Enter King, reading of a schedule; and Lovel.
Sur. I would, 'twere fomething that would fret the
The mafter-cord of's heart! Suf. The King, the King.
King. What piles of wealth hath he accumulated To his own portion! what expence by th' hour Seems to flow from him! how, i'th'name of thrift, Does he rake this together! Now, my lords; Saw you the Cardinal?
Stood here obferving him. Some ftrange Commotion Is in his brain; he bites his lip, and starts; Stops on a fudden, looks upon the ground, Then lays his finger on his temple; ftrait, Springs out into faft gate, then ftops again; Strikes his breaft hard, and then anon he cafts His eye against the moon; in most strange poftures We've feen him set himself.
There is a mutiny in's mind. This morning Papers of ftate he fent me to peruse,
As I requir'd; and wot you, what I found There, on my confcience put unwittingly? Forfooth, an inventory, thus importing; The feveral parcels of his plate, his treasure, Rich stuffs and ornaments of houshold, which I find at fuch proud rate, that it out-fpeaks Poffeffion of a fubject.
Nor. It's heav'n's will;
Some fpirit put this paper in the packet, To blefs your eye withal,
King. If we did think,
His contemplations were above the earth, And fix'd on fpiritual objects, he should still Dwell in his mufings; but, I am afraid, His thinkings are below the moon, nor worth
[He takes his feat, whispers Lovel, who goes to
Wol. Heav'n forgive me
Ever God bless your highness! ·
King. Good my Lord,
You are full of heav'nly ftuff, 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; fure, in that I deem you an ill husband, and am glad To have you therein my companion. Wol. Sir,
For holy offices I have a time;
A time, to think upon the part of business I bear i' th' ftate; and nature does require Her times of prefervation, which, perforce, I her frail fon, amongst my brethren mortal, Muft give my tendance to.
King. You have said well.
Wol. And ever may your Highness yoke together, As I will lend you caufe, my doing well
With my well faying!
King. 'Tis well faid again;
And 'tis a kind of good deed to say well.
And yet words are no deeds.
He faid, he did and with his deed did crown His word upon you. Since I had my office, I've kept you next my heart; have not alone
Imploy'd you where high profits might come home But par'd my present havings, to bestow
Wol. What fhould this mean?
Sur. The lord increase this business!
King. Have I not made you
The prime man of the ftate? I pray you, tell me, If what I now pronounce, you have found true:
And, if you may confess it, fay withal, If you are bound to us, or no? what say you? Wol. My Sovereign, I confefs your royal graces Showr'd on me daily have been more than could My ftudied purposes requite, which went Beyond all man's endeavours. My endeavours Have ever come too fhort of my defires, Yet, fill'd with my abilities, mine own Ends Have been mine fo, that evermore they pointed To th' good of your moft facred person, and The profit of the ftate: For your great graces Heap'd upon me, poor un-deferver, I Can nothing render but allegiant thanks, My prayers to heaven for you; my loyalty, Which ever has, and ever fhall be growing, 'Till death, that winter, kill it.
King. Fairly anfwer'd:
A loyal and obedient fubject is
Therein illuftrated; the honour of it Does pay the act of it, as i' th' contrary The foulness is the punishment. I prefume, That as my hand has open'd bounty to you,
My heart dropp'd love; my pow'r rain'd honour,
fo 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.
That for your Highness' good I ever labour'd More than mine own; that am I, have been, will be: Though all the world fhould crack their duty to you, And throw it from their foul; 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 ftand unshaken yours.
King. 'Tis nobly spoken;
Take notice, lords, he has a loyal breast,
For you have seen him open't. Read o'er this,
[Giving him papers. And, after, this; and then to breakfast, with
[Exit King, frowning upon Cardinal Wolfey; the Nobles throng after him, whispering and smiling.
Wol. What fhould this mean?
What fudden anger's this? how have I reap'd it! He parted frowning from me, as if ruin
Leap'd from his eyes. So looks the chafed lion Upon the daring huntsman, that has gall'd him; Then makes him nothing. I must read this paper: I fear, the story of his anger. -'tis fo-
This paper has undone me-'tis th' account Of all that world of wealth I've drawn together For mine own ends; indeed, to.gain the Popedom, And fee my friends in Rome. O negligence, Fit for a fool to fall by! What cross devil Made me put this main fecret in the packet I fent the King? is there no way to cure this? No new device to beat this from his brains? I know, 'twill ftir him ftrongly; yet I know A way, if it take right, in fpight of fortune- Will bring me off again. What's this-To the Pope ? The letter, as I live, with all the business
I writ to's Holinefs. Nay, then farewel; I've touch'd the highest point of all my Greatness; And from that full meridian of my glory
I hate now to my fetting. I fhall fall, Like a bright exhalation in the evening; And no man fee me more.
Enter to Wolfey, the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, the Earl of Surrey, and the Lord Chamberlain.
Nor. Hear the King's pleafure, Cardinal; who com
To render up the Great Seal prefently Into our hands, and to confine yourself To After-houfe, my lord of Winchester's, Till you hear further from his Highness. Wol. Stay :
Where's your commiffion, lords? words cannot carry Authority fo mighty.
Bearing the King's will from his mouth exprefly? Wol. "Till I find more than will, or words to do it, (I mean, your malice;) know, officious lords,
I dare, and muft deny it. Now I feel Of what coarse metal ye are molded,- How eagerly ye follow my difgrace, As if it fed ye; and how fleek, and wanton, Y'appear in every thing may bring my ruin. Follow your envious courfes, men of malice; You've chriftian warrant for 'em, and, no doubt, In time will find their fit rewards.
That Seal, You ask with fuch a violence, the King
(Mine and your mafter) with his own hand gave me ; Bad me enjoy it, with the place and honours,
During my life; and, to confirm his goodness, Ty'd it by letters patents. Now, who'll take it ? Sur. The King that gave it.
Wol. It must be himself then.
Sur. Thou'rt a proud traitor, priest.
Wol. Proud lord, thou lieft:
Within these forty hours Surrey durft better
Have burnt that tougue, than faid fo.
Sur. Thy ambition,
Thou scarlet fin, robb'd this bewailing land.
Of noble Buckingham, my father-in-law:
The heads of all thy brother Cardinals,
(With thee, and all thy best parts bound together,) Weigh'd not a hair of his. Plague of your policy! You fent me Deputy for Ireland,
Far from his fuccour; from the King; from all, That might have mercy on the fault, thou gav'ft him:
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