A noise within,crying 'Room for the Queen!'Enter the QUEEN,usher'd by the DUKES OF NORFOLK and SUFFOLK;she kneels.The KING riseth from his state,takes her up,kisses and placeth her by him.
QUEEN KATHARINE.Nay,we must longer kneel:I am suitor.KING.Arise,and take place by us.Half your suit Never name to us:you have half our power.The other moiety ere you ask is given;Repeat your will,and take it.QUEEN KATHARINE.Thank your Majesty.That you would love yourself,and in that love Not unconsidered leave your honour nor The dignity of your office,is the point Of my petition.KING.Lady mine,proceed.QUEEN KATHARINE.I am solicited,not by a few,And those of true condition,that your subjects Are in great grievance:there have been commissions Sent down among 'em which hath flaw'd the heart Of all their loyalties;wherein,although,My good Lord Cardinal,they vent reproaches Most bitterly on you as putter-on Of these exactions,yet the King our master--Whose honour Heaven shield from soil!--even he escapes not Language unmannerly;yea,such which breaks The sides of loyalty,and almost appears In loud rebellion.NORFOLK.Not almost appears--It doth appear;for,upon these taxations,The clothiers all,not able to maintain The many to them 'longing,have put off The spinsters,carders,fullers,weavers,who Unfit for other life,compell'd by hunger And lack of other means,in desperate manner Daring th'event to th'teeth,are all in uproar,And danger serves among them.KING.Taxation!Wherein?and what taxation?My Lord Cardinal,You that are blam'd for it alike with us,Know you of this taxation?WOLSEY.Please you,sir,I know but of a single part in aught Pertains to th'state,and front but in that file Where others tell steps with me.QUEEN KATHARINE.No,my lord!You know no more than others!But you frame Things that are known alike,which are not wholesome To those which would not know them,and yet must Perforce be their acquaintance.These exactions,Whereof my sovereign would have note,they are Most pestilent to th'hearing;and to bear 'em The back is sacrifice to th'load.They say They are devis'd by you,or else you suffer Too hard an exclamation.KING.Still exaction!The nature of it?In what kind,let's know,Is this exaction?QUEEN KATHARINE.I am much too venturous In tempting of your patience,but am bold'ned Under your promis'd pardon.The subjects'grief Comes through commissions,which compels from each The sixth part of his substance,to be levied Without delay;and the pretence for this Is nam'd your wars in France.This makes bold mouths;Tongues spit their duties out,and cold hearts freeze Allegiance in them;their curses now Live where their prayers did;and it's come to pass This tractable obedience is a slave To each incensed will.I would your Highness Would give it quick consideration,for There is no primer business.KING.By my life,This is against our pleasure.WOLSEY.And for me,I have no further gone in this than by A single voice;and that not pass'd me but By learned approbation of the judges.If I am Traduc'd by ignorant tongues,which neither know My faculties nor person,yet will be The chronicles of my doing,let me say 'Tis but the fate of place,and the rough brake That virtue must go through.We must not stint Our necessary actions in the fear To cope malicious censurers,which ever As rav'nous fishes do a vessel follow That is new-trimm'd,but benefit no further Than vainly longing.What we oft do best,By sick interpreters,once weak ones,is Not ours,or not allow'd;what worst,as oft Hitting a grosser quality,is cried up For our best act.If we shall stand still,In fear our motion will be mock'd or carp'd at,We should take root here where we sit,or sit State-statues only.KING.Things done well And with a care exempt themselves from fear:Things done without example,in their issue Are to be fear'd.Have you a precedent Of this commission?I believe,not any.We must not rend our subjects from our laws,And stick them in our will.Sixth part of each?A trembling contribution!Why,we take From every tree lop,bark,and part o'th'timber;And though we leave it with a root,thus hack'd,The air will drink the sap.To every county Where this is question'd send our letters with Free pardon to each man that has denied The force of this commission.Pray,look to't;I put it to your care.WOLSEY.[Aside to the SECRETARY]A word with you.Let there be letters writ to every shire Of the King's grace and pardon.The grieved commons Hardly conceive of me--let it be nois'd That through our intercession this revokement And pardon comes.I shall anon advise you Further in the proceeding.Exit SECRETARY
