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,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 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
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.