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Lofty and four, to them that lov'd him not;

And though he were unsatisfy'd in getting,

(Which was a fin) yet in hestowing, madam,

10

And leave me here in wretchedness behind ye ?
Grif. Madam, we are here.

Kath. It is not you I call for:

Saw you none enter, fince I lept?

Grif. None, madam.

Kath. No? Saw you not, even now, a blessed

troop

But, to those men that fought him, sweet as fummer. 15 Invite me to a banquet; whose bright faces

Caft thousand beams upon me, like the fun ?

They promis'd me eternal happiness;

And brought me garlands, Griffith, which I feel

I am not worthy yet to wear: I shall,

[dreams

He was most princely: Ever witness for him

Those twins of learning, that he rais'd in you,
Ipswich, and Oxford! one of which fell with him, 20 Affuredly.

Unwilling to out-live the good he did it;

The other, though unfinish'd, yet so famous,
So excellent in art, and still fo rifing,
That Chriftendom shall ever speak his virtue.
His overthrow heap'd happiness upon him;
For then, and not 'till then, he felt himself,
And found the blessedness of being little:
And, to add greater honours to his age

Than man could give him, he dy'd fearing God.

25

Grif. I am most joyful, madam, fuch good

Poffefs your fancy.

Kath. Bid the mufick leave,

They are harsh and heavy to me.

Pat. Do you note,

[Musick ceases.

How much her grace is alter'd on the sudden ?

How long her face is drawn? How pale the looks,

And of an earthy cold? Mark her eyes.

Grif. She is going, wench; pray, pray.

Kath. After my death I wish no other herald, 30 Par. Heaven comfort her!

No other speaker of my living actions,

To keep mine honour from corruption,
But such an honest chronicler as Griffith.

Whom I most hated living, thou haft made me,
With thy religious truth, and modesty,
Nowin his ashes honour: Peace be with him!-
Patience, be near me still; and set me lower:
I have not long to trouble thee. Good Griffith,
Cause the muficians play me that sad note
I nam'd my knell, whilst I fit meditating

On that celestial harmony I go to.

Sad and folemn musick.

Grif. She is afleep: Good wench, let's fit down

Enter a Meffenger.

Mef. An't like your grace,-
Kath. You are a sawcy fellow:
Deserve we no more reverence?

35 Grif. You are to blame,
Knowing, she will not lose her wonted greatness,
To use so rude behaviour: go to, kneel.

Mef. I humbly do entreat your highness' pardon;
My haste made me unmannerly: There is staying

140 A gentleman, fent from the king, to see you.
Kath. Admit him entrance, Griffith: But this
[fellow
Let me ne'er see again.
[Exeunt Griffith, and Moffenger.

Re-enter Griffith, with Capucius.

For fear we wake her:-Softly, gentle Patience. 45 If my fight fail not,

You should be lord ambassador from the emperor

quiet,

The vifion. Enter, folemnly tripping one after an

ether, fix perfonages, clad in white robes, quear

ing on their beads garlands of bays, and golden

wizards on their faces; branches of bays,

01

My royal nephew, and your name Capucius.
Cap. Madam, the fame, your fervant.
Kath. O my lord,

palm, in their hands. They first congee unto ber, 50 The times, and titles, now are alter'd strangely

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the ather next two, who coserve the fame order in 55 The king's request that I would vifit you;

their changes, and bolding the garland over ber

First, mine own service to your grace; the next,

Who grieves much for your weakness, and by me
Sends you his princely commendations,

to the last two, tubo likewise observe the fame order:

And heartily entreats you take good comfort.

A criminal connection with women was anciently call'd the vice of the body. So, in Holinfhd, "he labour'd by all means to cleare mistreffe Sanders of committing evill of ber bodie with

P. 1258,

him."

2 Dr. Percy remarks, that

a

paffage " this reflection bears a great resemblance to

in Sir Tho

mas More's Hiftory of Richard III. where, speaking of the ungrateful turns which Jane Shore expe

"Men ufe, if they have an

rienced from those whom the had ferved in her profperity; More adds,
evid turne, to write it in marble, and whoso doth us a good turne, we write it in dufte."

Kath.

Kath. O my good lord, that comfort comes too late;

How does his highness ?

Cap. Madam, in good health.

'Tis like a pardon after execution: That gentle physick, given in time, had cur'd me; But now I am past all comforts here, but prayers. 5 But poverty could never draw 'em from me;

Kuth. So may he ever do: and ever flourish, When I shall dwell with worms, and my poor

name

For honesty, and decent carriage,
A right good husband; let him be a noble:
And, fure, those men are happy that shall have 'em.
The last is, for my men; they are the pooreft,

Banish'd the kingdom! -Patience, is that letter,
I caus'd you write, yet fent away?

