Anna Dickinson SPEECHES & WRITINGS PLAYS "A Crown of Thorns" Act IIAct 2. of Anne Boleyn or A Crown of Thorns A Tragedy in Four Acts, By Anna E. Dickinson. Act 2. Anne Boleyn (Scene in 2.) Scene, a room in the palace with opera arch as back, curtained, table & chair, at which Cromwell is discovered writing. Enter Wolsey through curtains, or R.I. Wolsey His Majesty is waiting. Is all ready? Cromwell Yes Your Grace (rising) Here is the dispatch for Rome Which is for his reading. Wolsey (looking it over) Good. 'Tis a fair copy of false words. And here? (reaching for other papers) Cromwell (handing him one) Is your own epistle to the Holy Father. Wolsey (looking at it, smiles) Good. (again puts out hand) Cromwell (passing paper) And here the full paper of instructions to his highness the French Ambassador. (goes back to table. Sits.) Wolsey 'Tis will close and seal them Cromwell (folding paper and lifting it)2 Is this to his Holiness / to bear any address?? Wolsey None. / My brother / the Bishop of Boyonne will attend to that. / (smiles) A captive who speaks aloud to his jailors, / & in whispers to his friends,/ is justifiable before all men. Cromwell (reading from packet–) "To the Bishop of Bayonne." / Is anything further to be added to this? Wolsey Nothing. / Smeaton / has full instructions. Cromwell 'Tis a desperate venture —/— if the king suspect! Wolsey Fear not; /my name is not given me for naught. / Wolfse —/— wiley wolf. / I will circumvent my enemies / tho' they have Lucifer to help. / I will secure the French Alliance, / & marry Henry to Marguerite, / or there shall be no divorce —/— I swear it. (enter servant L.I.E. bows low) Well? Servant. The messenger whom your grace did say was to be admitted, / is without. 3. Wolsey Admit him. (Servant bows & exits L.I.E.) Cromwell (Comes down R.) Your grace is fully satisfied of this messenger's trustworthiness? Wolsey (C. smiling) Tom, thou wouldst question thy own shade / & distrust thy shadow! Cromwell Pardon,/ my lord, / but this man /- (if I mistake not) — was once in the service of Sir Thomas Boleyn, / & / it is said / presumed to lift his eyes, / to the haughty Mistress Anne. Wolsey And was dismissed for his pains. / All his sweet new wine of love / turned to vinegar / by her scorn. / He, who, hates those whom I / hate /, is not mine enemy. (enter Smeaton L.I.E shown in up servant, servant bows & exits L.I.E. Smeaton kneels. Wolsey takes packet & hands it to [Smeaton) You know where you have to go / & what to do? Smeaton Your grace / I have gone and4 done before Wolsey (assents) Guard it closely. Carry it swiftly. Spare neither spur nor money, nor strength, up the Way. See that my lord of Baiprine had this in his keeping, within the next eight & forty hours. Smeaton (rising) If skill and will/ can accomplish the task, it shall be done, my lord. Wolsey Skill & will/ can accomplish all things provided [only] the one be keen & the other be strong enough. (Smiaton sees King, hastily thrusts paper into his doublet & retires up (L.) with Cromwell, as Henry bursts in through curtains (R.) with heated manner & open letter in his hand) King Ha! My lord Cardinal, will swear to that? Wolsey (Starts but recovers) Aye,/ my gracious liege. King And will also swear that thou hast done & at doing all that in thee lies to further our will & pleasure, in ways of which thou 5 knowest,/ (striking paper and drawing Wolsey farther forward) touching the return of Mistress Boleyn to our Court? Wolsey Lo that/ yea & again yea, my king. King Why, then art thou foresworn. For here is a screed which the lady herself has at last deigned to send? by the hand of her father,/ in answer to our unnumbered entreaties, asserting (glancing over letter) that my lord Cardinal of York doth well know the word that will recall her, & when he doth speak it she will respond. If this indeed be so, & she be not here with four and twenty hours, I tell thee, Wolsey, there will be a fall, the noise of which shall be heard through the world. Wolsey (bows low, takes letter from some on table and gives it to the king.) My dread liege, When have I ever been aught but the hand to do your august will?/ For You to speak is for me to obey: Will it please you to read the tidings this letter conveys, while Master Cromwell (beckons to Crowmell, who6 comes to table) writes at my dictation the line that will accomplish your Majesty's behest. (dumb show, for a moment, at table, with Cromwell, you will see why it had not been written before. (King with letters (R) Wolsey (C) Smeaton comes down (L) & speaks to Wolsey aside. Smeaton My lord, There were some further orders. Wolsey (aside & eagerly) There is no more to be said. Do thou with lightning speed/ What is to be done. (King looks up as Smeaton is going.) King Halt there! Is not that the trustiest of thy messengers? He shall carry it. Wait without (exit Smeaton L./ E. King smiles over letters Wolsey & Cromwell at table If the writing is as good as the reading, thou art forgiven. Wolsey (handing letter) Judge, thou. (King reads, Cromwell goes through curtains & comes back to Wolsey, with paper) 7 King (reading) "The enclosed copy of a letter that hath already reached its destination, will show the Lady Anne that she hath won. If she would keep faith she must obey her liege's summons & repair to the court presently. Wolsey Faith? What faith? What meanest thou? Wolsey She did swear when Master Percy was sent from the Court that she would ne'er return till he was bidden back - and that has been done. King Ha! You have dared to disobey us? We have indeed raised your greatness too high since it shadows ourself at last. But the builder can destroy. Look to it. Wolsey (offering other paper) Beseech your majesty to read ere you condemn. (King hesitates) 'Tis the copy of the letter of which this speaks (touching letters in King's hand) that hath been sent (laughs) to Master Percy.8 King (Signing it eagerly) Ha! What is this (looking it over, laughs) Thou art trading in fox's slippers? 