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diff --git a/2258-0.txt b/2258-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a062359 --- /dev/null +++ b/2258-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4323 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 2258 *** + + +Executive Director's Notes: + +In addition to the notes below, and so you will *NOT* think all +the spelling errors introduced by the printers of the time have +been corrected, here are the first few lines of Hamlet, as they +are presented herein: + + Barnardo. Who's there? + Fran. Nay answer me: Stand & vnfold +your selfe + + Bar. Long liue the King + + * * * * * + +As I understand it, the printers often ran out of certain words +or letters they had often packed into a "cliche". . .this is the +original meaning of the term cliche. . .and thus, being unwilling +to unpack the cliches, and thus you will see some substitutions +that look very odd. . .such as the exchanges of u for v, v for u, +above. . .and you may wonder why they did it this way, presuming +Shakespeare did not actually write the play in this manner. . . . + +The answer is that they MAY have packed "liue" into a cliche at a +time when they were out of "v"'s. . .possibly having used "vv" in +place of some "w"'s, etc. This was a common practice of the day, +as print was still quite expensive, and they didn't want to spend +more on a wider selection of characters than they had to. + +You will find a lot of these kinds of "errors" in this text, as I +have mentioned in other times and places, many "scholars" have an +extreme attachment to these errors, and many have accorded them a +very high place in the "canon" of Shakespeare. My father read an +assortment of these made available to him by Cambridge University +in England for several months in a glass room constructed for the +purpose. To the best of my knowledge he read ALL those available +. . .in great detail. . .and determined from the various changes, +that Shakespeare most likely did not write in nearly as many of a +variety of errors we credit him for, even though he was in/famous +for signing his name with several different spellings. + +So, please take this into account when reading the comments below +made by our volunteer who prepared this file: you may see errors +that are "not" errors. . . . + +So. . .with this caveat. . .we have NOT changed the canon errors, +here is the Project Gutenberg Etext of Shakespeare's play. + +Michael S. Hart +Project Gutenberg +Executive Director + + * * * * * + +Scanner's Notes: + +What this is and isn't. This was taken from a copy of +Shakespeare's first folio and it is as close as I can come in +ASCII to the printed text. + +The elongated S's have been changed to small s's and the +conjoined ae have been changed to ae. I have left the spelling, +punctuation, capitalization as close as possible to the printed +text. I have corrected some spelling mistakes (I have put +together a spelling dictionary devised from the spellings of +the Geneva Bible and Shakespeare's First Folio and have unified +spellings according to this template), typo's and expanded +abbreviations as I have come across them. Everything within +brackets [] is what I have added. So if you don't like that you +can delete everything within the brackets if you want a purer +Shakespeare. + +Another thing that you should be aware of is that there are +textual differences between various copies of the first folio. So +there may be differences (other than what I have mentioned above) +between this and other first folio editions. This is due to the +printer's habit of setting the type and running off a number of +copies and then proofing the printed copy and correcting the type +and then continuing the printing run. The proof run wasn't thrown +away but incorporated into the printed copies. This is just the +way it is. The text I have used was a composite of more than 30 +different First Folio editions' best pages. + +David Reed + +===================================================================== + + + + +The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight + + +THE PROLOGVE. + +I Come no more to make you laugh, Things now, +That beare a Weighty, and a Serious Brow, +Sad, high, and working, full of State and Woe: +Such Noble Scoenes, as draw the Eye to flow +We now present. Those that can Pitty, heere +May (if they thinke it well) let fall a Teare, +The Subiect will deserue it. Such as giue +Their Money out of hope they may beleeue, +May heere finde Truth too. Those that come to see +Onely a show or two, and so agree, +The Play may passe: If they be still, and willing, +Ile vndertake may see away their shilling +Richly in two short houres. Onely they +That come to heare a Merry, Bawdy Play, +A noyse of Targets: Or to see a Fellow +In a long Motley Coate, garded with Yellow, +Will be deceyu'd. For gentle Hearers, know +To ranke our chosen Truth with such a show +As Foole, and Fight is, beside forfeyting +Our owne Braines, and the Opinion that we bring +To make that onely true, we now intend, +Will leaue vs neuer an vnderstanding Friend. +Therefore, for Goodnesse sake, and as you are knowne +The First and Happiest Hearers of the Towne, +Be sad, as we would make ye. Thinke ye see +The very Persons of our Noble Story, +As they were Liuing: Thinke you see them Great, +And follow'd with the generall throng, and sweat +Of thousand Friends: Then, in a moment, see +How soone this Mightinesse, meets Misery: +And if you can be merry then, Ile say, +A Man may weepe vpon his Wedding day. + +Actus Primus. Scoena Prima. + +Enter the Duke of Norfolke at one doore. At the other, the Duke of +Buckingham, and the Lord Aburgauenny. + + Buckingham. Good morrow, and well met. How haue ye done +Since last we saw in France? + Norf. I thanke your Grace: +Healthfull, and euer since a fresh Admirer +Of what I saw there + + Buck. An vntimely Ague +Staid me a Prisoner in my Chamber, when +Those Sunnes of Glory, those two Lights of Men +Met in the vale of Andren + + Nor. 'Twixt Guynes and Arde, +I was then present, saw them salute on Horsebacke, +Beheld them when they lighted, how they clung +In their Embracement, as they grew together, +Which had they, +What foure Thron'd ones could haue weigh'd +Such a compounded one? + Buck. All the whole time +I was my Chambers Prisoner + + Nor. Then you lost +The view of earthly glory: Men might say +Till this time Pompe was single, but now married +To one aboue it selfe. Each following day +Became the next dayes master, till the last +Made former Wonders, it's. To day the French, +All Clinquant all in Gold, like Heathen Gods +Shone downe the English; and to morrow, they +Made Britaine, India: Euery man that stood, +Shew'd like a Mine. Their Dwarfish Pages were +As Cherubins, all gilt: the Madams too, +Not vs'd to toyle, did almost sweat to beare +The Pride vpon them, that their very labour +Was to them, as a Painting. Now this Maske +Was cry'de incompareable; and th' ensuing night +Made it a Foole, and Begger. The two Kings +Equall in lustre, were now best, now worst +As presence did present them: Him in eye, +Still him in praise, and being present both, +'Twas said they saw but one, and no Discerner +Durst wagge his Tongue in censure, when these Sunnes +(For so they phrase 'em) by their Heralds challeng'd +The Noble Spirits to Armes, they did performe +Beyond thoughts Compasse, that former fabulous Storie +Being now seene, possible enough, got credit +That Beuis was beleeu'd + + Buc. Oh you go farre + + Nor. As I belong to worship, and affect +In Honor, Honesty, the tract of eu'ry thing, +Would by a good Discourser loose some life, +Which Actions selfe, was tongue too + + Buc. All was Royall, +To the disposing of it nought rebell'd, +Order gaue each thing view. The Office did +Distinctly his full Function: who did guide, +I meane who set the Body, and the Limbes +Of this great Sport together? + Nor. As you guesse: +One certes, that promises no Element +In such a businesse + + Buc. I pray you who, my Lord? + Nor. All this was ordred by the good Discretion +Of the right Reuerend Cardinall of Yorke + + Buc. The diuell speed him: No mans Pye 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 bulke +Take vp the Rayes o'th' beneficiall Sun, +And keepe it from the Earth + + Nor. Surely Sir, +There's in him stuffe, that put's him to these ends: +For being not propt by Auncestry, whose grace +Chalkes Successors their way; nor call'd vpon +For high feats done to'th' Crowne; neither Allied +To eminent Assistants; but Spider-like +Out of his Selfe-drawing Web. O giues vs note, +The force of his owne merit makes his way +A guift that heauen giues for him, which buyes +A place next to the King + + Abur. I cannot tell +What Heauen hath giuen him: let some Grauer eye +Pierce into that, but I can see his Pride +Peepe through each part of him: whence ha's he that, +If not from Hell? The Diuell is a Niggard, +Or ha's giuen all before, and he begins +A new Hell in himselfe + + Buc. Why the Diuell, +Vpon this French going out, tooke he vpon him +(Without the priuity o'th' King) t' appoint +Who should attend on him? He makes vp the File +Of all the Gentry; for the most part such +To whom as great a Charge, as little Honor +He meant to lay vpon: and his owne Letter +The Honourable Boord of Councell, out +Must fetch him in, he Papers + + Abur. I do know +Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that haue +By this, so sicken'd their Estates, that neuer +They shall abound as formerly + + Buc. O many +Haue broke their backes with laying Mannors on 'em +For this great Iourney. What did this vanity +But minister communication of +A most poore issue + + Nor. Greeuingly I thinke, +The Peace betweene the French and vs, not valewes +The Cost that did conclude it + + Buc. Euery man, +After the hideous storme that follow'd, was +A thing Inspir'd, and not consulting, broke +Into a generall Prophesie; That this Tempest +Dashing the Garment of this Peace, aboaded +The sodaine breach on't + + Nor. Which is budded out, +For France hath flaw'd the League, and hath attach'd +Our Merchants goods at Burdeux + + Abur. Is it therefore +Th' Ambassador is silenc'd? + Nor. Marry is't + + Abur. A proper Title of a Peace, and purchas'd +At a superfluous rate + + Buc. Why all this Businesse +Our Reuerend Cardinall carried + + Nor. Like it your Grace, +The State takes notice of the priuate difference +Betwixt you, and the Cardinall. I aduise you +(And take it from a heart, that wishes towards you +Honor, and plenteous safety) that you reade +The Cardinals Malice, and his Potency +Together; To consider further, that +What his high Hatred would effect, wants not +A Minister in his Power. You know his Nature, +That he's Reuengefull; and I know, his Sword +Hath a sharpe edge: It's long, and't may be saide +It reaches farre, and where 'twill not extend, +Thither he darts it. Bosome vp my counsell, +You'l finde it wholesome. Loe, where comes that Rock +That I aduice your shunning. +Enter Cardinall Wolsey, the Purse borne before him, certaine of +the Guard, +and two Secretaries with Papers: The Cardinall in his passage, +fixeth his +eye on Buckingham, and Buckingham on him, both full of +disdaine. + + Car. The Duke of Buckinghams Surueyor? Ha? +Where's his Examination? + Secr. Heere so please you + + Car. Is he in person, ready? + Secr. I, please your Grace + + Car. Well, we shall then know more, & Buckingham +Shall lessen this bigge looke. + +Exeunt. Cardinall, and his Traine. + + Buc. This Butchers Curre is venom'd-mouth'd, and I +Haue not the power to muzzle him, therefore best +Not wake him in his slumber. A Beggers booke, +Out-worths a Nobles blood + + Nor. What are you chaff'd? +Aske God for Temp'rance, that's th' appliance onely +Which your disease requires + + Buc. I read in's looks +Matter against me, and his eye reuil'd +Me as his abiect obiect, at this instant +He bores me with some tricke; He's gone to'th' King: +Ile follow, and out-stare him + + Nor. Stay my Lord, +And let your Reason with your Choller question +What 'tis you go about: to climbe steepe hilles +Requires slow pace at first. Anger is like +A full hot Horse, who being allow'd his way +Selfe-mettle tyres him: Not a man in England +Can aduise me like you: Be to your selfe, +As you would to your Friend + + Buc. Ile to the King, +And from a mouth of Honor, quite cry downe +This Ipswich fellowes insolence; or proclaime, +There's difference in no persons + + Norf. Be aduis'd; +Heat not a Furnace for your foe so hot +That it do sindge your selfe. We may out-runne +By violent swiftnesse that which we run at; +And lose by ouer-running: know you not, +The fire that mounts the liquor til't run ore, +In seeming to augment it, wasts it: be aduis'd; +I say againe there is no English Soule +More stronger to direct you then your selfe; +If with the sap of reason you would quench, +Or but allay the fire of passion + + Buck. Sir, +I am thankfull to you, and Ile goe along +By your prescription: but this top-proud fellow, +Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but +From sincere motions, by Intelligence, +And proofes as cleere as Founts in Iuly, when +Wee see each graine of grauell; I doe know +To be corrupt and treasonous + + Norf. Say not treasonous + + Buck. To th' King Ile say't, & make my vouch as strong +As shore of Rocke: attend. This holy Foxe, +Or Wolfe, or both (for he is equall rau'nous +As he is subtile, and as prone to mischiefe, +As able to perform't) his minde, and place +Infecting one another, yea reciprocally, +Only to shew his pompe, as well in France, +As here at home, suggests the King our Master +To this last costly Treaty: Th' enteruiew, +That swallowed so much treasure, and like a glasse +Did breake ith' wrenching + + Norf. Faith, and so it did + + Buck. Pray giue me fauour Sir: This cunning Cardinall +The Articles o'th' Combination drew +As himselfe pleas'd; and they were ratified +As he cride thus let be, to as much end, +As giue a Crutch to th' dead. But our Count-Cardinall +Has done this, and tis well: for worthy Wolsey +(Who cannot erre) he did it. Now this followes, +(Which as I take it, is a kinde of Puppie +To th' old dam Treason) Charles the Emperour, +Vnder pretence to see the Queene his Aunt, +(For twas indeed his colour, but he came +To whisper Wolsey) here makes visitation, +His feares were that the Interview betwixt +England and France, might through their amity +Breed him some preiudice; for from this League, +Peep'd harmes that menac'd him. Priuily +Deales with our Cardinal, and as I troa +Which I doe well; for I am sure the Emperour +Paid ere he promis'd, whereby his Suit was granted +Ere it was ask'd. But when the way was made +And pau'd with gold: the Emperor thus desir'd, +That he would please to alter the Kings course, +And breake the foresaid peace. Let the King know +(As soone he shall by me) that thus the Cardinall +Does buy and sell his Honour as he pleases, +And for his owne aduantage + + Norf. I am sorry +To heare this of him; and could wish he were +Somthing mistaken in't + + Buck. No, not a sillable: +I doe pronounce him in that very shape +He shall appeare in proofe. +Enter Brandon, a Sergeant at Armes before him, and two or three +of the +Guard. + + Brandon. Your Office Sergeant: execute it + + Sergeant. Sir, +My Lord the Duke of Buckingham, and Earle +Of Hertford, Stafford and Northampton, I +Arrest thee of High Treason, in the name +Of our most Soueraigne King + + Buck. Lo you my Lord, +The net has falne vpon me, I shall perish +Vnder deuice, and practise + + Bran. I am sorry, +To see you tane from liberty, to looke on +The busines present. Tis his Highnes pleasure +You shall to th' Tower + + Buck. It will helpe me nothing +To plead mine Innocence; for that dye is on me +Which makes my whit'st part, black. The will of Heau'n +Be done in this and all things: I obey. +O my Lord Aburgany: Fare you well + + Bran. Nay, he must beare you company. The King +Is pleas'd you shall to th' Tower, till you know +How he determines further + + Abur. As the Duke said, +The will of Heauen be done, and the Kings pleasure +By me obey'd + + Bran. Here is a warrant from +The King, t' attach Lord Mountacute, and the Bodies +Of the Dukes Confessor, Iohn de la Car, +One Gilbert Pecke, his Councellour + + Buck. So, so; +These are the limbs o'th' Plot: no more I hope + + Bra. A Monke o'th' Chartreux + + Buck. O Michaell Hopkins? + Bra. He + + Buck. My Surueyor is falce: The oregreat Cardinall +Hath shew'd him gold; my life is spand already: +I am the shadow of poore Buckingham, +Whose Figure euen this instant Clowd puts on, +By Darkning my cleere Sunne. My Lords farewell. + +Exe. + +Scena Secunda. + +Cornets. Enter King Henry, leaning on the Cardinals shoulder, the +Nobles, +and Sir Thomas Louell: the Cardinall places himselfe vnder the +Kings feete +on his right side. + + King. My life it selfe, and the best heart of it, +Thankes you for this great care: I stood i'th' leuell +Of a full-charg'd confederacie, and giue thankes +To you that choak'd it. Let be cald before vs +That Gentleman of Buckinghams, in person, +Ile heare him his confessions iustifie, +And point by point the Treasons of his Maister, +He shall againe relate. + +A noyse within crying roome for the Queene, vsher'd by the Duke +of +Norfolke. Enter the Queene, Norfolke and Suffolke: she kneels. +King riseth +from his State, takes her vp, kisses and placeth her by him. + + Queen. Nay, we must longer kneele; I am a Suitor + + King. Arise, and take place by vs; halfe your Suit +Neuer name to vs; you haue halfe our power: +The other moity ere you aske is giuen, +Repeat your will, and take it + + Queen. Thanke your Maiesty +That you would loue your selfe, and in that loue +Not vnconsidered leaue your Honour, nor +The dignity of your Office; is the poynt +Of my Petition + + Kin. Lady mine proceed + + Queen. I am solicited not by a few, +And those of true condition; That your Subiects +Are in great grieuance: There haue beene Commissions +Sent downe among 'em, which hath flaw'd the heart +Of all their Loyalties; wherein, although +My good Lord Cardinall, they vent reproches +Most bitterly on you, as putter on +Of these exactions: yet the King, our Maister +Whose Honor Heauen shield from soile; euen