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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 fuch 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, fee 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,

I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed:
As I am made without him, fo 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;

The French king's sister.] i. e. the duchess of Alençon.

STEEVENS.

8 From princes into pages:-) This may allude to the retinue of the cardinal, who had several of the nobility among his menial fervants. JOHNSON.

9 Into what pitch be please.] The allusion seems to be to the 21st verse of the 9th chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ro"Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump, to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" COLLINS,

mans:

And,

And, with fome 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 fent 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.

A Door opens, and discovers the King fitting and reading pensively.

Suf. How fad he looks! fure, he is much afflicted.

King. Who's there? ha?

Nor. Pray God, he be not angry.

King. Who's there, I fay? 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.

King. You are too bold :

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

Enter Wolfey, and Campeius with a Commission. Who's there? my good lord cardinal? my

Wolfey,

The quiet of my wounded confcience,

* A door opens, &c.] The stage direction in the old copy is a fingular one. Exit Lord Chamberlain, and the King draws the curtain, and fits reading pensively. STEEVENS.

Thou

!

Thou art a cure fit for a king.-You're welcome,

[To Campeius.

Most learned reverend fir, into our kingdom; Use us, and it :- My good lord, have great care I be not found a talker.

Wol. Sir, you cannot.

[To Wolfey,

I would, your grace would give us but an hour

Of private conference.

King. We are bufy; go.

[To Norf. and Suf.

Norf. This priest has no pride in him?

Suf. Not to speak of;

I would not be 3 so sick though, for his place:
But this cannot continue.

Nor. If it do,

I'll venture one heave at him.

Suf. I another. [Exeunt Norfolk and Suffolk.

}

Afide,

Wol. Your grace has given a precedent of wisdom

in

Above all princes, in committing freely

Your fcruple to the voice of Christendom :

Who can be angry now? what envy reach you?
The Spaniard, ty'd by blood and favour to her,
Muft now confess, if he 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 fent

One general tongue unto us, this good man, This just and learned priest, cardinal Campeius; Whom, once more, I present unto your highness.

King. And, once more, in mine arms I bid him

welcome,

-have great care

I be not found a talker.]

I take the meaning to be, Let care be taken that my promise be performed, that my professions of welcome be not found empty talk.

-fo fick though,-] That is, so fick as he is proud.

JOHNSON.

JOHNSON,

And

And thank the holy conclave for their loves;
They have fent me fuch a man I would have wish'd for.

Cam. Your grace must needs deferve 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.

King. Two equal men. The queen shall be ac

quainted

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.

King. Ay, and the best, she shall have; and my
favour

To him that does best; God forbid else. Cardinal,
Pr'ythee, call Gardiner to me, my new fecretary;
I find him a fit fellow.

Cardinal goes out, and re-enters with Gardiner.

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.

[Afide.

King. Come hither, Gardiner. [Walks and whispers.

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, furely.

Cam. Believe me, there's an ill opinion spread then

Even of yourself, lord cardinal.

Wol. Wol. How! of me?

Cam. They will not stick to say, you envy'd him;

And, fearing he would rife, he was so virtuous, + Kept him a foreign man still: which so griev'd him, That he ran mad, and dy'd.

Wol. Heav'n'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.

King. Deliver this with modesty to the queen.
[Exit Gardiner.

The most convenient place that I can think of,
For fuch receipt of learning, is Black-Friars:
There ye shall meet about this weighty business :-
My Wolfey, fee it furnish'd.-O my lord,
Would it not grieve an able man, to leave
So fweet a bedfellow? But, confcience, confcience,-
O, 'tis a tender place, and I must leave her. (Exeunt.

[blocks in formation]

An Antichamber of the Queen's Apartments.

Enter Anne Bullen, and an old Lady.

Anne. Not for that neither; -Here's the pang

that pinches :

His highness having liv'd so long with her; and she
So good a lady, that no tongue could ever
Pronounce dishonour of her, by my life,
She never knew harm-doing; - now, after
So many courses of the fun enthron'd,

Kept him a foreign man still :-) Kept him out of the king's

prefence, employed in foreign embassies. JOHNSON.

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