King John/Henry VIII (Signet Classics)

  [Wolsey and Campeius], two Noblemen, with the sword and mace. The King [Henry] takes place under the cloth of state. The two Cardinals sit under him as judges. The Queen [Katherine, attended by Griffith] takes place some distance from the King. The Bishops place themselves on each side the court in manner of a consistory: below them, the Scribes. The Lords sit next the Bishops. The rest of the Attendants stand in convenient order about the stage

  CARDINAL WOLSEY Whilst our commission from Rome is read,

  Let silence be commanded.

  KING HENRY VIII What's the need?

  It hath already publicly been read,

  And on all sides th'authority allowed5:

  You may then spare that time.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY Be't so. Proceed.

  SCRIBE Say, 'Henry, King of England, come into the court.'

  CRIER Henry, King of England, come into the court.

  KING HENRY VIII Here.

  SCRIBE Say, 'Katherine, Queen of England, come into the

  court.'

  CRIER Katherine, Queen of England, come into the court.

  The Queen makes no answer, rises out of her chair, goes about the court, comes to the King, and kneels at his feet: then speaks

  QUEEN KATHERINE 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 stranger16,

  Born out of your dominions, having here

  No judge indifferent18, nor no more assurance

  Of equal friendship and proceeding19. 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 off22,

  And take your good grace23 from me? Heaven witness,

  I have been to you a true and humble wife,

  At all times to your will conformable25,

  Ever in fear to kindle your dislike26,

  Yea, subject to your countenance27, glad or sorry,

  As I saw it inclined. When was the hour

  I ever contradicted your desire,

  Or made it not mine too? Or which of your friends

  Have I not strove to love, although I knew

  He were mine enemy? What friend of mine,

  That had to him derived33 your anger, did I

  Continue in my liking? Nay, gave notice

  He was from thence discharged? Sir, call to mind

  That I have been your wife, in this obedience,

  Upward of twenty years, and have been blessed

  With many children38 by you. If, in the course

  And process of this time, you can report,

  And prove it too, against mine honour aught40,

  My bond to wedlock, or my love and duty

  Against42 your sacred person, in God's name,

  Turn me away, and let the foul'st contempt

  Shut door upon me, and so give me up

  To the sharp'st kind of justice. Please you, sir,

  The king your father was reputed for

  A prince most prudent, of an excellent

  And unmatched wit48 and judgement. Ferdinand

  My father, King of Spain, was reckoned one49

  The wisest prince that there had reigned by many

  A year before. It is not to be questioned

  That they had gathered a wise council to them

  Of every realm, that did debate this business,

  Who deemed our marriage lawful. Wherefore54 I humbly

  Beseech you, sir, to spare me, till I may

  Be by my friends in Spain advised, whose counsel

  I will implore. If not, i'th'name of God,

  Your pleasure be fulfilled.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY You have here, lady,

  And of your choice, these reverend fathers60, men

  Of singular integrity and learning,

  Yea, the elect62 o'th'land, who are assembled

  To plead your cause. It shall be therefore bootless63

  That longer you desire64 the court, as well

  For your own quiet65, as to rectify

  What is unsettled in the king.

  CARDINAL CAMPEIUS His grace

  Hath spoken well and justly: therefore, madam,

  It's fit this royal session69 do proceed,

  And that, without delay, their arguments

  Be now produced and heard.

  QUEEN KATHERINE Lord cardinal,

  To you I speak.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY Your pleasure, madam?

  QUEEN KATHERINE Sir,

  I am about to weep: but, thinking that

  We are a queen, or long have dreamed so, certain77

  The daughter of a king, my drops of tears

  I'll turn to sparks of fire.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY Be patient yet.

  QUEEN KATHERINE I will, when you are humble: nay, before81,

  Or God will punish me. I do believe,

  Induced by potent circumstances, that

  You are mine enemy, and make my challenge84

  You shall not be my judge. For it is you

  Have blown this coal86 betwixt my lord and me,

  Which God's dew quench. Therefore, I say again,

  I utterly abhor88, yea, from my soul,

  Refuse you for my judge, whom yet once more

  I hold my most malicious foe, and think not

  At all a friend to truth.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY I do profess

  You speak not like yourself, who ever yet

  Have stood to94 charity, and displayed th'effects

  Of disposition gentle, and of wisdom

  O'ertopping woman's power. Madam, you do me wrong:

  I have no spleen97 against you, nor injustice

  For you or any: how far I have proceeded,

  Or how far further shall, is warranted

  By a commission from the consistory,

  Yea, the whole consistory of Rome. You charge me

  That I have blown this coal: I do deny it:

  The king is present: if it be known to him

  That I gainsay104 my deed, how may he wound,

  And worthily105, my falsehood: yea, as much

  As you have done my truth. If he know

  That I am free of your report107, he knows

  I am not of your wrong108. Therefore in him

  It lies to cure me, and the cure is to

  Remove these thoughts from you: the which before

  His highness shall speak in111, I do beseech

  You, gracious madam, to unthink your speaking

  And to say so no more.

