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

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

[Exit SUFFOLK.

Enter Sir ANTHONY DENNY.

Well, fir, what follows?

Denny. Sir, I have brought my lord the arch

As you commanded me.

[bishop,

King. Ha! Canterbury?

Denny. Ay, my good lord.

King. 'Tis true: Where is he, Denny?

Denny. He attends your highness' pleasure.

King. Bring him to us.

[Exit DENNY.

Lov. This is about that which the bishop fpake;

I am happily come hither.

Re-enter DENNY, with CRANMER.

[Afide.

King. Avoid the gallery. [LovEL feerieth to stay. Ha!—I have said.—Be gone.

What!

[Exeunt LovEL, and DENNY

Gran. I am fearful :-Wherefore frowns he thus?

'Tis his aspect 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

To attend your highnefs' pleasure.

King. Pray you, arife.

My good and gracious lord of Canterbury,
Come, you and I must walk a turn together;

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 most unwillingly, of late
Heard many grievous, I do fay, my lord,
Grievous complaints of you: which, being confi-
der'd,

Have mov❜d us and our council, that you shall
This morning come before us; where, I know,
You cannot with fuch freedom purge yourself,
But that, 'till further trial, in thofe charges
Which will require your anfwer, you must take
Your patience to you, and be well contented
To make your house our Tower: You a brother of
It fits we thus proceed, or elfe no witness
Would come against you.

Cran. I humbly thank your highness;

[us,

And am right glad to catch this good occafion
Moft thoroughly to be winnow'd, where my chaff
And corn fhall fly afunder: for, I know,
There's noneftands under more calumnious tongues,
Than I myself, poor man.

up

King. Stand up, good Canterbury; Thy truth and thy integrity, is rooted In us, thy friend: Give me thy hand, stand 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 fhould have ta'en fome pains to bring together Yourfelf and your accufers; and to have heard you, Without indurance, further.

Cran. Moft dread liege,

The good I stand on is my truth, and honesty;

If they fhall fail, I, with mine enemies,

Will triumph o'er my perfon; which I weigh not,
Being of thofe virtues vacant.
I fear nothing

What can be faid against me.
King. Know you not

How your state stands i' the world, with the whole world?

Your enemies are many, and not fmall: their practices

Muft bear the fame 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 fwear against you? fuch things have been done!
You are 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 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.

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 shall chance,
In charging you with matters, to commit you,
The belt perfuafions to the contrary

Fail not to use, and with what vehemency
The occafion fhall inftruct you: if entreaties
Will render you no remedy, this ring
Deliver them, and your appeal to us

There

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.-He has ftrangled
His language in his tears.

Enter an old Lady.

[Exit CRANMER.

Gen. [within.] Come back; What mean you? Lady. I'll not come back; the tidings that I bring Will make my boldnefs manners.-Now, good an Fly o'er thy royal head, and fhade thy perfon [gels Under their blefied wings! King. Now, by thy looks I guefs thy meffage. Is the Say, ay; and of a boy.

Lady. Ay, ay, my liege;

queen

deliver'd?

And of a lovely boy: The God of heaven
Both now and ever blefs her!-'tis a girl,
Promises boys hereafter. Sir, your queen
Defires your vifitation, and to be

Acquainted with this ftranger; 'tis as like you,
As cherry is to cherry.

King. Lovel

Lov. Sir.

Enter LOVEL.

7

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

queen. [Exit King. Lady. An hundred marks! By this light, I'll have An ordinary groom is for fuch payment. [more. I will have more, or scold it out of him. Said I for this the girl was like to him?

I will have more, or elfe unfay't; and now,
While it is hot, I'll put it to the issue.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. Before the Council-Chamber. CRANMER, Servants, Door-Keeper, Sc. attending. 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 haste. All faft? what means this?—
Who waits there?-fure, you know me? [Hoa!
D. Keep. Yes, my lord;

But yet I cannot help you.
Cran. Why?

D. 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 happily: The king Shall understand it prefently.

Cran. [Afide.] 'Tis Butts,

[Exit BUTTS.

The king's phyfician; As he past along,
How earneftly he caft his eyes upon me!

Pray heaven he found not my disgrace! For certain
This is of purpofe lay'd, by fome that hate me
(God turn their hearts! I never fought their malice)
To quench mine honour: they would fhame to make
Wait elfe at door; a fellow counsellor, [me
Among boys, grooms, and lackeys. But their
pleasures

Muft be fulfill'd, and I attend with patience. Enter the King, and BUTTS, at a Window above. Butts. I'll fhew your grace the ftrangest fight