Arch.
Heav'n show'r its choicest blessings on your majesty.
May conquest, honour, peace, and length of days,
Attend your glorious reign. My liege, the nuncio.

King.
Well, my lord cardinal, your reverence
Hath fresh dispatches from the court of Rome:
What is their tenour?

Leg.
Such as well becomes
The court of Rome, his holiness our master,
The delegate of heav'n, and first in power
Of all the kings and princes in the world;

Him at whose feet obedient monarchs bow,
As unto God's vice gerent here on earth.
In substance this—your majesty must yield—

Scroop.
Must! lordly priest! Where didst thou learn thy manners?
That word will work. [Aside.

Leg.
Lord, where didst thou? I spoke unto the king.

King.
Lord Scroop your love and zeal make you too bold.

Scroop.
Your highness pardon me; but you're too good
To grant an audience to th' ill-manner'd priest,
Who dares to cast such insult upon majesty.
Must yield, my liege!

King.
Proceed, lord cardinal.

Leg.
In few, king Henry, nothing will his holiness
Abate of those pretensions he hath founded,
Respecting the disposal of church gifts,
And the provisions made by th' holy see
For any priest or bishop in the realm:
By me enjoining, hence, the king of England
To put them peaceably in full possession
Of all the temporalities, that now,
Or heretofore, were known to them belonging.

King.
And all this must be done.

Scroop.
Ay must, my liege.

King.
Enough.—Lord cardinal, we understand ye.—
And as we labour here in some necessity—

Leg.
Yet more: his holiness requires that law
Should be repeal'd, which now declares it treason
To levy contributions on the clergy,
For spiritual use, without consent of parliament.

King.
'Tis well; thus much for us, and now for you.
Your excellence must take that loyal oath
Your predecessor took in Richard's time;—
Dost thou remember't, uncle Exeter?

Exet.
It is, my liege, that he shall neither act,
Permit, or cause whatever to be acted,
That's detrimental to the king's prerogative,
Or laws o'th' kingdom: that he'd execute
No bulls or mandates hurtful to your person,
The rights o' th' crown, and legal constitution:

And more particularly never send
Our jewels, plate, and monies hence abroad,
Without a license from the king and council.

King.
This, my lord cardinal, for you: the rest
We'll send by special envoy to the pope.

Leg.
Impose an oath on me! mistaken prince!
I am a servant to the King of heav'n;
And owe allegiance unto none but him,
And to his representative at Rome.

King.
See that thou take this oath in three days time,
Or henceforth let me see thy face no more;
But leave our kingdom as you prize your life.
Nay, make me no reply. I'll hear no more. [Exit King and Lords.

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