A most unnatural and faithless service!
Heaven has an end in all: Yet, you that hear me,
This from a dying man receive as certain :-
Where you are liberal of your loves and counfels,
Be fure, you be not loofe; for those you make 50
friends,

And give your hearts to, when they once perceive
The leaft rub in your fortunes, fall away
Like water from ye, never found again

But where they mean to fink ye. All good people,
Pray for me! I must now forfake you; the laft

Of my long weary life is come upon me.
Farewel:

And when ye would fay fomething that is fad,
Speak how I fell.-I have done; and God forgive
me!

[Exeunt Buckingham, and Train.]

* Meaning, that envy thould not procure or advance his death.

20

1251

He dives into the king's foul; and there scatters
Doubts, dangers, wringing of the conscience,
Fears, and despairs, and all these for his marriage:
And, out of all these to restore the king,
He counfels a divorce: a lofs of her,
That, like a jewel, has hung twenty years
About his neck, yet never loft her luftre;
Of her, that loves him with that excellence
That angels love good men with; even of her,
That, when the greatest stroke of fortune falls,
Will blefs the king: And is not this courfe pious? 30
Cham. Heaven keep me from fuch counfel! 'Tis

I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed:
As I am made without him, so I'll stand,
If the king please; his curfes and his bleffings
Touch me alike, they are breath I not believe in.
I knew him, and I know him; fo I leave him
To him that made him proud, the pope.
Nor. Let's in;

And, with fome other business, put the king

40

Wel. Your grace has given a precedent of
wildom

Above all princes, in committing freely
Your fcruple to the voice of Christendom:
45 Who can be angry now? what envy reach you?
The Spaniard, ty'd by blood and favour to her,
Muft now confefs, if he have any goodness,
The trial juft and noble. All the clerks,

I mean, the learned ones, in chriftian kingdoms, 50 Have their free voices: Rome, the nurse of judg

ment,

Invited by your noble self, hath fent

One general tongue unto us, this good man,
This juft and learned priest, cardinal Campeius;

From these fad thoughts, that work too much upon 55 Whom, once more, I present unto your highness.

King. And, once more, in mine arms I bid him

welcome,

And thank the holy conclave for their loves;
They have fent me fuch a man I would have
wifh'd for.
[loves,
Cam. Your grace must needs deferve all strangers'

The duchess of Alençon. 2 Meaning, that the cardinal can, as he pleases, makę high or low. Pitch here implies height.

3 i. e. fo fick as he is proud.

You

King. Come hither, Gardiner. [Walks and ruhijpers. Cam. My lord of York, was not one doctor Pace 25 In this man's place before him ?

Wol. Yes, he was.

Cam. Was he not held a learned man?

Wol. Yes, furely.

[then

Cam. Believe me, there's an ill opinion fpread 30 Even of yourself, lord cardinal.

Wal. How! of me?

[him ;

Cam. They will not stick to fay, you envy'd And, fearing he would rife, he was fo virtuous, Kept him a foreign man ftill: which fo griev'd 35 That he ran mad, and dy'd.

1

[him

Wol. Heaven's peace be with him!
That's chriftian care enough: for living murmurers,
There's places of rebuke. He was a fool;
For he would needs be virtuous: that good fellow, 40
If I command him, follows my appointment;
I will have none fo near elfe. Learn this, brother,
We live not to be grip'd by meaner perfons.
King. Deliver this with modefty to the queen.
[Exit Gardiner 45
The most convenient place that I can think of,
For fuch receipt of learning, is Black-friars;
There ye fhall meet about this weighty business :-
My Wolfey, fee it furnish'd.-O my lord,
Would it not grieve an able man, to leave
So fweet a bedfellow? but, confcience,conícience,--
O, 'tis a tender place, and I must leave her. [Exeunt.
S CEN E III.

An Antichamber of the Queen's Apartments.
Enter Anne Bullen, and an old Lady.
Anne. Not for that neither;-Here's the pang

that pinches :

Old L. Hearts of most hard temper
Melt and lament for her.

Anne. O, God's will! much better,

She ne'er had known pomp: though it be temporal,
Yet, if that quarrel 3, fortune, do divorce
It from the bearer, 'tis a fufferance, panging
As foul and body's fevering.

Old L. Alas, poor lady!

She's ftranger now again 4.

Anne. So much the more

Muft pity drop upon her. Verily,

I fwear, 'tis 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 forrow.

