King Henry VIII act II, scene IV / [graphic]

"George IV (right), as Henry VIII (see British Museum Satires No. 13664, &c.), wearing ermine robes and ruff, sits on a dais under a canopy, his eyes turned sideways to the right. In his right hand is a goblet; on a table before him is a decanter of 'Curacoa'. Against this, at a lower level, is a second table on which is the mace; on each side sits a cardinal, gaping in astonishment at Queen Caroline, as Katharine of Aragon; she stands facing the King at the end of the table (left), wearing quasi-Tudor robes. She declaims Queen Catherine's speech, abridged: "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; -- If, in the course And process of this time, you can report, And perove [sic] it too, against mine honour aught, My bond to wedlock, or my Love and duty Against your sacred person, in Gods name, Turn me away ;-- and so give me up To the sharpest kind of justice." Under Castlereagh's foot lies 'Mag[na] Charta'; his vis-à-vis cardinal is Sidmouth. Next Castlereagh (right) sits a lawyer, writing (? Leach). Beside him is a large bag with its neck encircled by hissing serpents; it is placarded: 'A Green Bag! filled with Spite Envy Malice. Hatred Lies &c &c &c' [see British Museum Satires No. 13735, &c.]. On each side of the King stands a bishop holding a crosier, one the Archbishop of Canterbury, the other probably Pelham of Exeter, see British Museum Satires No. 13946. Behind the Queen and on the extreme left stands Wood in his alderman's gown. Beefeaters stand against the wall."--British Museum online catalogue