Enter Wolsey, and Cromwell.

Nor. Observe, observe, he's moody.
Wol. The packet, Cromwell,
Gave't you the king?

Crom. To his own hand, in his bed-chamber.
Wol. Look'd he o' the inside of the paper?
Crom. Presently

He did unseal them: and the first he view'd,
He did it with a serious mind; a heed
Was in his countenance: You, he bade
Attend him here this morning.

Wol. Is he ready

Nor. He's discontented.

Suf. May be, he hears the king

Does whet his anger to him.

To come abroad?

Crom. I think, by this he is.
Wol. Leave me a while.- [Exit Cromwell.
It shall be to the dutchess of Alençon,
The French king's sister: he shall marry her.-40
Anne Bullen! No; I'll no Anne Bullens for him :|
There's more in't than fair visage.-Bullen!
No, we'll no Bullens!-Speedily I wish
To hear from Rome.-The marchioness of Pem-
broke!-

King. It may well be;

There is a mutiny in his mind. This morning,
Papers of state he sent me to peruse,

As I requir'd; And, wot you, what I found There; on my conscience, put unwittingly? 30 Forsooth, an inventory, thus importing,

The several parcels of his plate, his treasure,
Rich stuffs, and ornaments of household; which
I find at such proud rate, that it out-speaks
Possession of a subject.

135

Nor. It is heaven's 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, not worth
His serious considering.

[He takes his seat; and whispers Lovel, who goes to
Wolsey.

45

Sur. Sharp enough,

Lord, for thy justice!

[daughter, 50
Wol. The late queen's gentlewoman; a knight's
To be her 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-deserving? yet I know her for
A spleeny Lutheran; and not wholesome to
Our cause, that she should lie i' the bosom of
Our hard-rul'd king. Again, there is sprung up
An heretic, an arch one, Cranmer ; one

Wol. Heaven forgive me!—
Ever God bless your highness!
King. Good my lord,

[tory

You are full of heavenly stuff, and bear the inven
Of your best graces in your mind; the which
You were now running o'er: you have scarce
time

55

To steal from spiritual leisure a brief span,
To keep your earthly audit: sure, in that
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, which
601 bear i' the state; and nature does require

1i. e. with the same sentiments he entertained before he went abroad, which sentiments justify the king's divorce. 2 Mr. Steevens on this passage remarks thus: "That the cardinal gave the king an inventory of his own private wealth, by mistake, and thereby ruined himself, is a known variation from the truth of history. Shakspeare, however, has not injudiciously represented the fall of that great man, as owing to a similar incident which he had once improved to the destruction of another." See Holinshed, vol. ii, p. 796.

Y y

He

Her times of preservation, which, perforce,
I her frail son, amongst my brethren mortal,
Must give my tendance to.

King. You have said well.

Wol. Andever may your highness yoke together,
As I will lend you cause, my doing well
With my well saying!

King. 'Tis well said again;

10

And 'tis a kind of good deed, to say well:
And yet words are no deeds. My father lov'd you:
He said, he did; and with his deed did crown
His word upon you. Since I had my office,
I have kept you next my heart; have not alone
Employ'd you where high profits might come
home,

King, 'Tis nobly spoken: Take notice, lords, he has a loyal breast, For you have seen him open't.-[Read o'er this; [Gicing him papers. 5 And, after, this: and then to breakfast, with What appetite you have.

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

Wol. What should this mean?

But par'd my present havings, to bestow
My bounties upon you.

Wol. What should this mean?

King. Fairly answer'd:

A loyal and obedient subject is
Therein illustrated: the honour of it

[Aside.

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, say withal,
If you are bound to us, or no. What say you?
Wol. My sovereign, I confess, your royal graces, 25
Shower'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 desires,
Yet, fil'd with my abilities: Mine own ends
Have been mine so, that evermore they pointed
To the good of your most sacred 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 prayers to heaven for you; my loyalty,
Which ever has, and ever shall be growing,
'Till death, that winter, kill it.

