Been out of fondness superstitious to him ?
Almost forgot my prayers to content him?

And am I thus rewarded ? 'tis not well, lords. [Wolsey.] Madam, you wander from the good we aim at. [Catherine.] 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. [Wolsey.] Pray hear me. [Catherine.] Would I had never seen this English earth,

Or felt the flatteries that grow upon it!
I am the most unhappy woman living:
Alas, poor wenches, where are now your fortunes,
Your mistress shipwreck'd where no touch of pity,
No hope, no friends are found; almost no grave
Allow'd ? I am a flower that flourish'd once,

But now must hang my head and perish. [Wolsey.] Madam,

Could you be brought to know our ends are honest,
You'd find more comfort. Why, good lady, should we,
Or from what motive, wrong you ? since our places,
The way of our profession, make against it.
For goodness' sake, consider what you
How you may hurt yourself, ay, utterly
Grow from the king's acquaintance, by this carriage.
I know

you

have a gentle, noble temper;
Pray think us such as we profess to be,
Peace-makers, friends, and servants. Noble spirits,-
And yours is noble, madam,—ever cast
Doubts, as false coins, away. The king's love still
Is towa'rd you ; lose it not: for us, if 't please you
To trust us in your busi'ness, we are ready

To use our utmost studies in your service. [Catherine.] Do as you will, my lords; and, pray forgive If I have us'd myself unmannerly;

[me, You know I am a woman, lacking wit

do:

To make a seemly answer to such persons.
Pray do my service to his majesty :
He has my heart yet, and shall have my prayers,
While I shall have my life. My lords, adieu !

THE FALL OF Wolsey, INDICATED BY A SCENE SUPPOSED TO OCCUR IN

AN ANTE-CHAMBER OF THE PALACE.

HISTORICAL MEMORANDA. In order to bring the circumstances which led to the fall of Wolsey into one dramatic picture, Shakspeare improves some minute facts to his own purpose, which did not occur exactly as he represents them; for instance, the accidental transmission to the king's hands of the cardinal's household inventory; and also of a letter which he had sent to the pope. The former event happened not to Wolsey but to Ruthall, bishop of Durham; and the purport of the cardinal's letter to the pope, was made a complaint against him on surmise, rather than on any proof. The king's impatience to marry Anné Boleyn, was no doubt the cause of Wolsey's disgrace; but he did not actually marry her till two years after Wolsey's death, which last mentioned event took place in 1530. The poet found it necessary to vary a little from these points. It may be further noticed, that Shakspeare continues in the following scene the duke of Norfolk, who begins the play ; though at the time of Wolsey's disgrace that duke was dead; and the new duke was the earl of Surrey, who is one of the characters in the following scene.

We are to imagine an ante-chamber in the palace four noblemen are in earnest conversation, Norfolk, Surrey, Suffolk, and the lord Chamberlain : Norfolk first speaks : [Norfolk.] If you will now unite in your complaints,

The cardinal cannot stand under them. [Surrey.) I am joyful to meet the least occasion

To be reveng'd on him.
[Suffolk.] Which of the peers

Have uncontemn'd gone by him ?-When did he regard
The stamp of nobleness in any person,
Out of himself ?

[Chamberlain.) But, my lords, if you cannot

Bar hi’s access to the king, never attempt
Anything on himn ; for he hath a witchcraft

Over the king in his tongue. [Norfolk.] O fear him not;

His spell in that is out: the king hath found
Matter against him, that for ever mars
The honey of his language :
In the divorce his contrary proceedings

Are all unfolded. [Surrey.] How came his practices to light? [Norfolk.] Most strangely. [Surrey.] O how, how? [Norfolk.] The cardinal's letter to the pope miscarried,

And came to’ the eye of the king; wherein was read
How that the cardinal did entreat his holiness
To stay the judgement of the divorce : for if
It did take place " I do," quoth he,“ perceive
My king is entangled in affection to

A creature of the queen's, lady Anne Boleyn." [Surrey.] Has the king this ? [Norfolk.] Believe it; and perceives him how he coasts

And hedges his own way. But, on this point,
All his tricks founder, and he brings his physic
After his patient's death. The king already
Hath married the fair lady'.—The cardi'nal comes :

Observe, observe, he's moody. The four lords retire to a distance, where they are not seen by Wolsey, who enters with his secretary, Cromwell : but they keep their eyes on him, and at intervals make remarks : Wolsey speaks to his secretary: [Wolsey.] The packet, Cromwell, gave 't you to the king ? [Cromwell.] To his own hand, --in his bedchamber. [Wolsey.] Look'd he on the inside of the paper ?

(Cromwell.] Presently

He did unseal the papers, and he view'd
The first with a most serious mind : a heed
Was in his countenance : you, he bade
Attend him here this morning; and by this,

I think, he's ready to come abroad. [Wolsey.] Leave me awhile.

[a pause.]
It shall be to the duchess of Alençon
The French king's sister :-he shall marry her.-
Anne Boleyn ! no; I'll no Anne Boleyns for him :
There's more in ’t than fair visage-Boleyn !
No, we 'll no Boleyns! Speedily I wish
To hear from Rome:Themarchioness of Pembroke!
The late queen’s gentlewoman, a knight's daughter-
To be her mistress' mistress ! the queen's queen!
This candle burns not clear: 'tis I must snuff it;
Then out it goes.

What! know I not she is
A spleeny Lutheran, not wholesome to us;

She to lie i’ the boso'm of our hard-ruld king !
We pass to the spot where the four lords are grouped :
Norfolk speaks :
[Norfolk.] He's vex'd at something-something that I hope

Will fret the string, the master-chord of his heart.

The king! The king! King Henry enters at that part of the room where the four lords are standing : [K. Henry.] Now, my lords, saw you the Cardinal ? [Norfolk.) My lord, we have

Stood here observing him. Some strange commotion
Is in his brain. He bites his lip and starts ;
Stops on a sudden; looks upon the ground;
Then lays his finger on his temple; straight
Springs out into fast gait; then stops again,

And strikes his breast hard. [K. Henry.] There's a mutiny in his mind. This morning

Papers of state he sent me to peruse

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As I requir’d. And wot you what I found ?
There, on my conscience, put unwittingly
This invento’ry of hi's treasure, -of his plate,
Rich stuffs, and ornaments of household, which
I find at such proud rate, that it outspeaks
Possession of a subject. If we thought
His contemplations were above the earth,
And fix'd on spiritu'al objects, he should still
Dwell in his musings; but I am afraid

His thinkings are below the moon. The king, in advancing to the Cardinal, awakens him from kis fit of meditation: he bows to the king, and speaks : [Wolsey.] Heaven forgive me, and ever bless your highness! [K. Henry.) Good my lord,

You a're full of heavenly stuff, and bear the inventory
Of
your
best graces in your mind.

You ha've scarce
To steal from spiritu'al leisure, a brief span [time

To keep your earthly audit. [Wolsey, in an under tone.) What should this mean?

[aloud.] Sir,
For holy offices I have a time; a time
To think upon the part of business which
I bear i' the state ; and nature does require
Her times of preservation, which, perforce,
I, her frail sun, amongst my brethren, mortal,

Must give my tendence to.
[K. Henry.) You have said well.
[Wolsey.] And ever may your highness yoke together,

As I will lend you cause, my doing well

With my well saying. [K. Henry.] 'Tis well said again : And yet words are no deeds. Read o'er this

paper, And after, this, and then to breakfast, with What appetite you have.

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