King. Deliver this with modefty to th' Queen' [Exit Gardiner The moft convenient place that I can think of, For fuch receit of learning, is Black-Fryars: There ye shall meet about this weighty business. My Wolfey, fee it furnish'd. O my lord, Would it not grieve an able man to leave So fweet a bedfellow? but confcience, confcienceO'tis a tender place, and I must leave her. [Exeunt.
SCENE V.
Enter Anne Bullen, and an old Lady:
Anne. NOT for that neither
that pinches.
His Highnefs liv'd fo long with her, and she
So good a lady, that no tongue could ever
Pronounce difhonour of her; by my life,
She never knew harm-doing: oh, now after
So many courfes of the fun enthron'd,
Still grown in a majesty and pomp,
The which to leave, a thousand-fold more bitter
Than fweet at firft t'acquire. After this process,
To give her the avaunt! it is a pity
Would move a monfter.
Old L. Hearts of moft hard temper
Melt and lament for her.
Anne. In God's will, better
She ne'er had known pomp; though't be temporal,
Yet if that quarrel, fortune, do divorce
It from the bearer, 'tis a fuff'rance panging
As foul and body's fev'ring.
Old L. Ah poor lady,
She's ftranger now again.
Anne. So much the more
Muft pity drop upon her, verily
I swear 'tis better to be lowly born,
And range with humble livers in content,
Than to be perk'd up a in a glift'ring grief,
And wear a golden forrow.
old L. Our content
Is our best having.
Anne. By my troth and maidenhead, I would not be a Queen.
Old L. Befhrew me, I would,
And venture maidenhead for't; and fo would you,
For all this fpice of your hypocrifie ;
You that have so fair parts of woman on you,
Have too a woman's heart, which ever yet.
Affected eminence, wealth, fovereignty;
Which, to fay footh, are bleffings; and which gifts
(Saving your mincing) the capacity
Of your foft cheveril confcience would receive,
If you might please to stretch it.
Anne. Nay, good troth.
Old. Yes, troth and troth; you would not be a Queen?
Anne. No, not for all the riches under Heav'n.
Old. L. 'Tis ftrange; a three-pence bow'd would
hire' me,
Old as I am, to queen it; but I pray you,
What think you of a Dutchefs? have you limbs
To bear that load of title?
Anne. No, in truth.
[little
Old. L. Then you are weakly made; pluck off a I would not be a young Count in your way For more than blushing comes to: if your back Cannot vouchfafe this burthen, 'tis too weak Ever to get a boy.
Anne. How do you talk!
I fwear again, I would not be a Queen
For all the world,
(
Old L. In faith, for little England You'll venture an emballing: I my self Would for Carnarvanshire, though there belong'd No more to th' crown but that. Lo, who comes here?
Enter
ti, e. Tender, from Caprellus, Lat. Ciaverello, It Chevereul, Fr. a young Goat or Kid
Enter Lord Chamberlain.
Cham. Good-morrow, ladies; what wer't worth to know
The fecret of your conf'rence?
Anne. My good lord,
Not your demand; it values not your asking:
Our miftrefs' forrows we were pitying.
Cham. It was a gentle business, and becoming
The action of good women: there is hope
All will be well.
Anne. Now I pray God, amen.
Cham. You bear a gentle mind, and heav'nly bleffings
Follow fuch creatures. That you may, fair lady,
Perceive I fpeak fincerely, and high notes
Ta'en of your many virtues; the King's Majefty
Commends his good opinion to you, and
Does purpose honour to you no lefs flowing
Than Marchionefs of Pembrook; to which title
A thousand pound a year, annual support,
Out of his grace he adds.
Anne. I do not know
What kind of my obedience I fhould tender;
More than my all, is nothing: for my prayers
Are not words duly hallow'd, nor my wishes
More worth than vanities; yet pray'rs and wishes
Are all I can return. 'Befeech your lord fhip,
Vouchfafe to speak my thanks and my obedience, -
As from a blufhing handmaid to his Highnefs ;-
Whofe health and royalty I pray for.
Cham. Lady,
I fhall not fail t' approve the fair conceit
The King hath of you. I've perus'd her well,
Beauty and honour in her are fo mingled
That they have caught the King; and who knows yet,
But from this lady may proceed a gem
{Afide..
To lighten all this Ifle? I'll to the King,
And fay I spoke with you.
Anne. My honour'd lord.
Old L. Why, this it is: fee, fee,
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 ::
There was a lady once ('tis an old story)
That would not be a Queen, that would the not,
For all the mud in Egypt; have you heard it?
Anne. Come, you are pleafant..
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 promises more thousands: honour's train
Is longer than his fore-skirt. By this time
I know your back will bear a Dutchefs. Say,.
Are you not stronger 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 comfortlefs, 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?
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
fome fmall distance, follows a gentleman bearing the
purse, with the great feal, and the Cardinal's hat;
then two Priests, bearing each a filver cross; then a
gentleman-ufher bare-headed, accompanied with a fer-
jeant at arms, bearing a mace; then two gentlemen,
bearing two filver pillars; after them, fide by fide,
the two Cardinals, two noblemen with the word
and mace. The King takes place under the cloth of
ftate;
the two Cardinals fit under him as judges.
The Queen takes place fome distance 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.
Wol. W Hilft our commiffion from Rome is read,.
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 spare that time.
Wel. 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 fpeaks ;]*
Sir, I defire you do me right and justice,
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 friendfhip and proceeding. Alas, Sir,
In what have I offended you? what cause
Hath my behaviour giv'a to your difpleafure,
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