As from a blushing handmaid, to his highness; Cham. Lady, I shall not fail to approve the fair conceit, The king hath of you.—I have perus'd her well ; [Aside. 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, Anne. My honour'd lord. [Exit Lord Chamberlain.. Old L. Why, this it is; see, see! I have been begging sixteen years in court, This compell'd fortune!) have your mouth fill'd up, Anne. This is strange to me. Old L. How tastes it? is it bitter? forty pence, no There was a lady once, ('tis an old story,) That would not be a queen, that would she not, Old L. With your theme, I could The marchioness of Pembroke That promises more thousands: Honour's train Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy, To think what follows. The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful Old L. What do you think me? [Exeunt. [1] Perhaps alluding to the carbuncle, a gem supposed to have intrinsic light, and to shine in the dark: any other gem may reflect light but cannot give it JOH. From the many artful strokes of address the poet has thrown in upon queen Elizabeth and her mother, it should seem that this play was written and performed in his royal mistress's time: if so, some lines were added by him in the last scene, after the accession of king James. THEO SCENE IV. A Hall in Black-Fryars. Trumpets, Sennet,2 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 bare-headed, accompanied with a Sergeant at Arms, bearing a silver mace; then two Gentlemen, bearing two great silver pillars;3 after them, side by side, the tro 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 publicly been read, And on all sides the authority allow'd ; You may then spare that time. Wol. Be't so-Proceed. Scri. Say, Henry king of England, come into the court. Crier. Henry king of England, &c. K.Hen. Here. Scri. 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. [2] A sennet appears to have signified a short flourish on Cornets MAL. 131 Pillars were some of the ensigns of dignity carried before cardinals. Sir Thomas More, when he was speaker to the commons, advised them to admit Wolsey into the house with his maces and his pillars. JOHNS-So, in The Treatous a satire on Cardinal Wolsey, no date, but published between the execution of the duke of Buckingham and the repudiation of Katharine : "With worldly pompe incredible, Before him rydeth two prestes strong; After them followe two laye men seculur, In their hondes steade of a mace." STEEV. Wolsey had two great crosses of silver, the one of his archbishopric, the other of his legacy, borne before him whithersoever he went or rode, by two of the tallest priests that he could get within the realm. TOLLET. 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, At all times to your will conformable : Ever in fear to kindle your dislike, Yea, subject to your countenance; glad, or sorry, friends Or made it not mine too? Or which of your To the sharpest kind of justice. Please you, sir, 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 That they had gather'd a wise council to them Who deem'd our marriage lawful: Wherefore I humbly Be by my friends in Spain advis'd; whose counsel Wol. You have here, lady, (And of your choice,) these reverend fathers; men Òf singular integrity and learning, Yea, the elect of the land, who are assembled To plead your cause: It shall be therefore bootless, For your own quiet, as to rectify What is unsettled in the king. Cam. His grace Hath spoken well, and justly: Therefore, madam, 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, I'll turn to sparks of fire. Wol. Be patient yet. Q.Kath. I will, when you are humble; nay, before, Or God will punish me. I do believe, Induc'd by potent circumstances, that You are mine enemy; and make my challenge,4 Have blown this coal betwixt my lord and me,- Refuse you for my judge; whom, yet once more, 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, you do me wrong: I have no spleen against you; nor injustice For you, or any how far I have proceeded, [3] That you desire to protract the business of the court; that you solicit a more distant session and trial. To pray for a longer day, i.e. a more distant one, when the trial or execution of criminals is agitated, is yet the language of the bar. In the fourth folio, defer is substituted for desire. MAL. [4] Challenge is here a verbum juris, a law term. The criminal, when he refuses a juryman, says-I challenge him. JOHNS. Or how far further shall, is warranted Yea, the whole consistory of Rome. You charge me, Remove these thoughts from you: The which before You, gracious madam, to unthink your speaking, Q.Kath. My lord, my lord, I am a simple woman, much too weak To oppose your cunning. You are meek, and humblemouth'd; 6 You sign your place and calling,5 in full seeming, To bring my whole cause 'fore his holiness, [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 it; 'tis not well, She's going away. K.Hen. Call her again. Cri. 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; [5] To sign, must here be to show, to denote. By your outward meekness and humility, you show that you are of an holy order, but, &c. JOHNS. [6] The queen would insinuate that Wolsey had rendered the highest of fices subservient to his will. STEEV. |