(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 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
[Exeunt Gardiner and Page.

servant.

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 high-

ness,

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!

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.

I wish your highness

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

K. Hen.

Charles, good night.[Eait Suffolk.

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?

Den. He attends your highness' pleasure.

K. Hen.

Bring him to us.

[Eait Denny.

Lov. This is about that which the bishop spake; I am happily come hither.

[Aside.

Avoid the gallery.

Re-enter DENNY with CRANMER.

K. Hen.

Ha! I have said.-Be gone."

What!

[Lovell seems to stay.

[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 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 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 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 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
Upon this naughty earth? Go to, go to;
You take a precipice for no leap of danger,
And woo your own destruction.

God, and your majesty,

Crun.
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 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 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!

K. Hen.

Now, by thy looks
I guess thy message. Is the queen deliver'd?
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,
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.
[Exit King.
Lady An hundred marks! By this light, I'l
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.

SCENE II.

Lobby before the council-chamber.

[Exeunt.

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? _Hoa?

Who waits there? Sure, you know me?

D. Keep.

But yet I cannot help you.

Yes, my lord;

Why?

D. Keep.

Your grace must wait, till you be

Cran.

call'd for.

Cran.

Enter Doctor BUTTS.

So.

1

[Exit Butts.

Butts. This is a piece of malice. I am glad,
I came this way so happily: The king
Shall understand it presently.
Cran. [Aside.]
'Tis Butts,
The king's physician; As he past along,
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,
(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,

Among boys, grooms, and lackeys. But their pleasures

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

Enter at a window above, the King and BUTTS.
Butts. I'll shew your grace the strangest sight,-
K. Hen.
What's that, Butts!
Butts. I think, your highness saw this many s

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.
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: