Wol. Is he ready To come abroad? Crom. I think, by this he is. Wol. Leave me a while. [Exit Cromwell. It shall be to the duchess of Alençon, Suf. May you be happy in your wish, my lord! The French king's sister: he shall marry her. For, I profess, you have it. Sur. Now all my joy Trace the conjunction! Suf. There's order given for her coronation : Marry, this is yet but young, and may be left To some ears unrecounted.-But, my lords, She is a gallant creature, and complete In mind and feature: I persuade me, from her Will fall some blessing to this land, which shall In it be memoriz'd. Sur. But, will the king Digest this letter of the cardinal's ? The lord forbid ! Nor. Marry, amen! Suf. No, no; There be more wasps, that buz about his nose, Is stolen away to Rome; hath ta'en no leave; Cham. Now, God incense him, When returns Cranmer? 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, Anne Bullen! No; I'll no Anne Bullens for him: There is more in it than fair visage.-Bullen! No, we'll no Bullens.-Speedily I wish To hear from Rome.-The marchioness of Pembroke! Nor. He's discontented. Suf. May be, he hears the king Does whet his anger to him. Sur. Sharp enough, Lord, for thy justice! Wol. 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.-What though I know her virtuous, And well-deserving? yet I know her for Nor. He is vex'd at something. The master-cord of his heart. Enter the King, reading a schedule; and LOVELL. Suf. The king, the king. K. Hen. What piles of wealth hath he accu mulated We have seen him set himself. K. Hen. It may well be; There is a mutiny in his mind. This morning As I requir'd; And, wot you, what I found Nor. It's heaven's will; Some spirit put this paper in the packet, K. Hen. If we did think His contemplation were above the earth, [He takes his seat, and whispers Lovell, Wol. Heaven forgive me! Ever God bless your highness! K. Hen. 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 spiritual leisure a brief span, Wol. Sir, For holy offices I have a time; a time K. Hen. You have said well. And yet words are no deeds. My father lov'd you: But par'd my present havings, to bestow Wol. What should this mean? Sur. The lord increase this business! [Aside, K. Hen. 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, Can nothing render but allegiant thanks; K. Hen. Fairly answer'd ; Therein illustrated: The honour of it you, And throw it from their soul; though perils did K. Hen. 'Tis nobly spoken: Wol. And ever may your highness yoke to- And, after, this: and then to breakfast, with gether, As I will lend you cause, my doing well With my well-saying! K. Hen. 'Tis well said again; And 'tis a kind of good deed, to say well: What appetite you have. [Exit King, frowning upon Cardinal Wolsey: the Nobles throng after him, smiling, and whispering. Wol. What should this mean? What sudden anger's this? how have I reap'd it? paper; I fear, the story of his anger.-'Tis so: The letter, as I live, with all the business ness; do it, (I mean, your malice,) know, officious lords, In time will find their fit rewards. That seal, gave me : Bade me enjoy it, with the place and honours, During my life; and, to confirm his goodness, Tied it by letters patents: Now, who'll take it? Sur. The king, that gave it. Wol. It must be himself then. Thou scarlet sin, robb'd this bewailing land Far from his succour, from the king, from all, That might have mercy on the fault thou gav ́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, Sur. By my soul, Your long coat, priest, protects you; thou should'st feel My sword i'the life-blood of thee else.-My lords, Is poison to thy stomach. Sur. Yes, that goodness Of gleaning all the land's wealth into one, Since you provoke me, shall be most notorious.— Lay kissing in your arms, lord cardinal. First, that, without the king's assent, or knowledge, You wrought to be a legate; by which power To foreign princes, Ego et Rex meus The king shall know it, and, no doubt, shall thank you. So fare you well, my little good lord cardinal. Was still inscrib'd; in which you brought the Vain pomp, and glory of this world, I hate ye; king To be your servant. Suf. Then, that, without the knowledge Either of king or council, when you went Ambassador to the emperor, you made bold To carry into Flanders the great seal. Sur. Item, you sent a large commission To Gregory de Casalis, to conclude, Without the king's will, or the state's allowance, A league between his highness and Ferrara. Suf. That, out of mere ambition, you have caus'd Your holy hat to be stamp'd on the king's coin. Sur. Then, that you have sent innumerable substance, (By what means got, I leave to your own conscience,) To furnish Rome, and to prepare the ways Cham. O my lord, Press not a falling man too far; 'tis virtue : So little of his great self. Sur. I forgive him. Suf. Lord cardinal, the king's further plea- Because all those things, you have done of late Out of the king's protection:-This is my charge. How to live better. For your stubborn answer, VOL. II. I feel my heart new open'd: O, how wretched Enter CROMWELL, amazedly. At my misfortunes? can thy spirit wonder, Crom. How does your grace? Never so truly happy, my good Cromwell. A still and quiet conscience. The king has cur'd me, I humbly thank his grace; and from these shoulders, These ruin'd pillars, out of pity, taken A load would sink a navy, too much honour: 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, Crom. The heaviest, and the worst, Crom. The next is, that sir Thomas More is chosen Lord chancellor in your place. Wol. That's somewhat sudden : N 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 'em! What more? Crom. That Cranmer is return'd with welcome, Install'd lord archbishop of Canterbury. Wol. That's news indeed. Crom. Last, that the lady Anne, Whom the king hath in secrecy long married, This day was view'd in open, as his queen, Going to chapel; and the voice is now Only about her coronation. Wol. There was the weight, that pull'd me down. O Cromwell, The king has gone beyond me, all my glories I am a poor fallen man, unworthy now Some little memory of me will stir him, Crom. O my lord, Must I then leave you? must I needs forego 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 dry our eyes: and thus far hear me, 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 ho nour, Found thee a way, out of his wreck, to rise in ; Corruption wins not more than honesty. Thou fall'st a blessed martyr. Serve the king; There take an inventory of all I have, I dare now call mine own. O Cromwell, Crom well, Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal The hopes of court! my hopes in heaven do SCENE I-A street in Westminster. Enter two Gentlemen, meeting. 1 Gent. You are well met once again. 2 Gent. And so are you. ACT IV. 1 Gent. You come to take your stand here, and behold The lady Anne pass from her coronation? 2 Gent. 'Tis all my business. At our last encounter, The duke of Buckingham came from his trial. 1 Gent. 'Tis very true: but that time offer'd sorrow; This, general joy. 2 Gent. "Tis well: The citizens, I am sure, have shown at full their royal minds; As, let them have their rights, they are ever forward In celebration of this day, with shows, 1 Gent. Never greater, Nor, I'll assure you, better taken, sir. 2 Gent. May I be bold to ask what that contains, That paper in your hand? 1 Gent. Yes; 'tis the list Of those, that claim their offices this day, The duke of Suffolk is the first, and claims |