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For ever by your Grace, whose hand has rais'd me.

KING. Come hither, Gardiner. [Walks and whispers]
CAMPEIUS. My Lord of York, was not one Doctor Pace

In this man's place before him?
WOLSEY. Yes, he was.

CAMPEIUS. Was he not held a learned man?
WOLSEY. Yes, surely.

CAMPEIUS. Believe me, there's an ill opinion spread then,
Even of yourself, Lord Cardinal.

WOLSEY. How! Of me?
CAMPEIUS. They will not stick to say you envied him

And, fearing he would rise, he was so virtuous,
Kept him a foreign man still; which so griev'd him

That he ran mad and died.
WOLSEY. Heav'n's peace be with him!

That's Christian care enough. For living murmurers
There's places of rebuke. He was a fool,

For he would needs be virtuous: that good fellow,
If I command him, follows my appointment.

I will have none so near else. Learn this, brother,
We live not to be grip'd by meaner persons.

KING. Deliver this with modesty to th' Queen.
Exit GARDINER

The most convenient place that I can think of
For such receipt of learning is Blackfriars;

There ye shall meet about this weighty business-
My Wolsey, see it furnish'd. O, my lord,

Would it not grieve an able man to leave
So sweet a bedfellow? But, conscience, conscience!

O, 'tis a tender place! and I must leave her. Exeunt
ACT II. SCENE 3.

London. The palace
Enter ANNE BULLEN and an OLD LADY

ANNE. Not for that neither. Here's the pang that pinches:
His Highness having liv'd so long with her, and she

So good a lady that no tongue could ever
Pronounce dishonour of her-by my life,

She never knew harm-doing-O, now, after
So many courses of the sun enthroned,

Still growing in a majesty and pomp, the which
To leave a thousand-fold more bitter than

'Tis sweet at first t' acquire-after this process,
To give her the avaunt, it is a pity

Would move a monster.
OLD LADY. Hearts of most hard temper

Melt and lament for her.
ANNE. O, God's will! much better

She ne'er had known pomp; though't be temporal,
Yet, if that quarrel, fortune, do divorce

It from the bearer, 'tis a sufferance panging
As soul and body's severing.

OLD LADY. Alas, poor lady!
She's a stranger now again.

ANNE. So much the more
Must pity drop upon her. Verily,

I swear 'tis better to be lowly born
And range with humble livers in content

Than to be perk'd up in a glist'ring grief
And wear a golden sorrow.

OLD LADY. Our content
Is our best having.

ANNE. By my troth and maidenhead,
I would not be a queen.

OLD LADY. Beshrew me, I would,
And venture maidenhead for 't; and so would you,

For all this spice of your hypocrisy.
You that have so fair parts of woman on you

Have too a woman's heart, which ever yet
Affected eminence, wealth, sovereignty;

Which, to say sooth, are blessings; and which gifts,
Saving your mincing, the capacity

Of your soft cheveril conscience would receive
If you might please to stretch it.

ANNE. Nay, good troth.
OLD LADY. Yes, troth and troth. You would not be a queen!

ANNE. No, not for all the riches under heaven.
OLD LADY. 'Tis strange: a threepence bow'd would hire me,

Old as I am, to queen it. But, I pray you,
What think you of a duchess? Have you limbs

To bear that load of title?
ANNE. No, in truth.

OLD LADY. Then you are weakly made. Pluck off a little;
I would not be a young count in your way

For more than blushing comes to. If your back
Cannot vouchsafe this burden, 'tis too weak

Ever to get a boy.
ANNE. How you do talk!

I swear again I would not be a queen
For all the world.

OLD LADY. In faith, for little England
You'd venture an emballing. I myself

Would for Carnarvonshire, although there long'd
No more to th' crown but that. Lo, who comes here?

Enter the LORD CHAMBERLAIN
CHAMBERLAIN. Good morrow, ladies. What were't worth to know

The secret of your conference?
ANNE. My good lord,

Not your demand; it values not your asking.
Our mistress' sorrows we were pitying.

CHAMBERLAIN. It was a gentle business and becoming
The action of good women; there is hope

All will be well.
ANNE. Now, I pray God, amen!

