Nor.
Well met, my good
Lord Chamberlain.

Cham.
Good day to both your graces.

Suf.
How is the king employ'd?

Cham.
I left him private,
Full of sad thoughts and troubles.

Nor.
What's the cause?

Cham.
It seems, the marriage with his brother's wife
Has crept too near his conscience.

Suf.
No, his conscience
Has crept too near another lady.

Nor.
'Tis so;
This is the cardinal's doing, the king-cardinal:
That blind priest, like the eldest son of fortune,
Turns what he lists. The king will know him one day.

Suf.
Pray Heaven, he do! he'll never know himself else.

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?

Cham.
Excuse me;
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, L. 2 E. Norfolk opens a folding-door.

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

K. Hen.
Who is there? ha! [Without, L.H.C.

Nor.
Pray Heaven, 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,(2)8Q0037 L. H. 2 E.
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.

Wol.
Sir, you cannot.
I would, your grace would give us but an hour
Of private conference.

K. Hen.
We are busy: go. [To Norfolk and Suffolk.

Nor.
This priest has no pride in him? [Aside.

Suf. Aside.
Not to speak of;
I would not be so sick, though, for his place:
But this cannot continue.

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

Suf. Aside.
I another. [Exeunt Norfolk and Suffolk, L. 2 E.

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 wished 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 favor
To him that does best; Heaven forbid else. Cardinal,
Prythee, call Gardiner to me, my new secretary;
I find him a fit fellow. Wolsey beckons on Gardiner,* ^note L. 2 E.

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. [Aside.

K. Hen.
Come hither, Gardiner. [They converse apart.

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,
Even of yourself, lord cardinal.

Wol.
How! of me?

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

Wol.
Heaven'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.

K. Hen.
Deliver this with modesty to the queen. [Exit Gardiner, L. 2 E.
The most convenient place that I can think of,
For such receipt 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, R.H.

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