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Sir I may tell it you, I think I have
Incens'd the lords o'th' council, that he is
(For fo I know he is, they know he is)
À most arch-heretick, a peftilence

That does infect the land; with which they mov'd
Have broken with the King, who hath fo far
Giv'n ear to our complaint of his great Grace
And princely care, foreseeing those fell mischiefs
Our reafons 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 muft root him out. From your affairs
I hinder you too long: good night, Sir Thomas.

[Exeunt Gardiner and page. Lov. Many good nights, my lord, I reft your fervant. SCENE II.

Enter King and Suffolk.

King. 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.
King. But little, Charles,

Nor fhall not when my fancy's on my play.
Now Lovel, from the Queen, what is the news?
Lov. I could not perfonally deliver to her
What you commanded me, but by her woman
I fent your meffage, who return'd her thanks
In greateft humblenefs, and beg your Highness
Moft heartily to pray for her.

King. What fay'st thou! ha!

To pray for her! what! is fhe crying out?

Lov. So faid her woman, and that her fuff 'rance made

Almoft each pang a death,

King. Alas, good lady!

Suf. God fafely quit her of her burthen, and

With gentle travel, to the gladding of

Your Highness with an heir.

King. 'Tis midnight, Charles;

Pr'ythee to bed, and in thy prayers remember

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Th'eftate

Th' eftate 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, a good night:

Well, Sir, what follows?

Enter Sir Anthony Denny.

[Exit Suffolk

Denny. Sir, I have brought my lord the Arch-bishop,

As you commanded me.

King. Ha! Canterbury !

Denny. Yea, my good lord.

King. 'Tis true- where is he, Denny?
Denny. He attends your Highness' pleasure.
King Bring him to us.

Lov. This is about that which the bifhop fpake,

I am happily come hither.

Enter Cranmer and Denny.

[Exit Denny,

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Cran. I am fearful: wherefore frowns he thus ?

'Tis his afpect of terror.

All's not well.

King. How now, my lord? you do defire to know

Wherefore I fent for you.

Cran. It is my duty

T'attend your Highness' pleasure.

King. Pray you rise,

My good and gracious lord of Canterbury:
Come you and I must walk a turn together:
I've news to tell you. Come, give me your
Ah my good lord, I grieve at what I fpeak,
And am right forry to repeat what follows.
I have, and moft unwillingly, of late
Heard many grievous, I do say, my lord,

hand.

Grievous

Grievous complaints of you; which being confider'd,
Have mov'd us and our council, that you Thall
This morning come before us, where I know
You cannot with fuch freedom purge your felf,
But that 'till further tryal, in thofe charges
Which will require your anfwer, you must take
Your patience to you, and be well contented

To make your houfe our Tower; you, a brother of us,
It fits we thus proceed, or elfe no witnefs
Would come against you.

Cran, I humbly thank your Highnefs,
And am right glad to catch this good, occafion
Moft throughly to be winnow'd, where my chaff
And corn fhall fly afunder. For I know

There's none ftands under more calumnious tongues
Than I my felf, poor man.

King. Stand up, good Canterbury ;
Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted

In us, thy friend. Give me thy hand, ftand 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 fome pains to bring together
Your felf and your accufers, and have heard you
Without indurance further..

Cran, Moft dread Liege,

The good I ftand on is my truth and honefty:
If they fhall fall, I with mine enemies
Will triumph o'er my perfon;
Being of thofe virtues vacant.
What can be faid against me.

King. Know you not

which I weigh not; I fear nothing

3

How your ftate ftands i' th' world, with the whole world?

Your foes are many, and not fmall; their practices
Muft bear the fame proportion; and not ever
The juftice and the truth o' th' queftion carries
The due o' th' verdict with it. At what eafe
Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt
To fwear againft you? fuch things have been done
You're

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Your'e potently oppos'd; and with a malice
Of as great fize. Ween you of better luck,
I mean in perjur'd witness, than your master,
Whofe minifter you are, while 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 deftruction.

Cran. God and your Majefty

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

King. Be of good cheer,

They fhall no more prevail than we give way to:
Keep comfort to you, and this morning fee
You do appear before them. If they chance,
In charging you with matters to commit you;
The beft perfuafions to the contrary

Fail not to ufe, and with what vehemency
Th' occafion fhall inftruct you. If intreaties
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 honeft on mine honour. God's bleft mother!

I fwear he is true-hearted, and a foul

None better in my kingdom. Get you gone,

And do as I have bid you.

[Exit Cranmer.

He'as ftrangled all 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 boldnefs manners. Now good angels Fly o'er thy royal head, and fhade thy perfon.

Under their bleffed wings!

King. Now by thy looks

I guess thy meffage.

Say ay, and of a boy.

Is the Queen deliver'd

Lady. Ay, ay, my Liege;

And of alovely boy; the God of heav'n
Both now and ever blefs her!

Promises boys hereafter. Sir, your Queen

Defires your vifitation, and to be

4.

-'tis a girl,

Acquainted

Acquainted with this ftranger; 'tis as like you,

As cherry is to cherry.

King. Lovell.

Lov. Sir.

King. Give her an hundred marks. I'll to the Queen,

[Exit King.

Lady. An hundred marks! by this light I'll ha' more. An ordinary groom is for fuch a payment. I will have more, or fcold it out of him. Said I for this, the girl was like him? I'll Have more, or elfe unfay't; now, while 'tis hot, I'll put it to the iffue. [Exit Lady.

SCENE IV.

Cran:

Enter Cranmer.

Hope I'm not too late, and yet the gentleman
That was fent to me from the council, pray'd me

To make great hafte. All faft? what means this? hoa?
Who waits there? fure you know me?

Enter Keeper.

Keep. Yes, my lord;

But yet I cannot help you.'

Cran. Why?

Keep. Your Grace must wait 'till you be call'd for. Enter Doctor Butts.

Cran. So.

Butts. This is a piece of malice: I am glad
I came this way fo happily. The King
Shall understand it prefently.

Cran. 'Tis Butts,

The King's phyfician; as he paft along,

Exit Butts,

How earnestly he caft his eyes upon me!
Pray heav'n he found not my difgrace: for certain
This is of purpose laid by fome that hate me,
(God turn their Hearts, I never fought their malice)
To quench mine honour! they would fhame to make re

Walt

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