Anna Dickinson Speeches & Writings File PLAYS “A Crown of Thorns” Act IIIAct 3rdAct 3. Anne Boleyn or A Crown of Thorns 1 Act 3. Anne Boleyn. If played in two scenes, the first is Queen's anteroom. Doors in F. L. & R. Table & Chair R. Flowers on table Ottoman & footstool L. If no change, Window R. Flowers about it. Madge busy with flowers - Norreys steals in behind and plucks one. Madge (discovered) Oh, no! I call that robbery! Norreys (proposing to kiss her) Let me, then, give thee compensation for it. Madge (warding him off) At my expense! No! No! Norreys I thought you were abroad. Madge No. My headache kept me within.2 Norreys (incredulous) Ah! You have a headache? I will drive it from you. Madge By your talk? Torment killing torment? No, thanks. I would rather suffer the pain I know. Norreys (with great flourish) Then, will I prescribe something more attractive. I pray you accept from me this exquisite rose. Madge To make me your accomplice in theft? (shaking her head, & going) Enough of you and your rose. Norreys You are going? No! Stay, till I melt thy icy heart with a ditty, that I will straightway compose for the purpose. Madge (putting hands over ears) Have mercy! Spare me! What evil have I done that I must be afflicted by thy verses? Is not plain prose sufficiently tortured with thy follies, but thou must needs distort rhyme? Norreys Nay, but hear me - (sings) Come, come. 3 Madge (sings) Go! Go! - rather. I like not thy measure. Change it to mine. Norreys Not if I can induce thee to chime in with mine. (Madge again puts hands over her ears.) Ah, ha! thou art already afraid, else thou wouldst not turn a deaf ear to my entreaty. Thou wilt yield ere I be done my lay - which implores thee from the gloom and coldness of thy heart's solitude to (sings) Come, come away! Madge (sings) Where away? Where away? Norreys (sings) Out in the light of the morning bright; For heart's delight, the earth is dight with flowers gay. Come, come away! Madge (sings) Nay, nay! Nay, nay. Norreys (with gesture of entreaty - sings) Come, come I say! Madge (dismissing - sings) Hence, away! Hence, away!4 Norreys (sings) Time will not bide; down the sunny tide The sweet hours glide. - Oh, I must chide At thy delay. Come, come, I say! Madge (sings) Nay, nay! Nay, nay! Norreys (sings more earnestly) Come, come, I pray. Madge (sings) I love delay! I love delay. Norreys (sings) The night will fall with his dusky pall On flowers, and all. - Oh, list my call, My pain allay; Come, come, I pray. Madge (sings) Nay, nay! Nay, nay! Norreys Nay? Then will I return to the argument of prose. (Looking at flower) This is the same, I am sure it is the same that we admired yesterday in the bud. - Tomorrow it would have faded. Do you take me, cousin? Madge Tomorrow? What know you of tomorrow? 5 Tomorrow, for all things, is with the fates. Norreys But today is ours - and the time to gather roses is when they blow. Madge (pointing to rose) Is that an argument for your robbery? Norreys No, but for my happiness. All my tomorrows are getting to be yesterdays. Do you know this is Mayday? and that, by its count, you have made me serve for you seven years? Madge Now, you have ensured for yourself other seven! What, then, I am only Leah? Norreys No! No! You are Rachel! The first seven were spent in search for you, - the last seven, in trying to win you. Madge Do you complain of the time? It is brief for a whimsical person to make up her mind! (Norreys makes gesture of denial) Oh, do not deny it! You called me so but yesterday. You know you did!Trumpet call 6 Norreys Impossible! How can you accuse me of the absurdity of representing you as whimsical? (shyly) When you so well refute such a calumny, every day! Madge Oh, your satire will not cover your iniquity! Give me my rose, and go away. Norreys No. Yes. (gives rose) There. - But it is yielded with the proviso that you return it to me to wear this afternoon. (Anne at door L, I, E) Madge At the tournament? You are modest! Anne - give it to him, Madge. Madge At your Majesty's command! (pretended reluctance.) Norreys (bows low at Queen's voice, &c. Thanks, thanks, my Queen! Anne - acknowledge his salute then. Norreys (Xes, & kisses Queen's hand, # puts Madge's rose against his scarf as trumpet7 call sounds) My Queen's colors and my lady love's favor! (Xing) You will see that I will do honor to them this afternoon. at the tournament. (gay business for Madge as he exits R,I,E,) Anne - yet more faithful Madge (kneeling on hassock) Oh, Madame, if he will lick honey from thorns he must pay for it. 