Than I myself, poor man. K. Hen. Stand up, good Canterbury; In us, thy friend: Give me thy hand, stand up; Cran. 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. K. Hen. Know you not how Your state stands i'the world, with the whole world? Are many, and not small; their practices Cran. God, and your majesty, Protect mine innocence, or I fall into K. Hen. Be of good cheer; They shall no more prevail, than we give way to. Fail not to use, and with what vehemency 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 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 angels Fly o'er thy royal head, and shade thy person Under their blessed wings! K. Hen. Now, by thy looks I guess thy message. Is the queen deliver❜d? Lady. Ay, ay, my liege; And of a lovely boy: The God of heaven Acquainted with this stranger; 'tis as like you, Lady. An hundred marks! By this light, I'll have more. An ordinary groom is for such payment. I will have more, or scold it out of him. I will have more, or else unsay't; and now [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Lobby before the Council-chamber. Enter CRANMER; Servants, Door-Keeper, &c. attending. Cran. I hope, I am not too late; and yet the gentle man, That was sent to me from the council, pray'd me To make great haste. All fast? what means this ?— Hoa! Who waits there?-Sure, you know me? D. Keep. Yes, my lord; But yet I cannot help you. Cran. Why? D. Keep. Your grace must wait, till you be call'd Butts. This is a piece of malice. I am glad I came this way so happily: The king Cran. [Aside.] 'Tis Butts, The king's physician; As he past along, How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me! [Exit BUTTS. Pray heaven, he sound not my disgrace! For certain, This is of purpose lay'd, 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 counsellor, Among boys, grooms, and lackeys. But their plea sures Must be fulfill'd, and I attend with patience. Enter, at a window above, the King and BUTTS. Butts. I'll show your grace the strangest sight,— K. Hen. What's that, Butts? Butts. I think, your highness saw this many a day. K. Hen. Body o'me, where is it? Butts. There, my lord: The high promotion of his grace of Canterbury; VOL. 1X. K. Hen. Ha! 'Tis he, indeed: Is this the honour they do one another? 'Tis well, there's one above them yet. I had thought A man of his place, and so near our favour, Let them alone, and draw the curtain close; THE COUNCIL-CHAMBER. [Exeunt. 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 secretary. Chan. Speak to the business, master secretary: Why are we met in council? Crom. Please your honours, The chief cause concerns his grace of Canterbury. Crom. Yes. Nor. Who waits there? D. Keep. Without, my noble lords? Gar. Yes. D. Keep. My lord archbishop; And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures. |