ So much fairer 300
And spotless shall mine innocence arise,
When the king knows my truth.
_Sur._ This cannot save you:[596]
I thank my memory, I yet remember
Some of these articles, and out they shall.
Now, if you can blush and cry 'guilty,' cardinal,[597] 305
You'll show a little honesty.
_Wol._ Speak on, sir;
I dare your worst objections: if I blush,
It is to see a nobleman want manners.
_Sur._ I had rather want those than my head. Have at you![598]
First that, without the king's assent or knowledge, 310
You wrought to be a legate; by which power
You maim'd the jurisdiction of all bishops.
_Nor._ Then that in all you writ to Rome, or else
To foreign princes, 'Ego et Rex meus'
Was still inscribed; in which you brought the king 315
To be your servant.
_Suf._ Then that, without the knowledge[599]
Either of king or council, when you went
Ambassador to the emperor, you made bold
To carry into Flanders the great seal.
_Sur._ Item, you sent a large commission 320
To Gregory de Cassado, to conclude,[600]
Without the king's will or the state's allowance,
A league between his highness and Ferrara.[601]
_Suf._ That, out of mere ambition, you have caused
Your holy hat to be stamp'd on the king's coin.[602] 325
_Sur._ Then that you have sent innumerable substance--[599][603]
By what means got, I leave to your own conscience--
To furnish Rome and to prepare the ways
You have for dignities, to the mere undoing[604]
Of all the kingdom. Many more there are; 330
Which, since they are of you and odious,
I will not taint my mouth with.
_Cham._ O my lord!
Press not a falling man too far; 'tis virtue:
His faults lie open to the laws; let them,
Not you, correct him. My heart weeps to see him 335
So little of his great self.
_Sur._ I forgive him.
_Suf._ Lord cardinal, the king's further pleasure is--
Because all those things you have done of late,
By your power legatine, within this kingdom,[605]
Fall into the compass of a præmunire--[606] 340
That therefore such a writ be sued against you;
To forfeit all your goods, lands, tenements,
Chattels, and whatsoever, and to be[607]
Out of the king's protection. This is my charge.[608]
_Nor._ And so we'll leave you to your meditations 345
How to live better. For your stubborn answer
About the giving back the great seal to us,
The king shall know it, and, no doubt, shall thank you.
So fare you well, my little good lord cardinal.
[_Exeunt all but Wolsey._
_Wol._ So farewell to the little good you bear me.[609] 350
Farewell! a long farewell, to all my greatness![610]
This is the state of man: to-day he puts forth
The tender leaves of hopes; to-morrow blossoms,[611]
And bears his blushing honours thick upon him;
The third day comes a frost, a killing frost, 355
And, when he thinks, good easy man, full surely
His greatness is a-ripening, nips his root,[612]
And then he falls, as I do. I have ventured,
Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders,
This many summers in a sea of glory,[613] 360
But far beyond my depth: my high-blown pride[614]
At length broke under me and now has left me,
Weary and old with service, to the mercy
Of a rude stream that must for ever hide me.
Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye:[615] 365
I feel my heart new open'd. O, how wretched
Is that poor man that hangs on princes' favours!
There is, betwixt that smile we would aspire to,[616]
That sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin,[617]
More pangs and fears than wars or women have: 370
And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,
Never to hope again.
_Enter_ CROMWELL, _and stands amazed_.[618]
Why, how now, Cromwell!
_Crom._ I have no power to speak, sir.
_Wol._ What, amazed
At my misfortunes? can thy spirit wonder[619]
A great man should decline? Nay, an you weep,[620] 375
I am fall'n indeed.
_Crom._ How does your grace?
_Wol._ Why, well;
Never so truly happy, my good Cromwell.
I know myself now; and I feel within me
A peace above all earthly dignities,
A still and quiet conscience. The king has cured me, 380
I humbly thank his grace; and from these shoulders,
These ruin'd pillars, out of pity, taken[621]
A load would sink a navy, too much honour.
O, 'tis a burden, Cromwell, 'tis a burden
Too heavy for a man that hopes for heaven! 385
_Crom._ I am glad your grace has made that right use of it.[595][622]
_Wol._ I hope I have: I am able now, methinks,[622]
Out of a fortitude of soul I feel,
To endure more miseries and greater far
Than my weak-hearted enemies dare offer. 390
What news abroad?
_Crom._ The heaviest and the worst
Is your displeasure with the king.
_Wol._ God bless him!
_Crom._ The next is, that Sir Thomas More is chosen[623]
Lord chancellor in your place.
_Wol._ That's somewhat sudden:
But he's a learned man. May he continue 395
Long in his highness' favour, and do justice
For truth's sake and his conscience; that his bones,[624]
When he has run his course and sleeps in blessings,
May have a tomb of orphans' tears wept on 'em![625]
What more?
