CRANMER enters and approaches the council-table Chancellor My good lord archbishop, I'm 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 Of our flesh; few are angels: out of which frailty And want of wisdom, you, that best should teach us, Have misdemean'd yourself, and not a little, Toward the king first, then his laws, in filling The whole realm, by your teaching and your chaplains, For so we are inform'd, with new opinions, Divers and dangerous; which are heresies, And, not reform'd, may prove pernicious. GARDINER Which reformation must be sudden too, My noble lords; for those that tame wild horses Pace 'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle, But stop their mouths with stubborn bits, and spur 'em, Till they obey the manage. If we suffer, Out of our easiness and childish pity To one man's honour, this contagious sickness, 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. CRANMER 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. SUFFOLK Nay, my lord, That cannot be: you are a counsellor, And, by that virtue, no man dare accuse you. GARDINER My lord, because we have business of more moment, We will be short with you. 'Tis his highness'
pleasure, 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. CRANMER Ah, my good Lord of Winchester, I thank you;You are always my good friend; if your will pass, I shall both find your lordship judge and juror, You are so merciful: I see your end;'Tis my undoing: love and meekness, lord, 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 In doing daily wrongs. I could say more, But reverence to your calling makes me modest. GARDINER My lord, my lord, you are a sectary, That's the plain truth: your painted gloss discovers, To men that understand you, words and weakness. CROMWELL My Lord of Winchester, you are a little, By your good favour, too sharp; men so noble, However faulty, yet should find respect For what they have been: 'tis a cruelty To load a falling man. GARDINER Good master secretary, I cry your honour mercy; you may, worst Of all this table, say so. CROMWELL Why, my lord? GARDINER Do not I know you for a favourer Of this new sect? ye are not sound. CROMWELL Not sound? GARDINER Not sound, I say. CROMWELL Would you were half so honest!
Men's prayers then would seek you, not their fears. GARDINER I shall remember this bold language. CROMWELL Do.
Remember your bold life too. Chancellor This is too much;Forbear, for shame, my lords. GARDINER I have done. CROMWELL And I. Chancellor Then thus for you, my lord: it stands agreed, 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. CRANMER Is there no other way of mercy, But I must needs to the Tower, my lords? GARDINER What other Would you expect? you are strangely troublesome.
Let some o' the guard be ready there.
Enter Guard CRANMER For me?
Must I go like a traitor thither? GARDINER Receive him, And see him safe i' the Tower. CRANMER 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. Chamberlain This is the king's ring. SURREY 'Tis no counterfeit. SUFFOLK 'Tis the right ring, by heaven: I told ye all, When ye first put this dangerous stone a-rolling, 'Twould fall upon ourselves. NORFOLK Do you think, my lords, The king will suffer but the little finger Of this man to be vex'd? Chancellor 'Tis now too certain:
How much more is his life in value with him?
Would I were fairly out on't! CROMWELL 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 GARDINER Dread sovereign, how much are we bound to heaven 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 judgment comes to hear The cause betwixt her and this great offender. KING HENRY VIII You were ever good at sudden commendations, Bishop of Winchester. But know, I come not To hear such flattery now, and in my presence;They are too thin and bare to hide offences.
To me you cannot reach, you play the spaniel, And think with wagging of your tongue to win me;But, whatsoe'er thou takest me for, I'm sure Thou hast a cruel nature and a bloody.
To CRANMER
Good man, sit down. Now let me see the proudest 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. SURREY May it please your grace,-- KING HENRY VIII No, sir, it does not please me.