Carry them here and there; jumping o'er times; Who, prologue-like, your humble patience pray, London. An Anti-chamber in the King's Palace. Enter the Archbishop of CANTERBURY, and Bishop of ELY. Cant. My lord, I'll tell you, urg'd, Which, in the eleventh year o' the last king's reign, Was like, and had indeed against us pass'd, But that the scambling and unquiet time Did push it out of further question. Ely. But how, my lord, shall we resist it now? Cant. It must be thought on. If it pass against us, We lose the better half of our possession: And to the coffers of the king beside, A thousand pounds by the year: Thus runs the bill. Ely. This would drink deep. Cant. "Twould drink the cup and all. Ely. But what prevention? Cant. The king is full of grace, and fair regard. Ely. And a true lover of the holy church. Cant. The courses of his youth promis'd it not. And whipp'd the offending Adam out of him; To envelop and contain celestial spirits. With such a heady current, scouring faults; So soon did loose his seat, and all at once, Ely. We are blessed in the change. Cant. Hear him but reason in divinity, And, all-admiring, with an inward wish You would desire, the king were made a prelate : Hear him debate of commonwealth affairs, You would say, it hath been all-in-all his study: A fearful battle render'd you in musick: The Gordian knot of it he will unloose, I Listen to. Must be the mistress to this theorick: Which is a wonder, how his grace should glean it, His companies unletter'd, rude, and shallow; Any retirement, any sequestration From open haunts and popularity. Ely. The strawberry grows underneath the nettle; And wholesome berries thrive and ripen best, Cant. It must be so: for miracles are ceas'd; Ely. But, my good lord, How now for mitigation of this bill Cant. He seems indifferent And in regard of causes now in hand, Did to his predecessors part withal. Ely. How did this offer seem receiv'd, my lord? Cant. With good acceptance of his majesty ; Save, that there was not time enough to hear (As, I perceiv'd, his grace would fain have done,) 2 Increasing. The severals, and unhidden passages, Of his true titles to some certain dukedoms ; Ely. What was the impediment that broke this off? Cant. The French ambassador, upon that instant, Crav'd audience: and the hour, I think, is come, To give him hearing: Is it four o'clock? Ely. It is. Cant. Then go we in, to know his embassy; Which I could, with a ready guess, declare, Before the Frenchman speak a word of it. Ely. I'll wait upon you; and I long to hear it. [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Room of State in the same. Enter King HENRY, GLOSTER, BEDFORD, EXETER, WARWICK, WESTMORELAND, and Attendants. K. Hen. Where is my gracious lord of Canterbury? Exe. Not here in presence. K. Hen. Send for him, good uncle. West. Shall we call in the ambassador, my liege? K. Hen. Not yet, my cousin; we would be resolv'd, Before we hear him, of some things of weight, Enter the Archbishop of CANTERBURY, and Bishop of ELY. Cant. God, and his angels, guard your sacred throne, And make you long become it! |