Kath. No? Saw you not, even now, a blessed, I hope, she will deserve well;) and a little Enter a MESSENGER. Mess. An't like your grace, Kath. You are a saucy fellow : Deserve we no more reverence? Grif. You are to blame, To love her for her mother's sake, that lov'd him, Heaven knows how dearly. My next poor petition Is, that his noble grace would have some pity A right good husband, let him be a noble ; The last is, for my men :-they are the poorest, them, And something over to remember me by; life, And able means, we had not parted thus. By that you love the dearest in this world, Knowing, she will not lose her wonted great. As you wish Christian peace to souls departed, ness, To use so rude behaviour: go to, kneel. My haste made me unmannerly: There is stay- A gentleman, sent from the king to see you. fellow Banish'd the kingdom!-Patience, is that letter, Put. No, madam.[Giving it to KATHARINE. Cap. Most willing, madam. Kath. In which I have commended to his goodness The model of our chaste loves, his young daughter: + The dews of heaven fall thick in blessings on her! Beseeching him, to give her virtuous breeding; (She is young, and of a noble modest nature; Stand these poor people's friend, and urge the king To do me this last right. Cap. By heaven, I will; Or let me loose the fashion of a man! [me Kath. I thank you, honest lord. Remember Out of this world: tell him, in death I bless'd For so I will.-Mine eyes grow dim.-Farewell, Let me be us'd with honour; strew me over Even if he should be. (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 They say, in great extremity; and fear'd, Gar. The fruit she goes with, pray for heartily; that it may find Good time, and live: but for the stock, ⚫ wish it grubb'd up now. Lov. Methinks, I could Cry the amen; and yet my conscience says Gar. But, Sir, Sir, K. Hen. What say'st thou ? ha! Almost each pang a death. K. Hen. Alas, good lady! Suf. God safely quit her of her burden, and K. Hen. 'Tis midnight, Charles, Pr'ythee, to bed; and in thy prayers remember Hear me, Sir Thomas: You are a gentleman O'the rolls, and the king's secretary: further, Stands in the gap and trade of more prefer- With which the time will load him: The archbishop Suf. I wish your highness A quiet night, and my good mistress will K. Hen. Charles, good night. Re-enter DENNY, with CRANMER. [LOVELL seems to stay. Is the king's hand, and tongue; And who dare Ha!-I have said.-Begone. 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 Sir, (I may tell it you,) I think I have That does infect the land: with which they Have broken + with the king; who hath so far Our reasons laid before him,) he hath com- To-morrow morning to the council-board And we must root him out. From your affairs your servant. [Exeunt GARDINER and PAGE. As LOVELL is going out, enter the KING, and the Duke of SUFFOLK. K. Hen. Charles, I will play no more to- My mind's not on't, you are too hard for me. news? What! 'Tis his aspect of terror. All's not well. K. Hen. How now, my lord? You do desire to know Wherefore I sent for you. Cran. It is my duty, To attend your highness' pleasure. My good and gracious lord of Canterbury. Ah! my good lord, I grieve at what I speak, Have mov'd us, and our council, that you shall Cran. I humbly thank your highness: Than I myself, poor man. K. Hen. Stand up, good Canterbury; You would have given me your petition, that • One of the council. Yourself and your accusers; and to have heard | Said I for this, the girl is like to him! 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. I fear nothing 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 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. You are potently oppos'd; and with a malice Cran. God and your majesty Protect mine innocence, or I fall into K. Hen. Be of good cheer; 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 you, 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 soul 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 Fly o'er thy royal head, and shade thy person K. Hen. 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 1-'tis a girl, Acquainted with this stranger; 'tis as like you, K. Hen. Lovell, 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, I shall both find your lordship judge and juror, The chief cause concerns his grace of Cauter-You are so merciful: I see your end, bury. D. Keep. My lord archbishop; 'Tis my undoing: Love, and meekness, lord, And has done half an hour, to know your plea- But reverence to your calling makes me mo To sit here at this present, and behold But we all are men, And want of wisdom, you, that best should Have misdemean'd yourself, and not a little, (For so we are inform'd,) with new opinions, Gar. Which reformation must be sudden too, My noble lords: for those, that tame wild horses, Pace them not in their hands to make them gentle; dest. Gar. My lord, my lord, you are a sectary, That's the plain truth; your painted gloss discovers, To men that understand you, words and weak ness. Crom. My lord of Winchester, you are a lit tle, By your good favour, too sharp; men so noble Gar. Good master secretary, I cry your honour mercy; you may, worst Crom. Why, my lord? Gar. Do not I know you for a favourer Gar. Not sound, I say. Crom. 