he escapes not +Language vnmannerly; yea, such which breakes +The sides of loyalty, and almost appeares +In lowd Rebellion + + Norf. Not almost appeares, +It doth appeare; for, vpon these Taxations, +The Clothiers all not able to maintaine +The many to them longing, haue put off +The Spinsters, Carders, Fullers, Weauers, who +Vnfit for other life, compeld by hunger +And lack of other meanes, in desperate manner +Daring th' euent too th' teeth, are all in vprore, +And danger serues among them + + Kin. Taxation? +Wherein? and what Taxation? My Lord Cardinall, +You that are blam'd for it alike with vs, +Know you of this Taxation? + Card. Please you Sir, +I know but of a single part in ought +Pertaines to th' State; and front but in that File +Where others tell steps with me + + Queen. No, my Lord? +You know no more then others? But you frame +Things that are knowne alike, which are not wholsome +To those which would not know them, and yet must +Perforce be their acquaintance. These exactions +(Whereof my Soueraigne would haue note) they are +Most pestilent to th' hearing, and to beare 'em, +The Backe is Sacrifice to th' load; They say +They are deuis'd by you, or else you suffer +Too hard an exclamation + + Kin. Still Exaction: +The nature of it, in what kinde let's know, +Is this Exaction? + Queen. I am much too venturous +In tempting of your patience, but am boldned +Vnder your promis'd pardon. The Subiects griefe +Comes through Commissions, which compels from each +The sixt part of his Substance, to be leuied +Without delay; and the pretence for this +Is nam'd, your warres in France: this makes bold mouths, +Tongues spit their duties out, and cold hearts freeze +Allegeance in them; their curses now +Liue where their prayers did: and it's come to passe, +This tractable obedience is a Slaue +To each incensed Will: I would your Highnesse +Would giue it quicke consideration; for +There is no primer basenesse + + Kin. By my life, +This is against our pleasure + + Card. And for me, +I haue no further gone in this, then by +A single voice, and that not past me, but +By learned approbation of the Iudges: If I am +Traduc'd by ignorant Tongues, which neither know +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 +That Vertue must goe through: we must not stint +Our necessary actions, in the feare +To cope malicious Censurers, which euer, +As rau'nous Fishes doe a Vessell follow +That is new trim'd; but benefit no further +Then vainly longing. What we oft doe best, +By sicke Interpreters (once weake ones) is +Not ours, or not allow'd; what worst, as oft +Hitting a grosser quality, is cride vp +For our best Act: if we shall stand still, +In feare our motion will be mock'd, or carp'd at, +We should take roote here, where we sit; +Or sit State-Statues onely + + Kin. Things done well, +And with a care, exempt themselues from feare: +Things done without example, in their issue +Are to be fear'd. Haue you a President +Of this Commission? I beleeue, not any. +We must not rend our Subiects from our Lawes, +And sticke them in our Will. Sixt part of each? +A trembling Contribution; why we take +From euery Tree, lop, barke, and part o'th' Timber: +And though we leaue it with a roote thus hackt, +The Ayre will drinke the Sap. To euery County +Where this is question'd, send our Letters, with +Free pardon to each man that has deny'de +The force of this Commission: pray looke too't; +I put it to your care + + Card. A word with you. +Let there be Letters writ to euery Shire, +Of the Kings grace and pardon: the greeued Commons +Hardly conceiue of me. Let it be nois'd, +That through our Intercession, this Reuokement +And pardon comes: I shall anon aduise you +Further in the proceeding. + +Exit Secret[ary]. + +Enter Surueyor. + + Queen. I am sorry, that the Duke of Buckingham +Is run in your displeasure + + Kin. It grieues many: +The Gentleman is Learn'd, and a most rare Speaker, +To Nature none more bound; his trayning such, +That he may furnish and instruct great Teachers, +And neuer seeke for ayd out of himselfe: yet see, +When these so Noble benefits shall proue +Not well dispos'd, the minde growing once corrupt, +They turne to vicious formes, ten times more vgly +Then euer they were faire. This man so compleat, +Who was enrold 'mongst wonders; and when we +Almost with rauish'd listning, could not finde +His houre of speech, a minute: He, (my Lady) +Hath into monstrous habits put the Graces +That once were his, and is become as blacke, +As if besmear'd in hell. Sit by Vs, you shall heare +(This was his Gentleman in trust) of him +Things to strike Honour sad. Bid him recount +The fore-recited practises, whereof +We cannot feele too little, heare too much + + Card. Stand forth, & with bold spirit relate what you +Most like a carefull Subiect haue collected +Out of the Duke of Buckingham + + Kin. Speake freely + + Sur. First, it was vsuall with him; euery day +It would infect his Speech: That if the King +Should without issue dye; hee'l carry it so +To make the Scepter his. These very words +I'ue heard him vtter to his Sonne in Law, +Lord Aburgany, to whom by oth he menac'd +Reuenge vpon the Cardinall + + Card. Please your Highnesse note +This dangerous conception in this point, +Not frended by his wish to your High person; +His will is most malignant, and it stretches +Beyond you to your friends + + Queen. My learn'd Lord Cardinall, +Deliuer all with Charity + + Kin. Speake on; +How grounded hee his Title to the Crowne +Vpon our faile; to this poynt hast thou heard him, +At any time speake ought? + Sur. He was brought to this, +By a vaine Prophesie of Nicholas Henton + + Kin. What was that Henton? + Sur. Sir, a Chartreux Fryer, +His Confessor, who fed him euery minute +With words of Soueraignty + + Kin. How know'st thou this? + Sur. Not long before your Highnesse sped to France, +The Duke being at the Rose, within the Parish +Saint Laurence Poultney, did of me demand +What was the speech among the Londoners, +Concerning the French Iourney. I replide, +Men feare the French would proue perfidious +To the Kings danger: presently, the Duke +Said, 'twas the feare indeed, and that he doubted +'Twould proue the verity of certaine words +Spoke by a holy Monke, that oft, sayes he, +Hath sent to me, wishing me to permit +Iohn de la Car, my Chaplaine, a choyce howre +To heare from him a matter of some moment: +Whom after vnder the Commissions Seale, +He sollemnly had sworne, that what he spoke +My Chaplaine to no Creature liuing, but +To me, should vtter, with demure Confidence, +This pausingly ensu'de; neither the King, nor's Heyres +(Tell you the Duke) shall prosper, bid him striue +To the loue o'th' Commonalty, the Duke +Shall gouerne England + + Queen. If I know you well, +You were the Dukes Surueyor, and lost your Office +On the complaint o'th' Tenants; take good heed +You charge not in your spleene a Noble person, +And spoyle your nobler Soule; I say, take heed; +Yes, heartily beseech you + + Kin. Let him on: Goe forward + + Sur. On my Soule, Ile speake but truth. +I told my Lord the Duke, by th' Diuels illusions +The Monke might be deceiu'd, and that 'twas dangerous +For this to ruminate on this so farre, vntill +It forg'd him some designe, which being beleeu'd +It was much like to doe: He answer'd, Tush, +It can do me no damage; adding further, +That had the King in his last Sicknesse faild, +The Cardinals and Sir Thomas Louels heads +Should haue gone off + + Kin. Ha? What, so rancke? Ah, ha, +There's mischiefe in this man; canst thou say further? + Sur. I can my Liedge + + Kin. Proceed + + Sur. Being at Greenwich, +After your Highnesse had reprou'd the Duke +About Sir William Blumer + + Kin. I remember of such a time, being my sworn seruant, +The Duke retein'd him his. But on: what hence? + Sur. If (quoth he) I for this had beene committed, +As to the Tower, I thought; I would haue plaid +The Part my Father meant to act vpon +Th' Vsurper Richard, who being at Salsbury, +Made suit to come in's presence; which if granted, +(As he made semblance of his duty) would +Haue put his knife into him + + Kin. A Gyant Traytor + + Card. Now Madam, may his Highnes liue in freedome, +And this man out of Prison + + Queen. God mend all + + Kin. Ther's somthing more would out of thee; what say'st? + Sur. After the Duke his Father, with the knife +He stretch'd him, and with one hand on his dagger, +Another spread on's breast, mounting his eyes, +He did discharge a horrible Oath, whose tenor +Was, were he euill vs'd, he would outgoe +His Father, by as much as a performance +Do's an irresolute purpose + + Kin. There's his period, +To sheath his knife in vs: he is attach'd, +Call him to present tryall: if he may +Finde mercy in the Law, 'tis his; if none, +Let him not seek't of vs: By day and night +Hee's Traytor to th' height. + +Exeunt. + + +Scaena Tertia. + + L.Ch. Is't possible the spels of France should iuggle +Men into such strange mysteries? + L.San. New customes, +Though they be neuer so ridiculous, +(Nay let 'em be vnmanly) yet are follow'd + + L.Ch. As farre as I see, all the good our English +Haue got by the late Voyage, is but meerely +A fit or two o'th' face, (but they are shrewd ones) +For when they hold 'em, you would sweare directly +Their very noses had been Councellours +To Pepin or Clotharius, they keepe State so + + L.San. They haue all new legs, +And lame ones; one would take it, +That neuer see 'em pace before, the Spauen +A Spring-halt rain'd among 'em + + L.Ch. Death my Lord, +Their cloathes are after such a Pagan cut too't, +That sure th'haue worne out Christendome: how now? +What newes, Sir Thomas Louell? +Enter Sir Thomas Louell. + + Louell. Faith my Lord, +I heare of none but the new Proclamation, +That's clapt vpon the Court Gate + + L.Cham. What is't for? + Lou. The reformation of our trauel'd Gallants, +That fill the Court with quarrels, talke, and Taylors + + L.Cham. I'm glad 'tis there; +Now I would pray our Monsieurs +To thinke an English Courtier may be wise, +And neuer see the Louure + + Lou. They must either +(For so run the Conditions) leaue those remnants +Of Foole and Feather, that they got in France, +With all their honourable points of ignorance +Pertaining thereunto; as Fights and Fire-workes, +Abusing better men then they can be +Out of a forreigne wisedome, renouncing cleane +The faith they haue in Tennis and tall Stockings, +Short blistred Breeches, and those types of Trauell; +And vnderstand againe like honest men, +Or pack to their old Playfellowes; there, I take it, +They may Cum Priuilegio, wee away +The lag end of their lewdnesse, and be laugh'd at + + L.San. Tis time to giue 'em Physicke, their diseases +Are growne so catching + + L.Cham. What a losse our Ladies +Will haue of these trim vanities? + Louell. I marry, +There will be woe indeed Lords, the slye whorsons +Haue got a speeding tricke to lay downe Ladies. +A French Song, and a Fiddle, ha's no Fellow + + L.San. The Diuell fiddle 'em, +I am glad they are going, +For sure there's no conuerting of 'em: now +An honest Country Lord as I am, beaten +A long time out of play, may bring his plaine song, +And haue an houre of hearing, and by'r Lady +Held currant Musicke too + + L.Cham. Well said Lord Sands, +Your Colts tooth is not cast yet? + L.San. No my Lord, +Nor shall not while I haue a stumpe + + L.Cham. Sir Thomas, +Whither were you a going? + Lou. To the Cardinals; +Your Lordship is a guest too + + L.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 Kingdome Ile assure you + + Lou. That Churchman +Beares a bounteous minde indeed, +A hand as fruitfull as the Land that feeds vs, +His dewes fall euery where + + L.Cham. No doubt hee's Noble; +He had a blacke mouth that said other of him + + L.San. He may my Lord, +Ha's wherewithall in him; +Sparing would shew a worse sinne, then ill Doctrine, +Men of his way, should be most liberall, +They are set heere for examples + + L.Cham. True, they are so; +But few now giue so great ones: +My Barge stayes; +Your Lordship shall along: Come, good Sir Thomas, +We shall be late else, which I would not be, +For I was spoke to, with Sir Henry Guilford +This night to be Comptrollers + + L.San. I am your Lordships. + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Quarta. + +Hoboies. A small Table vnder a State for the Cardinall, a longer +Table for +the Guests. Then Enter Anne Bullen, and diuers other Ladies, & +Gentlemen, +as Guests at one Doore; at an other Doore enter Sir Henry +Guilford. + + S.Hen.Guilf. Ladyes, +A generall welcome from his Grace +Salutes ye all; This Night he dedicates +To faire content, and you: None heere he hopes +In all this Noble Beuy, has brought with her +One care abroad: hee would haue all as merry: +As first, good Company, good wine, good welcome, +Can make good people. +Enter L[ord]. Chamberlaine L[ord]. Sands, and Louell. + +O my Lord, y'are tardy; +The very thought of this faire Company, +Clapt wings to me + + Cham. You are young Sir Harry Guilford + + San. Sir Thomas Louell, had the Cardinall +But halfe my Lay-thoughts in him, some of these +Should finde a running Banket, ere they rested, +I thinke would better please 'em: by my life, +They are a sweet society of faire ones + + Lou. O that your Lordship were but now Confessor, +To one or two of these + + San. I would I were, +They should finde easie pennance + + Lou. Faith how easie? + San. As easie as a downe bed would affoord it + + Cham. Sweet Ladies will it please you sit; Sir Harry +Place you that side, Ile take the charge of this: +His Grace is entring. Nay, you must not freeze, +Two women plac'd together, makes cold weather: +My Lord Sands, you are one will keepe 'em waking: +Pray sit betweene these Ladies + + San. By my faith, +And thanke your Lordship: by your leaue sweet Ladies, +If I chance to talke a little wilde, forgiue me: +I had it from my Father + + An.Bul. Was he mad Sir? + San. O very mad, exceeding mad, in loue too; +But he would bite none, iust as I doe now, +He would Kisse you Twenty with a breath + + Cham. Well said my Lord: +So now y'are fairely seated: Gentlemen, +The pennance lyes on you; if these faire Ladies +Passe away frowning + + San. For my little Cure, +Let me alone. + +Hoboyes. Enter Cardinall Wolsey, and takes his State. + + Card. Y'are welcome my faire Guests; that noble Lady +Or Gentleman that is not freely merry +Is not my Friend. This to confirme my welcome, +And to you all good health + + San. Your Grace is Noble, +Let me haue such a Bowle may hold my thankes, +And saue me so much talking + + Card. My Lord Sands, +I am beholding to you: cheere your neighbours: +Ladies you are not merry; Gentlemen, +Whose fault is this? + San. The red wine first must rise +In their faire cheekes my Lord, then wee shall haue 'em, +Talke vs to silence + + An.B. You are a merry Gamster +My Lord Sands + + San. Yes, if I make my play: +Heer's to your Ladiship, and pledge it Madam: +For tis to such a thing + + An.B. You cannot shew me. + +Drum and Trumpet, Chambers dischargd. + + San. I told your Grace, they would talke anon + + Card. What's that? + Cham. Looke out there, some of ye + + Card. What warlike voyce, +And to what end is this? Nay, Ladies, feare not; +By all the lawes of Warre y'are priuiledg'd. +Enter a Seruant. + + Cham. How now, what is't? + Seru. A noble troupe of Strangers, +For so they seeme; th' haue left their Barge and landed, +And hither make, as great Embassadors +From forraigne Princes + + Card. Good Lord Chamberlaine, +Go, giue 'em welcome; you can speake the French tongue +And pray receiue 'em Nobly, and conduct 'em +Into our presence, where this heauen of beauty +Shall shine at full vpon them. Some attend him. + +All rise, and Tables remou'd. + +You haue now a broken Banket, but wee'l mend it. +A good digestion to you all; and once more +I showre a welcome on yee: welcome all. + +Hoboyes. Enter King and others as Maskers, habited like +Shepheards, +vsher'd by the Lord Chamberlaine. They passe directly before the +Cardinall +and gracefully salute him. + +A noble Company: what are their pleasures? + Cham. Because they speak no English, thus they praid +To tell your Grace: That hauing heard by fame +Of this so Noble and so faire assembly, +This night to meet heere they could doe no lesse, +(Out of the great respect they beare to beauty) +But leaue their Flockes, and vnder your faire Conduct +Craue leaue to view these Ladies, and entreat +An houre of Reuels with 'em + + Card. Say, Lord Chamberlaine, +They haue done my poore house grace: +For which I pay 'em a thousand thankes, +And pray 'em take their pleasures. + +Choose Ladies, King and An Bullen. + + King. The fairest hand I euer touch'd: O Beauty, +Till now I neuer knew thee. + +Musicke, Dance. + + Card. My Lord + + Cham. Your Grace + + Card. Pray tell 'em thus much from me: +There should be one amongst 'em by his person +More worthy this place then my selfe, to whom +(If I but knew him) with my loue and duty +I would surrender it. + +Whisper. + + Cham. I will my Lord + + Card. What say they? + Cham. Such a one, they all confesse +There is indeed, which they would haue your Grace +Find out, and he will take it + + Card. Let me see then, +By all your good leaues Gentlemen; heere Ile make +My royall choyce + + Kin. Ye haue found him Cardinall, +You hold a faire Assembly; you doe well Lord: +You are a Churchman, or Ile tell you Cardinall, +I should iudge now vnhappily + + Card. I am glad +Your Grace is growne so pleasant + + Kin. My Lord Chamberlaine, +Prethee come hither, what faire Ladie's that? + Cham. An't please your Grace, +Sir Thomas Bullens Daughter, the Viscount Rochford, +One of her Highnesse women + + Kin. By Heauen she is a dainty one. Sweet heart, +I were vnmannerly to take you out, +And not to kisse you. A health Gentlemen, +Let it goe round + + Card. Sir Thomas Louell, is the Banket ready +I'th' Priuy Chamber? + Lou. Yes, my Lord + + Card. Your Grace +I feare, with dancing is a little heated + + Kin. I feare too much + + Card. There's fresher ayre my Lord, +In the next Chamber + + Kin. Lead in your Ladies eu'ry one: Sweet Partner, +I must not yet forsake you: Let's be merry, +Good my Lord Cardinall: I haue halfe a dozen healths, +To drinke to these faire Ladies, and a measure +To lead 'em once againe, and then let's dreame +Who's best in fauour. Let