Crier. Henry King of England, &c.

King. Here.

8

Scribe. Say, Katharine Queen of England, come into the court.

Crier. Katharine Queen of England, &c.

The Queen makes no answer, rises out of her chair, goes about the court, comes to the King, and kneels at his feet; then speaks.

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. 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?

ness,

12

16

Heaven wit

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 inclin'd. 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 deriv'd your anger, did I
Continue in my liking? nay, gave notice

20

24

28

He was from thence discharg'd. Sir, call to mind 32

7 &c.: i.e. the Crier recites the formal summons

11 Sir, I desire; cf. n.

30 to him deriv'd: drawn upon himself

15 indifferent: impartial

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

36

40

To the sharp'st kind of justice. Please you, sir,
The king, your father, was reputed for
A prince most prudent, of an excellent

44

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,

48

Who deem'd our marriage lawful. Wherefore I

humbly

Beseech you, sir, to spare me, till I may

Be by my friends in Spain advis'd, whose counsel
I will implore. If not, i' the name of God,

Your pleasure be fulfill'd!

Wol.

You have here, lady,

52

And of your choice,-these reverend fathers; men 56 Of singular integrity and learning,

Yea, the elect o' 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.

35 many children; cf. n.

60 That

ceedings

60

47 by: in the course of

court: i.e. that you request the court to delay its pro

Camp.

His Grace

Hath spoken well and justly. Therefore, madam,
It's fit this royal session do proceed,

And that, without delay, their arguments

Be now produc'd and heard.

64

68

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, 72 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

76

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

80

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

Wol.

I do profess

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

84

O'ertopping woman's power. Madam, you do me

wrong:

74 potent circumstances: strong evidences 75 challenge: a law term still used in juryman

79 abhor: protest against

claiming an objection to a 78 God's dew: i.e. of mercy 84 stood to: taken the side of

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. 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

88

92

96

Remove these thoughts from you: the which before 100 His highness shall speak in, I do beseech

You, gracious madam, to unthink your speaking,

And to say so no more.

Queen.

My lord, my lord,

I am a simple woman, much too weak

104

To oppose your cunning. Y' are 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.
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

101 in: in reference to, upon

108

112

102 unthink your speaking: disabuse your mind of what you have

said

110 slightly: easily

106 sign: mark

111 powers: powers incidental to your high offices 111-113 your words. . . office; cf. n.

seeming: feigning

114 tender: regard

Your high profession spiritual; that again
I 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 judg'd by him.

116

She curtsies to the King, and offers to depart. Camp. The queen is obstinate, Stubborn to justice, apt to accuse it, and

Disdainful to be tried by 't: 'tis not well.

She's going away.

King. Call her again.

120

Crier. Katharine Queen of England, come into the court.

Gent. Ush. Madam, you are call'd back.

124

Queen. What need you note it? pray you, keep your

way:

When you are call'd, return. Now, the Lord help! They vex me past my patience.

on:

Pray you, pass

128

I will not tarry; no, nor ever more
Upon this business my appearance make

King.

of their courts.

Exeunt Queen, and her Attendants.
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 saintlike, wifelike government,
Obeying in commanding, and thy parts
Sovereign and pious else, could speak thee out,-
The queen of earthly queens. She's noble born;

120 apt: readily inclined 136 government: behavior

132

136

125 Gent. Ush.; cf. n.