_Crom._ That Cranmer is return'd with welcome, 400
Install'd lord archbishop of Canterbury.
_Wol._ That's news indeed.
_Crom._ Last, that the Lady Anne,
Whom the king hath in secrecy long married,
This day was view'd in open as his queen,
Going to chapel; and the voice is now 405
Only about her coronation.
_Wol._ There was the weight that pull'd me down. O Cromwell,[626]
The king has gone beyond me: all my glories
In that one woman I have lost for ever:
No sun shall ever usher forth mine honours, 410
Or gild again the noble troops that waited
Upon my smiles. Go, get thee from me, Cromwell;
I am a poor fall'n man, unworthy now[627]
To be thy lord and master: seek the king;
That sun, I pray, may never set! I have told him[628] 415
What and how true thou art: he will advance thee;
Some little memory of me will stir him--
I know his noble nature--not to let
Thy hopeful service perish too: good Cromwell,
Neglect him not; make use now, and provide 420
For thine own future safety.
_Crom._ O my lord,
Must I then leave you? must I needs forego
So good, so noble and so true a master?
Bear witness, all that have not hearts of iron,
With what a sorrow Cromwell leaves his lord. 425
The king shall have my service, but my prayers
For ever and for ever shall be yours.
_Wol._ Cromwell, I did not think to shed a tear
In all my miseries; but thou hast forced me,
Out of thy honest truth, to play the woman. 430
Let's dry our eyes: and thus far hear me, Cromwell;
And, when I am forgotten, as I shall be,
And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention
Of me more must be heard of, say, I taught thee,[629]
Say, Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory,[630] 435
And sounded all the depths and shoals of honour,
Found thee a way, out of his wreck, to rise in;
A sure and safe one, though thy master miss'd it.
Mark but my fall and that that ruin'd me.[631]
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition: 440
By that sin fell the angels; how can man then,
The image of his Maker, hope to win by it?[632]
Love thyself last: cherish those hearts that hate thee;[633]
Corruption wins not more than honesty.[634]
Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace, 445
To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not:
Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy country's,
Thy God's, and truth's; then if thou fall'st, O Cromwell,
Thou fall'st a blessed martyr! Serve the king;[635][636]
And prithee, lead me in:[635][636][637] 450
There take an inventory of all I have,[635][638]
To the last penny; 'tis the king's: my robe,[635][638]
And my integrity to heaven, is all[635]
I dare now call mine own. O Cromwell, Cromwell!
Had I but served my God with half the zeal 455
I served my king, he would not in mine age
Have left me naked to mine enemies.
_Crom._ Good sir, have patience.
_Wol._ So I have. Farewell
The hopes of court! my hopes in heaven do dwell.
[_Exeunt._
FOOTNOTES:
[441] ACT III. SCENE I.] ACT II. SCENE VIII. Warburton conj.
(withdrawn).
The Queen's apartments.] Theobald. Palace at Bridewell: a room in ...
Steevens (1793).
The Queen ...] Enter Queene ... F₁ F₂. Enter Queen ... Woman ... F₃ F₄.
[442] _Take ... troubles_] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.
[443] _'em_] _them_ Capell.
[444] _sprung_] F₁. _spring_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _rose_ Pope.
[445] _made_] _been_ Reed (1803).
[446] _heart_] Hanmer. _heart,_ Ff.
[447] _An't_] Hanmer. _And't_ Ff.
[448] [Exit Gent.] Capell. Exit Messenger. Johnson, after line 20. om.
Ff.
[449] _coming. Now ... on't,_] Rowe (ed. 2). _coming; now ... on't,_
Ff. _coming, now ... on't._ Capell.
[450] _as_] F₁. _are_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[451] Campeius.] Rowe. Campian. Ff.
[452] _I ... all, against_] _(I ... all) against_ Ff. _I ... all
against_ Johnson.
[453] _reverend_] _reverent_ F₁.
[454] _If ... Seek_] _If 'tis your business To seek_ Blackstone conj.
[455] _Seek ... in_] _Seek me, speak out, and ... in_ Tyrwhitt conj.
_In that way I am wise in, seek me out;_ Mitford conj.
_Seek_] _Do seek_ Pope. _Doth seek_ Ritson conj.
_that way_] _in that way_ Keightley. _that way that_ Anon. conj.
_wife_] Ff. _wise_ Rowe.
[456] _O, good_] F₁. _Good_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[457] _strange, suspicious_] Dyce, ed. 2 (_strange-suspicions_ S.
Walker conj.)
[458] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.
_should_] _shoul_ F₁.
[459] _And ... you, So ... meant_] _So ... meant, And ... you_ Singer
(Edwards conj.)
[460] _your_] _our_ F₁.
_honour'd_] F₁ F₂. _honoured_ F₃ F₄.
