10

15

20

25

30

35

Gen. [within.] Come back; what mean you? 40 Lady. I'll not come back; the tidings that 1 bring

45

1 To ween is to think, to imagine. Obfolete.

Ner. 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.

[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

5

10

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

moment,

We will be fhort with you. "Tis his highness'
And our confent, for better trial of you,
From hence you be committed to the Tower;
Where, being but a private man again,

You fhall 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 pafs,
I shall both find your lordship judge and juror,
You are fo merciful: I fee your end,
'Tis my undoing: Love, and meekness, lord,
15 Become a churchman better than ambition;
Win ftraying fouls with modesty again,
Caft none away. That I fhall 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 modest.
Gard. My lord, my lord, you are a fectary,
That's the plain truth; your painted glofs3difcovers,
To men that understand you, words and weakness.
Crem. My lord of Winchester, you are a little,
By your good favour, too sharp; men so noble,
However faulty, yet fhould find respect

Of our flesh, few are angels 2: out of which frailty,
And want of wisdom, you, that best should teach us,
Have mifdemean'd yourself, and not a little,
Toward the king first, then his laws, in filing[lains',
The whole realm, by your teaching, and your chap-25
(For so 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, My noble lords: for those, that tame wild horfes, Pace 'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle; But ftop their mouths with stubborn bits, and spur 'Till they obey the manage. If we fuffer ['em, (Out of our eafiness, and childish pity

Toone man's honour) this contagious sickness,
Farewel all phyfic: And what follows then?
Commotions, uproars, with a general taint

Of the whole ftate: as, of late days, our neighbours,
The upper Germany, can dearly witness.

Yet freshly pitied in our memories.

Cran. My good lords, hitherto, in all the progrefs
Both of my life and office, I have labour'd,
And with no little study, that my teaching,
And the ftrong 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 detefts, more ftirs against,
Both in his private conscience, and his place,
Defacers of a public peace, than I do.
Pray heaven, the king may never find a heart
With lefs allegiance in it! Men, that make
Envy, and crooked malice, nourishment,

30

For what they have been: 'tis a cruelty,
To load a falling man.

Gard. Good master Secretary,

I cry your honour mercy; you may, worst
Of all this table, say so.

Crom. Why, my lord?

Gard. Do not I know you for a favourer
35 Of this new fect? ye are not found.
Crom. Not found?

40

Gard. Not found, I fay.

Crem. 'Would you were half so honest!
Men's prayers then would feek you, not their fears.
Gard. I fhall remember this bold language.
Crom. Do:

Remember your bold life too.

Cham. This is too much;

Forbear, for shame, my lords.

Cham. Then thus for you, my lord,-It stands

I take it, by all voices, that forthwith

You be convey'd to the Tower a prisoner;

50 There to remain, 'till the king's further pleasure Be known unto us: Are you all agreed, lords? All. We are.

Cran. Is there no other way of mercy,

But I must needs to the Tower, my lords?
Gard. What other

55

I This lord chancellor, though a character, has hitherto had no place in the Dramatis Perfone. In the last 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. Wolfcy, by command, delivered up the feals on the 18th of November, 1529; on the 25th of the fame month, they were delivered to Sir Thomas More, who furrender'd them on the 16th of May, 1532. Now the conclufion of this fcene 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, Few are perfect, while they remain in their mortal capacity, 3 i. e, your fair outside.

Muft I go like a traitor thither?

Gard. Receive him,

And fee him fafe i' the Tower.

Cran. Stay, good my lords,

I have a little yet to say. Look there, my lords; 5
By virtue of that ring, I take my cause

Out of the gripes of cruel men, and give it
To a most noble judge, the king my master.
Cham. This is the king's ring.

Sur. 'Tis no counterfeit.

King. You were ever good at fudden commen- 35 Witnefs how dear I hold this confirmation.

To me you cannot reach: You play the spaniel,
And think with wagging of your tongue to win me;
But, whatfoe'er thou tak'ft me for, I am fure,
Thou haft a cruel nature, and a bloody.-
Good man, fit down. Now let me fee the proudest
[To Cranmer. 45
He, that dares moft, but wag his finger at thee:
By all that's holy, he had better starve,
Than but once think this place becomes thee not.
Sur. May it please your grace,---
King. No, fir, it does not please me.
I had thought, I had men of fome understanding
And wisdom, of my council; but I find none.
Was it difcretion, lords, to let this man,
This good man, (few of you deferve that title)
This honeft man, wait like a lowly foot-boy
At chamber door? and one as great as you are?
Why, what a fhame was this? Did my commiffion
Bid ye fo far forget yourfelves? I gave ye
Power as he was a counfellor to try him,

Mr. Steevens fays, "It was the custom, long before the time of Shakspeare, for the sponsors at chriftenings to offer gilt fpoons as a prefent for the child. Thefe fpoons were called apofile fpeens, becaufe the figures of the apoftles were carved on the tops of the handles. Such as were at once opulent and generous, gave the whole twelve; those who were either more moderately rich or liberal, efcaped at the expence of the four evangelifts; or even fometimes contented themselves with prefenting one spoon only, which exhibited the figure of any faint in honour of whom the child received 2 The bear-garden of that time, and in a line with Bridewell.

