K. Hen. Body o' me, where is it?

Butts.

There, my lord:
The high promotion of his grace of Canterbury;
Who holds his state at door, 'mongst pursuivants,
Pages, and footboys.

K. Hen.

Ha! 'T is he, indeed:

Is this the honour they do one another?

"T is well there's one above them yet. I had thought They had parted so much honesty among them,

(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 them alone, and draw the curtain close;
We shall hear more anon.

The Council-Chamber.

[Exeunt.

Enter the Lord Chancellor, the DUKE OF SUFFOLK, EARL OF SURREY, Lord Chamberlain, GARDINER, and CROMWELL. The Chancellor places himself at the upper end of the table on the left hand; a seat being left void above him, as for the ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. The rest seat themselves 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.

Gar. Has he had knowledge of it?

And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures.

Chan. Let him come in.

a Parted-shared.

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

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.

Gar. Which reformation must be sudden too,

My noble lords: for those that tame wild horses

Pace them not in their hands to make them gentle;

But stop their mouths with stubborn bits, and spur them, 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.

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 We follow the original. Malone reads

But we are all men,

In our own natures frail, incapable;

Of our flesh, few are angels."

The text of the original is not clear, but it is not mended by this dilution. We believe that the poet attached a definite meaning to the expression " capable of

our flesh."

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,

And, by that virtue, no man dare accuse you.

Gar. My lord, because we have business of more mo

ment,

We will be short with you. "T is 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.

Cran. 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.
Gar. 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.
Crom. My lord of Winchester, you are a little,
By your good favour, too sharp; men so noble,
However faulty, yet should find respect

VOL. VII.

Ꭱ

For what they have been: 't is a cruelty,
To load a falling man.

I

Gar.

Good master secretary,

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

Crom.

Why, my lord?

Gar. Do not I know you for a favourer Of this new sect? ye are not sound.

Crom.

Gar. Not sound, I say.

Crom.

Not sound?

'Would you were half so honest!

Men's prayers then would seek you, not their fears.
Gar. I shall remember this bold language.

Chan. Then thus for you, my lord,—It stands agreed,

I take it, by all voices, that forthwith

You be conveyed 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.

Cran.

Is there no other way of mercy, But I must needs to the Tower, my lords?

Gar.

What other

Would you expect? You are strangely troublesome :
Let some o' the guard be ready there.

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.

"T is no counterfeit.

Suf. 'T is the right ring, by Heaven: I told ye all, When we first put this dangerous stone a rolling, 'T would 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.

'T is 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.

Gar. Dread sovereign, how much are we bound to Hea

ven

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.

K. Hen. 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 base 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 tak'st me for, I am sure,

Thou hast a cruel nature, and a bloody.

Good man, [to CRANMER] sit down. Now let me see the

proudest