But from this lady may proceed a gem,
To lighten all this isle?-I'll to the king,
And say, I spoke with you.

Anne. My honour'd lord. [Exit CHAMBERLAIN.
Lady D. The Marchioness of Pembroke!
A thousand pounds a year! for pure respect;
No other obligation: By my life,

That promises more thousands :-)
-By this time,
I know your limbs will bear a duchess ;—Say,
Are you not stronger than you were?
Anne. Good lady,

Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy,
And leave me out on't. 'Would I had no being,
If this salute my blood a jot: it faints me,
To think what follows.-

The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful
In our long absence: 'pray, do not deliver
What here you've heard, to her.

Lady D. What do you think me?

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

A Hall in Black Friars.

Flourish of Trumpets and Drums.

The Court sitting for the Trial of QUEEN KATHARINE -The KING, WOLSEY, CAMPEIUS, NORFOLK, SUFFOLK, CHAMBERLAIN, LOVEL, CROMWELL, BISHOPS, JUDGES, GENTLEMEN and LADIES, CLERK of the Court, OFFICERS and GUARDS, discovered.

Wol. Whilst our commission from Rome is read, Let silence be commanded.

E

King. What's the need?

It bath already publicly been read,

And on all sides the authority allow'd;
You may then spare that time.

Wol. Be't so:-Proceed.

Crom. Say, Henry king of England, come into the court.

Clerk. Henry, King of England, &c.

King. Here.

Crom. Say, Katharine, Queen of England, come into the court.

Clerk. Katharine, Queen of England, &c.

Enter the QUEEN, preceded by GUILDFORD, with a Cushion, which he places; then the QUEEN kneels.

Queen. 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.-[She rises.]—
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.

Sir, call to mind,

That I have been your wife, in this obedience,
Upward of twenty years, and have been bless'd
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 hum-
bly

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 Heaven,
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 defer 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.

Queen. Lord Cardinal,

To you I speak.

[CAMPEIUS rises.

Wol. Your pleasure, madam? [WOLSEY advances. Queen. Sir,

I am about to weep; but, thinking that

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.

Queen. I will, when you are humble; nay, before,

Or Heaven 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 Heaven'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.

Wol. Madam, you do me wrong:

I have no spleen against you; nor injustice
For you, or any: how far I have procceded,
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 gainsay my deed, how may he wound,
And worthily, my falsehood! yea, as much
As you have done my truth.

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.

Queen. My lord, my lord,

I am a simple woman, much too weak

To oppose your cunning. You're meek, and humble

mouth'd;

You sign your place and calling, in full seeming,
With meekness and humility: but your heart
Is cramm'd with arrogancy, spleen, and pride;
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.

[She courtesies to the KING, and offers to depart. Cam. 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.

King. Call her again.

Clerk. Katharine, queen of England, come into the

court.

Guild. Madam, you are call'd back.

Queen. What need you note it? 'Pray you, keep

your way:

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.

[Exeunt GUILDFORD, and the QUEEN.

King. Go thy ways, Kate:

That man i'the world, who shall report he has
A better wife, let him in naught be trusted,
For speaking false in that: Thou art, alone,
The queen of earthly queens :-She's noble born;
And, like her true nobility, she has
Carry'd 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'm robb'd and bound,
There must I be unloos'd,) 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.

King. My lord cardinal,

I do excuse you; yea, upon mine honour,
I free you from't. You are not to be taught,
That you have many enemies, that know not