Nor.

When returns Cranmer?

But, my Lord,

Suf. He is return'd in his opinions, which Have satisfied the king for his divorce, Together with all famous colleges

Almost in Christendom: shortly, I believe,
His second marriage shall be publish'd, and
Her coronation. Katharine no more
Shall be call'd queen, but princess dowager
And widow to Prince Arthur.

Nor.

This same Cranmer 's

A worthy fellow, and hath ta'en much pain

In the king's business.

Wol. The packet, Cromwell,

Gave 't you the king?

Crom.

To his own hand, in 's

bedchamber.

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.

To come abroad?

Crom.

Is he ready

I think, by this he is.

Wol. Leave me awhile. [exit Cromwell. [aside] It shall be to the Duchess of Alen

çon,

The French king's sister: he shall marry

her.

Anne Bullen! No; I'll no Anne Bullens

for him:

There's more in 't than fair visage. Bullen!
No, we'll no Bullens.
To hear from Rome.

Pembroke !

Speedily I wish

The Marchioness of

Wol. [aside] The late queen's gentlewoman, a knight's daughter,

To be her mistress' mistress! the queen's queen!

This candle burns not clear: 'tis I must

snuff it;

Then out it goes.

her virtuous

What though I know

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-ruled king. Again, there is sprung

up

An heretic, an arch one, Cranmer, one Hath crawl'd into the favour of the king, And is his oracle.

Nor.

He is vex'd at something.

Sur. I would 'twere something that

would fret the string,

The master-cord on 's heart!

Enter KING, reading of a schedule, and LOVELL.

Suf.

The king, the king!

King. What piles of wealth hath he

accumulated

To his own portion! and what expense by the hour

Seems to flow from him! How, i' the 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 strange

commotion

Is in his brain he bites his lip, and starts; Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground, Then lays his finger on his temple; straight Springs out into fast gait; then stops again,

Strikes his breast hard, and anon he casts His eye against the moon: in most strange postures

We have 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 required and wot you what I found
There, on my conscience, put unwittingly?
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.

Nor.

It's heaven's will:

Some spirit put this paper in the packet,

To bless your eye withal.

King.

If we did think

His contemplation were above the earth, And fix'd on spiritual object, he should still Dwell in his musings: but I am afraid

His thinkings are below the moon, not worth

His serious considering.

[King takes his seat; whispers Lovell, who

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 spiritual leisure a brief span To keep your earthly audit: sure, in that