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2 Gent. "Tis well: the citizens,
I am sure, have shewn at full their loyal minds;
As, let 'em have their rights, they are ever forward, 15
In celebration of this day with shews,
Pageants, and sights of honour.

Gent. Never greater,

Nor, I'll assure you, better taken, sir.

2 Gent. May I be bold to ask what that contains, 20 That paper in your hand?

1 Gent. Yes; 'tis the list

Of those, that claim their offices this day,

By custom of the coronation,

The duke of Suffolk is the first, and claims

To be high steward; next the duke of Norfolk, To be earl marshal: you may read the rest.

2 Gent. I thank you, sir; had I not known those

customs,

I should have been beholden to your paper.
But, I beseech you, what's become of Katharine,
The princess dowager? how goes her business?
1 Gent. That I can tell you too. The archbishop
Of Canterbury, accompanied with other
Learn'd and reverend fathers of his order,
Held a late court at Dunstable, six miles off
From Ampthill, where the princess lay; to which
She oft was cited by them, but appear'd not:
And, to be short, for not appearance, and
The king's late scruple, by the main assent
Of all these learned men, she was divorc'd,
And the late marriage made of none effect:
Since which, she was remov'd to Kimbolton,
Where she remains now, sick.

1 Gent. Alas, good lady!-The trumpets sound: stand close; the queen is coming. [Hautboys.

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6. Marquis Dorset, bearing a sceptre of gold, on his head a demi-coronal of gold. With him, the Earl of Surrey, bearing the rod of silver with the dove, crown'd with an earl's coronet. Collars of SS.

7. Duke of Suffolk, in his robe of estate, his coronet on his head, bearing a long white wand, as high steward. With him the Duke of Norfolk, with the rod of marshalship, a coronet on his head. Collars of SS. 8. A canopy borne by four of the Cinque-ports; under it the Queen in her robe; her hair richly adorn'd with pearl, crowned. On each side her, the bishops of London and Winchester.

9. The old dutchess of Norfolk, in a coronal of gold, wrought with flowers, bearing the Queen's train.

10. Certain Ladies or Countesses, with plain cir clets of gold without flowers.

They pass over the stage in order and slate.

2 Gent. A royal train, believe me.-These I Who's that, that bears the sceptre? [know;→ 1 Gent. Marquis Dorset:

And that the earl of Surrey, with the rod.

2 Gent. A bold brave gentleman. That should be The duke of Suffolk.

1 Gent. 'Tis the same, high-steward.
2 Gent. And that my lord of Norfolk.

1 Gent. Yes.

2 Gent.Heaven bless thee! [Looking ontheQueen. Thou hast the sweetest face I ever look'd on.Sir, as I have a soul, she is an angel;

35 Our king has all the Indies in his arms,
And more, and richer, when he strains that lady:
I cannot blame his conscience.

1 Gent. They, that bear

The cloth of honour over her, are four barons 40 Of the Cinque-ports.

45

[her.

2 Gent. Those men are happy; so are all are near

I take it, she that carries up the train,

Is that old noble lady, dutchess of Norfolk. 1 Gent. It is; and all the rest are countesses, 2 Gent. Their coronets say so. These are stars, And, sometimes, falling ones.

[indeed; [pets.

1 Gent. No more of that.
[Exit Procession, with a great flourish of trum-
Enter a third Gentleman.

50 God save you, sir! Where have you been broiling?
3 Gent. Among the crowd i' the abbey; where a
Could not be wedg'd in more: I am stilled [finger
With the mere rankness of their joy.

