SCENE II.—Lobby before the Council Chamber.
Enter CRANMER; Servants, Door-keeper, &c., attending.
Cran. I hope I am not too late; and yet the gentleman,
That was sent to me from the council pray'd me

To make great haste. All fast? what means this? Ho!
Who waits there? Sure, you know me ?

D. Keep.

But yet I cannot help you.

Cran.

Why?

Yes, my lord;

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

'Tis Butts,

[Exit BUTTS.

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For certain,

Butts. [Aside.] This is a piece of malice. I am glad
I came this way so happily: the king
Shall understand it presently.
Cran. [Aside.]
The king's physician: as he pass'd along,
How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me!
Pray heaven, he sound not my disgrace!
This is of purpose laid by some that hate me-
God turn their hearts! I never sought their malice-
To quench mine honour: they would shame to make me
Wait else at door, a fellow-counsellor,

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

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What's that, Butts ?

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The KING and BUTTS appear at a window above.
Butts. I'll show your grace the strangest sight-
K. Hen.
Butts. I think your highness saw this many a day.
K. Hen. Body o' me, where is it?
Butts.
There, my lord:
The high promotion of his grace of Canterbury;
Who holds his state at door, 'mongst pursuivants,
Pages, and footboys.

Is this the honour they do one another?

'Tis well there's one above 'em yet. I had thought
They had parted so much honesty among 'em,
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 'em alone, and draw the curtain close;
We shall hear more anon.

The Council Chamber.

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[Exeunt.

Enter the Lord Chancellor, the DUKE OF SUFFOLK, the DUKE
OF NORFOLK, EARL OF SURREY, Lord Chamberlain, GARDINER,
and CROMWELL. The Chancellor places himself at the upper end
of the table on the left hand; a seat being left void above him, as
for the ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. The rest seat themselves
in order on each side. CROMWELL at the lower end, as secretary.
Chan. Speak to the business, master secretary:
Why are we met in council?

Crom.
The chief cause concerns his grace of Canterbury.

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Please your honours,

Gar. Has he had knowledge of it?

Crom.

Yes.

Nor.

Who waits there?

Gar.

D. Keep.

D. Keep. Without, my noble lords?

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

Yes.

My lord archbishop;

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Chan. Let him come in.

D. Keep.

Your grace may enter now.

[CRANMER approaches the council-table.

Chan. My good lord archbishop, I'm very sorry

To sit here at this present and behold

That chair stand empty but we all are men,

In our own natures frail and capable

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Of our flesh; few are angels: out of which frailty

And want of wisdom, you, that best should teach us,

Have misdemean'd yourself, and not a little,

Toward the king first, then his laws, in filling

The whole realm, by your teaching and your chaplains—

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For so we are inform'd-with new opinions,

Divers and dangerous; which are heresies,

And, not reformi'd, may prove pernicious.

Gar. Which reformation must be sudden too,

My noble lords; for those that tame wild horses

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Pace 'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle,

But stop their mouths with stubborn bits and spur 'em,
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 physic: 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.

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65

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 public 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

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Dare bite the best. I do beseech your lordships,
That, in this case of justice, my accusers,

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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 moment, 85

We will be short with you. 'Tis his highness' pleasure,

And our consent, for better trial of you,

From hence you be committed to the Tower;

Where, being but a private man again,

You shall know many dare accuse you boldly,

More than, I fear, you are provided for.

Cran. Ah, my good Lord of Winchester, I thank you ;

You are always my good friend; if your will 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

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95

100

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,
However faulty, yet should find respect
For what they have been: 'tis a cruelty
To load a falling man.

I

Gar

Good master secretary,

cry your honour mercy; you may, worst Of all this table, say so.

Crom.

Gar. Do not I know you for a favourer

Of this new sect? ye are not sound.

Crom.

Gar. Not sound, I say.
Crom.

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110

Why, my lord?

Not sound?

115

Would you were half so honest!

Men's prayers then would seek you, not their fears.
Gar. shall remember this bold language.

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.

Cran.

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Must I go like a traitor thither?

Gar.

And see him safe i' the Tower.

Cran.

Stay, good my lords;
I have a little yet to say. Look there, my lords;
By virtue of that ring, I take my cause

Out of the gripes of cruel men, and give it
To a most noble judge, the king my master.
Cham. This is the king's ring.

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.

The king will suffer but the little finger
Of this man to be vex'd?

Cham.

How much more is his life in value with him?

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Do you think, my lords,

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"Tis now too certain :

My mind gave me,

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Ye blew the fire that burns ye: now have at ye!

'Would I were fairly out on 't!

Crom.

In seeking tales and informations

Against this man, whose honesty the devil

And his disciples only envy at,

Enter KING, frowning on them; he 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:

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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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K. Hen. You were ever good at sudden commendations,

Bishop of Winchester. But know, I come not

To hear such flattery now, and in my presence

They are too thin and bare to hide offences.

To me you cannot reach you play the spaniel,

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And think with wagging of your tongue to win me;
But, whatsoe'er thou tak'st me for, I'm sure,
Thou hast a cruel nature, and a bloody.

[To CRANMER] Good man, sit down. Now let me see the

proudest

He, that dares most, but wag his finger at thee:

By all that's holy, he had better starve

Than but once think this place becomes thee not.

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