Who can be angry now? what envy reach you?
The Spaniard, ty'd by blood and favour to her,
Must now confess, if they have any goodness,
The trial just and noble. All the clerks,

I mean, the learned ones, in christian kingdoms, Have their free voices: Rome, the nurse of judgement,

Invited by your noble self, hath sent

One general tongue unto us, this good man,
This just and learned priest, cardinal Campeius;
Whom, once more, I present unto your highness.
King. In mine arms I bid him welcome,

And thank the holy conclave for their loves;
They 've sent me such a man I would have wish'd for.
Cam. Your grace must needs deserve all strangers'
loves,

You are so noble: To your highness' hand
I tender my commission; by whose virtue,-
(The court of Rome commanding,)—you, my lord
Cardinal of York, are join'd with me their servant,
In the unpartial judging of this business.

King. Two equal men. The queen shall be ac-
quainted

Forthwith, for what you come.-Where's Gardiner ?
Wol. I know, your majesty has always lov'd her
So dear in heart, not to deny her that

A woman of less place might ask by law,
Scholars, allow'd freely to argue for her.

King. Ay, and the best she shall have; and my
favour

To him that does best; heaven forbid else. Cardinal, 'Pr'ythee, call Gardiner to me, my new secretary; I find him a fit fellow.

WOLSEY goes out, and returns with GARDINER.

Wol. Give me your hand; much joy and favour to

you;

You are the king's now..

Gard. But to be commanded

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

3

[Aside.

-King. Come hither, Gardiner.

[Walks and whispers with him.]

Cam. My lord of York, was not one doctor Pace In this man's place before him?

Wol. Yes, he was..

Cam. Was he not held a learned man?
Wol. Yes, surely.

Cam. Believe me, there's an ill opinion spread then Even of yourself, lord cardinal.

Wol. How! of me?

Cam. They will not stick to say, you envy'd 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.

Wol. 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 ncar else. Learn this, brother,
We live not to be grip'd by meaner persons.
King. Deliver this with modesty to the queen.-
[Exit GARDINER.

The most convenient place that I can think of,
For such receipt of learning, is Black-Friars:
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, 't is a tender place, and I must leave her.

[Exeunt WOLSEY, the King, and CAMPEIUS.

SCENE III.

An Antechamber of the Queen's Apartments.

Enter ANNE BULLEN, and Lady DENNY.

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:-

I swear 't is better to be lowly born,
And range with humble livers in content,
Than to be perk'd up in a glistering grief,
And wear a golden sorrow:-

Who would on such conditions be a queen ?
L. Den. Beshrew me, I would; so would you,
For all this spice of your hypocrisy.

Anne. Nay, good troth,

L. Den. Yes, troth and troth,-You would not be a queen ?

Anne. No, not for all the riches under heaven.

L. Den. A three-pence 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.

L. Den. I would not be a young count in your way, For more than blushing comes to.

Anne. How you do talk!

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

L. Den. In faith, for little England

You'd venture an emballing: I myself

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

Enter the Chamberlain.

Cham. Good morrow, ladies. What were 't worth, to know

The secret of your conference?

Anne. My good lord,

Our mistress' sorrows we were pitying.

Cham. It was a gentle business, and becoming

The action of good women: there is hope,

All will be well.

Anne. Now I pray heaven, amen!

Cham. You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly bless

ings

Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady,

Perceive I speak sincerely,
The king's majesty

Commends his good opinion of you, and
Does purpose honour to you no less flowing
Than marchioness of Pembroke; to which title
A thousand pounds 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.

'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.

Cham. Lady,

I shall not fail to approve the fair conceit,
The king hath of you. 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 Chamberlain.

L. Den. The marchioness of Pembroke !
A thousand pounds a year! for pure respect;
No other obligation: By my life,

That promises more thousands:-By this time,
I know your limbs 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 you've heard, to her.

L. Den. What do you think me?

[Exeunt ANNE BULLEN, and Lady DENNY.

SCENE IV.

A Hall in Black-Friars.

Flourish of Trumpets and Drums.

The Court sitting for the trial of Queen KATHARINE.The King, WOLSEY, CAMPEIUS. NORFOLK, SUFFOLK, Chamberlain, LOVEL, CROMWELL, Bishops, Judges,-Gentlemen and Ladies,—Clerk of the Court, -Officers, and Guards,—discovered.

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

King. What's the need?

It hath already publickly been read,
And on all sides the authority allow'd;

You may then spare that time.

Wol. Be't so:-Proceed.

Crom. Say, Henry king of England, come into

the court.

Clerk. Henry king of England, &c.

King, Here.

Crom. Say, Katharine queen of England, come into. the court.

Clerk. Katharine queen of England, &c.

Enter the Queen preceded by GUILDFORD with a cushion, which he places; then the Queen kneels.

Queen. Sir, I desire you do me right and justice; And to bestow your pity on me: for

I am a most poor woman, and a stranger,

Born out of your dominions; having here
No judge indifferent, nor no more assurance

Of equal friendship and proceeding.-(She rises.)
Alas, sir,

In what have I offended you? what cause
Hath my behaviour given to your displeasure,
That thus you should proceed to put me off,

And take your good grace from me? Heaven witness,
I have been to you a true and humble wife,