[Music. 55

5. Mayor of London, bearing the mace. Then Garter, in his coat of arms, and on his head a gilt copper crown.

2 Gent. You saw the ceremony?

3 Gent. That I did.

1 Gent. How was it?

3 Gent. Well worth the seeing. 2 Gent. Good sir, speak it to us.

Alluding to their former meeting, in the second act.
Y y 3

3 Gent.

3 Gent. As well as I am able. The rich stream. And one, already, of the privy-council.

Of lords, and ladies, having brought the queen
To a prepar'd place in the choir, fell off
A distance from her: while her grace sat down
To rest awhile, some half an hour, or so,
In a rich chair of state, opposing freely
The beauty of her person to the people.
Believe me, sir, she is the goodliest woman
That ever lay by man: which when the people
Had the full view of, such a noise arose
As the shrouds make at sea in a stiff tempest,
As loud, and to as many tunes: Hats, cloaks,
(Doublets, I think) flew up; and had their faces
Been loose, this day they had been lost. Such joy
I never saw before. Great-belly'd women,
That had not half a week to go, like
In the old time of war, would shake the press,
And make 'em reel before 'em. No man living
Could say, This is my wife, there; all were woven
So strangely in one piece.

rams

1

[paces

2 Gent. But what follow'd? 3 Gent. At length her grace rose, andwith modest Came to the altar; where she kneel'd, and, saintlike,

2 Gent. He will deserve more.

3 Gent. Yes, without all doubt. Come, gentlemen, ye shall go my way, which 5 Is to the court, and there shall be my guests; Something I can command. As I walk thither, I'll tell ye more.

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Cast her fair eyes to heaven, and pray'd devoutly. 25
Then rose again, and bow'd her to the people:
When by the archbishop of Canterbury,
She had all the royal makings of a queen;
As holy oil, Edward Confessor's crown,

The rod, and bird of peace, and all such emblems 30
Lay'd nobly on her: which perform'd, the choir,
With all the choicest music of the kingdom,
Together sung Te Deum. So she parted,
And with the same full state pac'd back again
To York place, where the feast is held.

1 Gent. You must no more call it York place,
that's past:

For, since the cardinal fell, that title's lost;
'Tis now the king's, and call'd-Whitehall.
3 Gent. I know it;

But 'tis so lately alter'd, that the old name
Is fresh about me.

Both. You may command us, sir.

SCENE II.

Kimbolton.

[Exeunt.

Enter Katharine, Dowager, sick, led between Griffith her Gentleman-usher, and Patience her woman. Grif. How does your grace?

Kath. O, Griffith, sick to death:

My legs, like loaded branches, bow to the earth,
Willing to leave their burden: Reach a chair ;-
So, now, methinks, I feel a little ease.

Did'st thou not tell me, Griffith, as thou led'st me,
That the great child of honour, cardinal Wolsey,
Was dead?

Grif. Yes, madam: but, I think your grace,
Out of the pain you suffer'd, gave no ear to't.
Kath.Pr'ythee,good Griffith, tell me how he dy'd:
If well; he stepp'd before me, happily 2,
For my example.

Grif. Well, the voice goes, madam :
For after the stout earl Northumberland
Arrested him at York, and brought him forward
(As a man sorely tainted) to his answer,
He fell sick suddenly, and grew so ill,
He could not sit his mule,
Kath. Alas, poor man!

[cester,

Grif. At last, with easy roads' he came to Lei35 Lodg'd in the abbey; where the reverend abbot, With all his convent, honourably receiv'd him; To whom he gave these words-O father abbot, "An old man, broken with the storms of state, Is come to lay his weary bones among ye; 40" Give him a little earth for charity!"

2 Gent. What two reverend bishops Were those that went on each side of the queen? 3 Gent. Stokesly, and Gardiner; the one, of 45 Winchester,

(Newly preferr'd from the king's secretary) The other, London.

2 Gent. He of Winchester

Is held no great good lover of the archbishop,
The virtuous Cranmer.

