Nor.
If you will now unite in your complaints,
And 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, or at least
Strangely neglected? when did he regard
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 th' 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 contrary proceedings
Are all unfolded; wherein he appears,
As I would wish my 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
And hedges his own way. But in this point
All his tricks founder, and he brings his physick
After his patient's death; the King already
Hath married the fair lady.

Sur.
Would he had!

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

Sur.
Now all joy
Trace the conjunction.

Suf.
My Amen to't.

Nor.
All men's.

Suf.
There's order given for her coronation:
Marry this is 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 to 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; soon, I believe,
His second marriage shall be publish'd, and
Her coronation. Katherine no more
Shall be call'd Queen, but Princess dowager,
A 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 Cromwel.
The Cardinal.

Nor.
Observe, observe, he's moody.

Wol.
The packet, Cromwel,
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 bad
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 Comwel.
It shall be to the Dutchess of Alenson, [Aside.
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 Pembrook!—

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's 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 wholesome to
Our cause!—that she should lye 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.

Previous section

Next section