'Tis Dissemblance that is to do the work. Well, I care not. Put the wedge in any notch thou will. Do it but rive the wood. Close & seal them. (Cromwell takes rum to table) Tis vain to kick / When a man has once put on his fetters. / I would I were indeed her king / to command her, / Since I am her slave/ I must e'ere capture her up whatsoever Stratagems / may serve the purpose without there (Smeaton enters L.I.E. bows) Wolsey Your majesty / May not I furnish another messenger? King What! / Thou woulds't dictate to us even in this matter! / No. / We will have one of thy own household / & one who has travelled the road before. / Ha! / Thou wast sending him upon some mission when we entered. / Our services can wait on thine. / Let us see which is the more important! 9 Wolsey Beseech your majesty! (He goes round behind king to (R) where he is joined by Cromwell King (to Smeaton) Where wert thou going? / To Whom Sent? / Upon what errand? (Wolsey & Cromwell exchange terrified signals. Smeaton hesitates.) Art dumb? Dost hear me? Speak! Smeaton (glances towards Wolsey) To please your majesty / it was / a message / from his grace / to / my lord Cardinal Campeins at Calais. (Wolsey & Cromwell give sighs of relief) King (Still suspicious) To what purport? Smeaton My liege / to wait no longer till the sickness in his brain abated / but to come hither / at once. (Wolsey & Cromwell smile) King Good. / (looks at Wolsey, then back to Smeaton) Ride thou first with this / (gives him letter) & this, / (taking ring from his finger) with our heart's service to the Lady Anne, / at the house of Sir Thomas Boleyn / then return /10 As shod by Mercury / with what message thou mayest be entrusted Go! (exit Smeaton L.I.E. King puts hand affectionately on Wolsey's shoulder) Wolsey / I wronged thee / But I am growing restless under this long delay. Wolsey If I seem to halt / sire, / it is but the more surely / to serve you. / Never had king a servant more eager / to further his master's plans, / whether of sovereign purpose, / or of personal happiness. King I do, believe it. / Wear this - / (taking from his own neck & putting om Wolsey's a superb locket & chains) As earnest of my belief / & of thy king's abiding favor. / There be a many — Norfolk & Suffolk of the number — Who do more than hint of flagging zeal on thy part /, Since I have withdrawn my eyes from France /,to look closer at home for an alliance. / From henceforth I will believe no word against thee / (Smiling & Xing R.) unless it be spoken by thyself. Wolsey (kissing his hand at archway) 11 my king & my friend! (king exits through curtains (R.) Wolsey comes down looking at portrait) My dupe & my tool! / Thou art not as keen / as thou wast! / The better for me. / Thou / wilt the more surely carve my fortune. Cromwell (coming down stage) Oh, my lord, my lord, / do you mean to say / he has not passed beyond your control? / Do you still hope for the French Alliance? Wolsey I am sure of it. Cromwell Eyes as clear as yours / go astray / when they are groping in the dark. Wolsey Fear not. / I see every step of the way. / Percy is married, / & married by a stratagem that will make - / that has made him hate her. / The letter that seems to recall him, / will but the more certainly keep him from the court. / He doth think her already the king's mistress. / She / knowing him false to her, - / her hopes / elsewhere rebuked, - / his majesty / held in check in the matter of the divorce, / She / discovering his stout-heartedness to be of no avail, / will lend a readier ear to the glorious proposals12 the King will offer for her acceptance. After all 'twill be but the difference of a letter/ She had hoped to be his Queen with an e, she must spell it with an A She will be / his quean. 'Tis the splitting of a hair! That being brought, the divorce shall be accomplished, & my way will lie as smooth to Rome as an it were to be trodden upon velvet. Then shall I be no longer the thing I despise tacking this way, & that no longer the servant of a King but Kings shall be my servants. No longer dependent upon the gusty-breath which is as like at any moment to puff us out as to blow up into a more glorious blaze – but the very wind of the world shall blow as we command. (going) Nan Bullen! / No ! No! We'll have no Nan Bullen's for Queen! (laughs disdainfully & exits R.I.E. Cromwell shaking his head goes to table, & gathers up paper. Scene closes in I.) 13 Scene 2. Woodlands in the grounds of Sir Thomas Boleyn near London. Enter Percy L.I.E. in riding dress, busied in gloomy thought. Percy (walking, pauses) What a fool am I to halt here to feed my thirsty eyes & hungry heart on these familiar scenes! Here we walked, - talked, - lived, - loved!- Here I first knew her, - here she last said farewell & promised to wait till I could return; wait & respond e'en if my call should be that of a disembodied soul. — So her Eternity was scant three months of time.