With which the time will load him: The arch

bishop

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 Incensed 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 com-
manded

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. Suff. 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! Suff. 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
Would not be friendly to.

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

K. Hen.

I wish your highness

Charles, good night.

[Exit SUFFOLK.

Enter SIR ANTONY DENNY.

Well, sir, what follows?

Den. Sir, I have brought my lord the arch

bishop,

Den. Ay, my good lord.

Ha! Canterbury?

Den. He attends your highness' pleasure.

K. Hen.

K. Hen.

'Tis true: Where is he, Denny?

Bring him to us.

[Exit DENNY.

[Aside.

Avoid the gallery.

Lov. This is about that which the bishopspake:

I am happily come hither.

Re-enter DENNY, with CRANMER.

K. Hen.

[LOVELL seems to stay.

Ha! I have said.-Be gone.

What!

[Exeunt LOVELL and DENNY.

Cran. I am fearful :-Wherefore frowns he thus?

'Tis his aspect of terror. 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 To wait 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 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 thoroughly 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
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, 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 opposed; 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
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!
K. Hen.
Be of good cheer;
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 vebemency
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 is 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!

I guess thy message. Is the queen deliver'd?

K. Hen.

Now, by thy looks

Lady.

Ay, ay, my liege;

Say, ay; and of a boy.

And of a lovely boy: The God of heaven
Both now and ever bless her !—'tis a girl,
Promises boys hereafter. Sir, your queen
Desires your visitation, and to be

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

K. Hen.

Lov.

Lovell,

Enter LOVELL.

Sir,

K. Hen. Give her an hundred marks. I'll to

the queen.

Lady. An hundred marks! By this light I'll
[Exit King.
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.

SCENE II. Lobby before the Council Chamber. Enter CRANMER; Servants, Doorkeeper, &c. attending.

Cran. I hope, I am not too late; and

gentleman,

yet the That was sent to me from the council, pray'd me To make great haste. All fast? what means this?-Hoa!

Who waits there?-Sure you know me?

D. Keep.

But yet I cannot help you.

Cran.

Yes, my lord

;

Why?

D. Keep. Your grace must wait till you be call'd for.

Cran.

Enter DOCTOR BUTTS.

So.

Butts. This is a piece of malice. I am glad, I came this way so happily. The king Shall understand it presently.

[Exit BUTTS. 'Tis Butts, The king's physician; As he past along,

Cran. [Aside.]

How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me! Pray heaven, he sound not my disgrace! For certain,

This is of purpose lay'd by some that hate me