[461] _counsel._] _counsel.--_ Pope.
_To betray me_] Marked as 'Aside' first by Capell.
[462] _counsel_] Capell. _councell_ F₁ F₂. _council_ F₃ F₄.
[463] _Madam ... fears_] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.
_these_] _those_ Rowe.
[464] _England_] Johnson. _England,_ Ff. _England!_ Capell.
[465] _profit: can_] F₂ F₃ F₄. _profit can_ F₁.
[466] _his_] om. F₂.
[467] _Nay_] _They_ Warburton.
[468] _must ... out_] _should ... up_ Mason conj.
[469] _other comforts_] _other comforts are_ Rowe (ed. 2). _comforts
are_ Pope.
_far_] _far, far_ Anon. conj.
[470] _Both ... better_] _Better both for your honour_ Keightley.
[471] _rage_] _grace_ Anon. conj.
[472] _ye_] _you_ Seymour conj.
[473] _fear_] _find_ Anon. conj.
_ye_] _ye're_ Keightley. _me_ Anon. conj.
[474] _'em_] _them_ Malone.
[475] _for ... heed_] _take heed for heav'n's sake_ Pope.
[476] Wol.] Car. Ff (and passim).
[477] _ye_] _you_ Capell.
[478] _has_] _ha's_ Ff. _h'as_ Rowe. _he has_ Capell. _he's_ Grant
White.
[479] _love, too long_] _love too, long_ Rowe.
_I am_] _I'm_ Pope.
[480] _my_] F₁. _by_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[481] _this._] F₁. _this:_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _this!_ Theobald. _this?_ Hanmer.
_worse._] Ff. _worse.--_ Rowe.
[482] _Madam ... at_] One line in Rowe (ed. 2). Two, the first ending
_good,_ in Ff.
[483] _My ... guilty_] One line in Rowe (ed. 2). Two in Ff.
[484] Wol.] Car. F₁. Card. F₂ F₃ F₄.
_me._] Ff. _me--_ Rowe.
[485] _Ye have_] _Ye've_ Pope.
[486] _will_] F₁. _shall_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[487] [To her women. Rowe.
[488] _You'ld_] F₂ F₃. _Youl'd_ F₁. _You'l_ F₄.
[489] _cure_] _ear_ Theobald.
_'em_] _them_ Malone.
[490] _ay_] Rowe. _I_ Ff. _nay_ Pope.
[491] _grow_] F₃ F₄. _grow,_ F₁ F₂.
[492] _gentle, noble_] _gentle-noble_ S. Walker conj.
[493] _Madam ... virtues_] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.
[494] _king loves you_] _King's love's yours_ Anon. conj.
[495] _it_] _'t_ Hanmer. _him_ Seymour conj.
_you please_] _please you_ Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.)
[496] _Do ... me_] One line in Rowe (ed. 2). Two in Ff.
_ye_] F₁ F₂. _you_ F₃ F₄.
[497] _me, ... unmannerly:_] F₄. _me; ... unmannerly,_ F₁ F₂ F₃.
[498] SCENE II.] ACT III. SCENE I. Warburton conj. (withdrawn).
Ante-chamber....] Theobald.
Enter ... the Earl of Surrey....] Capell. Enter ... Lord Surrey.... Ff.
[499] _moe_] Ff. _more_ Rowe.
[500] _or at_] _not at_ Hanmer.
_least_] _least not_ Keightley.
[501] _Strangely_] _Stood not_ Warburton.
[502] _person Out ... himself?_] _person, Out of't himself?_ Hanmer
(Warburton).
[503] _Gives_] _Give_ Hanmer.
[504] _displeasure_] Ff. _high displeasure_ Rowe. _most high
displeasure_ Pope.
_Sir_] _om._ Pope.
[505] _would_] _could_ Reed (1803).
_mine_] _my_ Hanmer.
[506] _O, how, how?_] _How?_ Pope.
[507] _letters_] _letter_ Steevens.
[508] _came_] F₁. _come_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[509] _Will this work?_] _This will work._ Capell conj.
[510] _hedges_] _edges_ Warburton.
[511] _May you_] _You may_ Collier conj.
[512] _all my joy_] Ff. _all joy_ Pope. _may all joy_ Collier (Collier
MS.)
[513] _yet_] om. Rowe.
[514] _Digest_] _Disgest_ F₂.
[515] _The Lord forbid!_] Cham. _The Lord forbid!_ S. Walker conj.
[516] _moe_] Ff. _more_ Pope.
[517] _Is stol'n away_] _stoln_ Hanmer, ending line 56 at _Cardinal_.
_hath_] _has_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[518] _Has_] _Ha's_ Ff. _Hath_ Rowe (ed. 2).
_o' the_] _o' th'_ F₁. _to'th'_ F₂. _to th'_ F₃ F₄.
[519] _in his_] _with his_ Rowe.
