1    It's one o'clock, boy, is't not?

2    It hath struck.

3    These should be hours for necessities,
4    Not for delights; times to repair our nature
5    With comforting repose, and not for us
6    To waste these times. Good hour of night, Sir Thomas!
7    Whither so late?

8    Came you from the king, my lord

9    I did, Sir Thomas: and left him at primero
10   With the Duke of Suffolk.

11   I must to him too,
12   Before he go to bed. I'll take my leave.

13   Not yet, Sir Thomas Lovell. What's the matter?
14   It seems you are in haste: an if there be
15   No great offence belongs to't, give your friend
16   Some touch of your late business: affairs, that walk,
17   As they say spirits do, at midnight, have
18   In them a wilder nature than the business
19   That seeks dispatch by day.

20   My lord, I love you;
21   And durst commend a secret to your ear
22   Much weightier than this work. The queen's in labour,
23   They say, in great extremity; and fear'd
24   She'll with the labour end.

25   The fruit she goes with
26   I pray for heartily, that it may find
27   Good time, and live: but for the stock, Sir Thomas,
28   I wish it grubb'd up now.

29   Methinks I could
30   Cry the amen; and yet my conscience says
31   She's a good creature, and, sweet lady, does
32   Deserve our better wishes.

33   But, sir, sir,
34   Hear me, Sir Thomas: you're a gentleman
35   Of mine own way; I know you wise, religious;
36   And, let me tell you, it will ne'er be well,
37   'Twill not, Sir Thomas Lovell, take't of me,
38   Till Cranmer, Cromwell, her two hands, and she,
39   Sleep in their graves.

40   Now, sir, you speak of two
41   The most remark'd i' the kingdom. As for Cromwell,
42   Beside that of the jewel house, is made master
43   O' the rolls, and the king's secretary; further, sir,
44   Stands in the gap and trade of moe preferments,
45   With which the time will load him. The archbishop
46   Is the king's hand and tongue; and who dare speak
47   One syllable against him?

48   Yes, yes, Sir Thomas,
49   There are that dare; and I myself have ventured
50   To speak my mind of him: and indeed this day,
51   Sir, I may tell it you, I think I have
52   Incensed the lords o' the council, that he is,
53   For so I know he is, they know he is,
54   A most arch heretic, a pestilence
55   That does infect the land: with which they moved
56   Have broken with the king; who hath so far
57   Given ear to our complaint, of his great grace
58   And princely care foreseeing those fell mischiefs
59   Our reasons laid before him, hath commanded
60   To-morrow morning to the council-board
61   He be convented. He's a rank weed, Sir Thomas,
62   And we must root him out. From your affairs
63   I hinder you too long: good night, Sir Thomas.

64   Many good nights, my lord: I rest your servant.

65   Charles, I will play no more tonight;
66   My mind's not on't; you are too hard for me.

67   Sir, I did never win of you before.

68   But little, Charles;
69   Nor shall not, when my fancy's on my play.
70   Now, Lovell, from the queen what is the news?

71   I could not personally deliver to her
72   What you commanded me, but by her woman
73   I sent your message; who return'd her thanks
74   In the great'st humbleness, and desired your highness
75   Most heartily to pray for her.

76   What say'st thou, ha?
77   To pray for her? what, is she crying out?

78   So said her woman; and that her sufferance made
79   Almost each pang a death.

80   Alas, good lady!

81   God safely quit her of her burthen, and
82   With gentle travail, to the gladding of
83   Your highness with an heir!

84   'Tis midnight, Charles;
85   Prithee, to bed; and in thy prayers remember
86   The estate of my poor queen. Leave me alone;
87   For I must think of that which company
88   Would not be friendly to.

89   I wish your highness
90   A quiet night; and my good mistress will
91   Remember in my prayers.

92   Charles, good night.
Exit SUFFOLK
Enter DENNY
93   Well, sir, what follows?

94   Sir, I have brought my lord the archbishop,
95   As you commanded me.

96   Ha! Canterbury?

97   Ay, my good lord.

98   'Tis true: where is he, Denny?

99   He attends your highness' pleasure.

Aside
100   This is about that which the bishop spake:
101  I am happily come hither.