the Musicke knock it. + +Exeunt. with Trumpets. + + +Actus Secundus. Scena Prima. + +Enter two Gentlemen at seuerall Doores. + + 1. Whether away so fast? + 2. O, God saue ye: +Eu'n to the Hall, to heare what shall become +Of the great Duke of Buckingham + + 1. Ile saue you +That labour Sir. All's now done but the Ceremony +Of bringing backe the Prisoner + + 2. Were you there ? + 1. Yes indeed was I + + 2. Pray speake what ha's happen'd + + 1. You may guesse quickly what + + 2. Is he found guilty? + 1. Yes truely is he, +And condemn'd vpon't + + 2. I am sorry fort + + 1. So are a number more + + 2. But pray how past it? + 1. Ile tell you in a little. The great Duke +Came to the Bar; where, to his accusations +He pleaded still not guilty, and alleadged +Many sharpe reasons to defeat the Law. +The Kings Atturney on the contrary, +Vrg'd on the Examinations, proofes, confessions +Of diuers witnesses, which the Duke desir'd +To him brought viua voce to his face; +At which appear'd against him, his Surueyor +Sir Gilbert Pecke his Chancellour, and Iohn Car, +Confessor to him, with that Diuell Monke, +Hopkins, that made this mischiefe + + 2. That was hee +That fed him with his Prophecies + + 1. The same, +All these accus'd him strongly, which he faine +Would haue flung from him; but indeed he could not; +And so his Peeres vpon this euidence, +Haue found him guilty of high Treason. Much +He spoke, and learnedly for life: But all +Was either pittied in him, or forgotten + + 2. After all this, how did he beare himselfe? + 1. When he was brought agen to th' Bar, to heare +His Knell rung out, his Iudgement, he was stir'd +With such an Agony, he sweat extreamly, +And somthing spoke in choller, ill, and hasty: +But he fell to himselfe againe, and sweetly, +In all the rest shew'd a most Noble patience + + 2. I doe not thinke he feares death + + 1. Sure he does not, +He neuer was so womanish, the cause +He may a little grieue at + + 2. Certainly, +The Cardinall is the end of this + + 1. Tis likely, +By all coniectures: First Kildares Attendure; +Then Deputy of Ireland, who remou'd +Earle Surrey, was sent thither, and in hast too, +Least he should helpe his Father + + 2. That tricke of State +Was a deepe enuious one, + 1. At his returne, +No doubt he will requite it; this is noted +(And generally) who euer the King fauours, +The Cardnall instantly will finde imployment, +And farre enough from Court too + + 2. All the Commons +Hate him perniciously, and o' my Conscience +Wish him ten faddom deepe: This Duke as much +They loue and doate on: call him bounteous Buckingham, +The Mirror of all courtesie. +Enter Buckingham from his Arraignment, Tipstaues before him, +the Axe with +the edge towards him, Halberds on each side, accompanied with +Sir Thomas +Louell, Sir Nicholas Vaux, Sir Walter Sands, and common people, +&c. + + 1. Stay there Sir, +And see the noble ruin'd man you speake of + + 2. Let's stand close and behold him + + Buck. All good people, +You that thus farre haue come to pitty me; +Heare what I say, and then goe home and lose me. +I haue this day receiu'd a Traitors iudgement, +And by that name must dye; yet Heauen beare witnes, +And if I haue a Conscience, let it sincke me, +Euen as the Axe falls, if I be not faithfull. +The Law I beare no mallice for my death, +T'has done vpon the premises, but Iustice: +But those that sought it, I could wish more Christians: +(Be what they will) I heartily forgiue 'em; +Yet let 'em looke they glory not in mischiefe; +Nor build their euils on the graues of great men; +For then, my guiltlesse blood must cry against 'em. +For further life in this world I ne're hope, +Nor will I sue, although the King haue mercies +More then I dare make faults. +You few that lou'd me, +And dare be bold to weepe for Buckingham, +His Noble Friends and Fellowes; whom to leaue +Is only bitter to him, only dying: +Goe with me like good Angels to my end, +And as the long diuorce of Steele fals on me, +Make of your Prayers one sweet Sacrifice, +And lift my Soule to Heauen. +Lead on a Gods name + + Louell. I doe beseech your Grace, for charity +If euer any malice in your heart +Were hid against me, now to forgiue me frankly + + Buck. Sir Thomas Louell, I as free forgiue you +As I would be forgiuen: I forgiue all. +There cannot be those numberlesse offences +Gainst me, that I cannot take peace with: +No blacke Enuy shall make my Graue. +Commend mee to his Grace: +And if he speake of Buckingham; pray tell him, +You met him halfe in Heauen: my vowes and prayers +Yet are the Kings; and till my Soule forsake, +Shall cry for blessings on him. May he liue +Longer then I haue time to tell his yeares; +Euer belou'd and louing, may his Rule be; +And when old Time shall lead him to his end, +Goodnesse and he, fill vp one Monument + + Lou. To th' water side I must conduct your Grace; +Then giue my Charge vp to Sir Nicholas Vaux, +Who vndertakes you to your end + + Vaux. Prepare there, +The Duke is comming: See the Barge be ready; +And fit it with such furniture as suites +The Greatnesse of his Person + + Buck. Nay, Sir Nicholas, +Let it alone; my State now will but mocke me. +When I came hither, I was Lord High Constable, +And Duke of Buckingham: now, poore Edward Bohun; +Yet I am richer then my base Accusers, +That neuer knew what Truth meant: I now seale it; +And with that bloud will make 'em one day groane for't. +My noble Father Henry of Buckingham, +Who first rais'd head against Vsurping Richard, +Flying for succour to his Seruant Banister, +Being distrest; was by that wretch betraid, +And without Tryall, fell; Gods peace be with him. +Henry the Seauenth succeeding, truly pittying +My Fathers losse; like a most Royall Prince +Restor'd me to my Honours: and out of ruines +Made my Name once more Noble. Now his Sonne, +Henry the Eight, Life, Honour, Name and all +That made me happy; at one stroake ha's taken +For euer from the World. I had my Tryall, +And must needs say a Noble one; which makes me +A little happier then my wretched Father: +Yet thus farre we are one in Fortunes; both +Fell by our Seruants, by those Men we lou'd most: +A most vnnaturall and faithlesse Seruice. +Heauen ha's an end in all: yet, you that heare me, +This from a dying man receiue as certaine: +Where you are liberall of your loues and Councels, +Be sure you be not loose; for those you make friends, +And giue your hearts to; when they once perceiue +The least rub in your fortunes, fall away +Like water from ye, neuer found againe +But where they meane to sinke ye: all good people +Pray for me, I must now forsake ye; the last houre +Of my long weary life is come vpon me: +Farewell; and when you would say somthing that is sad, +Speake how I fell. +I haue done; and God forgiue me. + +Exeunt. Duke and Traine. + + 1. O, this is full of pitty; Sir, it cals +I feare, too many curses on their heads +That were the Authors + + 2. If the Duke be guiltlesse, +'Tis full of woe: yet I can giue you inckling +Of an ensuing euill, if it fall, +Greater then this + + 1. Good Angels keepe it from vs: +What may it be? you doe not doubt my faith Sir? + 2. This Secret is so weighty, 'twill require +A strong faith to conceale it + + 1. Let me haue it: +I doe not talke much + + 2. I am confident; +You shall Sir: Did you not of late dayes heare +A buzzing of a Separation +Betweene the King and Katherine? + 1. Yes, but it held not; +For when the King once heard it, out of anger +He sent command to the Lord Mayor straight +To stop the rumor; and allay those tongues +That durst disperse it + + 2. But that slander Sir, +Is found a truth now: for it growes agen +Fresher then e're it was; and held for certaine +The King will venture at it. Either the Cardinall, +Or some about him neere, haue out of malice +To the good Queene, possest him with a scruple +That will vndoe her: To confirme this too, +Cardinall Campeius is arriu'd, and lately, +As all thinke for this busines + + 1. Tis the Cardinall; +And meerely to reuenge him on the Emperour, +For not bestowing on him at his asking, +The Archbishopricke of Toledo, this is purpos'd + + 2. I thinke +You haue hit the marke; but is't not cruell, +That she should feele the smart of this: the Cardinall +Will haue his will, and she must fall + + 1. 'Tis wofull. +Wee are too open heere to argue this: +Let's thinke in priuate more. + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Secunda. + +Enter Lord Chamberlaine, reading this Letter. + +My Lord, the Horses your Lordship sent for, with all the +care I had, I saw well chosen, ridden, and furnish'd. +They were young and handsome, and of the best breed in the +North. When they were ready to set out for London, a man +of my Lord Cardinalls, by Commission, and maine power tooke +'em from me, with this reason: his maister would bee seru'd before +a Subiect, if not before the King, which stop'd our mouthes +Sir. +I feare he will indeede; well, let him haue them; hee +will haue all I thinke. +Enter to the Lord Chamberlaine, the Dukes of Norfolke and +Suffolke. + + Norf. Well met my Lord Chamberlaine + + Cham. Good day to both your Graces + + Suff. How is the King imployd? + Cham. I left him priuate, +Full of sad thoughts and troubles + + Norf. What's the cause? + Cham. It seemes the Marriage with his Brothers Wife +Ha's crept too neere his Conscience + + Suff. No, his Conscience +Ha's crept too neere another Ladie + + Norf. Tis so; +This is the Cardinals doing: The King-Cardinall, +That blinde Priest, like the eldest Sonne of Fortune, +Turnes what he list. The King will know him one day + + Suff. Pray God he doe, +Hee'l neuer know himselfe else + + Norf. How holily he workes in all his businesse, +And with what zeale? For now he has crackt the League +Between vs & the Emperor (the Queens great Nephew) +He diues into the Kings Soule, and there scatters +Dangers, doubts, wringing of the Conscience, +Feares, and despaires, and all these for his Marriage. +And out of all these, to restore the King, +He counsels a Diuorce, a losse of her +That like a Iewell, ha's hung twenty yeares +About his necke, yet neuer lost her lustre; +Of her that loues him with that excellence, +That Angels loue good men with: Euen of her, +That when the greatest stroake of Fortune falls +Will blesse the King: and is not this course pious? + Cham. Heauen keep me from such councel: tis most true +These newes are euery where, euery tongue speaks 'em, +And euery true heart weepes for't. All that dare +Looke into these affaires, see this maine end, +The French Kings Sister. Heauen will one day open +The Kings eyes, that so long haue slept vpon +This bold bad man + + Suff. And free vs from his slauery + + Norf. We had need pray, +And heartily, for our deliuerance; +Or this imperious man will worke vs all +From Princes into Pages: all mens honours +Lie like one lumpe before him, to be fashion'd +Into what pitch he please + + Suff. For me, my Lords, +I loue him not, nor feare him, there's my Creede: +As I am made without him, so Ile stand, +If the King please: his Curses and his blessings +Touch me alike: th'are breath I not beleeue in. +I knew him, and I know him: so I leaue him +To him that made him proud; the Pope + + Norf. Let's in; +And with some other busines, put the King +From these sad thoughts, that work too much vpon him: +My Lord, youle beare vs company? + Cham. Excuse me, +The King ha's sent me otherwhere: Besides +You'l finde a most vnfit time to disturbe him: +Health to your Lordships + + Norfolke. Thankes my good Lord Chamberlaine. +Exit Lord Chamberlaine, and the King drawes the Curtaine and sits +reading +pensiuely. + + Suff. How sad he lookes; sure he is much afflicted + + Kin. Who's there? Ha? + Norff. Pray God he be not angry + + Kin. Who's there I say? How dare you thrust your selues +Into my priuate Meditations? +Who am I? Ha? + Norff. A gracious King, that pardons all offences +Malice ne're meant: Our breach of Duty this way, +Is businesse of Estate; in which, we come +To know your Royall pleasure + + Kin. Ye are too bold: +Go too; Ile make ye know your times of businesse: +Is this an howre for temporall affaires? Ha? +Enter Wolsey and Campeius with a Commission. + +Who's there? my good Lord Cardinall? O my Wolsey, +The quiet of my wounded Conscience; +Thou art a cure fit for a King; you'r welcome +Most learned Reuerend Sir, into our Kingdome, +Vse vs, and it: My good Lord, haue great care, +I be not found a Talker + + Wol. Sir, you cannot; +I would your Grace would giue vs but an houre +Of priuate conference + + Kin. We are busie; goe + + Norff. This Priest ha's no pride in him? + Suff. Not to speake of: +I would not be so sicke though for his place: +But this cannot continue + + Norff. If it doe, Ile venture one; haue at him + + Suff. I another. + +Exeunt. Norfolke and Suffolke. + + Wol. Your Grace ha's giuen a President of wisedome +Aboue all Princes, in committing freely +Your scruple to the voyce of Christendome: +Who can be angry now? What Enuy reach you? +The Spaniard tide by blood and fauour to her, +Must now confesse, if they haue any goodnesse, +The Tryall, iust and Noble. All the Clerkes, +(I meane the learned ones in Christian Kingdomes) +Haue their free voyces. Rome (the Nurse of Iudgement) +Inuited by your Noble selfe, hath sent +One generall Tongue vnto vs. This good man, +This iust and learned Priest, Cardnall Campeius, +Whom once more, I present vnto your Highnesse + + Kin. And once more in mine armes I bid him welcome, +And thanke the holy Conclaue for their loues, +They haue sent me such a Man, I would haue wish'd for + + Cam. Your Grace must needs deserue all strangers loues, +You are so Noble: To your Highnesse hand +I tender my Commission; by whose vertue, +The Court of Rome commanding. You my Lord +Cardinall of Yorke, are ioyn'd with me their Seruant, +In the vnpartiall iudging of this Businesse + + Kin. Two equall men: The Queene shall be acquainted +Forthwith for what you come. Where's Gardiner? + Wol. I know your Maiesty, ha's alwayes lou'd her +So deare in heart, not to deny her that +A Woman of lesse Place might aske by Law; +Schollers allow'd freely to argue for her + + Kin. I, and the best she shall haue; and my fauour +To him that does best, God forbid els: Cardinall, +Prethee call Gardiner to me, my new Secretary. +I find him a fit fellow. +Enter Gardiner. + + Wol. Giue me your hand: much ioy & fauour to you; +You are the Kings now + + Gard. But to be commanded +For euer by your Grace, whose hand ha's rais'd me + + Kin. Come hither Gardiner. + +Walkes and whispers. + + Camp. My Lord of Yorke, was not one Doctor Pace +In this mans place before him? + Wol. Yes, he was + + Camp. Was he not held a learned man? + Wol. Yes surely + + Camp. Beleeue me, there's an ill opinion spread then, +Euen of your selfe Lord Cardinall + + Wol. How? of me? + Camp. They will not sticke to say, you enuide him; +And fearing he would rise (he was so vertuous) +Kept him a forraigne man still, which so greeu'd him, +That he ran mad, and dide + + Wol. Heau'ns peace be with him: +That's Christian care enough: for liuing Murmurers, +There's places of rebuke. He was a Foole; +For he would needs be vertuous. That good Fellow, +If I command him followes my appointment, +I will haue none so neere els. Learne this Brother, +We liue not to be grip'd by meaner persons + + Kin. Deliuer this with modesty to th' Queene. + +Exit Gardiner. + +The most conuenient place, that I can thinke of +For such receipt of Learning, is Black-Fryers: +There ye shall meete about this waighty busines. +My Wolsey, see it furnish'd, O my Lord, +Would it not grieue an able man to leaue +So sweet a Bedfellow? But Conscience, Conscience; +O 'tis a tender place, and I must leaue her. + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Tertia. + +Enter Anne Bullen, and an old Lady. + + An. Not for that neither; here's the pang that pinches. +His Highnesse, hauing liu'd so long with her, and she +So good a Lady, that no Tongue could euer +Pronounce dishonour of her; by my life, +She neuer knew harme-doing: Oh, now after +So many courses of the Sun enthroaned, +Still growing in a Maiesty and pompe, the which +To leaue, a thousand fold more bitter, then +'Tis sweet at first t' acquire. After this Processe. +To giue her the auaunt, it is a pitty +Would moue a Monster + + Old La. Hearts of most hard temper +Melt and lament for her + + An. Oh Gods will, much better +She ne're had knowne pompe; though't be temporall, +Yet if that quarrell. Fortune, do diuorce +It from the bearer, 'tis a sufferance, panging +As soule and bodies seuering + + Old L. Alas poore Lady, +Shee's a stranger now againe + + An. So much the more +Must pitty drop vpon her; verily +I sweare, tis better to be lowly borne, +And range with humble liuers in Content, +Then to be perk'd vp in a glistring griefe, +And weare a golden sorrow + + Old L. Our content +Is our best hauing + + Anne. By my troth, and Maidenhead, +I would not be a Queene + + Old.L. Beshrew me, I would, +And venture Maidenhead for't, and so would you +For all this spice of your Hipocrisie: +You that haue so faire parts of Woman on you, +Haue (too) a Womans heart, which euer yet +Affected Eminence, Wealth, Soueraignty; +Which, to say sooth, are Blessings; and which guifts +(Sauing your mincing) the capacity +Of your soft Chiuerell Conscience, would receiue, +If you might please to stretch it + + Anne. Nay, good troth + + Old L. Yes troth, & troth; you would not be a Queen? + Anne. No, not for all the riches vnder Heauen + + Old.L. Tis strange; a threepence bow'd would hire me +Old as I am, to Queene it: but I pray you, +What thinke you of a Dutchesse? Haue you limbs +To beare that load of Title? + An. No in truth + + Old.L. Then you are weakly made; plucke off a little, +I would not be a young Count in your way, +For more then blushing comes to: If your backe +Cannot vouchsafe this burthen, tis too weake +Euer to get a Boy + + An. How you doe talke; +I sweare againe, I would not be a Queene, +For all the world + + Old.L. In faith, for little England +You'ld venture an emballing: I my selfe +Would for Carnaruanshire, although there long'd +No more to th' Crowne but that: Lo, who comes here? +Enter Lord Chamberlaine. + + L.Cham. Good morrow Ladies; what wer't worth to know +The secret of your conference? + An. My good Lord, +Not your demand; it values not your asking: +Our Mistris Sorrowes we were pittying + + Cham. It was a gentle businesse, and becomming +The action of good women, there is hope +All will be well + + An. Now I pray God, Amen + + Cham. You beare a gentle minde, & heau'nly blessings +Follow such Creatures. That you may, faire Lady +Perceiue I speake sincerely, and high notes +Tane of your many vertues; the Kings Maiesty +Commends his good opinion of you, to you; and +Doe's purpose honour to you no lesse flowing, +Then Marchionesse of Pembrooke; to which Title, +A Thousand pound a yeare, Annuall support, +Out of his Grace, he addes + + An. I doe not know +What kinde of my obedience, I should tender; +More then my All, is Nothing: Nor my Prayers +Are not words duely hallowed; nor my Wishes +More worth, then empty vanities: yet Prayers & Wishes +Are all I can returne. 