Wol.
Peace to your Highness!

Queen.
Your Graces find me here part of a housewife,
I would be all against the worst may happen.
What are your pleasures with me, rev'rend Lords?

Wol.
May't please you, noble Madam, to withdraw
Into your private chamber; we shall give you
The full cause of our coming.

Queen.
Speak it here.
There's nothing I have done yet, o' my conscience,
Deserves a corner; 'would, all other women
Could speak this with as free a soul as I do!
My Lords, I care not, so much I am happy
Above a number, if my actions
Were try'd by ev'ry tongue, ev'ry eye saw 'em,
^{2 note}Envy and base opinion set against 'em;
I know my life so even. If your business

^{3 note}
Do seek me out, and that way I am wife in,
Out with it boldly. Truth loves open dealing.

Wol.
Tanta est ergà te mentis integritas, Regina Serenissima,—

Queen.
O, good my Lord, no Latin;
I am not such a truant, since my coming,
As not to know the language I have liv'd in.
A strange tongue makes my cause more strange, suspicious.
Pray, speak in English; here are some will thank you,
If you speak truth, for their poor mistress' sake.
Believe me, she has had much wrong. Lord Cardinal,
The willing'st sin I ever yet committed,
May be absolv'd in English.

Wol.
Noble lady,
I'm sorry my integrity should breed,
And service to his Majesty and you,
So deep suspicion, where all faith was meant.
We come not by the way of accusation
To taint that honour every good tongue blesses,
Nor to betray you any way to sorrow,
(You have too much, good lady) but to know
How you stand minded in the weighty difference
Between the King and you; and to deliver,
Like free and honest men, our just opinions
And comforts to your cause.

Cam.
Most honour'd Madam,
My Lord of York, out of his noble nature
Zeal and obedience he still bore your Grace,
Forgetting, like a good man, your late censure
Both of his truth and him, which was too far,

Offers, as I do, in a sign of peace
His service and his counsel.—

Queen.
To betray me.
My Lords, I thank you both for your good wills,
Ye speak like honest men; pray God, ye prove so!
But how to make ye suddenly an answer
In such a point of weight, so near mine honour,
More near my life I fear, with my weak wit,
And to such men of gravity and learning,
In truth I know not. I was set at work
Among my maids; full little, God knows, looking
Either for such men, or such business.
For her sake that I have been, for I feel
The last fit of my greatness, good your Graces,
Let me have time and council for my cause.
Alas! I am a woman, friendless, hopeless.

Wol.
Madam, you wrong the King's love with those fears,
Your hopes and friends are infinite.

Queen.
In England
But little for my profit; can you think, Lords,
That any English man dare give me counsel?
Or be a known friend 'gainst his Highness' pleasure,
^{4 note}Though he be grown so desp'rate to be honest,
And live a subject? Nay, forsooth, my friends,
They that must ^{5 note}weigh out my afflictions,
They that my trust must grow to, live not here;
They are, as all my comforts are, far hence,
In my own country, Lords.

Cam.
I would your Grace
Would leave your griefs, and take my counsel.

Queen.
How, Sir?

Cam.
Put your main cause into the King's protection;
He's loving and most gracious. 'Twill be much
Both for your honour better, and your cause;
For if the trial of the law o'er-take you,
You'll part away disgrac'd.

Wol.
He tells you rightly.

Queen.
Ye tell me what ye wish for both, my ruin.
Is this your christian counsel? Out upon you!
Heav'n is above all yet; there sits a judge,
That no King can corrupt.

Cam.
Your rage mistakes us.

Queen.
^{6 note}The more shame for you; holy men I thought you,
Upon my soul, two rev'rend Cardinal virtues,
But Cardinal sins, and hollow hearts, I fear you;
Mend 'em for shame, my Lords. Is this your comfort?
The Cordial that you bring a wretched lady?
A woman lost among you, laugh'd at, scorn'd?
I will not wish you half my miseries,
I have more charity. But say, I warn'd ye;
Take heed, take heed, for heav'ns sake, lest at once
The burden of my sorrows fall upon you.

