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 satisfied—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 state,

Or touch of her good person?

KING HENRY

My lord Cardinal,

I do excuse you; yea, upon mine honour,

I free you from’t. You are not to be taught

That you have many enemies that know not

Why they are so, but, like to village curs,

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 passages made toward it. On my honour

I speak 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‘inducement. Thus it came—give heed to’t.

My conscience first received a tenderness,

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 ’twixt the Duke of Orléans and

Our daughter Mary. I‘th’ progress of this business,

Ere a determinate resolution, he—

I mean the Bishop—did require a respite

Wherein he might the King his lord advertise

Whether our daughter were legitimate,

Respecting this our marriage with the dowager,

Sometimes our brother’s wife. This respite shook

The bosom of my conscience, entered me,

Yea, with a spitting power, and made to tremble

The region of my breast; which forced such way

That many mazed considerings did throng

And prest in with this caution. First, methought

I stood not in the smile of heaven, who had

Commanded nature that my lady’s womb,

If it conceived a male child by me, should

Do no more offices of life to’t than

The grave does yield to th’ dead. For her male issue

Or died where they were made, or shortly after

This world had aired them. 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 gladded in’t by me. Then follows that

I weighed the danger which my realms stood in

By this my issue’s fail, and that gave to me

Many a groaning throe. Thus hulling 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 yet not well,

By all the reverend fathers of the land

And doctors learned. First I began in private

With you, my lord of Lincoln. You remember

How under my oppression I did reek

When I first moved you.

LINCOLN

Very well, my liege.

KING HENRY

I have spoke long. Be pleased yourself to say

How far you satisfied me.

LINCOLN

So please your highness,

The question did at first so stagger me,

Bearing a state of mighty moment in’t

And consequence of dread, that I committed

The daring’st counsel which I had to doubt,

And did entreat your highness to this course

Which you are running here.

KING HENRY (to Canterbury)

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 particular consent proceeded

Under your hands 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 but our marriage lawful, by my life

And kingly dignity, we are contented

To wear our mortal state to come with her,

Katherine, our queen, before the primest creature

That’s paragoned o’th’ world.

CARDINAL CAMPEIUS

So please your highness,

The Queen being absent, ’tis a needful fitness

That we adjourn this court till further day.

Meanwhile must be an earnest motion

Made to the Queen to call back her appeal

She intends unto his holiness.

KING HENRY (aside)

I may perceive

These cardinals trifle with me. I abhor

This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome.

My learned and well-belovèd servant, Cranmer,

Prithee return. With thy approach I know