gers, with short silver 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 seal and a cardinal's hat; then two Priests, bearing each a silver cross; then a Gentleman-Usher bareheaded, accompanied with a Sergeant-at-Arms, bearing a silver mace; then two Gentlemen, bearing two great silver pillars; after them, side by side, the two Cardinals, WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS; two Noblemen with the sword and
Then enter the KING and QUEEN, and their Trains. The KING takes place under the cloth of state; the two Cardinals sit under him as judges. The QUEEN takes place at some distance from the KING. The Bishops place themselves on each side the court, in manner of a consistory; between them, the Scribes. The Lords sit next the Bishops. The Crier and the rest of the Attendants stand in convenient order about the stage.
Wol. Whilst our commission from Rome is read, Let silence be commanded.
Q. Kath. Sir, I desire you do me right and
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, 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: Ever in fear to kindle your dislike,
Yea, subject to your countenance; glad or sorry As I saw it inclined. When was the hour I ever contradicted your desire,
Or made it not mine too? Or 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 derived your anger, did I Continue in my liking: nay, gave notice He was from thence discharged? 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, 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 unmatched wit and judgment: Ferdinand, My father, King of Spain, was reckoned one The wisest prince that there had reigned by many A year before it is not to be questioned That they had gathered a wise council to them Of every realm, that did debate this business, Who deemed 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' th' name of God Your pleasure be fulfilled!
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 desire the court; as well For your own quiet, as to rectify What is unsettled in the King.
Q. Kath. I will when you are humble: nay, before,
Or God will punish me. 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 God's dew quench! Therefore I say again, I utterly abhor, yea from my soul
Refuse you for my judge: whom yet once more I hold my most malicious foe, and think not At all a friend to truth.
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. If he know That I am free of your report, he knows I am not of your wrong. Therefore 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.
I am a simple woman, much too weak To oppose your cunning. You are meek and humble-mouthed;
You sign your place and calling in full seeming
With meekness and humility: but your heart Is crammed with arrogancy, spleen, and pride. You have, by fortune and his highness' favours, Gone slightly o'er low steps, and now are mounted Where powers are your retainers; and your words, Domestics to you, serve your will as 't please Yourself pronounce their office. I must tell you, You tender more your person's honour than Your high profession spiritual: that again 1 do refuse you for my judge; and here, Before you all, appeal unto the pope, To bring my whole cause 'fore his holiness, And to be judged by him.
[She court'sies to the KING, and offers to depart.
The Queen is obstinate, Stubborn to justice, apt to accuse it, and Disdainful to be tried by it: 't is not well. She's going away.
K. Hen. Call her again.
Crier. Katharine, Queen of England, come into the court.
Grif. Madam, you are called back. Q. Kath. What need you note it? Pray you, keep your way:
When you arecalled, return.—Now the Lord help, They vex me past my patience!-Pray you, pass
I will not tarry: no, nor ever more, Upon this business, my appearance make In any of their courts.
[Exeunt QUEEN, GRIFFITH, and her other Attendants.
K. Hen. Go thy ways, Kate: That man i' the world who shall report he has A better wife, let him in nought be trusted, For speaking false in that. Thou art alone (If thy rare qualities, sweet gentleness, Thy meekness saint-like, wife-like government, Obeying in commanding, and thy parts Sovereign and pious else, could speak thee out) The queen of earthly queens. She is noble born, And like her true nobility she has Carried herself towards me.
Wol. Most gracious sir,
In humblest manner I require your highness That it shall please you to declare, in hearing Of all these ears (for where I am robbed and bound, There must I be unloosed; although not there At once and fully satisfied) whether ever Did broach this business to your highness, or Laid any scruple in your way which might Induce you to the question on 't? or ever Have to you, but with thanks to God for such A royal lady, spake one the least word that might Be to the prejudice of her present state, Or touch of her good person?
I do excuse you: yea, upon mine honour I free you from 't. You are not to be taught That you have many enemies, that know not Why they are so, but, like to village curs, Bark when their fellows do: by some of these The Queen is put in anger. You are excused: But will you be more justified? you ever
Have wished the sleeping of this business; never Desired it to be stirred, but oft have hindered, oft,
The passages made toward it :-on my honour,
I speak my good lord cardinal to this point,
And thus far clear him. Now what moved me to 't, I will be bold with time and your attention: Then mark the inducement. Thus it came: give heed to 't:
My conscience first received a tenderness, Scruple, and prick, on certain speeches uttered By the Bishop of Bayonne, then French ambas- sador;
Who had been hither sent on the debating A marriage 'twixt the Duke of Orleans and Our daughter Mary. I' the progress of this business,
Ere a determinate resolution, he
(I mean the bishop) did require a respite; Wherein he might the king his lord advertise Whether our daughter were legitimate, Respecting this our marriage with the dowager Sometimes our brother's wife. This respite shook The bosom of my conscience, entered me, Yea with a splitting power, and made to tremble The region of my breast: which forced such way, That many mazed considerings did throng
And pressed in with this caution. First, methought
I stood not in the smile of Heaven; who had Commanded nature that my lady's womb, If it conceived a male child by me, should Do no more offices of life to 't than
K. Hen. My lord of Canterbury, and got your leave To make this present summons. Unsolicited
I left no reverend person in this court; But by particular consent proceeded, Under your hands and seals. Therefore, go on: For no dislike i' the world against the person Of the good Queen, but the sharp thorny points Of my allegéd reasons, drive this forward. Prove but our marriage lawful, by my life And kingly dignity we are contented To wear our mortal state to come with her, Katharine our queen, before the primest creature That's paragoned o' the world.
Cam. So please your highness, The Queen being absent, 't is a needful fitness That we adjourn this court till further day. Meanwhile must be an earnest motion Made to the Queen, to call back her appeal She intends unto his holiness. [They rise to depart. K. Hen. I may perceive These cardinals trifle with me: I abhor This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome. My learned and well-belovéd servant Cranmer, Pr'y thee return: with thy approach I know
I would be all, against the worst may happen. What are your pleasures with me, reverend lords?
Wol. May it please you, noble madam, to withdraw
Into your private chamber, we shall give you The full cause of our coming.
There's nothing I have done yet, o' my con
Deserves a corner: 'would all other women Could speak this with as free a soul as I do. My lords, I care not (so much I am happy Above a number) if my actions
Were tried by every tongue, every eye saw them,
Envy and base opinion set against them, I know my life so even. If your business Seek me out, and that way I am wife in, Out with it boldly: truth loves open dealing. Wol. Tanta est ergà te mentis integritas, regina serenissima,-
Q. Kath. O good my lord, no Latin:
I am not such a truant since my coming, As not to know the language I have lived in: A strange tongue makes my cause more strange, suspicious.
Pray speak in English: here are some will thank
Q. Kath. My lords, I thank you both for your good wills: Ye speak like honest men (pray God ye prove so!)
But how to make you suddenly an answer In such a point of weight, so near mine honour (More near my life I fear), with my weak wit, And to such men of gravity and learning, In truth I know not. I was set at work Among my maids; full little, God knows, looking Either for such men or such business. For her sake that I have been (for I feel The last fit of my greatness), good your graces, Let me have time and counsel for my cause. Alas! I am a woman, friendless, hopeless.
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