'Tis the sole trouble he has to complain of in life. If he wearies of it, he can find consolation elsewhere. Anne - in torment forever. Madge Madame! Madame! My dear mistress! Do not look so! Do not speak do! What fresh misery has befallen, that you should yield like this? (wringing her hands) Oh, if the last seven years could be undone! (rises) Anne - dazzles and blinds me. (Mark Smeaton looks in unseen. Queen shudders violently) Madge (coming to her) What is it, dear mistress? 8 Anne - a little child (looking round - Mark draws back) - my own apartments? Madge (violently) No - No, Madame. You must not! You dare not! Anne - dare not? - Madge? Madge Pardon, your Majesty - but you do well know there is a night crow possesses the royal ear against you, and misrepresents all your actions. It will be made a fresh ground of offence against you. Anne - it is true. Madge And oh, my Queen - she will surely fill your Chair of State in the face of the whole Court, if you are not there to take it yourself. Anne - put in readiness. (Xes L. - Smeaton again looks in). - again to the Court?9 Madge (____) In the brief speech I caught with him he said it was upon a summons from his Majesty, which commanded his presence in haste - to be disobeyed at peril of estate and life. - No more. Anne - summond by his Majesty (comes down) - cannot fathom it. (Smeaton advances R) Smeaton What compensation will your Majesty bestow upon one who makes its muddy waters clear? Anne - thrust thee forth. Smeaton Softly, Madame - I did you good service once, for which you promised to smile upon me - and then cheated me of my wages! Yet will I serve you again - and you know not how great and dreadful is your need - if now, after so long delay, you will but keep the promise. Sure, your heart cannot be stone. In mercy to yourself, Madame, grant me some of the favor you gave me years ago, when I was in your father's house. Anne - outraged Queen. 10 Smeaton Thou wilt not accept my help and love? Then thou shalt reap the harvest of thy scorn and my hate. Anne - Begone! Smeaton And thou - beware! (Exit Smeaton R.) Madge (L__) Your Majesty, why did you not let him speak, - wretch as he is? It may be some of the vile plots they are eternally hatching of which he would tell. Oh, my Queen, though you are the Queen, you had best humor him, if, so, you can make a point against your adversaries. Anne - at last struck down. (XL) Madge (looking off R,I,E) The Saints preserve us! Here comes another of Satan's family! Anne - from my presence. (Exits L,I,E) Madge Trust me for that, my Queen. (Xes for flowers,11 as Jane Seymour enters R.I.E. [(?) I] L) You are going? Jane To her Majesty's toilet (X.C.) Madge She can dispense with your services Jane (eagerly) She is, then, ill? Madge (busy with flowers) Never better. Jane She will be at the Tournament? Madge Assuredly. ( X L )To the delight of many, and the disappointment of a few. (they look at one another defiantly) Jane (furiously) Your tongue is forked, mistress. It needs clipping. Madge (same manner) It will not be clipped by you, madam. It will answer whenever you speak - though you do look fierce as the devil. Jane (recovering, and very satirically) Did you ever see the devil, my dear? I congratulate you on your acquaintance! 12 Madge (same manner) Yes, my love- in a gown (color, Jane's dress). And very ill he looks in woman's clothes, I assure you.- You can spare your congratulations. ( exit Madge L.I.E. ) Jane (looking after her) I have a good memory, my lady.