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.

I pray for heartily; that it

The fruit, she goes with,

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 graves.

Lov.

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, With which the time will load him: The arch

bishop

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 36 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. He's a rank weed, sir Thomas,
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
[Exeunt Gardiner and Page.

servant.

As LovEL 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.—
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 greatest humbleness, and desir'd your highness Most heartily to pray for her.

To

K. Hen.

What say'st thou ? ha! pray for her? what, is she crying out?

Lov. So said her woman; and that her sufferance

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!

K. Hen.

'Tis midnight, Charles,

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

Will not be friendly to.

Suf.

company

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?

As

Den. Sir, I have brought my lord the archbishop,

you commanded me.

K. Hen.

Bring him to us.

[Exit Denny.

Lov. This is about that which the bishop spake;

I am happily come hither.

K. Hen.

[Aside.

Avoid the gallery.

Re-enter DENNY with CRANMER.

[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

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 consider'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,
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 37.

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.

Cran.

Most dread liege,

The good I stand on is my truth, and honesty ;

If they shall fail, I, with mine enemies,

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

Being of those virtues vacant.

What can be said against me.

K. Hen.

I fear nothing

Know you not how

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