'Beseech your Lordship, +Vouchsafe to speake my thankes, and my obedience, +As from a blushing Handmaid, to his Highnesse; +Whose health and Royalty I pray for + + Cham. Lady; +I shall not faile t' approue the faire conceit +The King hath of you. I haue perus'd her well, +Beauty and Honour in her are so mingled, +That they haue caught the King: and who knowes yet +But from this Lady, may proceed a Iemme, +To lighten all this Ile. I'le to the King, +And say I spoke with you. + +Exit Lord Chamberlaine. + + An. My honour'd Lord + + Old.L. Why this it is: See, see, +I haue beene begging sixteene yeares in Court +(Am yet a Courtier beggerly) nor could +Come pat betwixt too early, and too late +For any suit of pounds: and you, (oh fate) +A very fresh Fish heere; fye, fye, fye vpon +This compel'd fortune: haue your mouth fild vp, +Before you open it + + An. This is strange to me + + Old L. How tasts it? Is it bitter? Forty pence, no: +There was a Lady once (tis an old Story) +That would not be a Queene, that would she not +For all the mud in Egypt; haue you heard it? + An. Come you are pleasant + + Old.L. With your Theame, I could +O're-mount the Larke: The Marchionesse of Pembrooke? +A thousand pounds a yeare, for pure respect? +No other obligation? by my Life, +That promises mo thousands: Honours traine +Is longer then his fore-skirt; by this time +I know your backe will beare a Dutchesse. Say, +Are you not stronger then you were? + An. Good Lady, +Make your selfe mirth with your particular fancy, +And leaue me out on't. Would I had no being +If this salute my blood a iot; it faints me +To thinke what followes. +The Queene is comfortlesse, and wee forgetfull +In our long absence: pray doe not deliuer, +What heere y'haue heard to her + + Old L. What doe you thinke me - + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Quarta. + +Trumpets, Sennet, and Cornets. Enter two Vergers, with short +siluer +wands; next them two Scribes in the habite of Doctors; after them, +the +Bishop of Canterbury alone; after him, the Bishops of Lincolne, +Ely, +Rochester, and S[aint]. Asaph: Next them, with some small +distance, +followes a Gentleman bearing the Purse, with the great Seale, and +a +Cardinals Hat: Then two Priests, bearing each a Siluer Crosse: +Then a +Gentleman Vsher bareheaded, accompanyed with a Sergeant at +Armes, bearing +a Siluer Mace: Then two Gentlemen bearing two great Siluer +Pillers: After +them, side by side, the two Cardinals, two Noblemen, with the +Sword and +Mace. The King takes place vnder the Cloth of State. The two +Cardinalls +sit vnder him as Iudges. The Queene takes place some distance +from the +King. The Bishops place themselues 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 conuenient order about the Stage. + + Car. Whil'st our Commission from Rome is read, +Let silence be commanded + + King. What's the need? +It hath already publiquely bene read, +And on all sides th' Authority allow'd, +You may then spare that time + + Car. Bee't so, proceed + + Scri. Say, Henry K[ing]. of England, come into the Court + + Crier. Henry King of England, &c + + King. Heere + + Scribe. Say, Katherine Queene of England, +Come into the Court + + Crier. Katherine Queene of England, &c. + +The Queene makes no answer, rises out of her Chaire, goes about +the +Court, comes to the King, and kneeles at his Feete. Then speakes. + +Sir, I desire you do me Right and Iustice, +And to bestow your pitty on me; for +I am a most poore Woman, and a Stranger, +Borne out of your Dominions: hauing heere +No Iudge indifferent, nor no more assurance +Of equall Friendship and Proceeding. Alas Sir: +In what haue I offended you? What cause +Hath my behauiour giuen to your displeasure, +That thus you should proceede to put me off, +And take your good Grace from me? Heauen witnesse, +I haue bene to you, a true and humble Wife, +At all times to your will conformable: +Euer in feare to kindle your Dislike, +Yea, subiect to your Countenance: Glad, or sorry, +As I saw it inclin'd? When was the houre +I euer contradicted your Desire? +Or made it not mine too? Or which of your Friends +Haue I not stroue to loue, although I knew +He were mine Enemy? What Friend of mine, +That had to him deriu'd your Anger, did I +Continue in my Liking? Nay, gaue notice +He was from thence discharg'd? Sir, call to minde, +That I haue beene your Wife, in this Obedience, +Vpward of twenty years, and haue bene blest +With many Children by you. If in the course +And processe of this time, you can report, +And proue it too, against mine Honor, aught; +My bond to Wedlocke, or my Loue and Dutie +Against your Sacred Person; in Gods name +Turne me away: and let the fowl'st Contempt +Shut doore vpon me, and so giue me vp +To the sharp'st kinde of Iustice. Please you, Sir, +The King your Father, was reputed for +A Prince most Prudent; of an excellent +And vnmatch'd Wit, and Iudgement. Ferdinand +My Father, King of Spaine, was reckon'd one +The wisest Prince, that there had reign'd, by many +A yeare before. It is not to be question'd, +That they had gather'd a wise Councell to them +Of euery Realme, that did debate this Businesse, +Who deem'd our Marriage lawful. Wherefore I humbly +Beseech you Sir, to spare me, till I may +Be by my Friends in Spaine, aduis'd; whose Counsaile +I will implore. If not, i'th' name of God +Your pleasure be fulfill'd + + Wol. You haue heere Lady, +(And of your choice) these Reuerend Fathers, men +Of singular Integrity, and Learning; +Yea, the elect o'th' Land, who are assembled +To pleade your Cause. It shall be therefore bootlesse, +That longer you desire the Court, as well +For your owne quiet, as to rectifie +What is vnsetled in the King + + Camp. His Grace +Hath spoken well, and iustly: Therefore Madam, +It's fit this Royall Session do proceed, +And that (without delay) their Arguments +Be now produc'd, and heard + + Qu. Lord Cardinall, to you I speake + + Wol. Your pleasure, Madam + + Qu. Sir, I am about to weepe; but thinking that +We are a Queene (or long haue dream'd so) certaine +The daughter of a King, my drops of teares, +Ile turne to sparkes of fire + + Wol. Be patient yet + + Qu. I will, when you are humble; Nay before, +Or God will punish me. I do beleeue +(Induc'd by potent Circumstances) that +You are mine Enemy, and make my Challenge, +You shall not be my Iudge. For it is you +Haue blowne this Coale, betwixt my Lord, and me; +(Which Gods dew quench) therefore, I say againe, +I vtterly abhorre; yea, from my Soule +Refuse you for my Iudge, whom yet once more +I hold my most malicious Foe, and thinke not +At all a Friend to truth + + Wol. I do professe +You speake not like your selfe: who euer yet +Haue stood to Charity, and displayd th' effects +Of disposition gentle, and of wisedome, +Ore-topping womans powre. Madam, you do me wrong +I haue no Spleene against you, nor iniustice +For you, or any: how farre I haue proceeded, +Or how farre further (Shall) is warranted +By a Commission from the Consistorie, +Yea, the whole Consistorie of Rome. You charge me, +That I haue blowne this Coale: I do deny it, +The King is present: If it be knowne to him, +That I gainsay my Deed, how may he wound, +And worthily my Falsehood, yea, as much +As you haue done my Truth. If he know +That I am free of your Report, he knowes +I am not of your wrong. Therefore in him +It lies to cure me, and the Cure is to +Remoue these Thoughts from you. The which before +His Highnesse shall speake in, I do beseech +You (gracious Madam) to vnthinke your speaking, +And to say so no more + + Queen. My Lord, My Lord, +I am a simple woman, much too weake +T' oppose your cunning. Y'are meek, & humble-mouth'd +You signe your Place, and Calling, in full seeming, +With Meekenesse and Humilitie: but your Heart +Is cramm'd with Arrogancie, Spleene, and Pride. +You haue by Fortune, and his Highnesse fauors, +Gone slightly o're lowe steppes, and now are mounted +Where Powres are your Retainers, and your words +(Domestickes to you) serue your will, as't please +Your selfe pronounce their Office. I must tell you, +You tender more your persons Honor, then +Your high profession Spirituall. That agen +I do refuse you for my Iudge, and heere +Before you all, Appeale vnto the Pope, +To bring my whole Cause 'fore his Holinesse, +And to be iudg'd by him. + +She Curtsies to the King, and offers to depart. + + Camp. The Queene is obstinate, +Stubborne to Iustice, apt to accuse it, and +Disdainfull to be tride by't; tis not well. +Shee's going away + + Kin. Call her againe + + Crier. Katherine. Q[ueene]. of England, come into the Court + + Gent.Vsh. Madam, you are cald backe + + Que. What need you note it? pray you keep your way, +When you are cald returne. Now the Lord helpe, +They vexe me past my patience, pray you passe on; +I will not tarry: no, nor euer more +Vpon this businesse my appearance make, +In any of their Courts. + +Exit Queene, and her Attendants. + + Kin. Goe thy wayes Kate, +That man i'th' world, who shall report he ha's +A better Wife, let him in naught be trusted, +For speaking false in that; thou art alone +(If thy rare qualities, sweet gentlenesse, +Thy meeknesse Saint-like, Wife-like Gouernment, +Obeying in commanding, and thy parts +Soueraigne and Pious els, could speake thee out) +The Queene of earthly Queenes: Shee's Noble borne; +And like her true Nobility, she ha's +Carried her selfe towards me + + Wol. Most gracious Sir, +In humblest manner I require your Highnes, +That it shall please you to declare in hearing +Of all these eares (for where I am rob'd and bound, +There must I be vnloos'd, although not there +At once, and fully satisfide) whether euer I +Did broach this busines to your Highnes, or +Laid any scruple in your way, which might +Induce you to the question on't: or euer +Haue to you, but with thankes to God for such +A Royall Lady, spake one, the least word that might +Be to the preiudice of her present State, +Or touch of her good Person? + Kin. My Lord Cardinall, +I doe excuse you; yea, vpon mine Honour, +I free you from't: You are not to be taught +That you haue many enemies, that know not +Why they are so; but like to Village Curres, +Barke when their fellowes doe. By some of these +The Queene is put in anger; y'are excus'd: +But will you be more iustifi'de? You euer +Haue wish'd the sleeping of this busines, neuer desir'd +It to be stir'd; but oft haue hindred, oft +The passages made toward it; on my Honour, +I speake my good Lord Cardnall, to this point; +And thus farre cleare him. +Now, what mou'd me too't, +I will be bold with time and your attention: +Then marke th' inducement. Thus it came; giue heede too't: +My Conscience first receiu'd a tendernes, +Scruple, and pricke, on certaine Speeches vtter'd +By th' Bishop of Bayon, then French Embassador, +Who had beene hither sent on the debating +And Marriage 'twixt the Duke of Orleance, and +Our Daughter Mary: I'th' Progresse of this busines, +Ere a determinate resolution, hee +(I meane the Bishop) did require a respite, +Wherein he might the King his Lord aduertise, +Whether our Daughter were legitimate, +Respecting this our Marriage with the Dowager, +Sometimes our Brothers Wife. This respite shooke +The bosome of my Conscience, enter'd me; +Yea, with a spitting power, and made to tremble +The region of my Breast, which forc'd such way, +That many maz'd considerings, did throng +And prest in with this Caution. First, me thought +I stood not in the smile of Heauen, who had +Commanded Nature, that my Ladies wombe +If it conceiu'd a male-child by me, should +Doe no more Offices of life too't; then +The Graue does to th' dead: For her Male Issue, +Or di'de where they were made, or shortly after +This world had ayr'd them. Hence I tooke a thought, +This was a Iudgement on me, that my Kingdome +(Well worthy the best Heyre o'th' World) should not +Be gladded in't by me. Then followes, that +I weigh'd the danger which my Realmes stood in +By this my Issues faile, and that gaue to me +Many a groaning throw: thus hulling in +The wild Sea of my Conscience, I did steere +Toward this remedy, whereupon we are +Now present heere together: that's to say, +I meant to rectifie my Conscience, which +I then did feele full sicke, and yet not well, +By all the Reuerend Fathers of the Land, +And Doctors learn'd. First I began in priuate, +With you my Lord of Lincolne; you remember +How vnder my oppression I did reeke +When I first mou'd you + + B.Lin. Very well my Liedge + + Kin. I haue spoke long, be pleas'd your selfe to say +How farre you satisfide me + + Lin. So please your Highnes, +The question did at first so stagger me, +Bearing a State of mighty moment in't, +And consequence of dread, that I committed +The daringst Counsaile which I had to doubt, +And did entreate your Highnes to this course, +Which you are running heere + + Kin. I then mou'd you, +My Lord of Canterbury, and got your leaue +To make this present Summons vnsolicited. +I left no Reuerend Person in this Court; +But by particular consent proceeded +Vnder your hands and Seales; therefore goe on, +For no dislike i'th' world against the person +Of the good Queene; but the sharpe thorny points +Of my alleadged reasons, driues this forward: +Proue but our Marriage lawfull, by my Life + +And Kingly Dignity, we are contented +To weare our mortall State to come, with her, +(Katherine our Queene) before the primest Creature +That's Parragon'd o'th' World + + Camp. So please your Highnes, +The Queene being absent, 'tis a needfull fitnesse, +That we adiourne this Court till further day; +Meane while, must be an earnest motion +Made to the Queene to call backe her Appeale +She intends vnto his Holinesse + + Kin. I may perceiue +These Cardinals trifle with me: I abhorre +This dilatory sloth, and trickes of Rome. +My learn'd and welbeloued Seruant Cranmer, +Prethee returne, with thy approch: I know, +My comfort comes along: breake vp the Court; +I say, set on. + +Exeunt., in manner as they enter'd. + + +Actus Tertius. Scena Prima. + + +Enter Queene and her Women as at worke. + + Queen. Take thy Lute wench, +My Soule growes sad with troubles, +Sing, and disperse 'em if thou canst: leaue working. + +SONG. + +Orpheus with his Lute made Trees, +And the Mountaine tops that freeze, +Bow themselues when he did sing. +To his Musicke, Plants and Flowers +Euer sprung; as Sunne and Showers, +There had made a lasting Spring. +Euery thing that heard him play, +Euen the Billowes of the Sea, +Hung their heads, & then lay by. +In sweet Musicke is such Art, +Killing care, & griefe of heart, +Fall asleepe, or hearing dye. +Enter a Gentleman. + + Queen. How now? + Gent. And't please your Grace, the two great Cardinals +Wait in the presence + + Queen. Would they speake with me? + Gent. They wil'd me say so Madam + + Queen. Pray their Graces +To come neere: what can be their busines +With me, a poore weake woman, falne from fauour? +I doe not like their comming; now I thinke on't, +They should bee good men, their affaires as righteous: +But all Hoods, make not Monkes. +Enter the two Cardinalls, Wolsey & Campian. + + Wols. Peace to your Highnesse + + Queen. Your Graces find me heere part of a Houswife, +(I would be all) against the worst may happen: +What are your pleasures with me, reuerent Lords? + Wol. May it please you Noble Madam, to withdraw +Into your priuate Chamber; we shall giue you +The full cause of our comming + + Queen. Speake it heere. +There's nothing I haue done yet o' my Conscience +Deserues a Corner: would all other Women +Could speake this with as free a Soule as I doe. +My Lords, I care not (so much I am happy +Aboue a number) if my actions +Were tri'de by eu'ry tongue, eu'ry eye saw 'em, +Enuy and base opinion set against 'em, +I know my life so euen. If your busines +Seeke me out, and that way I am Wife in; +Out with it boldly: Truth loues open dealing + + Card. Tanta est erga te mentis integritas Regina serenissima + + Queen. O good my Lord, no Latin; +I am not such a Truant since my comming, +As not to know the Language I haue liu'd in: +A strange Tongue makes my cause more strange, suspitious: +Pray speake in English; heere are some will thanke you, +If you speake truth, for their poore Mistris sake; +Beleeue me she ha's had much wrong. Lord Cardinall, +The willing'st sinne I euer yet committed, +May be absolu'd in English + + Card. Noble Lady, +I am sorry my integrity should breed, +(And seruice to his Maiesty and you) +So deepe suspition, where all faith was meant; +We come not by the way of Accusation, +To taint that honour euery good Tongue blesses; +Nor to betray you any way to sorrow; +You haue too much good Lady: But to know +How you stand minded in the waighty difference +Betweene the King and you, and to deliuer +(Like free and honest men) our iust opinions, +And comforts to our cause + + Camp. Most honour'd Madam, +My Lord of Yorke, out of his Noble nature, +Zeale and obedience he still bore your Grace, +Forgetting (like a good man) your late Censure +Both of his truth and him (which was too farre) +Offers, as I doe, in a signe of peace, +His Seruice, and his Counsell + + Queen. To betray me. +My Lords, I thanke you both for your good wills, +Ye speake like honest men, (pray God ye proue so) +But how to make ye sodainly an Answere +In such a poynt of weight, so neere mine Honour, +(More neere my Life I feare) with my weake wit; +And to such men of grauity and learning; +In truth I know not. I was set at worke, +Among my Maids, full little (God knowes) looking +Either for such men, or such businesse; +For her sake that I haue beene, for I feele +The last fit of my Greatnesse; good your Graces +Let me haue time and Councell for my Cause: +Alas, I am a Woman frendlesse, hopelesse + + Wol. Madam, +You wrong the Kings loue with these feares, +Your hopes and friends are infinite + + Queen. In England, +But little for my profit can you thinke Lords, +That any English man dare giue me Councell? +Or be a knowne friend 'gainst his Highnes pleasure, +(Though he be growne so desperate to be honest) +And liue a Subiect? Nay forsooth, my Friends, +They that must weigh out my afflictions, +They that my trust must grow to, liue not heere, +They are (as all my other comforts) far hence +In mine owne Countrey Lords + + Camp. I would your Grace +Would leaue your greefes, and take my Counsell + + Queen. How Sir? + Camp. Put your maine cause into the Kings protection, +Hee's louing and most gracious. 