- You shall be attended to in due season. (Cromwell at door R.I. Jane advances, speaking) There is no need to see her, (Cromwell enters) She will be at the Tournament. Cromwell Then the time to strike has come. Jane Would it not be better to wait a more quiet opportunity? Cromwell (goes up and looks at her intently) I would not have believed it! You are afraid! Jane It is true. I have ventured much, but I am afraid that if this plan fail, our heads fall for it.13 Cromwell Fail? How can it fail? The king hates her with a hate equal to the love with which he once loved her. Hates her for her free speech and reckless honesty, and her upright and downright yea or nay, whether is please or cross his will. Jane And Norfolk? Cromwell Norfolk hates her, as Suffolk & Dorset & Exeter, & Montague hate her; because she is in their way. She blocks all their pathways to the throne. For them to fight the Queen is to fight for their own claims to the Crown. Jane And you? Cromwell I hate her, with a heritage of hate received from my great master, the Cardinal, even while I admire her courage and dauntless will Jane And I? Cromwell You? You hate her, most of all 14 because you have most of all to gain by her destruction. Jane But, if I swear to him that she is false, and lose this (her head) instead of crowning it? It is high treason to speak any word against the Queen's honor - and the punishment of high treason is death. ( Xes L.) Cromwell My lady, if you will play for high stakes, you must risk heavily on the game. Jane Why do you not speak yourself? Cromwell Because I would never speak afterwards. His majesty would stay my tongue, forever. There are people, and people. The King is my master, he is your slave. Jane That remains to be tested, and I do remember me the great Cardinal did once say, his favor was fatal, his promises, a snare, his love, destruction. Cromwell Listen to me, Jane You have burned your bridges behind you. To what end should you now recoil, (business) since15 you cannot go back? (business) 'Tis a death struggle 'twixt you and her. You aimed at this point. You have reached your destination. You have not been such a fool as to imagine you would never gain the place towards which you were continually going; the Queen's destruction, and your exaltation. Jane (looks at Crom X L) Well! I will take your counsel. If I go down, you go down. My sister is your son's wife. If I succeed, I take all with me. If I fail - what, if after all, I dethrone her, only to put a French Princess, at last, on the throne? Cromwell Do not talk foolishly. His Majesty is more in thrall to you, than he ever was to the mercer's granddaughter, Anne Boleyn. Let the Court say what it will of you to-day. Hold your peace. Keep your own counsel. You can avenge yourself when you are Queen. Jane (proudly) When I am Queen! (taking stage L) Cromwell Hold to the line I have marked for you 16 tell his Majesty straightly - with no holiday phrases, - that the Queen is false to him, that she will give the signal for a rendezvous, to one of her lovers, before his very eyes, this afternoon at the Tournament, - the signal to be a bunch of flowers, or a handkerchief, dropped from her hand. And (with significant look) you, yourself, will stand so close to her arm as to make sure the signal shall not fail. Do this, and I promise Anne shall be out of your way in a fortnight. Jane Dead? Cromwell Dead. Jane And I be in her place? Cromwell In four and twenty hours. Jane No! No! Cromwell Yes. If you get into it at all you must get into it speedily. There is too much to be risked by delay. Pshaw! If you do not stick at murdering a woman, why should you stick at wearing her shoes17 ere they grow cold? (amused.) What! You would compound with the devil, and gain absolution for the crime by the decency of its commission! Unluckily, time does not allow. (enter Norfolk R.I.E.) Is it not so, my lord of Norfolk? Norfolk (R) I know not how that may be, since I know not the dispute - but sure I am that time does nto allow for my Lady Jane to linger here, if she is to speak with his Majesty before the Tournament. Cromwell (to Jane as she crosses R) You are ready? Jane (at R.I.E.) I am ready. Aye. (exits R.I.E.) Norfolk (looking after her) Will she do it? Cromwell Yes. She will play her part in this devil's masquerade - never fear. Norfolk And Mark Smeaton will swear to all of her accusings? Cromwell More: even to his own success, and the Queen's infamy. 