Wol.
Madam, this is a meer distraction;
Ye turn the good we offer into envy.

Queen.
Ye turn me into nothing. Wo upon you
And all such false professors! would ye have me,
If ye have any justice, any pity,
If ye be any thing but churchmens' habits,

Put my sick cause into his hands that hates me?
Alas! h'as banish'd me his bed already;
His love, too long ago. I'm old, my Lords;
And all the fellowship I hold now with him
Is only my obedience. What can happen
To me, above this wretchedness? all your studies
Make me a curse, like this!

Cam.
Your fears are worse—

Queen.
Have I liv'd thus long—let me speak myself,
Since virtue finds no friends—a wife, a true one?
A woman, I dare say, without vain-glory,
Never yet branded with suspicion?
Have I, with all my full affections
Still met the King? lov'd him next heav'n? obey'd him?
Been, out of fondness, ^{7 note}superstitious to him?
Almost forgot my prayers to content him?
And am I thus rewarded? 'Tis not well, Lords.
Bring me a constant woman to her husband,
One, that ne'er dream'd a joy beyond his pleasure;
And to that woman, when she has done most,
Yet will I add an honour; a great patience.

Wol.
Madam, you wander from the good we aim at.

Queen.
My Lord, I dare not make myself so guilty,
To give up willingly that noble title
Your master wed me to; nothing but death
Shall e'er divorce my dignities.

Wol.
Pray, hear me—

Queen.
'Would I had never trod this English earth,
Or felt the flatteries that grow upon it!
^{8 note}Ye've angels' faces, but heav'n knows your hearts.
What shall become of me now! wretched lady!
I am the most unhappy woman living.

—Alas! poor wenches, where are now your fortunes? [To her women.
Ship-wreck'd upon a kingdom, where no pity,
No friends, no hope, no kindred weep for me,
Almost, no grave allow'd me. Like the lilly,
That once was mistress of the field and flourish'd,
I'll hang my head, and perish.

Wol.
If your Grace
Could but be brought to know, our ends are honest;
You'd feel more comfort. Why should we, good lady,
Upon what cause, wrong you? alas! our places,
The way of our profession is against it,
We are to cure such sorrows, not to sow 'em.
For goodness' sake, consider what you do;
How you may hurt yourself, nay, utterly
Grow from the King's acquaintance by this carriage.
The hearts of Princes kiss obedience,
So much they love it; but to stubborn spirits,
They swell and grow as terrible as storms.
I know, you have a gentle, noble temper,
A soul as even as a calm; pray, think us
Those we profess, peace-makers, friends and servants.

Cam.
Madam, you'll find it so. You wrong your virtues
With these weak women's fears. A noble spirit,
As yours was put into you, ever casts
Such doubts, as false coin, from it. The King loves you;
Beware, you lose it not; for us, if you please
To trust us in your business, we are ready
To use our utmost studies in your service.

Queen.
Do what you will, my Lords; and, pray, forgive me,
If I have us'd myself unmannerly.
You know, I am a woman, lacking wit
To make a seemly answer to such persons.
Pray, do my service to his Majesty,
He has my heart yet; and shall have my pray'rs,

While I shall have my life. Come, rev'rend fathers;
Bestow your counsels on me. She now begs,
That little thought, when she set footing here,
She should have bought her dignities so dear. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Antechamber to the King's Apartments. Enter Duke of Norfolk, Duke of Suffolk, Lord Surrey, and Lord Chamberlain.

Nor.
If you will now unite in your complaints,
And ^{9 note}force them with a constancy, the Cardinal
Cannot stand under them. If you omit
The offer of this time, I cannot promise,
But that you shall sustain more new disgraces,
With these you bear already.

Sur.
I am joyful
To meet the least occasion that may give me
Remembrance of my father-in-law, the Duke,
To be reveng'd on him.

Suf.
Which of the peers
Have uncontemn'd gone by him, ^{1 note}

The stamp of nobleness in any person
Out of himself?

Cham.
My Lords, you speak your pleasures.
What he deserves of you and me, I know;
What we can do to him, though now the time
Give way to us, I much fear. If you cannot
Bar his access to the King, never attempt
Any thing on him; for he hath a witchcraft
Over the King in's tongue.

Nor.
O, fear him not,
His spell in that is out; the King hath found
Matter against him, that for ever mars
The honey of his language. No, he's settled,
Not to come off, in his most high displeasure.

Sur.
I should be glad to hear such news as this
Once every hour.

Nor.
Believe it, this is true.
In the Divorce, his ^{3 note}contrary proceedings
Are all unfolded; wherein he appears,
As I would wish mine enemy.

Sur.
How came
His practices to light?

Suf.
Most strangely.

Sur.
How?

Suf.
The Cardinal's letters to the Pope miscarried,
And came to th' eye o'th' King; wherein was read,
How that the Cardinal did intreat his Holiness
To stay the Judgment o'th' Divorce; for if
It did take place, I do, quoth he, perceive
My King is 'tangled in affection to
A creature of the Queen's, lady Anne Bullen.

Sur.
Has the King this?

Suf.
Believe it.

Sur.
Will this work?

Cham.
The King in this perceives him, how he coasts
^{4 note}

Sur.
'Would he had!

Suf.
May you be happy in your wish, my Lord,
For, I profess, you have it.

Sur.
Now all joy
^{5 note}Trace the conjunction!

Suf.
My Amen to't!

Nor.
All mens'!

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 compleat
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,
Will make this sting the sooner. Cardinal Campeius
Is stoln away to Rome, has ta'en no leave,
Hath left the cause o'th' King unhandled; and

Is posted, as the agent of our Cardinal,
To second all his plot. I do assure you,
The King cry'd, Ha! at this.

Cham.
Now, God incense him;
And let him cry, ha, louder!

Nor.
But, my Lord,
When returns Cranmer?

Suf.
He is return'd with his opinions, which
Have satisfy'd the King for his Divorce,
Gather'd from all the famous colleges
Almost in Christendom; shortly, I believe,
His second marriage shall be publish'd, and
Her Coronation. Catharine no more
Shall be call'd Queen; but Princess dowager,
And widow to Prince Arthur.

Nor.
This same Cranmer's
A worthy fellow, and hath ta'en much pain
In the King's business.

Suf.
He has, and we shall see him
For it an Archbishop.

Nor.
So I hear.

Suf.
'Tis so. Enter Wolsey and Cromwell.
The Cardinal—

Nor.
Observe, observe, he's moody.

Wol.
The packet, Cromwell,
Gave it you the King?

Crom.
To his own hand, in's bed-chamber.

Wol.
Look'd he o'th' inside of the paper?

Crom.
Presently
He did unseal them, and the first he view'd,
He did it with a serious mind; a heed
Was in his countenance. You he bade
Attend him here this morning.

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 Dutchess of Alanson,
The French King's sister; he shall marry her.
Anne Bullen! no, I'll no Anne Bullens for him,—
There's more in't 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. [Aside.]
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
A spleeny Lutheran; and not wholsome to
Our cause, that she should lie i'th' bosom of
Our hard-rul'd King. Again, there is sprung up
An heretick, an arch one, Cranmer; one,
Hath crawl'd into the favour of the King,
And is his oracle.

Nor.
He's vex'd at something. SCENE III. Enter King, reading of a schedule; and Lovell.

Sur.
I would, 'twere something 'that would fret the string,
The master-cord of's heart!

Suf.
The King, the King.

King.
What piles of wealth hath he accumulated
To his own portion! what expence by th' hour
Seems to flow from him! how, i'th' name of thrift,

Does he rake this together!—Now, my Lords;
Saw you the Cardinal?

Nor.
My Lord, we have.
Stood here observing him; some strange Commotion
Is in his brain; he bites his lip, and starts,
Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground,
Then lays his finger on his temple; strait,
Springs out into fast gait, then stops again,
Strikes his breast hard, and then anon he casts
His eye against the moon; in most strange postures
We've seen him set himself.

