It from the bearer, 'tis a fuff'rance panging
As foul and body's fev'ring.
Old L. Ah! poor lady,
She's stranger now again.

Anne. So much the more
Muft pity drop upon her: verily,
I fwear 'tis better to be lowly born,
And range with humble livers in content,
Than to be perk'd up in a glift'ring grief,
And wear a golden forrow.

Old L. Our content

Is our beft having.

Anne. By my troth and maidenhead I would not be a Queen.

Old L. Befhrew me, I would,

And venture maidenhead for't; and so would you,
-For all this fpice of your hypocrify.

You, that have fo fair parts of woman on you,
Have too a woman's heart, which ever yet
Affected eminence, wealth, fovereignty,

Which, to fay footh, are bleflings; and which gifts,
Saving your mincing, the capacity

Of your foft cheveril confcience would receive,
If you might please to stretch it.

Anne. Nay, good troth

Old L. Yes, troth and troth, you would not be a Queen?

Anne. No, not for all the riches under heav'n.
Old L. 'Tis ftrange; a three-pence bow'd would

hire me,

Old as I am, to queen it. But, I pray you,
What think you of a duchefs? have you limbs
To bear that load of title?

Anne. No, in truth.

Old L. Then you are weakly made; pluck off t a little.

I would not be a young Count in your way,

+ I think we may better read,

pluck up a little.

Pluck up! is an idiomatical expreffion for take courage.

Johnson.

For more than blushing comes to. If your back Cannot vouchsafe this burden, 'tis too weak Ever to get a boy.

Anne. How you do talk!

I fwear 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 Carnarvonfhire, though there belong'd No more to th' crown but that. Lo, who comes here?

Enter Lord Chamberlain.

Cham. Good morrow, Ladies; what were't worth to know

The fecret of your conf'rence?

Anne. My good Lord,

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

Cham. It was a gentle bufinefs, and becoming
The action of good wonen. There is hope
All will be well.

Anne. Now, I pray God, amen!

Cham. You bear a gentle mind, and heav'nly bleffings

Follow fuch creatures. That you may, fair Lady,
Perceive I fpeak fincerely, an 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 lefs flowing
Than Marchionefs of Pembroke; to which title
A thousand pounds 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, nor my wishes
More worth than vanities; yet pray'rs and wishes
Are all I can return. 'Befeech your Lordship,
Vouchsafe to speak my thanks and my obedience
As from a blufhing handmaid to his Highness,
Whofe health and royalty I pray for.

Cham. Lady,

Ifhall not fail t' approve the fair conceit

The King hath of you.-I've perus'd her well. Beauty and honour are in her fo mingled, [Afide. That they have caught the King? and who knows

yet,

But from this.Lady may proceed a gem

To lighten all this ifle?-I'll to the King,
And lay I spoke with you.

[Exit Lord Chamberlain:

Anne. My honour'd Lord.

Old L. Why, this it is: fee, fee!

I have been begging fixteen years in court,
Am yet a courtier beggarly, nor could.
Come pat betwixt too early and too late,
For any fuit of pounds; and you, oh fate!
A very fresh fish here; fy, fy upon

This compell'd fortune, have your mouth fill'd up
Before you open it.

Anue. This is ftrange to me.

Old L. How taftes it? is it bitter? forty pence*, There was a lady once ('tis an old story),

[no.

That would not be a queen, that would fhe not,
Fo all the mud in Egypt. Have you heard it 2
Anne. Come, you are pleafant.

Old L. With your theme I could

O'er-mount the lark. The Marchionefs of Pem-broke!

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

That promifes more thousands; Honour's train
Is longer than his fore-fkirt. By this time
I know your back will bear a duchefs. 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 falute my blood a jot; it faints me

To think what follows.

Mr Roderick hath undoubtedly reftared the true reading: for twa pence, no.'

Revifal

The Queen is comfortless, and we forgetful
In our long abfence. Pray do not deliver
What here y'ave heard to her.

Old L. What do you think me?--.

S CE NE

[Exeunte

VI.

Changes to Black-Friar's.

*

Trumpets, fennet and cornets. Enter two Vergers with fhort filver wands; next them two Scribes: in the habits of doctors; after them the Archbishop of Canterbury alone; after him the Bihops of Lincoln, Ely, Rochefter, and St Afaph; next them, with fome fmall distance, follows a Gentleman bearing the purfe, with the great feal, and the Cardinal's hat then two Priefts, bearing each a filver cross; then a Gentleman-ufber bare-headed, accompanied with a Serjeant at Arms, bearing a mace; then two Gentlemen, bearing two great filver pillars; after them, fide by fide, the Two Cardinals; two Noblemen with the fword and mace. The King takes place under the cloth of State; the two Cardinals fit under him, as judges. The Queen takes place, fome distance from the King. The Bishops place themselves on each fide the Court, in manner of a confiftory; below them the Scribes. The Lords fit next the Bishops. The reft of the Attendants ftand in convenient order about the stage.

Wol. Whilft our commiffion from Rome is read, Let filence be commanded.

King. What's the need?

It hath already publicly been read,

And on all fides th' authority allow'd:

You may then spare that time.

Wol. Be't fo; proceed."

Sennet was an inftrument of mufic, as appears from other places of this author, but of what kind I know not. Johnson.

Scrib. Say, Henry King of England,
Come into the court.

Crier. Henry King of England, &c.
King, Here.

Scrib. Say, Catharine Queen of England,
Game into the court.

Crier. Catharine 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.]

Queen. Sir, I defire 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 indiff'rent, and no more affurance
Of equal friendship and proceeding. Alas, Sir,
In what have I offended you? what caufe
Hath my behaviour giv'n to your displeasure,
That thus you fhould proceed to put me off,
And take your good grace from me? Heaven wit-
I've been to you a true and humble wife, [nefs,
At all times to your will conformable,
Ever in fear to kindle your dislike;

Yea, fubject to your count'nance, glad or forry
As.I faw it inclin'd. When was the hour
I ever contradicted your defire,

Or made it not mine too? which of your friends
Have I not strove to love, although he 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 not notice
He was from thence difcharg'd? Sir, call to mind
That I have been your wife, in this obedience,
Upward of twenty years; and have been bleft
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 of wedlock, or my love and duty,
Against your facred perfon, in God's name,
Turn me away, and let the foul'ft contempt
Shut door upon me, and fo give me up: