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 III. The Council-Chamber.
Enter Chancellor; places himself at the upper end of the table on the left hand; a seat being left void above him, as for CRANMER's seat. SUFFOLK, NORFOLK, SURREY, Chamberlain, GARDINER, seat themselves in order on each side. CROMWELL at lower end, as secretary. Keeper at the door
Chancellor
      Speak to the business, master-secretary:
      Why are we met in council?
CROMWELL
      Please your honours,
      The chief cause concerns his grace of Canterbury.
GARDINER
5     Has he had knowledge of it?
CROMWELL
      Yes.
NORFOLK
      Who waits there?
Keeper
      Without, my noble lords?
GARDINER
      Yes.
Keeper
10    My lord archbishop;
      And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures.
Chancellor
      Let him come in.
Keeper
      Your grace may enter now.
CRANMER enters and approaches the council-table
Chancellor
      My good lord archbishop, I'm very sorry
15    To sit here at this present, and behold
      That chair stand empty: but we all are men,
      In our own natures frail, and capable
      Of our flesh; few are angels: out of which frailty
      And want of wisdom, you, that best should teach us,
20    Have misdemean'd yourself, and not a little,
      Toward the king first, then his laws, in filling
      The whole realm, by your teaching and your chaplains,
      For so we are inform'd, with new opinions,
      Divers and dangerous; which are heresies,
25    And, not reform'd, may prove pernicious.
GARDINER
      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 stop their mouths with stubborn bits, and spur 'em,
30    Till they obey the manage. If we suffer,
      Out of our easiness and childish pity
      To one man's honour, this contagious sickness,
      Farewell all physic: and what follows then?
      Commotions, uproars, with a general taint
35    Of the whole state: as, of late days, our neighbours,
      The upper Germany, can dearly witness,
      Yet freshly pitied in our memories.
CRANMER
      My good lords, hitherto, in all the progress
      Both of my life and office, I have labour'd,
40    And with no little study, that my teaching
      And the strong course of my authority
      Might go one way, and safely; and the end
      Was ever, to do well: nor is there living,
      I speak it with a single heart, my lords,
45    A man that more detests, more stirs against,
      Both in his private conscience and his place,
      Defacers of a public peace, than I do.
      Pray heaven, the king may never find a heart
      With less allegiance in it! Men that make
50    Envy and crooked malice nourishment
      Dare bite the best. I do beseech your lordships,
      That, in this case of justice, my accusers,
      Be what they will, may stand forth face to face,
      And freely urge against me.
SUFFOLK
55    Nay, my lord,
      That cannot be: you are a counsellor,
      And, by that virtue, no man dare accuse you.
GARDINER
      My lord, because we have business of more moment,
      We will be short with you. 'Tis his highness' pleasure,
60    And our consent, for better trial of you,
      From hence you be committed to the Tower;
      Where, being but a private man again,
      You shall know many dare accuse you boldly,
      More than, I fear, you are provided for.
CRANMER
65    Ah, my good Lord of Winchester, I thank you;
      You are always my good friend; if your will pass,
      I shall both find your lordship judge and juror,
      You are so merciful: I see your end;
      'Tis my undoing: love and meekness, lord,
70    Become a churchman better than ambition:
      Win straying souls with modesty again,
      Cast none away. That I shall clear myself,
      Lay all the weight ye can upon my patience,
      I make as little doubt, as you do conscience
75    In doing daily wrongs. I could say more,
      But reverence to your calling makes me modest.
GARDINER
      My lord, my lord, you are a sectary,
      That's the plain truth: your painted gloss discovers,
      To men that understand you, words and weakness.
CROMWELL
80    My Lord of Winchester, you are a little,
      By your good favour, too sharp; men so noble,
      However faulty, yet should find respect
      For what they have been: 'tis a cruelty
      To load a falling man.
GARDINER
85    Good master secretary,
      I cry your honour mercy; you may, worst
      Of all this table, say so.
CROMWELL
      Why, my lord?
GARDINER
      Do not I know you for a favourer
90    Of this new sect? ye are not sound.
CROMWELL
      Not sound?
GARDINER
      Not sound, I say.
CROMWELL
      Would you were half so honest!
      Men's prayers then would seek you, not their fears.
GARDINER
95    I shall remember this bold language.
CROMWELL
      Do.
      Remember your bold life too.
Chancellor
      This is too much;
      Forbear, for shame, my lords.
GARDINER
100   I have done.
CROMWELL
      And I.
