Crawford. Nor was I ever guilty of neglect Which might procure such thoughts. I take my leave, sir.

Warbeck. To you, Lord Dalyell, what? accept a sigh, 'Tis hearty and in earnest.

Dalyell.

My silence is my farewell.

I want utterance;

169

Sweet madam,

Katherine [breaking down]. Oh—oh!

Jane.

Dear lady,

What do you mean !-My lord, your hand.
Dalyell.
Be pleased that I may wait ye to your lodging.
[Dalyell and Jane lead Katherine out.

Enter Sheriff and Officers, followed by Skelton, Astley,
Heron, and John a-Water with halters about their necks.
Oxford. Look ye, behold your followers, appointed
To wait on ye in death.

Warbeck.
We'll lead 'em on courageously. I read

Why, peers of England,

A triumph over tyranny upon

Their several foreheads. Faint not in the moment

175

Of victory! Our ends and Warwick's head,

Innocent Warwick's head (for we are prologue

But to his tragedy) conclude the wonder

180

Of Henry's fears; and then the glorious race

Of fourteen Kings Plantagenets determines

In this last issue male. [Warbeck is handed over to the Sheriff.] Heaven be obeyed!

Death? pish, 'tis but a sound, a name of air,

A minute's storm, or not so much; to tumble
From bed to bed, be massacred alive

By some physicians for a month or two,

In hope of freedom from a fever's torments,

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190

Might stagger manhood; here, the pain is past
Ere sensibly 'tis felt. Be men of spirit!
Spurn coward passion! So illustrious mention
Shall blaze our names and style us kings o'er Death.
Dawbeney. Away! impostor beyond precedent!

[Exeunt.

XII. THE FALL OF WOLSEY

BY JOHN FLETCHER?

Cardinal Wolsey has lost the favour of King Henry VIII by failing to obtain the King's divorce from Katharine of Aragon. He is sent for by the King just as he hears of the King's love for Anne Boleyn, whose ascendancy he means to thwart. He comes to the ante-chamber in great agitation, and is watched by his enemies, the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, the Earl of Surrey, and the Lord Chamberlain, who think the moment a good one for bringing about his overthrow. The King enters, reading a paper on which he comments to himself; Sir Thomas Lovell attends him.

King Henry. What piles of wealth hath he accumulated

To his own portion! and what expense by the hour Seems to flow from him! How, i' the name of thrift, Does he rake this together? [He turns to the Lords.] Now, my lords,

Saw you the Cardinal?
Norfolk [advancing].

My lord, we have

Stood here observing him: some strange commotion
Is in his brain: he bites his lip, and starts;
Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground,
Then lays his finger on his temple; straight
Springs out into fast gait; then stops again,
Strikes his breast hard, and anon he casts

5

ΙΟ

His eye against the moon: in most strange postures
We have seen him set himself.

King.
It may well be;
There is a mutiny in's mind. This morning
Papers of state he sent me to peruse,
As I required: and wot you what I found
There, on my conscience, put unwittingly?
Forsooth, an inventory, thus importing,
The several parcels of his plate, his treasure,
Rich stuffs, and ornaments of household, which
I find at such proud rate that it outspeaks
Possession of a subject.

15

20

Norfolk.

It's heaven's will:

Some spirit put this paper in the packet,
To bless your eye withal.

King.
If we did think
His contemplation were above the earth,
And fixed on spiritual object, he should still
Dwell in his musings: but I am afraid

His thinkings are below the moon, not worth
His serious considering.

25

[He takes his seat, and whispers Lovell, who goes to

Wolsey. Wolsey [starting as Lovell speaks to him]. Heaven forgive me!

Good my lord,

30

Ever God bless your highness.
King.
You are full of heavenly stuff, and bear the inventory
Of your best graces in your mind; the which

You were now running o'er: you have scarce time
To steal from spiritual leisure a brief span,
To keep your earthly audit: sure in that

I deem you an ill husband, and am glad
To have you therein my companion.
Wolsey.

