No great offence belongs to 't, give your friend (60 Of mine own way 2; I know you wise, religious;

1 Primero and primavista, two games at cards, that is, first, and first seen: because he that can shew such an order of cards first, wins the game. 2 i. e. of mine own opinion in religion.

And, let me tell you, it will ne'er be well,-
"Twill not, Sir Thomas Lovel, take 't of me,-
'Till Cranmer, Cromwell, her two hands, and she,
Sleep in their graves.

5

Loc. Now, sir, you speak of two [well,
The most remark'd i' the kingdom. As for Crom-
Beside that of the jewel-house, he's made master
O' the rolls, and the king's secretary; further, sir,
Stands in the gap and trade' of more preferments,
With which the time will load him: The arch-10
bishop
[speak
Is the king's hand, and tongue: And who dare
One syllable against him?

Gard. Yes, yes, Sir Thomas,

15 What!

20

There are that dare; and I myself 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 o' the council, that he is
(For so I know he is, they know he is)
A most arch-heretick, a pestilence
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) he hath commanded, 25
To-morrow morning to the council-board [mas,
He be convented. He's a rank weed, Sir Tho-
And we must root him out. From your affairs
I hinder you too long: good night, Sir Thomas!
Loc. Many good nights, my lord! I rest your
servant. [Exeunt Gardiner and Page.
As Lovel is going out, enter the King, and the Duke
of Suffolk.

King. Charles, I will play no more to-night;
My mind's not on't, you are too hard for ine.
Suf. Sir, I did never win of you before.
King. But little, Charles;

Nor shall not, when my fancy's on my play.-
Now, Lovel, 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 desired your high-
Most heartily to pray for her.

King. What say'st thou? ha!

[ness

To pray for her? what, is she crying out? [made
Lov. So said her woman; and that her sufferance

Almost each pang a death.

King. Alas, good lady!

Suf. God safely quit her of her burden, and
With gentle travail, to the gladding of
Your highness with an heir!

King. 'Tis midnight, Charles;

30

[Asi

[Exeunt Lovel, and Dem Cran. Iam fearful: Wherefore frowns he thu 'Tis his aspect of terror. All's not well. [kn King. How now, my lord? You do desire Wherefore I sent for you.

Cran. It is my duty,

To attend your highness' pleasure.

King. 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 n
your hand.

Ah, my good lord, I grieve at what I speak
And am right sorry to repeat what follows:
have, and most unwillingly, of late

Heard many grievous, I do say, my lord,
Grievous complaints of you; which, being co

sider'd,

Have mov'd us and our council, that you shal This morning come before us; where, I know 35 You cannot with such freedom purge yourself But that, 'till further trial, in those charges Which will require your answer, you must tal Your patience to you, and be well contended To make your house our Tower: You a broth of us,

140

45

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 thoroughly to be winnow'd, where my cha
And corn shall fly asunder: for, I know,
There'snonestandsundermorecalumnioustongu
Than I myself, poor man.

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

Pr'ythee to bed; and in thy prayers remember
The estate of my poor queen. Leave me alone; 55
For I must think of that, which company
Would not be friendly to.

In us, thy friend: Give me thy hand, stand up
Pr'ythee, let's walk. Now, by my holy dam
What manner of man are you? My lord, I look
You would have given me your petition, that
I should have ta'en some pains to bring togeth
Yourself and your accusers; and to have heard y
Without indurance, further.

Cran. Most dread liege,

The good I stand on is my truth and honesty; 60 If they shall fail, I, with mine enemies, Will triumph o'er my person! which I weigh no

1i.e. the practised method, the general course.

2i.e. they have broken silence, and told the

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

I will have more, or else unsay

Your enemies are many, and not small; their 5 While it is hot, I'll put it to the

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
Toswear 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.

Cran. God, and your majesty,
Protect mine innocence, or I fall into
The trap is laid for me!

King. Be of good cheer;

10

15

20

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, 25
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 reniedy, 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.-He has strangled
His language in his tears. [Exit Cranmer.

Enter an Old Lady.

Butts. This is a piece of malice came this way so happily: The Shall understand it presently.

Cran. [Aside.] Tis Butts,
The king's physician: As he pass'
How earnestly he cast his eyes up
30 Pray heaven he sound not my disgra
This is of purpose lay'd, by some th
(God turn their hearts !I never soug
To quench mine honour: they w
make me

35 Wait else at door; a fellow counse
Among boys,grooms, and lackeys.
Must be fulfill'd, and I attend with
Enter the King, and Butts, at a w
Butts. I'll shew your grace the stra
King. What's that, Butts?
Butts. I think, your highness saw th
King. Body o' me, where is it?
Butts. There, my lord:
The high promotion of his grace of
45 Who holds his state at door, 'mongs
Pages, and foot-boys.

