It fits we thus proceed, or else no witness
Would come against you.

Cran.

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, Than I myself, poor man.

K. Hen.

Stand up, good Canterbury; Thy truth, and thy integrity, is rooted

In us, thy friend: Give me thy hand, stand up;
Pr'ythee, let's walk. Now, by my holy-dame,
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.
Most dread liege,
The good I stand on is my truth, and honesty ;
If they shall fail, I, with mine enemies,

Cran.

Will triumph o'er my person; which I weigh not,3
Being of those virtues vacant.
I fear nothing

What can be said against me.

K. Hen.

Know you not how

Your state stands i'the world, with the whole world?
Your enemies

Are many,
and not small; their practices
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
Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt
To swear against you? such things have been done.

4 — indurance,] i. e. confinement, or perhaps, delay, procrastination.

5

I weigh not,] i. e. have no value for.

and not ever-] Not ever is an uncommon expression, and does not mean never, but not always.

You are potently oppos'd; and with a malice
Of as great size. Ween you of better luck,'
I mean in perjur'd witness, than your master,
Whose minister you are, whiles here he liv'd
Upon this naughty earth? Go to, go to ;
You take a precipice for no leap of danger.
And woo your own destruction.

God, and your majesty,

Cran.
Protect mine innocence, or I fall into

The trap is laid for me!

Be of good cheer;

you,

K. Hen. 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 The best persuasions to the contrary 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!

He's honest, on mine honour. God's blest mother!
I swear, he's 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

His language in his tears.

Enter an old Lady.

Gent. [Within.] Come back; What mean you? Lady. I'll not come back; the tidings that I bring Will make my boldness manners.-Now, good angels

Ween you of better luck,] To ween is to think, to imagine. Though now obsolete, the word was common to all our ancient writers.

Fly o'er thy royal head, and shade thy person
Under their blessed wings!

K. Hen.

Now, by thy looks
queen deliver'd?

Ay, ay, my liege;

I guess thy message. Is the
Say, ay; and of a boy.
Lady.
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,
As cherry is to cherry.

K. Hen.

Lovell,

Enter LovEll.

Sir.

Lov.

K. Hen. Give her an hundred marks. I'll to the

queen.

[Exit King. Lady. An hundred marks! By this light, I'll

have more.

An ordinary groom is for such payment.
I will have more, or scold it out of him.
Said I for this, the girl is 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.

SCENE II.

Lobby before the Council-Chamber.

Enter CRANMER; Servants, Door-Keeper, &c. attending.

Cran. I hope, I am not too late; and yet the gentleman,

That was sent to me from the council, pray'd me

To make great haste. All fast? what means this?

Hoa!

Who waits there ?-Sure, you know me?

D. Keep.

But yet I cannot help you.

Cran.

Yes, my lord;

D. Keep. Your grace must wait, till

Cran.

for.

Enter Doctor BUTTS.

Butts. This is a piece of malice. I am glad,
I came this way so happily: The king
Shall understand it presently.

So.

[Exit BUTTS.

Cran. [Aside.] "Tis Butts, The king's physician; as he past along,

How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me!

Pray heaven, he sound not my disgrace! For certain, This is of purpose lay'd, by some that hate me,

(God turn their hearts! I never sought their malice,) To quench mine honour: they would shame to make me

Wait else at door; a fellow counsellor,

Among boys, grooms, and lackeys. But their pleasures

Must be fulfill'd, and I attend with patience.

8

Enter, at a Window above, the King and Burrs.

K. Hen.

Butts. I'll show your grace the strangest sight,— What's that, Butts? Butts. I think, your highness saw this many a day.

8 ——— at a window above,] The suspicious vigilance of our ancestors contrived windows which overlooked the insides of chapels, halls, kitchens, passages, &c. Some of these convenient peepholes, may still be found in colleges, and such ancient houses as have not suffered from the reformations of modern architecture.

K. Hen. Body o'me, where is it?

Butts. There, my lord: The high promotion of his grace of Canterbury; Who holds his state at door, 'mongst pursuivants, Pages, and footboys.

K. Hen.

Ha! 'Tis he, indeed :

Is this the honour they do one another?

"Tis well, there's one above them yet. I had thought,
They had parted so much honesty among them,
(At least, good manners,) as not thus to suffer
A man of his place, and so near our favour,
To dance attendance on their lordships' pleasures,
And at the door too, like a post with packets.
By holy Mary, Butts, there's knavery :

Let them alone, and draw the curtain close ;'
We shall hear morc anon.-

[Exeunt.

THE COUNCIL-CHAMBER.

Enter the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of SUFFOLK, Earl of SURREY, Lord Chamberlain, GARDINER, and CROMWELL. The Chancellor places himself at the upper end of the table on the left hand; a seat being left void above him, as for the Archbishop of Canterbury. The rest seat themselves in order on each side. CROMWELL at the lower end, as secretary.

Chan. Speak to the business, master secretary: Why are we met in council?

Crom. Please your honours, The chief cause concerns his grace of Canterbury. Gar. Has he had knowledge of it?

9 They had parted, &c.] We should now say-They had shared,

&c. i. e. had so much honesty among them.

draw the curtain close ;] i. e. the curtain of the balcony,

or upper stage, where the King now is.