ARGUMENT .OF THE PLAY.
As may bee well knowne unto you, th’ questio’ of Elizabeth, her legitimacie, made her a Protestant, for the Pope had not recognis’d th’ union, tho’ it were royale, which her sire made with fayre Anne Boleyn. Still we may see that despite some restraining feare, it suited her to dallie with the question, to make a faint shew of settling the mater as her owne co’sie’ce dictated, if we take th’ decisions of facts; but the will of th’ remorse-tost king left no doubt in men’s minds concerning th’ former marriage, in fact, as th’ crowne was giv’n first to Mary, his daughter of that marriage, before commi’g to Elizabeth.
In th’ storie of my most infortunate grandmother, the sweet ladie who saw not th’ headsman’s axe when shee went forth proudly to her coronation, you shall read of a sadnesse that touches me neere, partlie because of neerenesse in bloud, partlie from a firme beliefe and trust in her innocencie. Therefore every act and scene of this play of which I speake, is a tende’ sacrifice, and an incense to her sweete memorie. It is a plea to the generations to come for a just judgement upon her life, whilst also giving the world one of the noblest o’ my plays, hidden in Cy’hre in many other works.
A short argument, and likewise th’ keies, are giv’n to ayde th’ decypherer when it is to be work’d out as I wish. This doth tell th’ story with sufficient clearnes to guide you to our hidden storie.
This opeth at th’ palace, when King Henry for the first time cometh truely under the spell of her beautie,—then in th’ highest perfection of dainty grace, fresh, unspoiled,—and the charme of youthlie manners. It isthought this was that inquisition which brought out feares regarding th’ marriage contracted with Katharine of Arragon, so that none greatly wond’red whe’ prolonged consultation of the secret voyce in his soule assur’d the questioner noe good could ever come from the union. Acti’g upon this conviction he doth confer money and titles upon his last choise to quiet objections on score of unmeetnes.
But tho’ an irksome thing, truth shall be told. Tho’ it be ofttimes a task,—if selfe-imposed, not by any meanes th’ lesse, but more wearisome, since the work hath noe voyce of approvall or praise,—I intend its completion. For many simple causes th’ historie of a man’s life cometh from acts that we see through stayned glasse darkelie, and of th’ other sexe, a man doth perceyve lesse, if possible, but th’ picture that I shall heere give is limn’d most carefully. However m’ pen hath greatly digress’d, and to returne.
Despite this mark of royall favour, a grave matter like the divorcement of a royall spouse to wed a maide, suited not with fayre Anne’s notions of justice, and with a sweete grace she made answere when the King sued for favour:—“I am not high in birth as would befit a Queene, but I am too good to become your mistresse.” So there was no waye to compasse his desires save to wring a decree out o’ th’ Pope and wed th’ maide, not a jot regarding her answer unlesse to bee the more eager to have his waye.
Th’ love Lord Percy shew’d my lady, although so frankly return’d, kept the wish turning, turning as a restless mill. Soone he resolv’d on proof of his owne spirit, doe th’ Pope how he might, and securing a civill decree, privately wedded th’ too youthfull Anne, and hid her for space of severall daies untill th’ skies could somewhat cleare; but when th’ earlie sumer came, in hope that there might soone bee borne to them an heyre of th’ desir’d kinde,order’d willinglie her coronation sparing noe coste to make it outvie anie other.
And when she was borne along, surrounded by soft white tissew, shielded by a canopie of white, whilst she is wafted onwards, you would say an added charme were to paint the lillie, or give the rose perfume.
This was onely th’ beginning of a triumph, bright as briefe,—in a short space ’twas ore. Henry chose to consider th’ infant princesse in the light of great anger of a just God brought upon him for his sinnes, but bearing this with his daring spirit, he compelleth the Actes of Supremacy and Succession, which placed him at the head of the Church of England, in th’ one case, and made his heires by Queene Anne th’ successours to th’ throne. Untill that time, onely male heyres had succeeded to th’ roiall power and the act occasioned much surprise amongst our nobilitie.
But Henry rested not the’. The lovelinesse of Anne and her natural opennesse of manner, so potent to winne th’ weake heart o’ th’ King, awaken’d suspition and much cruell jealousie when hee saw th’ gay courtiers yielding to th’ spell of gracefull gentility,—heighten’d by usage forrayn, as also at th’ English Court. But if truth be said, th’ fancy had taken him to pay lovi’g court unto the faire Jane Seymour, who was more beautifull, and quite young,—but also most ordinary as doth regard personall manner, and th’ qualitie that made th’ Queene so pleasing,—Lady Jane permitting marks of gracious favour t’ be freelie offered.
And the Queene, unfortunately for her secret hope, surpris’d them in a tender scene. Sodaine griefe orewhelming her so viole’tlie, she swound before them, and a little space thereafter the infant sonne so constantly desir’d, borne untimely, disappointed once more this selfish monarch. This threw him into great fury, so that he was cruellie harsh where [he] should give comfort and support,throwing so much blame upon the gentle Queene, that her heart dyed within her not long after soe sadde ending of a mother, her hopes.
