Gard. Yes, yes, Sir Thomas,

There are that dare; and I my felf have ventur'd
To speak my Mind of him; and indeed this Day,
Sir, I may tell it you, I think I have

Incens'd the Lords of the Council, that he is,
(For fo I know he is, they know he is)

A moft Arch-heretick, a Peftilence

That does infect the Land; with which they'mov'd,
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, hath commanded
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.
[Exeunt Gardiner and Page.
Lov. Many good Nights, my Lord, I reft
your Servant.
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 the greatest humbleness, and defir'd your Highness
Moft heartily to pray for her.

King. What fay'ft thou! Ha!

To pray for her! What! is the crying out?

Lov. So faid her Woman, and that her fuffrance made

Almost each pang a death.

King. Alas, good Lady.

Suf. God fafely quit her of her Burthern, and

With gentle Travel, to the gladding of

Your Highness with an Heir.

King. 'Tis midnight, Charles,

Prithee to Bed, and in thy Prayers remember
Th' eftate of my poor Queen. Leave me alone,

For

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, Good Night:

Well, Sir, what follows?

Enter Sir Anthony Denny.

[Exit Suffolk.

Denny. Sir, I have brought my Lord the Archbishop, As you commanded me.

King. Ha! Canterbury!.

Denny. Ay, my good Lord.

Denny. He attends your Highness pleafure.

King. Bring him to us.

Lov. This is about that which the Bishop spake,

King. 'Tis true

where is he, Denny?

[Exit Denny.

[Afide.

[Lovel feemeth to ftay.

Enter Cranmer and Denny..

I am happily come hither.

King. Avoid the Gallery.

Ha!I have faid-be gone. [Exeunt Lovel and Denny.

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 Highnefs pleasure.

King. Pray you arife,

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 forry to repeat what follows,
I have, and moft unwillingly, of late
Heard many grievous, I do fay, my Lord,
Grievous Complaints of you; which being confider'd,
Have mov'd us, and our Council, that you fhall
This Morning come before us, where I know
You cannot with fuch freedom purge your felf,
But that 'till further Trial, in those 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 witness

Would come against you.

Cran. I humbly thank your Highness,

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,
Prithee 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 to have heard you
Without indurance further.

Cran. Moft dread Liege,

The Good I ftand on, is my Truth and Honesty:
If they shall fall, I, with mine Enemies,

Will triumph o'er my Perfon; which I weigh not,
Being of those Virtues vacant.
I fear nothing

What can be faid against me.

King. Know you not

How your State ftands i'th' World, with the whole World?
Your Enemies 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' Verdi& with it. At what eafe
Might corrupt Minds procure Knaves as corrupt
To fwear againft you? Such things have been done.
You are potently oppos'd; and with a Malice
Of as great a fize. Ween you of better Luck,
I mean in perjur'd Witnefs, than your Mafter,
Whole 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 Deftruction.

VOL. IV.

Cran.

Cran. God and your Majefty

Protect mine Innocence, or I fall into
The Trap is laid for me.

King. Be of good Cheer,

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

Fail not to ufe; and with what vehemency
The occafion fhall inftru&t 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 Soul

None better in my Kingdom.

Get you gone,

[Exit Cranmer.

And do as I have bid you.
He has ftrangled all his Language in his Tears
Enter 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 fhade thy Perfon Under their bleffed Wings.

King. Now by thy Looks

I guels thy Meffage.

Say, Ay, and of a Boy!

Is the Queen deliver'd?

Lady. Ay, ay, my Liege;

And of a lovely Boy; the God of Heav'n
Both now, and ever blefs her: 'Tis a Girl,
Promises Boys hereafter, Sir, your Queen
Defires your Vifitation, and to be

Acquainted with this Stranger; '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

Lady. An hundred Marks! By this Light, I'll ha' more. An ordinary Groom is for fuch Payment.

I will have more, or fcold it out of him.

Said I for this, the Girl was like to him? I'll

Have more, or else unfay't: and now, while 'tis hot,
I'll put it to the Issue.

[Exit Lady.

Cran, I hope I am 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? Sure you know me?

Enter Keeper.

yet I cannot help you.

Cran. Why?

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

Cran. So.

Enter Doctor Butts.

Butts. This is a piece of Malice: I am glad

I came this way fo haply. The King

Shall understand it prefently.

Cran. 'Tis Butts,

The King's Phyfician, as he paft along,
How earnestly he caft his Eyes upon me;
Pray Heav'n he found not my Difgrace

[Exit Butts.

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 me Wait elfe at Door: A Fellow-Councellor

'Mong Boys, Grooms, and Lackeys!

But their Pleasures

Muft be fulfilled, and I attend with Patience.

Enter the King and Butts at a Window above. Butts. I'll fhew your Grace the ftrangest fight--King. What's that, Butts ?

Sz

Butts.