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

K. Hen.
What's the need?
It hath already publickly been read,
And on all sides th' 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 court.

Crier.
Katharine, Queen of England, &c. [The Queen makes no answer, rises out of her chair, curt'sies to the Cardinals, goes 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,

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? Heaven witness,
I have been to you a true and humble wife,
At all times to your will conformable.
Sir, call to mind,
That I have been your wife, in this obedience,
Upwards of twenty years. 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
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 with 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 questioned
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' th' name of Heaven,
Your pleasure be fulfill'd! [The Queen returns to her chair, supported by her ladies.

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 defer the court; 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 produc'd, and heard.

Q. Kath.
Lord Cardinal,—
To you I speak.

Wol.
Your pleasure, madam?

Q. Kath.
Sir,
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.

Q. Kath.
I will, when you are humble; nay, before,
Or Heaven will punish me. I do believe,
Induc'd by potent circumstances, that
You are mine enemy; and make my challenge,* ^note
You shall not be my judge: for it is you
Have blown this coal betwixt my lord and me,—
Which Heaven'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.
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 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. 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.

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 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 curt'sies to the King, and offers to depart.

Cam.
The Queen is obstinate,
Stubborn to justice, apt to accuse it, and
Disdainful to be try'd by't; 'tis not well.
She's going away.

K. Hen.
Call her again.

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

Grif.
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!—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 Female Attendants. L.H.

K. Hen.
Go thy ways, Kate:
That man i' th' world, who shall report he has
A better wife, let him in nought be trusted,
For speaking false in that: Thou art, alone,
The queen of earthly queens:—She is 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 unloos'd); whether ever I
Did broach this business to your highness, or
Laid any scruple in your way, which might
Induce you to the question on't?

K. Hen.
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 village curs,
Bark when their fellows do: by some of these
The queen is but in anger. You are excus'd:
But will you be more justified? you ever
Have wish'd the sleeping of this business;
And oft have hinder'd; oft
The passages made toward it:
Now what mov'd me to't?—Thus it came;—give heed to't:—
My conscience first receiv'd a tenderness,
Scruple, and prick, on certain speeches utter'd
By the Bishop of Bayonne, then French ambassador;
For no dislike i'th' world against the person
Of the good queen.
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' th' world.

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

K. Hen. (Aside)
These cardinals trifle with me: I abhor
This dilatory sloth, and tricks of Rome.
My learn'd and well-beloved servant, Cranmer,
Prythee return!* ^note with thy approach, I know,
My comfort comes along. Break up the the court:
I say, set on. [Exeunt the King and his party L. 1 E. The court breaks up as the Act drop falls. END OF ACT SECOND.

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