(Unless we fweep them from the door with cannons)
To scatter 'em, as 'tis to make 'em fleep

On May-day morning; which will never be:
We may as well push against Paul's, as ftir 'em.
Port. How got they in, and be hang'd?
Man. Alas, I know not; How gets the tide in?
As much as one found cudgel of four foot
(You fee the poor remainder) could distribute,
I made no fpare, fir.

Port. You did nothing, fir.

5

10

Man. I am not Sampfon, nor Sir Guy, nor Colbrand 2, to mow 'em down before me: but, if I fpar'd any, that had a head to hit, either young or old, he or she, cuckold or cuckold-maker, let me never hope to see a chine again; and that I would 15 not for a cow, God fave her.

Within. Do you hear, mafter Porter?

Pert. I fhall be with you presently, good mafter puppy. Keep the door clofe, firrah.

Man. What would you have me do?

Enter the Lord Chamberlain.

Cham. Mercy o' me, what a multitude are here!
They grow ftill too, from all parts they are coming,
As if we kept a fair! Where are these porters,
Thefe lazy knaves?-Ye have made a fine hand,
fellows.

There's a trim rabble let in: Are all thefe [have
Your faithful friends o' the suburbs? We shall
Great ftore of room, no doubt, left for the ladies,
When they pafs back from the christening.

Port. Please your honour,

We are but men; and what fo many may do,
Not being torn a-pieces, we have done :
An army cannot rule 'em.

Cham. As I live,

20If the king blame me for 't, I'll lay ye all

Port. What should you do, but knock 'em down by the dozens? Is this Morefields to mufter in? or have we fome ftrange Indian with the great tool come to court, the women fo befiegel us? Blefs me, what a cry of fornication is at door! 25 O'my christian confcience, this one christening will beget a thousand: here will be father, godfather, and all together.

Man. The spoons will be the bigger, fir. There is a fellow fomewhat near the door, he should be 30 a brafier 3 by his face, for, o' my confcience, twenty of the dog-days now reign in's nofe; all that stand about him are under the line, they need no other penance: that fire-drake 4 did I hit three times on the head, and three times was his nofe 35 discharg'd against me; he stands there like a mortar-piece, to blow us. There was a haberdasher's wife of fmall wit near him, that rail'd upon me 'till her pink'd porringer fell off her head, for kindling fuch a combustion in the state. I mifs'd 40 the meteor 5 once, and hit that woman, who cry'd out, clubs! when I might fee from far fome forty trunchioneers draw to her fuccour, 'which were the hope of the strand, where she was quarter'd. They fell on; I made good my place; at length 45 they came to the broomftaff with me, I defy'd 'em ftill; when fuddenly a file of boys behind 'em, loofe fhot, deliver'd fuch a fhower of pebbles, that I was fain to draw mine honour in, and let 'em win the work: The devil was amongst 'em, I think, 50 furely.

Pert. These are the youths that thunder at a playhoufe, and fight for bitten apples 6; that no audience, but the tribulation of Tower-hill 7, or the

By the heels, and suddenly; and on your heads
Clap round fines, for neglect: You are lazy knaves;
And here ye lie baiting of bumbards 9, when
Ye fhould do fervice. Hark, the trumpets found;
They are come already from the christening:
Go, break among the prefs, and find a way out
To let the troop pafs fairly; or I'll find
A Marshalfea, fhall hold you play these two months.
Port. Make way there for the princess.
Man. You great fellow, stand close up, or I'll
make your head ake.

IV.

Port. You i' the camblet, get up o' the rail; I'll peck you o'er the pales elfe. [Exeunt. SCENE The Palace. Enter Trumpets, founding; then two Aldermen, Lord Mayor, Garter, Cranmer, Duke of Norfolk with bis Marshal's staff, Duke of Suffolk, two Noblemen bearing tavo great standing bowls for the christening gifts; then four Noblemen bearing a canopy, under which the Dutchefs of Norfolk, godmother, bearing the child richly babited in a mantle, &c. Train borne by a Ludy: then follow Marchioness of Dorjet, the other godmothe“ and Ladies. The troop pass ance about the stage, and Garter Speaks.

te

Gar. Heaven, from thy endless goodness, fend profperous life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty princefs or England, Elizabeth!

Flourish. Enter King, and Train.
Cran. [Kneeling.] And to your royal grace, and
the good queen,

My noble partners, and myself, thus pray ;-
All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady,

Lambs of Limehoufe, their dear brothers, are able 55 Heaven ever laid up to make parents happy,

2. Of

It was anciently the cuftom for all ranks of people to go out a Maying on the first of May. Guy of Warwick every one has heard. Colbrand was the Danish giant, whom Guy fubdued at Winchefter. 3 A brafier fignifies a man that manufactures brass, and a reservoir for charcoal occasionally heated to convey warmth. Both thefe fenfes are here understood. 4 A fire-drake is both a ferpent, anciently called a brenning-drake, or dipjas, and a name formerly given to a Will th' Wilp, or ignus faruus. A fire-drake was likewife an artificial firework. 5 i. e. the brafier. The prices of feats for the vulgar in our ancient theatres were fo very low (viz. a penny, two-pence, and fix-pence, each, for the ground, gallery, and rooms-the boxes were fomewhat higher, being a filling and half-a-crown), that we cannot wonder if they were filled with the tumultuous company defcribed by Shakspeare in this fcene; efpecially when it is added, that tobacco was (moaked, and ale drank in them. 7 Dr. Johnfon fufpects the Tribulation to have been a puritanical meeting-house. 8 A publick whipping. 9 To bait bumbards is to tipple, to lie at the spigot. Bumbards were large veffels in which the beer was carried to foldiers upon duty. They resembled black jacks of leather.