[520] _Together with all_] _Gather'd from all the_ Rowe.
[521] _And_] F₁ F₂. _A_ F₃ F₄. _As_ Hanmer.
[522] _pain_] F₃ F₄. _paine_ F₁ F₂. _pains_ Anon. conj.
[523] [They stand back. Collier (Collier MS.)
Enter....] Ff, after _so,_ line 74.
[524] _The ... king_] As in Ff. As one line by Steevens.
[525] _Gave't_] _Gave it_ Theobald. _gave it_ Keightley, reading as one
line _The packet ... king?_
_To_] _Into_ Keightley.
_in's_] _in his_ Capell. _sir, in his_ Steevens conj.
[526] _paper_] _papers_ Keightley (Grey conj.)
[527] _You_] _And you_ Hanmer. _You, my lord,_ Capell. _You, sir,_
Steevens conj.
_bade_] _bade then_ Keightley.
[528] _Attend ... he is_] Arranged as by Hanmer. As three lines in Ff.
[529] [Aside] Rowe.
[530] _in't than fair_] _in it than a fair_ Hanmer.
_Bullen!_] _Bullen! Bullen!_ S. Walker conj.
[531] _The ... daughter_] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.
_knight's_] _Kight's_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[532] _cause, that ... king._] _cause!--that ... king!_--Rowe.
[533] _He is_] _He's_ F₄.
[534] SCENE III. Pope.
[535] _on's_] _of's_ Pope. _of his_ Steevens. Enter ... schedule] Ff,
after line 104.
and Lovell.] Theobald. om. Ff.
[536] _and_] om. Pope.
[537] _lip_] _lips_ (ed. 2).
[538] _Strikes_] _And strikes_ Keightley.
_hard, and anon_] _hard and oft; anon_ Lettson conj.
_anon_] _then anon_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[539] Mason would end lines 117, 118 at _eye ... we._
[540] _We have_] _We've_ Pope.
[541] _be; There_] _be, There_ Ff. _be There_ S. Walker conj.
[542] _such_] _such a_ F₄.
_such ... that it_] _such a ... it_ Pope.
[543] _contemplation_] F₁. _contemplations_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
[544] _object_] _objects_ F₄.
[545] _not_] F₁ F₂. _nor_ F₃ F₄.
[546] _graces_] F₁ F₂. _grace_ F₃ F₄.
[547] _leisure_] _labour_ Collier MS.
[548] _glad_] _gald_ F₁.
[549] _time; a time_] _time; time_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[550] _which_] om. Pope, reading A _time ... business_ as one line.
[551] _his deed_ F₁ F₂. _this deed_ F₃ F₄.
[552] _word_] F₁ F₂. _sword_ F₃ F₄.
[553] [Aside] Rowe.
[554] _requite_] F₁. _require_ F₂ F₃ F₄.
_which_] _they_ Hanmer.
[555] _man's endeavours_] _man's ambition_ Hanmer. _men's, in devoirs_
Becket conj.
[556] _filed_] _fil'd_ Hanmer. _fill'd_ Ff.
[557] _been mine so_] F₁. _been so_ F₂ F₃ F₄, and Pope, who reads _Ends
have been so ... pointed_ as one line. _been such_ Hanmer.
[558] _ever has_] _still has been_ Seymour conj.
[559] _as, i' the_] _as i' th'_ Ff. _i' th'_ Pope. _o' th'_ Hanmer.
[560] _I do profess_] _I profess_ Pope.
[561] _that ... be--_] See note (VIII).
[562] _crack_] _lack_ Singer conj.
[563] _'em_] _them_ Malone.
[564] [Giving him papers.] Pope. om. Ff.
[565] _have_] _may_ Rowe. See note (IX).
SCENE IV. Pope.
[566] _reap'd_] _rous'd_ Keightley. _rais'd_ or _rip'd_ Id. conj.
[567] [Opens the paper and reads, trembling. Collier (Collier MS.)
[568] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.
[569] _negligence!... by:_] Ff. _negligence, ... by!_ Theobald.
[570] _to's_] _to his_ Capell.
[571] Re-enter....] Capell. Enter.... Ff.
[572] SCENE V. Pope.
_Hear ... you_] As in Pope. Two lines in Ff.
[573] _Asher_] _Esher_ Capell.
[574] _commission, lords?_] Rowe. _commission? Lords,_ Ff.
[575] _weighty_] F₁ F₂. _mighty_ F₃ F₄.
[576] _Till ... it--_] _Whilst I find more than his will, or words to
it,_ Hanmer.
[577] _coarse_] _course_ Ff. _base_ Capell.
[578] _disgraces_] _disgrace_ F₄.
[579] _ye_] _you_ Seymour conj.
[580] _ye!... ruin!_] _ye?... ruin?_ Capell. _ye, ... ruine?_ Ff.
