art

more

plealt

k you!

That's the plain truth; your painted glo
To men that understand you, words and
Crom. My lord of Winchester, you are
By your good favour, too sharp; men fo
However faulty, yet should find respect
For what they have been: 'tis a cruelty,
To load a falling man.

Gar.

Good mafter Secret

cry your honour mercy; you may, wor Of all this table, fay fo.

Crom.

Why, my lord?

Gar. Do not I know you for a favoure Of this new fect? ye are not found.

Crom.

Gar. Not found, I say.

Crom.

Not f

'Would you wer

Men's prayers then would feek you, not
Gar. I fhall remember this bold languag
Crom.

Remember your bold life too.

Chan.

Forbear, for fhame, my lords.

Gar.

Crom.

This is too

I have don

Chan. Then thus for you, my lord,-I

I take it, by all voices, that forthwith

You be convey'd 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 fome o'the guard be ready there.

I have a little yet to say. Look there, my lords,

By virtue of that ring, I take my caufe
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 ourfelves.

Nor.

Do you think, my lords,

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

Cham.

'Tis now too certain :

How much more is his life in value with him?

'Would I were fairly out on't.

Crem.

My mind gave më,

In

In feeking tales, and informations,

Against this man, (whofe honesty the devil
And his difciples only envy at,)

Ye blew the fire that burns ye: Now have at ye.

Enter King, frowning on them; takes his feat.

Gar. Dread fovereign, how much are we bound to

eaven

In daily thanks, that gave us fuch a prince;
Not only good and wife, but most religious :
One that, in all obedience, makes the church
The chief aim of his honour; and, to ftrengthen
That holy duty, out of dear respect,

His royal felf in judgement comes to hear
The cause betwixt her and this great offender.

K. Hen. You were ever good at fudden commendations,
Bishop of Winchester. But know, I come not
To hear fuch flattery now, and in my presence;
They are too thin and base to hide offences.
To me you cannot reach, you play the spaniel,
And think with wagging of your tongue to win me;
But, whatfoe'er thou tak'ft me for, I am fure,

Thou haft a cruel nature, and a bloody.

Good man, [To CRANMER.] fit down. Now let me fee the proudest

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

By all that's holy, he had better starve,

Than but once think his place becomes thee not.

Sur. May it please your grace,

K. Hen.

I had thought, I had had men of fome, understanding

And wisdom, of

No, fir, it does not please me.

find none.

This

but my council;

Was it difcretion, lords, to let this man,

H 3

This good man, (few of you deserve that title,)
This honeft man, wait like a lowly footboy
At chamber door? and one as great as you are?
Why, what a fhame was this? Did my commiffion
Bid ye fo far forget yourselves? I gave ye
Power as he was a counsellor to try him,
Not as a groom; There's some of ye, I see,
More out of malice than integrity,

Would try him to the utmost, had ye mean;
Which ye shall never have, while I live.

Chan.
Thus far,
My most dread fovereign, may it like your grace
To let my tongue excufe all. What was purpos'd,
Concerning his imprisonment, was rather

(If there be faith in men,) meant for his trial,
And fair purgation to the world, than malice;
I am fure, in me.

K. Hen.

Well, well, my lords, respect him;
Take him, and use him well, he's worthy of it.
I will fay thus much for him, If a prince

May be beholden to a subject, I

Am, for his love and service, so to him..

Make me no more ado, but all embrace him ;

Be friends, for fhame, my lords.-My lord of Canterbury,
I have a fuit which you must not deny me;
That is, a fair young maid that yet wants baptism,

You must be godfather, and answer for her.

Cran. The greatest monarch now alive may glory

In fuch an honour; How may I deserve it,

That am a poor and humble fubject to you?

K. Hen. Come, come, my lord, you'd spare your spoons;

you fhall have

Two noble partners with you; the old duchefs of Nor

folk,

And

4

And lady marquifs Dorfet; Will these please you?
Once more, my lord of Winchester, I charge you,
Embrace, and love this man.

K. Hen. Good man, those joyful tears fhow thy true heart.

The common voice, 1 fee, is verify'd

Of thee, which fays thus, Do my lord of Canterbury
Afbrewd turn, and he is your friend for ever.-
Come lords, we trifle time away; I long

To have this young one made a christian.
As I have made ye one, lords, one remain;
So I grow stronger, you more honour gain.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

The Palace Yard.

Noife and tumult within: Enter Porter, and his Man.

Port. You'll leave your noise anon, ye rafcals: Do you take the court for Paris-garden? ye rude flaves, leave your gaping.

[Within.] Good master porter, I belong to the larder. Port. Belong to the gallows, and be hang'd, you rogue : Is this a place to roar in ?—Fetch me a dozen crab-tree staves, and strong ones; these are but switches to them.I'll scratch your heads: You must be seeing christenings? Do you look for ale and cakes here, you rude rascals? Man. Pray, fir, be patient; 'tis as much impoffible (Unless we sweep them from the door with cannons,)