— & then! Why did not fate sound her alarum that I forewarned might have struck her dead even while I held her in that last embrace (shuddering) her lips on mine! (opening his clenched hands & looking at them) Out fool! Will you draw blood stains of anguish (dashing away tears) & shed tears of fire for a wanton's lie! Have done. (going) Page (entering L.I.E) My lord. (looks back14 as indicating)- I have tethered the horse- may I speak? Percy (kindly) Speak on. Page You are always so kind, my lord, I- dare ask you a favor- it is — Percy Will? Page that you will let me go up to the house (indicating) — for a moment — to speak with – with – Percy What are stumbling at? Ah, I remember with mistress Nan Saville thou wouldst say. She is doubtless at court (very bitterly) – with her mistress. Page No, my lord, Yes, that is to say nothless. She is with the Lady Anne — but the Lady Anne is not at court – she is yonder, (Percy starts violently) at the house (indicating) my lord. One of the men but now went by & told me the family is at home. Percy (aside) She too? Page They are all at home my lord. So 15 Monis said, & I thought since you did not seem in haste – to push on to London — Percy Have with you — go — (in answer to look) I will follow anon. (page going) Halt. Speak to no one of my coming. Go. (exit Page L.I.E) She is then here, for one hour at least in her old innocent home. God! I should think the air & memories would strangle her! Has she a heart? Or is that too, dead? Slain with her honor! Oh, to make her suffer, if but for a moment the hell into which she had flung me! — Enough of this. — to action. (exits L.I.E) Scene opens. Scene 3 (Room in the house of Sir Thos. Boleyn, near London. Archways or large door back Door in Side ( ) Large tapestry frame & gothic chair (R) Table,chair, footstool (L) (Anne & Madge discovered, by frame, looking at tapestry.) Anne See then, for thyself (going to table,16 followed by Madge, taking up work in hand frame.) — the shading runs into purple — is it not so? Madge Sir, thou art right. This must be changed — (going back to frame, – then with great vivacity of manner) But thou will not convince me I am wrong in my argument! Had my lover been absent for six long months with no word from him — well! I would find a better lover — that is all. Anne Sure, Madge, love is not love that lacks faith! There is cause for his silence. Madge Strange how thou dost love him! Thou who hast seen so much of courts & splendor; & when thou dost wed him thou wilt have to go away to his gloomy castle in the North; for surely his Majesty will grant him no favor! Anne With which I shall be right well content. [My lover is a soldier & a man. He can carve his own fortune!] Madge Thou wast in the old time always full 17 of lofty ambitions — What has become of them? Anne Ah, child, happiness is a quality (enter Sir Thos. Boleyn & Comes down softly) of very little ambition. It thinks itself rich enough of itself without any addition of glory. Sir Thos. Boleyn. (kissing her forehead) I will break a lover with thee on that theme my girl. (presently) Anne (joyfully) That or any other my father If it will keep you here. Madge (coming to him) Uncle welcome home Sir Thos. Boleyn. (drawing her forward) Madge Yonder is Mark Smeaton. He is here with a message from his majesty. Take him within and detain him for a space. (significantly) Detain him for a space. Madge. (smile) As long as his wit will serve much. (Madge exits E.) Sir Thos. Boleyn (looking after her, then coming to Anne) I wish, my girl, thou wouldst do thy father a favor. I want thee to serve as a mouse trap.18 Anne A thousand [favors], if I can: [but I like not to meddle with vermin] Sir Thos. [Still for a cause? — to serve thy father?] Anne Court intrigue? (he assents) I detest them! Ah how much happier we were in the beautiful old country home, before thou wast in such demand at court & favor with the King. Sir Thos. Everything has its price, my daughter, prosperity with the rest. Yet is there a charm in greatness that compensates for all the ease & the happiness it exacts. Anne And its enmities? hatreds? Sir Thos. I like well to fight a foe & to overcome him! specially when I can have the help of so bright an ally as my daughter. (strokes her hair) Anne Flatterer! What service is to be rendered for that compliment? Sir Thos. (smiling) That of the mousetrap. Anne What is to be caught in it? Sir Thos. The Cardinal. (Anne starts) He is 19 juggling with his majesty in the matter of the Divorce. He did never desire it save for his own advancement He is playing double, now — if I could but put my finger on one of his cards! (Come down angrily) {Anne watches him. He turns violently) I will destroy &c} Anne [You hate him, father] Sir Thos. [I hate him.] I will destroy him, or he will destroy me & mine. He has had mischief even in my household. There is one (indicating) Anne (looking off) Mark Smeaton? Sir Thos. Yes. I have been sure of it for long. He knows of the fool's jealous & audacious love & has set him to watch thee. hoping by truth distorted or lies told to inspire once with his Royal Master. Anne What then? What is his Majesty's good or ill opinion to me? Sir Thos. My child, listen. His Majesty talked with me freely but this morning. Complained that you shunned the court & avoided him. "Each day," said he "I hope to be free in form as I am in law to make another tie.20 The freedom shall be mine own to use. If I can marry a French princess, I can marry an English gentlewoman". "Know you one who pleases you?" said I. "You know it," he answered. "One whom I would take for my wife before any other woman in the world." Anne Let be – let be, my father. If his Majesty were free tomorrow, & at my feet, I would say him nay. No man, — tho he were Emperor, can be master of my destiny unless he be master of my love as well Sir Thos. And might not the king win his way to that throne, my girl? Anne Father! What treason are you speaking.