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Duchess of Norfolk。 FIRST GENTLEMAN。 It is； and all the rest are
countesses。 SECOND GENTLEMAN。 Their coronets say so。 These are
stars indeed； And sometimes falling ones。 FIRST GENTLEMAN。 No
more of that。 Exit Procession； with a great flourish of trumpets
Enter a third GENTLEMAN
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KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
God save you； sir！ Where have you been broiling？ THIRD
GENTLEMAN。 Among the crowds i' th' Abbey； where a finger Could not
be wedg'd in more； I am stifled With the mere rankness of their joy。
SECOND GENTLEMAN。 You saw The ceremony？ THIRD
GENTLEMAN。 That I did。 FIRST GENTLEMAN。 How was it？ THIRD
GENTLEMAN。 Well worth the seeing。 SECOND GENTLEMAN。 Good
sir； speak it to us。 THIRD GENTLEMAN。 As well as I am able。 The rich
stream Of lords and ladies； having brought the Queen To a prepar'd place
in the choir； fell off A distance from her； while her Grace sat down To rest
awhile； some half an hour or so； In a rich chair of state； opposing freely
The beauty of her person to the people。 Believe me； sir； she is the
goodliest woman That ever lay by man； which when the people Had the
full view of； such a noise arose As the shrouds make at sea in a stiff
tempest； As loud； and to as many tunes； hats； cloaks Doublets； I think
flew up； and had their faces Been loose； this day they had been lost。 Such
joy I never saw before。 Great…bellied women； That had not half a week to
go； like rams In the old time of war； would shake the press； And make 'em
reel before 'em。 No man living Could say 'This is my wife' there； all were
woven So strangely in one piece。 SECOND GENTLEMAN。 But what
follow'd？ THIRD GENTLEMAN。 At length her Grace rose； and with
modest paces Came to the altar； where she kneel'd； and saintlike Cast her
fair eyes to heaven； and pray'd devoutly。 Then rose again； and bow'd her to
the people； When by the Archbishop of Canterbury She had all the royal
makings of a queen： As holy oil； Edward Confessor's crown； The rod； and
bird of peace； and all such emblems Laid nobly on her； which perform'd；
the choir； With all the choicest music of the kingdom； Together sung 'Te
Deum。' So she parted； And with the same full state pac'd back again To
York Place； where the feast is held。 FIRST GENTLEMAN。 Sir； You must
no more call it York Place： that's past： For since the Cardinal fell that title's
lost。 'Tis now the King's； and called Whitehall。 THIRD GENTLEMAN。 I
know it； But 'tis so lately alter'd that the old name Is fresh about me。
SECOND GENTLEMAN。 What two reverend bishops Were those that
went on each side of the Queen？ THIRD GENTLEMAN。 Stokesly and
Gardiner： the one of Winchester； Newly preferr'd from the King's secretary；
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KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
The other； London。 SECOND GENTLEMAN。 He of Winchester Is held
no great good lover of the Archbishop's； The virtuous Cranmer。 THIRD
GENTLEMAN。 All the land knows that； However； yet there is no great
breach。 When it comes； Cranmer will find a friend will not shrink from
him。 SECOND GENTLEMAN。 Who may that be； I pray you？ THIRD
GENTLEMAN。 Thomas Cromwell； A man in much esteem with th' King；
and truly A worthy friend。 The King has made him Master O' th' jewel
House； And one； already； of the Privy Council。 SECOND GENTLEMAN。
He will deserve more。 THIRD GENTLEMAN。 Yes； without all doubt。
Come； gentlemen； ye shall go my way； which Is to th' court； and there ye
shall be my guests： Something I can command。 As I walk thither； I'll tell
ye more。 BOTH。 You may command us； sir。 Exeunt
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KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
ACT IV。 SCENE 2。
Kimbolton
Enter KATHARINE； Dowager； sick； led between GRIFFITH； her
Gentleman Usher； and PATIENCE； her woman
