Those who would support the
king's honour and dignity must desire to see you removed from his
counsels."
"I am ready to take thy place, lord cardinal," said Will Sommers; "and
will exchange my bauble for thy chancellor's mace, and my fool's cap
for thy cardinal's hat."
"Peace!" thundered the king. "Stand not between me and the object of
my wrath. Your accusers are not one but many, Wolsey; nay, the whole
of my people cry out for justice against you. And they shall have it. But
you shall hear the charges they bring. Firstly, contrary to our
prerogative, and for your own advancement and profit, you have
obtained authority legatine from the Pope; by which authority you have
not only spoiled and taken away their substance from many religious
houses, but have usurped much of our own jurisdiction. You have also
made a treaty with the King of France for the Pope without our consent,
and concluded another friendly treaty with the Duke of Ferrara, under
our great seal, and in our name, without our warrant. And furthermore
you have presumed to couple yourself with our royal self in your letters
and instructions, as if you were on an equality with us."
"Ha! ha! 'The king and I would have you do thus!' 'The king and I give
you our hearty thanks!' Ran it not so, cardinal?" cried Will Sommers.
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