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. CRANMER 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. KING HENRY VIII Know you not How your state stands i' the world, with the whole world?
Your enemies are many, and not small; their practises 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 opposed; and with a malice Of as great size. Ween you of better luck, I mean, in perjured witness, than your master, Whose minister you are, whiles here he lived Upon this naughty earth? Go to, go to;You take a precipice for no leap of danger, And woo your own destruction. CRANMER God and your majesty Protect mine innocence, or I fall into The trap is laid for me! KING HENRY VIII 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 Old Lady, LOVELL following Gentleman [Within] Come back: what mean you? Old 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! KING HENRY VIII Now, by thy looks I guess thy message. Is the queen deliver'd?
Say, ay; and of a boy. Old 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 HENRY VIII Lovell! LOVELL Sir? KING HENRY VIII Give her an hundred marks. I'll to the queen.
Exit Old Lady An hundred marks! By this light, I'll ha' more.
An ordinary groom is for such payment.
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 else unsay't; and now, While it is hot, I'll put it to the issue.
Exeunt SCENE II. Before the council-chamber. Pursuivants, Pages, & c. attending.
Enter CRANMER CRANMER 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?
Ho!
Who waits there? Sure, you know me?
Enter Keeper Keeper Yes, my lord;
But yet I cannot help you. CRANMER Why?
Enter DOCTOR BUTTS Keeper Your grace must wait till you be call'd for. CRANMER So. DOCTOR BUTTS [Aside] This is a piece of malice. I am glad I came this way so happily: the king Shall understand it presently.
Exit CRANMER [Aside] 'Tis Butts, The king's physician: as he pass'd along, How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me!
Pray heaven, he sound not my disgrace! For certain, This is of purpose laid 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, 'Mong boys, grooms, and lackeys. But their pleasures Must be fulfill'd, and I attend with patience.
Enter the KING HENRY VIII and DOCTOR BUTTS at a window above DOCTOR BUTTS I'll show your grace the strangest sight-- KING HENRY VIII What's that, Butts? DOCTOR BUTTS I think your highness saw this many a day. KING HENRY VIII Body o' me, where is it? DOCTOR BUTTS There, my lord:
The high promotion of his grace of Canterbury;Who holds his state at door, 'mongst pursuivants, Pages, and footboys. KING HENRY VIII Ha! 'tis he, indeed:
Is this the honour they do one another?
'Tis well there's one above 'em yet. I had thought They had parted so much honesty among 'em 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:
Let 'em alone, and draw the curtain close:
We shall hear more anon.
Exeunt SCENE III. The Council-Chamber. Enter Chancellor; places himself at the upper end of the table on the left hand; a seat being left void above him, as for CRANMER's seat. SUFFOLK, NORFOLK, SURREY, Chamberlain, GARDINER, seat themselves in order on each side. CROMWELL at lower end, as secretary. Keeper at the door Chancellor Speak to the business, master-secretary:
Why are we met in council? CROMWELL Please your honours, The chief cause concerns his grace of Canterbury. GARDINER Has he had knowledge of it? CROMWELL Yes. NORFOLK Who waits there? Keeper Without, my noble lords? GARDINER Yes. Keeper My lord archbishop;And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures. Chancellor Let him come in. Keeper Your grace may enter now.