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And durft commend a fecret to your ear
Much weightier than this work.

labour,

The Queen's in

They fay, in great extremity; 'tis fear'd,
She'll with the labour end.

Gard. The fruit fhe goes

with

I pray for heartily, that it may find

Good time, and live; but for the ftock, Sir Thomas,
I wish it grubb'd up now.

Lov. Methinks, I could

Cry the Amen; and yet my confcience fays,
She's a good creature, and fweet lady, does
Deferve our better wishes.

Gard. But, Sir, Sir

Hear me, Sir Thomas

You're a gentleman

3 Of mine own way; I know you wife, religious ;
And, let me tell you, it will ne'er be well,
'Twill not, Sir Thomas Lovell, take't of me, 7
'Till Cranmer, Cromwell, her two hands, and she,
Sleep in their graves.

Lov. Now, Sir, you fpeak of two

The most remark'd'th' kingdom. As for Cromwell, Befide that of the jewel-houfe, he's made master O'th'Rolls, and the King's Secretary; further,

* Stands in the gap and trade for more preferments, With which the time will load him. Th'Archbishop Is the King's hand, and tongue; and who dare fpeak One fyllable against him?

Gard. Yes, Sir Thomas,

There are that dare; and I myfelf have ventur'd
To fpeak my mind of him. Indeed, this day,
Sir, I may tell it you, I think, I have
Incens'd the Lords o'th' Council, that he is,

---3 mine cawn way.] Mine own inion in religion.

4 Stands in the gop and TRADE for more prefirments.] We

fhould read TREAD, i. e. road WARBURTON.

Trade is the practifed method, the general conse.

Fot

For fo I know he is, they know he is,

A most arch heretick, a peftilence

That does infect the land; with which they mov'd,
Have broken with the King; who hath fo far
Giv'n ear to our complaint, of his great Grace
And princely care, forefeeing thofe fell mischiefs
Our reafons laid before him; he hath commanded,
To morrow-morning at the council-board
He be convened. 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.
[Exeunt Gardiner and Page.
Lov. Many good nights, my lord; I reft your fer-
[Exit Lovell.

King.

vant.

SCENE II.

Changes to an Apartment in the Palace.

Enter King and Suffolk.

HARLES, I will play no more tonight;

CHA

My mind's not on't, you are too hard for me.
Suf. Sir, I never did win of you before.
King. But little, Charles;

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

Re-enter Lovell.

Now, Lovell, from the Queen, what's 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
Most heartily to pray for her.

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Broken with the king.] They have broken filence; told their minds to the King.

Hh 4

King.

King. What fay'st thou! ha!

To pray for her! what, is the crying out?

Lov. So faid her woman, and that her fuffrance made

Almoft each pang a death.

King. Alas, good lady!

Suf. God fafely quit her of her burden, and
With gentle travel, to the gladding of
Your Highness with an heir!

King. 'Tis midnight, Charles;

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

Suf. I with your Highness

A quiet night, and my good mistress will

Remember in my prayers,

King. Charles, a good night.

Enter Sir Anthony Denny.

Well, Sir, what follows?

[Exit Suffolk.

Denny. Sir, I have brought my Lord the Arch

bishop,

As you commanded me,

King. Ha, Canterbury?

Denny. He attends your Highness' pleasure.

Denny. Yea, my good Lord,

King. 'Tis true

Where is he, Denny?

King. Bring him to us.

[Exit Denny.

I am happily come hither,

[Afide,

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

Enter Cranmer and Denny,

King. Avoid the Gallery.

Ha! I have faidWhat!

[Lovell feemeth to stay. -be gone.

[Exeunt Lovell and Denny.

SCENE

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Cran. I am fearful. Wherefore frowns he thus ?

'Tis his afpect of terror.

All's not well.

King. How now, my Lord? you do defire to know, Wherefore I fent for you.

Cran. [kneeling.] It is my duty
T'attend your Highness' pleasure.
King. Pray you, rife!

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 hand.
Ah, my good Lord, I grieve at what I speak;
And am right forry to repeat what follows.

I have, and most 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 will require your anfwer, you must take
Your patience to you, and be well contented
To make your houfe our Tower. You a brother of us,
It fits we thus proceed; or elfe no witness
Would come against you.

Cran. [Kneeling.] 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 stands under more calumnious tongues Than I myself, poor man.

King. Stand up, good Canterbury;

6 -You a brother of us.] You being one of the council, it is neceffary to imprifon you,

that the witneffes against you may not be deterr'd.

Thy

Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted

In us, thy friend. Give me thy hand, stand up; Pr'ythee, let's walk. [Cranmer rifes.] 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. I fear nothing
Which can be faid against me.

King. Know you not

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' question carries
The due o'th' verdict with it. At what ease
Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt
To fwear againft you? Such 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,
Whole minifter you are, while here he liv'd
Upon this naughty earth? Go to, go to,
You take a precipice for no leap of danger,
And woo your own deftruction.

Cran. God and your Majefty

Protect mine innocence, or I fall into
The trap is laid for me!

King. Be of good cheer;
They shall no more prevail,

*The good I ftand on.] Though grod may be taken for advantage or fuperiority, or any thing which

than we give way to.

may help or fupport, yet it would, I think, be more natural to fay, The ground Iftand on.

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