King.
It may well be,
There is a mutiny in's mind. This morning
Papers of state he sent me to peruse,
As I requir'd; and, wot you, what I found
There, on my conscience put unwittingly?
Forsooth, an inventory, thus importing,
The several parcels of his plate, his treasure,
Rich stuffs and ornaments of houshold, which
I find at such proud rate, that it out-speaks
Possession of a subject.

Nor.
It's heav'n's will;
Some spirit put this paper in the packet,
To bless your eye withal.

King.
If we did think,
His contemplations were above the earth,
And fix'd on spiritual objects, he should still
Dwell in his musings; but, I am afraid,
His thinkings are below the moon, nor worth
His serious considering. [He takes his seat, whispers Lovell, who goes to Wolsey.

Wol.
Heav'n forgive me—
Ever God bless your Highness!—

King.
Good my Lord,
You are full of heav'nly 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,
To keep your earthly audit; sure, in that
I deem you an ill husband, and am glad
To have you therein my companion.

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

King.
You have said well.

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

King.
'Tis well said again;
And 'tis a kind of good deed to say well,
And yet words are no deeds. My father lov'd 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
Imploy'd you where high profits might come home,
But par'd my present havings, to bestow
My bounties upon you.

Wol.
What should this mean? [Aside.

Sur.
The Lord increase this business! [Aside.

King.
Have I not made you
The prime man of the state? I pray, 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
Showr'd on me daily have been more than could
My studied purposes requite, which went
^{6 note}

Have ever come too short of my desires,
^{7 note}Yet, fill'd with my abilities; mine own Ends
Have been mine so, that evermore they pointed
To th' good of your most sacred person, and
The profit of the state. For your great graces
Heap'd upon me, poor un-deserver, I
Can nothing render but allegiant thanks,
My prayers to heav'n for you; my loyalty,
Which ever has, and ever shall be growing,
'Till death, that winter, kill it.

King.
Fairly answer'd;
A loyal and obedient subject is
Therein illustrated; the honour of it
Does pay the act of it, as ^{8 note}
o'th' contrary
The foulness is the punishment. I presume,
That as my hand has open'd bounty to you,
My heart dropp'd love, my pow'r rain'd honour more
On you, than any; so your hand and heart,
Your brain, and every function of your power,
Should ^{9 note}notwithstanding that your bond of Duty,
As 'twere in love's particular, be more
To me, your friend, than any.

Wol.
I profess,
That for your Highness' good I ever labour'd,
More than mine own; that am I, have been, will be:

Though all the world should crack their duty to you,
And throw it from their soul; though perils did
Abound, as thick as thought could make 'em, and
Appear in forms more horrid; yet my duty,
As doth a rock against the chiding flood,
Should the approach of this wild river break,
And stand unshaken yours.

King.
'Tis nobly spoken;
Take notice, Lords, he has a loyal breast,
For you have seen him open't. Read o'er this, [Giving him papers.
And, after, this; and then to breakfast, with
What appetite you may. [Exit King, frowning upon Cardinal Wolsey; the Nobles throng after him, whispering and smiling. SCENE IV.

Wol.
What should this mean?
What sudden anger's this? how have I reap'd it?
He parted frowning from me, as if ruin
Leap'd from his eyes. So looks the chafed lion
Upon the daring huntsman that has gall'd him,
Then makes him nothing. I must read this paper:
I fear, the story of his anger—'tis so—
This paper has undone me—'tis th' account
Of all that world of wealth I've drawn together
For mine own ends; indeed, to gain the Popedom,
And see my friends in Rome. O negligence,
Fit for a fool to fall by! What cross devil
Made me put this main secret in the packet
I sent the King? Is there no way to cure this?
No new device to beat this from his brains?
I know, 'twill stir him strongly; yet I know
A way, if it take right, in spight of fortune
Will bring me off again. What's this—To the Pope?
The letter, as I live, with all the business
I writ to's Holiness. Nay, then farewel;

I've touch'd the highest point of all my Greatness,
And from that full meridian of my glory
I haste now to my setting. I shall fall,
Like a bright exhalation in the evening;
And no man see me more. SCENE V. Enter to Wolsey, the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, the Earl of Surrey, and the Lord Chamberlain.