3 Gent. All the land knows that:
[comes,
However, yet there's no great breach; when it
Cranmer will find a friend will not shrink from him.
2 Gent. Who may that be, I pray you?
3 Gent. Thomas Cromwell;

A man in much esteem with the king, and truly
A worthy friend. The king has made him
Master o' the jewel-house,

2

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So went to bed: where eagerly his sickness
Pursu'd him still; and, three nights after this,
About the hour of eight, (which he himself
Foretold should be his last) full of repentance,
Continual meditations, tears, and sorrows,
He gave his honours to the world again,
His blessed part to heaven, and slept in peace.[him!
Kath. So may he rest; his faults lie gently on
Yet thus far, Griffith, give me leave to speak him,
50 And yet with charity;-He was a man
Of an unbounded stomach, ever ranking
Himself with princes; one, that by suggestion
Ty'd all the kingdom: simony was fair play;
His own opinion was his law: I' the presence
55e would say untruths; and he ever double,
Both in his words and meaning: He was never,
But where he meant to ruin, pitiful:
His promises were, as he then was, mighty;
But his performance, as he is now, nothing.

1i. e. like battering-rams. Happily seems to mean on this occasion-peradventure, haply. i. e. by short stages. i. e. (says Mr. Tollet) He was a man of an unbounded stomach, or pride, ranking himself with princes, and, by suggestion to the king and the pope, he 'd, i. e, limited, circumscribed, and set bounds to the liberties and properties of all persons in the kingdom. That he did so, appears from various passages in the play.

Of

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Men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues

We write in water. May it please your highness 5
To hear me speak his good now?

Kath. Yes, good Griffith;

I were malicious else.

Grif. This cardinal,

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order: at which, (as it were by inspiration) she
makes in her sleep signs of rejoicing, and holdeth
up her hands to heaven; and so, in their dancing,
they vanish, carrying the garland with them. The
musick continues.

Kath. Spirits of peace, where are ye? Are y
e ye
all gone?

And leave me here in wretchedness behind ye?
Grif. Madam, we are here.

Kath. It is not you I call for:
Saw you none enter, since I slept?
Grif. None, madam,

Kath. No? Saw you not, even now, a blessed

troop

Invite me to a banquet; whose bright faces
Cast thousand beams upon me, like the sun?
They promis'd me eternal happiness;
And brought me garlands, Griffith, which I feel
I am not worthy yet to wear: I shall,
[dreams
Grif. I am most joyful, madam, such good
Possess your fancy,

Kath. Bid the musick leave,

They are harsh and heavy to me. [Musick ceases.
Pat. Do you note,

Though from an humble stock, undoubtedly
Was fashion'd to much honour. From his cradle,
He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one:
Exceeding wise, fair spoken, and persuading:
Lofty and sour, to them that lov'd him not;
But, to those men that sought him, sweet as sum-15
And though he were unsatisfy'd in getting, [mer.
(Which was a sin) yet in bestowing, madain,
He was most princely; Ever witness for him
Those twins of learning, that he rais'd in you,
Ipswich, and Oxford! one of which fell with him, 20 Assuredly.
Unwilling to out-live the good he did it;
The other, though unfinish'd, yet so famous,
So excellent in art, and still so rising,
That Christendom shall ever speak his virtue.
His overthrow heap'd happiness upon him;
For then, and not 'till then, he felt himself,
And found the blessedness of being little:
And, to add greater honours to his age
Than man could give him, he dy'd, fearing God.
Kath. After my death, I wish no other herald, 30
No other speaker of my living actions,
To keep mine honour from corruption,
But such an honest chronicler as Griffith.
Whom I most hated living, thou hast made me,
With thy religious truth, and modesty,
Now in his ashes honour: Peace be with him!—
Patience, be near me still; and set me lower :
I have not long to trouble thee.-Good Griffith,
Cause the musicians play me that sad note
I nam'd my knell, whilst I sit meditating
On that celestial harmony I go to.

Sad and solemn musick,

Grif. She is asleep: Good wench, let's sit down

quiet,

35

How much her grace is alter'd on the sudden?
How long her face is drawn? how pale she looks,
And of an earthy cold? Mark her eyes.
Grif. She is going, wench; pray, pray.
Pat. Heaven comfort her!

Enter a Messenger.

Mes. An't like your grace,-
Kath. You are a sawcy fellow:
Deserve we no more reverence?

Grif. You are to blame,

Knowing, she will not lose her wonted greatness,
To use so rude behaviour: go to, kneel.

