Lord for thy justice!

Wol. [ Aside.] The late Queen's gentlewoman! a Knight's daughter! To be her mistress's mistress! the Queen's Queen! This candle burns not clear, 'is 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 Ihe should lye i'ch' bolome of Our hard-rul'd King again, there is fprung up An heretick, an arch one į Cranmer, one Hath crawld into the favour of the King, And is his oracle. Nor. He's vex'd at something.

SCENE III. Enter King reading of a schedule. Sur. I would 'were something that would fret th:

ftring The master-cord of's heart:

Suf. The King, the King.

King. What piles of wealth hath he accumulated To his own portion ! what expence by th' hour Seems to flow from him! how i'ch' 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 ftrange commotion
Is in his brain; he bites his lips and starts,
Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground,
Then lays his finger on his temple; ftratt
Springs out into fast gate, then stops again,
Strikes his breast hard, and then anon he cafts
His eye against the moon, in moft strange postures
We've seen him set himself.

King. It may well be,
There is a mutiny in's mind. This morning
Papers of state he sent me to peruse,
As I requir'd; and wor you what I found

There

There, on my conscience put unwittingly?
Forsooth an inventory, thus importing
The several parcels of his plate, his treasure,
Rich stuffs and ornaments of houshold, which
I find at such a proud rate, it out-Speaks
Possession of a subject. :

Nor, It's heav'ns will,
Some spirit 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 musings; but I am afraid *His thinkings are below the moon, nor worth His serious considering. (He takes his seat, whispers Loyell, who goes to Wolsey,

Wol. Heav'n forgive me Ever God bless your Highness

King. Good my Lord,
You are full of heavenly 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 steal from fpiritual 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. Sir,
For holy offices I have a time;
A time to think

upon

of business
I bear i'th' ftare; and nacure does require
Her times of preservation, which perforce
I her frail fon, amongst my brethren mortal,
Must give my tendance to.
King. You have said well,

Wol. And ever may your Highness yoke together;
As I will lend you caule, my doing well
With my well saying,

King. ''Tis well raid again,
And 'ris a kind of good deed to say well

. And yet words are no deeds. My father lov d you,

He

the part

CS

He faid he did, and with this deed did crown
His word upon you. Since I had my

office
I've kept you next my heart, have not alone
Imploy'd you where high profits might come home,
But par'd my present havings to bestow
My bounties upon you.
Wol. What should this mean?

Afide.
Sur. The lord increase this business. (Aside.
King. Have I not made you
The prime man of the state ? I pray you tell me,
If what I now pronounce you have found true ::
And if you may confess it, fay withal
If you are bound to us, orno? what say you ?.

Wol.. My Sovereign, I confess your royal graces:
Showr'd, on me daily have been more than could
My studied purposes require, which went
Beyond all man's endeavours. My endeavours
Have ever come too short of my desires,
Yet fillid with my abilities, mine own
Ends have been such that evermore they pointed
To the good of your moft facred person, and
The profit of the state : For your great graces:
Heap'd upon me, foor: undeserver, I
Can nothing render but allegiant thanks,
My prayers to heaven for you; my loyalty,,
Which ever has, and ever shall be growing
"Till death, that winter, kill it..

King. Fairly answer'd :
A loyal and obedient subject is
Therein illustrated; the honour of it
Does pay the act of it, i'th' contrary
The fouíncfs is the punishment. I presume
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 every function of your power,
Should, notwithstanding that your bond of duty,
As 'were in love's particular, be more
To me, your friend, than any..
Wol. I profess,

That

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 soul; though perils did
Abound as thick as thought could make 'em, and
Appear in forms more horrid; yet, my duty,
As doth a rock against the chiding flood,
Should the approach of this wild river break,
And ftand unshaken yours.

King. 'Tis nobly spoken;
Take notice lords, he has a loyal breast,
For
you
have seen him open't. Read o'er this,

[Giving him papers. And after this, and then to breakfait, with What appetite you may. (Exit King, frowning upon Cardinal Wolsey, the No. bles throng after him whispering and smiling,

SCENE IV. Wol. What Tould this mean? • What sudden anger's this? how have I reap'd it ? • He parted frowning from me, as if ruin Leap'd from his eyes.

So looks the chafed lion: • Upon the daring huntsman that has galled him, " Then makes him nothing. I must read this paper :I fear, the story of his angerammtis so This 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 crois devil: Made me put this main secret in the packet I sent the King ? is there no way to cure this? No new device to beat this from his brains ? I know 'ewill stie bim strongly; yet I know A way, if I take right, in spight of fortune Will bring me off again. What's this-To the Pipe ? The letter, as I live, with all the business I writto's holinefs. Nay, then farewel :: I've touch'd the highest point of all my greatnessy,

Andi

mands you

Wol. Stay :

And from that full meridian of my glory,
I hafte now to my setting.

• I shall fall • Like a bright exhalation in the evening, • And no man see me more.

SCENE V.
Enter to Wolsey, the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk,

the Earl of Surrey, and the Lord Chamberlain.
Nor. Hear the King's pleasure, Cardinal, who com
To render up the great seal presently
Into our hands and to confine your self
To Asher-house, my lord of Winchester's,
'Till you hear further from his highness.
Where's your commission, lords ? words cannot carry
Authority so mighty.

Suf. Who dare cross 'em,
Bearing the King's will from his mouth exprefly?

Wol. Till I find more than will, or words to do it,,
I mean your malice, know officious lords,
1 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 sleek and wanton
Ye appear in every thing may bring my ruin.
Follow your envious courses, men of malice;
You have a christian warrant for 'em, and
In time will find their fit rewards. That seal
You ask with such a violence, the King
(Mine and your master) with his own hand gave me;
Bad 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 lieft :
Within these forty hours Surrey durft better