20

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 gall'd him;
15 Then makes him nothing. I must read this paper;
I fear, the story of his anger.-'Tis so:
This paper has undone me:-'Tis the 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 sent the king? Is there no way to cure this?
No new device to beat this from his brains?
I know, 'twill stir him strongly; yet I know
way, if it take right, in spite 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 his holiness. Nay then, farewell!
301 have touch'd the highest point of all my greatness;
And, from that full meridian of my glory,
I haste now to my setting: I shall fall
Like a bright exhalation in the evening,
And no man see me more.

A

more

On you, than any; so 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.

Wol. I do profess,

Does pay the act of it; as, i' the contrary,
The foulness is the punishment. I presume,
That, as my hand has open'd bounty to you,
My heart dropp'd love, my power rain'd honour, 43 Authority so 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,

That for your highness' good I ever labour'd
More than mine own; that am, have, and will be.
Though all the world should crack their duty

to you,

35 Re-enter the Dukes of Norfolk, and Suffolk, the Earl of Surrey, and the Lord Chamberlain. Nor. Hear the king's pleasure, cardinal: who commands 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 stand unshaken yours.

To render up the great seal presently 40 Into our hands; and to confine yourself To Esher house, my lord of Winchester's, Till you hear further from his highness. Wol. Stay, [carry Where's your commission, lords? words cannot

50(I mean your malice) know, officious lords,
I dare, and must deny it. Now I feel
Of what coarse metal ye are moulded,—envy.
How eagerly ye follow my disgrace,

55

As if it fed ye! and how sleck and wanton
Ye appear in every thing may bring my ruin!
Follow your envious courses, men of malice;
You have christian warrant for them, and no doubt,
In time will find their fit rewards. That seal,
You ask with such a violence, the king [me;
60 (Mine, and your master) with his own hand gave
Bade me enjoy it, with the place and honours,
During my life; and, to confirm his goodness,

The sense is, my purposes went beyond all human endeavour. 2 i. e. ranked, or have gone an equal pace with my abilities.

Ty'd

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 art a proud traitor, priest.
Wol. Proud lord, thou liest;

Within these forty hours Surrey durst better
Have burnt that tongue, than said so.

Sur. Thy ambition,

Thou scarlet sin, robb'd this bewailing land
Of noble Buckingham, my father-in-law :
The heads of all thy brother cardinals
(With thee, and all thy best parts bound together)]
Weigh'd not a hair of his. Plague of your policy!
You sent me deputy for Ireland;

Far from his succour, from the king, from all
"That might have mercy on the fault thougav'st him;
Whilst your great goodness, out of holy pity,
Absolv'd him with an axe.

Wol. This, and all else

This talking lord can lay upon my credit,
I answer, is most false. The duke by law
Found his deserts: how innocent I was
From any private malice in his end,
His noble jury and foul cause can witness.
If I lov'd many words, lord, I should tell you,
You have as little honesty as honour;

That I, in the way of loyalty and truth
Toward the king, my ever royal master,
Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be,
And all that love his follies.

Sur. This cannot save you:

10

I thank my memory, I yet remember
Some of these articles; and out they shall.
Now, if you can blush, and cry guilty, cardinal,
You'll shew a little honesty.

Sur. By my soul,

Ffeel
Your long coat, priest, protects you: thou should'st
My sword i' the life-blood of thee else.-My lords,
Can ye endure to hear this arrogance?
And from this fellow? If we live thus tamely,
To be thus jaded by a piece of scarlet,
Farewell nobility; let his grace go forward,
And dare us with his cap, like larks'.
Wol. All goodness

Is poison to thy stomach.

Sur. Yes, that goodness

Of gleaning all the land's wealth into one,
Into your own hands, cardinal, by extortion ;
The goodness of your intercepted packets,
You writ to the pope, against the king: your 45
goodness,

Wol. Speak on, sir;

I dare your worst objections: if I blush,

15

It is, to see a nobleman want manners. [at you.
Sur. I'd rather want those, than my head. Have
First, that, without the king's assent, or knowledge,
You wrought to be a legate; by which power
You maim'd the jurisdiction of all bishops.

