2 Gent.

I am confident;

You shall, sir: did you not of late days hear

A buzzing of a separation

Between the King and Katharine?

1 Gent.

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 Gent.

But that slander, sir,

Is found a truth now; for it grows again

Fresher than e'er it was; and held for certain,
The King will venture at it. Either the Cardinal,
Or some about him near, have, out of malice
To the good Queen, possessed him with a scruple
That will undo her: to confirm this too,
Cardinal Campeius is arrived and lately,
As all think, for this business.

'T is the Cardinal;

1 Gent.
And merely to revenge him on the Emperor,
For not bestowing on him, at his asking,
The archbishoprick of Toledo, this is purposed.

2 Gent. I think you have hit the mark: but is 't

not cruel,

That she should feel the smart of this? The Car

Will have his will, and she must fall.

1 Gent.

We are too open here to argue this;
Let's think in private more.

"T is woful

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-An Ante-chamber in the Palace. Enter the Lord Chamberlain, reading this letter.

Cham. 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 served before a Subject, if not before the King; which stopped our mouths, sir.' 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.
Cham. Good day to both your graces.
Suf. How is the King employed?
Cham

I left him private,

Full of sad thoughts and troubles.

Nor.

What s the cause!

Cham. It seems, the marriage with his brother's

wife

Has crept too near his conscience.

Suf.

Has crept too near another lady.

No, his conscience

"T is so.

Nor. This is the Cardinal's doing, the King-Cardinal : That blind priest, like the eldest son of Fortune, 'Turns what he list. The King will know him one day.

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

Nor. How holily he works in all his business! And with what zeal for now he has cracked the

league

Between us and the Emperor, the Queen's great

nephew,

He dives into the King's soul; and there scatters Dangers, doubts, 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

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 such counsel !
"T is most true

These news are everywhere; every tongue speaks them,

And every true heart weeps for 't. All, that dare Look into these affairs, see this 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 fashioned
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, so I'll stand,
If the King please: his curses and his blessings
Touch me alike, they 're 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.

My lord, you'll bear us company?

Cham.

Excuse me;

The King hath sent me otherwhere besides,
You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him:
Health to your lordships.

Nor.

Thanks, my good Lord Chamberlain. [Exit Lord Chamberlain.

NORFOLK opens a folding door. The KING is discovered sitting, and reading pensively.

Suf. How sad he looks: sure, he is much

afflicted.

K. Hen. Who is there? Ha!

Nor.

'Pray God, he be not angry.

K. Hen. Who's there, I say? 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