Wol. [Afide.] The late Queen's gentlewoman! a Knight's daughter!
To be her miftrefs's miftrefs! the Queen's Queen!- This candle burns not clear, 'tis I muft fnuff it, Then out it goes-what though I know her virtuous And well-deferving? yet I know her for
A fpleeny Lutheran, and not wholesome to Our caufe! that the fhould lye i'th' bofome of Our hard-rul'd King!-again, there is fprung up An heretick, 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.
SCENE III.
Enter King reading of a schedule.
Sur. I would 'twere fomething that would fret the
The mafter-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'th' name of thrift Does he rake this together! Now, my lords, Saw you the Cardinal ?
Stood here obferving him. Some ftrange commotion Is in his brain; he bites his lips and ftarts, Stops on a fudden, looks upon the ground, Then lays his finger on his temple; ftratt Springs out into faft gate, then stops again, Strikes his breaft hard, and then anon he cafts His eye against the moon, in moft ftrange poftures We've feen him fet himself.
King. It may well be,
There is a mutiny in's mind. This morning Papers of ftate he fent me to peruse, As I requir'd; and wot you what I found
There, on my confcience put unwittingly? Forfooth an inventory, thus importing The feveral parcels of his plate, his treasure, Rich ftuffs and ornaments of houfhold, which I find at fuch a proud rate, it out-fpeaks Poffeffion of a subject. -
Nor. It's heav'ns will,
Some fpirit put this paper in the packet, To blefs your eye withal.
King. If we did think
His contemplations were above the earth, And fix'd on fpiritual 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 heavenly ftuff, and bear the inventory
of your best graces in your mind; the which
You were now running o'er; you have fcarce time To fteal from fpiritual leifure 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' ftate; and nature does require Her times of prefervation, which perforce I her frail fon, amongst my brethren mortal, Muft give my tendance to.
King. You have faid well.
Wol. And ever may your Highness yoke together,
As I will lend you caufe, my doing well
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 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 prefent havings to bestow
My bounties upon you.
Wol. What fhould this mean?
Sur. The lord increase this bufinefs.
King. Have I not made you
The prime man of the ftate? I pray you tell me, If what I now pronounce you have found true: And if you may confefs it, fay withal
If you are bound to us, orno? what say you? Wol. My Sovereign, I confefs your royal graces Showr'd on me daily have been more than could My ftudied purposes require, which went Beyond all man's endeavours. My endeavours Have ever come too fhort of my defires, Yet fill'd with my abilities, mine own
Ends have been fuch that evermore they pointed To the good of your most facred perfon, and The profit of the ftate: For your great graces Heap'd upon me, poor undeferver, I
Can nothing render but allegiant thanks, My prayers to heaven for you; my loyalty,, Which ever has, and ever fhall be growing 'Till death, that winter, kill it.
King. Fairly answer'd :
A loyal and obedient fubject is
Therein illuftrated; the honour of it Does pay the act of it, i'th' contrary
The fouĺnefs 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 every function of your power, Should, notwithstanding that your bond of duty,. As 'twere in love's particular, be more To me, your friend, than any..
That for your Highnefs' good I ever labour'd More than mine own; that am I, have been, will be: Though all the world fhould 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 forms more horrid; yet, my duty, As doth a rock against the chiding flood, Should the approach of this wild river break, And ftand unfhaken yours.
King. 'Tis nobly spoken;
Take notice lords, he has a loyal For you have feen him open't.
breast, 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 Ne bies throng after him whispering and smiling.
SCENE IV.
Wol. What fhould this mean?
What fudden anger's this? how have I reap'd it ! He parted frowning from me, as if ruin
Upon the daring buntfman that has gall'd him,
Then makes him nothing. I must read this paper: I fear, the story of his anger
-'tis fo
'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 fecret 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 ftir him ftrongly; yet I know A way, if I take right, in fpight of fortune Will bring me off again. What's this-To the Pope The letter, as I live, with all the business I writ to's holinefs. Nay, then farewel: I've touch'd the highest point of all my greatneff
And from that full meridian of my glory, 1 hafte now to my fetting. • 1 fhall fall Like a bright exhalation in the evening,, And no man fee me more.
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 prefently Into our hands and to confine your felf To Alher-house, my lord of Winchester's, 'Till you hear further from his highnefs. Wol. Stay:
Where's your commiffion, lords? words cannot carry Authority fo mighty..
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 difgrace
As if it fed ye, and how fleek and wanton Ye appear in every thing may bring my ruin. Follow your envious courfes, men of malice; You have a chriftian warrant for 'em, and In time will find their fit rewards. That feal You ask with fuch a violence, the King
(Mine and your mafter) with his own hand gave mej 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, prieft. Wol. Proud lord, thou lieft:
Within thefe forty hours Surrey durft better
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