Nor. Then, that, in all you writ to Rome, or else
20 To foreign princes, Ego et Rex meus
Was still inscrib'd; in which you brought the king
To be your servant.

Suf. Then, that, without the knowledge
Either of king or council, when you went
25 Ambassador to the emperor, you made bold
To carry into Flanders the great seal.

Sur. Item, you sent a large commission
To Gregory de Cassalis, to conclude,
Without the king's will, or the state's allowance,
30A league between his highness and Ferrara.

Suf. That,out of mere ambition, you have caus'd
Your holy hat to be stampt on the king's coin.
Sur. Then, that you have sent innumerable sub-

Since you provoke me, shall be most notorious.—
My lord of Norfolk,-
-as you are truly noble,
As you respect the common good, the state
Of your despis'd nobility, our issues,
Who, if he live, will scarce be gentlemen,—
Produce the grand sum of his sins, the articles
Collected from his life :-I'll startle you [wench
Worse than the sacring bell, when the brown
Lay kissing in your arms, lord cardinal. [man, 55
Wol. How much, methinks, I could despise this
But that I am bound in charity against it!

stance

35 (Bywhat means got, Ileave to yourownconscience)
To furnish Rome, and to prepare the ways
You have for dignities; to the mere 3 undoing
Of all the kingdom. Many more there are;
Which, since they are of you, and odious,
40I will not taint my mouth with.
Cham. O my lord,

Press not a falling man too far; 'tis virtue:
His faults lie open to the laws; let them,
Not you, correct him. My heart weeps to see him
So little of his great self.

Sur. I forgive him.

[is,

Suf. Lord cardinal, the king's further pleasure
Because all those things, you have done of late
By your power legatine within this kingdom,
50 Fall into the compass of a Præmunire,

That therefore such a writ be su'd against you;
To forfeit all your goods, lands, tenements,
Castles, and whatsoever, and to be
Out of the king's protection*:-This is my charge.

Nor. And so we'll leave you to your meditations
How to live better. For your stubborn answer,
About the giving back the great seal to us,

The hat of a cardinal was scarlet; and the method of daring larks was by small mirrors fastened on scarlet cloth, which engaged the attention of these birds while the fowler drew his net over them. The little bell, which is rung to give notice of the Host approaching when it is carried in procession, as also in other offices of the Romish church, is called the sacring or consecration bell; from the French word, sacrer. 1i. e. absolute. 4 The judgement in a writ of Pramunire is, that the defendant shall be out of the king's protection; and his lands and tenements, goods and chattels, forfeited to the king; and that his body shall remain in prison at the king's pleasure.

The

Yy 2

The king shall know it, and, no doubt, shall thank you.

5

So fare you well, my little good lord cardinal.
[Exeunt all but Wolsey.
Wol. So farewell to the little good you bear me.
Farewell, a long farewell, to all my greatness!
This is the state of man; To-day he puts forth
The tender leaves of hope, to-morrow blossoins,
And bears his blushing honours thick upon him:
The third day, comes a frost, a killing frost;
And,-when he thinks, good easy man, full surely
His greatness is a-ripening,-nips his root,
And then he falls, as I do. I have ventur'd,
Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders,
These many summers in a sea of glory;
But far beyond my depth: my high-blown pride
At length broke under me; and now has left me,
Weary, and old with service, to the mercy
Of a rude stream, that must for ever hide me.
Vain pomp, and glory of this world! I hate ye;
I feel my heart new open'd: O, how wretched
Is that poor man, that hangs on princes' favours!
There is, betwixt that smile we would aspire to,
That sweet aspect of princes, and our ruin,
More pangs and fears than wars or women have; 25
And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,
Never to hope again.-

Enter Cromwell, amazedly.
Why, how now, Cromwell?

Crom. I have no power to speak, sir.
Wol. What, amaz'd

At my misfortunes? can thy spirit wonder,

A great man should decline? Nay, an you weep,
I am fallen indeed.