CHAMBERLAIN. You bear a gentle mind, and heav'nly blessings
Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady,

Perceive I speak sincerely and high notes
Ta'en of your many virtues, the King's Majesty

Commends his good opinion of you to you, and
Does purpose honour to you no less flowing

Than Marchioness of Pembroke; to which tide
A thousand pound a year, annual support,

Out of his grace he adds.
ANNE. I do not know

What kind of my obedience I should tender;
More than my all is nothing, nor my prayers

Are not words duly hallowed, nor my wishes
More worth than empty vanities; yet prayers and wishes

Are all I can return. Beseech your lordship,
Vouchsafe to speak my thanks and my obedience,

As from a blushing handmaid, to his Highness;
Whose health and royalty I pray for.

CHAMBERLAIN. Lady,
I shall not fail t' approve the fair conceit

The King hath of you. [Aside] I have perus'd her well:
Beauty and honour in her are so mingled

That they have caught the King; and who knows yet
But from this lady may proceed a gem

To lighten all this isle?-I'll to the King
And say I spoke with you.

ANNE. My honour'd lord! Exit LORD CHAMBERLAIN
OLD LADY. Why, this it is: see, see!

I have been begging sixteen years in court-
Am yet a courtier beggarly-nor could

Come pat betwixt too early and too late
For any suit of pounds; and you, O fate!

A very fresh-fish here-fie, fie, fie upon
This compell'd fortune!-have your mouth fill'd up

Before you open it.
ANNE. This is strange to me.

OLD LADY. How tastes it? Is it bitter? Forty pence, no.
There was a lady once-'tis an old story-

That would not be a queen, that would she not,
For all the mud in Egypt. Have you heard it?

ANNE. Come, you are pleasant.
OLD LADY. With your theme I could

O'ermount the lark. The Marchioness of Pembroke!
A thousand pounds a year for pure respect!

No other obligation! By my life,
That promises moe thousands: honour's train

Is longer than his foreskirt. By this time
I know your back will bear a duchess. Say,

Are you not stronger than you were?
ANNE. Good lady,

Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy,
And leave me out on't. Would I had no being,

If this salute my blood a jot; it faints me
To think what follows.

The Queen is comfortless, and we forgetful
In our long absence. Pray, do not deliver

What here y' have heard to her.
OLD LADY. What do you think me? Exeunt

ACT II. SCENE 4.
London. A hall in Blackfriars

Trumpets, sennet, and cornets. Enter two VERGERS,
with short silver wands; next them, two SCRIBES,

in the habit of doctors; after them, the ARCHBISHOP
OF CANTERBURY alone; after him, the BISHOPS OF

LINCOLN, ELY, ROCHESTER, and SAINT ASAPH; next
them, with some small distance, follows a GENTLEMAN

bearing the purse, with the great seal, and a
Cardinal's hat; then two PRIESTS, bearing each

silver cross; then a GENTLEMAN USHER bareheaded,
accompanied with a SERGEANT-AT-ARMS bearing a

silver mace; then two GENTLEMEN bearing two
great silver pillars; after them, side by side, the two

CARDINALS, WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS; two NOBLEMEN
with the sword and mace. Then enter the

KING and QUEEN and their trains. The KING takes
place under the cloth of state; the two CARDINALS

sit under him as judges. The QUEEN takes place
some distance from the KING. The BISHOPS place

themselves on each side of the court, in manner of
consistory; below them the SCRIBES. The LORDS sit

next the BISHOPS. The rest of the attendants stand in
convenient order about the stage

WOLSEY. Whilst our commission from Rome is read,
Let silence be commanded.

KING. What's the need?
It hath already publicly been read,

And on all sides th' authority allow'd;
You may then spare that time.

WOLSEY. Be't so; proceed.
SCRIBE. Say 'Henry King of England, come into the court.'

CRIER. Henry King of England, &c.
KING. Here.

SCRIBE. Say 'Katharine Queen of England, come into the court.'
CRIER. Katharine Queen of England, &c.

The QUEEN makes no answer, rises out of her chair,
goes about the court, comes to the KING, and kneels

at his feet; then speaks
QUEEN KATHARINE. Sir, I desire you do me right and justice,



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