A minute's storm, or not so much to tumble
From bed to bed, be massacred alive

By some physicians, for a month or two,
In hope of freedom from a fever's torments,
Might stagger manhood; here the pain is past
Ere sensibly 'tis felt. Be men of spirit!
Spurn coward passion! so illustrious mention
Shall blaze our names, and style us kings o'er Death.
Daw. Away, impostor beyond precedent!

[Exeunt Sheriff and Officers with the Prisoners. No chronicle records his fellow.

THE FIRST VOYAGE OF JOHN CABOT

JOHN CABOT applied to Henry VII. in 1495 for authority to explore the New World. The parsimonious monarch granted the letters patent, but gave no financial aid. Only when the adventurers had returned, reporting the discovery of Cape Breton, did the king bestow a beggarly £10. Nevertheless, few of his contemporaries had more faith in the future of America than Henry Tudor.

"He chases shadows," sneered the Bristol tars.
"As well fling nets to catch the golden stars
As climb the surges of earth's utmost sea."
But for the Venice pilot, meagre, wan,
His swarthy sons beside him, life began

With that slipt cable, when his dream rode free.

And Henry, on his battle-wrested throne,
The Councils done, would speak in musing tone
Of Cabot, not the cargo he might bring.

Man's heart, though morsel scant for hungry crow, Is greater than a world can fill, and so Fair fall the shadow-seekers!" quoth the king.

KING HENRY THE EIGHTH

RECOLLECTION OF HIS PORTRAIT IN TRINITY Lodge, CAMBRIDGE

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

THE second Tudor came to the throne unhampered by rivals. He was handsome, good-humored, pleasure-loving, a man born to popularity and success. His imperious temper was not resented, for the people were weary of weak government and welcomed a masterful king. In reckless pursuit of his own selfish purposes Henry reformed the church, abolished the monasteries, and gave England a leading place in the politics of Europe.

The imperial stature, the colossal stride,

Are yet before me; yet do I behold

The broad, full visage, chest of amplest mould,
The vestments 'broidered with barbaric pride;
And lo! a poniard, at the Monarch's side,
Hangs ready to be grasped in sympathy
With the keen threatenings of that fulgent eye,
Below the white-rimmed bonnet far descried.
Who trembles now at thy capricious mood?
'Mid those surrounding Worthies, haughty King,
We rather think, with grateful mind sedate,
How Providence educeth, from the spring
Of lawless will, unlooked-for streams of good,
Which neither force shall check nor time abate!

KING HENRY THE EIGHTH

JACOBEAN PLAY DOUBTFULLY ASCRIBED TO SHAKESPEARE AND FLETCHER

HENRY'S first queen was Katharine of Aragon, the widow of his elder brother Arthur. The ecclesiastical law forbade marrying with so near a relative, but for reasons of state the match was thought desirable, and a special dispensation was secured from the Pope. The legality of the arrangement was not called in question until 1527, when, after twenty years of wedded life, there being but one child living and that a daughter, the king became convinced that the marriage with Katharine had been a mistake, perhaps a sin. Henry's close friend and adviser was Thomas Wolsey, a man of great ability, on whom had been conferred the highest honors in church and state. Cardinal, Archbishop of York, and Chancellor of the Realm, he enjoyed enormous wealth and well-nigh royal powers. To him was entrusted the task of accomplishing a divorce. Wolsey's appeal to the Pope was unsuccessful, and the king in anger deposed him from the chancellorship (1529), confiscated his estates, and threw him into the Tower on a charge of high treason.

ACT II

SCENE IV. A Hall in Black-friars.

(Pomp of Court and Clergy. Enter the King with his Train, followed by the Queen with hers.)

Wolsey. Whilst our commission from Rome is read,

Let silence be commanded.

King Henry.

What's the need?

It hath already publicly been read,

And on all sides th' authority allow'd;

You may, then, spare that time.

Wolsey.

Be't so. Proceed.

Scribe. Say, Henry King of England, come into

the court.

Crier. Henry King of England, come into the

court.

King Henry. Here.

Scribe. Say, Katharine Queen of England, come into the court.

Crier. Katharine Queen of England, come into the court.

(The Queen makes no answer, rises out of her chair, goes about the court, comes to the King, and kneels at his feet; then speaks.)

Queen Katharine. Sir, I desire you do me right and justice,

And to bestow your pity on me; for

I am a most poor woman, and a stranger,
Born out of your dominions; having here
No judge indifferent, nor no more assurance
Of equal friendship and proceeding. Alas, sir,
In what have I offended you? what cause
Hath my behaviour given to your displeasure,
That thus you should proceed to put me off,

And take your good grace from me? Heaven witness
I have been to you a true and humble wife,

At all times to your will conformable:

Ever in fear to kindle your dislike,

Yea, subject to your

As I saw it inclin'd.

countenance, glad or sorry,

When was the hour

I ever contradicted your desire, Or made it not mine too? friends

Or which of your

Have I not strove to love, although I knew
He were mine enemy? what friend of mine,
That had to him deriv'd your anger, did I
Continue in my liking? nay, gave notice
He was from thence discharg'd. Sir, call to mind
That I have been your wife, in this obedience,
Upward of twenty years, and have been blest
With many children by you: if in the course
And process of this time you can report,
And prove it too, against mine honour aught,
My bond to wedlock or my love and duty,
Against your sacred person, in God's name,
Turn me away; and let the foul'st contempt
Shut door upon me, and so give me up

To the sharp'st kind of justice. Please you, sir,
The king, your father, was reputed for
A prince most prudent, of an excellent
And unmatch'd wit and judgment: Ferdinand,
My father, King of Spain, was reckon'd one
The wisest prince, that there had reign'd by many
A year before it is not to be question'd

That they had gather'd a wise council to them

Of every realm, that did debate this business,

Who deem'd our marriage lawful. Wherefore I humbly

Beseech you, sir, to spare me, till I may

Be by my friends in Spain advis'd, whose counsel