18 Norfolk 'Tis past believing! Cromwell Nothing is past believing. Thou mayst have heard that, years ago, when he was in her father's household, he had a talent for music, a talent for vanity, and a talent for loving Mistress Boleyn. Norfolk She scorned him Cromwell Aye, but used him to further her vengeance on the Cardinal, and then kicked him aside - like the dirty footstool that he is. In spite of which the wretch has kept on growing in hatred and longing, love and jealousy, with a vanity that is boundless, till he is more than half distraught. (Smeaton enters C stays up stage) He will say anything, swear to anything to couple his name with the Queen's. Smeaton (coming down C) Is it of Mark Smeaton you speak, Earl of Essex? If so, you speak truth. See you - I relented. I came here[*o*] music 19 to make one more effort to soften her heart of stone. I would have saved her, (business of Cromwell & Norfolk, Alarm,) had she but given me a hope of her love. She scorned, she spat upon me! Had I been a bat at her ear, a slimy serpent on her hand, a toad in her pathway, she could not have gazed upon me with eyes of greater loathing. (turning with menace of manner) Oh, thou proud woman and haughty Queen, thou, who treadest heart's blood under thy feet, I will have thine for wine. [* X L then back C*] Quick! Quick, my lords! Where is the paper of damning accusations? I will sign [it] and swear to anything, that will bring her high head and heart lower than her "lackey's!" Cromwell You must submit, -- (for form's sake,--) to the show of an imprisonment. (looking significantly at Norfolk, and back) 'Twill be brief! Smeaton A poor coin to pay for a so great feast of vengeance (Exit RIE) —(Lead on! Lead on! (Exit all RIE) If not played in one scene [o] music. Change. #No Clear.19 to make one more effort to soften her heart of stone. I would have saved her, (business of Cromwell & Norfolk, - Alarm,) had she but given me a hope of her love. She scorned, she spat upon me! Had I been a bat at her ear, a slimy serpent on her hand, a toad in her pathway, she could not have gazed upon me with eyes of greater loathing. (Turning with menace of manner) Oh, thou proud woman and haughty Queen, thou, who treadest hearts blood under thy feet, I will have thine for wine. [*(XL from back C*)] Quick! Quick, my lords! Where is the paper of damming accusations? I will sign it and swear to anything, that will bring her high head and heart lower than her "lackey's!" Cromwell You must submit, - (for form's sake,-) to the show of an imprisonment. (looking significantly at Norfolk, and back) 'Twill be brief! Smeaton A poor coin to pay for a so great feast of vengeance. [*X RIE*] Lead on! Lead on! (Exit all [*RIL*]) If not played in one scene [*0*] Music. Change. #NoClear. 20 Scene 2d If no Clear, Enter King and Jane as if from terrace, she as if she were startled &c. - leading him on. King very gay and ardent through the scene. He may draw her on to his Knee. (Note, historical scene.) latice Window RDE or, with second scene, open arches at back. Window in side R. King and Jane enter R.U.E, his arm about her, while she turns her head away with affected distaste. King. R, What ails thee, sweet simpleton, to be so scared? Were thy cheeks the fruit of Paradise that lured to perdition I must needs have devoured, after tasting their sweetness. Jane. (looking Round.) I do beseech your royal grace! - It was speech I desired with you, not this. - I pray you, give not prying eyes and ears matter to report against me to her who yet claims to be the wife of your majesty. King. We shall be quit of her sour humours altogether, anon, sweetheart. Have thouno care of that. Nay, give me my kisses back again, an' they still displease thee. (making to kiss her). Jane No, no, your Majesty, my lips are for him who will some day wed me- my hand for any married man, even tho' he be a King. King (laughing) Say'st thou so! For him who shall wed thee! (kissing her) Then are they mine! Nay, an' thou doubt me, put me to my oath, and all respects laid aside I will swear till thou believe. See, then, (business for Anne and Madge, L.U.E) I put this ring upon thy hand, with a promise to place a better (tho' an absolutely unadorned one) in its stead, - and hang about thy neck this painted semblance of one who promises to rest his head there as thy husband, - and thus I seal the pledge. Anne --------double evil be wrought. King 'Tis well said, madam, -but spoken a trifle late. Anne --------is always in season. 