Lov. Many good nights, my lord; I rest your servant.

[Exeunt GARDINER and Page.

As LOVELL is going out, enter the KING, and the DUKE OF

SUFFOLK.

K. Hen. 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.
K. Hen. But little, Charles;

Nor shall not, when my fancy 's on my play.-
Now, Lovell, 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 desir'd your highness
Most heartily to pray for her.

K. Hen.

What say'st thou? ha!

To pray for her? what, is she crying out?

Lov. So said her woman; and that her sufferance made Almost each pang a death.

K. Hen.

Alas, good lady!

Suf. God safely quit her of her burthen, and With gentle travail, to the gladding of

Your highness with an heir!

K. Hen.

'T is midnight, Charles,

Prithee to bed; and in thy prayers remember
The estate of my poor queen. Leave me alone;
For I must think of that which company

Will not be friendly to.

Suf.

I wish your highness

A quiet night, and my good mistress will
Remember in my prayers.

K. Hen.

Charles, good night. [Exit SUFF.

Enter SIR ANTHONY DENNY.

Well, sir, what follows?

Den. Sir, I have brought my lord the archbishop,

As you commanded me.

K. Hen.

Den. Ay, my good lord.

K. Hen.

Ha! Canterbury?

"T is true: Where is he, Denny?

Den. He attends your highness' pleasure.

K. Hen.
Lov. This is about that which the bishop spake;

Bring him to us. [Exit DEN.

I am happily come hither.

K. Hen.

Re-enter DENNY, with CRANMER.

Ha!—I have said.—Be gone.

What!

[Aside.

Avoid the gallery.

[LOVELL seems to stay.

[Exeunt LOVELL and DENNY.

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

'T is his aspect of terror. All's not well.

K. Hen. How now, my lord? You do desire to know Wherefore I sent for you.

Cran.

It is my duty

'Pray you, arise,

To attend your highness' pleasure.

K. Hen.

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 sorry to repeat what follows:
I have, and most unwillingly, of late

Heard many grievous, I do say, my lord,

Grievous complaints of you; which, being considered,
Have mov'd us and our council, that you shall
This morning come before us; where, I know,
You cannot with such freedom purge yourself,
But that, till further trial in those charges.
Which will require your answer, you must take
Your patience to you, and be well contented

To make your house our Tower: You a brother of us,
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 throughly to be winnow'd, where my chaff
And corn shall fly asunder: for, I know

There's none stands under more calumnious tongues
Than I myself, poor man.

K. Hen.

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

In us, thy friend: Give me thy hand, stand 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 some pains to bring together
Yourself and your accusers; and to have heard you
Without indurance further.

Cran.

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.

What can be said against me.

K. Hen.

I fear nothing

Know you not

How your state stands i' the world, with the whole world?
Your enemies are many, and not small; their 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
To swear 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!

K. Hen.

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 bless'd 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 an 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 shade thy person

And of a lovely boy: The God of heaven

Both now and ever bless her 't is a girl,
Promises boys hereafter. Sir, your queen

Desires your visitation, and to be

Acquainted with this stranger; 't is as like you
As cherry is to cherry.

K. Hen.

Lovell,

K. Hen. Give her an hundred marks. I'll to the queen.

[Exit KING.

Lady. An hundred marks! By this light, I'll have more.

An ordinary groom is for such payment.

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

Said I for this the girl is 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.-Lobby before the Council-Chamber.

Enter CRANMER; Servants, Door-Keeper, &c., attending. Cran. 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?-Hoa! Who waits there?-Sure, you know me?

D. Kecp.

But yet I cannot help you.

Cran.

Why?

Yes, my lord;

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

Cran.

Enter Doctor BUTTS.

So.

Butts. This is a piece of malice. I am glad

I came this way so happily: The king
Shall understand it presently.

Cran. [Aside.]

[Exit BUTTS.

'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,

Among boys, grooms, and lackeys.

But their pleasures Must be fulfill'd, and I attend with patience.

Enter, at a window above, the KING and BUTTS.1 Butts. I'll show your grace the strangest sight,K. Hen. What's that, Butts? Butts. I think your highness saw this many a day.