Nor. How holily he works in all his business!

And with what zeal! For, now he has crack'd the

league

Between us and the emperor, the queen's great nephew,
He dives into the king's soul; and there scatters
Dangers, doubts, wringing of the conscience,
Fears, and despairs, and all these for his marriage:
And, out of all these to restore the king,
He counsels a divorce: a loss of her,
That, like a jewel, has hung twenty years
About his neck, yet never lost her lustre :
Of her, that loves him with that excellence
That angels love good men with; even of her
That, when the greatest stroke of fortune falls,
Will bless the king: And is not this course pious?
Cham. Heaven keep me from such counsel! 'Tis
most true,

These news are every where; every tongue speaks them,
And every true heart weeps for't: All, that dare
Look into these affairs, see this main end,-

The French king's sister. Heaven will one day open
The king's eyes, that so long have slept upon

This bold bad man.

Suf.

Nor. We had need pray,

And free us from his slavery.

And heartily, for our deliverance;

Or this imperious man will work us all
From princes into pages; all men's honours
Lie in one lump before him, to be fashion'd
Into what pitch he please.1

Suf.

For me, my lords,

I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed:

As I am made without him, so I'll stand,

If the king please; his curses and his blessings

1 Into what pitch he please.] The mass must be fashioned into pitch or height, as well as into particular form. The meaning is, that the cardinal can, as he pleases, make high or low.

Touch me alike, they are breath I not believe in.
I knew him, and I know him; so I leave him
To him, that made him proud, the pope.

Nor.

Let's in;

And, with some other business, put the king
From these sad thoughts, that work too much upon him:
My lord, you'll bear us company?

Excuse me;

Cham.
The king hath sent me other-where: besides,
You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him:
Health to your lordships.

Nor.

Thanks, my good lord chamberlain. [Exit Lord Chamberlain.

NORFOLK opens a folding-door. The King is discovered sitting, and reading pensively.

Suf. How sad he looks! sure, he is much afflicted. K. Hen. Who is there? ha?

Nor.

'Pray God, he be not angry.

K. Hen. Who's there, I say? How dare you thrust

Nor. A gracious king, that pardons all offences Malice ne'er meant: our breach of duty, this

Is business of estate; in which, we come

To know your royal pleasure.

K. Hen.

You are too bold;

way,

Go to; I'll make ye know your times of business:
Is this an hour for temporal affairs? ha?-

Enter WOLSEY and CAMPeius.

Who's there? my good lord cardinal? — O, my Wolsey,

The quiet of my wounded conscience,

Thou art a cure fit for a king. — You're welcome,

[To CAMPEIUS.

Most learned reverend sir, into our kingdom;

Wol.

Sir, you cannot.

[To WOLSEY.

I would, your grace would give us but an hour

Of private conference.

K. Hen.

Not to speak of;

Nor. This priest has no pride in him?

Suf.

I would not be so sick though3, for his place:
But this cannot continue.

Nor.

If it do,

I another.

I'll venture one heave at him.†

Suf.

[Aside.

[Exeunt NORFOLK and SUFFolk.

Wol. Your grace has given a precedent of wisdom
Above all princes, in committing freely

Your scruple to the voice of Christendom:
Who can be angry now? what envy reach you?
The Spaniard, tied by blood and favour to her,
Must now confess, if they have any goodness,
The trial just and noble. All the clerks,

I mean, the learned ones, in christian kingdoms,
Have their free voices+; Rome, the nurse of judgment,
Invited by your noble self, hath sent

One general tongue unto us, this good man,
This just and learned priest, cardinal Campeius;
Whom, once more, I present unto your highness.

2

K. Hen. And, once more, in mine arms I bid him welcome,

have great care

I be not found a talker.] I take the meaning to be, Let care be taken that my promise be performed, that my professions of welcome be not found empty talk. JOHNSON.

3

+

so sick though,] That is, so sick as he is proud.

one have at him." - MALONE.

-

4 Have their free voices;] The construction is, have sent their free voices; the word sent, which occurs in the next line, being understood here.

And thank the holy conclave for their loves;
They have sent me such a man I would have wish'd for.
Cam. Your grace must needs deserve all strangers'

loves,

You are so noble: To your highness' hand

I tender my commission; by whose virtue,
(The court of Rome commanding,) — you, my lord
Cardinal of York, are join'd with me their servant,
In the unpartial judging of this business.

K. Hen. Two equal men. The queen shall be acquainted

Forthwith, for what

- Where's Gardiner?

Wol. I know, your majesty has always lov'd her

So dear in heart, not to deny her that

A woman of less place might ask by law,

Scholars, allow'd freely to argue for her.

K. Hen. Ay, and the best, she shall have; and my favour

To him that does best; God forbid else. Cardinal,
Pr'ythee, call Gardiner to me, my new secretary;
I find him a fit fellow.

[Exit WOLSEY.

Re-enter WOLSEY, with 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, whose hand has rais'd me.

K. Hen. Come hither, Gardiner.

[Aside.

[They converse apart.

Cam. My lord of York, was not one doctor Pace

In this man's place before him?

Wol.

Cam. Was he not held a learned man?

Wol.

Yes, he was.

Yes, surely.

Cam. Believe me, there's an ill opinion spread then Even of yourself, lord cardinal.

Wol.

How! of me?

Cam. They will not stick to say, you envied him; And, fearing he would rise, he was so virtuous, Kept him a foreign man still 5; which so griev'd him, That he ran mad, and died.

Wol.
Heaven's peace be with him!
That's christain 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.

K. Hen. Deliver this with modesty to the queen.
[Exit GARDINer.
The most convenient place that I can think of,
For such receipt of learning, is Black-Friars;
There ye shall meet about this weighty business :-
My Wolsey, see it furnish'd. — O my lord,

Would it not grieve an able man, to leave

So sweet a bedfellow? But, conscience, conscience, O, 'tis a tender place, and I must leave her.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

An Ante-Chamber in the Queen's Apartments.

Enter ANNE BULLEN, and an old Lady.'

Anne. Not for that neither;- Here's the pang that pinches :

His highness having liv'd so long with her: and she
So good a lady, that no tongue could ever
Pronounce dishonour of her, by my life,
She never knew harm-doing; - O now, after
So many courses of the sun enthron'd,

5 Kept him a foreign man still;] Kept him out of the king's presence, employed in foreign embassies.