That they may have their wages duly paid 'em,
And fomething over to remember me by:
If heaven had pleas'd to have given me longer life,
And able means, we had not parted thus. (lord,
To These are the whole contents:-And, good my
By that you love the dearest in this world,
As you with christian peace to fouls departed,
Stand these poor people's friend, and urge the king
To do me this last right.

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15

Cap. By heaven, I will;

[me

Or let me lose the fashion of a man!
Kath. I thank you, honeft lord. Remember

In all humility unto his highness:
Say, his long trouble now is paffing

20 Out of this world: tell him, in death I blest him,
For fo I will. Mine eyes grow dim.-Farewel,
My lord. Griffith, farewel. -Nay, Patience,
You must not leave me yet. I must to bed;-
Call in more women. When I am dead, good
wench,

25

Let me be us'd with honour; strew me over With maiden flowers, that all the world may know I was a chafte wife to my grave: embalm me, Then lay me forth: although unqueen'd, yet like 30 A queen, and daughter to a king, interr me. I can no more.[Exeunt, leading Katharine.

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Gard. These should be hours for neceffities,

Not for delights; times to repair our nature

With comforting repose, and not for us [Thomas!

V.

Some touch of your late business: Affairs, that

walk

(As, they say, fpirits do) at midnight, have
In them a wilder nature, than the bufiness
That feeks dispatch by day.

Lov. My lord, I love you;

45 And durft commend a fecret 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.

To waste these times. Good hour of night, fir 50 Gard. The fruit she goes with,
Whither fo late?

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Hear me, Sir Thomas: You are a gentleman

160 Of mine own way2; I know you wife, religious;

Primero and primavista, two games at cards, that is, first, and first seen: because he that can thew

fuch an order of cards first, wins the game. 2 i. e. of mine own opinion in religion.

And,

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And princely care; foreseeing those fell mischiefs

Come, you and I must walk a turn together;

To-morrow morning to the council-board [mas,

Our reasons laid before him) he hath commanded, 25 I have news to tell you: Come, come, give me

He be convented 3. He's a rank weed, Sir ThoAnd we must root him out. From your affairs

I hinder you too long: good night, Sir Thomas.

your hand.

Ah, my good lord, I grieve at what I speak, And am right forry to repeat what follows: I have, and most unwillingly, of late

Grievous complaints of you; which, being con.

fider'd,

Lov. Many good nights, my lord; I rest your 30 Heard many grievous, I do say, my lord,

servant. [Exeunt Gardiner and Page. As Lovel 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, Lovel, from the queen what is the news?

Lov. I could not perfonally deliver to her What you commanded me, but by her woman I fent your message; who return'd her thanks In the greatest humbleness, and defired your highMost heartily to pray for her.

King. What say'st thou? ha!

[nefs

To pray for her? what, is the crying out? [made

Lov. So faid her woman; and that her fufferance

Almost each pang a death.

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Have mov'd us and our council, that you shall This morning come before us; where, I know, 35 You cannot with fuch 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

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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

Yourself and your accufers; and to have heard you Without indurance, further.

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

The eftate of my poor queen. Leave me alone; 55 I should have ta'en some pains to bring together

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Cran. Moft dread liege,

The good I stand on is my truth and honesty;

160 If they shall fail, I, with mine enemies,

i.e. the practised method, the general course.

minds to the king. 3 i. e. fummon'd, conven'd.

Will triumph o'er my person! which I weigh not,

2 i. e. they have broken filence, and told their

4 i. e. you being one of the council.

1

Being of those virtues vacant. I fear nothing
What can be faid against me.

King. Know you not

[world?

An ordinary groom is for fuch 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,

[Exeust.

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How your state stands i' the world, with the whole

Your enemies are many, and not small; their 5 While it is hot, I'll put it to the issue.

practices

Muft 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 fwear against you? such things have been done.
You are potently oppos'd; and with a malice
Of as great fize. Ween' you of better luck,
I mean, in perjur'd witness, than your Master,
Whose minafter 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.

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

King. Be of good cheer;

10

15

20

They shall no more prevail, than we give way to.
Keep comfort to you; and this morning fee
You do appear before them: if they shall chance, 25
In charging you with matters, to commit you,
The best perfuafions to the contrary

Fail not to use, and with what vehemency
The occafion 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 is true-hearted; and a foul
None better in my kingdom. Get you gone,
And do as I have bid you. He has strangled

His language in his tears.

Enter an Old Lady.

[Exit Cranmer.

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Cran. [Afide.] 'Tis Butts, The king's physician; As he past along, How earnestly he caft his eyes upon me! 30 Pray heaven he found not my disgrace! For certain, This is of purpose lay'd, by fome that hate me, (God turn their hearts! I never fought their malice) To quench mine honour: they would shame to

35

Gen. [within.] Come back; what mean you? 40
Lady. I'll not come back; the tidings that I
[angels

bring

Will make my boldness manners. Now, good
Fly o'er thy royal head, and shade thy perfon
Under their blessed wings!

