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,

[Afide. That they have caught the King; and who knows

yet,

But from this lady may proceed a Gem,

To lighten all this ifle?—I'll to the King,
And lay, I fpake with you.

Anne. My honour'd lord.

[Exit Lord Chamberlain.

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 flory)

That would not be a Queen, that would the 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 Marchioness of Pembroke !
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 Dutchess. 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 falute my blood a jot; it faints me
To think what follows.

The Queen is comfortlefs, and we forgetful
In our long absence; pray, do not deliver

What

What here y'ave heard to her.

Old L. What do you think me?

[Exeunt

SCENE changes to Black-Fryers.

Trumpets, Sennet, and Cornets. Enter two Vergers, with Short Silver Wands; next them, two Scribes in the habits of Doctors: after them, the Bishop of Canterbury, alone; after him, the Bishops of Lincoln, Ely, Rochelter, and St. Alaph; next them, with fome fmall diftance, follows a Gentleman bearing the purfe, with the great feal, and the Cardinal's hat; then two Priefs, bearing each a filver Cross; then a gentlemanufber 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, fome diftance from the King. The Bishops place themselves on each fide the Court, in manner of a Confiftory: below them, the Scribes. The Lords ft next the

Bishops. The reft of the attendants and in convenient order about the ftage.

Wol. W

Hilk our commiffion from Rame 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.

Wol. Be't fo; proceed.

Scribe. Say, Henry King 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 speaks;]

Queen. 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 given 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 sorry,
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 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 difcharg'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 of wedlock, or my love and duty,
Against your facred perfon; in God's name,
Turn me away: and let the foul'ft contempt
Shut door upon me, and fo give me up
To th' fharpeft kind of justice. Please you, Sir,
The King your father was reputed for
A Prince most prudent, of an excellent

And

And unmatch'd wit and judgment. Ferdinand
My father, King of Spain, was reckon'd one
The wifest 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 hum-
bly,

Sir, I beseech you, fpare me, 'till I may

Be by my friends in Spain advis'd; whofe counfel
I will implore. If not, 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, the elect o' th' land, who are affembled

To plead your cause. It shall be therefore bootlefs,
That longer you defer the Court, as well

For your 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 Seffion 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, before; Or God will punish me. I do believe,

Induc'd by potent circumftances, that

You are mine enemy, and make my challenge;
You shall not be my judge. For it is you

P 5

Have

Have blown this coal betwixt my lord and me;
Which God's dew quench! therefore, 1 fay again,
I utterly abhor, yea, from my foul

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

Wol. I do profess,

You speak not like yourself; who ever yet
Have flood to charity, and difplay'd the effects
Of difpofition gentle, and of wisdom

O'er-topping woman's power. Madam, you wrong

me.

I have no fpleen against you, nor injuftice
For you, or any; how far I've proceeded,
Or how far further fhall, is warranted
By a commiffion from the Confiftory,

Yea, the whole Confift'ry of Rome. You charge me,
That I have blown this coal; I do deny it.
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 lyes to cure me, and the cure is to

Remove these thoughts from you. The which before
His Highness fhall speak in, I do befeech

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

Queen. My lord, my lord,

I am a fimple woman, much too weak

T'oppofe your cunning. You are meek, and humblemouth'd;

You fign your place and calling, in full seeming,
With meeknefs 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,

Domefticks