To stop the rumour and allay those tongues

That durst disperse it.

Sec. Gent.

But that slander, sir,

Is found a truth now: for it

grows again

Fresher than e'er it was, and held for certain
The king will venture at it. Either the cardinal,
Or some about him near, have, out of malice
To the good queen, possess'd him with a scruple
That will undo her: to confirm this too,
Cardinal Campeius is arrived, and lately;
As all think, for this business.

First Gent.

"Tis the cardinal;

And merely to revenge him on the

emperor,

For not bestowing on him at his asking

The archbishopric of Toledo, this is purposed.

160

Sec. Gent. I think you have hit the mark: but is 't not

cruel

That she should feel the smart of this? The car

dinal

Will have his will, and she must fall.

First Gent.

We are too open here to argue this;
Let's think in private more.

'Tis woeful.

[Exeunt.

Scene II.

An ante-chamber in the palace.

Enter the Lord Chamberlain, reading a letter.

Cham. My lord, the horses your lordship sent for,
with all the care I had, I saw well chosen,
ridden, and furnished. They were young and
handsome, and of the best breed in the north.
When they were ready to set out for London,
a man of my lord cardinal's, by commission
and main power, took 'em from me; with this
reason: His master would be served before a
subject, if not before the king; which stopped
our mouths, sir.”

I fear he will indeed: well, let him have them:
He will have all, I think.

Enter to the Lord Chamberlain, the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk.

Nor. Well met, my 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.

10

What's the cause?

Nor.

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

Suf.

Nor.

Has crept too near another lady.

No, his conscience

'Tis so:

20

This is the cardinal's doing, the king-cardinal:
That blind priest, like the eldest son of fortune,
Turns what he list. The king will know him one

day.

Suf. Pray God he do! he 'll never know himself else. Nor. How holily he works in all his business!

And with what zeal! for, now he has crack'd the league

Between us and the emperor, the queen's great nephew,

30

He dives into the king's soul, and there scatters
Dangers, doubts, wringing of the conscience,
Fears and despairs; and all these for his marriage:
And out of all these to restore the king,
He counsels a divorce; a loss of her
That, like a jewel, has hung twenty years
About his neck, yet never lost her lustre,
Of her that loves him with that excellence
That angels love good men with, even of her

That, when the greatest stroke of fortune falls,

Will bless the king: and is not this course pious? Cham. Heaven keep me from such counsel ! 'Tis most

Suf.

true

These news are every where; every tongue speaks
'em,

And every true heart weeps for 't: all that dare 40
Look into these affairs see this main end,

The French king's sister. Heaven will one day

open

The king's eyes, that so long have slept upon
This bold bad man.

Nor. We had need pray,

Suf.

And free us from his slavery.

And heartily, for our deliverance;

Or this imperious man will work us all
From princes into pages: all men's honours
Lie like one lump before him, to be fashion'd
Into what pitch he please.

For me, my lords,
I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed:
As I am made without him, so I'll stand,
If the king please; his curses and his blessings
Touch me alike; they're breath I not believe in.
I knew him, and I know him; so I leave him

50

Nor.

Cham.

Nor.

To him that made him proud, the pope.

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?

Excuse me;

The king has sent me otherwhere: besides,
You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him :
Health to your lordships.

60

Thanks, my good lord chamberlain. [Exit Lord Chamberlain; and the King draws the curtain and sits reading pensively.

Suf. How sad he looks! sure, he is much afflicted.
King. Who's there, ha?

Nor.

Pray God he be not angry.

King. Who's there, I say? How dare you thrust your

selves

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.

King!

70

Ye are too bold: