For when the King once heard it, out of anger
He fent command to the Lord Mayor ftrait
To ftop the rumour, and allay those 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 business.

1 Gen. 'Tis the Cardinal;

And meerly to revenge him on the Emperor,
For not beftowing on him, at his asking,
The Arch-bifhoprick 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 fiart 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.

well

M2 ridden, and furY lord, the borfes your lordship fent for, with all nish'd. They were young and handsome, and of the best breed in the North. When they were ready to set out for London, a man of my lord Cardinal's, by commiffion and main power took 'em from me, with this reafon 3 his mafter would be ferv'd before a fubject, if not before the King, which stopp'd our mouths, Sir.

B 4

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

Enter

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 business,
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 fcatters
Doubts, dangers, wringing of the confcience,
Fears, and defpair, and all these for his marriage;
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 moft

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 thefe affairs, see his main end,

The French King's fifter. Heaven will one day open
The King's Eyes, that fo long have slept 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; fo 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 estate; 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
Is this an hour for temporal affairs? ha?.

B;་

Ent

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 nurfe 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 wish'd for,
Cam. Your Grace muft needs deferve all ftrangers
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 business.

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 ftick to fay you envy'd him And fearing he would rife, he was fo virtuous, Kept him a foreign man still; 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 so near else. Learn this, brother,
We live not to be grip'd by meaner persons,

King