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"the Prince being 15 and the Princefs fomething more, and that they bedded together for near five Months, it feemed very ftrange, that the Queen "fhould call God to witnefs, as fhe did, That, when ἐσ fhe came to King Henry's Bed, he was an unspotted "Virgin."

The Dutchefs of Norfolk, who was prefent at the Marriage, declared, "The Age of Prince Arthur, at

the Time of his faid Marriage, to be about 15, and "that fhe faw Prince Arthur and the Lady Catherine "alone in Bed together, the next Night after their. σε Marriage."

George, Earl of Shrewsbury, depofed, "The Mar"riage was celebrated at St. Paul's, decimo Septimo "Henrici 7mi, 1501; that Prince Arthur was born "at Winchester, 2do Henrici 7mi; and that he believed the Prince knew his Lady carnally, because "he might be able fo to do, as himself had been, who knew his Wife before he was fixteen."

Sir William Thomas depofed, "That Prince Arthur " and the Lady Catherine lived five Months, partly

about London and partly at Ludlow, in a Houfe કુંડ together as Man and Wife, and that he heard Sir "William Woodall, who was at the Prince's Christening!

Ye fpeak like honest Men pray God ye prove fo.
But how to make ye fuddenly an Answer,
In fuch a Point of Weight, fo near mine Honour,
(More near my Life, I fear) with my weak Wit,
And to fuch Men, of Gravity and Learning,
In Truth I know not. I was fet at work
Among my Maids; full little, God knows, looking
Either for fuch Men, or fuch Bufinefs.
For her Sake that I have been, (for I feel
The lait fit of my Greatnefs) good your Graces,
Let me have Time and Counsel for my Caufe:

Alas! I am a Woman, friendless and hopefs!

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fay,

Wolf. Madam, you wrong the King's Love with thofe Fears, Your Hopes and Friends are infinite.

Queen. In England

But little for my Profit: Can you think, Lords,

VOL. IV.

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That

"fay, That he was above 15 at the Time of his Mar"riage, and the Lady Catherine older."

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Thomas, Marquis of Dorfet, depofed, “He saw a Register of the Nativity of the King's Children, by which he found Prince Arthur was born the 20th "of September, 1486, and at the Time of his Marriage, which was upon a Sunday, decimo feptimo "Henrici 7mi, he was of a good and genuine Complexion, and able, as he believed, for the Purpose "of Generation."

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Robert, Viscount Fitz-Walters, depofed,." The "Prince was then about 15 and Queen Catherine older; and that he very well remembered, that the next Day after the Prince and Princefs of Wales had been "in Bed together, he saw them folemnly bleffed, and "waited at Breakfast on Prince Arthur, when Maurice "St. John did carve, and he, the Lord Fitz-Walters, gave Drink; at which Time Maurice St. John de"manding of the Prince what he had done that Night to make him so dry? the Prince answered, I have "been in Spain this Night."

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Charles, Duke of Suffolk, depofed, "That he was "in the Bishop of London's Palace the Morrow next following the Day of Marriage, and waited there 66 upon the Prince at Breakfaft," who, having in Effect

That any Englishman dare give me Counfel?

Or be a known Friend 'gainst his Highness's Pleasure,
Though he be grown fo defp'rate to be honest,
And live a Subject? Nay, forfooth, my Friends,
They that must weigh out my Afflictions,
They that my Truft must grow to, live not here;
They are, as all my Comforts are, far hence,
In my own Country, Lords.

Cam. I would your Grace

Would leave your Griefs, and take my Counsel.

Queen. How, Sir?

Cam. Put your main Caufe into the King's Protection,

He's loving and moft gracious. 'Twill be much

Better both for your Honcur, and your Cause:

For, if the Trial of the Law o'er-take ye,
You'll part away difgrac'd.

Wolf

Effect confirmed Maurice St. John's Deposition, added, "That the Shrove-tide following the Mar"riage, which was in November preceding, the "faid Prince began to decay, and grow feeble "in Body, which increased, as St. John believed, by reafon the Prince lay with the Lady Ca"therine."

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Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, Lord Treasurer of England, depofed, "That he, being on the Day of Marriage in the Bishop of London's Palace, and the "Morrow after at the Prince's Breakfast, heard the "Prince's Answer to Maurice St. John, when he "faid, He had been that Night in the midst of Spain; by which Words, becaufe Prince Arthur was of Age, and good Complexion and Nature, and "above 15, he believes he carnally knew his La<< dy; because himself at the fame Age did know ❝and carnally use a Woman; and that he believes "this the rather, because he heard, from credible Persons, that the faid Prince Arthur did lay with "the faid Lady Catherine five or fix Nights after." Sir Anthony Willoughby, Knt. depofed, "That, "being the Morrow after the Marriage in the Prince's Privy-chamber, the faid Prince fpoke before divers Hh 2 " Wit

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Wolf. He tells you rightly.

