Act V, Scene 1

London. A gallery in the palace.

[Enter GARDINER, Bishop of Winchester, a Page with a] [p]torch before him, met by LOVELL]

• Gardiner. It's one o'clock, boy, is't not?

• Page. It hath struck.

• Gardiner. These should be hours for necessities,
  Not for delights; times to repair our nature 2780
  With comforting repose, and not for us
  To waste these times. Good hour of night, Sir Thomas!
  Whither so late?

• Sir Thomas Lovell. Came you from the king, my lord

• Gardiner. I did, Sir Thomas: and left him at primero 2785
  With the Duke of Suffolk.

• Sir Thomas 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 2790
  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. 2795

• Sir Thomas Lovell. 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. 2800

• Gardiner. 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.

• Sir Thomas Lovell. Methinks I could 2805
  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 2810
  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. 2815

• Sir Thomas Lovell. 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, 2820
  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 2825
  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 2830
  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 2835
  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.

• Sir Thomas Lovell. Many good nights, my lord: I rest your servant. 2840

[Exeunt GARDINER and Page]

[Enter KING HENRY VIII and SUFFOLK]

• Henry VIII. Charles, I will play no more tonight;
  My mind's not on't; you are too hard for me.

• Duke of Suffolk. Sir, I did never win of you before. 2845

• Henry VIII. But little, Charles;
  Nor shall not, when my fancy's on my play.
  Now, Lovell, from the queen what is the news?

• Sir Thomas Lovell. I could not personally deliver to her
  What you commanded me, but by her woman 2850
  I sent your message; who return'd her thanks
  In the great'st humbleness, and desired your highness
  Most heartily to pray for her.

• Henry VIII. What say'st thou, ha?
  To pray for her? what, is she crying out? 2855

• Sir Thomas Lovell. So said her woman; and that her sufferance made
  Almost each pang a death.

• Henry VIII. Alas, good lady!

• Duke of Suffolk. God safely quit her of her burthen, and
  With gentle travail, to the gladding of 2860
  Your highness with an heir!

• Henry VIII. 'Tis midnight, Charles;
  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 2865
  Would not be friendly to.

• Duke of Suffolk. I wish your highness
  A quiet night; and my good mistress will
  Remember in my prayers.

• Henry VIII. Charles, good night. 2870
  [Exit SUFFOLK]
  [Enter DENNY]
  Well, sir, what follows?

• Sir Anthony Denny. Sir, I have brought my lord the archbishop,
  As you commanded me. 2875

• Henry VIII. Ha! Canterbury?

• Sir Anthony Denny. Ay, my good lord.

• Henry VIII. 'Tis true: where is he, Denny?

• Sir Anthony Denny. He attends your highness' pleasure.

[Exit DENNY]

• Sir Thomas Lovell. [Aside] This is about that which the bishop spake:
  I am happily come hither.

[Re-enter DENNY, with CRANMER]

• Henry VIII. Avoid the gallery.
  [LOVELL seems to stay] 2885
  Ha! I have said. Be gone. What!

[Exeunt LOVELL and DENNY]

• Archbishop Cranmer. [Aside]
  I am fearful: wherefore frowns he thus?
  'Tis his aspect of terror. All's not well. 2890

• Henry VIII. How now, my lord! you desire to know
  Wherefore I sent for you.

• Archbishop Cranmer. [Kneeling] It is my duty
  To attend your highness' pleasure.

• Henry VIII. Pray you, arise, 2895
  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 2900
  I have, and most unwillingly, of late
  Heard many grievous, I do say, my lord,
  Grievous complaints of you; which, being consider'd,
  Have moved us and our council, that you shall
  This morning come before us; where, I know, 2905
  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, 2910
  It fits we thus proceed, or else no witness
  Would come against you.

• Archbishop Cranmer. [Kneeling]
  I humbly thank your highness;
  And am right glad to catch this good occasion 2915
  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.

• Henry VIII. Stand up, good Canterbury: 2920
  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.
  What manner of man are you? My lord, I look'd
  You would have given me your petition, that 2925
  I should have ta'en some pains to bring together
  Yourself and your accusers; and to have heard you,
  Without indurance, further.

• Archbishop Cranmer. Most dread liege,
  The good I stand on is my truth and honesty: 2930
  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.

• Henry VIII. Know you not 2935
  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
  The justice and the truth o' the question carries
  The due o' the verdict with it: at what ease 2940
  Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt
  To swear against you? such things have been done.
  You are potently opposed; and with a malice
  Of as great size. Ween you of better luck,
  I mean, in perjured witness, than your master, 2945
  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,
  And woo your own destruction.

• Archbishop Cranmer. God and your majesty 2950
  Protect mine innocence, or I fall into
  The trap is laid for me!

• Henry VIII. Be of good cheer;
  They shall no more prevail than we give way to.
  Keep comfort to you; and this morning see 2955
  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 2960
  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 is true—hearted; and a soul 2965
  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. 2970

[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 2975
  Under their blessed wings!

• 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; 2980
  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 2985
  As cherry is to cherry.

• Henry VIII. Lovell!

• Sir Thomas Lovell. Sir?

• 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.
  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, 2995
  While it is hot, I'll put it to the issue.

[Exeunt]