Under pretexte of beleeving gentle Queene Anne to be guilty of unfaithfullnesse, Henry had her convey’d to London Tower, and subjected her to such ignominy as one can barelie beleeve, ev’n basely laying to her charge the gravest sins, and summoning a jury of peeres delivered the Queene for tryal and sentence. His act doth blacken pitch. Ev’n her father, sitting amidst the peeres before whom shee was tried, exciteth not so much astonishment since hee was forc’d thereto.
Henry’s will was done, but hardly could hee restraine the impatience that sent him forth from his pallace at th’ hour of her execution to an eminence neare by, in order to catche th’ detonation (ation) of th’ field peece whose hollow tone tolde the moment at which th’ cruell axe fell, and see the blacke flag, that signall which floated wide to tell the world she breath’d no more.
Th’ hast with which hee then went forward with his marriage, proclaym’d the reall rigor or frigidity of his hart. It is by all men accompted strange, this subtile power by which soe many of the peeres could be forc’d to passe sentence upon this lady, when proofes of guilt were nowhere to bee produced. In justice to a memorie dear to myselfe, I must aver that it is far from cleare yet, upon what charge shee was found worthie of death. It must of neede have beene some quiddet of th’ lawe, that chang’d some harmlesse words into anything one had in minde, for in noe other waye could speech of hers be made wrongfull. Having fayl’d to prove her untrue, nought could bring about such a resulte, had this not (have) beene accomplish’d.
Thus was her good fame made a reproache, and time hath not given backe that priceles treasure. If my plaieshal shew this most clearly, I shall be co’tente. And as for my roiall grandsire, whatever honour hath beene lost by such a course, is re-gain’d by his descendants from the union, through this lovi’g justification of Anne Bulle’, his murther’d Queene.
Before I go further with instructions, I make bold to say that th’ benefits we who now live in our free England reape [are] from her faith and unfayling devotion to th’ advancement, that she herselfe promoting, beheld well undertaken. It was her most earnest beliefe in this remarkable and widelie spread effecte on th’ true prosperitie of the realme, and not a love o’ dignity or power,—if the evidence of workes be taken,—that co’strain’d her to take upon her th’ responsibility of roialtie. And I am fullie perswaded in mine owne minde that had shee lived to carry out all th’ work, her honours, no doubt, had outvied those of her world-wide famed and honour’d daughter who continu’d that which had beene so well commenc’d.
I am aware many artes waned in the raignes of Edward and bloodie Mary, also that their recovery must have requir’d patient attention and the expenditure of money my mother had no desire so to imploy, having many other things at that time by which th’ coffers were drayn’d subtly; but that it must require farre greater perseverance in order to begin so noble work, devising th’ plannes and ayding in their execution, cannot be impugn’d. Many times these things do not shewe lightness or th’ vanitie which some have laid to her charge.
However th’ play doth reveale this better, farre, then I wish t’ give it in this Cypher, therefore I begge that it shall bee written out and kept as a perpetual monument of my wrong’d, but innocent ancestresse.
My keies mentio’d in the beginning of this most helpfull work, will follow in this place:—
The King Henry Sevent, Kath’rine th’ Infanta, Prince Arthur, Catholicke Spaine, Prince of Wales, King Henry th’ Eight, Rome, nu’cio, Pope, Protestant, Anne Bullen, prelate, Wolsey, divorce, fury, excommunication, France, Francis First, marriage, ceremony, brother, pageant, barge, Richmond, Greenwich, Tower, procession, cloth, tissue, panoply, canopy, cloth o’ gold, litter, bearing-staves, pageant, streets, coronation, crowne of Edward, purple robe, roiall ermine, mace, th’ sword, wand, esses, French, Spanish ambassadours, advance-guards, mayor, dutchesse, Duke Suffolke, Norfolke, Marquesse Dorset, Bishop London, same Winchester, th’ Knights of th’ Garter, Lord Chancellour, judges, Surrey, Earle, quirrestres, lords, ladies,et al., Westminster, Rochford, Wiltshire, manors, castles, land, valew, titles, Marchionesse of Pembrooke, ports, countesses, roiall scepter, stile, power, title, pompe, realme, artes, advancement, liberty, treasure, warre, treaty, study, benefit, trade, priest, monastery, restitution, acts, supremacy, succession, Elizabeth, daughter, sonne, heyres, unfaithfulnesse, treason, Norris, Weston, subtile triumph, hate, losse, evill, jealousie, love, beautie, Tower, tryall, proofe, sentry, sentence, executed, burning, choyce, the axe, block, uncover’d face, report, black-flag, freedom, marriage-vow, Edward.
As hath most frequentlie bin said these will write th’ play, but th’ foregoing abridgeme’t, or argument, wil ayde you. In good hope of saving th’ same from olde Father Time’s ravages, heere have I hidden this Cypher play. To you I entruste th’ taske I, myselfe, shall never see complete, it is probable, but soe firme is my conviction that it must before long put up its leaves like th’ plant in th’ sunne, that I rest contente awaiting that time.