2 Gen. If the duke be guiltless,

'Tis full of woe: yet I can give you inkling Of an ensuing evil, if it fall,

Greater than this.

1 Gen. Good angels keep it from us!

160

What may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir?
2 Gen. This secret is so weighty, 'twill require
A strong faith to conceal it.

1 Gen. Let me have it;

I do not talk much.

2 Gen. I am confident;

You shall, sir: Did you not of late days hear
A buzzing, of a separation
Between the king and Katharine ?

1 Gen. Yes; but it held not:

For when the king once heard it, out of anger
He sent command to the lord-mayor, straight
To stop the rumour, and allay those tongues
That durst disperse it.

2 Gen. But that slander, sir,

Is found a truth now: for it grows again

Fresher than e'er it was; and held for certain,

170

The king will venture at it. Either the cardinal, 180
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 arriv'd, and lately;

As all think, for this business.

1 Gen. 'Tis the cardinal;

And merely to revenge him on the emperor,

For

For not bestowing on him, at his asking,

The archbishoprick of Toledo, this is purpos'd.

2 Gen. I think, you have hit the mark: But is't not cruel,

190

That she should feel the smart of this? The cardinal

Will have his will, and she must fall.

1 Gen. 'Tis woful.

We are too open here to argue this;

Let's think in private more.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 11.

An Anti-Chamber in the Palace. Enter the Lord Chamberlain, reading a Letter.

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 serv'd before a subject, if not before the king: which stopp'd our mouths, sir.

203

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

Enter the Dukes of NORFOLK and SUFFOLK.

Nor. Well met, my lord chamberlain.
Eij

Cham.

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?

210

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. This king will know him one

day.

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

else.

220

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 ne

phew,

He dives into the king's soul; and there scatters
Doubts, dangers, 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

230

That

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?
Chamb. Heaven keep me from such counsel! 'Tis
most true,

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

And every true heart weeps for't: All, that dare
Look into these affairs, see his 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.

Suf. And free us from his slavery.

Nor. We had need pray,

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.

Suf. For me, my lords,

240

I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed: 250
As I am made without him, so I'll stand,

If the king please; his curses and his blessings
Touch me alike, they are breath I not believe in.
I knew him, and I know him; so I leave him
To him, that made him proud, the pope.

Nor. Let's in;

And, with some other business, put the king
From these sad thoughts, that work too much upon

him :

Eiij

My

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.

260

[Exit Lord Chamberlain.

A Door opens, and discovers the King sitting and 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 yourselves

Into my private meditations?

Who am I? ha!

270

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. You are too bold :

Go to; I'll make ye know your times of business: Is this an hour for temporal affairs? ha!—