— Love is an absolute sovereign & being once crowned never abdicates. I wear Percy's ring upon my finger. He carries with mine my pledge to be his wife. I love him, fancy, liking, sentiment, these, My father, are for a day, & die, having space doubtless for other of their kin to follow but love (rising) love lives 21 with life, dies not with death, heart & brain both, stilled / it /flies with the soul & reigns beyond the grave. (xed) Sir Thos Speakest like an enthusiast / my child. Yet would I not have thee otherwise. (strokes her hair fondly) still for the sake of thy worldly old father, I wish thou would'st so smile on Mark — (who tries to hate but who still adores thee) — as to draw from him what he knows of the Cardinal's plans. Anne. How comes he here at all? Sir Thos. He is here with some message to thee from both his majesty & the Cardinal. I overtook him as he rode, so much he confided to me but would say no more. I beseech of thee to give him kindly welcome & friendly answer. Anne For thy sake he shall have the first – the second must be as the message doth demand. Sir Thos. So far, well, tho' I would it were better. But I wish thee to do something more.See that Percy has (3) three letters, two (2) written, One (1) blank. 22 Anna And that? Sir Thos. As we rode a paper fell from his doublet which he did leap for & snatch as tho he were a drowning man & it a life line; not so quickly but that I saw upon it in Master Cromwell's writing. "To the Bishop of Bishop, private & with all haste" Sure am I that his master would be broken past mending: the paper is what I suspect, & could pass from his keeping to thrine or mine. Anne But how? How? Sir Thos. Hush. Here he comes. (Enter Smeaton) I will tell thee anon. Anne (turning) good morrow, Master Smeaton. You are kindly welcome. [*(sits)] Smeaton (kneeling, or bowing very low). Thanks, My lady, I trust I will be yet more So when I make known my errand which is to deliver these (the papers) & this (the ring) with his majesty's heart, service & command to bring some good word in return for them# This in box on Cabinet in scene 1. Written letter. #Written letter. 23 Sir Thos. Meanwhile that she may give her whole mind to the task. thou & I will leave her alone & go crack a bottle of Canary (Smeaton hesitates) That is from his majesty's, own, cellar. Smeaton Nay, that must be a draught for the gods & is not to be rejected. Sir Thos. (going out looks back at Anne with uplifted finger) Anon! (exits Sir Thos & Smeaton E.) Anne From his Majesty (looking at ring) I will not wear it. (opens packet) Ah! (reads) # "The enclosed copy of a paper that hath already reached its destination will show the Lady Anne that she hath won. If she would keep faith she must obey her liege's summons, & be at the court presently. Wolsey. And this, (tearing open the enclosed paper) # "My lord Percy, I send you a message that will doubtless brook no more delay between pouring &24 quaffing than the whizzing wines of Champagne. At his Majesty's command, by Mistress Anne Boleyn's entreaties " (repeats -" by Mistress Anne Boleyn's entreaties?) You are bidden back to your old service, but with one gracious proviso, that if you prefer he Scottish warfare in which you are engaged — you may e'en stay where you are. Written by the hand of Thomas Cromwell, Sec of Laws, to the Cardinal's Grace of York." (Percy has entered L. N. E at last of reading putting by the restraining hand of Boleyn) Percy I tell thee / I will speak with her / alone! (exit Sir Thos. Percy comes down) Anne (eagerly) It [wa]is true! (comes to him) The letter was sent! Thou are here! Percy (waving her off sternly) Do not touch me! Anne Not touch thee? Wherefore not? Bringest a pestilence from they Border Warfare? I fear it not! Percy I tell thee to stand from me! 25 Pestilence? It is here! Me it shall not weaken by the poisonous touch. Stand from me. Anne Is he mad? Oh, thou art ill – perchance wounded? Thou art pale – distraught – — What can I do for thee? Percy Naught but listen. Anne Speak. Ah, thou art in danger. Hast come without consent of our gracious liege? (Percy shows violent feeling) 'Tis a plot of the Cardinal. The letter was not sent? (getting it from table) This hath not bought thee? How, then, art thou here? Percy At risk of life. What care I? What is life's value when all that made it worth possession is dead? The letter was sent! It hath brought me but with no such spirit & intent as thou plainly hast looked for. Claim thee & hold thee as thou art? Heaven forbid! It was thy truth, thy courage thy honor that I loved, or their fair seeming. These, being gone — Anne Stop, in mercy to us both ere thou hast said what thou cans't never recall. Well as I love thee, wholly as my26 heart is thine. Still the words that are hanging on thy lips if they fall will destroy all remembrance but of themselves. Neither in man nor woman did Anne Boleyn ever forget or forgive a word that accused her of dishonor — never will she, tho' it be spoken by one who is more to her than the whole round world beside. Percy Dost carry it so proudly? Anne Aye — Wherefore not? Percy Art so lost to all thou wert as to see no dishonor in thy shame if it be of kingly making? I did hear, ere I left the court how it was said that his majesty had promised if thou wouldst hunt the hart with him, in his royal parks of Windsor the flowing autumn out himself would give thee at the altar, with kingly dower, to any courtier of thy choosing! [*G!