Full of sad thoughts and troubles.

Nor.

What's the cause?

Cham. It seems, the marriage with his brother's

wife

Has crept too near his conscience.

Suf.

No, his conscience

"T is so.

Has crept too near another lady.
Nor.
This is the Cardinal's doing, the King-Cardinal :
That blind priest, like the eldest son of Fortune,
Turns what he list. The King will know him one
day.

Suf. 'Pray God, he do: he'll never know himself else.

Nor. How holily he works in all his business! And with what zeal for now he has cracked the

league

Between us and the Emperor, the Queen's great

nephew,

He dives into the King's soul; and there scatters
Dangers, doubts, wringing of the conscience,
Fears, and despairs,—and all these for his marriage :
And out of all these to restore the King,
He counsels a divorce; a loss of her

That like a jewel has hung twenty years
About his neck, yet never lost her lustre ;

Of her that loves him with that excellence
That angels love good men with; even of her
That, when the greatest stroke of fortune falls,
Will bless the King :—and is not this course pious?
Cham. Heaven keep me from such counsel !

"T is most true

These news are everywhere; eyery tongue speaks them,

And every true heart weeps for 't. All, that dare Look into these affairs, see this main end,

The French king's sister. Heaven will one day

open

The King's eyes, that so long have slept upon

This bold bad-man.

Suf.

And free us from his slavery.

Nor. We had need pray,

And heartily, for our deliverance;

Or this imperious man will work us all

From princes into pages. All men's honours
Lie like one lump before him, to be fashioned

Into what pitch he please.

For me, my lords,

Suf.
I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed.
As I am made without him, so I'll stand,

If the King please: his curses and his blessings
Touch me alike, they're breath I not believe in.

I knew him, and I know him; so I leave him
To him that made him proud, the Pope.

Nor.

Let's in ;

And with some other business put the King

From these sad thoughts, that work too much upon

him.

My lord, you'll bear us company?

Cham.

Excuse me;

The King hath sent me otherwhere: besides,
You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him :
Health to your lordships.

Nor.

Thanks, my good Lord Chamberlain. [Exit Lord Chamberlain.

NORFOLK opens a folding door. The KING is discovered sitting, and reading pensively

Suf. How sad he looks: sure, he is much

afflicted.

K. Hen. Who is there? Ha!

Nor.

'Pray God, he be not angry.

K. Hen. Who's there, I say? How dare you thrust yourselves,

Into my private meditations?

Who am I? Ha!

Nor. A gracious King, that pardons all offences Malice ne'er meant: our breach of duty this way

Is business of estate; in which we come

To know your royal pleasure.

K. Hen.

Ye are too bold.

Go to; I'll make ye know your times of business: Is this an hour for temporal affairs? Ha!—

Enter WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS

Who's there -My good lord Cardinal? O, my Wolsey,

The quiet of my wounded conscience;

Thou art a cure fit for a King.-[To CAMPEIUS.] You're welcome,

Most learned Reverend Sir, into our kingdom; Use us, and it :-[To WOLSEY.] My good lord, have great care

I be not found a talker.

Wol.

Sir, you cannot.—

I would, your grace would give us but an hour
Of private conference.

K. Hen. [To NORFOLK and SUFFOLK.] We are busy. Go!

Nor. [Aside to SUFFOLK.] This priest has no pride in him?

Suf. [Aside to NORFOLK.] Not to speak of. I would not be so sick though for his place: But this cannot continue.

Nor. [Aside to SUFFOLK.] If it do, I'll venture one have-at-him.

Suf. [Aside to NORFOLK.] I another.

[Exeunt NORFOLK and SUFFOLK.

Wol. Your grace has given a precedent of wisdom Above all princes, in committing freely

Your scruple to the voice of Christendom.
reach you?

Who can be angry now? what envy
The Spaniard, tied by blood and favour to her,
Must now confess, if they have any goodness,
The trial just and noble. All the clerks,

I mean the learned ones, in Christian kingdoms, Have their free voices; Rome, the nurse of judgment,

Invited by your noble self, hath sent

One general tongue unto us, this good man,
This just and learned priest, Cardinal Campeius,
Whom once more I present unto your highness.
K. Hen. And once more in mine arms I bid him

welcome,

And thank the holy conclave for their loves:

They have sent me such a man I would have wished for.

Cam. Your grace must needs deserve all strangers' loves,

You are so noble. To your highness' hand