22 Jane. Madam, his majesty doth perchance mean it is a sentiment that might have been commended by yourself to yourself when her Majesty Queen Katherine was alive. Anne -------Insolent. Jane At least, madam, if I am to be condemned for the path I tread it should not be by her who pointed me the way. (Jane makes conspicuous through the scene the ring & picture, &c.) King. Excellently said! Anne. -------by this discourse. (turning) King (laughs) What! So soon silenced? The truth can stay even thy fiery wrath. Anne -------must move farther off. Percy and Norreys enter. R.[U].E. crossing to Tournament. Madge appears from R.U.E. and beckons to them. Percy shows violent feeling as he listens, half draws his sword, &c, but is drawn back by Norreys, & out of sight at R.U.E.23 King, (furiously, but significantly + pointing to her feet) Unless this be cleared for her. Anne, She shall go. Jane, Is your meaning, madam, that I quit the court? Anne, Aye. King, She shall not stir! Anne, our command to go. King, and she hath our command to stay. Anne, queen's maid of honor. Jane, (to King) Your majesty! must I submit to this? King. She shall not budge from her post beside the throne, till- (warming look and gesture from Jane, on which the King recovers from his furious manner) a better plan is formed for her! Ha! do we but dream ourself to be Harry of England, #TrumpetCall 24 and you, our subject and created Queen? Heavens mercy! who art thou, to cry halt to a King! [*#*] Sounds of trumpet, & tournament without. Jane starts, smiles disdainfully &c , Jane, A truce, my liege. The trumpets begin to sound, and I would beseech with thee some words alone, before the Tournament. King, They will be welcome. We have had enough of this society. (business X L) Be sure that from henceforth we are done with it. ( [goes up] halts a moment, looking furiously back at Anne, then with stamp of foot &c.) Come then. (Exits with Jane LIE) Anne,[*L I*] [*King of Heaven*] [*Enter Percy L.U.E.*] — will have none. Percy has come down C., and as she sits L., approaches, kneels, kisses her hand. — never to see me more. Percy, Nay, my queen, the oath ran not so. I swore never to see you more, - unless - I could claim you. Through all the years in which I have been free to speak while you were still bound not to hear I have hugged my oath. E'en at the King's25 command I came full slowly, with lagging feet and protesting heart, and yet, through all the past, had I but imagined what I would find at my journey's end, no extremity of life or death could have held me from your presence. Anne, what have you found? Percy, The dream was of a woman, exalted, happy, a Queen, resplendent; a sovereign, all-powerful. The reality is a woman scorned and betrayed, a Queen outraged and dishonored, menaced on all sides, the ground beneath her feet undermined, her foes of her own household, her sworn protector her destroyer! The reality - Anne, — Northumberland, you forget. [*X R*] Percy, I forget? Merciful Heavens! What else do I know to remember? (she makes to silence him.) No, I must speak. Had I found you, as I hoped and prayed through all my long night of years I should find you, I would put my hand on my mouth, and my mouth in the dust; - but seeing you as I saw you but now, with him - with 26 him! how should I fail to stretch my arms to the woman trapped and torn from me - (who in the sight of heaven is mine-) the woman who should be my wife, the wife who should rest upon my heart, the mother- Anne, — Silence, madman! Percy, No. (ardently & angrily) Anne, — come you back the same? Percy, the same. (striking his heart.) The