SCENE an Anti-chamber of the Queen's

Anne.

Apartments.

Enter Anne Bullen, and an old Lady.

TOT for that neither-here's the pang, that pinches.

His Highness having liv'd fo long with her, and the
So good a Lady, that no tongue could ever
Pronounce difhonour of her; by my life,
She never knew harm-doing: oh, now after
So many courfes of the fun, enthron'd,
Still growing in a majesty and pomp,

The which to leave 's a thomand-fold more bitter
Than sweet at first t' acquire; after this process,
To give her the avaunt! it is a pity"

Would move a monster.

Old L. Hearts of most hard temper Melt and lament for her.

Anne. In God's will, better

She ne'er had known pomp; though't be temporal,
Yet if that quarrel, fortune, do divorce (14)
It from the bearer, 'tis a fuff'rance panging
As foul and body's fev'ring.

Old L. Ah! poor Lady,

She's ftranger now again.

Anne. So much the more
Must pity drop upon her; verily,

I swear '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.

(14) Yet if that quarrel,] The fenfe is fomewhat obfcure, and uncertain, here. Either quarrel must be understood metaphorically, to fignify a fhaft, a dart; as it is ufed by Chaucer; and as, among the French, they fay, un Quarreau d'arbalefte, an arrow peculiar for the cross-bow: or we must read, as Mr. Warburton has conjectured;

Yet if that quarr'lous fortune.

And Shakespeare, I remember, fomewhere ufes this expreffion as quarr❜lous as a weaxel.

VOL. V.

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Old

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 fo 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 bleffings; and which gifts
(Saving your mincing) the capacity

Of your foft cheveril confcience would receive,
If you might please to ftretch 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 Dutchefs? have you limbs
To bear that load of title?

Anne. No, in truth.

Old L. Then you are weakly made: pluck off a little: I would not be a young Count in your way,

For more than blufhing comes to: if your back
Cannot vouchfafe this burden, 'tis too weak
Ever to get a boy.

Anne. How do you 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 Carnarvanshire, though there beiong'd
No more to th' crown but that. Lo, who comes here?

Enter Lord Chamberlain.

Cha.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

Our mistress' forrows we were pitying.

Cham. It was a gentle bufinefs, 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 heav'nly bleffings Follow fuch creatures. That you may, fair Lady, Perceive I speak fincerely, and high note's Ta'en of your many virtues; the King's Majefty Commends his good opinion to you, and Does purpofe honour to you no less flowing Than Marchionefs of Pembroke; to which title A thousand pounds a year, annual fupport, 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,
Vouchfafe 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 fhall not fail t'approve the fair conceit,

The King hath of you. I've perus'd her well; (15) Beauty and honour in her are 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 fay, I spoke with you.

Anne. My honour'd Lord.

[Exit Lord Chamberlain.

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

I have been begging fixteen years in court, (Am yet a courtier beggarly) nor could

(15) I've perus'd her well :] From the many artful ftrokes of addrefs the Poet has thrown in upon Queen Elizabeth and her mother, it should feem, that this play was written and perform'd in his Royal Miftrefs's time; if fo, fome lines were added by him in the laft fcene, after the acceffion of her fucceffor, King James.

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Come

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.

Anne. This is ftrange to me.

Old L. How taftes 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,

For all the mud in Egypt; have you heard it?
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 refpect!
No other obligation? By my life,

That promifes more thoufands: Honour's train
Is longer than his fore-fkirt. By this time,
I know, your back will bear a Dutchefs. 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.

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 ?.

[Exeunt.

SCENE changes to Black-Friars.

Trumpets, Sennet, and Cornets. Enter two Verges, with fhort filver Wands; next them, two Scribes in the habits of Doctors: after them, the Bishop of Canterbury alone; after him, the Bishops of Lincoln, Ely, Rochefter, and St. Afaph; next them, with fome small diftance, follows a Gentleman bearing the purfe, awith the great feal, and the Cardinal's hat; then two Priefts, bearing each a filver cross; then a gentleman-ufher bear-headed, accompanied with a ferjeant 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 word and mace. The King takes place under the cloth of ftate; the two Cardinals fit under him, as judges. The Queen takes place, fome diftance 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 ftage.

Wol.

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

King. What's the need?

It hath already publickly been read,
And on all fides th' authority allow'd ;

You may then spare that time.

Wol. Be't fo; proceed.

Scribe.Say, Henry King of England, come into the court, Cryer. Henry King of England, &c.

King. Here.

Scribe. Say, Catharine Queen of England, Come into the court.

Cryer. Catharine Queen of England, &c.

[The Queen makes no answer, rifes out of her chair, goes about the court, comes to the King, and kneels at his feet; then Speaks;]

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 ftranger,

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Born