Anne.

How you do talk!

I swear again, I would not be a queen
For all the world.
Old L.

In faith, for little England
You'd venture an emballing: I myself

Would for Carnarvonshire, although there 'long'd No more to the crown but that. Lo, who comes here?

Enter the Lord Chamberlain.

Cham. Good morrow, ladies. What wer't worth to know

The secret of your conference?

Anne.

My good lord,

Not your demand; it values not your asking:
Our mistress' sorrows we were pitying.

Cham. It was a gentle business, and becoming The action of good women: there is hope,

All will be well.

Anne.

Now I pray God, amen! Cham. You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly blessings

Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady,
Perceive I speak sincerely, and high note's
Ta'en of your many virtues, the king's majesty
Commends his good opinion to you, and
Does purpose honour to you no less flowing
Than marchioness of Pembroke; to which title
A thousand pound a year, annual support,
Out of his grace he adds.

Anne.
I do not know,
What kind of my obedience I should tender;
More than my all is nothing; nor my prayers
Are not words duly hallow'd,3 nor my wishes

my

3 More than all is nothing, &c.] More than my all is nothing, for my prayers and wishes are of no value, and yet prayers and wishes are all I have to return.

More worth than empty vanities; yet prayers, and wishes,

Are all I can return. 'Beseech your lordship, Vouchsafe to speak my thanks, and my obedience, As from a blushing handmaid, to his highness; Whose health, and royalty, I pray for,

Cham.

Lady,

I shall not fail to approve the fair conceit,*
The king hath of you.-I have perus'd her well;

[Aside,

Beauty and honour in her are so mingled,
That they have caught the king: and who knows yet,
But from this lady may proceed a gem,

To lighten all this isle?—I'll to the king,

And say, I spoke with you.

Anne.

My honour'd lord. [Exit Lord Chamberlain,

Old L. Why, this it is; see, see!

I have been begging sixteen years in court,
(Am yet a courtier beggarly,) nor could
Come pat betwixt too early and too late,
For any suit of pounds: and you, (O fate !)
A very fresh-fish here, (fye, fye upon

This compell'd fortune!) have your mouth fill'd
Before you open it.

Anne,

This is strange to me.

up,

Old L. How tastes it? is it bitter? forty pence,

no,3

There was a lady once, ('tis an old story,)
That would not be a queen, that would she not,
For all the mud in Egypt :"-Have you heard it?

• I shall not fail, &c.] I shall not omit to strengthen, by my commendation, the opinion which the King has formed.

5 is it bitter? forty pence, no.] Forty pence was, in those days, the proverbial expression of a small wager, or a small sum. Money was then reckoned by pounds, marks, and nobles,

For all the mud in Egypt] The fertility of Egypt is deriv ed from the mud and slime of the Nile.

Anne. Come, you are pleasant.

Old L.

With your theme, I could O'ermount the lark. The marchioness of Pembroke!

A thousand pounds a year! for pure respect;
No other obligation: By my life,

That promises more thousands: Honour's train
Is longer than his foreskirt. By this time,
I know, your back will bear a duchess;-Say,
Are you not stronger than you were?

Anne.

Good lady,
Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy,
And leave me out on't. 'Would I had no being,
If this salute my blood a jot; it faints me,
To think what follows.

The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful
In our long absence: Pray, do not deliver
What here you have heard, to her.

Old L.

What do you think me?

SCENE IV.

A Hall in Black-fryars.

[Exeunt

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 of 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

7 Sennet, Dr. Burney (whose General History of Musick has been so highly and deservedly applauded) undertook to trace the etymology, and discover the certain meaning of this term, but without success. Mr. Malone thinks it was no more

than a flourish, or sounding.

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; between 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 publickly 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 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;

8-pillars ;] Pillars were some of the ensigns of dignity carried before cardinals.

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:
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 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 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