SCENE II.-Ante-chamber to the KING'S Apart

ment

Enter the Duke of NORFOLK, the Duke of SUFFOLK, the Earl of SURREY, and the Lord Chamberlain

Nor. If you will now unite in your complaints, And force them with a constancy, the Cardinal Cannot stand under them: if you omit

The offer of this time, I cannot promise

But that you shall sustain more new disgraces,
With these you bear already.

Sur.

I am joyful To meet the least occasion that may give me Remembrance of my father-in-law, the Duke, To be revenged on him.

Suf.

Which of the peers

Have uncontemned gone by him, or at least
Strangely neglected? when did he regard
The stamp of nobleness in any person,
Out of himself?

Cham. My lords, you speak your pleasures.
What he deserves of you and me, I know;

What we can do to him,-though now the time
Gives way to us,-I much fear.

If you cannot

Bar his access to the King, never attempt
Anything on him, for he hath a witchcraft

Over the King in 's tongue.

Nor.

O, fear him not;

His spell in that is out: the King hath found

Matter against him that for ever mars

The honey of his language. No, he's settled,
Not to come off, in his displeasure.

Sur.

Sir,

I should be glad to hear such news as this

Once every hour.

Nor.

Believe it, this is true.

In the divorce, his contrary proceedings

Are all unfolded; wherein he appears

As I would wish mine enemy.

And came to the eye o' the King; wherein was

read,

How that the Cardinal did entreat His Holiness

To stay the judgment o' the divorce; for if
It did take place, 'I do,' quoth he, 'perceive,

My King is tangled in affection to

A creature of the Queen's, Lady Anne Bullen.'

Sur. Has the King this?

Suf.

Sur.

Believe it.

Will this work?

Cham. The King in this perceives him, how he

coasts,

And hedges his own way. But in this point
All his tricks founder, and he brings his physic
After his patient's death: the King already
Hath married the fair lady.

Sur.

'Would he had!

Suf. May you be happy in your wish, my lord; For, I profess, you have 't.

Suf. There's order given for her coronation:
Marry, this is yet but young, and may be left
To some ears unrecounted.-But, my lords,
She is a gallant creature, and complete

In mind and feature: I persuade me, from her

Will fall some blessing to this land, which shall
In it be memorized.

Sur.

But, will the King

There be moe wasps that buzz about his nose,
Will make this sting the sooner.

Campeius

Cardinal

Is stolen away to Rome; hath ta'en no leave;
Has left the cause o' the King unhandled, and
Is posted, as the agent of our Cardinal,

To second all his plot. I do assure you,
The King cried, 'Ha!' at this.

Suf. He is returned, in his opinions, which
Have satisfied the King for his divorce,
Together with all famous colleges

Almost in Christendom. Shortly, I believe,
His second marriage shall be published, and
Her coronation. Katharine no more
Shall be called Queen, but Princess Dowager,
And widow to Prince Arthur.

Nor.

This same Cranmer's

A worthy fellow, and hath ta'en much pain

Wol. The packet, Cromwell,

Gave 't you the King?

Crom. To his own hand, in 's bedchamber.
Wol. Looked he o' th' inside of the papers?
Crom.

Presently
He did unseal them, and the first he viewed,
He did it with a serious mind; a heed
Was in his countenance. You he bade
Attend him here this morning.

It shall be to the Duchess of Alençon,

The French King's sister: he shall marry her.— Anne Bullen! No; I'll no Anne Bullens for

him: