1 Gent.

Let me have it;

I do not talk much.

2 Gent.

I am confident;

You shall, sir: Did you not of late days hear

A buzzing, of a separation

Between the king and Katharine?

1 Gent.

Yes, but it held not : For when the king once heard it, out of anger He sent command to the lord mayor, straight To stop the rumour, and allay those tongues That durst disperse it.

2 Gent.

But that slander, sir,
Is found a truth now: for it grows again
Fresher than e'er it was; and held for certain
The king will venture at it. Either the cardinal,
Or some about him near, have, out of malice
To the good queen, possess'd him with a scruple
That will undo her: To confirm this too,
Cardinal Campeius is arriv'd, and lately;
As all think, for this business.

1 Gent.
"T is the cardinal;
And merely to revenge him on the emperor,
For not bestowing on him, at his asking,
The archbishopric of Toledo, this is purpos'd.

2 Gent. I think you have hit the mark: But is 't not

cruel

That she should feel the smart of this? The cardinal

Will have his will, and she must fall.

1 Gent.

We are too open here to argue this;
Let's think in private more.

'T is woful.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-An Antechamber in the Palace. Enter the Lord Chamberlain, reading a letter. Cham.

My Lord, The horses your lordship sent for, with all the

care I had I saw well chosen, ridden, and furnished. They were young and handsome; and of the best breed in the north. When they were ready to set out for London, a man of my lord cardinal's, by commission, and main power, took 'em from me; with this reason,-His master would be serv'd before a subject, if not before the king; which stopped our mouths, sir."

I fear, he will, indeed: Well, let him have them :
He will have all, I think.

Enter the Dukes of NorfoLK and SUFFOLK.

Nor. Well met, my lord chamberlain.
Cham. Good day to both your graces.
Suf. How is the king employ'd?
Cham.

Full of sad thoughts and troubles.

I left him private,

What's the canse?

Nor.
Cham. It seems the marriage with his brother's wife

Has crept too near his conscience.

Suf.

Has crept too near another lady.
Nor.

No, his conscience

"T is so:

This is the cardinal's doing, the king-cardinal:
That blind priest, like the eldest son of fortune,
Turns what he list. The king will know him one day.
Suf. Pray God he do! he 'll never know himself
else.

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! 'T is
most true

These news are everywhere; 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.

And free us from his slavery.

Nor. We had need pray,

And heartily, for our deliverance;

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

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
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 dis covered 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 yourselves

Into my private meditations?

Who am I? ha?

Nor. A gracious king, that pardons all offences Malice ne'er meant: our breach of duty, this way, Is business of estate; in which, we come

To know your royal pleasure.

K. Hen.

You are too bold;

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; Use us, and it :-My good lord, have great care I be not found a talker.

[TO WOLSEY.

Sir, you cannot.

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

K. Hen.

Nor. This priest has no pride in him?

We are busy; go.

[To NORFOLK and SUFFOLK.

Not to speak of;

Aside.

Suf.
I would not be so sick though, for his place:

But this cannot continue.

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.

K. Hen. 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.

K. Hen. 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.

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

To him that does best; God forbid else. Cardinal,
Prithee call Gardiner to me, my new secretary;

I find him a fit fellow.

[Exit WOLSEY.