Gent. [within.] Come back; what mean you? 40
Lady. I'll not come back; the tidings that I
[angels

bring
Will make my boldness manners. Now, good
Fly o'er thy royal head, and shade thy person
Under their blessed wings!

King. Now, by thy looks

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.

King. Lovel,

Lov. Sir.

queen.

Enter Lovel.

King. Ha! 'Tis he, indeed:

Is this the honour they do one anot 'Tis well, there's one above 'em yet. I 50 They had parted so much honesty a (At least, good manners) as not thus A man of his place, and so near our To dance attendance on their lordship And at the door too, like a post with 55 By holy Mary, Butts, there's knaver Let 'em alone, and draw the curtain We shall hear more anon.Enter the Lord Chancellor, places hims per end of the table on the left hand; left void above him, as for the Archb terbury. Duke of Suffolk, Duke of N rey, Lord Chamberlain, and Gardine

King. Give her an hundred marks. I'll to the
[Exit King. 60
Lady. An hundred marks! by this light, I'll
have more.

To ween is to think, to imagine, Obsolete.

selves in order on each side, Cromwell at the lower
end, as Secretary.

Chan. Speak to the business, master Secretary:
Why are we met in council?

Crom. Please your honours,

The chief cause concerns his grace of Canterbury.
Gard. Has he had knowledge of it?
Crom. Yes.

Nor. Who waits there?

D. Keep. Without, my noble lords?
Gard. Yes.

D. Keep. My lord archbishop:

And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures.
Chan. Let him come in.

D. Keep. Your grace may enter now.

[Cranmer approaches the council table.
Chan. My good lord archbishop, I am very sorry
To sit here at this present, and behold
That chair stand empty: But we all are men,
In our own natures frail; and capable

10

And, by that virtue, no man dare accuse yo Gard. Mylord, because we have business of n [pleas

moment,

P

We will be short with you. 'Tis his hight
5 And our consent, for better trial of you,
From hence you be committed to the Tower
Where, being but a private man again,
You shall know many dare accuse you boldly
More than, I fear, you are provided for. [thank y
Cran. Ah, my good lord of Winchester
You are always my good friend; if your will
You are so merciful: I see your end,
I shall both find your lordship judge and jurd
Tis my undoing: Love, and meekness, lord
15 Become a churchman better than ambition;
Win straying souls with modesty again,
Cast none away. That I shall clear myself,
Lay all the weight ye can upon my patience,
I make as little doubt, as you do conscience
20 In doing daily wrongs. I could say more,
But reverence to your calling makes me mode

Of our flesh, few are angels: out of which frailty,
And want of wisdom, you, that best should teach us,
Have iisdemean'd yourself, and not a little,
Toward the king first, then his laws, in filling [lains',
The whole realm, by your teaching, and your chap-25
(For so we are inform'd) with new opinions,
Divers, and dangerous; which are heresies,
And, not reform'd, may prove pernicious.

Gard. Which reformation must be sudden too,
My noble lords: for those, that tame wild horses, 30
Pace'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle;
But stop their mouths with stubborn bits, and spur
'Till they obey the manage.
(Out of our easiness, and childish pity
If we suffer ['em,

Gard. My lord, my lord, you are a sectary
That's the plain truth; yourpaintedgloss 'discove
Crom. My lord of Winchester, you are a litt
To men that understand you, words and weaknes
By your good favour, too sharp; men so noble
However faulty, yet should find
For what they have been: 'tis a cruelty,
respect
To load a falling man.

Gard. Good master Secretary,

cry your honour mercy; you may, worst Of all this table, say so.

Crom. Why, my lord?

Gard. Do not I know you for a favourer

To one man's honour) this contagious sickness, 35 Of this new sect? ye are not sound.

Farewell all physic: And what follows then?
Commotions, uproars, with a general taint
Of the whole state: as, of late days, our neighbours,
The upper Germany, can dearly witness,
Yet freshly pitied in our memories.

Cran. My good lords, hitherto, in all the progress
Both of my life and office, I have labour'd,
And with no little study, that my teaching,
And the strong course of my authority,
Might go one way, and safely; and the end
Was ever, to do well: nor is there living
(I speak it with a single heart, my lords,)
A man, that more detests, more stirs against,
Both in his private conscience, and his place,
Defacers of a public peace, than I do.
Pray heaven, the king may never find a heart
With less allegiance in it! Men, that make
Envy, and crooked malice, nourishment,
Dare bite the best. I do beseech your lordships,
That, in this case of justice, my accusers,
Be what they will, may stand forth face to face,
And freely urge against me.

Suf. Nay, my lord,

That cannot be; you are a counsellor,

40

45

Crom. Not sound?

Gard. Not sound, I say.

Crom. 'Would you were half so honest! Men's prayers then would seek you,not their fears Gard. I shall remember this bold language. Crom. Do:

Remember your bold life too.

Cham. This is too much;

Forbear, for shame, my lords,
Gard. I have done.

Crom. And I.

