SCENE changes to Black-Friars.

Trumpets, Sennet, and Cornets. Enter two Vergers, with fhort filver Wands; next them, two Scribes in the habits of Doctors: after them, the Bishop of Canterbury alone; after him, the Bishops of Lincoln, Ely, Rochefter, and St. Afaph; next them, with fome fmall diftance, follows a Gentleman bearing the purfe, with the great feal, and the Cardinal's hat; then two Priefts, bearing each a filver cross; then a gentleman-ufher bare-headed, accompanied with a ferjeant at arms, bearing a mace; then two Gentlemen, bearing two great filver pillars; after them, fide by fide, the two Cardinals; two noblemen with the fword and mace. The King takes place under the cloth of ftate; the two Cardinals fit under him, as judges. The Queen takes place, Some distance from the King. The Bilhops place themselves on each fide the Court, in manner of a Confiftory: below them, the Scribes. The Lords fit next the Bishops. The rest of the Attendants ftand in convenient order about the ftage.

Wol. W Let filence be commanded.

Hilft our commiffion from Rome is read,

King. What's the need?

It hath already publickly been read,
And on all fides th' authority allow'd;

You may then fpare that time.

Wol. Be't fo; proceed.

Scribe, Say, Henry King of England, come into the court. Cryer. Henry King of England, &c.

King. Here.

Scribe. Say, Catharine Queen of England,

Come into the court.

Cryer. Catharine, Queen of England, &c.

[The Queen makes no answer, rifes out of her chair, goes about the court, comes to the King, and kneels at his feet; then peaks ;]

Sir, I defire you, do me right and juftice;

And to beftow your pity on me; for

I am a moft poor woman, and a franger.

P 3

Born

Born out of your dominions; having here
No judge indiff'rent, and no more affurance
Of equal friendship and proceeding. Alas, Sir, a
In what have I offended you? what cauferov to 51A,
Hath my behaviour giv'n to your displeasure,

That thus you should proceed to put me off,

And take your good grace from me? Heaven witnefs, I've been to you a true and humble wife,

At all times to your will conformable

Ever in fear to kindle your dislike,

Yea, fubject to your count'nance; glad or forry,
As I faw it inclin'd: when was the hour, mi
I ever contradicted your defire n 31 Javors
Or made it not mine too which of your friends bra
Have I not ftrove 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 difcharg'd. Sir, call to mind,
That I have been your wife, in this obedience,
Upward of twenty years; and have been bleft
With many children by you. If in the course
And procefs of this time you can report,
And prove it too, against mine honour aught,
My bond of wedlock, or my love and duty
Against your facred perfon; in God's name,
Turn me away; and let the foul'st contempt
Shut door upon me, and fo give me up
To th' fharpest kind of justice. Please you, Sir,.
The King your father was reputed for
A Prince most prudent, of an excellent

!འི

And unmatch'd wit and judgment. Ferdinand
My father, King of Spain, was reckon❜d one

The wifeft Prince that there had reign'd, by many

A year before. It is not to be question'd,
That they had gather'd a wife council to them,
Of ev'ry realm, that did debate this business,quoy
Who deem'd our marriage lawful. Wherefore humbly,
Sir, I beseech you, fpare me, 'till I may

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

I

I will implore. If not, i' th' name of God,
Your pleasure be fulfill'd!

Wol. You have here, Lady,

(And of your choice) thefe rev'rend fathers, men Of fingular integrity and learning:

Yea, the elect o'th' land, who are affembled
To plead your caufe. It fhall be therefore bootlefs,
That longer you defer the court, as well

For your own quiet, as to rectify

What is unfettled in the King.

Cam. His Grace

Hath spoken well and juftly; therefore, Madam,
It's fit this royal feffion do proceed;

And that without delay their arguments

Be now produc'd, and heard..

Queen. Lord Cardinal,

To you I speak.

Wol. Your pleasure, Madam ?
Queen. Sir,

I am about to weep; but thinking that

We are a Queen, or long have dream'd fo; certain, The daughter of a King; my drops of tears

I'll turn to fparks of fire.

