The most remark'd i' the kingdom. As for Crom-
well,
Beside that of the jewel-house, he's made master
O' the rolls, and the king's secretary; further, sir,
Stands in the gap and trade of more preferments,
With which the time will load him: The archbishop
Is the king's hand, and tongue; And who dare speak
One syllable against him?

Gar.
Yes, yes, sir Thomas,
There are that dare; and I myself have ventur'd
To speak my mind of him: and, indeed, this day,
Sir, (I may tell it you,) I think, I have
Incens'd the lords o'the council, that he is
(For so I know he is, they know he is,)
A most arch heretick, a pestilence

That does infect the land: with which they moved,
Have broken with the king; who hath so far
Given ear to our complaint, (of his great grace
And princely care; foreseeing those fell mischiefs
Our reasons laid before him,) he hath commanded,
To-morrow morning to the council-board

He be convented. He's a rank weed, sir Thomas,
And we must root him out. From your affairs
I hinder you too long: good night, sir Thomas.
Lov. Many good nights, my lord; I rest your
servant. [Exeunt GARDINER and Page.

As LOVELL is going out, enter the KING, and the
DUKE OF SUFFOLK.

K. Hen. Charles, I will play no more to-night;
My mind's not on't, you are too hard for me.
Suf. Sir, I did never win of you before.
K. Hen. But little Charles;

Nor shall not, when my fancy's on my play.
Now, Lovell, from the queen what is the news?
Lov. I could not personally deliver to her
What you commanded me, but by her woman
I sent your message; who return'd her thanks
In the greatest humbleness, and desir'd your highness
Most heartily to pray for her.

K. Hen.
What say'st thou? ha!
To pray for her? what, is she crying out?
Lov. So said her woman; and that her suffer-
ance made

Almost each pang a death.

K. Hen.

Alas, good lady!

Suf. God safely quit her of her burden, and
With gentle travail, to the gladding of
Your highness with an heir!

K. Hen.
'Tis midnight, Charles,
Pr'ythee, to bed; and in thy prayers remember
The estate of my poor queen. Leave me alone;
For I must think of that, which company
Will not be friendly to.

Suf.

I wish your highness A quiet night, and my good mistress will Remember in my prayers.

K. Hen.

Charles, good night. [Exit SUFFOLK.

To attend your highness' pleasure.

K. Hen.

'Pray you, arise, 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 con-
sider'd,

Have mov'd us and our council, that you shall
This morning come before us; where, I know,
You cannot with such freedom purge yourself,
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 brotl...
of us,

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 occasion 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.

K. Hen.

Stand up, good Canterbury; Thy truth, and thy integrity, is rooted In us, thy friend: Give me thy hand, stand 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

Cran.

I should have ta'en some pains to bring together
Yourself and your accusers; and to have heard you
Without indurance further.
Most dread liege,
The good I stand on is my truth, and honesty;
If they shall fail, I, with mine enemies,
Will triumph o'er my person; which I weigh not,
Being of those virtues vacant.
I fear nothing
What can be said against me.

K. Hen.

Know you not 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 oppos'd; and with a malice
Of as great size. Ween you of better luck,
I mean, in perjur'd witness, than your master,
Whose minister you are, whiles here he liv'd

Gent. [Within.] Come back; What mean you?

Must be fulfill'd, and I attend with patience.

Enter, at a window above, the KING and Burrs.
Butts. I'll show your grace the strangest sight,—
K. Hen.
What's that, Butts ?
Butts. I think your highness saw this many a
day.

K. Hen. Body o'me, where is it?
Butts.

There, my lord:

angels

Fly o'er thy royal head, and shade thy person Under their blessed wings!

K. Hen.

I guess thy message.

Say, ay; and of a boy.

Lady.

Now, by thy looks Is the queen deliver'd ?

Ay, ay, my liege;

'tis a girl,

And of a lovely boy: The god of heaven Both now and ever bless her

Promises boys hereafter. Sir, your queen
Desires your visitation, and to be

Acquainted with this stranger; 'tis as
As cherry is to cherry.

K. Hen.

Lov.

Lovell,

Enter LOVELL.

Sir.

K. Hen. Give her an hundred marks. I'll to the queen. [Erit KING.

Lady. An hundred marks! By this light, I'll have more.

An ordinary groom is for such payment.
I will have more, or scold it out of him.
Said I for this, the girl is like to him?

I will have more, or else unsay't; and now
While it is hot, I'll put it to the issue.

[Exeunt.