[agreed

Cham. Then thus for you, my lord,—It stands
I take it, by all voices, that forthwith
You be conveyed to the Tower a prisoner;
50 There to remain, 'till the king's further pleasure
Be known unto us: Are you all agreed, lords?

55

All. We are.

of
way mercy,

Cran. Is there no other
But I must needs to the Tower, my lords?

Gard. What other
Would you expect? You are strangely trouble-
[some:
Let some o' the guard be ready there.

Cran. For me?

Enter Guard.

This lord chancellor, though a character, has hitherto had no place in the Dramatis Persona. In the last scene of the fourth act, we heard that Sir Thomas More was appointed lord chancellor: but it is not he, whom the poet here introduces. Wolsey, by command, delivered up the seals on the 18th of November, 1529; on the 25th of the same month, they were delivered to Sir Thomas More, who surrender'd them on the 16th of May, 1532. Elizabeth's birth (which brings it down to the year 1524 Now the conclusion of this scene taking notice of queer

Must I go like a traitor thither?

Gard. Receive him,

And see him safe i' the Tower.

Cran. Stay, good my lords,

I have a little yet to say. Look there, my lords;
By virtue of that ring, I take my cause

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 ourselves.

Nor. Do you think, my lords,
The king will suffer 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.

Crom. My mind gave me,
In seeking tales, and informations,
Against this man, (whose honesty the devil
And his disciples only envy at,),

Ye blew the fire that burns ye: Now have at ye.
Enter King, frowning on them; takes his seat.
Gard. Dread sovereign,how much are we bound

to heaven

5

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 sovereign, may it like your grace
Tolet my tongue excuse all. What was purpos'd,
Concerning his imprisonment, was rather

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

King. Well, well, my lords, respect him;
Take him and use him well, he's worthy of it.
I will say thus much for him, If a prince
15 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 shame, my lords.-My lord of Can-
terbury,

20I have a suit which you must not deny me:
There is a fair young maid, that yet wants baptism;
You must be godfather, and answer for her.
Cran.The greatest monarch now alivemay glory
In such an honour; How may I deserve it,
That am a poor and humble subject to you?
King. Come, come, my lord, you'd spare your

25

spoons': you shall have [Norfolk, Two noble partners with you: the old dutchess of Andlady marquis Dorset; Willthese please you?30Once more, my lord of Winchester, I charge you, Embrace and love this man.

In daily thanks, that gave us such a prince;
Not only good and wise, but most religious:
One that, in all obedience, makes the church
The chief aim of his honour; and, to strengthen
That holy duty, out of dear respect,
His royal self in judgement comes to hear
The cause betwixt her and this great offender!
King. You were ever good at sudden com-35
mendations,

Bishop of Winchester. But know, I come not
To hear such flatteries now, and in my presence;
They are too thin and base to hide offences.
To me you cannot reach: You play the spaniel, 40
And think with wagging of your tongue to win me;
But, whatsoe'er thou tak'st me for, I'm sure,
Thou hast a cruel nature, and a bloody.—
Good man, sit down. Now let me see the proudest
[To Cranmer.45
He, that dares most, but wag his finger at thee:
By all that's holy, he had better starve,
Than but once think this place becomes thee not.
Sur. May it please your grace,—
King. No, sir, it does not please me.
I had thought, I had men of some understanding
And wisdom, of my council; but I find none.
Was it discretion, fords, to let this man,
This good man, (few of you deserve that title)
This honest man, wait like a lowsy foot-boy
At chamber door? and one as great as you are?
Why, what a shame was this! Did my commission
Bid ye so far forget yourselves? I gave ye
Power as he was a counsellor to try him,

50

Gard. With a true heart,
And brother's love, I do it.

Cran. And let heaven

Witness how dear I hold this confirmation.

King. Good man, those joyful tears shew thy
The common voice, I see, is verified [true heart.
Ofthee, which says thus, Do my lord of Canterbury
A shrewd 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 ;
Sol growstronger, you more honour gain.[Exeunt.
SCENE III.
The Palace Yard.
Noise and tumult within: Enter Porter and his Man.
Port. You'll leave your noise anon, ye rascals:
Do you take the court for Paris-garden? ye rude
slaves, 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 55 but switches to 'em.-I'll scratch your heads; You must be seeing christenings? Do you look for ale and cakes here, you rude rascals?'

Man. Pray, sir, be patient; 'tis as much impossible

'Mr. Steevens says, "It was the custom, long before the time of Shakspeare, for the sponsors at christenings to offer gilt spoons as a present for the child. These spoons were called apostle spoons, because the figures of the apostles were carved on the tops of the handles. Such as were at once opulent and generous, gave the whole twelve; those who were either more moderately rich or liberal, escaped at the expence of the four evangelists; or even sometimes contented themselves with presenting one spoon only, which exhibited the figure of any saint in honour of whom the child received its name." The bear-garden of that time, and in a line with Bridewell.

(Unless