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, The chief cause concerns his grace of Canterbury. Crom. Yes. Nor. Who waits there? D.Keep. Without, my noble lords? D.Keep. My lord archbishop; And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures. D.Keep. Your grace may enter now. [CRANMER approaches the Council-table. Chan. My good lord archbishop, I am very sorry To sit here at this present, and behold That chair stand empty: But we all are men, In our own natures frail; and capable Of our flesh, few are angels: out of which frailty, The whole realm, by your teaching, and your chaplains, Gar. Which reformation must be sudden too, But stop their mouths with stubborn bits, and spur them, Till they obey the manage. If we suffer (Out of our easiness, and childish pity To one man's honour) this contagious sickness, Of the whole state: as, of late days, our neighbours, Yet freshly pitied in our memories. [1] Few are perfect while they remain in their mortal capacity. STEEV. [2] Alluding to the heresy of Thomas Muntzer, which sprung up in Saxony in the years 1521 and 1522. GREY. Cran. My good lords, hitherto, in all the progress Be what they will, may stand forth face to face, Suf. Nay, my lord, That cannot be ; you are a counsellor, And, by that virtue, no man dare accuse you. Gar. My lord, because we have business of more moment, We will be short with you. 'Tis his highness' plea sure, And our consent, for better trial of you, From hence you be committed to the Tower; Where, being but a private man again, You shall know many dare accuse you boldly, More than, I fear, you are provided for. Cran. Ah, my good lord of Winchester, I thank you, You are always my good friend; if you will pass, I shall both find your lordship judge and juror, You are so merciful: I see your end, [3] A heart void of duplicity or guile. MAL.It is a scriptural expres sion. See Acts, ii. 46. REED. That's the plain truth; your painted gloss discovers, 4 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 Of this new sect? ye are not sound. Crom. Not sound? Gar. Not sound, I say. Crom. 'Would you were half so honest! Men's prayers then would seek you, not their fears. Crom. Do. Remember your bold life too. Cham. This is too much; Forbear, for shame, my lords. Crom. And I. Cham. Then thus for you, my lord,-It stands agreed, I take it, by all voices, that forthwith You be convey'd to the Tower a prisoner ; There to remain, till the king's further pleasure All. We are. Cran. Is there no other way of mercy, But I must needs to the Tower, my lords? Gard. What other Would you expect? You are strangely troublesome.Let some o'the guard be ready there. Cran. For me? Enter Guard. Must I go like a traitor thither? Gard. Receive him, And see him safe i'the Tower. Cran. Stay, good my lords, I have a little yet to say. Look there, my lords; [4] Those that understand you, under this painted gloss, this fair outside, discover your empty talk and your false reasoning. JOHNS. Out of the gripes of cruel men, and give it Sur. 'Tis no counterfeit. Suf. 'Tis the right ring, by heaven: I told ye all, When we first put this dangerous stone a rolling, 'Twould fall upon ourselves. Nor. Do you think, my lords, The king will suffer but the little finger Cham. 'Tis now too certain : How much more is his life in value with him? Crom. My mind gave me, Against this man, (whose honesty the devil And his disciples only envy at,) Ye blew the fire that burns ye: Now have at ye. Enter King, frowning on them; takes his seat. Gar. Dread sovereign, how much are we bound to heaven In daily thanks, that gave us such a prince; Not only good and wise, but most religious : His royal self in judgment comes to hear The cause betwixt her and this great offender. K. Hen. You were ever good at sudden commendations, Bishop of Winchester. But know, I come not To hear such flattery now, and in my presence; [5] It seems to have been a custom, begun probabi, in the dark ages, be fore literature was generally diffused, and before the regal power experienced the restraints of law, for every monarch to have a ring, the temporary possession of which invested the holder with the same authority as the own er himself could exercise. The production of it was sufficient to suspend the execution of the law; it procured indemnity for offences committed, and: imposed acquiescence and submission on whatever was done under its au thority. Instances abound in the history of almost every nation. See Pro copius de bell. Vandal. L. I. p. 15, as quoted in Farnworth's Machiavel, Vol. I. p. 9. The traditional story of the Earl of Essex, Queen Elizabeth, and the Countess of Nottingham, long considered as an incident of a romance, is generally known, and now as generally credited. See Birch's Negotiations P.-206. REED. Thou hast a cruel nature, and a bloody. Good man, [To CRANMER.] sit down. Now let me see the proudest. He, that dares most, but wag his finger at thee: Than but once think his place becomes thee not. K.Hen. No, sir, it does not please me. I had thought, I had men of some understanding This good man, (few of you deserve that title,) Would try him to the utmost, had ye mean; Cham. Thus far, My most dread sovereign, may it like your grace (If there be faith in men,) meant for his trial, K.Hen. Well, well, my lords, respect him; Take him, and use him well; he's worthy of it. will say thus much for him, If a prince May be beholden to a subject, I Am, for his love and service, so to him. Make me no more ado, but all embrace him; Be friends, for shame, my lords.-My lord of Canterbury, I have a suit which you must not deny me ; That is, a fair young maid that yet wants baptism, Cran. The greatest monarch now alive may glory K.Hen.Come,come, my lord, you'd spare your spoons ;5 [5] It was the custom, long before the time of Shakspeare, for the sponsers at christenings, to offer gilt spoons as a present to the child. These |