VINCENT: Verily, he might in conscience do no less.
ANTHONY: But then was there almost made a statute that in such a
case there should never after be granted a pardon, but (if the
truth were able to be proved) no husband should need any pardon,
but should have leave by the law to follow the example of that
carpenter, and do the same.
VINCENT: How happed it, uncle, that that good law was left unmade?
ANTHONY: How happed it? As it happeth, cousin, that many more be
left unmade as well as that one, and almost as good as it too,
both here and in other countries--and sometimes some that are
worse be made in their stead. But they say that the hindrance of
that law was the queen's grace, God forgive her soul! It was the
greatest thing, I daresay, that she had to answer for, good lady,
when she died. For surely, save for that one thing, she was a full
blessed woman.
But letting now that law pass, this temptation in procuring her
own death was unto this carpenter's wife no tribulation at all, as
far as men could ever perceive. For she liked well to think upon
it, and she even longed for it. And therefore if she had before
told you or me her intent, and that she would so fain bring it so
to pass, we could have had no occasion to comfort her, as one that
were in tribulation.
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