LESSON XXXI.

QUEEN KATHARINE OF ARAGON BEFORE HER JUDGES.

Personages: KING HENRY VIII., QUEEN KATHARINE, CARDINALS WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS, SCRIBE, and CRIER.

Wolsey. Whilst our commission from Rome is

read,

Let silence be commanded.

K. Ilenry.

What's the need?

It hath already publicly been read,

And on all sides the authority allowed;

You may, then, spare that time.

Scribe. Say, Henry, King of England, come into

the court.

Crier. Henry, King of England, come into the court.

K. Henry. Here.

Scribe. Say, Katharine, Queen of England, come into the court.

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

[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,
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 behavior given to your displeasure,
That thus you should proceed to put me off,
And take your good grace from me?

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,

Heaven

Yea, subject to your countenance, glad or sorry,
As I saw it inclined: 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 derived your anger, did I
Continue in my liking? nay, gave notice

He was from thence discharged? Sir, call to mind

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 honor 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 sharp'st kind of justice. Please you, sir,
The king, your father, was reputed for
A prince most prudent, of an excellent
And unmatched wit and judgment: Ferdinand,
My father, King of Spain, was reckoned one
The wisest prince that there had reigned by many
A year before: it is not to be questioned
That they had gathered a wise council to them
Of every realm, that did debate this business,
Who deemed our marriage lawful wherefore I
humbly

Beseech you, sir, to spare 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 fulfilled!

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 defer the court; as well

For your own quiet, as to rectify

What is unsettled in the king.

C. Campeius.

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.

Wol.

Your pleasure, madam?

Q. Kath.

Sir,

I am about to weep; but, thinking that

We are a queen, or long have dreamed 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 God will punish me. I do believe,
Induced by potent circumstances, that

You are mine enemy, and make my challenge.
You 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 displayed th' 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,
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.

Q. Kath.
My lord, my lord,
I am a simple woman, much too weak

To

oppose your cunning. You're meek and
humble-mouthed;

You sign your place and calling, in full seeming,
With meekness and humility; but your heart
Is crammed with arrogancy, spleen, and pride.
You have, by fortune and his highness' favors,
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 honor 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 courtesies to the KING, and offers to depart.
C. Campeius.
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.