  QUEEN KATHERINE My lord, my lord,

  I am a simple woman, much too weak

  T'oppose your cunning. You're meek and humble-mouthed:

  You sign your place and calling, in full seeming117,

  With meekness and humility: but your heart

  Is crammed with arrogancy, spleen and pride.

  You have by fortune and his highness' favours,

  Gone slightly121 o'er low steps, and now are mounted

  Where powers are your retainers122, and your words,

  Domestics to you, serve your will as't please123

  Yourself pronounce their office. I must tell you,

  You tender125 more your person's honour than

  Your high profession spiritual, that126 again

  I do refuse you for my judge, and here,

  Before you all, appeal unto the Pope,

  To bring my whole cause129 'fore his holiness,

  And to be judged by him.

  She curtsies to the King, and offers to depart

  CARDINAL CAMPEIUS The queen is obstinate,

  Stubborn to justice, apt132 to accuse it, and

  Disdainful to be tried by't: 'tis not well.

  She's going away.

  To the Crier

  KING HENRY VIII Call her again.

  CRIER Katherine, Queen of England, come into the court.

&
nbsp; To Queen Katherine

  GRIFFITH Madam, you are called back.

  QUEEN KATHERINE What need you note it? Pray you keep your way138:

  When you are called, return. Now the Lord help:

  They vex me past my patience. Pray you, pass on:

  I will not tarry141: no, nor ever more

  Upon this business my appearance make

  In any of their courts.

  Exeunt Queen and her Attendants

  KING HENRY VIII Go thy ways, Kate.

  That man i'th'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 rare148 qualities, sweet gentleness,

  Thy meekness saint-like, wife-like government149,

  Obeying in commanding, and thy parts150

  Sovereign and pious else, could speak thee out151 --

  The queen of earthly queens: she's noble born:

  And like her true nobility, she has

  Carried154 herself towards me.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY Most gracious sir,

  In humblest manner I require156 your highness,

  That it shall please you to declare in hearing

  Of all these ears -- for where I am robbed and bound,

  There must I be unloosed, although not there

  At once and fully satisfied160 -- whether ever I

  Did 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 state166,

  Or touch167 of her good person?

  KING HENRY VIII My lord cardinal,

  I do excuse169 you: yea, upon mine honour,

  I free you from't: you are not to be taught170

  That you have many enemies, that know not

  Why they are so, but like to village curs172,

  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 wished the sleeping of this business, never desired

  It to be stirred, but oft have hindered, oft,

  The passages178 made toward it: on my honour,

  I speak179 my good lord card'nal 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 th'inducement182. Thus it came: give heed to't:

  My conscience first received a tenderness183,

  Scruple, and prick, on certain speeches uttered

  By th'Bishop of Bayonne, then French ambassador,

  Who had been hither sent on the debating

  A marriage 'twixt187 the Duke of Orleans and

  Our daughter Mary: i'th'progress of this business,

  Ere a determinate resolution189, he,

  I mean the bishop, did require a respite,

  Wherein he might the king his lord advertise191

  Whether our daughter were legitimate,

  Respecting this our marriage with the dowager193,

  Sometimes194 our brother's wife. This respite shook

  The bosom of my conscience, entered me,

  Yea, with a spitting196 power, and made to tremble

  The region of my breast, which forced such way,

  That many mazed considerings198 did throng

  And pressed in with this caution. First, methought

  I stood not in the smile200 of heaven, who had

  Commanded nature that my lady's womb,

  If it conceived a male child by me, should

  Do no more offices203 of life to't than

  The grave does to th'dead: for her male issue2.4

  Or205 died where they were made, or shortly after

  This world had aired them206. Hence I took a thought,

  This was a judgement on me, that my kingdom,

  Well worthy the best heir o'th'world, should not

  Be gladded209 in't by me. Then follows that

  I weighed the danger which my realms stood in

  By this my issue's211 fail, and that gave to me

  Many a groaning throe: thus hulling212 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 yet217 not well,

  By all the reverend fathers of the land

  And doctors219 learned. First I began in private

  With you, my lord of Lincoln: you remember

  How under my oppression I did reek221

  When I first moved222 you.