*] Doubtless whoso else had been called would have answered but I, poor knight & rough soldier tho' I be, sit not down to a broken feast tho' it be of a king's leaving & would not wed thee, being so unlike the thing I thought thee, tho' thou hadst 27 the broad lands of all England for thy dower. Doubtless my lord Cardinal thought when he wrote this screed that it would send me yet farther over the Border, & that I would not come anigh ye — nor would I save to fling it in his teeth & to tell thee what I have told thee, tho' I die for my temerity tomorrow. Anne (rising) And I tell thee that if I could lay my hand on the hilt of the sword of God's justice thou wouldst never see a morrow. I would strike thee dead at my feet. —And yet – ho – since thou hast heart & soul & sense through these I would condemn thee to a fate worse than death: the remorse that comes too late. When it does befall thee, know indeed that it is too late for wert thou then to crawl on thy knees to pray my pardon I would not grant it tho: my heart strings cracked & I died in according thee thy doom. Percy I pray thy pardon for wrong done thee? Thou fortellest a day that will never dawn! How have I wronged thee? No one has condemned thee but thyself. How wronged thee? I do but speak in answer to the letters of thy own writing & sending28 letters that no imagining of mine could ere have conceived, nor the oath of the universe have made me believe without the evidence of sense & touch to confirm it. Anne What letter? Was it the one in which I thanked & blessed thee for standing firm against all threatening & force to compel thee to wed the Lady Mary Talbot? Thou can'st have her now! or that in which I told thee I refused to receive with hospitality any message, letter or entreating from the King, & would disdain alike summons & command till thou wast bidden back again? Or that in which overleaping alike womanly pride & reserve I besought thee to send to me if but a single line that I might know from thy own hand that all was well with thee? or that — Percy Add no more — add no more to this tissue of lies & miserable masquerades. Letters I sent thee, missives short & long, rude epistles doubtless not scented & delicate like those of a court gallant but holding the very core of my heart &#Written #Written 29 essence of my love! Nothing had I in return Save this harshness (holding forth one letter) & later this infamy (another) & at last this buffet on the mouth from my Lord Cardinal! (another) Anne (taking them) Give them to me since thou likest them so ill! — What is this — ? (reads) [*#] "I release you from your contact. I give you back your troth. I have found my happiness elsewhere. Signed Anne Boleyn " And this (tearing second open) "Marry her to whom thy father's faith was pledged in thy behalf When thou wast a child. Serve thyself. Save thyself. Thus & thus only canst thou be secure in life & limb & broad estate tho it be queen in all save the foolish rogol of Sovereignty. I cannot compass thy advancement & our meeting by any other means. Written in haste but in all good will by the hand of your assured friend & joyful welcomes – When you come Anne Boleyn."30 Percy And thou canst stand in my presence & read them? Well, why not? What the heart can conceive & the hand form the lips may utter, & yet oh, shame, where is thy blush! Anne And thou canst stand in my presence & tell me thou dost believe these are my devising! Percy 'Tis thy very character stroke by stroke, line by line! I have studied it till it is seared upon my brain. Anne Where was the understanding? Where your eyes? Nay, your heart if you were blind? Had you indeed known me you would have known that this right hand should have been burned to ashes ere it should so belie alike honor & love. 'Tis not my writing. 'Tis a forged hand. Oh, tis convincingly done but love, sir, should have been keener to detect than infamy to execute. Percy It came by my own messenger. Richard Herne — the messenger 31 who bore my letters to thee, who thrice came back empty handed & then with these! Anne A messenger I never saw — save in his old place – in my lord Cardinal's household. A messenger who ne'er brought to nor carried line from me. Had sense & faith stood allies in thee thou couldst have seen twas but a plot of the Cardinal's to hurl us down the rock of his ambition & wrath at the base of which already be dashed in pieces already the wrecks of how many lives! Take thou all of them (flinging them down) Carry them to him, & tell him how easily thou hast been gulled! How oft a tool & dupe thou hast been! Percy (looking at them) Oh, fool! fool! Blind, insensate fool! It is even so! (thrusts them into his doublet) And yet, can such monstrous iniquity be done on earth & the heavens not fall? Nay then, it must be fate, my fate & I am a thing accursed! A creature of Destiny! The wheel has crushed & yet not killed me!32 oh, if thou canst kill me with those / a look/ angry eyes,/ slay me at once / & let me have done with life. The day I received the last of those infernal parchments the Lady Mary Talbot became my wife! Anne Wife? Your wife?— And you [you] with broken vows & blasted faith, false to your love. false to your honor, forsworn at the very altar, you dare to come here to upbraid me with you wrongs & taunt me with your scorn. — Oh, faith of man! Was it this man who six months ago said to me "thou wilt never live to say to me, thou hast swerved." Lo! Not after long storm, but at the first wave of the sea his course is turned aside! Speak! did I tell thee I loved thee? — Nay did I not swear by this crucifix show sacredness we both acknowledge & adore, through danger or temptation, through threats or entreaties, through life till death, to be thine? Percy Thou didst! Thou didst! Anne And against my truth & oath thou didst believe the first lie that was told thee. — Oh, go! The sight of 33 Thee hurts* (nerve) me. Thou wast not worthy love! Thou art not worthy grief! Go back to the home, the happiness, the future, — the wife that are thine. Percy