Been out of fondness superstitious to him? [Wolsey.] Madam, you wander from the good we aim at. [Catherine.] My lord, I dare not make myself so guilty, Your master wed me to: nothing but death [Wolsey.] Pray hear me. [Catherine.] Would I had never seen this English earth, Or felt the flatteries that grow upon it! I am the most unhappy woman living: Alas, poor wenches, where are now your fortunes, [Wolsey.] Madam, Could you be brought to know our ends are honest, Grow from the king's acquaintance, by this carriage. Peace-makers, friends, and servants. Noble spirits,- -ever cast Doubts, as false coins, away. The king's love still Is toward you; lose it not for us, if 't please you To use our utmost studies in your service. [Catherine.] Do as you will, my lords; and, pray forgive If I have us'd myself unmannerly; You know I am a woman, lacking wit [me, To make a seemly answer to such persons. Pray do my service to his majesty : He has my heart yet, and shall have my prayers, My lords, adieu ! THE FALL OF WOLSEY, INDICATED BY A SCENE SUPPOSED TO OCCUR IN AN ANTE-CHAMBER OF THE PALACE. HISTORICAL MEMORANDA. In order to bring the circumstances which led to the fall of Wolsey into one dramatic picture, Shakspeare improves some minute facts to his own purpose, which did not occur exactly as he represents them; for instance, the accidental transmission to the king's hands of the cardinal's household inventory; and also of a letter which he had sent to the pope. The former event happened not to Wolsey but to Ruthall, bishop of Durham; and the purport of the cardinal's letter to the pope, was made a complaint against him on surmise, rather than on any proof. The king's impatience to marry Anne Boleyn, was no doubt the cause of Wolsey's disgrace; but he did not actually marry her till two years after Wolsey's death, which last mentioned event took place in 1530. The poet found it necessary to vary a little from these points. It may be further noticed, that Shakspeare continues in the following scene the duke of Norfolk, who begins the play; though at the time of Wolsey's disgrace that duke was dead; and the new duke was the earl of Surrey, who is one of the characters in the following scene. We are to imagine an ante-chamber in the palace four noblemen are in earnest conversation, Norfolk, Surrey, Suffolk, and the lord Chamberlain: Norfolk first speaks: [Norfolk.] If you will now unite in your complaints, The cardinal cannot stand under them. [Surrey.] I am joyful to meet the least occasion To be reveng'd on him. [Suffolk.] Which of the peers Have uncontemn'd gone by him?-When did he regard Out of himself? [Chamberlain.] But, my lords, if you cannot [Norfolk.] O fear him not; His spell in that is out: the king hath found In the divorce his contrary proceedings [Surrey.] How came his practices to light? [Norfolk.] Most strangely. [Surrey.] O how, how? [Norfolk.] The cardi'nal's letter to the pope miscarried, A creature of the queen's, lady Anne Boleyn." [Surrey.] Has the king this? [Norfolk.] Believe it; and perceives him how he coasts And hedges his own way. But, on this point, All his tricks founder, and he brings his physic The four lords retire to a distance, where they are not seen by Wolsey, who enters with his secretary, Cromwell : but they keep their eyes on him, and at intervals make remarks: Wolsey speaks to his secretary: [Wolsey.] The packet, Cromwell, gave 't you to the king? [Cromwell.] To his own hand,-in his bedchamber. [Wolsey.] Look'd he on the' inside of the paper? [Cromwell.] Presently He did unseal the papers, and he view'd [Wolsey.] Leave me awhile. It shall be to the duchess of Alençon [a pause.] The French king's sister :-he shall marry her.- To hear from Rome:-The marchioness of Pembroke !- What! know I not she is A spleeny Lutheran, not wholesome to us; She to lie i' the boso'm of our hard-rul'd king! We pass to the spot where the four lords are grouped : Norfolk speaks: [Norfolk.] He's vex'd at something-something that I hope Will fret the string, the master-chord of hi's heart. The king! The king! King Henry enters at that part of the room where the four lords are standing: [K. Henry.] Now, my lords, saw you the Cardinal? [Norfolk.] My lord, we have Stood here observing him. Some strange commotion [K. Henry.] There's a mutiny in his mind. This morning Papers of state he sent me to peruse As I requir'd. And wot you what I found? His thinkings are below the moon. The king, in advancing to the Cardinal, awakens him from his fit of meditation: he bows to the king, and speaks: [Wolsey.] Heaven forgive me, and ever bless your highness! [K. Henry.] Good my lord, You a're full of heavenly stuff, and bear the inventory [Wolsey, in an under tone.] What should this mean? [aloud.] Sir, For holy offices I have a time; a time [K. Henry.] You have said well. [Wolsey.] And ever may your highness yoke together, As I will lend you cause, my doing well With my well saying. [K. Henry.] 'Tis well said again : And yet words are no deeds. Read o'er this paper, |