scar is as deep as the joy over which it has grown. -And you, tho' you strive to deny it, to make yourself under phrase and power, you have not a heart of change. (takes stage [*L*], turns &c) Why are you so merciless? to yourself? - to me? What think you these years have been to me, when each day has cried from hour to hour - you have made eternal shipwreck of life! and, they being done, I come into your presence to find that the mad jealousy of passion that wrought my ruin swept you to a doom, - seemingly resplendent, yet worse than mine. What has it done to your heart that you can27 look and speak so? Fate and Time combined could not change, -have they murdered it? It must be so. It is dead, and, so, having ceased to suffer you refuge mercy to suffering. Anne, — despair is dumb [*(goes up stage c)*] Percy, Ah, you confess it! That is the balm I craved. Speak it once more; 'tis a madman's heart - (so you called me but now,) that implores. Tell me again that the same anguish crushes us. Anne, — fight my fight alone. [* X L*] Percy, What! Now that I have been and touched you once more! Now that you have given light to the blind, life to the dead, will you destroy your work ruthlessly! And you, who see and hear all about you the poisonous looks and tones of envy and hatred and jealousy, how can you send from you one voice that speaks of faith and devotion! One face that you know is full of loyalty and love. [*(kneels)*] Anne, — banish them. (Percy makes 28 eager gesture to speak) — the woman who implores. Percy, Ah, you do well to remind me of the faith I owe my sovereign. Years ago you bade me from your presence, and I went, knowing the command to be just. Now I promise never again by look or word to offend the woman I did love, whom I now also venerate and adore. - Nay, I swear you shall not see the lover, you shall only know the service of the friend. - But I will no more obey my Queen by leaving her alone in the midst of plots and enmities, than I would abandon a forlorn hope on the battlefield, or strike the flag where mine was the only hand to uphold it. Anne. — to answer that. [* Madge enters L U E*] Percy, Do not try to answer it. (kisses her hand, keeps long gaze on her and exits R I E.) Madge. (coming down) My dear mistress, his heart is broken. Anne. — bitter at the close. (sits) [*R*]#Begin to darken 29 Page (At door C, with jewel case on small cushion) From the king. Madge, (C.) Your majesty, here is one from the King. (Queen turns, beckons, on which Page comes down C. & kneels at her feet.) Anne, — well, my child? Page, Your majesty, my lord the King greets you with good cheers, and sends you this ornament as slight token of his affection, desiring that you wear it with your bravery this afternoon. Anne, — his gift aright. (Page rises, bows, backs up stage & exits) — ominous bestowal! (puts it on table) Madge, My dear mistress, you see his Majesty's heart inclines towards you once more. All will go well. Anne, — but a breathing space. # Madge. Do you then, dear mistress, look upon it as no more?[*#*] [*0*] Lightning 30 Anne __________as no more. (goes up) Madge. (wringing her hands) ah, Madam, why do you say so? Anne. ______________come hither, Madge. (madge comes to window R) _______________noted these signs? Madge. A storm is brewing. Anne. _______________lightning flash anon. [*#*] [*0*] (flash,---few drops of rain. Enter Chamberlain & pages L.U.E) Chamberlain. Your majesty, the tournament waits for you. Anne. ____________________I come. Madge offers ornament; Anne rejects it with a sign, puts her hand on Madges arm, & exits L.U.E., preceded by Chamberlain & followed by pages.----- Enter Jane & Cromwell L.I.E. Jane . [*R*] Are you sure of enverything?31 Cromwell (L) Be at peace. The trap is so safely set as that the sharpest fox that ever drew breath could not escape it. Mark Smeaton, ere this, must have finished his confession. Weston and Brereton are in disgrace, and will swear to its truth to save their own lives -- and Norrey is bound to the King by a thousand favors. Jane. But, having these to swear to the indictment, are you sure of the Court? Cromwell. The Court is already selected -- seven and twenty right noble peers chosen by his Majesty, certain to give the death sentence he craves. Jane. Seven and twenty enemies -- but one faithful friend! Why did you summon Northumberland? Cromwell. 