SCENE IV.-A Hall in Blackfriars.

Trumpets, sennet, and cornets. Enter two Vergers,

with short silver wands; next them, Two Scribes, in the habits of doctors ; after them, the ArchBISHOP OF CANTERBURY alone ; after him, the BISHOPS OP 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 bare-headed, 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 mace. _[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; below 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.
K. Hen.

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. Scribe. Say, Henry king of England, come into the

court. Crier. Henry king of England, &c. K. Hen. Here.

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. Q. Kath. 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, Bom 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 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 He was from thence discharg'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 course And process of this time, you can report, And prove it tvo, 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 reigu'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 advis'd; whose counsel
I will implore; if not, i' the name of God,
Your pleasure be fulfillid!
Wol.

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.

Cam.
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.
Q. Käth.

Lord cardinal,
To you I speak.
Wol.

Your pleasure, madam?
Q. Kath.
I am about to weep; hut, 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.
Q. Kath. I will, when you are humble; nay, before,

His grace

Sir,

Or God will punish me. I do believe,
Induc'd by potent circumstances, that
You are mine enemy; and make my challenge
You sball 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 a 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 the effects
Of disposition gentle, and of wisdom
O'ertopping woman's power. Marlam, 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. 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.

& Sir W. Blackstone, who contributed a few notes to Shak. spere, says that abhor and refuse are, in such a case, technical terms of the canon-law-Detestor and Recuso. The very words occur in Holinshed. Challenge has been previously used by the queen technically.

Q. Kath.

My lord, my lord,
I am a simple woman, much too weak
To oppose your cunning. You 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
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.

[She curtsies to the King, and offers to depart. Cam.

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 calld back. Q. Kath. What need you note it? pray you, keer

your way : When you are call’d, return.—Now the Lord help, They vex me past my patience!-pray you, pass on : 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 :