Thou art a cure fit for a king.—[To CAMP.] You're

welcome,

Most learned reverend sir, into our kingdom.

Use us and it.[To WOLS.] My good lord, have great care

I be not found a talker."

Wol.

Sir, you cannot.

I would your grace would give us but an hour
Of private conference.

King. [To NORF. and SUF.] We are busy go. Nor. [Aside to SUF.] This priest has no pride ir. him.

Suf. [Aside to NORF.] Not to speak of;
I would not be so sick though for his place
But this cannot continue.

Nor. [Aside to SUF.] If it do,

I'll venture one have at him.

Suf. [Aside to NORF.]

I another.

[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, Gave their free voices: Rome, the nurse of judgment,

Invited by your noble self, hath sent

One general tongue unto us, this good man,

The meaning appears to be, "Let care be taken that my promise be performed, that my professions of welcome be no found empty talk."

That is, so sick as he is proud.

This just and learned priest, Cardinal Campeius; Whom once more I present unto your highness.

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

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.

King. Two equal men. The queen shall be acquainted

Forthwith for what you come. 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.

King. 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.

King. Come hither, Gardiner.

[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 inan?

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 hinı; And fearing he would rise, he was so virtuous, Kept him a foreign man still ; which so griev'd

him,

That he ran mad and died."

Wol.

Heaven's peace be with him! That's Christian 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.

King. 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

6" Aboute this time the king received into favour Doctor Stephen Gardiner, whose service he used in matters of great secrecie and weight, admitting him in the room of Doctor Pace, the which being continually abrode in ambassades, and the same oftentymes not much necessarie, by the Cardinalles appointment, at length Le toke such greefe therewith, that he fell out of his right wittes." Holinshed.

So sweet a bedfellow ? But, conscience, con

science,

O! 'tis a tender place, and I must leave her.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

An Antechamber in the Queen's Apartments.

Enter ANNE BOLEYN, 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,

Still growing in a majesty and pomp,

The which to leave 's a thousand-fold more bitter, Than 'tis sweet at first t' acquire ;

cess,

To give her the avaunt! it is a pity
Would move a monster.

Old L.

after this pro

Hearts of most hard temper

Melt and lament for her.

Anne.

O, God's will! much better

She ne'er had known pomp: though 't be temporal, Yet, if that cruel fortune do divorce'

Cruel is taken from Col

1 The old copies read quarrel here. lier's newly-discovered folio of 1632. As the old spelling of cruel was crewell, it seems not altogether improbable that the printer may have misread it quarrel. The only tolerable explanation of the common reading is, that quarrel is used for quarreller; and no other instance of such an usage has been produced. On the other hand, the main objection to cruel lies in its tameness. As the emendation has very little authority, and as the original has

It from the bearer, 'tis a sufferance panging
As soul and body's severing.

I swear, 'tis better to be lowly born,
And range with humble livers in content,
Than to be perk'd up in a glistering grief,
And wear a golden sorrow.

And venture maidenhead for't; and so would you,
For all this spice of your hypocrisy.

You, that have so fair parts of woman on you,
Have, too, a woman's heart, which ever yet
Affected eminence, wealth, sovereignty;

Which, to say sooth, are blessings; and which gifts (Saving your mincing) the capacity

Of your soft cheveril conscience' would receive, If you might please to stretch it.

Anne.

Nay, good troth,

Old L. Yes, troth, and troth. You would not

be a queen?

Anne. No, not for all the riches under heaven.

Old L. 'Tis strange: a three-pence how'd would

hire me,

Old as I am, to queen it.

But, I pray you,

hardly any more fitness of sense, it is not easy to settle the pref

erence.

H.

2 Meaning the same as the "india-rubber consciences" of our time; cheveril being leather made of kid-skin, which was pecu liarly yielding and stretchy.

н.