There's places of rebuke. He was a fool;
For he would needs be virtuous: that good fellow,
If I command him, follows my appointment;
I will have none so near else. Learn this, brother,
We live not to be griped by meaner persons.

King. Deliver this with modesty to the queen.

[Exit GARDINER, L.

The most convenient place that I can think of,
For such receipt of learning, is Blackfriars :
There ye shall meet about this weighty business :-
[Comes forward.

My Wolsey, see it furnish'd.-O, my lord,
Would it not grieve an able man, to leave
So sweet a bedfellow? But, conscience, conscience-
O, 'tis a tender place, and I must leave her. [Exeunt, L.

SCENE III.-An Antichamber of the Queen's Apartments.

Enter ANNE BULLEN and LADY DENNY.

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,

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. "Tis strange; a three-pence 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. Then you are weakly made: pluck off a lit

tle;

I would not be a young count in your way,
For more than blushing comes to.

Anne. How do you talk!

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

Lady D. In faith, for little England
You'd venture an embalming: I myself

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

Enter CHAMBERLAIN, L.

Cham. Good morrow, ladies. What were't worth to

know

The secret of your conference ?
Anne. My good lord,

Not your demand; it values not your asking:
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 God, amen !

Cham. You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly bless

ings

Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady,
Perceive I speak sincerely, and high notes
Ta'en of your many virtues, the king's majesty
Commends his good opinion to 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. Beseech your lordship,
Vouchsafe to speak my thanks, and my obedience,
As from a blush 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 are in her so mingled,

[Aside.

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, L.
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?

Annc. 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, L.

SCENE IV.- A Hall in Blackfriars.-Flourish of Trumpets and Drums.-The Court sitting for the Trial of QUEEN CATHERINE. - The KING, seated c.. WOLSEY, R. C., CAMPEIUS, L. C., CROMWELL seated at a table before the Throne, on which a Mace is laying, NORFOLK, SUFFOLK, CHAMBERLAIN, LOVEL, Bishops, Judges, Gentlemen and Ladies, Clerk of the Court, Officers and Guards, discovered R. and L.

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

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. [Standing on a stool, R.] 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, L. preceded by GUILDFORD, with a
Cushion, which he places L. C., and on which 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. [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 humbly
Beseech you, sir, to spare me, till I may

Be by my friends in Spain advised; whose counsel
I will implore: If not, i' the name of Heaven,
Your pleasure be fulfill'd!

Wol. [Rises.] 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. [Rises.] His grace

Hath spoken well, and justly: therefore, madam,

It's fit this royal session do proceed;

And that, without delay, their arguments

Benow produced, and heard.

Queen. (c.) Lord Cardinal

[Sits.

[CAMPEIUS rises and comes on her L.

To you I speak,

Wol. Your pleasure, madam?

[WOLSEY advances to herr,

Queen. Sir, [TO WOLS.-CAMP. returns to his seat.

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. (L.) I do believe,
Induced 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 Heav'ns dew quench. Therefore, I say again,
I utterly abhor, yea, from my soul

Refuse you for my judge; (c.) whom, yet once more,
I hold my most malicious foe, and think not
At all a friend to truth.

Wol. (R. C.) Madam, you do me wrong:
I have no spleen against you; nor injustice
For you, or any: how far I have proceeded,
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. (L. C.) 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