Sie

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 could wish mine enemy.
Sur.

How came
His practices to light?
Suff.

Most strangely.
Sur.

0, how, how?
Suff. The cardinal's letter to the pope miscarried,
And came to the eye o'the king: wherein was read,
Flow that the cardinal did entreat his holiness
To stay the judgement 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 queeri's, lady Anne Bullen.

Sur. Has the king this?
Suff.

Believe it.
Sur.

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 physick Alter his patient's death; the king already llath married the fair lady, Sur.

'Would he had !
Suff. May you be happy in your wish, my lord !
For, I profess, you have it.
Sur.

Now all my joy
Trace* tlie conjunction!
Suff

My amen to't!
Nor.

All men's, Suff. There's order given for her coronation : Marry, this is yet but young t, 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 memoriz'de.
Sur.

But, will the king
Digest this letter of the cardinal's ?
The Lord forbid !
Nor.

Marry, anien !
Suff.

No, no; There be more wasps that buz about his nose, Will make this sting the sooner. Cardinal Campeius Is stolen away to Rome; hath ta'en no leave; Has left the cause o'the king uvhandled ; and Is posted, as the agent of our cardinal, To second all his plot. I do assure you The king cry'd, ha! at this. Cha.

Now, God incense him, And let him cry ha, louder! Nor.

But, my lord,
When returns Crapmer?

Suff. He is return'd, 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 publishi'd, and
Her coronation. Katharine no more
Shall be call'd, queen; but princess dowager,
And widow to prince Arthur.
Nor.

This same Cranmer's
A worthy fellow, and hath ta'en much pain
In the king's business.
Suff.

He has; and we shall see him For it, an archbishop. Nor.

So I hear. • Suff.

Tis so. The cardinal

# Made memorable.

Enter Wolsey and Cromwell.

Nor. Observe, observe, he's moody.
Wol. The packet, Cromwell, gave it you the

king?
Crom. To his own hand, in his bedchamber.
Wol. Look'd he o'the inside of the paper?
Crom.

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

Is he ready
To come abroad?
Crom.

I think, by this be is.
Wol. Leave me a while.

Erit Cromwell.
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:
There is more in it than fair visage.-Bullen!
No, we'll no Bullens.Speedily I wish
To hear from Rome.-The marchioness of Pem.

broke!
Nor. He's discontented.
Suff

May be, he hears the king
Does whet his anger to him.
Sur.

Sharp enough, Lord, for thy justice! Wol. The late queen's gentlewoman; a knight's

daughter, To be her mistress' mistress! the queen's queen!

This candle burns not clear: 'tis I must snuff it; • Then, out it goes.- What though I know her virtuous, And well deserving? yet I know her for A spleeny Lutheran; and not wholesome to Our cause, that she should lie i'tle bosom of Our hard-rul'd king. Again, there is sprung up An heretick, an arch one, Cranmer; one

Hath crawl'd into the favour of the king,
And is his oracle.
Nor.

He is vex'd at something.
Suff. I would, 'twere something that would fret

the string, The master.cord of his heart!

Enter the King, reading a Schedule* ; and Lovell.

Suff.

The king, the king. K. Hon. What piles of wealth hath he accumu.

lated To his own portion! and what expence by the hour Seems to flow from him' How, i'the name of thrift, Does he rake this together! Now, my lords; Saw you the cardinal ? Nor.

My lord, we have
Stood here observing him; Some strange commotion
Is in his brain : he bites his lip, and starts;
Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground,
Then, lays his finger on his temple; straight,
Springs out into fast gaitt; then, stops again,
Strikes his breast hard; and anon, he casts
His eye against the moon: in most strange postures
We have seen him set himself.
K. Hen.

It may well be;
There is a mutiny in his mind. This morning,
Papers of state he sent me to peruse,
As I requir'd; And, wot you, what I found
There; on my conscience, put unwittingly?
Forsooth, an inventory, thus importing,
The several parcels of his plate, his treasure,
Rich stuffs, and ornaments of household; which
I find at such proud rate, that it out-speaks
Possession of a subject.
Nor.

It's Heaven's will;

Some spirit put this paper in the packet,
To bless your eye withal.
K. Hen.

If he did think
His contemplation were above the earth,
And fix'd on spiritual object, he should still
Dwell in his musings : but, I am afraid,
His thinkings are below the moon, not worth
His serious considering.

(He takes his seat, and whispers Lovell, who

goes to Wolsey. . Wol.

Heaven forgive me! Ever God bless your highness ! K. Hen.

Good my lord, You are full of heavenly stuff, and bear the inven

tory
Of your best graces in your mind; the which
You were now running o'er; you have scarce time
To steal from spiritual leisure a brief span,
To keep your earthly audit: Sure, in that
I deem you an ill husband; and am glad
To have you therein my companion.

Wol.
For holy offices I have a time; a time
To think upon the part of business, which
I bear i'the state ; and nature does require
Her times of preservation, which, perforce,
I her frail son, amongst my brethren mortal,
Must give my tendance to.
K. Hen.

You have said well.
Wol. And ever may your highness yoke together,
As I will lend you cause, my doing well
With my well saying!
K. Hen.

'Tis well said again; a And 'tis a kind of good deed, to say well: And yet words are no deeds. My father lov'd you: He said, he did ; and with his deed did crown His word upon you. Since I had my office, I have kept you next my heart; have not alone Employ'd you where high profits might come home,