Suf.
How sad he looks! sure, he is much afflicted.

King.
Who's there? ha?

Nor.
Pray God, he be not angry.

King.
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.

King.
Ye 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 the Pope's Legate, with a Commission.
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 rev'rend Sir, into our kingdom;

Use us, and it. My good Lord, ^{4 note}
have great care
I be not found a talker. [To Wolsey.

Wol.
Sir, you cannot.
I would your Grace would give us but an hour
Of private Conf'rence.

King.
We are busy; go. [To Norf. and Suff.

Nor.
This priest has no pride in him?

Suf.
Not to speak of:
I would not be * ^noteso sick though, for his place.
But this cannot continue.

Nor.
If it do,
I'll venture one heave at him.

Suf.
I another. [Exeunt Norfolk and Suffolk.

Wol.
Your Grace has giv'n 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, ty'd by blood and favour to her,
Must now confess, if he 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 gen'ral tongue unto us, this good man,
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've 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 impartial 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 what
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. Cardinal goes out, and re-enters 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. [Walks and whispers.

Cam.
My Lord of York, was not one Doctor Pace
In this man's place before him?

Wol.
Yes, he was.

Cam.
Was he not held a learned man?

Wol.
Yes surely.

Cam.
Believe me, there's an ill opinion spread then
Ev'n of yourself, Lord Cardinal.

Wol.
How! of me?

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

Wol.
Heav'n'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 th' Queen. [Exit Gardiner.
The most convenient place that I can think of,
For such receit 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.

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