Crom. How does your grace?
Wol. Why, well;

Never so truly happy, my good Cromwell.
I know myself now; and I feel within me
A peace above all carthly dignities,
A still and quiet conscience. The king has cur'd 40
I humblythank his grace;and from these shoulders,
These ruin'd pillars, out of pity, taken

[me,

A load would sink a navy, too much honour:
O, 'tis a burden, Cromwell, 'tis a burden,
Too heavy for a man that hopes for heaven.
Crom. I am glad your grace has made that right
use of it.

10 The king has gone beyond me, all my glories-
In that one woman I have lost for ever:
No sun shall ever usher forth mine honours,
Or gild again the noble troops that waited
Upon my smiles. Go,get thee from me, Cromwell;
15I am a poor fallen man, unworthy now

To be thy lord and master: Seek the king;
That sun, I pray, may never set! I have told him
What, and how true thou art: he will advance
Some little memory of me will stir him, [thee;
20I know his noble nature, not to let

Thy hopeful service perish too: Good Cromwell,
Neglect him not; make use now, and provide
For thine own future safety.

Crom. O my lord,

Must I then leave you? must I needs forego
So good, so noble, and so true a master?-
Bear witness, all that have not hearts of iron,
With what a sorrow Cromwell leaves his lord.—
The king shall have my service; but my prayers
30For ever, and for ever, shall be yours.

35

Wol. Cromwell, I did not think to shed a tear
In all my miseries; but thou hast forc'd me,
Out of thy honest truth, to play the woman.
Let's dryour eyes: And thus far hearme,Cromwell;
And,-when I am forgotten, as I shall be;
And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention
Of me more must be heard of,--say, I taught thee,
Say, Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory,
And sounded all the depths and shoals of honour,--
Found thee a way, out of his wreck, to rise in;
A sure and safe one, though thy master miss'd it.
Mark but my fall, and that that ruin'd me.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition;
By that sin fell the angels, how can man then,
45The image of his Maker,hope to win by 't? [thee;
Love thyself last: cherish those hearts that hate
Corruption wins not more than honesty.
Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace,
To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not:
50 Let all the ends, thou aim'st at, be thy country's,
Thy God's, and truth's; then if thou fall'st, O
Cromwell,

Wol. I hope, I have: I am able now, methinks,
(Out of a fortitude of soul I feel)
To endure more miseries, and greater far,
Than my weak-hearted enemies dare offer.
What news abroad?

Crom. The heaviest and the worst, Is your displeasure with the king.

Wol. God bless him!

Install'd lord archbishop of Canterbury.
Wol. That's news indeed.

Crom. Last, that the lady Anne,

Whom the king hath in secrecy long marry'd,
This day was view'd in open, as his queen,
Going to chapel; and the voice is now
Only about her coronation

Crom. The next is, thatSirThomas More is chosen Lord chancellor in your place.

Wol. That's somewhat sudden:

Wol. There was the weight that pull'd me down.
O Cromwell,

Thou fall'st a blessed martyr. Serve the king;
And,-Pr'ythee, lead me in:

55 There take an inventory of all I have,
To the last penny; 'tis the king's: my robe,
And my integrity to heaven, is all

I dare now call mine own. O Cromwell, Cromwell,
Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal
60I serv'd my king, He would not in mine age
Have left ine naked to mine enemies'.

But he's a learned man. May he continue
Long in his highness' favour, and do justice
For truth's sake and his conscience; that his bones,
When he has run his course, and sleeps in blessings,
May have a tomb of orphans'' tears wept on him!
What more?
Crom. That Cranmer is return'd with welcome,[65]
The chancellor is the general guardian of orphans. This sentence was really uttered by Wolsey.

ACT.

Crom. Good sir, have patience.
Wol. So I have. Farewell

The hopes of court! my hopes in heaven do dwell. [Exeunt.

ACT

SCENE I.

A Street in Westminster.

Enter two Gentlemen, meeting one another. 1 Gent. YOU are well met1 once again. 2 Gent. So are you.

