A council-table brought in with chairs and ftools, and placed under the fate. Enter Lord Chancellor, places himself at the upper end of the table on the left hand : A feat being left void above him, as for the Archbishop of Canterbury. Duke of Suffolk, Duke of Norfolk, Surrey, Lord Chamberlain, and Gardiner, feat themselves in order on each fide. Cromwell at the lower end, as Secretary. Chan. S PEAK to the bufinefs, Mr. Secretary: Why are we met in Council? Crom. Please your Honours, The cause concerns his Grace of Ganterbury. Crom. Yes. Nor. Who waits there? D. Keep. Without, my noble lords P D. Keep. 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-tables Chan. My good lord Archbishop, I'm very forry To fit here at this present, and behold That chair ftand empty: but 3 we are all men Of frailty, few are angels; from which frailty 3 we are all men In our own natures frail, and capable - If all men were actually frail, they were more than capable of frailty; to understand this therefore, as only faid of the natural weakness of humanity, it is abfurdly expreffed; but this was not our author's fenfe: By, in our own natures frail, he alludes to the doctrine of original fin: So that the fentie ment is this, We are finners by imputation, and liable to become actually fo. And And want of wisdom, you, that best fhould teach us, (For fo we are inform'd) with new opinions Gard! 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; But ftop their mouths with ftubborn bits, and fpur 'em. 'Till they obey the manage. If we suffer To one man's honour) this contagious fickness, Cran. My good lords, hitherto, in all the progrefs Both of my life and office, I have labour'd Be what they will, may ftand forth face to face, Suf. Nay, my lord, That cannot be you are a counsellor, And And by that virtue no man dare accufe you. Gard. My lord, because we've business of more moment, We will be short wi'you. 'Tis his Highness' pleasure, From hence you be committed to the Tower; More than, I fear, you are provided for. Cran. Ay, my good lord of Winchefter, I thank you,.. You're always my good friend; if your will pass, For what they have been: 'tis a cruelty I Gard. Good Mr. Secretary, cry your honour mercy; you may, worft: Of all this table, say so. Crom. Why, my lord? Gard. Do not I know you for a favourer Of this new fect? ye are not found. Crom. Not found Gard. Not found, I fay. Crom. 'Would you were half fo honeft!< Men's prayers then would feek you, not their fears. Crom Cham. Then thus for you, my lord it ftands a greed, I take it, by all voices, that forthwith You be convey'd to th' Tower a prisoner; There to remain, 'till the King's further pleasure Cran. Is there no other way of mercy,, But I muft needs to th' Torver, my lords? Would you expect? you're strangely troublesome Cran. For me? Enter the Guard.. Must I go like a traitor then Gard. Receive him,. And fee him fafe i' th' Tower: I have a little yet to fay. Look there, lords; Sur. 'Tis no counterfeit. Suf. 'Tis his right Ring, by heav'n, I told ye all, When we firft put this dangerous ftone a rowling, "Twould fall upon ourselves. Nor. D'you think, my lords, The King will fuffer but the little finger. Of this man to be vex'd? Cham. 'Tis 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 feeking tales and informations Against this man, whofe honefty, the devil And his difciples only envy at, Ye blew the fire that burns ye; now have at ye. SCENE VI. Enter King, frowning on them; takes his feat. Gard: Dread Sovereign, how much are we bound to heav'n In daily thanks, that gave us fuch a Prince ; · King. You're ever good at fudden commendations, Good man, fit down: now let me fee the proudeft He, that dares moft, but wag his finger at thee. King. No, Sir, it does not please me. I thought, I had had men of fome understanding: Not |