King. Now, by thy looks

I guess thy message. Is the queen deliver'd?
Say, ay; and of a boy.

Lady. Ay, ay, my liege;

And of a lovely boy: The God of heaven
Both now and ever bless her!-'tis a girl,
Promises boys hereafter. Sir, your queen
Defires your visitation, and to be

Acquainted with this stranger; 'tis as like you,
As cherry is to cherry.

King. Lovel,

45

make me

Wait elfe at door; a fellow counsellor,
[fures
Among boys, grooms, and lackeys. But their plea-
Must be fulfill'd, and I attend with patience.

Enter the King, and Butts, at a window above.
Butts. I'll shew your grace the strangeft fight,-
King. What's that, Butts?

Butts. I think, your highness saw this many a day.
King. 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 foot-boys.

King. Ha! 'Tis he, indeed:

Is this the honour they do one another?
'Tis well, there's one above 'em yet. I had thought,

50 They had parted so much honesty among 'em,
(At least, good manners) as not thus to fuffer
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.

55 By holy Mary, Butts, there's knavery :

Let 'em alone, and draw the curtain close:
We shall hear more anon.-

Enter the Lord Chancellor, places bimself at the upper end of the table on the left band; a feat being [Exit King. 60 left void above bim, as for the Archbishop of Canterbury. Duke of Suffolk, Duke of Norfolk, Surrey, Lord Chamberlain, and Gardiner, feat them

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Jelves in order on each fide, Cromwell at the lower and, as Secretary.

1 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.

Gard. Has he had knowledge of it?

Crom. Yes.

Nor. Who waits there?

D. Keep. Without, my noble lords?
Gard. Yes.

D. Keep. My lord archbishop;

And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures.
Chan. Let him come in.

D. Keep. Your grace may enter now.

And, by that virtue, no man dare accuse you.
Gard. My lord, because we have business of more
[pleasure,

moment,

We will be short with you. 'Tis his highness
5 And our confent, 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. [thank you,
Cran. Ah, my good lord of Winchester, I
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,

10

'Tis my undoing: Love, and meekness, lord, 15 Become a churchman better than ambition; Win straying fouls 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 confcience. 20 In doing daily wrongs. I could fay more, But reverence to your calling makes me modeft. Gard. My lord, my lord, you are a sectary, That's the plain truth; your painted glofs discovers, To men that understand you, words and weakness.

[Cranmer approaches the council table.
Chan. My good lord archbishop, I am very forry
To fit here at this present, and behold
That chair stand empty: But we all are men,
In our own natures frail; and capable
Ofour flesh, few are angels 2: out of which frailty,
And want of wisdom, you, that best should teach us,
Have misdemean'd yourself, and not a little,
Toward the king first, then his laws, in fiking[lains',
The whole realm, by your teaching, and your chap-25
(For fo we are inform'd) with new opinions,
Divers, and dangerous; which are herefies,
And, not reform'd, may prove pernicious.

Gard. Which reformation must be sudden too,

Crom. 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.

My noble lords: for those, that tame wild horses, 30 Gard. Good master Secretary,

Pace 'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle;

But stop their mouths with stubborn bits, and spur

'Till they obey the manage. If we suffer ['em,

(Out of our eafiness, and childish pity

I cry your honour mercy; you may, worst

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Toone man's honour) this contagious fickness, 35 Of this new fect? ye are not found.

Farewel all phyfic: And what follows then?

Commotions, uproars, with a general taint

Of the whole state: as, of late days, our neighbours,

Cran. My good lords, hitherto, in all the progress

The upper Germany, can dearly witness.

Yet freshly pitied in our memories.

Both of my life and office, I have labour'd,

And with no little study, that my teaching,

And the strong course of my authority,
Might go one way, and fafely; and the end
Was ever, to do well: nor is there living
(I speak it with a fingle heart, my lords)
A man, that more detests, more stirs against,
Both in his private confcience, 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
Envy, and crooked malice, nourishment,
Dare bite the best. I do beseech your lordships,
That, in this cafe of justice, my accusers,
Be what they will, may stand forth face to face,

And freely urge against me.

Suf. Nay, my lord,

That cannot be; you are a counsellor,

Crom. Not found?

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This lord chancellor, though a character, has hitherto had no place in the Dramatis Personce. In the laft scene of the fourth act, we heard that Sir Thomas More was appointed lord chancellor: but it is not he, whom the poet here introduces. Wolfey, by command, delivered up the seals on the 18th of November, 1529; on the 25th of the same month, they were delivered to Sir Thomas More, who furrender'd them on the 16th of May, 1532. Now the conclufion of this scene taking notice of queen Elizabeth's birth (which brings it down to the year 1534), Sir Thomas Audlie must neceffarily be our poet's chancellor; who fucceeded Sir Thomas More, and held the feals many years. 2 Meaning, perhaps, Fow are perfekt, while they remain in their mortal capacity. 3 i. e, your fair outside.

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