I

Old L. Our content,

Is our best having 5.

Anne. By my troth, and maidenhead,
would not be a queen.

Old L. Befhrew me, I would,

And venture maidenhead for't; and so would you,
For all this fpice of your hypocrify:

You, that have fo fair parts of woman on you,
Have too a woman's heart; which ever yet
Affected eminence, wealth, fovereignty;
Which, to fay footh, are bleffings; and which gifts
(Saving your mincing) the capacity

Of your foft cheveril confcience would receive,
If you might please to stretch it.

Anne. Nay, good troth.— [be a queen?
Old L. Yes, troth and troth,-You would not
Anne. No, not for all the riches under heaven.
Old L. 'Tis strange; a three-pence bow'd would
hire me,

Old as I am, to queen it: but, I pray you,
What think you of a dutchefs? have you limbs
To bear that load of title?

Old L. Then you are weakly made: pluck off
501 would not be a young count in your way,
For more than blushing comes to: if your back
Cannot vouchfafe this burden, 'tis too weak
Ever to get a boy.

Anne. How you do talk!
551 fwear again, I would not be a queen
For all the world.

Old L. In faith, for little England

2 i. e. to fend i. e. kept him out of the king's prefence, by employing him in foreign embaffies. her away contemptuously. 3 Dr, Warburton fays, "the calls fortune a quarrel or arrow, from her ftriking fo deep and fuddenly. Quarrel was a large arrow fo called." Dr. Johnfon, however, thinks the poet may be easily fuppofed to use quarrel for quarrelier, as murder for murderer, the act for the agent. si. e. our 4 i. c. the is again an alien; not only no longer queen, but no longer an Englishwoman. best pal Bon Cheveril, kid-fkin, loft leather. ? i. c. let us defcend still lower, and more upon a level with your own quality.

You'd

You'd venture an emballing1: I myself
Would for Carnarvonshire, although there 'long'd
No more to the crown but that. Lo, who comes
here?

Enter the Lord Chamberlain.

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

The fecret of your conference?
Anne. My good lord,

Not your demand; it values not your asking:
Our mistress' forrows 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 God, Amen!

5

10

[bleffings 15

Cham. You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly
Follow fuch creatures. That you may, fair lady,
Perceive I speak fincerely, and high notes
Ta'en of your many virtues, the king's majesty
Commends his good opinion to 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 fhould tender;
More than my all is nothing: nor my prayers
Are not words duly hallow'd, nor my wishes
More worth than empty vanities; yet prayers, and
wishes,

Are all I can return. 'Eefeech your lordship,
Vouchsafe to speak my thanks, and my obedience,
As from a blushing handmaid, to his highness;
Whofe health, and royalty, I pray for.

20 Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy,
And leave me out on't. 'Would I had no being,
If this falute my blood a jot; it faints me,
To think what follows.

25

30

35

40

145

A Hall in Black-Fryars. Trumpets, Sennet, and Cornets. Enter two Vergers, with fhort Silver Wands; next them, two Scribes, in the habits of Dectors; after them, the Archbishop of Canterbury alone; after him, the Bishops of Lincoln, Ely, Rochefter, and Saint Ajapb; next them, with feme fmall diftance, follows a Gentleman bearing the Purfe, with the Great Seal, and a Cardinal's Hat; then two Priests, bearing each a Silver Crafs; then a Gentleman-ufher barebeaded, accompanied with a Serjeant at Arms, bearing a Silver Mace; then two Gentlemen, bearing two great Silver Pillars; after them, fide by fide, the two Cardinals; two Noblemen with the Sword and Mace. The King takes place under the Cloth of State; the two Cardinals fit under him, as Judges. The Queen takes place feme diftance from the King. The Bishops place themselves on each fide the Court, in manner of a Confiftory; below them, the Scribes. The Lords fit next the Bishops.