_ye, ... ruin;_ Rowe (ed. 2).
[581] _Christian_] F₁ F₂. _a Christian_ F₃ F₄ and Pope, who omits _no
doubt_.
[582] _a violence_] _violence_ Warburton.
[583] _letters-patents_] _Letters Patents_ Ff. _letters patent_ Knight
and Collier.
[584] _Thou art_] _Thou'rt_ Pope.
[585] _forty_] _four_ Malone conj.
[586] After this line S. Walker would insert _To rail in such
irreverent wise on me_.
[587] _in the_] _I i' th'_ Theobald.
[588] _Dare_] _I dare_ Staunton conj.
[589] _Your ... feel_] One line in Pope. Two lines, the first ending
_you,_ in Ff.
[590] _jaded_] _japed_ Becket conj.
[591] _dare_] _daze_ Anon. conj.
[592] _you are_] _you're_ Pope.
[593] _Who_] F₂ F₃ F₄. _Whom_ F₁.
[594] _sacring_] _Sacring_ Ff. _scaring_ Rowe (ed. 2) and Pope.
[595] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.
[596] _my truth_] _the truth_ Anon. conj.
_save_] _serve_ Collier conj.
[597] _can blush_] _can blush_, Ff. _can, blush,_ Pope.
[598] _I had_] _I'd_ Pope.
_Have at you!_] As in Rowe (ed. 2). As a separate line in Ff.
[599] _Then that_] _That_ Pope.
[600] _Cassado_] Ff, from Hall and Holinshed. _Cassalis_ Rowe.
[601] _his_] _hie_ F₂.
[602] _holy hat_] _holy-Hat_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _Holy-Hat_ F₄.
_to be_] _be_ Pope.
[603] _substance_] _sums_ Hanmer.
[604] _have_] _pave_ Staunton conj.
[605] _legatine_] Rowe (ed. 2). _Legatiue_ F₁. _Legantive_ F₂ F₃.
_Legantine_ F₄.
[606] _into the_] F₄. _into' th'_ F₁ F₂. _into th'_ F₃. _in the_ Pope.
_into_ Steevens conj.
[607] _Chattels_] Theobald. _Castles_ Ff.
[608] _This is_] _This'_ S. Walker conj.
[609] SCENE VI. Pope.
[610] _Farewell! a ... greatness!_] _Farewell? A ... greatnesse._ Ff.
[611] _hopes_] _hope_ Steevens.
[612] _root_] _shoot_ Warburton conj.
[613] _This_] _These_ Pope.
[614] _But_] _Out_ Anon. conj.
[615] _this_] F₁ F₂. _the_ F₃ F₄.
_ye_] _you_ Seymour conj.
[616] _we_] _he_ Hanmer.
[617] _their_] _our_ Pope. _his_ Hanmer.
_ruin_] _frown_ Anon. conj.
[618] and stands] Edd. standing Ff.
[619] _thy_] F₁ F₄. _the_ F₂ F₃.
[620] _an_] Capell. _and_ Ff. _if_ Pope.
[621] _These ... pillars_] Rowe (ed. 2). _These ... Pillers_ F₁.
_These ... Pillet_ F₂. _This ... Pillet_ F₃ F₄. _This ... pillar_ Rowe
(ed. 1).
[622] Two lines in Pope. Four, ending _Grace ... it ... have ... me
thinkes,_ in Ff.
[623] _More_] Hanmer. _Moore_ F₁ F₂. _Moor_ F₃ F₄.
[624] _conscience_] _conscience'_ S. Walker conj.
[625] _tomb_] _coomb_ Becket conj.
_orphans'_] Warburton. _Orphants_ F₁ F₂. _Orphan's_ F₃. _Orphans_ F₄.
_'em_] Capell. _him_ Ff.
[626] _There ... Cromwell_] One line in Pope. Two, the first ending
_downe.,_ in Ff.
[627] _fall'n_] _falne_ F₁ F₂. _fal'n_ F₃. _fallen_ F₄.
[628] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.
[629] _more must_] _must more_ Pope.
_heard of, say_] _heard: say_ Rowe. _heard: say then_ Pope.
[630] _trod the ways_] _rode the waves_ Warburton conj. _trod the
waves_ Capell conj.
[631] _that that_] _that which_ Pope.
[632] _The image_] _Tho' th' image_ Hanmer.
_win by it_] _win it_ F₄. _win in't_ Warburton conj. (withdrawn).
[633] _those hearts_] _ev'n th' hearts_ Hanmer.
_hate_] _wait_ Warburton conj.
[634] _wins_] F₁ F₂. _win_ F₃ F₄.
[635] _Thou fall'st ... all_] Four lines ending _and ... inventory ...
king's: ... all_ in Keightley.
[636] _Serve ... in:_] As in Rowe (ed. 2). As one line in Ff.