Mes. I humblydo entreat your highness' pardon;
My haste made ine unmannerly: There is staying
40A gentleman, sent from the king, to see you.
Kath. Admit him entrance, Griffith: But this
Let me ne'er see again.
[fellow
[Exeunt Griffith, and Messenger.
Re-enter Griffith, with Capucius.

For fear we wake her:-Softly, gentle Patience. 45
The vision. Eater, solemnly tripping, one after an-

other, six personages, clad in white robes, wear-
ing on their heads garlands of bays, and golden
vizards on their faces; branches of bays, or
palm, in their hands. They first congee unto her, 50
then dance; and, at certain changes, the first two
hold a spare garland over her head; at which,
the other four make reverend curtsies; then the
trvo, that held the garland, deliver the same to
the other next two, who observe the same order in 55
their changes, and holding the garland over her
head; which done, they deliver the same garland
to the last two, who likewise observe the same

If my sight fail not,
You should be lord ambassador from the emperor
My royal nephew, and your name Capucius.
Cap. Madam, the same, your servant.
Kath. O my lord,

The times, and titles, now are alter'd strangely
With me, since first you knew me. But, I pray
What is your pleasure with me?
Cap. Noble lady,

[you,

First, mine own service to your grace; the next,
The king's request that I would visit you;
Who grieves much for your weakness, and by me
Sends you his princely commendations,
And heartily entreats you take good comfort.

'A criminal connection with women was anciently call'd the vice of the body. So, in Holinshed, p. 1258, “he labour'd by all means to cleare mistresse Sanders of committing evill of her bodie with him." Dr. Percy remarks, that "this reflection bears a great resemblance to a passage in Sir Tho mas More's History of Richard III. where, speaking of the ungrateful turns which Jane Shore experienced from those whom she had served in her prosperity; More adds, "Men use, if they have an evil turne, to write it in marble, and whoso doeth us a good turne, we write it in duste." Y y 4

Kath.

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Kath. Sir, I most humbly pray you to deliver This to my lord the king.

Cap. Most willing, madam.

[ness

Kath. In which I have commended to his good-
The model of our chaste loves,his young daughter:
The dews of heaven fall thick in blessings on her!
Beseeching him, to give her virtuous breeding;
(She is young, and of a noble modest nature;
I hope, she will deserve well) and a little
To love her for her mother's sake, that lov'd him,
Heaven knows how dearly. My next poor pe-
tition

Is, that his noble grace would have some pity
Upon my wretched women, that so long
Have follow'd both my fortunes faithfully:
Of which there is not one, I dare avow,
(And now I should not lye) but will deserve,
For virtue, and true beauty of the soul,

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For honesty, and decent carriage,

A right good husband; let him be a noble:
And,sure,those men are happy that shall have 'em.
The last is, for my men;-they are the poorest,
But poverty could never draw 'em from me;-
That they may have their wages duly paid 'em,
And something over to remember me by:

If heaven had pleas'd to have given me longer life,
And able means, we had not parted thus. [lord,
10 These are the whole contents:-And, good my
By that
you love the dearest in this world,
As you wish christian peace to souls departed,
Stand these poor people's friend, and urge the king
To do me this last right.

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Cap. By heaven, I will;

Or let me lose the fashion of a man!

[me

Kath. I thank you, honest lord. Remember In all humility unto his highness: 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 dim.-Farewell, My lord.-Griffith, farewell.-Nay, Patience, You must not leave me yet. I must to bed;Call in more women. D When I am dead, good wench,

Let me be us'd with honour; strew me over With maiden flowers, that all the world may know I was a chaste wife to my grave: embalm me, Then lay me forth: although unqueen'd, yet like 30 A queen, and daughter to a king, interr me. I can no more. [Exeunt, leading Katharine.

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It seems, you are in haste: an if there be

Gard. But, sir, sir,

Hear me, Sir Thomas: You are a gentleman

No great offence belongs to 't, give your friend (60 Of mine own way 2; I know you wise, religious;

Primero and primavista, two games at cards, that is, first, and first seen: because he that can shew such an order of cards first, wins the game.

i.e. of mine own opinion in religion.