Chancellor
      Then thus for you, my lord: it stands agreed,
      I take it, by all voices, that forthwith
      You be convey'd to the Tower a prisoner;
105   There to remain till the king's further pleasure
      Be known unto us: are you all agreed, lords?
All
      We are.
CRANMER
      Is there no other way of mercy,
      But I must needs to the Tower, my lords?
GARDINER
110   What other
      Would you expect? you are strangely troublesome.
      Let some o' the guard be ready there.
Enter Guard
CRANMER
      For me?
      Must I go like a traitor thither?
GARDINER
115   Receive him,
      And see him safe i' the Tower.
CRANMER
      Stay, good my lords,
      I have a little yet to say. Look there, my lords;
      By virtue of that ring, I take my cause
120   Out of the gripes of cruel men, and give it
      To a most noble judge, the king my master.
Chamberlain
      This is the king's ring.
SURREY
      'Tis no counterfeit.
SUFFOLK
      'Tis the right ring, by heaven: I told ye all,
125   When ye first put this dangerous stone a-rolling,
      'Twould fall upon ourselves.
NORFOLK
      Do you think, my lords,
      The king will suffer but the little finger
      Of this man to be vex'd?
Chancellor
130   'Tis now too certain:
      How much more is his life in value with him?
      Would I were fairly out on't!
CROMWELL
      My mind gave me,
      In seeking tales and informations
135   Against this man, whose honesty the devil
      And his disciples only envy at,
      Ye blew the fire that burns ye: now have at ye!
Enter KING, frowning on them; takes his seat
GARDINER
      Dread sovereign, how much are we bound to heaven
      In daily thanks, that gave us such a prince;
140   Not only good and wise, 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 self in judgment comes to hear
145   The cause betwixt her and this great offender.
KING HENRY VIII
      You were ever good at sudden commendations,
      Bishop of Winchester. But know, I come not
      To hear such flattery now, and in my presence;
      They are too thin and bare to hide offences.
150   To me you cannot reach, you play the spaniel,
      And think with wagging of your tongue to win me;
      But, whatsoe'er thou takest me for, I'm sure
      Thou hast a cruel nature and a bloody.

To CRANMER

      Good man, sit down. Now let me see the proudest
155   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.
SURREY
      May it please your grace,--
KING HENRY VIII
      No, sir, it does not please me.
160   I had thought I had had men of some 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 honest man, wait like a lousy footboy
165   At chamber--door? and one as great as you are?
      Why, what a shame was this! Did my commission
      Bid ye so far forget yourselves? I gave ye
      Power as he was a counsellor to try him,
      Not as a groom: there's some of ye, I see,
170   More out of malice than integrity,
      Would try him to the utmost, had ye mean;
      Which ye shall never have while I live.
Chancellor
      Thus far,
      My most dread sovereign, may it like your grace
175   To let my tongue excuse all. What was purposed
      Concerning his imprisonment, was rather,
      If there be faith in men, meant for his trial,
      And fair purgation to the world, than malice,
      I'm sure, in me.
KING HENRY VIII
180   Well, well, my lords, respect him;
      Take him, and use him well, he's worthy of it.
      I will say thus much for him, if a prince
      May be beholding to a subject, I
      Am, for his love and service, so to him.
185   Make me no more ado, but all embrace him:
      Be friends, for shame, my lords! My Lord of
      Canterbury,
      I have a suit which you must not deny me;
      That is, a fair young maid that yet wants baptism,
190   You must be godfather, and answer for her.
CRANMER
      The greatest monarch now alive may glory
      In such an honour: how may I deserve it
      That am a poor and humble subject to you?
KING HENRY VIII
      Come, come, my lord, you'ld spare your spoons: you
195   shall have two noble partners with you; the old
      Duchess of Norfolk, and Lady Marquess Dorset: will
      these please you?
      Once more, my Lord of Winchester, I charge you,
      Embrace and love this man.
GARDINER
200   With a true heart
      And brother-love I do it.
CRANMER
      And let heaven
      Witness, how dear I hold this confirmation.
KING HENRY VIII
      Good man, those joyful tears show thy true heart:
205   The common voice, I see, is verified
      Of thee, which says thus, 'Do my Lord of Canterbury
      A shrewd turn, and he is your friend for ever.'
      Come, lords, we trifle time away; I long
      To have this young one made a Christian.
210   As I have made ye one, lords, one remain;
      So I grow stronger, you more honour gain.
Exeunt
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