Nor.
Hear the King's pleasure, Cardinal, who commands you
To render up the Great Seal presently
Into our hands, and to confine yourself
To Asher-house, my Lord of Winchester's,
'Till you hear further from his Highness.

Wol.
Stay.
Where's your commission, Lords? words cannot carry
Authority so mighty.

Suf.
Who dare cross 'em,
Bearing the King's will from his mouth expresly?

Wol.
^{1 note}

I dare, and must deny it. Now I feel
Of what coarse metal ye are moulded,—Envy.
How eagerly ye follow my disgrace,
As if it fed ye; and how sleek, and wanton,
Y'appear in every thing may bring my ruin.
Follow your envious courses, men of malice;
You've christian warrant for 'em, and, no doubt,
In time will find their fit rewards. That Seal,
You ask with such a violence, the King,
Mine and your master, with his own hand gave me,
Bad me enjoy it, with the place and honours,
During my life; and, to confirm his goodness,
Ty'd it by letters patent. Now, who'll take it?

Sur.
The King, that gave it.

Wol.
It must be himself then.

Sur.
Thou'rt a proud traitor, priest.

Wol.
Proud Lord, thou liest;
Within these forty hours Surrey durst better
Have burnt that tongue, than said so.

Sur.
Thy ambition,
Thou scarlet sin, robb'd this bewailing land
Of noble Buckingham, my father-in-law.
The heads of all thy brother Cardinals,
With thee, and all thy best parts bound together,
Weigh'd not a hair of his. Plague on your policy!
You sent me Deputy for Ireland,
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 ax.

Wol.
This, and all else
This talking Lord can lay upon my credit,
I answer, is most false. The Duke by law

Found his deserts. How innocent I was
From any private malice in his end,
His noble jury and foul cause can witness.
If I lov'd many words, Lord, I should tell you,
You have as little honesty as honour;
That I, i'th' way of loyalty and truth
Toward the King, my ever royal master,
Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be,
And all that love his follies.

Sur.
By my soul,
Your long coat, priest, protects you; thou should'st feel
My sword i'th' life-blood of thee else. My Lords,
Can ye endure to hear this arrogance?
And from this fellow? if we live thus tamely,
To be thus jaded by a piece of scarlet,
Farewel, nobility; let his Grace go forward,
And dare us with his cap, like larks.

Wol.
All goodness
Is poison to thy stomach.

Sur.
Yes, that goodness
Of gleaning all the land's wealth into one,
Into your own hands, Card'nal, by extortion;
The goodness of your intercepted packets
You writ to th'Pope, against the King; your goodness,
Since you provoke me, shall be most notorious.
My Lord of Norfolk, as you're truly noble,
As you respect the common good, the state
Of our despis'd nobility, our issues,
Who, if he live, will scarce be gentlemen;
Produce the grand sum of his sins, the articles
Collected from his life. I'll startle you,
^{2 note}Worse than the sacring bell, when the brown wench

Lay kissing in your arms, Lord Cardinal.

Wol.
How much, methinks, I could despise this man,
But that I'm bound in charity against it!

Nor.
Those articles, my Lord, are in th' King's hand:
But thus much, they are foul ones.

Wol.
So much fairer,
And spotless, shall mine innocence arise;
When the King knows my truth.

Sur.
This cannot save you:
I thank my memory, I yet remember
Some of these articles, and out they shall.
Now, if you can, blush, and cry guilty, Cardinal:
You'll shew a little honesty.

Wol.
Speak on, Sir,
I dare your worst objections. If I blush,
It is to see a nobleman want manners.

Sur.
I'd rather want those, than my head; have at you.
First, that without the King's assent, or knowledge,
You wrought to be a legate; by which power
You maim'd the jurisdiction of all bishops.

Nor.
Then, that in all you writ to Rome, or else
To foreign Princes, Ego & Rex meus
Was still inscrib'd; in which you brought the King
To be your servant.

Suf.
That without the knowledge
Either of King or Council, when you went
Ambassador to th' Emperor, you made bold
To carry into Flanders the great Seal.

Sur.
Item. You sent a large commission
To Gregory de Cassado, to conclude,
Without the King's will or the state's allowance,
A league between his Highness and Ferrara.