'Tis a good general (smiling) who forsees all contingencies. To serve your interest, not hers -- be sure of that. Jane. But how? how?Ready guards R.U.E. 32 Cromwell Patience. You shall know in due season. (Enter Norfolk L.I.E. with roll) Go now. (Cromwell takes her up to L.U.E. at which she exits. He then rushes back to Norfolk) You have the confession? Norfolk Here. Cromwell (seizing & looking over it) I did not think even his madness could have spoken it! He will soil the fingers of the hangman! Norfolk. Will not the dungeon serve as well? Cromwell For him? no. (with significance) None but the dead do not come back. Norfolk When? (taking the roll) Cromwell Tomorrow. Norfolk (amazed) Before the trial? Cromwell Assuredly. That he may neither0 Guards 33 recant, nor confront her. (Guards X stage from R to LUE) The Guards? (stop C) (Norfolk assents) Is all else in readiness? Norfolk Aye. Cromwell Come then. It is time for the signal. 0 (Norfolk gives sign to Guards, who follow him - or exit. Cromwell stands L.U.E. watching.) What! - The Queen has no flowers? - Nothing in her hands? - The signal, then, cannot be given! - Ah, what good fortune! - She lifts her handkerchief! - Better, & better! she even smiles as she raises it to her lips! - Norreys approaches in the lists! Will Jane be in time? Yes - she reaches the Queen, - she jostles her arm! the handkerchief falls! Norreys leaps from his saddle and seizes it! The King rises in fury! Will he strike her? - George Boleyn rushes between them! - He will#Trumpet #&Murmurs 34 die with the rest! -- ah ha! It is done! (Exit Cromwell R. U. E. # # murmurs & trumpets without. Enter at L. U. E. Lord George Boleyn,. Sir Francis Weston, & Sir Wm Brereton, guarded, followed by nobles,-- in their midst -- the King & Norreys; King talking earnestly, hand on Norreys' arm. Nobles & guards halt at back of stage. King draws Norreys to F.C. Norreys. But wherefore, Sire? L King. R You have been more in her antechamber, and can speak with more authority than any other man. That, is why you are to swear that she is false. Norreys. I cannot, Sire. The thing itself is false. I never have seen aught but goodness in the Queen. King. If you loved me you would not leave a stumbling black in the way of my happiness. -- What, silent? If you yield, you shall not suffer in purse or person! If not, you shall go to the block. -- Bethink thee-- thou art young, the world is before35 thee -- life is precious! Norreys. Not so precious, Sire, as to be worth the price your Majesty exacts; - treachery and dishonor! King. 'Tis no threat, Norreys. - I tell thee thou shalt yield, or die! Norreys. Sire, she is innocent! I would rather die a thousand deaths then utter so foul a lie against her. King. Die, then, fool. You shall die with the rest! — Away with him. Officer of the guard advances and take Norreys' sword He goes up and joins other guarded nobles with heroic look at the King. All exit R.U.E. Cromwell appears at the R.U.E, looking after them, meets Jane Seymour from L.U.E & grasps her hand eagerly: — or, Cromwell crosses L. down stage to Jane where she is with a group : & if Percy is on the stage draws her attention to him--- if not, then business of congratulation &c — but separate at Queen's voice as she 36 enters from L.U.E followed by guards, ladies &c. - guards ranging behind her. At same moment King exits R.L.E. Anne. — Have they been taken? Norfolk. (insolently) You shall join them soon, Madam. Anne. — speak, Kingston. (Kingston sadly shakes his head.) — my lord of Norfolk. Norfolk. But I will with you, Madam (drawing out parchment roll) In the name of the King, (every one alert,) I arrest you for High Treason. Omnes. High Treason! Guards close down as Percy rushes from R.I.E , crying "high treason"! & drawing his sword, but at gesture from the Queen Sinks on his knee. Picture. Quick Curtain. End Of Third Act.