Enter Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, a Page with a
torch before him, met by Sir Thomas Lovell.GARDINER It’s one o’clock, boy, is ’t not?PAGE It hath struck.GARDINER These should be hours for necessities, Not for delights; times to repair our nature5 With comforting repose, and not for us To waste these times.—Good hour of night, Sir Thomas. Whither so late?LOVELL Came you from the King, my lord?GARDINER 10 I did, Sir Thomas, and left him at primero With the Duke of Suffolk.LOVELL I must to him too, Before he go to bed. I’ll take my leave.GARDINER Not yet, Sir Thomas Lovell. What’s the matter?15 It seems you are in haste. An if there be No great offense belongs to ’t, give your friend Some touch of your late business. Affairs that walk, As they say spirits do, at midnight have In them a wilder nature than the business20 That seeks dispatch by day.
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LOVELL My lord, I love you, And durst commend a secret to your ear Much weightier than this work. The Queen’s in labor—25 They say in great extremity—and feared She’ll with the labor end.GARDINER The fruit she goes with I pray for heartily, that it may find Good time and live; but for the stock, Sir Thomas,30 I wish it grubbed up now.LOVELL Methinks I could Cry the amen, and yet my conscience says She’s a good creature and, sweet lady, does Deserve our better wishes.GARDINER 35 But, sir, sir, Hear me, Sir Thomas. You’re 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,40 Till Cranmer, Cromwell—her two hands—and she Sleep in their graves.LOVELL Now, sir, you speak of two The most remarked i’ th’ kingdom. As for Cromwell, Besides that of the Jewel House, is made Master45 O’ th’ Rolls and the King’s secretary; further, sir, Stands in the gap and trade of more 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 50 Yes, yes, Sir Thomas, There are that dare, and I myself have ventured To speak my mind of him. And indeed this day, Sir—I may tell it you, I think—I have Incensed the lords o’ th’ Council that he is—55 For so I know he is, they know he is—
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A 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 grace60 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 affairs65 I hinder you too long. Goodnight, Sir Thomas.LOVELL Many good nights, my lord. I rest your servant.Gardiner and Page exit.Enter King and 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 70But 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 woman75 I sent your message, who returned her thanks In the great’st humbleness, and desired your Highness Most heartily to pray for her.KING What sayst thou, ha? To pray for her? What, is she crying out?LOVELL 80 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
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With gentle travail, to the gladding of85 Your Highness with an heir!KING ’Tis midnight, Charles. Prithee, to bed, and in thy prayers remember Th’ estate of my poor queen. Leave me alone, For I must think of that which company90 Would 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.Suffolk exits.Enter Sir Anthony Denny.95 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 100 ’Tis true. Where is he, Denny?DENNY He attends your Highness’ pleasure.KING Bring him to us.⌜Denny exits.⌝LOVELL, ⌜aside⌝ This is about that which the Bishop spake. I am happily come hither.Enter Cranmer and Denny.KING 105 Avoid the gallery.Lovell seems to stay. Ha! I have said. Be gone! What!Lovell and Denny exit.
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CRANMER, ⌜aside⌝ I am fearful. Wherefore frowns he thus? ’Tis his aspect of terror. All’s not well.KING 110 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,115 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.⌜Cranmer rises.⌝ Ah, my good lord, I grieve at what I speak,120 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,125 Have moved 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 take130 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.CRANMER, ⌜kneeling⌝ I humbly thank your135 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 tongues140 Than I myself, poor man.KING Stand up, good Canterbury! Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted
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In us, thy friend. Give me thy hand. Stand up.⌜Cranmer rises.⌝ Prithee, let’s walk. Now by my halidom,145 What manner of man are you? My lord, I looked 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 endurance further.CRANMER 150 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 nothing155 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 practices160 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.165 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.170 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 175 Be of good cheer. They shall no more prevail than we give way to.
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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,180 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 us185 There make before them.⌜He gives Cranmer a ring.⌝⌜Aside.⌝ Look, the good man weeps! He’s honest, on mine honor! God’s blest mother, I swear he is truehearted, and a soul None better in my kingdom.—Get you gone,190 And do as I have bid you.Cranmer exits. He has strangled His language in his tears.⌜LOVELL⌝ (within) Come back! What mean you?Enter Old Lady, ⌜followed by Lovell.⌝OLD LADY I’ll not come back! The tidings that I bring195 Will make my boldness manners.—Now, good angels Fly o’er thy royal head and shade thy person Under their blessèd wings!KING Now by thy looks I guess thy message. Is the Queen delivered?200 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 queen205 Desires your visitation, and to be Acquainted with this stranger. ’Tis as like you As cherry is to cherry.
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KING Lovell.LOVELL Sir.KING 210 Give her an hundred marks. I’ll to the Queen.King exits.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?215 I’ll have more or else unsay ’t. And now, While ’tis hot, I’ll put it to the issue.⌜Old⌝ Lady exits, ⌜with Lovell.⌝
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