Enter Lord Chamberlain.

Cham. Good-morrow, Ladies; what wer't worth to

The fecret of your conf'rence?

Anne. My good Lord,

Not your demand; it values not your asking:
Our mistress' forrows we were pitying.

Cham. It was a gentle bufinefs, and becoming

The action of good women: there is hope
All will be well.

Anne. Now I pray God, amen!

[know

Cham. You bear a gentle mind, and heav'nly bleffings Follow fuch creatures. That you may, fair Lady, Perceive I speak fincerely, and high 9 'note is

Ta'en of your many virtues; the King's Majefty
Commends his good opinion to you, and
Does purpofe honour to you no lefs flowing
Than Marchionefs of Pembroke; to which title
A thousand pound a year, annual fupport,
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: 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 Lordship
Vouchfafe to speak my thanks and my obedience,
As from a blushing handmaid to his Highness;
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,

[Afide, That they have caught the King; and who knows yet, But from this Lady may proceed a gem

To lighten all this Ille? I'll to the King,
And fay I fpoke with you.

9 note's

[Exit Chamberlain.

Anne.

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 fhe not,
For all the mud in Egypt; have you heard it?
Anne. Come, you are pleafant.

Old L. With your theme, I could

O'er-mount the lark. The Marchionefs of Pembroke! A thousand pounds a year, for pure respect!

No other obligation! By my life,

That promises more thoufands: 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?

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI.

Black-Fryars.

Trumpets, and Cornets. Enter two Vergers, with fhort filver wands; next them two Scribes in the babits of Doctors: after them, the Bishop of Canterbury alone; after him, the Bishops of Lincoln, Ely, Rochefter, and Št. Afaph; next them, with fome fmall diftanee, follows a Gentleman bearing the purfe, with the great feal, and the Cardinal's bat; then two Priefs, bearing each a filver cross; then a Gentleman-ufher bare beaded, accompanied with a Serjeant at arms, bearing a mace; then two Gentlemen, bearing two 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 State; the two Cardinals fit under him as Judges. The Queen takes place fome diftance from the King. The Bifhops place themselves on each fide the court in manner of a confiftory: below them, the Scribes. The Lords fit next the Bishops. The rest of the attendants ftand in convenient order about the stage.

Wel. WH

7 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 fpare 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.

Scribe. Say, Catharine Queen of England, Come into the court.

Cryer. Catharine, Queen of England, &c.

[The

[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 most 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 cause
Hath my behaviour giv'n to your displeasure,
That thus you should proceed to put me off,
And take your good grace from me? Heaven witness,
I've been to you a true and humble wife,

At all times to your will conformable:

Ever in fear to kindle your diflike,

Yea, fubject to your count'nance; glad or forry,
As I faw it inclin'd: when was the hour

I ever contradicted your defire?

I

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 not 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 bleft
With many children by you. If in the course
And procefs of this time you can report,
And prove it too, against mine honour ought,
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 the fharp'ft kind of juftice. Please you, Sir,
The King your father was reputed for
A Prince moft prudent, of an excellent

I gave notice

And

And unmatch'd wit and judgment. 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 queftion'd,

A year

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

Be by my friends in Spain advis'd; whofe counsel
I will implore. If not, i'th' name of God,
Your pleasure be fulfill'd!

Wol. You have here, Lady,

(And of your choice) thefe rev'rend fathers, men Of fingular integrity and learning:

Yea, the elect o'th' land, who are assembled

To plead your caufe. It fhall 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 feffion do proceed,

And that without delay their arguments

Be now produc'd, and heard.

Queen. Lord Cardinal,

To you I fpeak.

Wol. Your pleafure, 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 punifh me. I do believe,

Induc'd by potent circumftances, that

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