K. Hen. Ha! 'Tis he, indeed : Is this the honour they do one another? 'Tis well there's one above them yet. I had thought, They had parted so much honesty among them, (At least, good manners,) as not thus to suffer A man of his place, and so near our favour,

To dance attendance on their lordships' pleasures,
And at the door too, like a post with packets.
By holy Mary, Butts, there's knavery:

Let them alone, and draw the curtain close;
We shall hear more anon. -

Please your honours, The chief cause concerns his grace of Canterbury. Gar. Has he had knowledge of it? Crom.

Nor.

Yes. Who waits there?

D. Keep. Without, my noble lords? Gar.

D. Keep.

Yes. My lord archbishop;

And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures.
Chan. Let him come in.
D. Keep.

Your grace may enter now.
[CRANMER approaches the council-table.
Chan. My good lord archbishop, I am very sorry
To sit here at this present, and behold
That chair stand empty: But we all are men,

(For so we are inform'd,) with new opinions, Divers and dangerous; which are heresies, And, not reform'd, may prove pernicious.

Gar. Which reformation must be sudden too, My noble lords: for those that tame wild horses,

them,

Till they obey the manage.

If we suffer

(Out of our easiness, and childish pity

To one man's honour) this contagious sickness,
Farewell, all physick; And what follows then?
Commotions, uproars, with a general taint

Of the whole state: as, of late days, our neighbours,
The upper Germany, can dearly witness,
Yet freshly pitied in our memories.

Cran. My good lords, hitherto, in all the progress
Both of my life and office, I have labour'd,
And with no little study, that my teaching,
And the strong course of my authority,
Might go one way, and safely; and the end
Was ever to do well: nor is there living.
(I speak it with a single heart, my lords,)
A man that more detests, more stirs against,
Both in his private conscience, and his place,
Defacers of a publick peace, than I do.
'Pray heaven, the king may never find a heart
With less allegiance in it! Men, that make
Envy, and crooked malice, nourishment,
Dare bite the best. I do beseech your lordships,
That, in this case of justice, my accusers,
Be what they will, may stand forth face to face,
And freely urge against me.

Suf.
Nay, my lord,
That cannot be; you are a counsellor,
And, by that virtue, no man dare accuse you.

Gar. My lord, because we have business of more

you,

You are always my good friend; if your wiil pass,
I shall both find your lordship judge and juror,
You are so merciful: I see your end,
'Tis my undoing: Love and meekness, lord,
Become a churchman better than ambition;
Win straying souls with modesty again,

Cast none away.
That I shall clear myself,
Lay all the weight ye can upon my patience,
I make as little doubt, as you do conscience,
In doing daily wrongs. I could say more,
But reverence to your calling makes me modest.

Gar. My lord, my lord, you are a sectary,
That's the plain truth; your painted gloss discovers,
To men that understand you, words and weakness.

Crom. My lord of Winchester, you are a little, By your good favour, too sharp; men so noble,

Gar. I shall remember this bold language. Crom.

Remember your bold life too.

Chan.

Do.

This is too much;

I have done.

And I.

Forbear, for shame, my lords..
Gar.
Crom.
Chan. Then thus for you, my lord, - It stands
agreed,

I take it, by all voices, that forthwith
You be conveyed to the Tower a prisoner;
There to remain, till the king's further pleasure,
Be known unto us: Are you all agreed, lords?
All. We are.
Cran.
Is there no other way of mercy,
But I must needs to the Tower, my lords?
Gar.
What other
Would you expect? You are strangely troublesome:
Let some o'the guard be ready there.

Sur.

'Tis no counterfeit. Suf. 'Tis the right ring, by heaven: I told ye all, When we first put this dangerous stone a rolling, 'Twould fall upon ourselves.

Nor. Do you think, my lords, The king will suffer but the little finger Of this man to be vex'd?

Cham. 'Tis now too certain : How much more is his life in value with him? 'Would I were fairly out on't.

Crom.

My mind gave me,

In seeking tales, and informations,
Against this man, (whose honesty the devil
And his disciples only envy at,)

Ye blew the fire that burns ye: Now have at ye.

Enter KING, frowning on them; takes his seat. Gar. Dread sovereign, how much are we bound to heaven

In daily thanks, that gave us such a prince;
Not only good and wise, but most religious:
One that, in all obedience, makes the church
The chief aim of his honour; and, to strengthen
That holy duty, out of dear respect,
His royal self in judgment comes to hear,
The cause betwixt her and this great offender.
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