The meaning, according to Dr. Johnson, is, " You would venture to be distinguished by the ball, the enfign of royalty." Mr. Tollet, however, fays, “ Dr. Johnson's explanation cannot be right, because a queen-confort, fuch as Anne Bullen was, is not diftinguished by the ball, the enfign of royalty, nor has the poet expreffed that she was so distinguished." 2 From this and many other artful strokes of address the poet has thrown in upon queen Elizabeth and her mother, it should seem, that this play was written and performed in his royal miftrefs's time: if fo, fome lines were added by him in the last scene, after the accession of her fucceffor, king James. 3 Mr. Steevens on this paffage remarks," Forty pence was in those days the proverbial expreffion of a small wager, or a small fum. Money was then reckoned by pounds, marks, and nobles. Forty pence is half a noble, or the fixth part of a pound. Forty pence, or three and four pence, ftill remains in many offices the legal and established fee." 4 Dr. Burney in his General Hiftory of Mufic conjectures, that fennet may mean a flourish for the purpose of affembling chiefs, or apprizing the people of their approach. Mr. Steevens adds, that he has been informed that fenefte is the name of an antiquated French tune. were fome of the enfigns of dignity carried before cardinals. Wolfey had two great silver pillars usually borne before him by two of the tallest priefts that he could get within the realm. This remarkable piece of pageantry did not efcape the notice of Shakspeare.

5 Pillars

The

The reft of Attendants ftand in convenient order about the Stage.

Wol. Whilft our commiffion from Rome is read, Let filence be commanded.

King. What's the need?)

It hath already publickly been read,

And on all fides the authority allow'd;

You may then spare that time.

Wol. Be't fo:-Proceed.

5

Befeech you, fir, to fpare me, 'till I may

Be by my friends in Spain advis'd; whose counsel

I will implore: If not; i'the name of God,
Your pleasure be fulfill'd!

Wol. You have here, lady,

(And of your choice) these reverend fathers; men Of fingular integrity and learning,

Yea, the elect of the land, who are affembled

To plead your caufe: It shall be therefore bootlefs,

Scribe. Say, Henry king of England, come into 10 That longer you defer the court; as well

For your own quiet, as to rectify

What is unfettled in the king.

Cam. His grace

Hath spoken well, and juftly: Therefore, madam,
15 It's fit this royal feffion do proceed;
And that, without delay, their arguments
Be now produc'd, and heard.
Queen. Lord cardinal,

To you I fpeak.

Queen. Sir, I defire you, do me right and juftice; 20 W. Your pleasure, madam ?

And to bestow your pity on me : for

I am a moft poor woman, and a stranger,
Born out of your dominions; having here
No judge indifferent, nor no more affurance
Of equal friendship and proceeding. Alas, fir,
In what have I offended you? what cause
Hath my behaviour given to your displeasure,
That thus you fhould proceed to put me off,
And take your good grace from me? Heavenwitness,
I have been to you a true and humble wife,
At all times to your will conformable :
Ever in fear to kindle your dislike,

Yea, fubject to your countenance; glad, or forry,
As I faw it inclin'd. When was the hour,

I ever contradicted your defire,

Or made it not mine too? Or which of your friends
Have I not ftrove to love, although I knew
He were mine enemy? what friend of mine,
That had to him deriv'd your anger, did I
Continue in my liking? nay, gave not notice
He was from thence discharg'd? Sir, call to mind,
That I have been your wife, in this obedience,
Upward of twenty years, and have been bleft
With many children by you: If, in the courfe
And procefs of this time, you can report,
And prove it too, against mine honour aught,
My bond to wedlock, or my love and duty
Against your facred perfon, in God's name,
Turn me away; and let the foul'st contempt
Shut door upon me, and so give me up

You speak not like yourself; who ever yet

40 Have stood to charity, and difplay'd the effects
Of difpofition gentle, and of wisdom [wrong:
O'er-topping woman's power. Madam, you do me
I have no fpleen against you; nor injustice
For you, or any: how far I have proceeded,
45 Or how far further fhall, is warranted
By a commiffion from the consistory,
Yea, the whole confiftory of Rome. You charge me,
That I have blown this coal: I do deny it :
The king is prefent; If it be known to him,
50 That I gainfay 2 my deed, how may he wound,
And worthily, my falfhood? yea, as much
As you have done my truth. If he know
That I am free of your report, he knows,

To the fharpeft kind of justice. Please you, fir,
The king, your father, was reputed for
A prince most prudent, of an excellent
And unmatch'd wit and judgment: Ferdinand,
My father, king of Spain, was reckon'd one
The wifeft prince, that there had reign'd by many
A year before: It is not to be question'd
That they had gather'd a wife council to them
Of every realm, that did debate this business,
Who deem'd our marriage lawful; Wherefore 160

humbly

I am not of your wrong. Therefore in him

55

1 Challenge is here a verbum juris, a law term. The criminal, when he refufes a juryman, fays, I challenge him.

2

i, e. deny.

ΤΟ