Wol.
Whilst our commission from Rome is read,
Let silence be commanded.

King.
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.

King.

Here.

Scribe.

Say, Katharine Queen of England, come into the court ^note.

Crier.

Katharine Queen of England, &c.

Q. Kath. ^note
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 ^note 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 ^note 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: ^note when was the hour
I ever contradicted your desire,
Or made it not mine too? Or which ^note of your friends
Have I not strove to love, although I knew
He were ^note mine enemy? what friend of mine

That had to him derived your anger, did I
Continue in my liking? nay, gave ^note notice
He was from thence discharged? ^note 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 ^note or my love and duty, ^note
Against ^note your sacred person, in God's name,
Turn me away, and let the ^note foul'st contempt
Shut door upon me, and so give me up
To the sharp'st ^note kind ^note of justice. Please you, sir,
The king, your father, was reputed for
A prince most prudent, of ^note an excellent
And unmatch'd wit and judgement: 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,
Who deem'd our marriage lawful: wherefore I humbly ^note
Beseech you, sir, to spare ^note me, till I may
Be by my friends in Spain advised, whose counsel
I will implore: if not, i' the name of God,
Your pleasure be fulfill'd!

Wol.
You have here, lady,
And of your choice, these reverend fathers; men
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 ^note the court ^{note note}, as well

For your own quiet, as to rectify
What is unsettled in the king.

Cam.
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 produced and heard.

Q. Kath.
Lord cardinal,
To you I speak ^note.

Wol.
Your pleasure, madam?

Q. Kath.
Sir, ^note
I am about to weep; but, thinking that ^note
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. ^note

Q. Kath.
I will, when you are humble; nay, before,
Or God will punish me. I do believe, ^note
Induced by potent circumstances, that
You are mine enemy, and make my challenge
You ^note 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.

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. Madam ^note, you do me wrong:
I have no spleen against you, nor injustice

For you or any: how far I have ^note proceeded,
Or how far further shall, ^note 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 ^note be known to him
That I gainsay my deed, how ^note may he wound,
And worthily, my falsehood! yea, as much
As you have done my truth. If he ^note 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 ^note no more.

Q. Kath.
My lord, my lord,
I am a simple woman, much too weak
To oppose your cunning. You're ^note 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 ^note, spleen, and pride.
You have, by fortune and his highness' favours ^note,
Gone slightly ^note o'er low steps and now are mounted
Where powers ^note are your retainers, and your words ^note,
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 judged 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't: 'tis not well.
She's going away.

King.
Call her again.

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

Gent. Ush. ^note
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 ^note!
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 ^note Queen, and her Attendants. ^note

King.
Go thy ways, Kate:
That man i' the world who shall report he has
A better wife, let him in nought ^note 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 ^note speak thee out,
The queen of earthly queens. She's 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 robb'd and bound,
There must I be unloosed ^note, although not there
At once ^note and fully satisfied—whether ever ^note I

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 ^note one the least word that ^note might
Be to the ^note prejudice of her present state
Or touch of her good person?

King.
My lord cardinal,
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 ^note village-curs,
Bark when their fellows do: by some of these
The queen is put in anger. You're ^note excused:
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 ^note have hinder'd, oft,
The passages made toward ^note it: on my honour,
I speak my good lord cardinal ^note to this point,
And thus far clear him. Now, what moved me to't ^note,
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 utter'd
By the Bishop of Bayonne ^note, then French ambassador;
Who had been hither sent on the debating
A ^note 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 ^note a respite,
Wherein he might the king his lord advertise

Whether our daughter were legitimate,
Respecting this our marriage with the dowager,
Sometimes ^note our brother's wife. This respite shook
The bosom ^note of my conscience, enter'd me,
Yea, with a splitting ^note power, and made to tremble
The region of my breast; which forced such way
That many mazed considerings did throng
And press'd in with this caution. First, methought
I stood not in the smile of heaven, who ^note 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 ^note by me: then follows that
I weigh'd the danger which ^note my realms ^note stood in
By this my issue's fail; and that gave to me
Many a groaning throe ^note. Thus hulling in
The wild sea of my conscience, I did steer
Toward ^note this remedy whereupon ^note 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 ^note,
When I first moved you.

Lin.
Very well, my liege.

King.
I have spoke long: be pleased yourself to say

How far you satisfied me.

Lin.
So please your highness,
The question did at first so stagger me,
Bearing a state of mighty moment in't
And consequence of dread, that I committed
The daring'st counsel which I had to doubt,
And did entreat your highness to this ^note course
Which you are running here.

King.
I then moved you,
My Lord of Canterbury, and got your leave
To make this present summons: unsolicited ^note
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 ^note queen, but the sharp thorny points
Of my alleged reasons, drive ^note 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 paragon'd o' the ^note world.

Cam.
So please your highness,
The queen being absent, 'tis a needful fitness
That we adjourn this court till ^note further day:
Meanwhile must be an earnest motion
Made to the queen, to call back her appeal ^note
She intends unto his holiness.

King. [Aside]
I may perceive
These cardinals trifle with me: I abhor
This ^note dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome.
My learn'd ^note and well-beloved ^note servant, Cranmer,

Prithee, return; with thy approach, ^note I know,
My comfort comes along. ^note—Break up the court:
I say, set on. [Exeunt in manner as they entered.

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