GRIFFITH。 How does your Grace？ KATHARINE。 O Griffith； sick to
death！ My legs like loaden branches bow to th' earth； Willing to leave their
burden。 Reach a chair。 Sonow； methinks； I feel a little ease。 Didst thou
not tell me； Griffith； as thou led'st me； That the great child of honour；
Cardinal Wolsey； Was dead？ GRIFFITH。 Yes； madam； but I think your
Grace； Out of the pain you suffer'd； gave no ear to't。 KATHARINE。
Prithee； good Griffith； tell me how he died。 If well； he stepp'd before me；
happily； For my example。 GRIFFITH。 Well； the voice goes； madam； For
after the stout Earl Northumberland Arrested him at York and brought him
forward； As a man sorely tainted； to his answer； He fell sick suddenly； and
grew so ill He could not sit his mule。 KATHARINE。 Alas； poor man！
GRIFFITH。 At last； with easy roads； he came to Leicester； Lodg'd in the
abbey； where the reverend abbot； With all his covent； honourably receiv'd
him； To whom he gave these words： 'O father Abbot； An old man； broken
with the storms of state； Is come to lay his weary bones among ye； Give
him a little earth for charity！' So went to bed； where eagerly his sickness
Pursu'd him still。 And three nights after this； About the hour of eight
which he himself Foretold should be his lastfull of repentance； Continual
meditations； tears； and sorrows； He gave his honours to the world again；
His blessed part to heaven； and slept in peace。 KATHARINE。 So may he
rest； his faults lie gently on him！ Yet thus far； Griffith； give me leave to
speak him； And yet with charity。 He was a man Of an unbounded stomach；
ever ranking Himself with princes； one that； by suggestion； Tied all the
kingdom。 Simony was fair play； His own opinion was his law。 I' th'
presence He would say untruths； and be ever double Both in his words and
meaning。 He was never； But where he meant to ruin； pitiful。 His promises
were； as he then was； mighty； But his performance； as he is now； nothing。
Of his own body he was ill； and gave The clergy ill example。 GRIFFITH。
Noble madam； Men's evil manners live in brass： their virtues We write in
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KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
water。 May it please your Highness To hear me speak his good now？
KATHARINE。 Yes； good Griffith； I were malicious else。 GRIFFITH。 This
Cardinal； Though from an humble stock； undoubtedly Was fashion'd to
much honour from his cradle。 He was a scholar； and a ripe and good one；
Exceeding wise； fair…spoken； and persuading； Lofty and sour to them that
lov'd him not； But to those men that sought him sweet as summer。 And
though he were unsatisfied in getting Which was a sinyet in bestowing；
madam； He was most princely： ever witness for him Those twins of
learning that he rais'd in you； Ipswich and Oxford！ One of which fell with
him； Unwilling to outlive the good that did it； The other； though unfinish'd；
yet so famous； So excellent in art； and still so rising； That Christendom
shall ever speak his virtue。 His overthrow heap'd happiness upon him； For
then； and not till then； he felt himself； And found the blessedness of being
little。 And； to add greater honours to his age Than man could give him； he
died fearing God。 KATHARINE。 After my death I wish no other herald；
No other speaker of my living actions； To keep mine honour from
corruption； But such an honest chronicler as Griffith。 Whom I most hated
living； thou hast made me； With thy religious truth and modesty； Now in
his ashes honour。 Peace be with him！ Patience； be near me still； and set me
lower： I have not long to trouble thee。 Good Griffith； Cause the musicians
play me that sad note I nam'd my knell； whilst I sit meditating On that
celestial harmony I go to。 ＇Sad and solemn music＇ GRIFFITH。 She is
asleep。 Good wench； let's sit down quiet； For fear we wake her。 Softly；
gentle Patience。
THE VISION。
Enter； solemnly tripping one after another； six PERSONAGES clad
in white robes； wearing on their heads