[behold

1 Gent. You come to take your stand here, and The lady Anne pass from her coronation?

10

2 Gent.'Tis all my business. At ourlastencounter, The duke of Buckingham came from his trial. 1 Gent. 'Tis very true: but that time offer'd sorThis, general joy. [row;

2 Gent. 'Tis well: the citizens,

Of those, that claim their offices this day,
By custom of the coronation.

The duke of Suffolk is the first, and claims
To be high steward; next the duke of Norfolk,
To be earl marshal: you may read the rest.

2 Gent. I thank you, sir; had I not known those
customs,

I should have been beholden to your paper.
But, I beseech you, what's become of Katharine,
The princess dowager? how goes her business?

1 Gent. That I can tell you too. The archbishop
Of Canterbury, accompanied with other
Learn'd and reverend fathers of his order,
Held a late court at Dunstable, six miles off
From Ampthill, where the princess lay; to which
She oft was cited by them, but appear'd not:
And, to be short, for not appearance, and
The king's late scruple, by the main assent
Of all these learned men, she was divorc'd,
And the late marriage made of none effect:
Since which, she was remov'd to Kimbolton,
Where she remains now, sick.

1 Gent. Alas, good lady!—

5

The trumpets sound: stand close; the queen is co[Hautboys.

ming.

30

IV.

6. Marquis Dorset, bearing a sceptre of gold, on his head a demi-coronal of gold. With him, the Earl of Surrey, bearing the rod of silver with the dove, crown'd with an earl's coronet. Collars of SS.

THE ORDER OF THE CORONATION.
1. A lively flourish of trumpets.
2. Then two Judges.

3. Lord Chancellor, with the purse and mace
before him.

4. Choristers singing.
[Music. 55
3. Mayor of London, bearing the mace. Then
Garter, in his coat of arms, and on his
head a gilt copper crown.

7. Duke of Suffolk, in his robe of estate, his coronet on his head, bearing a long white wand, as high steward. With him the Duke of Norfolk, with the rod of marshalship, a coronet on his head. Collars of SS. 8. A canopy borne by four of the Cinque-ports; under it the Queen in her robe; her hair richly adorn'd with pearl, crowned. On each side her, the bishops of London and Winchester.

9. The old dutchess of Norfolk, in a coronal of gold, wrought with flowers, bearing the

Queen's train.

2 Gent. A royal train, believe me.--These I Who's that, that bears the sceptre? [know;1 Gent. Marquis Dorset:

25

And that the earl of Surrey, with the rod.

10. Certain Ladies or Countesses, with plain circlets of gold without flowers.

They pass over the stage in order and state.

2 Gent. A bold brave gentleman. That should be The duke of Suffolk.

1 Gent. "Tis the same, high-steward.

2 Gent. And that my lord of Norfolk.
1 Gent. Yes.

2 Gent.Heaven bless thee! [Looking ontheQueen.
Thou hast the sweetest face I ever look'd on.-
Sir, as I have a soul, she is an angel;
35 Our king has all the Indies in his arms,

And more, and richer, when he strains that lady:
I cannot blame his conscience.

1 Gent. They, that bear

The cloth of honour over her, are four barons 40 Of the Cinque-ports.

[her.

2 Gent. Those men are happy; so are all are near I take it, she that carries up the train,

Is that old noble lady, dutchess of Norfolk.
1 Gent. It is; and all the rest are countesses.
45 2 Gent. Their coronets say so. These are stars,
And, sometimes, falling ones.
[indeed;
[pets.

1 Gent. No more of that,
[Exit Procession, with a great flourish of trum-
Enter a third Gentleman.

50 God save you, sir! Where have you been broiling?
3 Gent. Among the crowd i' the abbey; where a
Could not be wedg'd in more: I am stiffed [finger
With the mere rankness of their joy.

2 Gent. You saw the ceremony?

3 Gent. That I did.

1 Gent. How was it?

3 Gent. Well worth the seeing.
2 Gent. Good sir, speak it to us.

! Alluding to their former meeting, in the second act.
Y y 3

3 Gent.