And want of wisdom, you, that best fhould teach us,
Have mifdemean'd your felf, and not a little:
Toward the King firft, then his Laws, in filling
The whole realm, by your teaching and your chap-
lains,

(For fo we are inform'd) with new opinions
Divers and dang'rous, which are herefies;
And, not reform'd, may prove pernicious.

Gard! Which reformation must be fudden 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 stubborn bits, and spur 'em,

'Till they obey the manage. If we suffer
(Out of our eafinefs and childish pity

To one man's honour) this contagious fickness,
Farewel all phyfick: and what follows then?
Commotions, uproars, with a gen'ral taint
Of the whole ftate: as of late days our neighbours
The upper Germany can dearly witness, -
Yet freshly pitied in our memories.

Cran. My good lords, hitherto, în all the progrefs

Both of my life and office, I have labour'd
(And with no little study) that my teaching,
And the ftrong courfe of my Authority,
Might go one way, and fafely; and the end
Was ever to do well: nor is there living
(I fpeak it with a fingle heart, my lords)
A man that more detefts, more ftirs against,
(Both in his private conscience and his place)
Defacers of the publick peace, than I do.
Pray heav'n, the King may never find a heart
With lefs allegiance in it! Men that make
Envy and crooked malice nourishment,
Dare bite the best. I do befeech your lordships,
That, in this case of juftice, my accufers,
Be what they will, may ftand forth face to face,
And freely urge against me.

Suf. Nay, my lord,

That cannot be you are a counsellor,

And

And by that virtue no man dare accuse you.

Gard. My lord, because we've bufinefs of more moment,

We will be short wi'you. 'Tis his Highness' pleasure,,
And our confent, for better tryal of you,
From hence you be committed to the Tower;
Where, being but a private man again,
You shall know, many dare accufe you boldly,
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 pafs,
I fhall both find your lordship judge and juror,
You are fo merciful. I fee your end,
'Tis my undoing. Love and meeknefs, lord,
Become a churchman better than ambition ::
Win ftraying fouls with modefty again,
Caft none away. That I fhall clear my self,
(Lay all the weight ye can upon my patience).
I make as little doubt, as you do confcience
In doing daily wrongs. I could fay more,
But rev'rence to your Calling makes me modeft.
Gard. My lord, my lord, you are a fectary,
That's the plain truth; your painted glofs discovers,„
To men that understand you, words and weakness.
Crom. My lord of Wincheffer, you are a little,
By your good favour, too fharp; men fo noble,
However faulty, yet should find respect
For what they have been: 'tis a cruelty
To load a falling man.

Gard. Good Mr. Secretary,

I cry your honour mercy; you may, worft:
Of all this table, fay fo.

Crom. Why, my lord?

Gard. Do not I know you

Of this new fect? ye are not found.
Crom. Not found

for a favourer

Gard. Not found, I fay.

Crom. 'Would you were half fo honeft!
Men's prayers then would feek you, not their fears.
Gard. I fall remember this bold language.

Crom

Crom. Do.

Remember your bold life too.

Cham. This is too much; Forbear for fhame, my lords.

Gard. I've done,

Crom. And I.

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

Be known unto us.. Are you all agreed, lords

All. We are.

Cran. Is there no other way of mercy,

But I muft needs to th' Torver, my lords?

Gard. What other

Would you expect? you're ftrangely troublesomes:
Let fome o' th' Guard be ready there.

Enter the Guard..

Cran. For me?

Muft I go like a traitor then?
Gard. Receive him,.

And fee him fafe i' th' Tower:

Cran. Stay, good my lords,
I have a little yet to fay Look there, lords;
By virtue of that Ring, I take my cause
Out of the gripes of cruel men, and give it

To a most noble judge, the King my mafter..
Cham. This is the King's Ring.

Sur. 'Tis no counterfeit.

Suf. 'Tis his right Ring, by heav'n, I told ye all, When we firft put this dang'rous ftone a rowling, "Twould fall upon ourfelves.

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
Againft this man, whose honesty 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

8

In daily thanks, that gave us fuch a Prince ; ·
Not only good and wife, but most religious:
One that in all obedience makes the Church:
The chief aim of his honour; and to strengthen
That holy duty, out of dear respect,
His royal felf in judgment comes to hear
The caufe betwixt her and this great offender:

King. You're ever good at fudden commendations,›
Bishop of Winchester. But know, I come not
To hear fuch flatt'ries now: and in my prefence
They are too thin and base to hide offences.
To me you cannot reach: you play the spaniel,
And think with wagging of your tongue to win me:
But whatsoe'er thou tak'ft me for, I'm fure,
Thou haft a cruel nature, and a bloody.
Good man, fit down: now let me fee the proudest

[To Cran.

He, that dares most, but wag his finger at thee.
By all that's holy, he had better starve,
Than but once think, this place becomes thee not.
Sur. May't please your Grace-
King. No, Sir, it does not please me.

I thought, I had had men of fome understanding
And wisdom, of my Council; but I find none.
Was it discretion, lords, to let this man,
This good man, (few of you deserve that title)
This honeft man, wait like a lowfie foot-boy
At chamber-door, and one as great as you are?
Why, what a fhame was this? did my commiffion
Bid ye so far forget your felves? I gave ye
Pow'r, as he was a counsellor to try him;

Not

There's fome of ye, I fee,.

Not as a groom.
More out of malice than integrity,
Would try him to the utmost, had ye means;
Which ye fhall never have, while I do live.

Cham. My most dread. Sovereign, may it like your
Grace

To let my tongue excufe all. What was purpos'd
Concerning his imprisonment, was rather,
If there be faith in men, meant for his tryal,
And fair purgation to the world, than malice;
I'm fure, in me.

King. Well, well, my lords, refpect him :
Take him, and ufe him well; he's worthy of it.
I will fay thus much for him, if a Prince
May be beholden to a fubject, I

Am, for his love and fervice, fo to him..

Make me no more ado, but all embrace him;

Be friends for fhame, my lords. My lord of Canterbury,

I have a fuit which you must not deny me,

There is a fair young maid, that yet wants baptifm::}}
You must be godfather, and anfwer for her.

Cran. The greatest monarch now alive may glory
In fuch an honour; how may I deferve it,
That am a poor and humble subject to you ??

King. Come, come, my lord, you'd fpare your fpoons;
you shall have

Two noble partners with you: the old Dutchefs
Of Norfolk, and the lady Marquefs Dorset-
Once more, my lord of Winchester, I charge you
Embrace and love this man.

Gard. With a true heart

And brother's love I do it...
Cran. And let heaven
Witness, how dear I hold this confirmation,

King. Good man, those joyful tears fhew thy true,
heart:

The common voice, I fee, is verify'd

Of thee, which fays thus: do my lord of Canterbury
But one fhrewd turn, and he's your friend for ever.
Come, lords, we trifle time away: I long

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