For when the King once heard it, out of anger
He fent command to the Lord Mayor ftrait
To stop the rumour, and allay thofe tongues
That durft difperfe it.

2 Gen. But that flander, Sir,

Is found a truth now; for it grows again
Fresher than e'er it was, and held for certain
The King will venture at it. Either the Cardinal,
Or fome about him near, have (out of malice
To the good Queen) poffefs'd him with a fcruple
That will undo her to confirm this too,
Cardinal Campeius is arriv'd, and lately,
As all think for this bufinefs.

1 Gen. 'Tis the Cardinal;

And meerly to revenge him on the Emperor,
For not beftowing on him, at his asking,

The Arch-bishoprick of Toledo, this is purpos'd.

2 Gen. I think you have hit the mark, but is't not cruel, That the fhould feel the finart of this? the Cardinal Will have his will, and the muft. fall.

1 Gen. 'Tis woful,

We are too open here to argue this :
Let's think in private more.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Enter Lord Chamberlain, reading a letter.

the

Y lord, the horses your lordship fent for, with all the care I had 1 faw well chofen, ridden, and furnish'd. They were young and handsome, and of the best breed in the North. When they were ready to fet out for London, a man of my lord Cardinal's, by commiffion and main power took 'em from me, with this reafon 3his master would be ferv'd before a subject, if not before the King, which stopp'd our mouths, Sir.

I fear he will indeed; well, let him have them; he will have all, I think.

Enter to the Lord Chamberlain the Dukes of Norfolk and
Suffolk.

Nor. Well met, my Lord Chamberlain.
Cham. Good day to both your Graces.
Suf. How is the King employ'd?

Cham. I left him private,

Full of fad thoughts and troubles.

Nor. What's the cause?

Cham. It seems the marriage with his brother's wife Has crept too near his confcience.

Suf No, his confcience

Has crept too near another lady.
Nor. 'Tis fo;

This is the Cardinal's doing; the King-Cardinal:
That blind prieft, like the eldest fon of fortune
Turns what he lift. The King will know him one day.
Suf. Pray God he do; he'll never know himself elfe.
Nor. How holily he works in all his bufinefs,
And with what zeal for now he has crackt the league
'Tween us and th' Emperor, the Queen's great nephew:
He dives into the King's foul, and there scatters
Doubts, dangers, wringing of the confcience,
Fears, and defpair, and all thefe for his marriage 3
And out of all these to restore the King,
He counfels à divorce, a lofs of her
That like a jewel has hung twenty years
About his neck, yet never loft her luftre;
Of her that loves him with that excellence,
That angels love good men with; even of her,
That, when the greateft ftroke of fortune falls,
Will blefs the King; and is not this courfe pious?
Cham. Heav'n keep me from fuch counsel! 'tis most

true,

These news are ev'ry where, ev'ry tongue speaks 'em,
And ev'ry true heart weeps for't. All that dare
Look into these affairs, fee his main end,

The French King's fifter. Heaven will one day open
The King's Eyes, that fo long have flept upon
This bold, bad man.

Suf.

Suf. And free us from his flavery.

Nor. We had need pray, and heartily, for deliv'rance. Or this imperious man will work us all

From Princes into pages; all mens honours
Lie like one lump before him, to be fashion'd
Into what pitch he please.

Suf. For me, my lords,

I love him not, nor fear.him, there's my creed
As I am made without him, fo I'll ftand,

If the King please: his curfes and his bleffings
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 fome other bufinefs, put the King
From these fad thoughts that work too much upon him
My lord, you'll bear us company?.

Cham. Excufe me,

The King hath fent me other-where: befides
You'll find a moft unfit time to disturb him:
Health to your lordships.

[Exit Lord Chamberlain

Nor. Thanks, my good Lord Chamberlain.

The Scene draws, and difcovers the King fitting and reading penfively.

Suf. How fad he looks! fure he is much afflicted. King. Who's there? ha?

Nor. Pray God he be not angry.

King. Who's there, I fay how dare you thrust your felves

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, I's business of eftate; in which we come

To know your royal pleasure.

King. Ye are too bold:

Go to; I'll make ye know your times of bufinefs a
Is this an hour for temporal affairs? ha?

Enter Wolfey, and Campeius the Pope's Legat,
with a Commiffion.

Who's there? my good Lord Cardinal? O my Wolfey,
The quiet of my wounded confcience;

Thou art a cure fit for the King. You're welcome,
Moft learned rev'rend Sir, into our kingdom,
Ufe us, and it; 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 conf'rence.

King. We are bufie; go.

Nor. This priest has no pride in him?
Suf. Not to fpeak of:

I would not be fo fick though, for his place:
But this cannot continue.

Nor. If it do,

I'll venture one heave at him.

Suf. I another.

[Exeunt Norfolk and Suffolk
Wol. Your Grace has giv'n a precedent of wisdom
Above all Princes, in committing freely
Your fcruple to the voice of Christendom:
Who can be angry now? what envy reach you?
The Spaniard, ty'd by blood and favour to her,
Muft now confefs, if they have any goodness,
The tryal juft and noble. All the clerks,

I mean the learned ones in chriftian kingdoms,
Have their free voices. Rome, the nurse of judgment,
Invited by your noble self, hath fent

One gen'ral tongue unto us, this good man,
This juft and learned prieft, Cardinal Campeius,
Whom once more I prefent unto your Highness.

King. And once more in mine arms I bid him welcome,
And thank the holy conclave for their loves,
They've fent me fuch a man I would have with'd for,
Cam. Your Grace must needs deserve all strangers
loves,

You are fo noble: to your Highness' hand
I tender my commiffion; by whofe virtue,

(The

(The court of Rome commanding) you, my lord Cardinal of York, are join'd with me, their fervant, In the impartial judging of this bufinefs.

King. Two equal men: the Queen fhall be acquainted
Forthwith for what you come. Where's Gardiner?
Wol. I know your Majefty has always lov'd her
So dear in heart, not to deny her what

A woman of lefs place might ask by law,
Scholars allow'd freely to argue for her.

King. Ay and the beft, fhe fhall have: and my favour
To him that does beft, God forbid elfe. Cardinal,
Pr'ythee call Gardiner to me, my new Secretary,
I find him a fit fellow.

Enter Gardiner.

Wol. Give me your hand; much joy and favour to you · You are the King's now.

Gard. But to be commanded

For ever by your Grace, whofe hand has rais'd me. King. Come hither, Gardiner. [Walks and whispers. Cam. My lord of York, was not one Doctor Pace

In this man's place before him?

Wol. Yes, he was.

Camb. Was he not held a learned man?
Wol. Yes, furely.

Cam. Believe me, there's an ill opinion spread then Ev'n of your felf, lord Cardinal.

Wol. How? of me?

Cam. They will not stick to say you envy'd him And fearing he would rife, he was fo virtuous, Kept him a foreign man ftill; which fo griev'd him; That he ran mad and dy'd.

Wol, Heav'n's peace be with him! ́

That's chriftian care enough for living murmurers,
There's places of rebuke. He was a fool,

For he would needs be virtuous. That good fellow,
If I command him, follows my appointment;
I will have none fo near elfe. Learn this, brother,
We live not to be grip'd by meaner perfons.

King