[The King kiffes the child. 5 With this kifs take my bleffing: God protect thee! Into whofe hand I give thy life.

Cran. Amen.

[digal:

King. My noble goffips, ye have been too pro-
I thank ye heartily; fo fhall this lady,
When the has fo much English.

Cran. Let me fpeak, fir,

As great in admiration as herself;

So fhall the leave her blessedness to one,

(When heaven fhall call her from this cloud of
darkness)

Who, from the facred afhes of her honour,
Shall ftar-like rife, as great in fame as the was,
And so stand fix'd: Peace, plenty,love,truth, terror,
That were the fervants to this chosen infant,
Shall then be his, and like a vine grow to him;
10 Wherever the bright fun of heaven shall shine,
His honour, and the greatness of his name
Shall be, and make new nations: He shall flourish,
And, like a mountain cedar, reach his branches
To all the plains about him:-Our children's chil-
Shall fee this, and bless heaven.
[dren

King. Thou speakest wonders.]
Cran. She shall be, to the happiness of England,
An aged princefs 2; many days shall see her,
And yet no day without a deed to crown it.
20 Would I had known no more! but the muft die,
She muft, the faints must have her; yet a virgin,
A most unfpotted lily shall she pass

For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter
Let none think flattery, for they'll find 'em truth.
This royal infant, (heaven still move about her!) 15
Though in her cradle, yet now promises
Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings,
Which time shall bring to ripenefs: She shall be
(But few now living can behold that goodness)
A pattern to all princes living with her,
And all that shall fucceed: Sheba was never
More covetous of wisdom, and fair virtue,
Than this pure foul shall be: all princely graces,
That mould up fuch a mighty piece as this is,
With all the virtues that attend the good,
Shall ftill be doubled on her: truth fhall nurse her,
Holy and heavenly thoughts still counfel her:
She fhall be lov'd, and fear'd: Her own fhall blefs
Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn, [her,

To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her.
King. O lord archbishop,

25 Thou haft made me now a man; never, before
This happy child, did I get any thing:
This oracle of comfort has fo pleas'd me,
That, when I am in heaven, I fhall defire
To fee what this child does, and praise my Maker.—

And hang their heads with forrow: Good grows 30I thank ye all. To you, my good lord mayor,

with her:

In her days, every man shall eat in safety,
Under his own vine, what he plants; and fing
The merry fongs of peace to all his neighbours :
God fhall be truly known; and those about her
From her shall read the perfect way of honour,
And by thofe claim their greatnefs, not by blood.
['Nor fhall this peace fleep with her: But as when
The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix,
Her afhes new create another heir,

And your good brethren, I am much beholden;
I have receiv'd much honour by your prefence,
And ye shall find me thankful. Lead the way,
lords ;-

35 Ye must all fee the queen, and she must thank ye,
She will be fick elfe. This day, no man think
He has bufinefs at his houfe; for all shall stay,
This little one shall make it holiday.

1401

[Excunt.

TIS

EPILOGUE3.

ten to one this play can never please
All that are bere: Some come to take their cafe,
And fleep an act or two; but those, we fear,
We have frighted with our trumpets; fo, 'tis clear,
They'll fay, 'tis naught: others, to hear the city
Abus'd extremely, and to cry,-that's witty!
Which we have not done neither: that, I fear,
All the expected good we are like to bear

For this play at this time, is only in
The merciful conftruction of good women ;
For fuch a one we fhew'd'em: If they smile,
50 And fay, 'twill do, I know, within a while
All the beft men are ours; for 'tis ill bap,
If they bold, when their ladies bid 'em clap.

Thefe lines, to the interruption by the king, feem to have been inferted at fome revifal of the play, after the acceffion of king James. 2 Theobald remarks, that the tranfition here from the complimentary addrefs to king James the first is so abrupt, that it seems to him, that compliment was inferted after the acceffion of that prince. If this play was wrote, as in his opinion it was, in the reign of queen Elizabeth, we may easily determine where Cranmer's eulogium of that princess concluded. He makes no question but the poet rested here:

And claim by thofe their greatnefs, not by blood.

All that the bishop fays after this, was an occafional homage paid to her fucceffor, and evidently inferted after her demife. 3 Dr. Johnson is of opinion, with other Critics, that both the Prologus 4 In the character of Katharine. and Epilogue to Henry VIII, were written by Ben Jonson, CORIOLANUS.