Protestant Revolt in Switzerland and Eiigland I 39 you? I take God to be my judge, I have been to you a true and humble wife, ever conformable to your will and pleasure ; never contradicting or gainsaying you in any- thing ; being always contented with all things wherein you had any delight or took any pleasure, without grudge, or countenance of discontent or displeasure. I loved, for your sake, all them whom you loved, whether I had cause or no ; whether they were my friends or my enemies. " I have been your wife these twenty years or more, and you have had by me divers children ; and when you had me first, I take God to be my judge, that I was a maid. Whether it be true or no, I put it to your own conscience. If there be any just cause that you can allege against me, either of dishonesty, or matter lawful to put me from you, I am content to depart, to my shame and confusion ; and if there be none, then I pray you to let me have justice at your hands. "The king, your father, was, in his time, of such an excel- lent wit, that he was accounted amongst all men for wisdom to be a second Solomon ; and the king of Spain, my father, Ferdinand, was accounted one of the wisest princes that had reigned in Spain for many years. It is not, therefore, to be doubted, but that they had gathered as wise counselors unto them, of every realm, as in their wisdom they thought meet. And I conceive that there were in those days as wise and well-learned men, in both the realms, as be now at this day, who thought the marriage between you and me good and lawful. Therefore it is a wonder to me what new inven- tions are now invented against me. And now to put me to stand to the order and judgment of this court seems very unreasonable. ... I humbly pray you to spare me until I may know what counsel my friends in Spain will advise me to take ; and if you will not, then your pleasure be fulfilled." And with that she rose up and departed, nevermore appear- ing in any court. Catherine's friends, however, induced the pope to evoke the case to Rome, and so quite removed the 267. Queen Catherine's protest against Henry's plan to rid himself of her (1529).
