Now, Lovell, from the queen what is the news?
Lov. I could not personally deliver to her
What you commanded me, but by her woman
I sent your message; who return'd her thanks
In the greatest humbleness, and desir'd your highness
Most heartily to pray for her.

K. Hen.
What say'st thou? ha!
To pray for her? what, is she crying out?

Lov. So said her woman; and that her sufferance

made

Almost each pang a death.

K. Hen.

Alas, good lady!

Suf. God safely quit her of her burden, and With gentle travail, to the gladding of

Your highness with an heir!

K. Hen.

'Tis midnight, Charles, Pr'ythee, to bed; and in thy prayers remember The estate of my poor queen. Leave me alone; For I must think of that, which company Will not be friendly to.

Suf.

A quiet night, and my good mistress will
Remember in my prayers.

K. Hen.

I wish your highness

Charles, good night.

[Exit SUFFOLK.

Enter Sir ANTHONY DENNY.

Well, sir, what follows?

Den. Sir, I have brought my lord the archbishop,

Lov. This is about that which the bishop spake; I am happily come hither.

[Aside.

Avoid the gallery.

Re-enter DENNY, with CRANMER

K. Hen.

Ha! I have said.-Be gone.

What!

[LOVELL seems to stay.

[Exeunt LOVELL and DENNY.

Cran. I am fearful:-Wherefore frowns he thus? 'Tis his aspect of terror. All's not well.

K. Hen. How now, my lord? You do desire to know Wherefore I sent for you.

Cran.

It is my duty, To attend your highness' pleasure.

K. Hen.

'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 Tower: You a brother of us,3

You a brother of us, &c.] You being one of the council,

it is necessary to imprison you, that the witnesses against you may

not be deterred.

It fits we thus proceed, or else no witness
Would come against you.

Cran.

I humbly thank your highness; And am right glad to catch this good occasion Most throughly to be winnow'd, where my chaff And corn shall fly asunder: for, I know,

There's none stands under more calumnious tongues, Than I myself, poor man.

K. Hen.

Stand up, good Canterbury; Thy truth, and thy integrity, is rooted

In us, thy friend: Give me thy hand, stand up;
Pr'ythee, let's walk. Now, by my holy-dame,
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
Without indurance, further.

you

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.

What can be said against me.

K. Hen.

I fear nothing

Know you not how

Your state stands i'the 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'the question carries
The due o'the verdict with it: At what ease
Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt
To swear against you? such things have been done.

+ indurance,] i. e. confinement, or perhaps, delay, procrastination.

I weigh not,] i. e. have no value for.

and not ever -] Not ever is an uncommon expression, and does not mean never, but not always.

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.

Cran. God, and your majesty, Protect mine innocence, or I fall into The trap is laid for me!

Be of good cheer;

K. Hen.
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
The 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's 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

7

Ween you of better luck,] To ween is to think, to imaginc. Though now obsolete, the word was common to all our an

Fly o'er thy royal head, and shade thy person
Under their blessed wings!

I

K. Hen.

Now, by thy looks

guess thy message. Is the queen deliver❜d? Say, ay; and of a boy.

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.

K. Hen.

Lovell,

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.
Said I for this, the girl is like to him?
I will have more, or else unsay't; and now
While it is hot, I'll put it to the issue.

[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 gentleman,

That was sent to me from the council, pray'd me