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

2

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

Incens'd the lords o'the council, that he is, &c.

A most arch heretick,] This passage, according to the old elliptical mode of writing, may mean

-I have incens'd the lords of the

council, for that he is, i. e. because.

1 broken with the king;] They have broken silence: told their minds to the king.

• He be convented.] Convented is summoned, convened.

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 sufferance

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!

'Tis midnight, Charles,

K. Hen.
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.

A quiet night, and my good mistress will

I wish your highness

Remember in my prayers.

K. Hen.

Enter Sir ANTHONY DENNY.

Well, sir, what follows?

Den. Sir, I have brought my lord the archbishop,

As you commanded me.

K. Hen.

Den. Ay, my good lord.

K. Hen.

Ha! Canterbury?

'Tis true: Where is he, Denny?

Bring him to us.

[Exit DENNY.

Den. He attends your highness' pleasure.

K. Hen.

Lov. This is about that which the bishop spake ;

I am happily come hither.

[Aside.

+ "Would not," &c. - MALONE.

What!

Cran. I am fearful:

'Tis his aspect of terror.

[Exeunt LOVELL and DENNY. Wherefore frowns he thus? All's not well.

K. Hen. How now, my lord? You do desire to know Wherefore I sent for you.

Cran.

It is my duty,

'Pray you, arise,

To attend your highness' pleasure.

K. Hen.

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 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 brother 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

3

You a brother of us, &c.] You being one of the council, it is necessary to imprison you, that the witnesses against you may not be deterred.

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
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 honesty ;
If they shall fail, I, with mine enemies,

Will triumph o'er my person; which I weigh not, 5
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
Ween you of better luck,7
I mean, in perjur'd witness, than your master,

tination.

5

6

indurance,] i. e. confinement, or perhaps, delay, procras

I weigh not,] i. e. have no value for.

and not ever-] Not ever is an uncommon expression, and

does not mean never, but not always.

7

Ween you of better luck,] To ween is to think, to imagine. Though now obsolete, the word was common to all our ancient writers.

Whose minister you are, whiles 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 destruction.

Cran.

God, and your majesty,

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

Be of good cheer;

K. Hen.
They shall no more prevail, than we give way to.
Keep comfort to you; and this morning see
You do appear before them; if they shall chance,
In charging you with matters, to commit you,
The best persuasions to the contrary
Fail not to use, and with what vehemency
The occasion shall instruct you: if entreaties
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 honest, on mine honour. God's blest mother!

I swear, he's true-hearted; and a soul

None better in my kingdom. - Get you gone,

And do as I have bid you. [Exit CRANMER.] He has strangled

His language in his tears.

Enter an old Lady.

Gent. [within.] Come back; What mean you? Lady. I'll not come back; the tidings that I bring Will make my boldness manners. Now, good angels, Fly o'er thy royal head, and shade thy person

Under their blessed wings!

K. Hen.

Now, by thy looks
I guess thy message. Is the queen deliver'd?
Is the
Say, ay; and of a boy.

Lady.
Ay, ay, my liege;
And of a lovely boy: The God of heaven
Both now and ever bless her! 'tis a girl,