Katherine. Confirm it with a kiss, pray.

Warbeck.

Oh, with that

I wish to breath my last; upon thy lips,
Those equal twins of comeliness, I seal

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The testament of honourable vows. [She kisses him.
Whoever be that man that shall unkiss

This sacred print next, may he prove more thrifty
In this world's just applause and more desertful.
Katherine. By this sweet pledge of both our souls,
I swear

To die a faithful widow to thy bed,

Not to be forced or won-oh never, never!

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Enter Surrey, Dawbeney, Huntley, and Crawford. Dawbeney. Free the condemned person, quickly free him: [The Constable takes Warbeck out of the stocks. What, has a' yet confessed?

Urswick.

But still a' will be king.
Surrey.

Nothing to purpose ;

Prepare your journey

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To a new kingdom then, unhappy madman,
Wilfully foolish! See, my Lord Ambassador,

Your lady daughter will not leave the counterfeit
In this disgrace of fate.

I never pointed

Huntley.
Thy marriage, girl, but yet, being married,
Enjoy thy duty to a husband freely :

Thy griefs are mine, I glory in thy constancy
And must not say I wish that I had missed
Some partage in these trials of a patience.
Katherine. You will forgive me, noble sir?
Huntley.

In every duty of a wife and daughter

I dare not disavow thee. To your husband (For such you are, sir) I impart a farewell

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Yes, yes;

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160

Of manly pity; what your life has passed through,
The dangers of your end will make apparent,
And I can add, for comfort to your sufferance,
No cordial but the wonder of your frailty
Which keeps so firm a station. We are parted.
Warbeck. We are; a crown of peace renew thy age,
Most honourable Huntley. Worthy Crawford,

We may embrace; I never thought thee injury. 165

Crawford. Nor was I ever guilty of neglect Which might procure such thoughts. I take my leave, sir.

Warbeck. To you, Lord Dalyell, what? accept a sigh, 'Tis hearty and in earnest.

Dalyell.

My silence is my farewell.

I want utterance;

Katherine [breaking down]. Oh-oh !

Jane.

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Sweet madam,

What do you mean !-My lord, your hand.
Dalyell.

Dear lady,

Be pleased that I may wait ye to your lodging. [Dalyell and Jane lead Katherine out.

Enter Sheriff and Officers, followed by Skelton, Astley,
Heron, and John a-Water with halters about their necks.
Oxford. Look ye, behold your followers, appointed
To wait on ye in death.

Warbeck.
Why, peers of England,
We'll lead 'em on courageously. I read

A triumph over tyranny upon

Their several foreheads. Faint not in the moment

Of victory! Our ends and Warwick's head,

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Innocent Warwick's head (for we are prologue
But to his tragedy) conclude the wonder

180

Of Henry's fears; and then the glorious race

Of fourteen Kings Plantagenets determines

In this last issue male. [Warbeck is handed over to the Sheriff] Heaven be obeyed!

Death? pish, 'tis but a sound, a name of air,

A minute's storm, or not so much; to tumble
From bed to bed, be massacred alive

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By some physicians for a month or two,

In hope of freedom from a fever's torments,

190

Might stagger manhood; here, the pain is past
Ere sensibly 'tis felt. Be men of spirit!
Spurn coward passion! So illustrious mention
Shall blaze our names and style us kings o'er Death.
Dawbeney. Away! impostor beyond precedent !

[Exeunt.

XII. THE FALL OF WOLSEY

BY JOHN FLETCHER?

Cardinal Wolsey has lost the favour of King Henry VIII by failing to obtain the King's divorce from Katharine of Aragon. He is sent for by the King just as he hears of the King's love for Anne Boleyn, whose ascendancy he means to thwart. He comes to the ante-chamber in great agitation, and is watched by his enemies, the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, the Earl of Surrey, and the Lord Chamberlain, who think the moment a good one for bringing about his overthrow. The King enters, reading a paper on which he comments to himself; Sir Thomas Lovell attends him.

King Henry. What piles of wealth hath he accumulated

To his own portion! and what expense by the hour Seems to flow from him! How, i' the name of thrift, Does he rake this together? [He turns to the Lords.] Now, my lords,

Saw you the Cardinal ?

Norfolk [advancing].

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,
Strikes his breast hard, and anon he casts

5

ΙΟ

His eye against the moon: in most strange postures
We have seen him set himself.

King.
It may well be;
There is a mutiny in's mind. This morning
Papers of state he sent me to peruse,
As I required and wot you what I found
There, on my conscience, put unwittingly?
Forsooth, an inventory, thus importing,
The several parcels of his plate, his treasure,
Rich stuffs, and ornaments of household, which
I find at such proud rate that it outspeaks
Possession of a subject.

15

20

Norfolk.

It's heaven's will:

Some spirit put this paper in the packet,

To bless your eye withal.

King.
If we did think
His contemplation were above the earth,
And fixed on spiritual object, he should still
Dwell in his musings: but I am afraid
His thinkings are below the moon, not worth
His serious considering.

25

[He takes his seat, and whispers Lovell, who goes to Wolsey.

Wolsey [starting as Lovell speaks to him]. Heaven forgive me!

Ever God bless your highness.

Good my lord,

30

King.
You are full of heavenly stuff, and bear the inventory
Of your best graces in your mind; the which

You were now running o'er: you have scarce time
To steal from spiritual leisure a brief span,
To keep your earthly audit: sure in that

I deem you an ill husband, and am glad
To have you therein my companion.
Wolsey.

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 son, amongst my brethren mortal,
Must give my tendance to.

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40

King. 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!

King.

'Tis well said again;

And 'tis a kind of good deed to say well:

And yet words are no deeds. My father loved you:
He said he did, and with his deed did crown
His word upon you. Since I had my office,

I have kept you next my heart; have not alone
Employed you where high profits might come home,
But pared my present havings, to bestow

My bounties upon you.

Wolsey [aside].

What should this mean?

45

50

Surrey [aside to the others]. The Lord increase this business!

Have I not made you 55

King. The prime man of the state? I pray you, tell me If what I now pronounce you have found true : And, if you may confess it, say withal,

If you are bound to us, or no. What say you ?

65

Wolsey. My sovereign, I confess your royal graces, 60 Showered on me daily, have been more than could My studied purposes requite; which went Beyond all man's endeavours: my endeavours Have ever come too short of my desires, Yet filed with my abilities: mine own ends Have been mine so, that evermore they pointed To the good of your most sacred person and The profit of the state. For your great graces Heaped upon me, poor undeserver, I Can nothing render but allegiant thanks, My prayers to heaven for you, my loyalty, Which ever has and ever shall be growing, Till death, that winter, kill it.

King.

Fairly answered;

A loyal and obedient subject is
Therein illústrated: the honour of it

70

75

Does pay the act of it: as, i' the contrary,
The foulness is the punishment. I presume,

That, as my hand has opened bounty to you,

80

My heart dropped love, my power rained honour, more
On you than any; so your hand and heart,
Your brain, and every function of your power,
Should, notwithstanding that your bond of duty,
As 'twere in love's particular, be more

To me, your friend, than any.

85

Wolsey. I do profess, That for your highness' good I ever laboured. Though all the world should crack their duty to you, And throw it from their soul; though perils did Abound, as thick as thought could make 'em, and Appear in forms more horrid; yet my duty, As doth a rock against the chiding flood, Should the approach of this wild river break, And stand unshaken yours.

King.

'Tis nobly spoken:

90