To swear against you? such things have been done. Cran. God, and your majesty, Protect mine innocence, or I fall into Be of good cheer; K. Hen. Fail not to use, and with what vehemency There make before them.-Look, the good man weeps! 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 angeis Fly o'er thy royal head, and shade thy person Under their blessed wings! K. Hen. Now, by thy looks queen deliver'd? I guess thy message. Is the Acquainted with this stranger; 't is as like yon 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 else unsay 't; and now [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Lobby before the Council-Chamber. Enter CRANMER; Servants, Door-Keeper, &c., Cran. I hope I am not too late; and yet the gentle man, That was sent to me from the council, pray'd me Hoa! Who waits there ?-Sure, you know me? Why? Yes, my lord; D. Keep. Your grace must wait till you be call'd for. Cran. Enter Doctor BUTTS. So. [Exit Burts. Butts. This is a piece of malice. I am glad, 'Tis Butts, The king's physician; as he pass'd along, Pray heaven, he sound not my disgrace! For certain, (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 Enter, at a window above, the KING and BUTTS. 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 a Parted-shared. [Exeunt. The Council-Chamber. 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 secre tary. Chan. Speak to the business, master secretary: Crom. Crom. Nor. Yes. D. Keep. Without, my noble lords? Gar. D. Keep. Who waits there? Yes. My lord archbishop; And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures. Chan. Let him come in. 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, Gar. Which reformation must be sudden too, My noble lords: for those that tame wild horses (Out of our easiness, and childish pity To one man's honour) this contagious sickness, Of the whole state: as, of late days, our neighbours, Cran. My good lords, hitherto, in all the progress Be what they will, may stand forth face to face, Suf. And, by that virtue, no man dare accuse you. Gar. My lord, because we have business of more moment, 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, |