Sir,

35

40

For holy offices I have a time; a time
To think upon the part of business which
I bear i' the state; and nature does require
Her times of preservation, which perforce
I, her frail son, amongst my brethren mortal,
Must give my tendance to.
King.
You have said well.
Wolsey. And ever may your highness yoke together,
As I will lend you cause, my doing well

With my well saying!

King.

'Tis well said again;

45

And 'tis a kind of good deed to say well :
And yet words are no deeds. My father loved you :
He said he did, and with his deed did crown

His word upon you. Since I had my office,

I have kept you next my heart; have not alone Employed you where high profits might come home, But pared my present havings, to bestow

My bounties upon you.

Wolsey [aside].

What should this mean?

50

Surrey [aside to the others]. The Lord increase this business!

King. Have I not made you 55 The prime man of the state? I pray you, tell me If what I now pronounce you have found true : And, if you may confess it, say withal, If you are bound to us, or no. What say you?

65

Wolsey. My sovereign, I confess your royal graces, 60 Showered on me daily, have been more than could My studied purposes requite; which went Beyond all man's endeavours: my endeavours Have ever come too short of my desires, Yet filed with my abilities: mine own ends Have been mine so, that evermore they pointed To the good of your most sacred person and The profit of the state. For your great graces Heaped upon me, poor undeserver, I Can nothing render but allegiant thanks, My prayers to heaven for you, my loyalty, Which ever has and ever shall be growing, Till death, that winter, kill it.

King.

Fairly answered;
A loyal and obedient subject is
Therein illústrated: the honour of it

70

75

Does pay the act of it: as, i' the contrary,
The foulness is the punishment. I presume,

That, as my hand has opened bounty to you,

80

My heart dropped love, my power rained honour, more
On you than any; so your hand and heart,
Your brain, and every function of your power,
Should, notwithstanding that your bond of duty,
As 'twere in love's particular, be more

To me, your friend, than any.

85

Wolsey. I do profess, That for your highness' good I ever laboured. Though all the world should crack their duty to you, And throw it from their soul; though perils did Abound, as thick as thought could make 'em, and Appear in forms more horrid; yet my duty, As doth a rock against the chiding flood, Should the approach of this wild river break, And stand unshaken yours.

King.

'Tis nobly spoken :

90

Take notice, lords, he has a loyal breast,

For you have seen him open't. [Giving him two papers.]
Read o'er this;

And after, this: and then to breakfast, with
What appetite you have.

95

[Exit, frowning upon Wolsey: the Nobles throng after him, smiling, and whispering. What should this mean?

Wolsey.
What sudden anger 's this? how have I reaped it?
He parted frowning from me, as if ruin

Leaped from his eyes. So looks the chafèd lion
Upon the daring huntsman that has galled him; 100
Then makes him nothing. I must read this paper;
I fear, the story of his anger. [Opens the paper and reads.]
'Tis so;

This paper has undone me: 'tis the account

Of all that world of wealth I have drawn together
For mine own ends; indeed, to gain the popedom, 105
And fee my friends in Rome. O negligence,
Fit for a fool to fall by! What cross devil
Made me put this main secret in the packet

110

I sent the King? Is there no way to cure this?
No new device to beat this from his brains?
I know 'twill stir him strongly; yet I know
A way, if it take right, in spite of fortune
Will bring me off again. [Reads the second paper.] What's
this? To the Pope?'

The letter, as I live, with all the business

I writ to his holiness. Nay then, farewell!

115

I have touched the highest point of all my greatness;
And, from that full meridian of my glory,

I haste now to my setting: I shall fall
Like a bright exhalation in the evening,
And no man see me more.

120

Re-enter the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, the Earl of Surrey, and the Lord Chamberlain.

Norfolk. Hear the King's pleasure, Cardinal: who commands you

To render up the great seal presently

Into our hands; and to confine yourself
To Asher-house, my Lord of Winchester's,
Till you hear further from his highness.