ACT V.

SCENE I. London. A Gallery in the Palace.

Enter GARDINER, Bishop of Winchester, a Page with a torch before him.

Gard. It's one o'clock, boy, is't not?
Boy.

It hath struck.

Gard. These should be hours for necessities, Not for delights;1 times to repair our nature With comforting repose, and not for us

Gard. I did, Sir Thomas; and left him at primero With the Duke of Suffolk.

Lov.

I must to him too,

Before he go to bed. I'll take my leave.

Gard. Not yet, Sir Thomas Lovell. What's the matter? It seems you are in haste: an if there be

No great offence belongs to't, give your friend

{ 1 Gardiner himself is not much delighted. The delights at which he hints seem to be the King's diversions, which keep him in attendance.

2 Primero, or prime, supposed to be the most ancient game of cards in England, was very fashionable in Shakespeare's time.

Some touch of your late business: 3 affairs that walk –
As they say spirits do- at midnight have

In them a wilder nature than the business
That seeks dispatch by day.

Lov.

And durst commend a secret to your ear

My lord, I love you;

The Queen's in labour,

The fruit she goes with

Much weightier than this work.
They say, in great extremity; and fear'd

She'll with the labour end.

Gard.

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.

Lov.

Methinks I could

Cry the amen; and yet my conscience says
She's a good creature, and, sweet lady, does
Deserve our better wishes.

Hear me, Sir Thomas: you're a gentleman

Of mine own way; 4 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.

Lov.
Now, sir, you speak of two
The most remark'd i' the kingdom. As for Cromwell,
Besides that of the jewel-house, he's made Master
O' the Rolls,5 and the King's secretary; further, sir,

8 "Some touch of your late business" is explained, by Johnson, "Some hint of the business that keeps you awake so late."

4 My own way of thinking in religion.

The Master of the Rolls is the officer who has charge of the patents and

Stands in the gap and trade 6 of more preferments,
With which the time will load him. Th' Árchbishop
Is the King's hand and tongue; and who dare speak
One syllable against him?

Gard.

Yes, yes, Sir Thomas,

There are that dare; and I myself have ventured

To speak my mind of him: and, indeed, this daytell it you, I think I have

Sir, I may

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

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
To-morrow morning to the Council-board

He be convented.

He's a rank weed, Sir Thomas,

other instruments that have passed the great seal, and of the records of the chancery; while, again, the chancery is the court of the Lord Chancellor, to decide cases of equity, the highest court of judicature in England next to Parliament. -“Besides that of the jewel-house" is besides the mastership of the jewels and other ornaments belonging to the crown.

6 Trade is, in general, a road or way; that which is trodden. So in Udal's Apothegms: "Although it repent them of the trade or way that they have chosen." So that the gap and trade means simply the open road, or free course.

7 Incensed or insensed in this instance, and in some others, only means instructed, informed: still used in Staffordshire. It properly signifies to infuse into the mind, to prompt or instigate. "Invidiæ stimulo mentes Patrum fodit Saturnia: Juno incenseth the senators' minds with secret envy against." - COOPER.

8 Have broken or opened the subject to him. Often so.

9 Convented is summoned or cited to meet his accusers. The word was much used in reference to trials under charges of heresy.

And we must root him out. From your affairs
I hinder you too long: good night, Sir Thomas.
Lov. Many good nights, my lord: I rest your servant.
[Exeunt GARDINER and Page.

As LOVELL is going out, enter the King and the Duke of

SUFFOLK.

King. Charles, I will play no more to-night; My mind's not on't; you are too hard for me. Suf. Sir, I did never win of you before. King. But little, Charles;

Nor shall not, when my fancy's on my play. —
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 great'st humbleness, and desired your Highness
Most heartily to pray for her.

King.

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.

King.

Alas, good lady!

Suf. God safely quit 10 her of her burden, and

With gentle travail, to the gladding of

Your Highness with an heir!

King.

'Tis midnight, Charles;

Pr'ythee, to bed; and in thy prayers remember

Th' estate of my poor Queen. Leave me alone;

10 A rather peculiar use of quit, but meaning release or set free; grant her ease, rest, or quiet; like the Latin quietus.

For I must think of that which company

Would not be friendly to.

Den, Sir, I have brought my lord the Archbishop,

Lov. [Aside.] This is about that which the bishop spake : 11 come hither.

I'm happily

Re-enter DENNY, with CRANMER,

King. Avoid the gallery. [LOVELL seems to stay.] Ha! I have said. Be gone.

What!

[Exeunt LOVELL and DENNY.

Cran. [Aside.] I am fearful; wherefore frowns he

thus?

'Tis his aspéct of terror.

All's not well.

King. How now, my lord! you do desire to know Wherefore I sent for you.

11 Happily here means luckily, or opportunely; as in page 140, note 2,