'Would you were half so honest ! Men's prayers then would seek you, not their Gar. I shall remember this bold language. Put stop their mouths with stubborn bits, and Remember your bold life too. spur them, Till they obey the manage. If we suffer (Out of our easiness, and childish pity To one man's honour) this contagious sick- Farewell, all physic: And what follows then? Of the whole state: as, of late days, our neigh- The upper Germany, can dearly witness, Cran. My good lords, hitherto, in all the Both of my life and office, I have labour'd, Dare bite the best. I do beseech your lord ships, That in this case of justice, my accusers, By virtue of that ring, I take my cause Out of the gripes of cruel men, and give it Be what they will, may stand forth face to face, To a most noble judge, the king my master. And freely urge against me. Suf. Nay, my lord, That cannot be; you are a counsellor, Gar. My lord, because we have business of more moment, We will be short with you. 'Tis his highness' pleasure, And our consent, for better trial of you, You are always my good friend; if your will pass, "In singleness of heart." Acts ii. 46. When we first put this dangerous stone a roll- Nor. Do you think, my lords, The king will suffer but the little finger Of this man to be vex'd? Cham. 'Tis now too certain : How much more is his life in value with him? 'Would I were fairly out on't. Crom. My mind gave me, In seeking tales and informations Ye blew the file that burns ye: Now have at thee: By all that's holy, he had better starve, Gar. With a true heart, Witness, how dear I hold this confirmation. The common voice, I see, is verified Of thee, which says thus, Do my lord of Canterbury A shrewd turn, and he is your friend for ever. Come, lords, we trifle time away; I long SCENE III.-The Palace Yard. Port. You'll leave your noise anon, ye rascals: Do you take the court for Paris-garden ? * ye rude slaves, leave your gaping. + [Within.] Good master porter, I belong to the larder. Port. Belong to the gallows, and be hanged, you rogue: Is this a place to roar in ?-Fetch Than but once think his place becomes thee me a dozen crab-tree staves, and strong ones; not. Sur. May it please your grace, K. Hen. No, Sir, it does not please me. I thought I had had men of some understanding And wisdom of my council; but I find none. are ? Why, what a shame was this? Did my com mission Bid ye so forget yourselves? I gave ye Power as he was a counsellor to try him, Not as a groom; There's some of ye, I see, More out of malice than integrity, Would try him to the utmost, had ye mean; Which ye shall never have while I live. Chan. Thus far, these are but switches to them.-I'll scratch your heads: You must be seeing christenings! Do you look for ale and cakes here, you rude rascals? Man. Pray, Sir, be patient; 'tis as much impossible (Unless we sweep them from the door with To scatter them, as 'tis to make them sleep them. Port. How got they in, and be hang'd? Port. You did nothing, Sir. Man. I am not Samson, nor Sir Guy, nor Colbrand, to mow them down before me: but if I spared any, that had a head to hit, either young or old, he or she, cuckold or pur-cuckold-maker, let me never hope to see a chine again; and that I would not for a cow, God save her. My most dread sovereign, may it like your grace Concerning his imprisonment, was rather K. Hen. Well, well, my lords, respect him; Take him, and use him well, he's worthy of it. I will say thus much for him, If a prince I have a suit which you must not deny me; You must be godfather, and answer for her. Cran. The greatest monarch now alive may glory In such an honour; how may I deserve it, That am a poor and humble subject to you? K. Hen. Come, come, my lord, you'd spare your spoons; you shall have Two noble partners with you; the old duchess of Norfolk, And lady marquis Dorset; Will these please you? Once more, my lord of Winchester, I charge you, Embrace, and love this man. [Within.] Do you hear, master Porter ? Port. I shall be with you presently, good master puppy.-Keep the door close, Sirrah. Man. What would you have me do? Port. What should you do, but knock them down by the dozens? Is this Moorfields to muster in? or have we some strange Indian with the great tool come to court, the women so besiege us? Bless me, what a fry of fornication is at door! On my Christian conscience, this one christening will beget a thousand; here will be father, godfather, and all toge ther. Man. The spoons will be the bigger, Sir. There is a fellow somewhat near the door, he should be a brazier by his face, for o'my conscience, twenty of the dog-days now reign in's nose; all that stand about him, are under the line, they need no other penance: That firedrake did I hit three times on the head, and three times was his nose discharged against me; he stands there like a mortar-piece, to blow us. There was a haberdasher's wife of small wit near him, that rail'd upon me till her pink porringer fell off her head, for kindling such a combustion in the state. I The bear garden on the Bank-side. Guy of Warwick, vanquished Colbrand the Danish It was an ancient custom for sponsors to present giant. spoous to their god-children. |