It fits we thus proceed: or else no witness
Would come against you.

Cran. I humbly thank your Highness,

And am right glad to catch this good occafion
Moft throughly to be winnow'd, where my chaff
And corn fhall fly afunder. For, I know,

There's none ftands under more calumnious tongues
Than I myself, poor man.

King, Stand up, good Canterbury;

Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted

In us, thy friend. Give me thy hand, ftand up';
Pr'ythee, let's walk. Now, by my holy dame,
What manner of man are you? my Lord, I look'd,
You would have given me your petition, that
I should have ta'en fome pains to bring together
Yourself and your accufers, and have heard you
Without indurance further.

Cran. Moft dread Liege,

The good I ftand on is my truth and honesty :
If they fhall fall, I with mine enemies

Will triumph o'er my perfon; which I weigh not,
Being of thofe virtues vacant. I fear nothing

What can be faid against me.

King. Know you not

How your ftate ftands i'th' world, with the whole world?
Your foes are many, and not small; their practices
Must bear the fame proportion; and not ever
The juftice and the truth o'th' queftion carries
The due o'th' verdict with it. At what ease
Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt
To fwear against you? fuch things have been done.
You're potently oppos'd; and with a malice
Of as great fize. Ween you of better luck,
I mean, in perjur'd witnefs, than your mafter,.
Whofe minister you are, while here he liv'd
Upon this naughty earth? go to, go to,
You take a precipice for no leap of danger,
And woo your own deftruction.

Cran. God and your Majefty

Protect mine innocence, or I fall into
The trap is laid for me!

King. Be of good cheer;

you;

They fhall no more prevail, than we give way to :
Keep comfort to you, and this morning fee
You do appear before them. If they chance,
In charging you with matters, to commit
The best perfuafions to the contrary
Fail not to ufe; and with what vehemency
Th' occafion fhall inftruct you. If intreaties
Will render you no remedy, this ring

Deliver them, and your appeal to us

There make before them. Look, the good man weeps !
He's honeft, on mine honour. God's bleft mother 1
I fwear, he is true-hearted; and a foul

None better in my kingdom.

And do as I have bid you.

Get you gone.

[Exit Cranmer.

H'as ftrangled all his language in his tears.

Enter an old Lady.

Gen. [Within.] Come back; what mean you?
Lady. I'll not come back: the tidings that I bring
Will make my boldnefs manners. Now good angels
Fly o'er thy royal head, and fhade thy perfon

Under their bleffed wings!
King. Now, by thy looks

I guess thy meffage.

Is the Queen deliver'd ?

Say, ay; and of a boy.

Lady. Ay, ay, my Liege;

And of a lovely boy; the God of heav'n

Both now and ever blefs her!

'tis a girl,

Promises boys hereafter. Sir, your Queen

Defires your vifitation; and to be

Acquainted with this ftranger; 'tis as like you,
As cherry is to cherry,

King. Lovell,

Lov. Sir.

King. Give her an hundred marks. I'll to the Queen. [Exit King. Lady. An hundred marks! by this light, I'll ha' more. An ordinary groom is for fuch payment. I will have more, or fcold it out of him. Said I for this, the girl was like him? I'll Have more, or elfe unfay't; now, I'll put it to the iffue.

while 'tis hot,

[Exit Lady.

SCENE, before the Council-chamber.

Enter Cranmer.

Cr. Hope, I'm not too late; and yet the gentleman,

"That was fent to me from the Council, pray'd me To make great hafte. All faft? what means this? hoa? Who waits there? fure, you know me?

Enter Door Keeper.

Door Keep. Yes, my Lord;

But yet I cannot help you.
Cran. Why?

D. Keep. Your Grace muft wait, 'till you be call'd for.

Cran. So.

Enter Doctor Butts.

Butts. This is a piece of malice: I am glad, I came this way fo happily. The King

Shall understand it prefently..

Cran. 'Tis Butts,

The King's physician; as he paft along,
How earnestly he caft his eyes upon me!

[Exit Butts.

Pray heav'n, he found not my difgrace! for certain, This is of purpose laid by fome that hate me,

(God turn their hearts! I never fought their malice) To quench mine honour: they would shame to make me Wait elfe at door: a fellow-counsellor,

R. 4

'Mong

'Mong boys and grooms and lackeys! but their pleasures Must be fulfill'd, and I attend with patience.

Enter the King and Butts, at a window above.

Butts. I'll fhew your Grace the ftrangeft fight-
King. What's that, Butts?

Butts. I think, your Highnefs faw this many a day.
King. Body o' me: where is it?

Butts. There, my Lord:

The high promotion of his Grace of Canterbury,
Who holds his ftate at door 'mongst pursevants,
Pages, and foot-boys.

King. Ha! 'tis he, indeed.

Is this the honour they do one another?
'Tis well, there's one above 'em yet. I thought,
They'd parted fo much honefty among 'em,
At leaft, good manners; as not thus to fuffer
A man of his place, and so near our favour,
To dance attendance on their Lordships' pleasures;
And at the door too, like a poft with packets.
By holy Mary, Butts, there's knavery;
Let 'em alone, and draw the curtain clofe,
We shall hear more anon,

XXX

SCENE

SCENE the Council.

A council-table brought in with chairs and ftools, and placed under the ftate. Enter Lord Chancellor, places himself at the upper end of the table on the left hand; A feat being left void above him, as for the Archbishop of Canterbury. Duke of Suffolk, Duke of Norfolk, Surrey, Lord Chamberlain, and Gardiner, feat themfelves in order on each fide. Cromwell at the lower end, as Secretary.

Chan. Why are we met in council?

Peak to the bufinefs, Mr. Secretary; (18)

Crom. Please your honours,

The cause concerns his Grace of Canterbury.
Gard. Has he had knowledge of it?

Crom. Yes.

Nor. Who waits there?

Door. Keep. Without, my noble Lords?

Gard. Yes.

Door. Keep. My Lord Arch-bishop;

And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures.

Chan. Let him come in.

Door. Keep. Your Grace may enter now.

[Cranmer approaches the council-table. Chan. My good Lord Arch-bishop, I'm very forry

(18) Chan. Speak to the Bufinefs,] This Lord Chancellor, though a Character, has hitherto had no place in the Dramatis Perfonæ, In the laft Scene of the fourth Act, we heard, that Sir Thomas More. was appointed Lord Chancellor: but it is not he, whom the Poet here introduces. Wolfey, by Command delivered up the Seals on the eighteenth of November 1529; on the twenty-fifth of the fame Month, they were delivered to Sir Thomas More, who furrendered them on the fixteenth of May, 1532. Now the Conclufion of this Scene taking Notice of Queen Elizabeth's Birth, (which brings it down to the Year 1534) Sir Thomas Audrie muft neceffarily be our Poet's Chancellor; who fucceeded Sir Thomas More, and held the Seals many Years.