Wol. Be patient yet

Queen. I will, when you are humble; nay, Or God will punith me. I do believe, Induc'd by potent circumftances, that

before;

You are mine enemy, and make my challenge;
You fhall not be my judge. For it is your.
Have blown this coal betwixt my Lord and men
Which God's dew quench! therefore, I fay again,
I utterly abhor, yea, from my foul

Refuse you

for

my judge; whom yet once more I hold my moft malicious foc, and think not At all a friend to truth.

Wol. I do profefs,

You fpeak not dike yourfelf; who ever yet ve
Have ftood to charity, and difplay'd th' effects.

Of difpofition gentle, and of wisdom #17
O'er-topping woman's power. Madam, you wrong me.

I have no fpleen againft you, nor injuftice

injuftice

For you, or any; how far I've proceeded, w
Or how far further fhall, is warranted

By a commiffion from the confiftory,eo qus 207 45
Yea, the whole confift'ry of Rome. You charge me
That I have blown this coal; I do deny it on ry
The King is prefent; if't be known to him
That I gainfay my deed, how may he wound,
And worthily, my falfhood? yea, as much
As you have done my truth. But if he know
That I am free of your report, he knows,
I am not of your wrong. Therefore in him
It lies to cure me, and the cure is to

Remove these thoughts from you. The which before
His Highnefs fhall fpeak in, I do beftech

You, gracious Madam, to unthink your fpeaking;
And to fay fo no more.

Queen. My Lord, my Lord,

I am a fimple woman, much too weak

[mouth'd;

T'oppofe your cunning. You are meek, and humble-
You fign your place and calling, in full feeming,
With meekness and humility; but your heart
Is cramm'd with arrogancy, fpleen, and pride.
You have by fortune, and his Highness' favours,
Gone flightly o'er low fteps; and now are mounted,
Where pow'rs are your retainers; and your words,
Domesticks to you, ferve your will, as't please
Yourself pronounce their office. I must tell you,
You tender more your perfon's honour, than
Your high profeffion fpiritual. That again
I do refuse you for my judge; and here,
Before you all, appeal unto the Pope,

To bring my whole caufe 'fore his Holiness;
And to be judg'd by him.

[She curtfies to the King, and offers to depart.

Cam. The Queen is obftinate,

Stubborn to juftice, apt t'accuse it, and
Difdainful to be try'd by't; 'tis not well.

She's going away.

King. Call her again.

Cryer.

Cryer. Catharine, Queen of England, come into the court. Uber. Madam, you are call'd back.

return.

Queen. What need you note it? pray you, keep your way. When you are call'd," Now the Lord help, They vex me paft my patience! pray you, país ou I will not tarry, no, nor ever more Upon this bufinefs my appearance make

In any of their Courts.

[Exeunt Queen and her Attendants. King. Go thy ways, Kate; That man i'th'world who fhall report he has A better wife, let him in nought be truffed For fpeaking falfe in that. Thou art alone, (If thy rare qualities, fweet gentleness, Thy meeknefs faint-like, wife-like government, Obeying in commanding, and thy parts Sov'reign and pious elfe, could fpeak thee out) The Queen of earthly Queens. She's noble born; And like her true nobility, he has

Carried herfelf tow'rds me.

Wol. Moft gracious Sir,

In humbleft manner I require your Highness,
That it fhall pleafe you to declare, in hearing
Of all thefe ears (for where I'm robb'd and bound,
There must I be unloos'd; although not there
At once, and fully fatisfy'd ;) if I
Did broach this bufinefs to your Highnefs, or
Laid any fcruple in your way, which might
Induce you to the question on't; or ever
Have to you, but with thanks to God for fuch
A royal Lady, fpake one the leaft word,
That might be prejudice of her prefent ftate,
Or touch of her good perfon?

King. My Lord Cardinal,

Lob j

and of

I do excufe 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 fo; but, like the village curs,
Bark when their fellows do. By fome of thefe
The Queen is put in. anger; y'are excus'd;

P 5

But