_King._ My lord cardinal, 155 I do excuse you; yea, upon mine honour, I free you from't. You are not to be taught That you have many enemies that know not Why they are so, but, like to village-curs,[412] Bark when their fellows do: by some of these 160 The queen is put in anger. You're excused:[413] But will you be more justified? you ever Have wish'd the sleeping of this business, never desired[414] It to be stirr'd, but oft have hinder'd, oft,[414] The passages made toward it: on my honour,[415] 165 I speak my good lord cardinal to this point,[416] And thus far clear him. Now, what moved me to't,[417] I will be bold with time and your attention: Then mark the inducement. Thus it came; give heed to't: My conscience first received a tenderness, 170 Scruple, and prick, on certain speeches utter'd By the Bishop of Bayonne, then French ambassador;[418] Who had been hither sent on the debating A marriage 'twixt the Duke of Orleans and[419] Our daughter Mary: i' the progress of this business, 175 Ere a determinate resolution, he, I mean the bishop, did require a respite,[420] Wherein he might the king his lord advertise Whether our daughter were legitimate, Respecting this our marriage with the dowager, 180 Sometimes our brother's wife. This respite shook[421] The bosom of my conscience, enter'd me,[422] Yea, with a splitting power, and made to tremble[423] The region of my breast; which forced such way That many mazed considerings did throng 185 And press'd in with this caution. First, methought I stood not in the smile of heaven, who had[424] Commanded nature that my lady's womb, If it conceived a male-child by me, should Do no more offices of life to't than 190 The grave does to the dead; for her male issue Or died where they were made, or shortly after This world had air'd them: hence I took a thought, This was a judgement on me, that my kingdom, Well worthy the best heir o' the world, should not 195 Be gladded in't by me: then follows that[425] I weigh'd the danger which my realms stood in[426] By this my issue's fail; and that gave to me Many a groaning throe. Thus hulling in[427] The wild sea of my conscience, I did steer 200 Toward this remedy whereupon we are[428] Now present here together; that's to say, I meant to rectify my conscience, which I then did feel full sick and yet not well, By all the reverend fathers of the land 205 And doctors learn'd. First I began in private With you, my Lord of Lincoln; you remember How under my oppression I did reek,[429] When I first moved you.