Suf. God safely quit her of her burthen, and

With gentle travail, to the gladding of
Your highness with an heir?

King.

'Tis midnight, Charles;

Prithee, to bed; and in thy prayers remem

ber

The estate of my poor queen. Leave me

alone;

For I must think of that which company

Would not be friendly to.

Suf.

I wish your highness

A quiet night, and my good mistress will
Remember in my prayers.

King.

Charles, good night.

[exit Suffolk.

Enter SIR ANTHONY DENNY.

Well, sir, what follows?

Den. Sir, I have brought my lord the

archbishop,

As you commanded me.

King.

Ha! Canterbury ?

Den. Ay, my good lord.

King. "Tis true where is he, Denny?

What!

[Lovell seems

to stay.] Ha! I have said. Be gone. [exeunt Lovell and Denny.

Cran. [aside] I am fearful wherefore

frowns he thus?

'Tis his aspect of terror.

All's not well.

King. How now, my lord! you do desire

to know

Wherefore I sent for you.

Cran. [kneeling]

To attend your highness' pleasure.

It is my duty

Pray you, arise,

King. My good and gracious Lord of Canterbury. Come, you and I must walk a turn together; I have news to tell you: come, come, give me your hand.

Ah, my good lord, I grieve at what I speak,

And am right sorry to repeat what follows:
I have, and most unwillingly, of late
Heard many grievous, I do say, my lord,
Grievous complaints of you; which, being
consider'd,

Have moved us and our council, that you shall

This morning come before us; where, I

know,

You cannot with such freedom purge your

self,

But that, till further trial in those charges Which will require your answer, you must

take

Your patience to you and be well contented To make your house our Tower: you a brother of us,

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

Cran. [kneeling]

your highness;

I humbly thank

And am right glad to catch this good occa

sion

Most throughly to be winnow'd, where my

chaff

And corn shall fly asunder: for, I know,

There's none stands 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, stand

up:

Prithee, let's walk. Now, by my holidame, What manner of man are you? My lord, I

look'd

You would have given me your petition, that I should have ta'en some pains to bring together

Yourself and your accusers, and to have heard you,

Without indurance further.

Cran.

Most dread liege,

The good I stand on is my truth and hon

esty :

If they shall fail, I, with mine enemies, Will triumph o'er my person; which I weigh

How your state stands i' the world, with the whole world?

Your enemies are many, and not small; their practices

Must bear the same proportion; and not ever The justice and the truth o' the question carries

The due o' the verdict with it: at what ease Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt

To swear against you? Such things have been done.

You are potently opposed, and with a malice Of as great size. Ween you of better luck, I mean, in perjured witness, than your master,

Whose minister you are, whiles here he lived Upon this naughty earth? Go to, go to ; You take a precipice for no leap of danger, And woo your own destruction.

Cran.

God and your majesty

Protect mine innocence, or I fall into

The trap is laid for me!

King.

Be of good cheer;

They shall no more prevail than we give

way to.