The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare (moboreader .TXT) 📕

LOVELL. Methinks I could

Cry thee amen; and yet my conscience says She’s a good creature, and, sweet lady, does Deserve our better wishes.

GARDINER. But, sir, sir—

Hear me, Sir Thomas. Y’are a gentleman Of mine own way; I know you wise, religious; And, let me tell you, it will ne’er be well-

‘Twill not, Sir Thomas Lovell, take’t of me-Till Cranmer, Cromwell, her two hands, and she, Sleep in their graves.

LOVELL. Now, sir, you speak of two

The most remark’d i’ th’ kingdom. As for Cromwell, Beside that of the Jewel House, is made Master O’ th’ Rolls, and the King’s secretary; further, sir, Stands in the gap and trade of moe preferments, With which the time will load him. Th’ Archbishop Is the King’s hand and tongue, and who dare speak One syllable against him?

GARDINER. Yes, yes, Sir Thomas,

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’ th’ Council, that he isFor so I know he is, they know he isA most arch heretic, a pestilence

That does infect the land; with which they moved 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-hath commanded Tomorrow morning to the Council board He be convented. He’s a rank weed, Sir Thomas, And we must root him out. From your affairs I hinder you too long-good night, Sir Thomas.

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

Exeunt GARDINER and PAGE

Enter the KING and the DUKE OF SUFFOLK

KING. Charles, I will play no more tonight; My mind’s not on’t; you are too hard for me.

SUFFOLK. Sir, I did never win of you before.

KING. But little, Charles;

Nor shall not, when my fancy’s on my play.

Now, Lovell, from the Queen what is the news?

LOVELL. 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 great’st humbleness, and desir’d your Highness Most heartily to pray for her.

KING. What say’st thou, ha?

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

LOVELL. So said her woman; and that her suff’rance made Almost each pang a death.

KING. Alas, good lady!

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

KING. ‘Tis midnight, Charles;

Prithee to bed; and in thy pray’rs remember Th’ estate of my poor queen. Leave me alone, For I must think of that which company Will not be friendly to.

SUFFOLK. I wish your Highness

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

KING. Charles, good night. Exit SUFFOLK

Enter SIR ANTHONY DENNY

Well, sir, what follows?

DENNY. Sir, I have brought my lord the Archbishop, As you commanded me.

KING. Ha! Canterbury?

DENNY. Ay, my good lord.

KING. ‘Tis true. Where is he, Denny?

DENNY. He attends your Highness’ pleasure.

KING. Bring him to us. Exit DENNY

LOVELL. [Aside] This is about that which the bishop spake.

I am happily come hither.

Re-enter DENNY, With CRANMER

KING. Avoid the gallery. [LOVELL seems to stay]

Ha! I have said. Be gone.

What! Exeunt LOVELL and DENNY

CRANMER. [Aside] I am fearful-wherefore frowns he thus?

‘Tis his aspect of terror. All’s not well.

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

CRANMER. [Kneeling] It is my duty

T’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, 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 consider’d, 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 Tow’r. You a brother of us, It fits we thus proceed, or else no witness Would come against you.

CRANMER. I humbly thank your Highness

And am right glad to catch this good occasion Most throughly to be winnowed where my chaff And corn shall fly asunder; for I know There’s none stands under more calumnious tongues Than I myself, poor man.

KING. 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 holidame, 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. Know you not

How your state stands i’ th’ 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’ th’ question carries The due o’ th’ 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.

CRANMER. God and your Majesty

Protect mine innocence, or I fall into The trap is laid for me!

KING. 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 Th’ 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

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. 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. Lovell!

Enter LOVELL

LOVELL. Sir?

KING. 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’ll Have more, or else unsay’t; and now, while ‘tis hot, I’ll put it to the issue. Exeunt

ACT V. SCENE 2.

Lobby before the Council Chamber

Enter CRANMER, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

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?

KEEPER. Your Grace must wait till you be call’d for.

Enter DOCTOR BUTTS

CRANMER. So.

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 councillor, ‘Mong boys, grooms, and lackeys. But their pleasures Must be fulfill’d, and I attend with patience.

Enter the KING and BUTTS at window above BUTTS. I’ll show your Grace the strangest sight-KING. What’s that, Butts?

BUTTS. I think your Highness saw this many a day.

KING. Body a 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.

KING. 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

ACT V. SCENE 3.

The Council Chamber

A Council table brought in, with chairs and stools, and placed under the state. Enter LORD CHANCELLOR, places himself at the upper end of the table on the left band, a seat being left void above him, as for Canterbury’s seat. DUKE OF SUFFOLK, DUKE OF NORFOLK, SURREY, LORD 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.

CRANMER approaches the Council table CHANCELLOR. 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.

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,