I have been begging fixteen years in court
(Am yet a courtier beggarly) nor could
Come pat betwixt too early and too late,
For any fuit of pounds: And you, oh fate!
(A very fresh fish here;
fie, fie upon

This compell'd fortune) have your mouth fill'd up
Before you open it.

Anne. This is ftrange to me.

Old. L. How taftes it? is it bitter? forty pence, no à There was a lady once ('tis an old ftory)

That would not be a Queen, that would fhe not,
For all the mud in Egypt; have you heard it?
Anne. Come, you are pleasant.

Old L. With your theme, I could
O'ermount the lark. The marchionefs of Pembrook!
A thousand pounds a year, for pure refpect!
No other obligation? By my life

That promifes more thoufands: honour's train
Is longer than his fore-skirt. By this time
I know your back will bear a Dutchefs. Say,
Are you not ftronger than you were?

Anne. Good lady,

Make your felf mirth with your particular fancy,
And leave me out on't. Would I had no being,
If this falute my blood a jot; it faints me

To think what follows.

The Queen is comfortless, and we forgetful
In our long abfence; pray do not deliver
What here y'ave heard, to her.

Old L. What do you think me?

[Exeunt,

SCENE VI.

Trumpets, Sonnet, 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

;

Some small 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 geneleman-ufher bare-headed, accompanied with a ferjeant at arms, bearing a mace; then two gentlemen, bearing two 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 fome diftance from the King. The bishops place themselves on each fide the court in manner of a confiftory: below them, the fcribes. The lords fit next the bishops. The rest of the attendants ftand in convenient order about the stage.

Hilft our commiffion from Rome is read,

Wol. WH

Let filence be commanded.

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.

Seribe. Say, Katherine Queen of England, Come into the court.

Cryer. Katherine 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 speaks ;]

Sir, I defire you do me right and juftice,
And to bestow your pity on me; for
I am a moft poor woman, and a stranger,
Born out of your dominions; having here
No judge indiff'rent, and no more affurance
Of equal friendship and proceeding. Alas, Sir,
In what have I offended you? what caufe
Hath my behaviour giv'n to your displeasure,

That

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

I ever contradicted your defire?

Or made it not mine too? which of your friends
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 discharg'd? Sir, call to mind,
That I have been your wife, in this obedience,
Upwards of twenty years, and have been bleft
With many children by you. If in the course
And process of this time you can report,

And prove it too, against mine honour ought,
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 the fharpeft kind of justice. Please you, Six,
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 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,

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

Wol. You have here, lady,

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

Yea,

Yea, the elect o'ch land, who are affembled

To plead your caufe. It fhall be therefore bootlefs
That longer you defer the court, as well
For our own quiet, as to rectifie

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 fpeak.

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 before, Or God will punish me. I do believe,

Induc'd by potent circumstances: that

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

Refufe you for my judge, whom yet once more
I hold my moft malicious foe, and think not.
At all a friend to truth.

Wol. I do profess

You fpeak not like your felf, who ever yet
Have ftood to charity, and difplay'd th' effects
Of dispofition gentle, and of Wildom

O'er-topping woman's power. Madam, you wrong me,
I have no fpleen against you, nor injustice
For you, or any; how far I've proceeded,
Or how far further fhall, is warranted
By a commiffion from the consistory,

Yea, the whole confift'ry of Rome. You charge me,

That

That I have blown this coal; I do deny it.
Toe 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 Highness fhall fpeak in, I do befeech
You, gracious madam, to unthink your speaking,
And fay no more.

Queen. My lord, my lord, I am

A fimple woman, much too weak t' oppose

Your cunning. You are meek and humble-mouth'd;.
You fign your place and calling, in full feeming,
With meeknefs and humility; but your heart
Is cramm'd with arrogance, with 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 pleafe
Your felf pronounce their office. I muft tell you
You tender more your perfon's honour, than
Your high profeffion fpiritual. That again
I do refufe you for my judge, and here
Before you all, appeal unto the Pope

To bring my whole caule 'fore his holiness
And to be judg'd by him.

[She courtefies to the King, and offers to depart Cam. The Queen is obstinate,

Stubborn to juftice, apt t'accufe it, and

Difdainful to be try'd by't; 'tis not well.

She's going away.

King. Call her again.

Cryer. Katherine, Queen of England, come into the

court.

Ufher. Madam, you are call'd back.

Queen. What need you note it? pray you keep your

way.

Whea