She's going away. KING HENRY VIII Call her again. Crier Katharine Queen of England, come into the court. GRIFFITH Madam, you are call'd back. QUEEN KATHARINE What need you note it? pray you, keep your way:
When you are call'd, return. Now, the Lord help, They vex me past my patience! Pray you, pass on:
I will not tarry; no, nor ever more Upon this business my appearance make In any of their courts.
Exeunt QUEEN KATHARINE and her Attendants KING HENRY VIII Go thy ways, Kate:
That man i' the world who shall report he has A better wife, let him in nought be trusted, For speaking false in that: thou art, alone, If thy rare qualities, sweet gentleness, Thy meekness saint-like, wife-like government, Obeying in commanding, and thy parts Sovereign and pious else, could speak thee out, The queen of earthly queens: she's noble born;And, like her true nobility, she has Carried herself towards me. CARDINAL WOLSEY Most gracious sir, In humblest manner I require your highness, That it shall please you to declare, in hearing Of all these ears,--for where I am robb'd and bound, There must I be unloosed, although not there At once and fully satisfied,--whether ever IDid broach this business to your highness; or Laid any scruple in your way, which might Induce you to the question on't? or ever Have to you, but with thanks to God for such A royal lady, spake one the least word that might Be to the prejudice of her present state, Or touch of her good person? KING HENRY VIII My lord cardinal, I do excuse you; yea, upon mine honour, I free you from't. You are not to be taught That you have many enemies, that know not Why they are so, but, like to village-curs, Bark when their fellows do: by some of these The queen is put in anger. You're excused:
But will you be more justified? You ever Have wish'd the sleeping of this business; never desired It to be stirr'd; but oft have hinder'd, oft, The passages made toward it: on my honour, I speak my good lord cardinal to this point, And thus far clear him. Now, what moved me to't, I will be bold with time and your attention:
Then mark the inducement. Thus it came; give heed to't:
My conscience first received a tenderness, Scruple, and prick, on certain speeches utter'd By the Bishop of Bayonne, then French ambassador;Who had been hither sent on the debating A marriage 'twixt the Duke of Orleans and Our daughter Mary: i' the progress of this business, Ere a determinate resolution, he, I mean the bishop, did require a respite;Wherein he might the king his lord advertise Whether our daughter were legitimate, Respecting this our marriage with the dowager, Sometimes our brother's wife. This respite shook The bosom of my conscience, enter'd me, Yea, with a splitting power, and made to tremble The region of my breast; which forced such way, That many mazed considerings did throng And press'd in with this caution. First, methought I stood not in the smile of heaven; who had Commanded nature, that my lady's womb, If it conceived a male child by me, should Do no more offices of life to't than The grave does to the dead; for her male issue Or died where they were made, or shortly after This world had air'd them: hence I took a thought, This was a judgment on me; that my kingdom, Well worthy the best heir o' the world, should not Be gladded in't by me: then follows, that I weigh'd the danger which my realms stood in By this my issue's fail; and that gave to me Many a groaning throe. Thus hulling in The wild sea of my conscience, I did steer Toward this remedy, whereupon we are Now present here together: that's to say, I meant to rectify my conscience,--which I then did feel full sick, and yet not well,--By all the reverend fathers of the land And doctors learn'd: first I began in private With you, my Lord of Lincoln; you remember How under my oppression I did reek, When I first moved you. LINCOLN Very well, my liege. KING HENRY VIII I have spoke long: be pleased yourself to say How far you satisfied me. LINCOLN So please your highness, The question did at first so stagger me, Bearing a state of mighty moment in't And consequence of dread, that I committed The daring'st counsel which I had to doubt;And did entreat your highness to this course Which you are running here. KING HENRY VIII I then moved you, My Lord of Canterbury; and got your leave To make this present summons: unsolicited I left no reverend person in this court;But by particular consent proceeded Under your hands and seals: therefore, go on:
For no dislike i' 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'd o' the world. CARDINAL CAMPEIUS 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 HENRY VIII [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.
