SCENE III.

An Antechamber of the QUEEN's Apartments.

Enter LADY DENNY, and ANNE BULLEN.

Anne. Not for that neither ;-Here's the pang that pinches :

His highness having liv'd so long with her! and she
So good a lady, that no tongue could ever
Pronounce dishonour of her:-

I swear 'tis better to be lowly born,
And range with humble livers in content,
Than to be perk'd up in a glistering grief,
And wear a golden sorrow :-

Who would on such conditions be a 'queen?
Lady D. Beshrew me, I would; so would you,
For all this spice of your hypocrisy.

Anne. Nay, good troth,

Lady D. Yes, troth and troth,-You would not, be

a queen?

Anne. No, not for all the riches under heaven. Lady D. A threepence bow'd would hire me, Old as I am, to queen it: But, I pray you, What think you of a duchess? have you limbs To bear that load of title?

Anne. No, in truth.

Lady D. I would not be a young count in your

way,

For more than blushing comes to.

Anne. How you do talk!

I swear again, I would not be a queen
For all the world.

Lady D. In faith, for little England

Yould venture an emballing: I myself

Would for Carnarvonshire, although there 'long'd
No more to the crown but that.-Lo, who comes here?
Enter the CHAMBERLAIN.

Cham. Good morrow, ladies. What wer't worth, to know

Anne. My good lord,

Our mistress' sorrows 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 Heaven, amen!

Cham. You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly bless ings

Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady,
Perceive I speak sincerely,

The king's majesty

Commends his good opinion of you, and
Does purpose honour to you no less flowing
Than Marchioness of Pembroke; to which title
A thousand pounds a year, annual support,
Out of his grace he adds.

Anne. I do not know,

What kind of my obedience I should tender;
More than my all is nothing.

'Beseech your lordship,

Vouchsafe to speak my thanks, and my obedience,
As from a blushing handmaid, to his highness!
Whose health and royalty I pray for.

Cham. Lady,

I shall not fail to approve the fair conceit,

The king hath of you. I have perus'd her well;
Beauty and honour in her are so mingled,

That they have caught the king: And who knows

yet,

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 hath 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
before: It is not to be question'd

A year

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 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,