Wol. I know, your majesty has always lov’d her So dear in heart, not to deny her that A woman of less place might ask by law, Scholars, allow'd freely to argue for her. K. Hen. Ay, and the best, she shall have; and

my favour To him that does best ; God forbid else. Cardinal, Pr’ythee, call Gardiner to me, my new secretary ; I find him à fit fellow..

(Exit Wolsey. Re-enter Wolsey, with Gardiner. Wol. Give me your hand : much joy and favour

to you; You are the king's now. Gard.

But to be commanded For ever by your grace, whose hand has rais'd me.

[Aside. K. Hen. Come hither, Gardiner.

[They converse apart. Cam. My lord of York, was not one doctor Pace n this man's place before him ? Wol.

Yes, he was. Cam. Was he not held a learned man? Wol.

Yes, surely: Cam. Believe me, there's an ill opinion spread

. then Even of yourself, lord cardinal. Wol.

How ! of me? · Cam. They will not stick to say, you envied him ; And fearing he would rise, he was so virtuous, Kept him a foreign man* still; which so griev'd

him, That he ran mad, and died.. Wol.

Heaven's peace be with him ! That's christian care enough for living mur

murers, There's places of rebuke. He was a fool; For he would needs be virtuous: That good fellow, If I command him, follows my appointment;

• Out of the king's preseace.

I will have none so near else. Learn this, brother,
We live not to be grip'd by meaner persons..
K. Hen. Deliver this with modesty to the queen.

Exit Gardiner.
The most convenient place that I can think of,
For such receipt of learning, is Black-Friars ;
There ye shall meet about this weighty business :-
My Wolsey, see it furnish’d.O my lord,
Would it not grieve an able man, to leave
So sweet a bedfellow? But, conscience, con-

science,- . O, 'tis a tender place, and I must leave her.

(Exeunt.

SCENE III.
Ar ante-chamber in the Queen's apartments. "

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

that pinches :
His highness having liv'd so long with her: and she
So good a lady, that no tongue could ever.
Pronounce dishonour of her, -by my life,
She never knew harm-doing ;-O now, after
So many courses of the sun enthron'd,
Still growing in a majesty and pomp,-the which
To leave is a thousand-fold more bitter, than
'Tis sweet at first to acquire,-after this process,
To give her the avaunt* ! it is a pity
Would move a monster.
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*, fortune, do divorce It from the bearer, 'tis a sufferance, panging As soul and body's severing. * A sentence of ejection."

+ Quarreller.

Old L.

Alas, poor lady !
She's a stranger now again*.
Anne.

So much the more
Must pity drop upon her. Verily,
I swear, '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 sorrow.
Old L.

Our content
Is our best having t.
Anne.

By my troth, and maidenhead,
I would not be a queen.
Old L.

- Beshrew me, I would, And venture maidenhead for’t; and so would you, For all this spice of your hypocrisy : You, that have so fair parts of woman on you Have too a woman's heart; which ever yet Affected eminence, wealth, sovereignty; Which, to say sooth f, are blessings: and which gifts (Saving your mincing) the capacity Of your soft cheveril conscience would receive,. If you might please to stretch it. Anne..

Nay, good troth, Old L. Yes, troth, and troth, You would not

be a queen ? Anne. No, not for all the riches under heaven. Old L. 'Tis strange; a three-pence bow'd ll would

hire me,
Old as I am, to queen it : But, I pray you,
What think you of a duchess ? have you limbs
To bear that load of title?
Anne.

No, in truth.
Old. L. Then you are weakly made : Pluck off a

little ; I would not be a young count in your way, For more than blushing comes to : if your back Cannot vouchsafe this burden, 'tis too weak Ever to get a boy. * No longer an English woman.

Anne.

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

In faith, for little England You'd venture an emballing: I myself Would for Carnarvonshire, although there 'long'd No more to the crown but that. Lo, who comes

here?

Na

wers

Enter the Lord Chamberlain,
Cham. Good-morrow, ladies. What wer't worth

to know
The secret of your conference ?
Anne,

My good lord, Not your demand; it values not your asking : Our mistress' sorrows 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! Cham. You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly

blessings Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady, Perceive I speak sincerely, and high note's 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 pound a year, annual support, Out of his grace he adds. Anne.

I do not know, What kind of my obedience I should 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. 'Beseech your lordship, Vouchsafe to speak my thanks, and my obedience, As from a blushing handmaid, to his highness; Whose health, and royalty, I pray for.

Chan.

Lady, I shall not fail to approve the fair conceit*, The king hath of you. I have perus’d her well;

[Aside. Beauty and honour in her are so mingled, That they have caught the king: and who knows

yet,
But from this lady may proceed a gem,..
To lighten all this isle? --I'll to the king,
And say, I spoke with you.
Anne.

My honour'd lord.

[Exit Lord Chamberlain. Old L. Why, this it is; see, see ! I have been begging sixteen years in court, (Am yet a courtier beggarly,) nor could Come pat betwixt too early and too late, For any suit of pounds; and you, (O fate!) A very fresh-fish here, (fye, fye upon This compell’d fortune !) have your mouth fill’d up, Before you open it. Anne,

This is strange to me.
Old L. How tastes it? is it bitter? forty pence,

110.
There was a lady once, ('tis an old story,)
That would not be a queen, that would she not,
For all the mud in Egypt:-Have you heard it?

Anne. Come, you are pleasant.
Old L.

With your theme, I could O'ermount the lark. The marchioness of Pem

I broke !
A thousand pounds a year ! for pure respect;
No other obligation : By my life,
That promises more thousands : Honour's train
Is longer than his foreskirt. By this time,
I know, your back will bear a duchess ;-Say,
Are you not stronger than you were ?
Anne.

Good lady, Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy, And leave me out on't. Would I had no being,

• Opinion.