'Twill be much, +Both for your Honour better, and your Cause: +For if the tryall of the Law o'retake ye, +You'l part away disgrac'd + + Wol. He tels you rightly + + Queen. Ye tell me what ye wish for both, my ruine: +Is this your Christian Councell? Out vpon ye. +Heauen is aboue all yet; there sits a Iudge, +That no King can corrupt + + Camp. Your rage mistakes vs + + Queen. The more shame for ye; holy men I thought ye, +Vpon my Soule two reuerend Cardinall Vertues: +But Cardinall Sins, and hollow hearts I feare ye: +Mend 'em for shame my Lords: Is this your comfort? +The Cordiall that ye bring a wretched Lady? +A woman lost among ye, laugh't at, scornd? +I will not wish ye halfe my miseries, +I haue more Charity. But say I warn'd ye; +Take heed, for heauens sake take heed, least at once +The burthen of my sorrowes, fall vpon ye + + Car. Madam, this is a meere distraction, +You turne the good we offer, into enuy + + Quee. Ye turne me into nothing. Woe vpon ye, +And all such false Professors. Would you haue me +(If you haue any Iustice, any Pitty, +If ye be any thing but Churchmens habits) +Put my sicke cause into his hands, that hates me? +Alas, ha's banish'd me his Bed already, +His Loue, too long ago. I am old my Lords, +And all the Fellowship I hold now with him +Is onely my Obedience. What can happen +To me, aboue this wretchednesse? All your Studies +Make me a Curse, like this + + Camp. Your feares are worse + + Qu. Haue I liu'd thus long (let me speake my selfe, +Since Vertue findes no friends) a Wife, a true one? +A Woman (I dare say without Vainglory) +Neuer yet branded with Suspition? +Haue I, with all my full Affections +Still met the King? Lou'd him next Heau'n? Obey'd him? +Bin (out of fondnesse) superstitious to him? +Almost forgot my Prayres to content him? +And am I thus rewarded? 'Tis not well Lords. +Bring me a constant woman to her Husband, +One that ne're dream'd a Ioy, beyond his pleasure; +And to that Woman (when she has done most) +Yet will I adde an Honor; a great Patience + + Car. Madam, you wander from the good +We ayme at + + Qu. My Lord, +I dare not make my selfe so guiltie, +To giue vp willingly that Noble Title +Your Master wed me to: nothing but death +Shall e're diuorce my Dignities + + Car. Pray heare me + + Qu. Would I had neuer trod this English Earth, +Or felt the Flatteries that grow vpon it: +Ye haue Angels Faces; but Heauen knowes your hearts. +What will become of me now, wretched Lady? +I am the most vnhappy Woman liuing. +Alas (poore Wenches) where are now your Fortunes? +Shipwrack'd vpon a Kingdome, where no Pitty, +No Friends, no Hope, no Kindred weepe for me? +Almost no Graue allow'd me? Like the Lilly +That once was Mistris of the Field, and flourish'd, +Ile hang my head, and perish + + Car. If your Grace +Could but be brought to know, our Ends are honest, +Youl'd feele more comfort. Why shold we (good Lady) +Vpon what cause wrong you? Alas, our Places, +The way of our Profession is against it; +We are to Cure such sorrowes, not to sowe 'em. +For Goodnesse sake, consider what you do, +How you may hurt your selfe: I, vtterly +Grow from the Kings Acquaintance, by this Carriage. +The hearts of Princes kisse Obedience, +So much they loue it. But to stubborne Spirits, +They swell and grow, as terrible as stormes. +I know you haue a Gentle, Noble temper, +A Soule as euen as a Calme; Pray thinke vs, +Those we professe, Peace-makers, Friends, and Seruants + + Camp. Madam, you'l finde it so: +You wrong your Vertues +With these weake Womens feares. A Noble Spirit +As yours was, put into you, euer casts +Such doubts as false Coine from it. The King loues you, +Beware you loose it not: For vs (if you please +To trust vs in your businesse) we are ready +To vse our vtmost Studies, in your seruice + + Qu. Do what ye will, my Lords: +And pray forgiue me; +If I haue vs'd my selfe vnmannerly, +You know I am a Woman, lacking wit +To make a seemely answer to such persons. +Pray do my seruice to his Maiestie, +He ha's my heart yet, and shall haue my Prayers +While I shall haue my life. Come reuerend Fathers, +Bestow your Councels on me. She now begges +That little thought when she set footing heere, +She should haue bought her Dignities so deere. + +Exeunt. + +Scena Secunda. + +Enter the Duke of Norfolke, Duke of Suffolke, Lord Surrey, and +Lord +Chamberlaine. + + Norf. If you will now vnite in your Complaints, +And force them with a Constancy, the Cardinall +Cannot stand vnder them. If you omit +The offer of this time, I cannot promise, +But that you shall sustaine moe new disgraces, +With these you beare alreadie + + Sur. I am ioyfull +To meete the least occasion, that may giue me +Remembrance of my Father-in-Law, the Duke, +To be reueng'd on him + + Suf. Which of the Peeres +Haue vncontemn'd gone by him, or at least +Strangely neglected? When did he regard +The stampe of Noblenesse in any person +Out of himselfe? + Cham. My Lords, you speake your pleasures: +What he deserues of you and me, I know: +What we can do to him (though now the time +Giues way to vs) I much feare. If you cannot +Barre his accesse to'th' King, neuer attempt +Any thing on him: for he hath a Witchcraft +Ouer the King in's Tongue + + Nor. O feare him not, +His spell in that is out: the King hath found +Matter against him, that for euer marres +The Hony of his Language. No, he's setled +(Not to come off) in his displeasure + + Sur. Sir, +I should be glad to heare such Newes as this +Once euery houre + + Nor. Beleeue it, this is true. +In the Diuorce, his contrarie proceedings +Are all vnfolded: wherein he appeares, +As I would wish mine Enemy + + Sur. How came +His practises to light? + Suf. Most strangely + + Sur. O how? how? + Suf. The Cardinals Letters to the Pope miscarried, +And came to th' eye o'th' King, wherein was read +How that the Cardinall did intreat his Holinesse +To stay the Iudgement o'th' Diuorce; for if +It did take place, I do (quoth he) perceiue +My King is tangled in affection, to +A Creature of the Queenes, Lady Anne Bullen + + Sur. Ha's the King this? + Suf. Beleeue it + + Sur. Will this worke? + Cham. The King in this perceiues him, how he coasts +And hedges his owne way. But in this point +All his trickes founder, and he brings his Physicke +After his Patients death; the King already +Hath married the faire Lady + + Sur. Would he had + + Suf. May you be happy in your wish my Lord, +For I professe you haue it + + Sur. Now all my ioy +Trace the Coniunction + + Suf. My Amen too't + + Nor. All mens + + Suf. There's order giuen for her Coronation: +Marry this is yet but yong, and may be left +To some eares vnrecounted. But my Lords +She is a gallant Creature, and compleate +In minde and feature. I perswade me, from her +Will fall some blessing to this Land, which shall +In it be memoriz'd + + Sur. But will the King +Digest this Letter of the Cardinals? +The Lord forbid + + Nor. Marry Amen + + Suf. No, no: +There be moe Waspes that buz about his Nose, +Will make this sting the sooner. Cardinall Campeius, +Is stolne away to Rome, hath 'tane no leaue, +Ha's left the cause o'th' King vnhandled, and +Is posted as the Agent of our Cardinall, +To second all his plot. I do assure you, +The King cry'de Ha, at this + + Cham. Now God incense him, +And let him cry Ha, lowder + + Norf. But my Lord +When returnes Cranmer? + Suf. He is return'd in his Opinions, which +Haue satisfied the King for his Diuorce, +Together with all famous Colledges +Almost in Christendome: shortly (I beleeue) +His second Marriage shall be publishd, and +Her Coronation. Katherine no more +Shall be call'd Queene, but Princesse Dowager, +And Widdow to Prince Arthur + + Nor. This same Cranmer's +A worthy Fellow, and hath tane much paine +In the Kings businesse + + Suff. He ha's, and we shall see him +For it, an Arch-byshop + + Nor. So I heare + + Suf. 'Tis so. +Enter Wolsey and Cromwell. + +The Cardinall + + Nor. Obserue, obserue, hee's moody + + Car. The Packet Cromwell, +Gau't you the King? + Crom. To his owne hand, in's Bed-chamber + + Card. Look'd he o'th' inside of the Paper? + Crom. Presently +He did vnseale them, and the first he view'd, +He did it with a Serious minde: a heede +Was in his countenance. You he bad +Attend him heere this Morning + + Card. Is he ready to come abroad? + Crom. I thinke by this he is + + Card. Leaue me a while. + +Exit Cromwell. + +It shall be to the Dutches of Alanson, +The French Kings Sister; He shall marry her. +Anne Bullen? No: Ile no Anne Bullens for him, +There's more in't then faire Visage. Bullen? +No, wee'l no Bullens: Speedily I wish +To heare from Rome. The Marchionesse of Penbroke? + Nor. He's discontented + + Suf. Maybe he heares the King +Does whet his Anger to him + + Sur. Sharpe enough, +Lord for thy Iustice + + Car. The late Queenes Gentlewoman? +A Knights Daughter +To be her Mistris Mistris? The Queenes, Queene? +This Candle burnes not cleere, 'tis I must snuffe it, +Then out it goes. What though I know her vertuous +And well deseruing? yet I know her for +A spleeny Lutheran, and not wholsome to +Our cause, that she should lye i'th' bosome of +Our hard rul'd King. Againe, there is sprung vp +An Heretique, an Arch-one; Cranmer, one +Hath crawl'd into the fauour of the King, +And is his Oracle + + Nor. He is vex'd at something. +Enter King, reading of a Scedule. + + Sur. I would 'twer somthing y would fret the string, +The Master-cord on's heart + + Suf. The King, the King + + King. What piles of wealth hath he accumulated +To his owne portion? And what expence by'th' houre +Seemes to flow from him? How, i'th' name of Thrift +Does he rake this together? Now my Lords, +Saw you the Cardinall? + Nor. My Lord, we haue +Stood heere obseruing him. Some strange Commotion +Is in his braine: He bites his lip, and starts, +Stops on a sodaine, lookes vpon the ground, +Then layes his finger on his Temple: straight +Springs out into fast gate, then stops againe, +Strikes his brest hard, and anon, he casts +His eye against the Moone: in most strange Postures +We haue seene him set himselfe + + King. It may well be, +There is a mutiny in's minde. This morning, +Papers of State he sent me, to peruse +As I requir'd: and wot you what I found +There (on my Conscience put vnwittingly) +Forsooth an Inuentory, thus importing +The seuerall parcels of his Plate, his Treasure, +Rich Stuffes and Ornaments of Houshold, which +I finde at such proud Rate, that it out-speakes +Possession of a Subiect + + Nor. It's Heauens will, +Some Spirit put this paper in the Packet, +To blesse your eye withall + + King. If we did thinke +His Contemplation were aboue the earth, +And fixt on Spirituall obiect, he should still +Dwell in his Musings, but I am affraid +His Thinkings are below the Moone, not worth +His serious considering. + +King takes his Seat, whispers Louell, who goes to the Cardinall. + + Car. Heauen forgiue me, +Euer God blesse your Highnesse + + King. Good my Lord, +You are full of Heauenly stuffe, and beare the Inuentory +Of your best Graces, in your minde; the which +You were now running o're: you haue scarse time +To steale from Spirituall leysure, a briefe span +To keepe your earthly Audit, sure in that +I deeme you an ill Husband, and am glad +To haue you therein my Companion + + Car. Sir, +For Holy Offices I haue a time; a time +To thinke vpon the part of businesse, which +I beare i'th' State: and Nature does require +Her times of preseruation, which perforce +I her fraile sonne, among'st my Brethren mortall, +Must giue my tendance to + + King. You haue said well + + Car. And euer may your Highnesse yoake together, +(As I will lend you cause) my doing well, +With my well saying + + King. 'Tis well said agen, +And 'tis a kinde of good deede to say well, +And yet words are no deeds. My Father lou'd you, +He said he did, and with his deed did Crowne +His word vpon you. Since I had my Office, +I haue kept you next my Heart, haue not alone +Imploy'd you where high Profits might come home, +But par'd my present Hauings, to bestow +My Bounties vpon you + + Car. What should this meane? + Sur. The Lord increase this businesse + + King. Haue I not made you +The prime man of the State? I pray you tell me, +If what I now pronounce, you haue found true: +And if you may confesse it, say withall +If you are bound to vs, or no. What say you? + Car. My Soueraigne, I confesse your Royall graces +Showr'd on me daily, haue bene more then could +My studied purposes requite, which went +Beyond all mans endeauors. My endeauors, +Haue euer come too short of my Desires, +Yet fill'd with my Abilities: Mine owne ends +Haue beene mine so, that euermore they pointed +To'th' good of your most Sacred Person, and +The profit of the State. For your great Graces +Heap'd vpon me (poore Vndeseruer) I +Can nothing render but Allegiant thankes, +My Prayres to heauen for you; my Loyaltie +Which euer ha's, and euer shall be growing, +Till death (that Winter) kill it + + King. Fairely answer'd: +A Loyall, and obedient Subiect is +Therein illustrated, the Honor of it +Does pay the Act of it, as i'th' contrary +The fowlenesse is the punishment. I presume, +That as my hand ha's open'd Bounty to you, +My heart drop'd Loue, my powre rain'd Honor, more +On you, then any: So your Hand, and Heart, +Your Braine, and euery Function of your power, +Should, notwithstanding that your bond of duty, +As 'twer in Loues particular, be more +To me your Friend, then any + + Car. I do professe, +That for your Highnesse good, I euer labour'd +More then mine owne: that am, haue, and will be +(Though all the world should cracke their duty to you, +And throw it from their Soule, though perils did +Abound, as thicke as thought could make 'em, and +Appeare in formes more horrid) yet my Duty, +As doth a Rocke against the chiding Flood, +Should the approach of this wilde Riuer breake, +And stand vnshaken yours + + King. 'Tis Nobly spoken: +Take notice Lords, he ha's a Loyall brest, +For you haue seene him open't. Read o're this, +And after this, and then to Breakfast with +What appetite you haue. + +Exit King, frowning vpon the Cardinall, the Nobles throng after +him +smiling, and whispering. + + Car. What should this meane? +What sodaine Anger's this? How haue I reap'd it? +He parted Frowning from me, as if Ruine +Leap'd from his Eyes. So lookes the chafed Lyon +Vpon the daring Huntsman that has gall'd him: +Then makes him nothing. I must reade this paper: +I feare the Story of his Anger. 'Tis so: +This paper ha's vndone me: 'Tis th' Accompt +Of all that world of Wealth I haue drawne together +For mine owne ends, (Indeed to gaine the Popedome, +And fee my Friends in Rome.) O Negligence! +Fit for a Foole to fall by: What crosse Diuell +Made me put this maine Secret in the Packet +I sent the King? Is there no way to cure this? +No new deuice to beate this from his Braines? +I know 'twill stirre him strongly; yet I know +A way, if it take right, in spight of Fortune +Will bring me off againe. What's this? To th' Pope? +The Letter (as I liue) with all the Businesse +I writ too's Holinesse. Nay then, farewell: +I haue touch'd the highest point of all my Greatnesse, +And from that full Meridian of my Glory, +I haste now to my Setting. I shall fall +Like a bright exhalation in the Euening, +And no man see me more. +Enter to Woolsey, the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke, the Earle +of Surrey, +and the Lord Chamberlaine. + + Nor. Heare the Kings pleasure Cardinall, +Who commands you +To render vp the Great Seale presently +Into our hands, and to Confine your selfe +To Asher-house, my Lord of Winchesters, +Till you heare further from his Highnesse + + Car. Stay: +Where's your Commission? Lords, words cannot carrie +Authority so weighty + + Suf. Who dare crosse 'em, +Bearing the Kings will from his mouth expressely? + Car. Till I finde more then will, or words to do it, +(I meane your malice) know, Officious Lords, +I dare, and must deny it. Now I feele +Of what course Mettle ye are molded, Enuy, +How eagerly ye follow my Disgraces +As if it fed ye, and how sleeke and wanton +Ye appeare in euery thing may bring my ruine? +Follow your enuious courses, men of Malice; +You haue Christian warrant for 'em, and no doubt +In time will finde their fit Rewards. That Seale +You aske with such a Violence, the King +(Mine, and your Master) with his owne hand, gaue me: +Bad me enioy it, with the Place, and Honors +During my life; and to confirme his Goodnesse, +Ti'de it by Letters Patents. Now, who'll take it? + Sur. The King that gaue it + + Car. It must be himselfe then + + Sur. Thou art a proud Traitor, Priest + + Car. Proud Lord, thou lyest: +Within these fortie houres, Surrey durst better +Haue burnt that Tongue, then saide so + + Sur. Thy Ambition +(Thou Scarlet sinne) robb'd this bewailing Land +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 haire of his. Plague of your policie, +You sent me Deputie for Ireland, +Farre from his succour; from the King, from all +That might haue mercie on the fault, thou gau'st him: +Whil'st your great Goodnesse, out of holy pitty, +Absolu'd him with an Axe + + Wol. This, and all else +This talking Lord can lay vpon my credit, +I answer, is most false. The Duke by Law +Found his deserts. How innocent I was +From any priuate malice in his end, +His Noble Iurie, and foule Cause can