[637] _And prithee_] _And--Prithee_ Johnson.
[638] _have, ... penny;_] Capell. _have, ... peny,_ Ff. _have; ...
penny,_ Theobald.
_A ... Westminster._] Theobald.
ACT IV.
SCENE I. _A street in Westminster._
_Enter two_ Gentlemen, _meeting one another_.
_First Gent._ You're well met once again.
_Sec. Gent._ So are you.[639]
_First Gent._ You come to take your stand here and behold
The Lady Anne pass from her coronation?[640]
_Sec. Gent._ 'Tis all my business. At our last encounter,
The Duke of Buckingham came from his trial. 5
_First Gent._ 'Tis very true: but that time offer'd sorrow;
This, general joy.
_Sec. Gent._ 'Tis well: the citizens,
I am sure, have shown at full their royal minds--[641][642]
As, let'em have their rights, they are ever forward--[642][643]
In celebration of this day with shows,[644] 10
Pageants and sights of honour.
_First Gent._ Never greater,
Nor, I'll assure you, better taken, sir.
_Sec. Gent._ May I be bold to ask what that contains,[645]
That paper in your hand?[646]
_First Gent._ Yes; 'tis the list
Of those that claim their offices this day 15
By custom of the coronation.
The Duke of Suffolk is the first, and claims
To be high-steward; next, the Duke of Norfolk,
He to be earl marshal: you may read the rest.[647]
_Sec. Gent._ I thank you, sir: had I not known those customs,[648] 20
I should have been beholding to your paper.[649]
But, I beseech you, what's become of Katharine,
The princess dowager? how goes her business?
_First Gent._ That I can tell you too. The Archbishop[650]
Of Canterbury, accompanied with other 25
Learned and reverend fathers of his order,
Held a late court at Dunstable, six miles off[651]
From Ampthill, where the princess lay; to which
She was often cited by them, but appear'd not:[652]
And, to be short, for not appearance and[653] 30
The king's late scruple, by the main assent
Of all these learned men she was divorced,
And the late marriage made of none effect:
Since which she was removed to Kimbolton,[654]
Where she remains now sick.
_Sec. Gent._ Alas, good lady! 35
[_Trumpets._[655]
The trumpets sound: stand close, the queen is coming.
[_Hautboys._
THE ORDER OF THE CORONATION.
1. _A lively Flourish of Trumpets._
2. _Then two_ Judges.
3. LORD CHANCELLOR, _with purse and mace before him_.
4. Choristers, _singing_. _Musicians._
5. Mayor of London, _bearing the mace_. _Then_ Garter, _in his
coat of arms, and on his head he wears a gilt copper crown_.
6. MARQUESS DORSET, _bearing a sceptre of gold, on his head
a demi-coronal of gold. With him, the_ EARL OF
SURREY, _bearing the rod of silver with the dove,
crowned with an earl's coronet. Collars of SS._
7. DUKE OF SUFFOLK, _in his robe of estate, his coronet on his
head, bearing a long white wand, as high-steward. With
him, the_ DUKE OF NORFOLK, _with the rod of marshalship, a
coronet on his head. Collars of SS._
8. _A canopy borne by four of the Cinque-ports; under it, the_
QUEEN _in her robe; in her hair richly adorned with pearl,
crowned. On each side her, the_ BISHOPS OF LONDON _and_
WINCHESTER.
9. _The old_ DUCHESS OF NORFOLK, _in a coronal of gold,
wrought with flowers, bearing the_ QUEEN'S _train_.
10. _Certain_ Ladies _or_ Countesses, _with plain circlets of
gold without flowers_.
_They pass over the stage in order and state._[656]
_Sec. Gent._ A royal train, believe me. These I know:
Who's that that bears the sceptre?[657]
_First Gent._ Marquess Dorset:
And that the Earl of Surrey, with the rod.
_Sec. Gent._ A bold brave gentleman. That should be[658] 40
The Duke of Suffolk?
_First Gent._ 'Tis the same: high-steward.
_Sec. Gent._ And that my Lord of Norfolk?
_First Gent._ Yes.
_Sec. Gent._ [_Looking on the Queen_] Heaven bless thee![659]
Thou hast the sweetest face I ever look'd on.
Sir, as I have a soul, she is an angel;
Our king has all the Indies in his arms, 45
And more and richer, when he strains that lady:[660]
I cannot blame his conscience.
_First Gent._ They that bear
The cloth of honour over her, are four barons[661]
Of the Cinque-ports.
_Sec. Gent._ Those men are happy; and so are all are near her.[662] 50
I take it, she that carries up the train
Is that old noble lady, Duchess of Norfolk.[663]
_First Gent._ It is; and all the rest are countesses.
_Sec. Gent._ Their coronets say so. These are stars indeed,
And sometimes falling ones.