102  Avoid the gallery.
LOVELL seems to stay
103  Ha! I have said. Be gone. What!

Aside
104  I am fearful: wherefore frowns he thus?
105  'Tis his aspect of terror. All's not well.

106  How now, my lord! you desire to know
107  Wherefore I sent for you.

Kneeling
108   It is my duty
109  To attend your highness' pleasure.

110  Pray you, arise,
111  My good and gracious Lord of Canterbury.
112  Come, you and I must walk a turn together;
113  I have news to tell you: come, come, give me your hand.
114  Ah, my good lord, I grieve at what I speak,
115  And am right sorry to repeat what follows
116  I have, and most unwillingly, of late
117  Heard many grievous, I do say, my lord,
118  Grievous complaints of you; which, being consider'd,
119  Have moved us and our council, that you shall
120  This morning come before us; where, I know,
121  You cannot with such freedom purge yourself,
122  But that, till further trial in those charges
123  Which will require your answer, you must take
124  Your patience to you, and be well contented
125  To make your house our Tower: you a brother of us,
126  It fits we thus proceed, or else no witness
127  Would come against you.

Kneeling
128  I humbly thank your highness;
129  And am right glad to catch this good occasion
130  Most throughly to be winnow'd, where my chaff
131  And corn shall fly asunder: for, I know,
132  There's none stands under more calumnious tongues
133  Than I myself, poor man.

134  Stand up, good Canterbury:
135  Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted
136  In us, thy friend: give me thy hand, stand up:
137  Prithee, let's walk. Now, by my holidame.
138  What manner of man are you? My lord, I look'd
139  You would have given me your petition, that
140  I should have ta'en some pains to bring together
141  Yourself and your accusers; and to have heard you,
142  Without indurance, further.

143  Most dread liege,
144  The good I stand on is my truth and honesty:
145  If they shall fail, I, with mine enemies,
146  Will triumph o'er my person; which I weigh not,
147  Being of those virtues vacant. I fear nothing
148  What can be said against me.

149  Know you not
150  How your state stands i' the world, with the whole world?
151  Your enemies are many, and not small; their practises
152  Must bear the same proportion; and not ever
153  The justice and the truth o' the question carries
154  The due o' the verdict with it: at what ease
155  Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt
156  To swear against you? such things have been done.
157  You are potently opposed; and with a malice
158  Of as great size. Ween you of better luck,
159  I mean, in perjured witness, than your master,
160  Whose minister you are, whiles here he lived
161  Upon this naughty earth? Go to, go to;
162  You take a precipice for no leap of danger,
163  And woo your own destruction.

164  God and your majesty
165  Protect mine innocence, or I fall into
166  The trap is laid for me!

167  Be of good cheer;
168  They shall no more prevail than we give way to.
169  Keep comfort to you; and this morning see
170  You do appear before them: if they shall chance,
171  In charging you with matters, to commit you,
172  The best persuasions to the contrary
173  Fail not to use, and with what vehemency
174  The occasion shall instruct you: if entreaties
175  Will render you no remedy, this ring
176  Deliver them, and your appeal to us
177  There make before them. Look, the good man weeps!
178  He's honest, on mine honour. God's blest mother!
179  I swear he is true--hearted; and a soul
180  None better in my kingdom. Get you gone,
181  And do as I have bid you.
Exit CRANMER
182  He has strangled
183  His language in his tears.

Within
184   Come back: what mean you?

185  I'll not come back; the tidings that I bring
186  Will make my boldness manners. Now, good angels
187  Fly o'er thy royal head, and shade thy person
188  Under their blessed wings!

189  Now, by thy looks
190  I guess thy message. Is the queen deliver'd?
191  Say, ay; and of a boy.

192  Ay, ay, my liege;
193  And of a lovely boy: the God of heaven
194  Both now and ever bless her! 'tis a girl,
195  Promises boys hereafter. Sir, your queen
196  Desires your visitation, and to be
197  Acquainted with this stranger 'tis as like you
198  As cherry is to cherry.

199  Lovell!

200  Sir?

201  Give her an hundred marks. I'll to the queen.

202  An hundred marks! By this light, I'll ha' more.
203  An ordinary groom is for such payment.
204  I will have more, or scold it out of him.
205  Said I for this, the girl was like to him?
206  I will have more, or else unsay't; and now,
207  While it is hot, I'll put it to the issue.