witnesse. +If I lou'd many words, Lord, I should tell you, +You haue as little Honestie, as Honor, +That in the way of Loyaltie, and Truth, +Toward the King, my euer Roiall Master, +Dare mate a sounder man then Surrie can be, +And all that loue his follies + + Sur. By my Soule, +Your long Coat (Priest) protects you, +Thou should'st feele +My Sword i'th' life blood of thee else. My Lords, +Can ye endure to heare this Arrogance? +And from this Fellow? If we liue thus tamely, +To be thus Iaded by a peece of Scarlet, +Farewell Nobilitie: let his Grace go forward, +And dare vs with his Cap, like Larkes + + Card. All Goodnesse +Is poyson to thy Stomacke + + Sur. Yes, that goodnesse +Of gleaning all the Lands wealth into one, +Into your owne hands (Card'nall) by Extortion: +The goodnesse of your intercepted Packets +You writ to'th Pope, against the King: your goodnesse +Since you prouoke me, shall be most notorious. +My Lord of Norfolke, as you are truly Noble, +As you respect the common good, the State +Of our despis'd Nobilitie, our Issues, +(Whom if he liue, will scarse be Gentlemen) +Produce the grand summe of his sinnes, the Articles +Collected from his life. Ile startle you +Worse then the Sacring Bell, when the browne Wench +Lay kissing in your Armes, Lord Cardinall + + Car. How much me thinkes, I could despise this man, +But that I am bound in Charitie against it + + Nor. Those Articles, my Lord, are in the Kings hand: +But thus much, they are foule ones + + Wol. So much fairer +And spotlesse, shall mine Innocence arise, +When the King knowes my Truth + + Sur. This cannot saue you: +I thanke my Memorie, I yet remember +Some of these Articles, and out they shall. +Now, if you can blush, and crie guiltie Cardinall, +You'l shew a little Honestie + + Wol. Speake on Sir, +I dare your worst Obiections: If I blush, +It is to see a Nobleman want manners + + Sur. I had rather want those, then my head; +Haue at you. +First, that without the Kings assent or knowledge, +You wrought to be a Legate, by which power +You maim'd the Iurisdiction of all Bishops + + Nor. Then, That in all you writ to Rome, or else +To Forraigne Princes, Ego & Rex meus +Was still inscrib'd: in which you brought the King +To be your Seruant + + Suf. Then, that without the knowledge +Either of King or Councell, when you went +Ambassador to the Emperor, you made bold +To carry into Flanders, the Great Seale + + + Sur. Item, You sent a large Commission +To Gregory de Cassado, to conclude +Without the Kings will, or the States allowance, +A League betweene his Highnesse, and Ferrara + + Suf. That out of meere Ambition, you haue caus'd +Your holy-Hat to be stampt on the Kings Coine + + Sur. Then, That you haue sent inumerable substance, +(By what meanes got, I leaue to your owne conscience) +To furnish Rome, and to prepare the wayes +You haue for Dignities, to the meere vndooing +Of all the Kingdome. Many more there are, +Which since they are of you, and odious, +I will not taint my mouth with + + Cham. O my Lord, +Presse not a falling man too farre: 'tis Vertue: +His faults lye open to the Lawes, let them +(Not you) correct him. My heart weepes to see him +So little, of his great Selfe + + Sur. I forgiue him + + Suf. Lord Cardinall, the Kings further pleasure is, +Because all those things you haue done of late +By your power Legatine within this Kingdome, +Fall into 'th' compasse of a Premunire; +That therefore such a Writ be sued against you, +To forfeit all your Goods, Lands, Tenements, +Castles, and whatsoeuer, and to be +Out of the Kings protection. This is my Charge + + Nor. And so wee'l leaue you to your Meditations +How to liue better. For your stubborne answer +About the giuing backe the Great Seale to vs, +The King shall know it, and (no doubt) shal thanke you. +So fare you well, my little good Lord Cardinall. + +Exeunt. all but Wolsey. + + Wol. So farewell, to the little good you beare me. +Farewell? A long farewell to all my Greatnesse. +This is the state of Man; to day he puts forth +The tender Leaues of hopes, to morrow Blossomes, +And beares his blushing Honors thicke vpon him: +The third day, comes a Frost; a killing Frost, +And when he thinkes, good easie man, full surely +His Greatnesse is a ripening, nippes his roote, +And then he fals as I do. I haue ventur'd +Like little wanton Boyes that swim on bladders: +This many Summers in a Sea of Glory, +But farre beyond my depth: my high-blowne Pride +At length broke vnder me, and now ha's left me +Weary, and old with Seruice, to the mercy +Of a rude streame, that must for euer hide me. +Vaine pompe, and glory of this World, I hate ye, +I feele my heart new open'd. Oh how wretched +Is that poore man, that hangs on Princes fauours? +There is betwixt that smile we would aspire too, +That sweet Aspect of Princes, and their ruine, +More pangs, and feares then warres, or women haue; +And when he falles, he falles like Lucifer, +Neuer to hope againe. +Enter Cromwell, standing amazed. + +Why how now Cromwell? + Crom. I haue no power to speake Sir + + Car. What, amaz'd +At my misfortunes? Can thy Spirit wonder +A great man should decline. Nay, and you weep +I am falne indeed + + Crom. How does your Grace + + Card. Why well: +Neuer so truly happy, my good Cromwell, +I know my selfe now, and I feele within me, +A peace aboue all earthly Dignities, +A still, and quiet Conscience. The King ha's cur'd me, +I humbly thanke his Grace: and from these shoulders +These ruin'd Pillers, out of pitty, taken +A loade, would sinke a Nauy, (too much Honor.) +O 'tis a burden Cromwel, 'tis a burden +Too heauy for a man, that hopes for Heauen + + Crom. I am glad your Grace, +Ha's made that right vse of it + + Card. I hope I haue: +I am able now (me thinkes) +(Out of a Fortitude of Soule, I feele) +To endure more Miseries, and greater farre +Then my Weake-hearted Enemies, dare offer. +What Newes abroad? + Crom. The heauiest, and the worst, +Is your displeasure with the King + + Card. God blesse him + + Crom. The next is, that Sir Thomas Moore is chosen +Lord Chancellor, in your place + + Card. That's somewhat sodain. +But he's a Learned man. May he continue +Long in his Highnesse fauour, and do Iustice +For Truths-sake, and his Conscience; that his bones, +When he ha's run his course, and sleepes in Blessings, +May haue a Tombe of Orphants teares wept on him. +What more? + Crom. That Cranmer is return'd with welcome; +Install'd Lord Arch-byshop of Canterbury + + Card. That's Newes indeed + + Crom. Last, that the Lady Anne, +Whom the King hath in secrecie long married, +This day was view'd in open, as his Queene, +Going to Chappell: and the voyce is now +Onely about her Corronation + + Card. There was the waight that pull'd me downe. +O Cromwell, +The King ha's gone beyond me: All my Glories +In that one woman, I haue lost for euer. +No Sun, shall euer vsher forth mine Honors, +Or gilde againe the Noble Troopes that waighted +Vpon my smiles. Go get thee from me Cromwel, +I am a poore falne man, vnworthy now +To be thy Lord, and Master. Seeke the King +(That Sun, I pray may neuer set) I haue told him, +What, and how true thou art; he will aduance thee: +Some little memory of me, will stirre him +(I know his Noble Nature) not to let +Thy hopefull seruice perish too. Good Cromwell +Neglect him not; make vse now, and prouide +For thine owne future safety + + Crom. O my Lord, +Must I then leaue you? Must I needes forgo +So good, so Noble, and so true a Master? +Beare witnesse, all that haue not hearts of Iron, +With what a sorrow Cromwel leaues his Lord. +The King shall haue my seruice; but my prayres +For euer, and for euer shall be yours + + Card. Cromwel, I did not thinke to shed a teare +In all my Miseries: But thou hast forc'd me +(Out of thy honest truth) to play the Woman. +Let's dry our eyes: And thus farre heare me Cromwel, +And when I am forgotten, as I shall be, +And sleepe in dull cold Marble, where no mention +Of me, more must be heard of: Say I taught thee; +Say Wolsey, that once trod the wayes of Glory, +And sounded all the Depths, and Shoales of Honor, +Found thee a way (out of his wracke) to rise in: +A sure, and safe one, though thy Master mist it. +Marke but my Fall, and that that Ruin'd me: +Cromwel, I charge thee, fling away Ambition, +By that sinne fell the Angels: how can man then +(The Image of his Maker) hope to win by it? +Loue thy selfe last, cherish those hearts that hate thee; +Corruption wins not more then Honesty. +Still in thy right hand, carry gentle Peace +To silence enuious Tongues. Be iust, and feare not; +Let all the ends thou aym'st at, be thy Countries, +Thy Gods, and Truths. Then if thou fall'st (O Cromwell) +Thou fall'st a blessed Martyr. +Serue the King: And prythee leade me in: +There take an Inuentory of all I haue, +To the last peny, 'tis the Kings. My Robe, +And my Integrity to Heauen, is all, +I dare now call mine owne. O Cromwel, Cromwel, +Had I but seru'd my God, with halfe the Zeale +I seru'd my King: he would not in mine Age +Haue left me naked to mine Enemies + + Crom. Good Sir, haue patience + + Card. So I haue. Farewell +The Hopes of Court, my Hopes in Heauen do dwell. + +Exeunt. + + +Actus Quartus. Scena Prima. + +Enter two Gentlemen, meeting one another. + + 1 Y'are well met once againe + + 2 So are you + + 1 You come to take your stand heere, and behold +The Lady Anne, passe from her Corronation + + 2 'Tis all my businesse. At our last encounter, +The Duke of Buckingham came from his Triall + + 1 'Tis very true. But that time offer'd sorrow, +This generall ioy + + 2 'Tis well: The Citizens +I am sure haue shewne at full their Royall minds, +As let 'em haue their rights, they are euer forward +In Celebration of this day with Shewes, +Pageants, and Sights of Honor + + 1 Neuer greater, +Nor Ile assure you better taken Sir + + 2 May I be bold to aske what that containes, +That Paper in your hand + + 1 Yes, 'tis the List +Of those that claime their Offices this day, +By custome of the Coronation. +The Duke of Suffolke is the first, and claimes +To be high Steward; Next the Duke of Norfolke, +He to be Earle Marshall: you may reade the rest + + 1 I thanke you Sir: Had I not known those customs, +I should haue beene beholding to your Paper: +But I beseech you, what's become of Katherine +The Princesse Dowager? How goes her businesse? + 1 That I can tell you too. The Archbishop +Of Canterbury, accompanied with other +Learned, and Reuerend Fathers of his Order, +Held a late Court at Dunstable; sixe miles off +From Ampthill, where the Princesse lay, to which +She was often cyted by them, but appear'd not: +And to be short, for not Appearance, and +The Kings late Scruple, by the maine assent +Of all these Learned men, she was diuorc'd, +And the late Marriage made of none effect: +Since which, she was remou'd to Kymmalton, +Where she remaines now sicke + + 2 Alas good Lady. +The Trumpets sound: Stand close, +The Queene is comming. + +Ho-boyes. The Order of the Coronation. 1 A liuely Flourish of +Trumpets. 2 +Then, two Iudges. 3 Lord Chancellor, with Purse and Mace before +him. 4 +Quirristers singing. Musicke. 5 Maior of London, bearing the +Mace. Then +Garter, in his Coate of Armes, and on his head he wore a Gilt +Copper +Crowne. 6 Marquesse Dorset, bearing a Scepter of Gold, on his +head, a +Demy Coronall of Gold. With him, the Earle of Surrey, bearing the +Rod of +Siluer with the Doue, Crowned with an Earles Coronet. Collars of +Esses. 7 +Duke of Suffolke, in his Robe of Estate, his Coronet on his head, +bearing +a long white Wand, as High Steward. With him, the Duke of +Norfolke, with +the Rod of Marshalship, a Coronet on his head. Collars of Esses. 8 +A +Canopy, borne by foure of the Cinque-Ports, vnder it the Queene in +her +Robe, in her haire, richly adorned with Pearle, Crowned. On each +side her, +the Bishops of London, and Winchester. 9 The Olde Dutchesse of +Norfolke, +in a Coronall of Gold, wrought with Flowers bearing the Queenes +Traine. 10 +Certaine Ladies or Countesses, with plaine Circlets of Gold, +without +Flowers. Exeunt, first passing ouer the Stage in Order and State, +and +then, A great Flourish of Trumpets. + + 2 A Royall Traine beleeue me: These I know: +Who's that that beares the Scepter? + 1 Marquesse Dorset, +And that the Earle of Surrey, with the Rod + + 2 A bold braue Gentleman. That should bee +The Duke of Suffolke + + 1 'Tis the same: high Steward + + 2 And that my Lord of Norfolke? + 1 Yes + + 2 Heauen blesse thee, +Thou hast the sweetest face I euer look'd on. +Sir, as I haue a Soule, she is an Angell; +Our King ha's all the Indies in his Armes, +And more, and richer, when he straines that Lady, +I cannot blame his Conscience + + 1 They that beare +The Cloath of Honour ouer her, are foure Barons +Of the Cinque-Ports + + 2 Those men are happy, +And so are all, are neere her. +I take it, she that carries vp the Traine, +Is that old Noble Lady, Dutchesse of Norfolke + + 1 It is, and all the rest are Countesses + + 2 Their Coronets say so. These are Starres indeed, +And sometimes falling ones + + 2 No more of that. +Enter a third Gentleman. + + 1 God saue you Sir. Where haue you bin broiling? + 3 Among the crowd i'th' Abbey, where a finger +Could not be wedg'd in more: I am stifled +With the meere ranknesse of their ioy + + 2 You saw the Ceremony? + 3 That I did + + 1 How was it? + 3 Well worth the seeing + + 2 Good Sir, speake it to vs? + 3 As well as I am able. The rich streame +Of Lords, and Ladies, hauing brought the Queene +To a prepar'd place in the Quire, fell off +A distance from her; while her Grace sate downe +To rest a while, some halfe an houre, or so, +In a rich Chaire of State, opposing freely +The Beauty of her Person to the People. +Beleeue me Sir, she is the goodliest Woman +That euer lay by man: which when the people +Had the full view of, such a noyse arose, +As the shrowdes make at Sea, in a stiffe Tempest, +As lowd, and to as many Tunes. Hats, Cloakes, +(Doublets, I thinke) flew vp, and had their Faces +Bin loose, this day they had beene lost. Such ioy +I neuer saw before. Great belly'd women, +That had not halfe a weeke to go, like Rammes +In the old time of Warre, would shake the prease +And make 'em reele before 'em. No man liuing +Could say this is my wife there, all were wouen +So strangely in one peece + + 2 But what follow'd? + 3 At length, her Grace rose, and with modest paces +Came to the Altar, where she kneel'd, and Saint-like +Cast her faire eyes to Heauen, and pray'd deuoutly. +Then rose againe, and bow'd her to the people: +When by the Arch-byshop of Canterbury, +She had all the Royall makings of a Queene; +As holy Oyle, Edward Confessors Crowne, +The Rod, and Bird of Peace, and all such Emblemes +Laid Nobly on her: which perform'd, the Quire +With all the choysest Musicke of the Kingdome, +Together sung Te Deum. So she parted, +And with the same full State pac'd backe againe +To Yorke-Place, where the Feast is held + + 1 Sir, +You must no more call it Yorke-place, that's past: +For since the Cardinall fell, that Titles lost, +'Tis now the Kings, and call'd White-Hall + + 3 I know it: +But 'tis so lately alter'd, that the old name +Is fresh about me + + 2 What two Reuerend Byshops +Were those that went on each side of the Queene? + 3 Stokeley and Gardiner, the one of Winchester, +Newly preferr'd from the Kings Secretary: +The other London + + 2 He of Winchester +Is held no great good louer of the Archbishops, +The vertuous Cranmer + + 3 All the Land knowes that: +How euer, yet there is no great breach, when it comes +Cranmer will finde a Friend will not shrinke from him + + 2 Who may that be, I pray you + + 3 Thomas Cromwell, +A man in much esteeme with th' King, and truly +A worthy Friend. The King ha's made him +Master o'th' Iewell House, +And one already of the Priuy Councell + + 2 He will deserue more + + 3 Yes without all doubt. +Come Gentlemen, ye shall go my way, +Which is to'th Court, and there ye shall be my Guests: +Something I can command. As I walke thither, +Ile tell ye more + + Both. You may command vs Sir. + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Secunda. + +Enter Katherine Dowager, sicke, lead betweene Griffith, her +Gentleman +Vsher, and Patience her Woman. + + Grif. How do's your Grace? + Kath. O Griffith, sicke to death: +My Legges like loaden Branches bow to'th' Earth, +Willing to leaue their burthen: Reach a Chaire, +So now (me thinkes) I feele a little ease. +Did'st thou not tell me Griffith, as thou lead'st mee, +That the great Childe of Honor, Cardinall Wolsey +Was dead? + Grif. Yes Madam: but I thinke your Grace +Out of the paine you suffer'd, gaue no eare too't + + Kath. Pre'thee good Griffith, tell me how he dy'de. +If well, he stept before me happily +For my example + + Grif. Well, the voyce goes Madam, +For after the stout Earle Northumberland +Arrested him at Yorke, and brought him forward +As a man sorely tainted, to his Answer, +He fell sicke sodainly, and grew so ill +He could not sit his Mule + + Kath. Alas poore man + + Grif. At last, with easie Rodes, he came to Leicester, +Lodg'd in the Abbey; where the reuerend Abbot +With all his Couent, honourably receiu'd him; +To whom he gaue these words. O Father Abbot, +An old man, broken with the stormes of State, +Is come to lay his weary bones among ye: +Giue him a little earth for Charity. +So went to bed; where eagerly his sicknesse +Pursu'd him still, and three nights after this, +About the houre of eight, which he himselfe +Foretold should be his last, full of Repentance, +Continuall Meditations, Teares, and Sorrowes, +He gaue his Honors to the world agen, +His blessed part to Heauen, and slept in peace + + Kath. So may he rest, +His Faults lye gently on him: +Yet thus farre Griffith, giue me leaue to speake him, +And yet with Charity. He was a man +Of an vnbounded stomacke, euer ranking +Himselfe with Princes. One that by suggestion +Ty'de all the Kingdome. Symonie, was faire play, +His owne Opinion was his Law. I'th' presence +He would say vntruths, and be euer double +Both in his words, and meaning. He was neuer +(But where he meant to Ruine) pittifull. +His Promises, were as he then was, Mighty: +But his performance, as he is now, Nothing: +Of his owne body he was ill, and gaue +The Clergy ill example + + Grif. Noble Madam: +Mens euill manners, liue