_First Gent._ No more of that. 55
[_Exit procession; and then a great flourish of trumpets._[664]
_Enter a third_ Gentleman.
_First Gent._ God save you, sir! where have you been broiling?[665]
_Third Gent._ Among the crowd i' the abbey; where a finger
Could not be wedged in more: I am stifled[666]
With the mere rankness of their joy.
_Sec. Gent._ You saw[667]
The ceremony?[667]
_Third Gent._ That I did.[668]
_First Gent._ How was it? 60
_Third Gent._ Well worth the seeing.
_See. Gent._ Good sir, speak it to us.
_Third Gent._ As well as I am able. The rich stream
Of lords and ladies, having brought the queen
To a prepared place in the choir, fell off
A distance from her; while her grace sat down 65
To rest awhile, some half an hour or so,
In a rich chair of state, opposing freely[669]
The beauty of her person to the people.
Believe me, sir, she is the goodliest woman
That ever lay by man: which when the people 70
Had the full view of, such a noise arose
As the shrouds make at sea in a stiff tempest,
As loud and to as many tunes: hats, cloaks,--
Doublets, I think,--flew up; and had their faces
Been loose, this day they had been lost. Such joy 75
I never saw before. Great-bellied women,
That had not half a week to go, like rams
In the old time of war, would shake the press,
And make 'em reel before 'em. No man living
Could say 'This is my wife' there, all were woven[670] 80
So strangely in one piece.
_Sec. Gent._ But what follow'd?[671]
_Third Gent._ At length her grace rose, and with modest paces
Came to the altar, where she kneel'd and saintlike
Cast her fair eyes to heaven and pray'd devoutly;
Then rose again and bow'd her to the people; 85
When by the Archbishop of Canterbury
She had all the royal makings of a queen,[672]
As holy oil, Edward Confessor's crown,
The rod, and bird of peace, and all such emblems
Laid nobly on her: which perform'd, the choir, 90
With all the choicest music of the kingdom,
Together sung 'Te Deum.' So she parted,
And with the same full state paced back again
To York-place, where the feast is held.
_First Gent._ Sir,[673]
You must no more call it York-place; that's past;[673] 95
For, since the cardinal fell, that title's lost:
'Tis now the king's, and call'd Whitehall.
_Third Gent._ I know it;
But 'tis so lately alter'd that the old name[674]
Is fresh about me.
_Sec. Gent._ What two reverend bishops
Were those that went on each side of the queen? 100
_Third Gent._ Stokesly and Gardiner; the one of Winchester,[675]
Newly preferr'd from the king's secretary,
The other, London.
_Sec. Gent._ He of Winchester
Is held no great good lover of the archbishop's,[676]
The virtuous Cranmer.
_Third Gent._ All the land knows that: 105
However, yet there is no great breach; when it comes,[677]
Cranmer will find a friend will not shrink from him.
_Sec. Gent._ Who may that be, I pray you?
_Third Gent._ Thomas Cromwell;[678]
A man in much esteem with the king, and truly[678]
A worthy friend. The king has made him master[678][679][680] 110
O' the jewel house,[678][679][681]
And one, already, of the privy council.[679][681]
_Sec. Gent._ He will deserve more.[681]
_Third Gent._ Yes, without all doubt.[681]
Come, gentlemen, ye shall go my way,[682][683]
Which is to the court, and there ye shall be my guests:[682][684] 115
Something I can command. As I walk thither,
I'll tell ye more.
_Both._ You may command us, sir. [_Exeunt._
SCENE II. _Kimbolton._
_Enter_ KATHARINE, _Dowager, sick; led between_ GRIFFITH, _her
Gentleman Usher, and_ PATIENCE, _her woman_.
_Grif._ How does your grace?
_Kath._ O Griffith, sick to death!
My legs, like loaden branches, bow to the earth,[685]
Willing to leave their burthen. Reach a chair.
So; now, methinks, I feel a little ease.[686]
Didst thou not tell me, Griffith, as thou led'st me,[687] 5
That the great child of honour, Cardinal Wolsey,
Was dead?[688]
_Grif._ Yes, madam; but I think your grace,
Out of the pain you suffer'd, gave no ear to't.
_Kath._ Prithee, good Griffith, tell me how he died:
If well, he stepp'd before me, happily,[689] 10
For my example.
_Grif._ Well, the voice goes, madam:
For after the stout Earl Northumberland[690]
Arrested him at York, and brought him forward,
As a man sorely tainted, to his answer,
He fell sick suddenly, and grew so ill 15
He could not sit his mule.
_Kath._ Alas, poor man!
_Grif._ At last, with easy roads, he came to Leicester,
Lodged in the abbey; where the reverend abbot,
With all his covent, honourably received him;[691]
To whom he gave these words, 'O father abbot, 20
An old man, broken with the storms of state,
Is come to lay his weary bones among ye;
Give him a little earth for charity!'
