In the divorce, his contrary proceedings

Are all unfolded: wherein he appears

As I would wish mine enemy.

The cardinal's letters to the pope miscarried,

And came to the eye o' the king: wherein was read,
How that the cardinal did entreat his holiness
To stay the judgment o' the divorce: For if
It did take place, " I do," quoth he, " perceive
My king is entangled in affection to

A creature of the queen's, Lady Anne Bullen."

The king in this perceives him, how he coasts,
And hedges his own way. But in this point
All his tricks founder, and he brings his physic
After his patient's death; the king already
Hath married the fair lady.

Suf.

No, no.-Cardinal Campeius

Is stolen away to Rome; hath ta'en no leave;
Has left the cause of the king unhandled; and
Is posted, as the agent of our cardinal,

To second all his plot. I do assure you
The king cried ha! at this.

But, my lord,

Nor.

When returns Cranmer ?

Suf.

He is returned, in his opinions; which

Have satisfied the king for his divorce:
Shortly, I believe,

His second marriage shall be published, and
Her coronation. Katharine no more

Shall be called queen; but princess dowager,
And widow to Prince Arthur.-

The packet, Cromwell, gave it you the king?

Crom.

To his own hand, in his bedchamber.

Wol.

Looked he o' the inside of the paper?

Presently

Crom.

He did unseal them: and the first he viewed,

He did it with a serious mind; a heed
Was in his countenance: You he bade
Attend him here this morning.

It shall be to the duchess of Alençon,

The French king's sister: he shall marry her.—

Anne Bullen! No; I'll no Anne Bullen for him:
There is more in it than fair visage.—Bullen!

No, we 'll no Bullen.-Speedily I wish

To hear from Rome.

The marchioness of Pembroke !

The late queen's gentlewoman; a knight's daughter,
To be her mistress' mistress! the queen's queen!
This candle burns not clear: 't is I must snuff it:

Then, out it goes.- What though I know her virtuous,
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

[Crosses, musing.

42

Hath crawled into the favour of the king,
An heretic, an arch one, Cranmer; one

And is his oracle.

He is vexed at something.

Nor.

Sur.

I would 't were something that would fret the string,
The master-cord of his heart!

The king, the king!

Suf.

[Aside.

[Aside.

[Enter King Henry. He holds a letter in one hand, and is reading a schedule, held in the other.

King Henry.

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 ?

My lord, we have

Nor.

[Seeing the Lords.

Stood here observing him: Some strange commotion

Is in his brain :

[Norfolk points to where Wolsey now is sitting in

the recess of a window.

His contemplations were above the earth,

And fixed on spiritual objects, he should still
Dwell in his musings; but, I am afraid,

His thinkings are below the moon.

[The King signs to the Lord Chamberlain, who goes to Wolsey.

You're full of heavenly stuff, and bear the inventory
Of our 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
I deem you an ill husband; and am glad
To have you therein my companion.

Sir,

Wol.

For holy offices I have a time; a time
To think upon the part of business which
I bear i' the state; and nature does require
Her times of preservation, which, perforce,
I, her frail son, among my brethren mortal,
Must give my tendance to.

You have said well.

King Henry.

Wol.

And ever may your highness yoke together,
As I will lend you cause, my doing well
With my well saying!

'Tis well said again;

King Henry.

And 't is a kind of good deed to say well;

And yet words are no deeds. My father loved you:

He said he did; and with his deed did crown

His word upon you.

Since I had my office,

I've kept you next my heart; have not alone

Employed you where high profits might come home,
But pared my present havings, to bestow
My bounties upon you.