Griffith. This cardinal, Though from an humble stock, undoubtedly And to add greater honour to his age, Than man could give him, he died, praising God!" Well may Catherine say, "After my death I wish no other herald, No other speaker of my living actions, To keep my honour from corruption, Than such an honest chronicler as Griffith." The visit of Capucius, and the queen's letter to her husband, are also from Holinshed. In the fifth act we have the famous Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, in conversation with Sir Thomas Lovell, who announces the approaching confinement of Anne Boleyn, for whose life he expresses some apprehension. Gardiner is made to express his hope that she will perish, with "her two hands," Cranmer and Cromwell. Lovell observes, that Cromwell* is master of the Jewel Office, and of the Rolls, and king's secretary: and the archbishop very high in the king's favour. Gardiner says, that he is "a most arch heretick," and that he has obtained the king's permission to accuse him before the council. Then follows the scene in which Cranmer is made to wait at the door of the council-chamber, is called in, and stoutly accused by Gardiner and other lords of the council, and is about to be committed to the Tower, when he shows the king's ring. Henry, who had previously assured * Cromwell's promotion is thus stated: In 1531 knighted, master of the jewels, and a privy councillor ; in 1532, clerk of the hanaper, and chancellor of the exchequer; in 1534, principal secretary of state, and master of the Rolls. Biog. Dict., xi. 35. † It will not be desired that I should discuss Cranmer's opinions: his first exhibition of heresy was his protest against the pope's supremacy, made when he became archbishop. him of his protection, comes in, rates his accusers and delivers him. I cannot find this scene in Holinshed, but it is almost a versification of a passage in Fox's Acts and Monuments.* The transaction, so far from occurring, as in the play, at the moment of the birth of Queen Elizabeth, did not occur till the year 1443, when Catherine Parr was queen, This confusion of dates necessarily occasions a confusion of persons. Strype mentions only the Duke of Norfolk and Lord Russell. We have neither of these names in the play, but have, on the other hand, the lord chancellor, Suffolk, Surry, the lord chamberlain, Gardiner, and Cromwell, as secretary. The chancellor at the time of the accusation was Goodrich, Bishop of Ely; the lord chamberlain was Lord St. John, of Basing; Surry was the Henry of whom I have spoken, but I am not aware that he was of the privy-council: his observation, that he had warned his colleagues of their danger, is, in the history, uttered by Lord Russell. Cromwell had been beheaded three years before. At the close of these proceedings, Henry invites Cranmer to be god-father to the young * So says Steevens's note in Bosw., 460; and see Strype's Cranmer, i. 177. princess, associating with him "the old Duchess of Norfolk,* and Lady Marquis Dorset."+ The last scene displays the christening of the young Elizabeth, afterwards queen. This ceremony is taken from Holinshed and Hall; but Shakspeare, while he borrows one short and formal speech pronounced by Garter, takes the opportunity of putting into the mouth of Cranmer a splendid prophetical eulogy upon the royal Elizabeth. Let me speak, sir, For Heav'n now bids me; and the words I utter, Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings, * I presume, Agnes, daughter of Sir Frederick Tylney, and widow of Thomas, the second duke. + Wife of the second marquis, of the Greys. Hol., 786; Hall, 798. Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her. She shall be loved and fear'd: her own shall bless her, Her foes shake, like a field of beaten corn, And hang their heads with sorrow. Good grows with her: In her days, every man shall eat in safety Under his own vine that he plants; and sing And then come some lines which, there can be no doubt, were interpolated after the accession of James I.* "Nor shall this peace sleep with her; but as when The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix Her ashes new create another heir, As great in admiration as herself; So shall she leave her blessedness to one (When Heav'n shall call her from this cloud of dark ness), Who, from the sacred ashes of her honour, Shall, star-like, rise, as great in fame as she was, * See Bosw., 495. |