No, I will not go to her. Death will I seek on many a field, but her, never. Fool, dupe, madman that I am, unworthy of thy love & thee, still I love thee, & must love thee forever. (enter Sir Thos.) One last time will I hold thee in these arms (advancing) (Sir Thos. steps between almost thrusting him back) Sir Thos. Thou shall not touch her. She has already listened to thee too long. Thou recreant & forsworn! With wit yet cozened by such unvizored knavery! A man who should have conquered all difficulties that lay between thee & her, yet stumbling take the veriest-weakling & falling over the first obstacle in thy pathway. Percy I remember thou art her father Do not spare me. Anne Father! Father!34 Why, how is this? fie on thee, daughter! Wouldst plead for him who hath so preferred another. Percy Preferred? — Oh sir! Sir Thos. Blindness or preference — which thou will. 'Tis sorry choice. Anne Peace! Peace! My father. Remember (at eager gesture from Percy she tries to regain proud manner) — but an hour ago, I loved him. Spare him if only to spare — my pride. Percy At least let me take her hand in saying farewell. (Sir Thos hesitates then with assenting gesture turns up stage. Percy comes to Anne & takes her hand.) Anne Adieu (giving her hand) Percy Anne — have you naught more to speak to me? Anne From henceforth, between thee & me sight & speech would be crime. Adieu forever. Percy (kissing her hands) Forever. (going 35 & pausing) Unless Time leaves thee & makes me free! (with despairing gesture exits. Anne watches, then sinks down with cry of agony Sir Thos. looks at her with expression of grief & love) Sir Thos. My child, where is your heart of courage? Summon it to aid. Anne Oh, my father. I had staked my whole existence on him & am left with empty hands, bankrupt, past remedy, life is done. Sir Thos. Nay my child. Destiny does not close one door without opening another. If you have lost the sweet & gracious things of the past there remains to your future, the bitter thought of Ambition & Revenge. Anne (xing or coming down) Ambition & Revenge? —/ Yea, It shall be so. These will I take for the guardian spirits of my life & will follow where they lead – but first Revenge! I will crush this Cardinal. I will repay him in full for the wrongs he has done. The cup of bitterness he has put to other lips he shall drink to the dregs.36 (coming to her father) Mark! Mark Smeaton? What wast thou saying of a paper carried by him that would injure his master of held by thee - art sure? Sir Thos. I am sure that it would not only injure but destroy him. A useless knowledge to me without thy help (smiles) unless I would rob or murder his messenger. Anne (recoiling) Lie a loathsome game. Sir Thos. Bethink thee of the stakes Anne I will see him (Xes L.) Sir Thos. (attempting to embrace her) Thanks! Thanks my child. Anne (recoiling from his embrace) No. Don't touch me. Don't touch me (Exit Anne E. followed) (by Sir Thos. Scene closed in 1.) or Picture, on which scene closed in 1. 37 Scene 4 Anteroom of palace. Enter Wolsey & Cromwell E. Wolsey Make sure that Smeaton comes to me alone before seeing the King His majesty may chance inquire somewhat more closely concerning the message (laughs) to my brother Campiens than even his wit can compass / Tho' certes he hath taken his degree as master of Arts in lying. Cromwell Aye, but Plato himself would have forgiven the rogue for his work this morning since even his philosophy doth concede that he may lie who knows how to do so in a suitable Season and assuredly never was cork cut more accurately to fill a gaping need Patch (running in & eagerly looking around) Where is it? Where is it? Cromwell It? What, fool? Patch (rubbing his stomach) That of which thou was telling the something that is to fill a gaping need.38 Wolsey How knave Hast no thought in this brains save as to methods & means to fill thy belly ? but! Thou art a glutton! art not ashamed of the name? Patch Not I brother. Since it doth prove me kin to the Emperor. Wolsey how thou art out in thy reckoning His majesty is known of all the world _excepting thy foolship___ for his monkish abstinence. Patch If that be so then must he be this day Sorely an hungered since he is eager to eat even that food that will sicken him. Wolsey How knowest that fool? Patch Because but now I did hear his Servant the Spanish Ambassador Say that if the King of England did go to war with his Master upon the Great Affair that troubles them Meaning the Divorce brother he would swallow his army at a mouthful. Wolsey (Smiles) 'Tis a large Saying! What dids't answer? For I warrant thou 39 hads't thy prick at him. Patch Truly brother. I did tell him if his master but tasted of such a feast he would be an object to move pity & compassion since Englishmen be not easy morsels to swallow & their operation is such that if any man take upon him to eat them they will cause him to___________ Wolsey Enough! Enough! Thou wilt spoil, even, thy own appetite. Patch That it will, brother (Seats himself with care & deliebration) Since for the present it must wait on his majesty's pleasure. Wolsey Thou scamp! His majesty meanwhile is waiting thine While thou art lingering here? Begone! Patch (dawdling out) I fly. (exits E) Wolsey (laughing) 'Tis a shrewd knave Cromwell Yea the fool speaks sense (watching Cardinal intently) As the great Emperor may prove40 Wolsey you be. There will be no occasion Since there will be no divorce. (going) Remember Smeaton. (exist I.E.) Cromwell You are a great man my master, but you are trying your skill against a strong man's passion. (pause) Can I venture to expostulate with him farther? No. Shake his hand. And yet he needs it sore. With but one foot in the stirrup a man cannot afford to take leaps. (again shakes his hand and exits I.E.) (Scene opens to full Set of the stage. Scene 5. Grand hall of palace open archways at back King with group of courtiers about him (R) Another group opposite surrounding Patch (L) A noble and Lady Jane Seymour at one table (R). Duke of Norfolk & Geo Boleyn at another (L) playing chess, Noneys overlooking their game. Group about Patch laugh loudly as scene opens. 