The hearts of princes kiss obedience, So much they love it; but to stubboru 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. Q. Kath. Do what ye 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 prayers, While I shall have my life. Come, reverend 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.
(Ereunt.
Ante-chamber to the King's apartment.
Enter the Duke of Norfolk, the Duke of Suffolk,
the Earl of Surrey, and the Lord Chamberlain.
Nor. If you will now unite in your complaints And force* thein 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. Suff
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 Gives 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 his tongue. Nor.
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 displeasure.
Sur.
Sir, 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 could wish mine enemy. Sur.
How came His practices to light? Suff
Most strangely. Sur.
O, how, how? Suff. The cardinal's letter to the pope miscarried, And came to the eye o'the king: wherein was read, Flow that the cardinal did entreat bis holiness To stay the judgement o’the 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? Suff
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 Aster his patient's death; the king already llath married the fair lady, Sur.
'Would he had ! Suff. May you be happy in your wish, my lord ! For, I profess, you have it. Sur.
Now all my joy Trace* tlie conjunction ! Suff
My amen to't! Nor.
All men's, Suff. There's order given for her coronation : Marry, this is yet but youngt, and may be left To some ears unrecounted. But, my lords, She is a gallant creature, and complete
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In mind and feature: 1 persuade me, from her Will fall some blessing to this land, which shall In it be memoriz'de. Sur.
But, will the king Digest this letter of the cardinal's ? The Lord forbid ! Nor.
Marry, amen! Suff There be more wasps that buz about his nose, Will make this sting the sooner. Cardinal Campeius Is stolen away to Rome; hath ta'en no leave; Has left the cause o'the king uphandled ; 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. Cha.
Now, God incense him, And let him cry ha, louder ! Nor,
But, my lord, When returns Crapmer?
Suff. He is return’d, in his opinions; which Have satisfied the king for his divorce, Together with all famous colleges Almost in Christendom : shortly, I believe, His second marriage shall be publislı'd, and Her coronation. Katharine 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. Suff.
He has; and we shall see him For it, an archbishop. Nor.
So I hear. Suff
'Tis so. The cardinal
Enter Wolsey and Cromwell.
Nor. Observe, observe, he's moody. Wol. The packet, Cromwell, gave it you the
king? Crom. To his own hand, in his bedchamber. Wol. Look'd he o'the 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.- [Erit Cromwell. It shall be to the duchess of Alençon, The French king's sister: he shall marry her.- Anne Bullen! No, I'll no Anne Bullens for him: There is more in it than fair visage.- Bullen! No, we'll no Bullens.-Speedily I wish To hear from Rome.-The marchioness of Pem-
broke! Nor. He's discontented. Suff
May be, he hears the king Does whet his anger to him. Sur.
Sharp enough, Lord, for thy justice ! Wol. 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 wholesome to Our cause, that she should lie i'the bosom of Our hard-rul'd king. Again, there is sprung up An heretick, an arch one, Cranmer; one
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