Suf.
That out of meer ambition, you have made
Your holy hat be stampt 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
You have for dignities, to th' meer undoing
Of all the kingdom. Many more there are,
Which, since they are of you, and odious,
I will not taint my mouth with.

Cham.
O, my Lord,
Press not a falling man too far; 'tis virtue:
His faults lie open to the laws; let them,
Not you, correct him. My heart weeps to see him
So little of his great self.

Sur.
I forgive him.

Suf.
Lord Cardinal, the King's further pleasure is,
Because all those things you have done of late,
By your pow'r legatine within this kingdom,
Fall in the compass of a Præmunire,
That therefore such a writ be su'd against you,
To forfeit all your goods, lands, tenements,
^{3 note}

Nor.
And so we'll leave you to your meditations
How to live better. For your stubborn answer,
About the giving back the great Seal to us,
The King shall know it; and, no doubt, shall thank you
So fare you well, my little good Lord Cardinal. [Exeunt all but Wolsey.

SCENE VI.

Wol.
So farewel to the little good you bear me.
Farewel, a long farewel to all my greatness!
This is the state of man; to-day he puts forth
The tender leaves of hopes, to-morrow blossoms,
And bears his blushing honours thick upon him,
The third day comes a frost, a killing frost,
And when he thinks, good easy man, full surely
His greatness is a ripening, ^{4 note}

And, when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,
Never to hope again. Enter Cromwell, standing amaz'd.
Why, how now, Cromwell?

Crom.
I have no power to speak, Sir.

Wol.
What, amaz'd
At my misfortunes? can thy spirit wonder,
A great man should decline? nay, if you weep,
I'm fall'n indeed.

Crom.
How does your Grace?

Wol.
Why, well;
Never so truly happy, my good Cromwell.
I know myself now, and I feel within me
A peace above all earthly dignities;
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.
O, 'tis a burden, Cromwell, 'tis a burden,
Too heavy for a man that hopes for heav'n.

Crom.
I'm glad your Grace has made that right use of it.

Wol.
I hope, I have. I'm able now, methinks,
Out of a fortitude of soul I feel,
T'endure more miseries, and greater far,
Than my weak-hearted enemies dare offer.
What news abroad?

Crom.
The heaviest, and the worst,
Is your displeasure with the King.

Wol.
God bless him!

Crom.
The next is, that Sir Thomas More is chosen
Lord Chancellor in your place.

Wol.
That's somewhat sudden—
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 ^{5 note}a tomb of orphans' tears wept on him!
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
In that one woman I have lost for ever.
No sun shall ever usher forth my honours,
Or gild again the noble troops, that waited
Upon my smiles. Go, get thee from me, Cromwell;
I am a poor fall'n man, unworthy now
To be thy Lord and master. Seek the King;
That sun, I pray, may never set; I've told him
What and how true thou art; he will advance thee:
Some little memory of me will stir him,
I know his noble nature, not to let
Thy hopeful service perish too. Good Cromwell,
Neglect him not; make use now, and provide
For thine own future safety.

Crom.
O my Lord,
Must I then leave you? must I needs forego
So good, so noble, and so true a master?
Bear witness, all that have not hearts of iron,
With what a sorrow Cromwell leaves his Lord.
The King shall have my service; but my prayers
For ever, and for ever, shall be yours.

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 must more be heard, say then, I taught thee,
Say, ^{6 note}

Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace,
To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not.
Let all the ends, thou aim'st at, be thy country's,
Thy God's, and Truth's; then if thou fall'st, O Cromwell,
Thou fall'st a blessed martyr. Serve the King;
And—Pr'ythee, lead me in;
There, take an inventory of all I have;
To the last penny, 'tis the King's. My robe,
And my integrity to heav'n, is all
I dare now call mine own. O Cromwell, Cromwell,
^{8 note}Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal
I serv'd my King, he would not in mine age
Have left me naked to mine enemies.

Crom.
Good Sir, have patience.

Wol.
So I have. Farewel
The hopes of Court! my hopes in heav'n do dwell. [Exeunt.

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