41 King Patch! Patch! Where is that Madcap? (group [opens) Patch I am here, good brother. King Well being here clear thy wits & tune thy pipes thy for a song. Patch (Sings) What sort of a ditty? Hot? Cold? Wise or witty? Or one to move pity? Tell me, I pray. King Let it be a song of paring and mating, fool. Norfolk (to Geo Boleyn) Do you mark that? King (to Patch, who has been shaking his head) Ho there. What art doing to thy foolish noddle? Patch Trying to shake out the maggot that is skipping there, good brother. Ah ha! -- I have it! (Sings) As I rode by the way Tothis day -- tothe day I heard father and son on the the run of an argument clear42 And soon done (looking round &c) You shall hear. (All laugh & nod &c) King We listen Patch (Sings) Said the one My son. You should marry a wife, (with gesture of recoil as for son) oh, not for my life! (with old man's voice) She'd darn your hose. And mend your clothes. And halve your woes. And sharpen your nose. To lead your toes where fortune blows. (A beauteous rose!) When all this is arrayed and is properly weighed. Sure, I must, I must be obeyed. When I tell you to marry a wife! (Young man's voice) No! No! (Old man's voice) Why so? (Young man's voice) Because on my life Because on my life! I had rather! I had rather! I had rather marry a maid! (All laugh. King specially pleased) 43 How like you my maggot brother? King (heartily & tossing gold coin) Well enough to give thee an angel in exchange. Go drink thy brains away with it & then have done Patch Nay brother, [nay] tell me not to stop then. 'Twould be cruelty For I am athirst & these ( touching head) would scarce make me a mouthful. (exit Patch L.U.E.) Norfolk I so hate his master, I cannot laugh at the fool's folly. ( Enter Cromwell L.I.E.) I take your bishop. Norreys (looking at Cromwell as he xes R) If it were but the Cardinal you could so easily remove! (Cromwell joins Lady Jane, noble rising, bowing, & going forward to mingle with group about the King) Jane Seymour I have been nigh sick with impatience to ask thee more. "Tie the thread where it was broken. Tell me —thinkest thou She will return to the court when she[*# See that page has parchment role.*] 44 Knows that Percy is a recreant? (laughs) How will her pride stomach the affront of having Shrewsbury's cheese curd daughter preferred to her? She will perchance, carry herself with somewhat more humility when she finds that instead of conquering a king, she is abandoned of a courtier. Cromwell Hu-s-h! lest some should hear thee. His marriage is not yet known And count not to pleasure thine eyes with the sight of my Lady Anne wearing the billon. If all hope failed her & she was in dying agonies, she would make no sign (dumb show) Norfolk (To Geo Boleyn) His Majesty had some shrewd suspicions of him but this morning they are now gone. Geo Boleyn Yet if we could but get any hint of the game, I am sure the Cardinal is playing I will wager my head that his will go for it. [*#*] Norfolk Is your sister never more coming to court? She is a fool to stay at home Geo Boleyn If she were here I fancy she could45 spoil his sport whatever quarry he hunts. Norreys He did say yestere'en that he would tread upon the ermine of the House of Norfolk till it was soiled past cleansing. Norfolk (to Norreys) He sails his ship while it yet grows in the forest! (to Geo Boleyn) You are right, nephew. If she would but second me by at least a show of compliance with his majesty's humours all would go well anon. Norreys (laughs) Belike she might think otherwise, my lord, as she cooled her singed paw, while your grace munched the the roast chestnuts. (turns to group behind him entre Wolsey and Page L.I.E. go up stage towards King. Wolsey pause & looks towards table where they are whispering in dumb show) Wolsey What are those impudent lords whispering about? -- Norfolk's comb needs cutting -- it hath been sprouting o'er much of late! (turns take parchment roll from Page) Here! 46 (All start, and look, he gets Norfolk's eye, who rises as if in doubt.) Norfolk My lord? — Wolsey (extending parchment roll) Carry this to the secretary you will find in my cabinet. He hath need of it. Norfolk (recoils -- but bows and takes it) All days come to an end, lord Cardinal. Wolsey (Smiling disdainfully as King comes eagerly down to meet him) Hot at high noon! Geo Boleyn This man is drunk with too much prosperity. Norfolk Drunken men reel to a fall (going) Geo Boleyn Not when propped by a King (looking) See, if his Majesty was angry, how he hath already mollified him. -- oh he will reign to the end. (exit Norfolk L.I.E.) King (R) My lord Cardinal methinks the evening wears somewhat heavily, Are the musicians fallen asleep at47 their instruments? See to it Norreys that they are alive. (Norreys waves his hand at door (C) at which he meets Madge and brings her down Music plays) Ourself will foot a measure — with this fair lady's permission (to Jane Seymour) Jane (R) Which she gives to her happiness, Sire. Norreys (L) (to Madge) Will thou say as much for me? Madge (L) No -- but I will take thee for a partner -- lacking a better! (all go off L.U.E, Cardinal watching them and pausing by table R.I. Smeaton looks in cautiously, then