TPTT The Famous History of the Life of Henry the Eighth: ACT V
Introduction
THE PROLOGUE
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
SCENE I. London. A gallery in the palace.
SCENE II. Before the council-chamber. Pursuivants, Pages, &c. attending.
SCENE III. The Council-Chamber.
SCENE IV. The palace yard.
SCENE V. The palace.
EPILOGUE
About the Play
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SCENE I. London. A gallery in the palace.
Enter GARDINER, Bishop of Winchester, a Page with a torch before him, met by LOVELL
GARDINER
      It's one o'clock, boy, is't not?
Boy
      It hath struck.
GARDINER
      These should be hours for necessities,
      Not for delights; times to repair our nature
5     With comforting repose, and not for us
      To waste these times. Good hour of night, Sir Thomas!
      Whither so late?
LOVELL
      Came you from the king, my lord
GARDINER
      I did, Sir Thomas: and left him at primero
10    With the Duke of Suffolk.
LOVELL
      I must to him too,
      Before he go to bed. I'll take my leave.
GARDINER
      Not yet, Sir Thomas Lovell. What's the matter?
      It seems you are in haste: an if there be
15    No great offence belongs to't, give your friend
      Some touch of your late business: affairs, that walk,
      As they say spirits do, at midnight, have
      In them a wilder nature than the business
      That seeks dispatch by day.
LOVELL
20    My lord, I love you;
      And durst commend a secret to your ear
      Much weightier than this work. The queen's in labour,
      They say, in great extremity; and fear'd
      She'll with the labour end.
GARDINER
25    The fruit she goes with
      I pray for heartily, that it may find
      Good time, and live: but for the stock, Sir Thomas,
      I wish it grubb'd up now.
LOVELL
      Methinks I could
30    Cry the amen; and yet my conscience says
      She's a good creature, and, sweet lady, does
      Deserve our better wishes.
GARDINER
      But, sir, sir,
      Hear me, Sir Thomas: you're a gentleman
35    Of mine own way; I know you wise, religious;
      And, let me tell you, it will ne'er be well,
      'Twill not, Sir Thomas Lovell, take't of me,
      Till Cranmer, Cromwell, her two hands, and she,
      Sleep in their graves.
LOVELL
40    Now, sir, you speak of two
      The most remark'd i' the kingdom. As for Cromwell,
      Beside that of the jewel house, is made master
      O' the rolls, and the king's secretary; further, sir,
      Stands in the gap and trade of moe preferments,
45    With which the time will load him. The archbishop
      Is the king's hand and tongue; and who dare speak
      One syllable against him?
GARDINER
      Yes, yes, Sir Thomas,
      There are that dare; and I myself have ventured
50    To speak my mind of him: and indeed this day,
      Sir, I may tell it you, I think I have
      Incensed the lords o' the council, that he is,
      For so I know he is, they know he is,
      A most arch heretic, a pestilence
55    That does infect the land: with which they moved
      Have broken with the king; who hath so far
      Given ear to our complaint, of his great grace
      And princely care foreseeing those fell mischiefs
      Our reasons laid before him, hath commanded
60    To-morrow morning to the council-board
      He be convented. He's a rank weed, Sir Thomas,
      And we must root him out. From your affairs
      I hinder you too long: good night, Sir Thomas.
LOVELL
      Many good nights, my lord: I rest your servant.
Exeunt GARDINER and Page
Enter KING HENRY VIII and SUFFOLK
KING HENRY VIII
65    Charles, I will play no more tonight;
      My mind's not on't; you are too hard for me.
SUFFOLK
      Sir, I did never win of you before.
KING HENRY VIII
      But little, Charles;
      Nor shall not, when my fancy's on my play.
70    Now, Lovell, from the queen what is the news?
LOVELL
      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 great'st humbleness, and desired your highness
75    Most heartily to pray for her.
KING HENRY VIII
      What say'st thou, ha?
      To pray for her? what, is she crying out?
LOVELL
      So said her woman; and that her sufferance made
      Almost each pang a death.
KING HENRY VIII
80    Alas, good lady!
SUFFOLK
      God safely quit her of her burthen, and
      With gentle travail, to the gladding of
      Your highness with an heir!
KING HENRY VIII
      'Tis midnight, Charles;
85    Prithee, to bed; and in thy prayers remember
      The estate of my poor queen. Leave me alone;
      For I must think of that which company
      Would not be friendly to.
SUFFOLK
      I wish your highness
90    A quiet night; and my good mistress will
      Remember in my prayers.
KING HENRY VIII
      Charles, good night.

Exit SUFFOLK

Enter DENNY

      Well, sir, what follows?
DENNY
      Sir, I have brought my lord the archbishop,
95    As you commanded me.
KING HENRY VIII
      Ha! Canterbury?
DENNY
      Ay, my good lord.
KING HENRY VIII
      'Tis true: where is he, Denny?
DENNY
      He attends your highness' pleasure.
Exit DENNY
LOVELL
100   (Aside) This is about that which the bishop spake:
      I am happily come hither.
Re-enter DENNY, with CRANMER
KING HENRY VIII
      Avoid the gallery.

LOVELL seems to stay

      Ha! I have said. Be gone. What!
Exeunt LOVELL and DENNY
CRANMER
105   I am fearful: wherefore frowns he thus?
      'Tis his aspect of terror. All's not well.
KING HENRY VIII
      How now, my lord! you desire to know
      Wherefore I sent for you.
CRANMER
      (Kneeling) It is my duty
110   To attend your highness' pleasure.
KING HENRY VIII
      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.
115   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,
120   Have moved 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
125   Your patience to you, and be well contented
      To make your house our Tower: you a brother of us,
      It fits we thus proceed, or else no witness
      Would come against you.
CRANMER
130   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
135   Than I myself, poor man.
KING HENRY VIII
      Stand up, good Canterbury:
      Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted
      In us, thy friend: give me thy hand, stand up:
      Prithee, let's walk. Now, by my holidame.
140   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 you,
      Without indurance, further.
CRANMER
145   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
150   What can be said against me.
KING HENRY VIII
      Know you not
      How your state stands i' the world, with the whole world?
      Your enemies are many, and not small; their practises
      Must bear the same proportion; and not ever
155   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.
      You are potently opposed; and with a malice
160   Of as great size. Ween you of better luck,
      I mean, in perjured witness, than your master,
      Whose minister you are, whiles here he lived
      Upon this naughty earth? Go to, go to;
      You take a precipice for no leap of danger,
165   And woo your own destruction.
CRANMER
      God and your majesty
      Protect mine innocence, or I fall into
      The trap is laid for me!
KING HENRY VIII
      Be of good cheer;
170   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
175   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!
180   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
185   His language in his tears.
Enter Old Lady, LOVELL following
Gentleman
      (Within) Come back: what mean you?
Old 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
190   Under their blessed wings!
KING HENRY VIII
      Now, by thy looks
      I guess thy message. Is the queen deliver'd?
      Say, ay; and of a boy.
Old Lady
      Ay, ay, my liege;
195   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
200   As cherry is to cherry.
KING HENRY VIII
      Lovell!
LOVELL
      Sir?
KING HENRY VIII
      Give her an hundred marks. I'll to the queen.
Exit
Old Lady
      An hundred marks! By this light, I'll ha' more.
205   An ordinary groom is for such payment.
      I will have more, or scold it out of him.
      Said I for this, the girl was 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
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