That I gainsay my deed, how may he wound, And to say so no more. Q. Kath. My lord, my lord, I am a simple woman, much too weak To oppose your cunning. You're meek and humble mouth'd; 110 You sign your place and calling, in full seeming, Cam. Before you all, appeal unto the pope, 120 [She curtsies to the King, and offers to depart. 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. Crier. Katharine Queen of England, come into the court. Gent. Ush. Madam, you are call'd back. Q. Kath. 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. I will not tarry, no, nor ever more Pray you, pass on: Upon this business my appearance make... 131 In any of their courts. King. Go thy ways, Kate: [Exeunt Queen, and her Attendants. That man i' the world who shall report he has For speaking false in that: thou art, alone, If thy rare qualities, sweet gentleness, Thy meekness saint-like, wife-like government, 65 Wol. Obeying in commanding, and thy parts Sovereign and pious else, could speak thee out, 140 And like her true nobility she has Carried herself towards me. Most gracious sir, In humblest manner I require your highness, 150 King. Or touch of her good person? My lord cardinal, I do excuse you; yea, upon mine honour, But will you be more justified? you ever Have wish'd the sleeping of this business, never desired It to be stirr'd, but oft have hinder'd, oft, The passages made toward it: on my honour, I will be bold with time and your attention : Then mark the inducement. heed to 't: Thus it came; give 170 My conscience first received a tenderness, 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, Respecting this our marriage with the dowager, 180 : 190 That many mazed considerings did throng And press'd 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 The grave does to the dead; for her male issue Or died where they were made, or shortly after This world had air'd them: hence I took a thought, This was a judgement on me, that my kingdom, Well worthy the best heir o' the world, should not Be gladded in 't by me: then follows that I weigh'd the danger which my realms stood in By this my issue's fail; and that gave to me Many a groaning throe. Thus hulling in The wild sea of my conscience, I did steer Toward this remedy whereupon we are Now present here together; that's to say, I meant to rectify my conscience, which I then did feel full sick and yet not well, By all the reverend fathers of the land And doctors learn'd. First I began in private With you, my Lord of Lincoln; you remember How under my oppression I did reek, ... When I first moved you. 200 |