Queen. Ye tell me, what ye with for both, my Ruin :

Is this your Chriftian Counfel? Out upon ye!

Heav'n is above all yet! There fits a Judge

That no King can corrupt.

Cam. Your Grace mistakes us.

Comfort,

Queen. The more Shame for ye; holy Men I thought ye,
Upon my Soul, two rev'rend Cardinal Virtues;
But Cardinal Sins, and hollow Hearts, I fear ye!
Mend 'em, for Shame! my Lords: Is this your
The Cordial that you bring a wretched Lady;
A Woman loft among ye, laugh'd at, fcorn'd?
I will not wish you half my Miseries,

I have more Charity. But fay, I warn'd ye;
Take Heed, take Heed, for Heav'n's Sake! left at once
The Burthen of my Sorrows fall upon ye.

Walf

"Witneffes thefe Words, Willoughby, give me a Cup ແ of Ale, for I have been this Night in the midst of "Spain: After which he faid, It is good Paftime "to have a Wife; which Words he repeated divers "other Times; and he heard fay, they lay at Lud"low together the Shrove-tide next following."

From thefe Depofitions and other Circumftances, the Couniel on the King's Part ftrenuoufly urged the Invalidity of the faid Marriage from the beginning, by reafon of the carnal Copulation committed between Prince Arthur, the King's Brother, and the prefent Queen: But it was again as vehemently denied by the Queen's Counfel.

The King's Counsel further offered the following Depofitions in Support of the Conteft, which were read.

William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury, depofed, “That he never liked the Marriage; and that he told Henry the VIIth as much."

Sir Anthony Poynes, as to the Age only.

Thomas Lord Darcy, William Lord Montjoy, and Henry Guilford, Knights of the Garter, faid little to any Purpose, but what they had heard by Fame. David Owen, as to the Age only.

Wolf Madam, this is a meer Distraction, You turn the Good we offer into Envy.

Queen. You turn me into Nothing. Woe upon ye!
And all fuch falfe Profeffors! Would you have me
(If you have any Juftice, any Pity,

If ye be any Thing, but Churchmen's Habits)
Put my fick Caufe into his Hands that hates me ?
Alas, h'as banifh'd me his Bed already,

His Love too, long ago. I'm old, my Lords,
And all the Fellowship I hold now with him
Is only by Obedience. What can happen

To me above this Wretchednefs? All your Studies
Make me a Curfe like this.

Cam. Your Fears are worfe

Queen. Have I liv'd thus long (let me fpeak myself, Since Virtue finds no Friends) a Wife, a true one,

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Nicholas, Bishop of Ely, depofed, "That he could fay nothing of the Carnalis copula; but that he very "much doubted it, in regard the Queen often (fub "Teftimonio Confcientia fua) faid to this Deponent, "That fhe was never carnally known by Prince Arthur.'

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After the reading thefe Depofitions the Bishop of Rochester, one of the Queen's Counsel, ftood up, and fpoke in this Manner, " And all this is no દ more, than what hath formerly been depofed, exa"mined, thoroughly debated, and fcanned by the

beft and moft learned Divines and Lawyers that "could be got, which Time I do well remember

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and I am not ignorant of the Manner of their "Proceedings, when and where all the Allegations, "in refpect of what was then produced to the contrary, was adjudged vain and frivolous, whereupon "the Marriage was concluded, which was afterwards "approved and ratified by the See Apoftolick; and "that in fuch ample Manner, as I think it a very hard "Matter now again to call the fame in queftion be"fore other Judges."

Then stood up Dr. Ridley, another of the Queen's Counsel, a little Man, but of great Spirit, and profound Learning, and faid, "My Lords, the Carઠંડ dinals, we have heard how the Queen herself here 66 in

A Woman (I dare fay without Vain-glory),
Never yet branded with Sufpicion ?

Have I, with all my full Affections

Still met the King; lov'd him next Heaven, obey'd him,
Been, out of Fondness, fuperftitious to him,

Almoft forgot my Prayers to content him;

And am I thus rewarded? 'Tis not well, 'Lords.
Bring me a conftant Woman to her Husband,

One that never dreamt a Joy beyond his Pleasure ;
And to that Woman, when he has done most,

Yet will I add an Honour, a great Patience.

Wolf. Madam, you wander from the Good we aim at.
Queen. My Lord, I dare not make myself fo guilty,

To give up willingly that noble Title,
Your Mafter wed me to: Nothing but Death
Shall c'er divorce my Dignities.

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