Old L. Why, this it is; fee, fee!
I have been begging fixteen years in cour
(Am yet a courtier beggarly,) nor could
Come pat betwixt too early and too late,
For any fuit of pounds: and you, (O fate
A very fresh-fish here, (fye, fye upon
This compell'd fortune!) have your mou
Before you open it.

Anne.

This is ftrange to me.

Old L. How taftes it? is it bitter? forty
There was a lady once, ('tis an old story,
That would not be a queen, that would f
For all the mud in Egypt :-Have you he
Anne. Come, you are pleasant.
With your

Old L.

O'ermount the lark. The marchionefs of
A thousand pounds a year! for pure refpe
No other obligation: By my life,

That promises more thousands: Honour':
Is longer than his forefkirt. By this time
I know, your back will bear a duchefs ;-
Are you not stronger than you were?

Goo

Anne.
Make yourself mirth with your particular

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 you have heard, to her.

Old L.

What do you think me?

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

A Hall in Black-Fryars.

Trumpets, fennet, and cornets. Enter two Vergers, with short filver wands; next them, two Scribes, in the habits of doctors; after them, the Archbishop of Canterbury alone; after him, the Bishops of Lincoln, Ely, Rochester, and Saint Asaph; next them, with some small distance, follows a gentleman bearing the purse, with the great feal, and a cardinal's hat; then two Priefts, bearing each a filver crofs ; then a Gentleman usher bare-headed, accompanied with a Sergeant at arms, bearing a filver mace; then two Gentlemen, bearing two great filver pillars; after them, fide by fide, the two Cardinals WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS; two Noblemen with the fword and mace. Then enter the King and Queen, and their trains. The King takes place under the cloth of ftate; the two Cardinals fit under him, as judges. The Queen takes place, at fome diftance from the King. The Bishops place themselves on each jude the court, in manner of a confiftory; below them, the Scribes. The Lords fit next the Bishops. The Crier and the rest of the attendants stand in convenient order about the ftage.

Wol. Whilft our commission from Rome is read, Let filence be commanded.

K. Hen.

K. Hen.

What's the need?

It hath already publickly been read,
And on all fides the authority allow'd;
You may then spare that time.

Wol.

Be't fo:-Proceed.

Scribe. Say, Henry king of England, come into the court. Crier. Henry king of England, &c.

K. Hen. Here.

Scribe. Say, Katharine queen of England, come into

court.

Crier. Katharine 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.

2. Kath. Sir, I defire 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. Alas, fir,
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 witness,
I have 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 countenance; glad, or forry,
As I faw it inclin'd.

When was the hour,

Or made it not mine too? Or which of your friends
Have I not ftrove to love, although I knew

He

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 to wedlock, or my love and duty,
Againft 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 the sharpest kind of justice. Please you, fir,
The king, your father, was reputed for
A prince most prudent, of an excellent
And unmatch'd wit and judgement: Ferdinand,
My father, king of Spain, was reckon❜d one
The wifeft prince, that there had reign'd by many
before: It is not to be question'd

A year

That they had gather'd a wife council to them

Of every realm, that did debate this bufinefs,
Who deem'd our marriage lawful: Wherefore I humbly
Befeech you, fir, to fpare me, till I may

Be by my friends in Spain advis'd; whofe counfel

I will implore: if not; i'the name of God,

Your pleasure be fulfill'd!

Wol.

You have here, lady,

(And of your choice,) these reverend fathers; men of fingular integrity and learning,

Yea, the elect of the land, who are affembled

To plead your caufe: It shall be therefore bootless,
That longer you desire the court; as well

For

For your own quiet, as to rectify

What is unfettled in the king.

Cam.

His grace

Hath spoken well, and justly: Therefore, madam,
It's fit this royal feffion do proceed;

And that, without delay, their arguments

Be now produc'd, and heard.

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.

2. Kath. 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 shall 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.

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

O'ertopping woman's power. Madam, you do me wrong:
I have no fpleen against you; nor injustice
For you, or any: how far I have proceeded,

Or