And,

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Gard. Yes, yes, Sir Thomas,

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There are that dare; and I myself have ventur'd
To speak my mind of him: and, indeed, this day,
Sir, I may tell it you) I think, I have
Incens'd the lords o' the council, that he is
(For so I know he is, they know he is)
A most arch-heretick, a pestilence
That does infect the land: with which they mov'd,
Have broken with the king; who hath so far
Given ear to our complaint, (of his great grace
And princely care; foresceing those fell mischiefs
Our reasons laid before him) he hath commanded, 25I
To-morrow morning to the council-board [mas,
He be convented. He's a rank weed, Sir Tho
And we must root him out. From your affairs
I hinder you too long: good night, Sir Thomas!
Lov. Many good nights, my lord! I rest your
servant. [Exeunt Gardiner and Page.
As Lovel is going out, enter the King, and the Duke
of Suffolk.

King. Charles, I will play no more to-night;
My mind's not on't, you are too hard for me.
Suf. Sir, I did never win of you before.
King. But little, Charles;

Nor shall not, when my fancy's on my play.-
Now, Lovel, from the queen what is the news?
Lov. I could not personally deliver to her
What you commanded me, but by her woman
I sent your message; who return'd her thanks
In the greatest humbleness, and desired your high-
Most heartily to pray for her.
[ness

King. What say'st thou? ha!

To pray for her? what, is she crying out? [made
Loc. So said her woman; and that her sufferance
Almost each pang a death.

King. Alas, good lady!

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King. Avoid the gallery. [Lovel seemeth to stay.
Ha! I have said.-Be gone.

What!—
[Exeunt Lovel, and Denny.
Cran. I am fearful:-Wherefore frowns he thus?
'Tis his aspect of terror. All's not well. [know
King. How now, my lord? You do desire to
Wherefore I sent for you.

Cran. It is my duty,

To attend your highness' pleasure.

King. Pray you, arise,

My good and gracious lord of Canterbury. Come, you and I must walk a turn together; have news to tell you: Come, come, give me your hand.

I

Ah, my good lord, I grieve at what I speak,
And am right sorry to repeat what follows:
have, and most unwillingly, of late
Heard many grievous, I do say, my lord,
Grievous complaints of you; which, being con-

sider'd,

Have mov'd us and our council, that you shall
This morning come before us; where, I know,
35 You cannot with such freedom purge yourself,
But that, 'till further trial, in those charges
Which will require your answer, you must take
Your patience to you, and be well contended
To make your house our Tower: You a brother
of us +,

140

It fits we thus proceed, or else no witness
Would come against you.

Cran. I humbly thank your highness;
And am right glad to catch this good occasion
45 Most thoroughly to be winnow'd, where my chaff
And corn shall fly asunder: for, I know,
There'snonestandsundermorecalumnioustongues,
Than I myself, poor man.

King. Stand up, good Canterbury;

Suf. God safely quit her of her burden, and 50 Thy truth, and thy integrity, is rooted

With gentle travail, to the gladding of

Your highness with an heir!

King. "Tis midnight, Charles;

Pr'ythee to bed; and in thy prayers remember

The estate of my poor queen. Leave me alone; 55
For I must think of that, which company
Would not be friendly to.

Suf. I wish your highness

A quiet night, and my good mistress will
Remember in my prayers.
King. Charles, good night.

[Exit Suffolk.

In us, thy friend: Give me thy hand, stand up;
Pr'ythee, let's walk. Now, by my holy dame,
What manner of man are you? My lord, I look'd
You would have given me your petition, that
I should have ta'en some pains to bring together
Yourself and your accusers; and to have heard you
Without indurance, further.

Cran. Most dread liege,

The good I stand on is my truth and honesty; 60 If they shall fail, I, with mine enemies, Will triumph o'er my person! which I weigh not,

i.e. the practised method, the general course. minds to the king. 3i.e. summon'd, conven'd.

2i.e. they have broken silence, and told their i.e. you being one of the council.

Being

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