Etery thing that heard him play,
Even the billows of the sea,

Hung their heads, and then lay by.
In sweet musick is such art;
Killing cure, and grief of heart,

Fall asleep, or, heuring, die.

Enter a Gentleman,

Q. Kath. How now?
Gent. An't please your grace, the two great care

dinals
Wait in the presence*.
Q. Kath.

Would they speak with me? Gent. They will'd me say so, madam. Q. Kath.

Pray their graces To come near. [Erit Gent.) What can be their bu

siness With me, a poor weak woman, fallen from favour? I do not like their coming, now I think on't. They shouldbe good men; their affairst are right

eous: But all hoods make not monks.

Enter Wolsey and Campeius. Wol.

Peace to your highness ! Q. Kath. Your graces find me here part of a

housewife;
I would be all, against the worst may happen.
What are your pleasures with me, reverend lords?
Wol. May it please you, noble madam, to with-

draw
Into your private chamber, we shall give you
The full cause of our coming,
Q. Kath.

Speak it here;

* Presence-chamber.

+ Professions.

There's nothing I have done get, omy conscience,
Deserves a corner: 'Would, all other women
Could speak this with as free a soul as I do!.
My lords, I care not so much I am happy
Above a number), if

my actions
Were tried by every tongue, every eye saw them,
Envy and base opinion set against them,
I know my life so even : If your business
Seek me out, and that way I am wife in,
Out with it boldly; Truth loves open dealing.
Wol. Tanta est erga te mentis integritus, regina

serenissima, Q. Kath. O, good my lord, no Latin ; I am not such a truant since my coming, As not to know the language I have liv'd in: A strange tongue makes my cause more strange, sus

picious; Pray, speak in English: here are some will thank

you, If you speak truth, for their poor mistress' sake; Believe me, she has had much wrong: Lord cardi.

nal,
The willing'st sin I ever yet committed,
May be absolv'd in English.
Wol.

Noble lady,
I am sorry, my integrity should breed
(And service to his majesty and you),
So deep suspicion, where all faith was meant.
We come not by the way of accusation,
To taint that honour every good tongue blesses;
Nor to betray you any way to sorrow;
You have too much, good lady: þut to know
How you stand minded in the weighty difference
Between the king and you; and to deliver,
Like free and honest mien, our just opinions,
And comforts to your cause.
Cam.

Most bonour'd madam,
My lord of York-out of his noble nature,
Zeal and obedience he still bore your grace;
Forgetting, like a good man, your late censure
Both of his truth and him (which was too far),

Offers, as I do, in a sigv of peace,
His service and his counsel.
Q. Kath.

To betray me. [Aside.
My lords, I thank you both for your good wills,
Ye speak like honest men, (pray God, ye prove so !)
But how to make you suddenly an answer,
In such a poivt of weight, so near mine honour
(More near my life, I fear), with my weak wit,
And to such men of gravity and learning,
In truth, I kuow not. I was set at work
Among my maids; full little, God knows, looking
Either for such men, or such business.
For her sake that I have been (for I feel
The last fit of my greatness), good your graces,
Let me have time, and counsel, for my cause;
Alas! I am a woman, friendless, hopeless.
Wol. Madam, you wrong the king's love with

these fears; Your hopes and friends are infinite. Q. Kath.

In England, But little for my profit: Can you think, lords, That any Englishmau dare give me counsel ? Or be a known friend, 'gainst his bighness' pleasure (Though he be grown so desperate to be honest), And live a subject? Nay, forsooth, my friends, They that must weigh out* my afflictions, They that my trust must grow to, live not here; They are, as all my other comforts, far hence, In mine own country,

lords. Cam.

I would, your grace Would leave your griefs, and take my counsel. Q. Kath.

How, sir? Cam. Put your main cause into the king's pro

tection;
He's loving and most gracious; 'twill be much
Both for your honour better, and your cause;
For, if the trial of the law o'ertake you,
You'll part away disgrac'd.
Wol.

He tells you rightly.

• Outweigh.

Q. Kath. Ye tell me what ye wish for both, my

ruin :
Is this your Christian counsel? out upon ye!
Heaven is above all yet; there sits a judge,
That no king can corrupt.
Сат. .

Your rage mistakes us. Q. Kath. The more shame for ye; holy men I

thought ye,
Upon my soul, two reverend cardinal virtues :
But cardinal sins, and hollow hearts, I fear ye:
Mend them for shame, my lords. Is this your com.

fort?
The cordial that ye bring a wretched lady?
A woman lost among ye, laugh'd at, scorn'd?
I will not wish ye half my miseries,
I have more charity: But say, I warn'd

ye; Take heed, for Heaven's sake take heed, lest at once The burden of my sorrows fall upon ye.

Wol. Madam, this is a mere distraction; You turn the good we offer into envy.

Q. Kath. Ye lurn me into nothing: Woe upon ye, And all such false professsor! Would ye bave me (If you have any justice, any pity; If ye be any thing but churchmen's habits), Put my sick cause into his hands that hates me? Alas! he has banish'd me his bed already; Ilis love, too loug ago: I am old, my lords, And all the fellowship I kold now with him Is only my obedience. What can happen To me, above this wretehedpess! all your studies Make me a curse like this. Cum.

Your fears are worse. Q. Kath. Have I liv'd thus long-(let me speak

myself, Since virtue finds no friends),-a wife, a true one ? A woman (I dare say, without vain-glory), Never get branded with suspiciou? Have I with all my full affections Still met the king? lov'd him next heaven? obey'd him?

D2

Been, out of fondness, superstitious to him*?
Almost forgot my prayers to content him?
And am 1 thus rewarded ? 'tis not well, lords.
Bring me a constant woman to her husband,

One that ne'er dreamı'd a joy beyond his pleasure; h. And to that woman, when she has done most, Yet will I add an honour,- a great patieuce.

Wol. Madam, you wander from the good we aim at.
Q. Kath. My lord, I dare not make myself so

guilty,
To give up willingly that noble title
Your master wed me to: nothing but death
Shall e'er divorce my dignities.
Wol.

'Pray, hear me.
Q. Kath. 'Would I had never trod this English

earth,
Or felt the flatteries that grow upon it!
Ye have angels' faces, but heaven knows your

hearts.
What will become of me now, wretched lady?
I am the most unhappy woman living -

Alas! poor wenches, where are now your fortunes ? ?)

[To her Women.
Shipwreck'd upon a kingdom, where no pity,
No friends, no hope ; no kindred weep for me,
Almost, no grave allow'd me :-Like the lily,
That once was mistress of the field, and flourish'd,
I'll hang my head, and perish,
Wol.

If your grace
Could but be brought to know, our ends are honest,
You'd feel more comfort: why should we, good lady,
Upon what cause, wrong you ? alas! our places,
The way of our profession, is against it;
We are to cure such sorrows, not to sow them.
For goodness' sake, consider what you do;
How you may hurt yourself, ay utterly
Grow from the king's acquaintance, by this carriage.

* Served him with superstitious attention.