enters) Wolsey (Starting) Thou here already! Is all well? Smeaton All is well, my lord. Wolsey Thou didst see her? - Yes? -- And how received she thee? With smile or frown?State paper for Smeaton with Sealed envelope Written, 48 Smeaton My lord, she did make me welcome as flowers in May. Wolsey Sent she any message? Smeaton One to your Grace to the purport that you have put her under a so heavy debt that any effort of hers must be ineffectual to cancel it. Wolsey (laughs disdainfully) She hits the nail unwittingly. Smeaton And one to his Majesty with her reverence, & she will bloom in the life giving sunshine of his smile presently. Wolsey Presently? That will mean tomorrow. She cannot travel at thy pace, & I looked not to behold thee for hours (urns him round and facetiously feels his shoulders) How art thou equipped? There is an Eastern proverb which saith a lie has no legs & cannot stand, but it has wings & can fly far & fast. Since thou art an embodied one, where are thy plumes? Smeaton (smiling) Is this a condemnation49 from my gracious master, for the figure of speech -- used at need this morning? Wolsey Nay, nay, innocence itself could not in this age of ours negotiate without dissimulation or traffic without lying. -- Give me the papers. (Smeaton gives papers) Hie thee to his Majesty with thy message. Tomorrow (touching paper) thou must ride the path thou shouldst have travelled today. (exit Smeaton L.N.E.) (entre Sir Thos. Boleyn & Anne R.U.E.) (looking at papers and Xing L to table) These charges must be noted to my brother of Bayonne. He shall have a fresh epistle. (Without opening, tears the paper & puts it into the saucer lamp on the table, laughs & talks as he watches it burn.) Ah, ha! All threads work into the warp & woof of my design. It grows bravely, bravely! (Anne has come down (R) Anne You are merry my lord Cardinal. Wolsey (Starts with surprised manner, then turns, bows, smiles coming towards her.) 50 Is it you, so soon, my lady Anne? Truly. (indicating table on which are chess board, & lamp with burning paper) I have here been playing a game, He laughs who wins. Anne Is the game finished my Lord. Methinks I have heard it said - "he laughs best who laughs last." Wolsey 'Tis a wise saw - & uttred more heartsomely than the last sentence I heard from thee. that, methinks, was six months ago? - Yes. Tis so long since Master percy left the Court. Hast any word from him yet, out of the North that gladdens thee? Anne Aye, my lord, as surely as the tidings those are not expecting out of the south will gladden thee. Wolsey. The South? (starting & looking at burn papers) What can she mean? (recovers) Nothing. (recovering & turning to her) Have you come back my lady to meddle with court intrigue? Best stick to billing & cooing, dance & tournay. He51 who plays with fire may be burned. Anne Aye, my lord. And he who sets fire to his neighbor's house may chance to find his own consumed by the spread of the flames. Wolsey You delight in riddles. I have not the wit to read them. Stick to plain prose when you talk to me. Anne I promise it -- of the plainest. Wolsey (aside & again troubled) She had some meaning. What? Anne Your grace is disturbed by the promise. It should appear I have spoken unfortunately. Wolsey (angrily) You have spoken ill. (again recovers manner as he sees Anne's smile & inquiring gesture) The saying is bad, when the intention is bad. Anne And why accuse the intention? Is it because the ear is alert for hostile meaning where the conscience is fearful? (Xing & going up C.) 52 Wolsey (violently) Take care! Take care! Anne (turning) Take you care. Wolsey What! -- You threaten? (entre King L.U.E.) Anne No. I do not threaten. I fight. Wolsey (L) Is it a duel then? Anne (C) To the death! (King has come down stage R) (enter Cromwell L.U.E.) King (R) Ah, Wolsey, you have kept your word. (kissing Anne's hand) Thanks for bringing my dear mistress to our midst again. Anne (looking from one to other) Nay, your Majesty not he but duty to you hath brought her. (drawing the sealed letter & presenting it to the King.) Read, Sire. Cromwell (L) The letter? The letter? Wolsey (Smiling & pointing to lamp) There!53 King What is here? - "Lo the Bishop of Bayonne." Wolsey (Starts violently & advances Anne checking him) My king. / One moment / by us a private letter upon the Bishop's own affairs. King (looks from Wolsey to Anne) What sayeth thou? Anne Look within, Sire. King (violently) what juggling is this? By the rood I will! (trail off, first wrapping & turns to one within) An unendorsed epistle. (A, even so) Wolsey (at cry from Cromwell, tries to snatch the paper, Anne comes between) My king! King (Furiously) Stand back! (tearing open letter) (all enter L.N.E (C)) Anne Hadst looked ere burning / thou couldst have saved the destruction/ of a blank paper.[*#written*] 54 King (in great excitement & reading here & there from the paper.) # "Lo the Holy Father! Confidential! Secret! Delay the divorce! Refuse the Kings demands! Hold him to Katherine till he recovers reason! (furiously & looking at Wolsey who is retreating) Liar & traitor! Do not stir! I will settle with you anon. (give up @ reading from letter) Anne (Xes R. to her father) It is done. Wolsey (to Cromwell) She has dug my grave. I have you to dig hers in time to come King. For the rest we swear before ye all so soon as we are freed from our present unlawful tie to make Anne Boleyn Marchioness of Pembroke our Queen & Wife. (Coming to her taking her hand &c.) And now Sweet Mistress a word with you in private. Swings her round past Wolsey who puts out hands despairingly then sinks against Cromwell All bowing low &c Music Quick Curtain End of Act 2.