Scribe. Say, Henry king of England, come into the

court.

Crier. Henry king of England, &c.

K. Hen. Here.

Scribe. Say, Katharine queen of England, come into

court.

Crier. Katharine queen of England, &c.

[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.

Q. Kath. 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 countenance; glad, or sorry,
As I saw it inclin'd. When was the hour,

I ever contradicted your desire,

Or made it not mine too? Or which of your friends
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 sharpest 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
I will implore; if not; i'the name of God,

Your pleasure be fulfill'd!

Wol.

You have here, lady,

(And of your choice,) these reverend fathers; men Of singular integrity and learning,

Yea, the elect of the land, who are assembled

To plead your cause: It shall be therefore bootless,
That longer you desire the court; as well

For your own quiet, as to rectify

What is unsettled in the king.

Cam.

His grace

Hath spoken well, and justly: Therefore, madam,

It's fit this royal session do proceed;

And that, without delay, their arguments

Be now produc'd, and heard.

Q. Kath.

To you I speak.

Wol.

Lord cardinal,

Your pleasure, madam?

Q. Kath.

I am about to weep; but, thinking that

Sir,

We are a queen, (or long have dream'd so,) certain,
The daughter of a king, my drops of tears

I'll turn to sparks of fire.

Wol.

Be patient yet.

Q. Kath. I will, when you are humble; nay, before, Or God will punish me. I do believe,

Induc'd by potent circumstances, that

You are mine enemy; and make my challenge,'
You shall not be my judge: for it is you

Have blown this coal betwixt

my

lord and me,

Which God's dew quench! - Therefore, I say again, I utterly abhor, yea, from my soul,

Refuse you for my judge: whom, yet once more,

I hold my most malicious foe, and think not

At all a friend to truth.

You speak not like yourself; who ever yet

Have stood to charity, and display'd the effects

Of disposition gentle, and of wisdom

O'ertopping woman's power. Madam, you do me wrong: I have no spleen against you; nor injustice

For you, or any: how far I have proceeded,

Or how far further shall, is warranted

By a commission from the consistory,

Yea, the whole consistory of Rome. You charge me,
That I have blown this coal: I do deny it:
The king is present: if it be known to him,
That I gainsay1 my deed, how may he wound,
And worthily, my falsehood? yea, as much
As you have done my truth. But if he know
That I am free of your report, he knows,

9 and make my challenge,] Challenge is here a law term. The criminal, when he refuses a juryman, says — I challenge him. Abhor and refuse are also law terms.

1

gainsay] i. e. deny.

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 highness shall speak in, I do beseech

You, gracious madam, to unthink your speaking,
And to say so no more.

My lord, my lord,

Q. Kath.
I am a simple woman, much too weak
To oppose your cunning.

mouth'd;

You are meek, and humble

You sign your place and calling2, in full seeming,
With meekness and humility: but your heart
Is cramm'd with arrogancy, spleen, and pride.
You have, by fortune, and his highness' favours,
Gone slightly o'er low steps; and now are mounted
Where powers are your retainers: and your words,
Domesticks to you, serve your will, as't please
Yourself pronounce their office. I must tell
You tender more your person's honour, than
Your high profession spiritual: That again
I do refuse you for my judge; and here,
Before you all, appeal unto the pope,
To bring my whole cause 'fore his holiness,
And to be judg'd by him.

Cam.

you,

[She curt'sies to the King, and offers to depart.

The queen is obstinate,

Stubborn to justice, apt to accuse it, and

Disdainful to be try'd by it; 'tis not well.

She's going away.

K. Hen. Call her again.

Crier. Katharine queen of England, come into the

court.

Grif. Madam, you are call'd back.

Q. Kath. What need you note it? pray you, keep

your way:

2 You sign your place and calling,] To sign here is to show, to denote. By your outward meekness and humility, you show that you are of an holy order, but, &c.

When you are call'd, return. Now the Lord help, They vex me past my patience! -pray you, pass on: I will not tarry: no, nor ever more,

Upon this business, my appearance make

In

any of their courts.

K. Hen.

[Exeunt Queen, GRIFFITH, and her other
Attendants.

Go thy ways, Kate:
That man i'the world, who shall report he has
A better wife, let him in nought be trusted,
For speaking false in that: Thou art, alone,
(If thy rare qualities, sweet gentleness,

Thy meekness saint-like, wife-like government, —
Obeying in commanding, and thy parts

Sovereign and pious else, could speak thee out,) 3
The queen of earthly queens: - She is noble born;
And, like her true nobility, she has

Carried herself towards me.

Wol.

Most gracious sir,

In humblest manner I require your highness,
That it shall please you to declare, in hearing

Of all these ears, (for where I am robb'd and bound,
There must I be unloos'd; although not there

At once and fully satisfied 4,) whether ever I
Did broach this business to your highness; or
Laid any scruple in your way, which might
Induce you to the question on't? or ever

Have to you,
but with thanks to God for such
A royal lady, — spake one the least word, might †

• could speak thee out,)] had tongues capable of speaking out thy merits; i. e. of doing them extensive justice.

4 although not there

At once and fully satisfied,)] The sense, which is encumbered with words, is no more than this- I must be loosed, though when so loosed, I shall not be satisfied fully and at once; that is, I shall not be immediately satisfied. JOHNSON.

"that might"-MALONE.