  LINCOLN Very well, my liege.

  KING HENRY VIII I have spoke long: be pleased yourself to say

  How far you satisfied225 me.

  LINCOLN So please your highness,

  The question did at first so stagger me,

  Bearing a state of mighty moment in't228

  And consequence of dread, that I committed229

  The daring'st counsel which I had to doubt,

  And did entreat your highness to this course

  Which you are running here.

  To Canterbury

  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 particular237 consent proceeded

  Under your hands238 and seals: therefore, go on:

  For no dislike i'th'world against the person

  Of the good queen, but the sharp thorny points

  Of my alleged reasons, drives this forward:

  Prove but242 our marriage lawful, by my life

  And kingly dignity, we are contented

  To wear our mortal state to come244 with her,

  Katherine our queen, before the primest245 creature

  That's paragoned246 o'th'world.

  CARDINAL CAMPEIUS So please your highness,

  The queen being absent, 'tis a needful fitness248

  That we adjourn this court till further249 day:

  Meanwhile must be an earnest motion250

  Made to the queen, to call back her appeal

  She intends unto his holiness252.

  Aside

  KING HENRY VIII I may perceive

  These cardinals trifle with me: I abhor

  This dilatory255 sloth and tricks of Rome.

  My learned and well-beloved servant, Cranmer,

  Prithee return257: with thy approach, I know,

  Aloud

  My comfort comes along.-- Break up the court:

  I say, set on259.

  Exeunt in manner as they entered

  Act 3 Scene 1

  running scene 8

  Enter Queen [Katherine] and her Women, as at work

  One with a lute

  QUEEN KATHERINE Take thy lute1, wench: my soul grows sad with troubles:

  Sing, and disperse 'em, if thou canst: leave2 working.

  Sings

  WOMAN Orpheus with his lute made3 trees,

  And the mountain tops that freeze,

  Bow themselves when he did sing.

  To his music plants and flowers

  Ever sprung, as7 sun and showers There had made a lasting spring.

  Every thing that heard him play,

  Even the billows10 of the sea, Hung their heads, and then lay by11.

  In sweet music is such art,

  Killing13 care and grief of heart Fall asleep, or hearing, die.

  Enter [Griffith] a Gentleman

  QUEEN KATHERINE How now?

  GRIFFITH An't please your grace, the two great cardinals

>   Wait in the presence17.

  QUEEN KATHERINE Would they speak with me?

  GRIFFITH They willed19 me say so, madam.

  QUEEN KATHERINE Pray20 their graces

  To come near.

  [Exit Griffith]

  What can be their business

  With me, a poor weak woman, fall'n from favour?

  I do not like their coming: now I think on't,

  They should be good men, their affairs as righteous24: But all hoods make not monks.

  Enter the two Cardinals, Wolsey and Campeius

  CARDINAL WOLSEY Peace to your highness.

  QUEEN KATHERINE Your graces find me here part of27 a housewife:

  I would be all, against the worst28 may happen.

  What are your pleasures with me, reverend lords?

  CARDINAL WOLSEY May it please you, noble madam, to withdraw

  Into your private chamber: we shall give you

  The full cause of our coming.

  QUEEN KATHERINE Speak it here.

  There's nothing I have done yet, o' my conscience,

  Deserves a corner35: would all other women Could speak this with as free36 a soul as I do.

  My lords, I care not, so much I am happy37

  Above a number38, if my actions Were tried by ev'ry tongue, ev'ry eye saw 'em,

  Envy40 and base opinion set against 'em, I know my life so even41. If your business Seek me out, and that way I am wife in42, Out with it boldly: truth loves open dealing.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY Tanta est erga te mentis integritas, Regina serenissima44--

  QUEEN KATHERINE O, good my lord, no Latin:

  I am not such a truant since my coming46, As not to know the language I have lived in:

  A strange48 tongue makes my cause more strange, suspicious: 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 cardinal,

  The willing'st52 sin I ever yet committed May be absolved in English.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY Noble lady,

  I am sorry my integrity should breed,

  And service to his majesty and you,

  So deep suspicion, where all faith57 was meant: We come not by the way58 of accusation, To taint that honour every good tongue blesses,