in Brasse, their Vertues +We write in Water. May it please your Highnesse +To heare me speake his good now? + Kath. Yes good Griffith, +I were malicious else + + Grif. This Cardinall, +Though from an humble Stocke, vndoubtedly +Was fashion'd to much Honor. From his Cradle +He was a Scholler, and a ripe, and good one: +Exceeding wise, faire spoken, and perswading: +Lofty, and sowre to them that lou'd him not: +But, to those men that sought him, sweet as Summer. +And though he were vnsatisfied in getting, +(Which was a sinne) yet in bestowing, Madam, +He was most Princely: Euer witnesse for him +Those twinnes of Learning, that he rais'd in you, +Ipswich and Oxford: one of which, fell with him, +Vnwilling to out-liue the good that did it. +The other (though vnfinish'd) yet so Famous, +So excellent in Art, and still so rising, +That Christendome shall euer speake his Vertue. +His Ouerthrow, heap'd Happinesse vpon him: +For then, and not till then, he felt himselfe, +And found the Blessednesse of being little. +And to adde greater Honors to his Age +Then man could giue him; he dy'de, fearing God + + Kath. After my death, I wish no other Herald, +No other speaker of my liuing Actions, +To keepe mine Honor, from Corruption, +But such an honest Chronicler as Griffith. +Whom I most hated Liuing, thou hast made mee +With thy Religious Truth, and Modestie, +(Now in his Ashes) Honor: Peace be with him. +Patience, be neere me still, and set me lower, +I haue not long to trouble thee. Good Griffith, +Cause the Musitians play me that sad note +I nam'd my Knell; whil'st I sit meditating +On that Coelestiall Harmony I go too. + +Sad and solemne Musicke. + + Grif. She is asleep: Good wench, let's sit down quiet, +For feare we wake her. Softly, gentle Patience. + +The Vision. Enter solemnely tripping one after another, sixe +Personages, +clad in white Robes, wearing on their heades Garlands of Bayes, +and golden +Vizards on their faces, Branches of Bayes or Palme in their hands. +They +first Conge vnto her, then Dance: and at certaine Changes, the first +two +hold a spare Garland ouer her Head, at which the other foure make +reuerend +Curtsies. Then the two that held the Garland, deliuer the same to +the other +next two, who obserue the same order in their Changes, and +holding the +Garland ouer her head. Which done, they deliuer the same Garland +to the +last two: who likewise obserue the same Order. At which (as it +were by +inspiration) she makes (in her sleepe) signes of reioycing, and +holdeth vp +her hands to heauen. And so, in their Dancing vanish, carrying the +Garland +with them. The Musicke continues. + + Kath. Spirits of peace, where are ye? Are ye all gone? +And leaue me heere in wretchednesse, behinde ye? + Grif. Madam, we are heere + + Kath. It is not you I call for, +Saw ye none enter since I slept? + Grif. None Madam + + Kath. No? Saw you not euen now a blessed Troope +Inuite me to a Banquet, whose bright faces +Cast thousand beames vpon me, like the Sun? +They promis'd me eternall Happinesse, +And brought me Garlands (Griffith) which I feele +I am not worthy yet to weare: I shall assuredly + + Grif. I am most ioyfull Madam, such good dreames +Possesse your Fancy + + Kath. Bid the Musicke leaue, +They are harsh and heauy to me. + +Musicke ceases. + + Pati. Do you note +How much her Grace is alter'd on the sodaine? +How long her face is drawne? How pale she lookes, +And of an earthy cold? Marke her eyes? + Grif. She is going Wench. Pray, pray + + Pati. Heauen comfort her. +Enter a Messenger. + + Mes. And't like your Grace - + Kath. You are a sawcy Fellow, +Deserue we no more Reuerence? + Grif. You are too blame, +Knowing she will not loose her wonted Greatnesse +To vse so rude behauiour. Go too, kneele + + Mes. I humbly do entreat your Highnesse pardon, +My hast made me vnmannerly. There is staying +A Gentleman sent from the King, to see you + + Kath. Admit him entrance Griffith. But this Fellow +Let me ne're see againe. + +Exit Messeng. + +Enter Lord Capuchius. + +If my sight faile not, +You should be Lord Ambassador from the Emperor, +My Royall Nephew, and your name Capuchius + + Cap. Madam the same. Your Seruant + + Kath. O my Lord, +The Times and Titles now are alter'd strangely +With me, since first you knew me. +But I pray you, +What is your pleasure with me? + Cap. Noble Lady, +First mine owne seruice to your Grace, the next +The Kings request, that I would visit you, +Who greeues much for your weaknesse, and by me +Sends you his Princely Commendations, +And heartily entreats you take good comfort + + Kath. O my good Lord, that comfort comes too late, +'Tis like a Pardon after Execution; +That gentle Physicke giuen in time, had cur'd me: +But now I am past all Comforts heere, but Prayers. +How does his Highnesse? + Cap. Madam, in good health + + Kath. So may he euer do, and euer flourish, +When I shall dwell with Wormes, and my poore name +Banish'd the Kingdome. Patience, is that Letter +I caus'd you write, yet sent away? + Pat. No Madam + + Kath. Sir, I most humbly pray you to deliuer +This to my Lord the King + + Cap. Most willing Madam + + Kath. In which I haue commended to his goodnesse +The Modell of our chaste loues: his yong daughter, +The dewes of Heauen fall thicke in Blessings on her, +Beseeching him to giue her vertuous breeding. +She is yong, and of a Noble modest Nature, +I hope she will deserue well; and a little +To loue her for her Mothers sake, that lou'd him, +Heauen knowes how deerely. +My next poore Petition, +Is, that his Noble Grace would haue some pittie +Vpon my wretched women, that so long +Haue follow'd both my Fortunes, faithfully, +Of which there is not one, I dare auow +(And now I should not lye) but will deserue +For Vertue, and true Beautie of the Soule, +For honestie, and decent Carriage +A right good Husband (let him be a Noble) +And sure those men are happy that shall haue 'em. +The last is for my men, they are the poorest, +(But pouerty could neuer draw 'em from me) +That they may haue their wages, duly paid 'em, +And something ouer to remember me by. +If Heauen had pleas'd to haue giuen me longer life +And able meanes, we had not parted thus. +These are the whole Contents, and good my Lord, +By that you loue the deerest in this world, +As you wish Christian peace to soules departed, +Stand these poore peoples Friend, and vrge the King +To do me this last right + + Cap. By Heauen I will, +Or let me loose the fashion of a man + + Kath. I thanke you honest Lord. Remember me +In all humilitie vnto his Highnesse: +Say his long trouble now is passing +Out of this world. Tell him in death I blest him +(For so I will) mine eyes grow dimme. Farewell +My Lord. Griffith farewell. Nay Patience, +You must not leaue me yet. I must to bed, +Call in more women. When I am dead, good Wench, +Let me be vs'd with Honor; strew me ouer +With Maiden Flowers, that all the world may know +I was a chaste Wife, to my Graue: Embalme me, +Then lay me forth (although vnqueen'd) yet like +A Queene, and Daughter to a King enterre me. +I can no more. + +Exeunt. leading Katherine. + + +Actus Quintus. Scena Prima. + +Enter Gardiner Bishop of Winchester, a Page with a Torch before +him, met +by Sir Thomas Louell. + + Gard. It's one a clocke Boy, is't not + + Boy. It hath strooke + + Gard. These should be houres for necessities, +Not for delights: Times to repayre our Nature +With comforting repose, and not for vs +To waste these times. Good houre of night Sir Thomas: +Whether so late? + Lou. Came you from the King, my Lord? + Gar. I did Sir Thomas, and left him at Primero +With the Duke of Suffolke + + Lou. I must to him too +Before he go to bed. Ile take my leaue + + Gard. Not yet Sir Thomas Louell: what's the matter? +It seemes you are in hast: and if there be +No great offence belongs too't, giue your Friend +Some touch of your late businesse: Affaires that walke +(As they say Spirits do) at midnight, haue +In them a wilder Nature, then the businesse +That seekes dispatch by day + + Lou. My Lord, I loue you; +And durst commend a secret to your eare +Much waightier then this worke. The Queens in Labor +They say in great Extremity, and fear'd +Shee'l with the Labour, end + + Gard. The fruite she goes with +I pray for heartily, that it may finde +Good time, and liue: but for the Stocke Sir Thomas, +I wish it grubb'd vp now + + Lou. Me thinkes I could +Cry the Amen, and yet my Conscience sayes +Shee's a good Creature, and sweet-Ladie do's +Deserue our better wishes + + Gard. But Sir, Sir, +Heare me Sir Thomas, y'are a Gentleman +Of mine owne way. I know you Wise, Religious, +And let me tell you, it will ne're be well, +'Twill not Sir Thomas Louell, tak't of me, +Till Cranmer, Cromwel, her two hands, and shee +Sleepe in their Graues + + Louell. Now Sir, you speake of two +The most remark'd i'th' Kingdome: as for Cromwell, +Beside that of the Iewell-House, is made Master +O'th' Rolles, and the Kings Secretary. Further Sir, +Stands in the gap and Trade of moe Preferments, +With which the Lime will loade him. Th' Archbyshop +Is the Kings hand, and tongue, and who dare speak +One syllable against him? + Gard. Yes, yes, Sir Thomas, +There are that Dare, and I my selfe haue ventur'd +To speake my minde of him: and indeed this day, +Sir (I may tell it you) I thinke I haue +Incenst the Lords o'th' Councell, that he is +(For so I know he is, they know he is) +A most Arch-Heretique, a Pestilence +That does infect the Land: with which, they moued +Haue broken with the King, who hath so farre +Giuen eare to our Complaint, of his great Grace, +And Princely Care, fore-seeing those fell Mischiefes, +Our Reasons layd before him, hath commanded +To morrow Morning to the Councell Boord +He be conuented. He's a ranke weed Sir Thomas, +And we must root him out. From your Affaires +I hinder you too long: Good night, Sir Thomas. + +Exit Gardiner and Page. + + Lou. Many good nights, my Lord, I rest your seruant. +Enter King and Suffolke. + + King. Charles, I will play no more to night, +My mindes not on't, you are too hard for me + + Suff. Sir, I did neuer win of you before + + King. But little Charles, +Nor shall not when my Fancies on my play. +Now Louel, from the Queene what is the Newes + + Lou. I could not personally deliuer to her +What you commanded me, but by her woman, +I sent your Message, who return'd her thankes +In the great'st humblenesse, and desir'd your Highnesse +Most heartily to pray for her + + King. What say'st thou? Ha? +To pray for her? What is she crying out? + Lou. So said her woman, and that her suffrance made +Almost each pang, a death + + King. Alas good Lady + + Suf. God safely quit her of her Burthen, and +With gentle Trauaile, to the gladding of +Your Highnesse with an Heire + + King. 'Tis midnight Charles, +Prythee to bed, and in thy Prayres remember +Th' estate of my poore Queene. Leaue me alone, +For I must thinke of that, which company +Would not be friendly too + + Suf. I wish your Highnesse +A quiet night, and my good Mistris will +Remember in my Prayers + + King. Charles good night. + +Exit Suffolke. + +Well Sir, what followes? +Enter Sir Anthony Denny. + + Den. Sir, I haue brought my Lord the Arch-byshop, +As you commanded me + + King. Ha? Canterbury? + Den. I my good Lord + + King. 'Tis true: where is he Denny? + Den. He attends your Highnesse pleasure + + King. Bring him to Vs + + Lou. This is about that, which the Byshop spake, +I am happily come hither. +Enter Cranmer and Denny. + + King. Auoyd the Gallery. + +Louel seemes to stay. + +Ha? I haue said. Be gone. +What? + +Exeunt. Louell and Denny. + + Cran. I am fearefull: Wherefore frownes he thus? +'Tis his Aspect of Terror. All's not well + + King. How now my Lord? +You do desire to know wherefore +I sent for you + + Cran. It is my dutie +T' attend your Highnesse pleasure + + King. Pray you arise +My good and gracious Lord of Canterburie: +Come, you and I must walke a turne together: +I haue Newes to tell you. +Come, come, giue me your hand. +Ah my good Lord, I greeue at what I speake, +And am right sorrie to repeat what followes. +I haue, and most vnwillingly of late +Heard many greeuous, I do say my Lord +Greeuous complaints of you; which being consider'd, +Haue mou'd Vs, and our Councell, that you shall +This Morning come before vs, where I know +You cannot with such freedome purge your selfe, +But that till further Triall, in those Charges +Which will require your Answer, you must take +Your patience to you, and be well contented +To make your house our Towre: you, a Brother of vs +It fits we thus proceed, or else no witnesse +Would come against you + + Cran. I humbly thanke your Highnesse, +And am right glad to catch this good occasion +Most throughly to be winnowed, where my Chaffe +And Corne shall flye asunder. For I know +There's none stands vnder more calumnious tongues, +Then I my selfe, poore man + + King. Stand vp, good Canterbury, +Thy Truth, and thy Integrity is rooted +In vs thy Friend. Giue me thy hand, stand vp, +Prythee let's walke. Now by my Holydame, +What manner of man are you? My Lord, I look'd +You would haue giuen me your Petition, that +I should haue tane some paines, to bring together +Your selfe, and your Accusers, and to haue heard you +Without indurance further + + Cran. Most dread Liege, +The good I stand on, is my Truth and Honestie: +If they shall faile, I with mine Enemies +Will triumph o're my person, which I waigh not, +Being of those Vertues vacant. I feare nothing +What can be said against me + + King. Know you not +How your state stands i'th' world, with the whole world? +Your Enemies are many, and not small; their practises +Must beare the same proportion, and not euer +The Iustice and the Truth o'th' question carries +The dew o'th' Verdict with it; at what ease +Might corrupt mindes procure, Knaues as corrupt +To sweare against you: Such things haue bene done. +You are Potently oppos'd, and with a Malice +Of as great Size. Weene you of better lucke, +I meane in periur'd Witnesse, then your Master, +Whose Minister you are, whiles heere he liu'd +Vpon this naughty Earth? Go too, go too, +You take a Precepit for no leape of danger, +And woe your owne destruction + + Cran. God, and your Maiesty +Protect mine innocence, or I fall into +The trap is laid for me + + King. Be of good cheere, +They shall no more preuaile, then we giue way too: +Keepe comfort to you, and this Morning see +You do appeare before them. If they shall chance +In charging you with matters, to commit you: +The best perswasions to the contrary +Faile not to vse, and with what vehemencie +Th' occasion shall instruct you. If intreaties +Will render you no remedy, this Ring +Deliuer them, and your Appeale to vs +There make before them. Looke, the goodman weeps: +He's honest on mine Honor. Gods blest Mother, +I sweare he is true-hearted, and a soule +None better in my Kingdome. Get you gone, +And do as I haue bid you. + +Exit Cranmer. + +He ha's strangled his Language in his teares. +Enter Olde Lady. + + Gent. within. Come backe: what meane you? + Lady. Ile not come backe, the tydings that I bring +Will make my boldnesse, manners. Now good Angels +Fly o're thy Royall head, and shade thy person +Vnder their blessed wings + + King. Now by thy lookes +I gesse thy Message. Is the Queene deliuer'd? +Say I, and of a boy + + Lady. I, I my Liege, +And of a louely Boy: the God of heauen +Both now, and euer blesse her: 'Tis a Gyrle +Promises Boyes heereafter. Sir, your Queen +Desires your Visitation, and to be +Acquainted with this stranger; 'tis as like you, +As Cherry, is to Cherry + + King. Louell + + Lou. Sir + + King. Giue her an hundred Markes. +Ile to the Queene. + +Exit King. + + Lady. An hundred Markes? By this light, Ile ha more. +An ordinary Groome is for such payment. +I will haue more, or scold it out of him. +Said I for this, the Gyrle was like to him? Ile +Haue more, or else vnsay't: and now, while 'tis hot, +Ile put it to the issue. + +Exit Ladie. + + +Scena Secunda. + +Enter Cranmer, Archbyshop of Canterbury. + + Cran. I hope I am not too late, and yet the Gentleman +That was sent to me from the Councell, pray'd me +To make great hast. All fast? What meanes this? Hoa? +Who waites there? Sure you know me? +Enter Keeper. + + Keep. Yes, my Lord: +But yet I cannot helpe you + + Cran. Why? + Keep. Your Grace must waight till you be call'd for. +Enter Doctor Buts. + + Cran. So + + Buts. This is a Peere of Malice: I am glad +I came this way so happily. The King +Shall vnderstand it presently. + +Exit Buts + + Cran. 'Tis Buts. +The Kings Physitian, as he past along +How earnestly he cast his eyes vpon me: +Pray heauen he found not my disgrace: for certaine +This is of purpose laid by some that hate me, +(God turne their hearts, I neuer sought their malice) +To quench mine Honor; they would shame to make me +Wait else at doore: a fellow Councellor +'Mong Boyes, Groomes, and Lackeyes. +But their pleasures +Must be fulfill'd, and I attend with patience. +Enter the King, and Buts, at a Windowe aboue. + + Buts. Ile shew your Grace the strangest sight + + King. What's that Buts? + Butts. I thinke your Highnesse saw this many a day + + Kin. Body a me: where is it? + Butts. There my Lord: +The high promotion of his Grace of Canterbury, +Who holds his State at dore 'mongst Purseuants, +Pages, and Foot-boyes + + Kin. Ha? 