[Afide.

It shall be to the Duchess of Alanfon,
The French King's fister; he shall marry her.
Anne Bullen! no, I'll no Anne Bullens for him, -

There's more in it than a fair visage

Bullen!

No, we'll no Bullens! -speedily, I wish
To hear from Rome-the Marchioness of Pembroke!--

Nor. He's discontented.

Suf. May be he hears the King

Does whet his anger to him.

Sur. Sharp enough,

Lord, for thy justice!

Wol. [Afide.] The late Queen's gentlewoman !

Knight's daughter!

a

To be hey 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 deferving? yet I know her for
A fpleeny Lutheran; and not wholfome to
Our cause, that the should lie i the bofom of
Our hard-rul'd King. Again, there is sprung up
An heretic, an arch one, Cranmer; one
Hath crawl'd into the favour of the King,
And is his oracle.

Nor. He's vex'd at fomething.

Enter King, reading a schedule; and Lovell.

Sur. I would 'twere something that would fret the

The mafter-cord of's heart!

Suf. The King, the King.

[string,

King. What piles of wealth hath he accumulated

To his own portion! what expence by th' hour
Seems to flow from him! how, i'th' 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 fudden, looks upon the ground,
Then lays his finger on his temple; strait
Springs out into fast gate, then stops again;

Strikes

Strikes his breast hard, and then anon he casts
His eye against the moon; in most strange postures
We've feen him fet himself.

King. It may well be,

There's a mutiny in's mind. This morning
Papers of state he fent me to peruse,
As I requir'd; and wot you what I found
There, on my confcience put unwittingly?
Forsooth, an inventory, thus importing;
The feveral parcels of his plate, his treafure,
Rich stuffs and ornaments of houshold, which
I find at fuch proud rate, that it out-speaks
Poffeffion of a fubject.

Nor. 'Tis heav'n's will;

Some fpirit put this paper in the packet,
To bless your eye withal.

King. If we did think,

His contemplations were above the earth,
And fix'd on spiritual objects, he should still
Dwell in his mufings; but I am afraid
His thinkings are below the moon, nor worth
His ferious confidering.

[He takes his feat, whispers Lovell, who goes to Wolfey. Wol. Heav'n forgive me

Ever God bless your Highness!-
King. Good my Lord,

You are full of heav'nly stuff, and bear the inventory
Of your best graces in your mind; the which
You were now running o'er; you have scarce time
To fteal from fpiritual leisure a brief fpan,
To keep your earthly audit; fure, in that
I deem you an ill husband, and am glad
To have you therein my companion.

Wol. Sir,

For holy offices I have a time;

A time to think upon the part of business
I bear i' th' state; and nature does require
Her times of prefervation, which, perforce,
I her frail fon, amongst my brethren mortal,
Must give my tendance to.

King. You have faid well.

Wol. And ever may your Highness yoke together,

As

As I will lend you cause, my doing well
With my well faying!

King. 'Tis well faid again;

And 'tis a kind of good deed to fay well.
And yet words are no deeds. My father lov'd you;
He faid he did; and with his deed did crown

His word upon you Since I had my office,

I've kept you next my heart; have not alone Employ'd you where high profits might come home;

But par'd my present havings, to beitow

My bounties upon you.

Wol. What should this mean?

Sur. The Lord increase this bufiness !

King. Have I not made you

[Afide. [Afide.

The prime man of the state? I pray you tell me
If what I now pronounce you have found true:
And, if you may confefs it, say withal,
If you are bound to us or no? what fay you?

Wol. My Sovereign, I confefs your royal graces
Showr'd on me daily have been more than could
My studied purposes requite, which went
Beyond all man's endeavours *. My endeavours
Have ever come too short of my defires;
Yet, fill'd with my abilities, mine own ends
Have been mine so, that evermore they pointed-
To th' good of your most facred person, and
The profit of the state. For your great graces
Heap'd upon me, poor undeserver, I
Can nothing render but allegiant thanks;
My pray'rs to heav'n for you; my loyalty,
Which ever has, and ever shall be growing,
Till death, that winter, kill it.

King Fairly anfwer'd. A loyal and obedient subject is Therein illuftrated; the honour of it Does pay the act of it, as i'th' contrary The foulness is the punishment I prefume, That as my hand has open'd bounty to you, My heart dropp'd love; my pow'r rain'd honour more On you, than any; fo your hand and heart,

Your brain, and ev'ry function of your power,

#endeavours, for deferts.

Should,

Should, notwithstanding that your bond of duty,
As 'twere in love's particular, be more
To me, your friend, than any.

Wol. I profess,

That for your Highness' good I ever labour'd,
More than mine own; that am I, have been, will be.
Though all the world should crack their duty to you,
And throw it from their foul; though perils did
Abound as thick as thought could make 'em, and
Appear in form more horrid; yet my duty,
As doth a rock against the chiding flood,
Should the approach of this wild river break,
And stand unfhaken your's.

King. 'Tis nobly spoken;

Take notice Lords, he has a royal breast,
For you have seen him open't. Read o'er this,

[Giving him papers.

And after, this; and then to breakfast, with
What appetite you may.

[Exit King, frowning upon Cardinal Wolfey; the
Nobles throng after him, whispering and smiling.

SCENE

Wol. What should this mean?

IV.

What fudden anger's this? how have I reap'd it?

• He parted frowning from me, as if ruin

،

U

Leap'd from his eyes. So looks the chafed lion Upon the daring huntsman, that has gall'd him; • Then makes him nothing. I must read this paper. I fear the story of his anger-'tis foThis paper has undone me'tis th' account Of all that world of wealth I've drawn together For mine own ends: indeed, to gain the popedom, And fee my friends in Rome. O negligence, Fit for a fool to fall by! What cross devil Made me put this main secret in the packet I fent the King! Is there no way to cure this? No new device to beat this from his brains? I know 'twill fir him strongly; yet I know A way, if it take right, in spight of fortune, Will bring me off again. What's this--To the Pope? The letter, as I live, with all the business

I

I writ to's Holiness. Nay, then farewel;
I've touch'd the highest point of all my greatness ;
And from that full meridian of my glory
I hafte now to my fetting, I shall fall,
• Like a bright exhalation in the evening,
And no man fee me more.

6

Enter to Wolfey, the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, the Earl of Surrey, and the Lord Chamberlain.

Nor. Hear the King's pleasure, Cardinal, who com[mands you

To render up the great feal presently
Into our hands, and to confine yourself
To Asher-house, my Lord of Winchester's,
Till you hear further from his Highness.

Wol. stay.

Where's your commiffion, Lords? words cannot carry Authority fo mighty.

Suf. Who dare cross 'em,

Bearing the King's will from his mouth expressly?
Wol. Till I find more than will, or words to do it,
(I mean your malice), know, officious Lords,
I dare, and must deny it. Now I feel
Of what coarse metal ye are molded, Envy;
How eagerly ye follow my disgrace,

As if it fed ye; and how fleek and wanton.
Y'appear in ev'ry thing may bring my ruin.
Follow your envious courses, men of malice;
You've Chriftian warrant for 'em, and, no doubt,
In time will find their fit rewards. That feal
You afk with such a violence, the King

1

(Mine and your master) with his own hand gave me;
Bade me enjoy it, with the place and honours,
During my life; and, to confirm his goodness,
Ty'd it by letters patents. Now, who'll take it ?

Sur. The King, that gave it.

Wol. It must be himself then.

Sur. Thou'rt a proud traitor, priest.

Wol. Proud Lord, thou ly'st.

Within these forty hours Surrey durft better
Have burnt that tongue, than faid fo.