So went to bed; where eagerly his sickness
Pursued him still; and three nights after this, 25
About the hour of eight, which he himself
Foretold should be his last, full of repentance,[692]
Continual meditations, tears and sorrows,
He gave his honours to the world again,[693]
His blessed part to heaven, and slept in peace. 30
_Kath._ So may he rest; his faults lie gently on him![694]
Yet thus far, Griffith, give me leave to speak him,
And yet with charity. He was a man
Of an unbounded stomach, ever ranking
Himself with princes; one that by suggestion 35
Tied all the kingdom: simony was fair-play:[695]
His own opinion was his law: i' the presence
He would say untruths, and be ever double
Both in his words and meaning: he was never,
But where he meant to ruin, pitiful: 40
His promises were, as he then was, mighty;
But his performance, as he is now, nothing:[696]
Of his own body he was ill, and gave
The clergy ill example.
_Grif._ Noble madam,
Men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues 45
We write in water. May it please your highness
To hear me speak his good now?
_Kath._ Yes, good Griffith;
I were malicious else.
_Grif._ This Cardinal,
Though from an humble stock, undoubtedly
Was fashion'd to much honour from his cradle.[697] 50
He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one;
Exceeding wise, fair-spoken and persuading:
Lofty and sour to them that loved him not,
But to those men that sought him, sweet as summer.
And though he were unsatisfied in getting, 55
Which was a sin, yet in bestowing, madam,
He was most princely: ever witness for him
Those twins of learning that he raised in you,
Ipswich and Oxford! one of which fell with him,[698]
Unwilling to outlive the good that did it;[699] 60
The other, though unfinish'd, yet so famous,
So excellent in art and still so rising,
That Christendom shall ever speak his virtue.
His overthrow heap'd happiness upon him;
For then, and not till then, he felt himself, 65
And found the blessedness of being little:
And, to add greater honours to his age
Than man could give him, he died fearing God.
_Kath._ After my death I wish no other herald,
No other speaker of my living actions, 70
To keep mine honour from corruption,
But such an honest chronicler as Griffith.
Whom I most hated living, thou hast made me,
With thy religious truth and modesty,
Now in his ashes honour: peace be with him! 75
Patience, be near me still; and set me lower:
I have not long to trouble thee. Good Griffith,
Cause the musicians play me that sad note
I named my knell, whilst I sit meditating[700]
On that celestial harmony I go to. 80
[_Sad and solemn music._
_Grif._ She is asleep: good wench, let's sit down quiet,
For fear we wake her: softly, gentle Patience.
_The vision. Enter, solemnly tripping one after another, six
personages, clad in white robes, wearing on their heads
garlands of bays, and golden vizards on their faces;
branches of bays or palm in their hands. They first congee
unto her, then dance; and, at certain changes, the first
two hold a spare garland over her head; at which the other
four make reverent curtsies; then the two that held the
garland deliver the same to the other next two, who observe
the same order in their changes, and holding the garland
over her head: which done, they deliver the same garland
to the last two, who likewise observe the same order: at
which, as it were by inspiration, she makes in her sleep
signs of rejoicing, and holdeth up her hands to heaven: and
so in their dancing vanish, carrying the garland with them.
The music continues._[701]
_Kath._ Spirits of peace, where are ye? are ye all gone,[702]
And leave me here in wretchedness behind ye?
_Grif._ Madam, we are here.
_Kath._ It is not you I call for: 85
Saw ye none enter since I slept?
_Grif._ None, madam.
_Kath._ No? Saw you not even now a blessed troop
Invite me to a banquet, whose bright faces
Cast thousand beams upon me, like the sun?[703]
They promised me eternal happiness, 90
And brought me garlands, Griffith, which I feel
I am not worthy yet to wear: I shall, assuredly.[704]
_Grif._ I am most joyful, madam, such good dreams
Possess your fancy.
_Kath._ Bid the music leave;
They are harsh and heavy to me. [_Music ceases._[705]
_Pat._ Do you note 95
How much her grace is alter'd on the sudden?
How long her face is drawn? how pale she looks,
And of an earthy cold? Mark her eyes![706]
_Grif._ She is going, wench: pray, pray.
_Pat._ Heaven comfort her!
_Enter a_ Messenger.[707]
_Mess._ An't like your grace,--[708]
_Kath._ You are a saucy fellow: 100
Deserve we no more reverence?
_Grif._ You are to blame,[709]
Knowing she will not lose her wonted greatness,[710]
To use so rude behaviour: go to, kneel.
_Mess._ I humbly do entreat your highness' pardon;
My haste made me unmannerly. There is staying 105
A gentleman, sent from the king, to see you.
_Kath._ Admit him entrance, Griffith: but th
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