'Tis he indeed. +Is this the Honour they doe one another? +'Tis well there's one aboue 'em yet; I had thought +They had parted so much honesty among 'em, +At least good manners; as not thus to suffer +A man of his Place, and so neere our fauour +To dance attendance on their Lordships pleasures, +And at the dore too, like a Post with Packets: +By holy Mary (Butts) there's knauery; +Let 'em alone, and draw the Curtaine close: +We shall heare more anon. + +A Councell Table brought in with Chayres and Stooles, and placed +vnder +the State. Enter Lord Chancellour, places himselfe at the vpper end +of the +Table, on the left hand: A Seate being left void aboue him, as for +Canterburies Seate. Duke of Suffolke, Duke of Norfolke, Surrey, +Lord +Chamberlaine, Gardiner, seat themselues in Order on each side. +Cromwell at +lower end, as Secretary. + + Chan. Speake to the businesse, M[aster]. Secretary; +Why are we met in Councell? + Crom. Please your Honours, +The chiefe cause concernes his Grace of Canterbury + + Gard. Ha's he had knowledge of it? + Crom. Yes + + Norf. Who waits there? + Keep. Without my Noble Lords? + Gard. Yes + + Keep. My Lord Archbishop: +And ha's done halfe an houre to know your pleasures + + Chan. Let him come in + + Keep. Your Grace may enter now. + +Cranmer approches the Councell Table. + + Chan. My good Lord Archbishop, I'm very sorry +To sit heere at this present, and behold +That Chayre stand empty: But we all are men +In our owne natures fraile, and capable +Of our flesh, few are Angels; out of which frailty +And want of wisedome, you that best should teach vs, +Haue misdemean'd your selfe, and not a little: +Toward the King first, then his Lawes, in filling +The whole Realme, by your teaching & your Chaplaines +(For so we are inform'd) with new opinions, +Diuers and dangerous; which are Heresies; +And not reform'd, may proue pernicious + + Gard. Which Reformation must be sodaine too +My Noble Lords; for those that tame wild Horses, +Pace 'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle; +But stop their mouthes with stubborn Bits & spurre 'em, +Till they obey the mannage. If we suffer +Out of our easinesse and childish pitty +To one mans Honour, this contagious sicknesse; +Farewell all Physicke: and what followes then? +Commotions, vprores, with a generall Taint +Of the whole State; as of late dayes our neighbours, +The vpper Germany can deerely witnesse: +Yet freshly pittied in our memories + + Cran. My good Lords; Hitherto, in all the Progresse +Both of my Life and Office, I haue labour'd, +And with no little study, that my teaching +And the strong course of my Authority, +Might goe one way, and safely; and the end +Was euer to doe well: nor is there liuing, +(I speake it with a single heart, my Lords) +A man that more detests, more stirres against, +Both in his priuate Conscience, and his place, +Defacers of a publique peace then I doe: +Pray Heauen the King may neuer find a heart +With lesse Allegeance in it. Men that make +Enuy, and crooked malice, nourishment; +Dare bite the best. I doe beseech your, Lordships, +That in this case of Iustice, my Accusers, +Be what they will, may stand forth face to face, +And freely vrge against me + + Suff. Nay, my Lord, +That cannot be; you are a Counsellor, +And by that vertue no man dare accuse you + + Gard. My Lord, because we haue busines of more moment, +We will be short with you. 'Tis his Highnesse pleasure +And our consent, for better tryall of you, +From hence you be committed to the Tower, +Where being but a priuate man againe, +You shall know many dare accuse you boldly, +More then (I feare) you are prouided for + + Cran. Ah my good Lord of Winchester: I thanke you, +You are alwayes my good Friend, if your will passe, +I shall both finde your Lordship, Iudge and Iuror, +You are so mercifull. I see your end, +'Tis my vndoing. Loue and meekenesse, Lord +Become a Churchman, better then Ambition: +Win straying Soules with modesty againe, +Cast none away: That I shall cleere my selfe, +Lay all the weight ye can vpon my patience, +I make as little doubt as you doe conscience, +In doing dayly wrongs. I could say more, +But reuerence to your calling, makes me modest + + Gard. My Lord, my Lord, you are a Sectary, +That's the plaine truth; your painted glosse discouers +To men that vnderstand you, words and weaknesse + + Crom. My Lord of Winchester, y'are a little, +By your good fauour, too sharpe; Men so Noble, +How euer faulty, yet should finde respect +For what they haue beene: 'tis a cruelty, +To load a falling man + + Gard. Good M[aster]. Secretary, +I cry your Honour mercie; you may worst +Of all this Table say so + + Crom. Why my Lord? + Gard. Doe not I know you for a Fauourer +Of this new Sect? ye are not sound + + Crom. Not sound? + Gard. Not sound I say + + Crom. Would you were halfe so honest: +Mens prayers then would seeke you, not their feares + + Gard. I shall remember this bold Language + + Crom. Doe. +Remember your bold life too + + Cham. This is too much; +Forbeare for shame my Lords + + Gard. I haue done + + Crom. And I + + Cham. Then thus for you my Lord, it stands agreed +I take it, by all voyces: That forthwith, +You be conuaid to th' Tower a Prisoner; +There to remaine till the Kings further pleasure +Be knowne vnto vs: are you all agreed Lords + + All. We are + + Cran. Is there no other way of mercy, +But I must needs to th' Tower my Lords? + Gard. What other, +Would you expect? You are strangely troublesome: +Let some o'th' Guard be ready there. +Enter the Guard. + + Cran. For me? +Must I goe like a Traytor thither? + Gard. Receiue him, +And see him safe i'th' Tower + + Cran. Stay good my Lords, +I haue a little yet to say. Looke there my Lords, +By vertue of that Ring, I take my cause +Out of the gripes of cruell men, and giue it +To a most Noble Iudge, the King my Maister + + Cham. This is the Kings Ring + + Sur. 'Tis no counterfeit + + Suff. 'Ts the right Ring, by Heau'n: I told ye all, +When we first put this dangerous stone a rowling, +'Twold fall vpon our selues + + Norf. Doe you thinke my Lords +The King will suffer but the little finger +Of this man to be vex'd? + Cham. Tis now too certaine; +How much more is his Life in value with him? +Would I were fairely out on't + + Crom. My mind gaue me, +In seeking tales and Informations +Against this man, whose honesty the Diuell +And his Disciples onely enuy at, +Ye blew the fire that burnes ye: now haue at ye. +Enter King frowning on them, takes his Seate. + + Gard. Dread Soueraigne, +How much are we bound to Heauen, +In dayly thankes, that gaue vs such a Prince; +Not onely good and wise, but most religious: +One that in all obedience, makes the Church +The cheefe ayme of his Honour, and to strengthen +That holy duty out of deare respect, +His Royall selfe in Iudgement comes to heare +The cause betwixt her, and this great offender + + Kin. You were euer good at sodaine Commendations, +Bishop of Winchester. But know I come not +To heare such flattery now, and in my presence +They are too thin, and base to hide offences, +To me you cannot reach. You play the Spaniell, +And thinke with wagging of your tongue to win me: +But whatsoere thou tak'st me for; I'm sure +Thou hast a cruell Nature and a bloody. +Good man sit downe: Now let me see the proudest +Hee, that dares most, but wag his finger at thee. +By all that's holy, he had better starue, +Then but once thinke his place becomes thee not + + Sur. May it please your Grace; - + Kin. No Sir, it doe's not please me, +I had thought, I had had men of some vnderstanding, +And wisedome of my Councell; but I finde none: +Was it discretion Lords, to let this man, +This good man (few of you deserue that Title) +This honest man, wait like a lowsie Foot-boy +At Chamber dore? and one, as great as you are? +Why, what a shame was this? Did my Commission +Bid ye so farre forget your selues? I gaue ye +Power, as he was a Counsellour to try him, +Not as a Groome: There's some of ye, I see, +More out of Malice then Integrity, +Would trye him to the vtmost, had ye meane, +Which ye shall neuer haue while I liue + + Chan. Thus farre +My most dread Soueraigne, may it like your Grace, +To let my tongue excuse all. What was purpos'd +Concerning his Imprisonment, was rather +(If there be faith in men) meant for his Tryall, +And faire purgation to the world then malice, +I'm sure in me + + Kin. Well, well my Lords respect him, +Take him, and vse him well; hee's worthy of it. +I will say thus much for him, if a Prince +May be beholding to a Subiect; I +Am for his loue and seruice, so to him. +Make me no more adoe, but all embrace him; +Be friends for shame my Lords: My Lord of Canterbury +I haue a Suite which you must not deny mee. +That is, a faire young Maid that yet wants Baptisme, +You must be Godfather, and answere for her + + Cran. The greatest Monarch now aliue may glory +In such an honour: how may I deserue it, +That am a poore and humble Subiect to you? + Kin. Come, come my Lord, you'd spare your spoones; +You shall haue two noble Partners with you: the old +Duchesse of Norfolke, and Lady Marquesse Dorset? will +these please you? +Once more my Lord of Winchester, I charge you +Embrace, and loue this man + + Gard. With a true heart, +And Brother; loue I doe it + + Cran. And let Heauen +Witnesse how deare, I hold this Confirmation + + Kin. Good Man, those ioyfull teares shew thy true hearts, +The common voyce I see is verified +Of thee, which sayes thus: Doe my Lord of Canterbury +A shrewd turne, and hee's your friend for euer: +Come Lords, we trifle time away: I long +To haue this young one made a Christian. +As I haue made ye one Lords, one remaine: +So I grow stronger, you more Honour gaine. + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Tertia. + +Noyse and Tumult within: Enter Porter and his man. + + Port. You'l leaue your noyse anon ye Rascals: doe +you take the Court for Parish Garden: ye rude Slaues, +leaue your gaping + + Within. Good M[aster]. Porter I belong to th' Larder + + Port. Belong to th' Gallowes, and be hang'd ye Rogue: +Is this a place to roare in? Fetch me a dozen Crab-tree +staues, and strong ones; these are but switches to 'em: +Ile scratch your heads; you must be seeing Christenings? +Do you looke for Ale, and Cakes heere, you rude +Raskalls? + Man. Pray Sir be patient; 'tis as much impossible, +Vnlesse wee sweepe 'em from the dore with Cannons, +To scatter 'em, as 'tis to make 'em sleepe +On May-day Morning, which will neuer be: +We may as well push against Powles as stirre 'em + + Por. How got they in, and be hang'd? + Man. Alas I know not, how gets the Tide in? +As much as one sound Cudgell of foure foote, +(You see the poore remainder) could distribute, +I made no spare Sir + + Port. You did nothing Sir + + Man. I am not Sampson, nor Sir Guy, nor Colebrand, +To mow 'em downe before me: but if I spar'd any +That had a head to hit, either young or old, +He or shee, Cuckold or Cuckold-maker: +Let me ne're hope to see a Chine againe, +And that I would not for a Cow, God saue her + + Within. Do you heare M[aster]. Porter? + Port. I shall be with you presently, good M[aster]. Puppy, +Keepe the dore close Sirha + + Man. What would you haue me doe? + Por. What should you doe, +But knock 'em downe by th' dozens? Is this More fields +to muster in? Or haue wee some strange Indian with the +great Toole, come to Court, the women so besiege vs? +Bless me, what a fry of Fornication is at dore? On my +Christian Conscience this one Christening will beget a +thousand, here will bee Father, God-father, and all together + + Man. The Spoones will be the bigger Sir: There is +a fellow somewhat neere the doore, he should be a Brasier +by his face, for o' my conscience twenty of the Dogdayes +now reigne in's Nose; all that stand about him are +vnder the Line, they need no other pennance: that FireDrake +did I hit three times on the head, and three times +was his Nose discharged against mee; hee stands there +like a Morter-piece to blow vs. There was a Habberdashers +Wife of small wit, neere him, that rail'd vpon me, +till her pinck'd porrenger fell off her head, for kindling +such a combustion in the State. I mist the Meteor once, +and hit that Woman, who cryed out Clubbes, when I +might see from farre, some forty Truncheoners draw to +her succour, which were the hope o'th' Strond where she +was quartered; they fell on, I made good my place; at +length they came to th' broome staffe to me, I defide 'em +stil, when sodainly a File of Boyes behind 'em, loose shot, +deliuer'd such a showre of Pibbles, that I was faine to +draw mine Honour in, and let 'em win the Worke, the +Diuell was amongst 'em I thinke surely + + Por. These are the youths that thunder at a Playhouse, +and fight for bitten Apples, that no Audience but the +tribulation of Tower Hill, or the Limbes of Limehouse, +their deare Brothers are able to endure. I haue some of +'em in Limbo Patrum, and there they are like to dance +these three dayes; besides the running Banquet of two +Beadles, that is to come. +Enter Lord Chamberlaine. + + Cham. Mercy o' me: what a Multitude are heere? +They grow still too; from all Parts they are comming, +As if we kept a Faire heere? Where are these Porters? +These lazy knaues? Y'haue made a fine hand fellowes? +Theres a trim rabble let in: are all these +Your faithfull friends o'th' Suburbs? We shall haue +Great store of roome no doubt, left for the Ladies, +When they passe backe from the Christening? + Por. And't please your Honour, +We are but men; and what so many may doe, +Not being torne a pieces, we haue done: +An Army cannot rule 'em + + Cham. As I liue, +If the King blame me for't; Ile lay ye all +By th' heeles, and sodainly: and on your heads +Clap round Fines for neglect: y'are lazy knaues, +And heere ye lye baiting of Bombards, when +Ye should doe Seruice. Harke the Trumpets sound, +Th'are come already from the Christening, +Go breake among the preasse, and finde away out +To let the Troope passe fairely; or Ile finde +A Marshallsey, shall hold ye play these two Monthes + + Por. Make way there, for the Princesse + + Man. You great fellow, +Stand close vp, or Ile make your head ake + + Por. You i'th' Chamblet, get vp o'th' raile, +Ile pecke you o're the pales else. + +Exeunt. + + +Scena Quarta. + +Enter Trumpets sounding: Then two Aldermen, L[ord]. Maior, +Garter, +Cranmer, Duke of Norfolke with his Marshals Staffe, Duke of +Suffolke, two +Noblemen, bearing great standing Bowles for the Christening +Guifts: Then +foure Noblemen bearing a Canopy, vnder which the Dutchesse of +Norfolke, +Godmother, bearing the Childe richly habited in a Mantle, &c. +Traine borne +by a Lady: Then followes the Marchionesse Dorset, the other +Godmother, and +Ladies. The Troope passe once about the Stage, and Garter +speakes. + + Gart. Heauen +From thy endlesse goodnesse, send prosperous life, +Long, and euer happie, to the high and Mighty +Princesse of England Elizabeth. + +Flourish. Enter King and Guard. + + Cran. And to your Royall Grace, & the good Queen, +My Noble Partners, and my selfe thus pray +All comfort, ioy in this most gracious Lady, +Heauen euer laid vp to make Parents happy, +May hourely fall vpon ye + + Kin. Thanke you good Lord Archbishop: +What is her Name? + Cran. Elizabeth + + Kin. Stand vp Lord, +With this Kisse, take my Blessing: God protect thee, +Into whose hand, I giue thy Life + + Cran. Amen + + Kin. My Noble Gossips, y'haue beene too Prodigall; +I thanke ye heartily: So shall this Lady, +When she ha's so much English + + Cran. Let me speake Sir, +For Heauen now bids me; and the words I vtter, +Let none thinke Flattery; for they'l finde 'em Truth. +This Royall Infant, Heauen still moue about her; +Though in her Cradle; yet now promises +Vpon this Land a thousand thousand Blessings, +Which Time shall bring to ripenesse: She shall be, +(But few now liuing can behold that goodnesse) +A Patterne to all Princes liuing with her, +And all that shall succeed: Saba was neuer +More couetous of Wisedome, and faire Vertue +Then this pure Soule shall be. All Princely Graces +That mould vp such a mighty Piece as this is, +With all the Vertues that attend the good, +Shall still be doubled on her. Truth shall Nurse her, +Holy and Heauenly thoughts still Counsell her: +She shall be lou'd and fear'd. Her owne shall blesse her; +Her Foes shake like a Field of beaten Corne, +And hang their heads with sorrow: +Good growes with her. +In her dayes, Euery Man shall eate in safety, +Vnder his owne Vine what he plants; and sing +The merry Songs of Peace to all his Neighbours. +God shall be truely knowne, and those about her, +From her shall read the perfect way of Honour, +And by those claime their greatnesse; not by Blood. +Nor shall this peace sleepe with her: But as when +The Bird of Wonder dyes, the Mayden Phoenix, +Her Ashes new create another Heyre, +As great in admiration as her selfe. +So shall she leaue her Blessednesse to One, +(When Heauen shal call her from this clowd of darknes) +Who, from the sacred Ashes of her Honour +Shall Star-like rise, as great in fame as she was, +And so stand fix'd. Peace, Plenty, Loue, Truth, Terror, +That were the Seruants to this chosen Infant, +Shall then be his, and like a Vine grow to him; +Where euer the bright Sunne of Heauen shall shine, +His Honour, and the greatnesse of his Name, +Shall be, and make new Nations. He shall flourish, +And like a Mountaine Cedar, reach his branches, +To all the Plaines about him: Our Childrens Children +Shall see this, and blesse Heauen + + Kin. Thou speakest wonders + + Cran. She shall be to the happinesse of England, +An aged Princesse; many dayes shall see her, +And yet no day without a deed to Crowne it. +Would I had knowne no more: But she must dye, +She must, the Saints must haue her; yet a Virgin, +A most vnspotted Lilly shall she passe +To th' ground, and all the World shall mourne her + + Kin. O Lord Archbishop +Thou hast made me now a man, neuer before +This happy Child, did I get any thing. +This Oracle of comfort, ha's so pleas'd me, +That when I am in Heauen, I shall desire + +To see what this Child does, and praise my Maker. +I thanke ye all. To you my good Lord Maior, +And you good Brethren, I am much beholding: +I haue receiu'd much Honour by your presence, +And ye shall find me thankfull. Lead the way Lords, +Ye must all see the Queene, and she must thanke ye, +She will be sicke els. This day, no man thinke +'Has businesse at his house; for all shall stay: +This Little-One shall make it Holy-day. + +Exeunt. + + THE EPILOGVE. Tis ten to one, this Play can neuer please +All that are heere: Some come to take their ease, +And sleepe an Act or two; but those we feare +W'haue frighted with our Trumpets: so 'tis cleare, +They'l say tis naught. Others to heare the City +Abus'd extreamly, and to cry that's witty, +Which wee haue not done neither; that I feare +All the expected good w'are like to heare. +For this Play at this time, is onely in +The mercifull construction of good women, +For such a one we shew'd 'em: If they smile, +And say twill doe; I know within a while, +All the best men are ours; for 'tis ill hap, +If they hold, when their Ladies bid 'em clap. + +FINIS. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 2258 *** |