[Ex. Lov.

Lov. Many good nights, my lord; I reft your

Servant.

SCENE changes to an Apartment in the

Palace.

Enter King and Suffolk.

HARLES, I will play no more to night;

King. C
CH

My mind's not on't, you are too hard for

me.

Suf. Sir, I did never win of

King. But little, Charles;

you before.

Nor fhall not, when my fancy's on my play.

Re-enter Lovell.

Now, Lovell, 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 meffage; who return'd her thanks
In greatest humblenefs, and begg'd your Highness
Moft heartily to pray for her.

King. What fay'st thou! ha!

Το pray for her! what! is fhe crying out!

Lov. So faid her woman, and that her fuff'rance made

Almost each pang a death.

King. Alas, good lady!

Suf. God fafely quit her of her burthen, and

With gentle travel, to the gladding of

Your Highness with an heir!

King. Tis midnight, Charles;

Pr'ythee, to bed; and in thy prayers remember
Th' eftate of my poor Queen. Leave me alone;
For I muft think of that, which company
Would not be friendly to.

Suf. I wish your Highness

A quiet night, and my good miftress will

Remember in my prayers.

R 2

King.

[Exit Suffolk,

King. Charles, a good night: Well, Sir, what follows?

Enter Sir Anthony Denny.

Denny. Sir, I have brought my lord the Arch-bishop,

As commanded me. you

King. Ha! Canterbury!

Denny. Yea, my good lord.

King. 'Tis true where is he, Denny?

Denny. He attends your Highness' pleasure.
King. Bring him to us.

Lov. This is about that, which the Bishop spake;

[Exit Denny.

I am happily come hither.

[Afide.

Cran. I am fearful:
'Tis his aspect of terror.
King. How now, my
Wherefore I fent for you.
Cran. It is my duty
T'attend your Highness' pleasure.
King. Pray you, rife;

do defire to know,

hand.

My good and gracious lord of Canterbury:
Come, you and I must walk a turn together:
I've news to tell you. Come, give me your
Ah, my good lord, I grieve at what I speak ;
And am right forry to repeat what follows.
I have, and moft unwillingly, of late
Heard many grievous, I do fay, my lord,
Grievous complaints of you; which being confider'd,
Have mov'd us and our Council, that you fhall
This morning come before us; where I know,
You cannot with fuch freedom purge yourself,
But that, 'till further trial, in those charges

Which

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 occafion
Moft throughly to be winnow'd, where my chaff
And corn fhall fly afunder. For, I know,
There's none ftands under more calumnious tongues
Than I myself, poor man.

King. 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 fome pains to bring together
Yourself and your accufers, and have heard you
Without indurance further.

Cran. Moft dread Liege,

The good I ftand on is my truth and honesty:
If they fhall fall, I with mine enemies

Will triumph o'er my perfon; which I weigh not,
Being of thofe virtues vacant.

What can be faid against me.

King. Know you not

I fear nothing

How your ftate ftands' i' th' world, with the whole

world?

Your foes are many, and not small; their practices
Muft bear the fame proportion; and not ever
The juftice and the truth o' th' queftion carries
The due o' th' verdict with it. At what ease
Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt
To fwear against you? fuch things have been done.
You're potently oppos'd; and with a malice
Of as great fize. Ween you of better luck,
I mean, in perjur'd witnefs, than your master,
Whofe minifter you are, while here he liv'd

R 3

Upon

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;

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 chance,
In charging you with matters, to commit you;
The belt perfuafions to the contrary

Fail not to ufe; and with what vehemency
Th'occafion fhall inftruct you. If intreaties
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 honeft, on mine honour.

God's bleft mother!

[Exit Cranmer.

I fwear, he is true-hearted; and a foul
None better in my kingdom.

And do as I have bid you.

Get you gone,

H'as ftrangled all his language in his tears.

Enter an old Lady.

Gen. [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

Under their bleffed wings!

King. Now, by thy looks

I guels thy meffage.

Say, ay; and of a boy.

Is the Queen deliver'd ?

Lady. Ay, ay, my Liege;

And of a lovely boy; the God of heav'n
Both now and ever blefs her!

Promises boys hereafter. Sir, your Queen
Defires your vifitation; and to be

'tis a girl,

Acquainted

Acquainted with this ftranger; 'tis as like you,

As cherry is to cherry.

King. Lovell,

Lov. Sir.

King. Give her a hundred marks. I'll to the Queen.

[Exit King.

Lady. An hundred marks! by this light, I'll ha'

more.

An ordinary groom is for such payment.
I will have more, or fcold it out of him.
Said I for this, the girl was like him? I'll
Have more, or else unfay't: now, while 'tis hot,
I'll put it to the iffue.

[Exit Lady.

SCENE, before the Council-Chamber.

Cran.

I

Enter Cranmer.

Hope, I'm not too late; and yet the gentle

man,

That was fent to me from the Council, pray'd me
To make great hafte. All faft? what means this?

hoa?

Who waits there? fure, you know me ?

But

Enter Door-Keeper.

D. Keep. Yes, my lord;

yet I cannot help you.

Cran. Why?

D. Keep. Your Grace must wait, 'till be call'd

you

for.

Enter Doctor Butts.

Cran. So.

Butts. This is a piece of malice: I am glad, I came this way fo happily. The King

Shall understand it presently.

Cran. 'Tis Butts,

R 4

[Exit Butts.

The