know

Let me be us'd with honour; strew me over
With maiden flowers, that all the world may
I was a chaste wife to my grave: embalm me,
Then lay me forth: although unqueen'd, yet like
A queen, and daughter to a king, inter me.

I can no more.

[Exeunt, leading KATHARINE.

ACT V.

SCENE I. A Gallery in the Palace.

Enter GARDINER, Bishop of Winchester, a Page with a Torch before him, met by Sir THOMAS LOVELL.

Gar. It's one o'clock, boy, is't not? Boy. It hath struck. Gar. These should be hours for necessities, Not for delights; times to repair our nature With comforting repose, and not for us

To waste these times.-Good hour of night, sir Thomas!

Whither so late?

Lov.

Came you from the king, my lord? Gar. I did, sir Thomas; and left him at primero3 With the duke of Suffolk.

I must to him too,

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

Gar. Not yet, sir Thomas Lovell. What's the
matter?

It seems, you are in haste; an if there be

5

at primero-] Primero and Primavista, two games at cards, H. I. Primera, Primavista. La Primiere, G. prime, f. Prime veue. Primum, et primum visum, that is, first, and first seen: because he that can show such an order of cards first, wins the game.

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 despatch by day.

Lov.

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.

Gar.

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.

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.

Gar.

But, sir, sir,

Hear me, sir Thomas: You are a gentleman
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

Lov.

graves.

Now, sir, you speak of two The most remark'd i'the kingdom. As for Crom

well,

Beside that of the jewel-house, he's made master O'the rolls, and the king's secretary; further, sir, Stands in the gap and trade of more preferments,"

• Some touch of your late business:] Some hint of the business that keeps you awake so late.

7

mine own way;] Mine own opinion in religion.

8 Stands in the gap and trade of more preferments,] Trade is the practised method, the general course.

With which the time will load him: The archbishop Is the king's hand, and tongue; And who dare speak One syllable against him?

Gar.
Yes, yes, sir Thomas,
There are that dare; and I myself have ventur'd
To speak my mind of him: and, indeed, this day,
Sir, (I may tell it you,) I think, I have
Incens'd the lords o'the council, that he is
(For so I know he is, they know he is,)
A most arch heretick," 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,) he hath commanded,
To-morrow morning to the council-board

He be convented.2 He's a rank weed, sir Thomas,
And we must root him out. From
From your affairs
I hinder you too long: good night, sir Thomas.
Lov. Many good nights, my lord; I rest your
[Exeunt GARDINER and Page.

servant.

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

K. Hen. 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

K. Hen. But little, Charles;

you before.

Nor shall not, when my fancy's on my play.

I have

Incens'd the lords o'the council, that he is, &c.

A most arch heretick,] This passage, according to the old elliptical mode of writing, may mean-I have incens'd the lords of the council, for that he is, i. e. because.

broken with the king;] They have broken silence: told their minds to the king.

He be convented.] Convented is summoned, convened.

Now, Lovell, from the queen what is the news?
Lov. I could not personally deliver to her
What commanded me,
you
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 suffer

ance 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!

"Tis midnight, Charles,

K. Hen. 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,

As you commanded me.

K. Hen.

Den. Ay, my good lord.

K. Hen.

Ha! Canterbury?

Den. He attends your highness' pleasure.

K. Hen.

"Tis true: Where is he, Denny?

Bring him to us.

[Exit DENNY.

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.

[LOVELL seems to stay.

Ha!-I have said.-Be gone.

What!

[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

Cran.

you.

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 con-
sider'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.