Old L. In faith for little England You'll venture an emballing: I my felf

Would for Carnarvanfire, although there long'd

No more to th' Crown but that. Lo, who comes here?
Enter Lord Chamberlain.

Cham. Good morrow, Ladies; what wer't worth to know The fecret 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 Bufinefs, 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 Bleffings
Follow fuch Creatures. That you may, fair Lady,
Perceive I speak fincerely, and high Notes

Ta'en of your many Virtues; the King's Majefty
Commends his good Opinion of you, to you; and
Does purpose Honour to you no lefs flowing
Than Marchionefs of Pembrook; to which Title
A thousand pound a year, Annual fupport,
Out of his Grace, he adds.

Anne. I do not know

What kind of Obedience, I fhould tender;

More than my All, is nothing: Nor my Prayers

Are not Words duly hallowed, nor my Withes

More worth than empty Vanities; yet Prayers and Wishes
Are all I can return. Befeech your Lordship,

Vouchsafe to speak my Thanks, and my Obedience,
As from a blufhing 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 have perus'd her well,
Bauty and Honour in her are fo mingled,

That they have caught the King; and who knows yet,
Bit from this Lady may proceed a Gem,

Τα

To lighten all this Ifle? I'll to the King,

And fay I fpoke with you.

Anne. My honour'd Lord.

Old L. Why this it is: See, fee,

[Exit Chamberlain,

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, 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 an old 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 pleasant.

Old L. With your Theme, I could

O'er-mount the Lark; the Marchionefs of Pembrook?
A thousand pounds a year, for pure refpect?
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 comfortless, 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

SCENE IV.

[Exeunt,

Trumpets, Sonnet, and Cornets. Enter two. Vergers, with short Silver Wands; next them two Scribes in the habits of Doctors: After them, the Bishop of Canterbury alone; after him, the Biflops of Lincoln, Ely, Rochefter, and St. Alaph; next them,

with fome small diftance, follows a Gentleman bearing the Purfe, with the great Seal, and a Cardinal's Hat; then two Priests, bearing each a Silver Cross; then a Gentleman-fher bare-headed, accompanied with a Serjeant at Arms, bearing a Mace; then two Gentlemen, bearing two Silver Pillars; after them, fide by side, the two Cardinals, two Noblemen, with the Sword and Mace. The King takes place under the Cloth of State; the two Cardinals fit under him as Fudges. The Queen takes place fome distance from the King. The BiShops place themselves on each fide the Court in manner of a Confiftory: Below them, the Scribes. The Lords fit next the Bifhops. The rest of the Attendants stand in convenient order about the Stage.

Wol. Whilft 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,

Wol. Be't fo, proceed.

Scribe. Say, Henry King of England, come into the Court, Cryer. Henry King of England, &c.

King. Here.

Scribe. Say, Katherine Queen of England,

Come into the Court.

Cryer. Katherine, Queen of England, &c.

about

The Queen makes no answer, rifes out of her Chair, goes
the Court, comes to the King, and kneels at his Feet; then
Speaks;

Sir, I defire you to do me Right and Justice,
And to beftow 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 affurance
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 fhould proceed to put me off,
And take your good Grace from me? Heav'n witnefs,
I have been to you a true and humble Wife,

At

At all times to your Will conformable:

Ever in fear to kindle

your diflike,

Yea, fubject to your Countenance; glad, or forry,
As I faw it inclin'd? when was the hour
I ever contradicted your Defire?
Or made it not mine too? Or which of
your Friends
Have I not ftrove 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 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 courfe
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 Sacred Perfon; in God's name
Turn me away; and let foul'ft Contempt
Shut door upon me, and fo give me up
To the sharp'ft kind of Juftice. Please
you, Sir,
The King, your Father, was reputed for
A Prince most prudent, and an excellent
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
A year before. It is not to be queftion'd,
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, Sir, to fpare me, 'till I may

Be by my Friends in Spain advis'd; whofe Counfel
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 Reverend Fathers, Men of fingular Integrity and Learning:

Yea, the elect o'th' Land, who are affembled

To plead your Caufe. It shall be therefore bootlefs,
That longer you defer the Court, as well

For

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 Seffion do proceed,
And that, without delay, their Arguments
Be now produc'd, and heard.

Queen. Lord Cardinal, to you'I speak.
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 sparks of Fire.

Wol. Be patient yet

Queen. I will, when you are humble, nay before, Or God will punish 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
Have blown this Coal, betwixt my Lord and me,
Which God's dew quench; therefote, I say again,
I utterly abhor, yea, from my Soul

Refuse you for my Judge, whom yet once more
I hold my moft malicious Foe, and think not
At all a Friend to Truth.

Wol. I do profefs

You fpeak not like your felf, who ever yet

Have ftood to Charity, and difplay'd th' effects

Of Difpofition gentle, and of Wisdom

O'er-topping Woman's power. 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 fhall, is warranted
By a Commiffion from the Confiftory,

Yea, the whole Confiftory of Rome. You charge me,
That I have blown this Coal; I do deny it,
The King is prefent: If it be known to him,
That I gainfay my Deed, how may he wound,
And worthily, my Falfhood? yea, as much
As you have done my Truth. If he know
That I am free of your Report, he knows