By the Bishop of Bayonne, then French ambas

sador;

Whether our daughter were legitimate,

Respecting this our marriage with the dowager,
Sometimes our brother's wife.

For no dislike o' the world against the person
Of the good Queen, but the sharp thorny points
Of my alleged reasons drive this forward.
Prove but our marriage lawful, by my life
And kingly dignity, we are contented

To wear our mortal state to come with her,
Katharine our queen, before the primest creature
That's paragon o' the world.

Cam. So please your highness, The queen being absent, 'tis a needful fitness That we adjourn this court till further day; Meanwhile must be an earnest motion Made to the queen, to call back her appeal She intends unto his holiness.

King. [Aside.]

I may perceive These cardinals trifle with me: I abhor

This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome.

My learn'd and well-beloved servant, Cranmer,
Prithee return; with thy approach, I know,

My comfort comes along. Break up the court:
I say, set on.

Flourish. Exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE 1.-The Palace at Bridewell-The QUEEN'S

Apartments.

The QUEEN and her Women as at work.

Queen Katharine.

AKE thy lute, wench: my soul grows sad with troubles;

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

SONG.

Orpheus with his lute made trees,
And the mountain-tops that freeze,
Bow themselves when he did sing:
To his music plants and flowers
Ever sprung; as sun and showers
There had made a lasting spring.

Everything that heard him play,
Even the billows of the sea,

Hung their heads, and then lay by.

In sweet music is such art,

Killing care and grief of heart

Fall asleep, or hearing, die.

Enter GRIFFIth.

Q. Kath. How now!

Grif. An't please your grace, the two great

cardinals

Wait in the presence.

Q. Kath.

Would they speak with me?

Pray their graces

Grif. They will'd me say so, madam.

Q. Kath.

To come near. [Exit GRIFFITH.] What can be their

business

With me, a poor weak woman, fall'n from favour.
I do not like their coming. Now I think on't,
They should be good men ; their affairs are righteous:
But all hoods make not monks.

Wol.

Enter WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS.

Peace to your highness! Q. Kath. Your graces find me here part of a housewife :

I would be all, against the worst may happen.
What are your pleasures with me, reverend lords?
Wol. May it please you, noble madam, to with--
draw

Into your private chamber, we shall give you
The full cause of our coming.

Q. Kath.

Speak it here:

There's nothing I have done yet, o' my conscience, Deserves a corner: truth loves open dealing.

Wol. Tanta est erga te mentis integritas, regina serenissima,

Q. Kath. O, good my lord, no Latin:

I am not such a truant since my coming,

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

Pray, speak in English: here are some will thank

you,

If you speak truth, for their poor mistress' sake ;— Believe me, she has much wrong: lord Cardinal, The willing'st sin I ever yet committed

May be absolv'd in English.

Wol.

Noble lady,

I am sorry my integrity should breed—
And service to his Majesty and you-

So deep suspicion, where all faith was meant.
We come not by the way of accusation,

To taint that honour every good tongue blesses,
Nor to betray you any way to sorrow,-
You have too much, good lady; but to know
How you stand minded in the weighty difference
Between the king and you; and to deliver,
Like free and honest men, our just opinions
And comforts to your cause.

Cam.

Most honour'd madam,

My lord of York, out of his noble nature,
Offers, as I do, in a sign of peace,

His service and his counsel.

Q. Kath. [Aside.]

To betray me.

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

In such a point of weight, so near mine honour,— More near my life, I fear,—with my weak wit, And to such men of gravity and learning,

In truth I know not.

Good your graces,

Let me have time and counsel for my cause:

Alas, I am a woman, friendless, hopeless!

Wol. Madam, you wrong the king's love with these fears:

Your hopes and friends are infinite.

In England

Q. Kath.
But little for my profit: can you think, lords,

That any Englishman dare give me counsel ?

Or be a known friend, 'gainst his highness' pleasure,-
And live a subject? Nay, forsooth, my friends,
They that must weigh out my afflictions,

They that my trust must grow to, live not here:
They are, as all my other comforts, far hence
In mine own country, lords.

Cam.

I would your grace

Would leave your griefs and take my counsel.

Q. Kath.

How, sir?

Cam. Put your main cause into the king's protection;

He's loving and most gracious: 'twill be much

Both for your honour better and your cause;
For if the trial of the law o'ertake ye,

You'll part away disgrac'd.

Wol.

He tells you rightly.

Q. Kath. Ye tell me what ye wish for both,-my

ruin :

Is this your Christian counsel ? out upon ye!
Heaven is above all yet; there sits a Judge

That no king can corrupt.

Cam.

Your rage mistakes us.

Q. Kath. The more shame for ye: holy men I

thought ye,

Upon my soul, two reverend cardinal virtues;
But cardinal sins and hollow hearts I fear ye:

Mend 'em, for shame, my lords.

comfort?

Is this your

The cordial that ye bring a wretched lady,
A woman lost among ye, laugh'd at, scorn'd?
I will not wish ye half my miseries;

I have more charity: but say, I warn'd ye:

Take heed, for heaven's sake, take heed, lest at

once

The burthen of my sorrows fall upon ye.

Wol. Madam, this is a mere distraction;

You turn the good we offer into envy.

Q. Kath. Ye turn me into nothing: woe upon ye And all such false professors!

Wol. Madam, you wander from the good we aim

at.

Q. Kath. My lord, I dare not make myself so guilty,

To give up willingly that noble title

Your master wed me to: nothing but death

Shall e'er divorce my dignities.

Wol.

Pray, hear me.