The King has fent me other where; befides,
You'll find a moft unfit time to disturb him.

Health to your Lordships.

[Exit Lord Chamberlain.

Nor. Thanks, my good Lord Chamberlain.

The Scene draws, and discovers the King fitting, and reading penfively.

Suf. How fad he looks! fure he is much afflicted.
King. Who's there? ha!

Nor. Pray God be not angry.

King. Who's there, I fay? how dare you thruft Into my private meditations?

Who am I? ha!

[yourselves

Nor. A gracious King, that pardons all offences Malice ne'er meant: our breach of duty, this way, Is business of eftate, in which we come

To know your royal pleasure.

King. Ye are too bold.

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

Enter Wolfey, and Campeius the Pope's Legate, with a commiffion.

Who's there? My good Lord Cardinal? O my Wolfey,
The quiet of my wounded confcience!

Thou art a cure fit for a King. You're welcome,
Most learned Rev'rend Sir, into our kingdom;

[To Campeius. Ufe us, and it my good Lord, have great care I be not found a talker.

Wol. Sir, you cannot.

I would your Grace would give us but an hour
Of private conf'rence.

King. We are buly; go. [To Norfolk and Suffolk.
Nor. This priest has no pride in him?

Suf. Not to fpeak of.

I would not be fo fick though, for his place.
But this cannot continue.

Ner. If it do,

I'll venture one heave at him.

Suf. I another.

[Exeunt Norfolk and Suffolk. Wol. Your Grace has given a precedent of wisdom 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,
Mult now confefs, if they have any goodness,
The trial just and noble All the clerks,

I mean the learned ones, in Christian kingdoms,
Have their tree voices. Rome, the nurfe of judgment,
Invited by your noble felf, hath fent

One general tongue unto us, this good man,
This juft and learned prieft, Cardinal Campeius;
Whom once more I prefent unto your Highness.

King. And once more in mine arms I bid him wel-
And thank the holy conclave for their loves: [come,
They've fent me such a man I would have wish'd for.
Gam. Your Grace muft needs deferve all ftrangers'
You are so noble: to your Highness' hand [loves,
I tender my commiffion; by whose virtue,
(The court of Rome commanding), you, my Lord
Cardinal of York, are join'd with me, their fervant,
In the impartial judging of this business.

King. Two equal men: the Queen fhall be acquainted Forth with for what you come. Where's Gardiner ? Wol. I know your Majefty has always lov'd her So dear in heart, not to deny her what

A woman of lefs place might afk by law,

Scholars allow'd freely to argue for her.

King. Ay, and the beft the fhall have; and my favour

To him that does beft, God forbid elfe.

Cardinal, Pr'ythee, call Gardiner to me, my new fecretary;

I find him a fit fellow.

Enter Gardiner.

Wol. Give me your hand; much joy and favour to You are the King's now.

Gard. But to be commanded

[you.

For ever by your Grace, whofe hand has rais'd me. King. Come hither, Gardiner. [Walks and whispers. Gam. 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 fpread then Ev'n of yourself, Lord Cardinal.

Wol. How! of me?

Cam. They will not stick to say, you envy'd him?
And fearing he would rife, he was to virtuous,
Kept him a foreign man ftill: which so griev d him,
That he ran mad and dy'd.

Wol. Heav'n's peace be with him!

That's Chriftian care enough: for living murmurers,
There's places of rebuke. He was a fool,

For he would needs be virtuous That good fellow,
It I command him, follows my appointment;
1 will have none so near ele. Learn this, brother, :
We live not to be grip'd by meaner perfons.

King. Deliver this with modefty to th' Queen.
[Exit Gardiner.

The moft convenient place that I can think of
For fuch receit of learning, is Black-friers :
There ye fhall meet about this weighty business.
My Wolfey, fee it furnifh'd. O my Lord,
Would it not grieve an able man to leave

So fweet a bed-fellow? but, confcience, confcience!.
O, 'tis a tender place, and I must leave her. [Exeunt.
SCENE V. An antichamber of the Queen's apartment.

Enter Anne Bullen, and an Old Lady.

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

His Highnels having liv'd fo long with her, and the
So good a lady, that no tongue cou'd ever
Pronounce difhonour of her; by my life,
She never knew harm-doing: oh, now after
So many courfes of the fun, inthron'd,
Still growing in a majesty and pomp,

The which to leave's a thoufand-fold more bitter
Than fweet at firft t acquire; after this process,
To give her the avaunt! it is a pity

Would move a monster.

Old L. Hearts of most hard temper Melt and lament for her.

Anne. In God's will, better

She never had known pomp ; though't be temporal,
Yet if that quarrel, Fortune, do divorce

It from the bearer, 'tis a fuff'rance panging
As foul and body's fev'ring.

Old L. Ah! poor lady,
She's ftranger now again.

Anne. So much the more
Muft pity drop upon her; verily,
I fwear, 'tis better to be lowly born,
And range with humble livers in content,
Than to be perk'd up in a glift'ring grief,
And wear a golden forrow.

Old L. Our content

Is our best having.

Anne. By my troth and maidenhead,

I would not be a Queen.

Old L. Befhrew me, I would,

And venture maidenhead for't; and fo would you,
For all this ipice of your hypocrify.

You that have fo fair parts of woman on you,
Have too a woman's heart; which ever yet
Affected eminence, wealth, fovereignty;

Which, to fay footh, are bleffings; and which gifts (Saving your mincing) the capacity

Of your foft cheveril confcience would receive,
If you might pleafe to ftretch it.

Anne. Nay, good troth

Old L. Yes, troth and troth: you would not be a Queen? Anne. No, not for all the riches under heav'n

Old L. 'Tis ftrange; a three pence bow d would hire

Old as I am, to queen it.

But pray you,

What think you of a Duchess? have you limbs

To bear that load of title?

Anne. No, in truth.

[me,

Old L. Then you are weakly made: pluck off a little :

I would not be a young Count in your way,

For more than bluthing comes to: if your back
Cannot vouchfate this burthen, 'tis too weak

Ever to get a boy.

Anne. How do you talk!

I.fwear again, I would not be a Queen
For all the world.

Old L. In faith, for little England

You'd venture an emballing: I myself

Would for Carnarvanfhire, though there belong'd
No more to th' crown but that. Lo, who comes here?

Enter Lord Chamberlain.

Cham. Good-morrow, Ladies; what wer't worth to The fecret of your conf'rence?

Anne. My good Lord,

Not your demand; it values not your asking.

Our mistress' forrows we were pitying.

Cham. It was a gentle bulinefs, and becoming

The action of good women: there is hope

All will be well.

Anne. Now I pray God, Amen.

[know

Cham You bear a gentle mind, and heav'nly bleffings Follow fuch creatures. That you may, fair Lady, Perceive I fpeak fincerely, and high note is

Ta en of your many virtues, the King's Majesty
Commends his good opinion to you, and
Does purpose honour to you no less flowing
Than Marchionefs of Pembroke; to which title
A thousand pounds a-year, annual support,
Out of his grace he adds.

Anne. I do not know

What kind of my obedience I fhould tender :
More than my all, which is nothing; for my prayers
Are not words duly hallow'd, nor my wishes
More worth than vanities; yet pray'rs and wishes
Are all I can return. 'Beseech your Lordship,
Vouchlafe to speak my thanks and my obe lience,
As from a biuihing handmaid to his Highness;
Whole health and royalty I pray fʊr.

Cham. Lady,

I shall not fail t' approve the fair conceit
The King hath of you. I've perus'd her well;
Beauty and honour in her are to mingled,

[Afide.

That they have caught the King; and who knows yet,

VOL. V.

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