1    Speak to the business, master-secretary:
2    Why are we met in council?

3    Please your honours,
4    The chief cause concerns his grace of Canterbury.

5    Has he had knowledge of it?

6    Yes.

7    Who waits there?

8    Without, my noble lords?

9    Yes.

10   My lord archbishop;
11   And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures.

12   Let him come in.

13   Your grace may enter now.

14   My good lord archbishop, I'm very sorry
15   To sit here at this present, and behold
16   That chair stand empty: but we all are men,
17   In our own natures frail, and capable
18   Of our flesh; few are angels: out of which frailty
19   And want of wisdom, you, that best should teach us,
20   Have misdemean'd yourself, and not a little,
21   Toward the king first, then his laws, in filling
22   The whole realm, by your teaching and your chaplains,
23   For so we are inform'd, with new opinions,
24   Divers and dangerous; which are heresies,
25   And, not reform'd, may prove pernicious.

26   Which reformation must be sudden too,
27   My noble lords; for those that tame wild horses
28   Pace 'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle,
29   But stop their mouths with stubborn bits, and spur 'em,
30   Till they obey the manage. If we suffer,
31   Out of our easiness and childish pity
32   To one man's honour, this contagious sickness,
33   Farewell all physic: and what follows then?
34   Commotions, uproars, with a general taint
35   Of the whole state: as, of late days, our neighbours,
36   The upper Germany, can dearly witness,
37   Yet freshly pitied in our memories.

38   My good lords, hitherto, in all the progress
39   Both of my life and office, I have labour'd,
40   And with no little study, that my teaching
41   And the strong course of my authority
42   Might go one way, and safely; and the end
43   Was ever, to do well: nor is there living,
44   I speak it with a single heart, my lords,
45   A man that more detests, more stirs against,
46   Both in his private conscience and his place,
47   Defacers of a public peace, than I do.
48   Pray heaven, the king may never find a heart
49   With less allegiance in it! Men that make
50   Envy and crooked malice nourishment
51   Dare bite the best. I do beseech your lordships,
52   That, in this case of justice, my accusers,
53   Be what they will, may stand forth face to face,
54   And freely urge against me.

55   Nay, my lord,
56   That cannot be: you are a counsellor,
57   And, by that virtue, no man dare accuse you.

58   My lord, because we have business of more moment,
59   We will be short with you. 'Tis his highness' pleasure,
60   And our consent, for better trial of you,
61   From hence you be committed to the Tower;
62   Where, being but a private man again,
63   You shall know many dare accuse you boldly,
64   More than, I fear, you are provided for.

65   Ah, my good Lord of Winchester, I thank you;
66   You are always my good friend; if your will pass,
67   I shall both find your lordship judge and juror,
68   You are so merciful: I see your end;
69   'Tis my undoing: love and meekness, lord,
70   Become a churchman better than ambition:
71   Win straying souls with modesty again,
72   Cast none away. That I shall clear myself,
73   Lay all the weight ye can upon my patience,
74   I make as little doubt, as you do conscience
75   In doing daily wrongs. I could say more,
76   But reverence to your calling makes me modest.

77   My lord, my lord, you are a sectary,
78   That's the plain truth: your painted gloss discovers,
79   To men that understand you, words and weakness.

80   My Lord of Winchester, you are a little,
81   By your good favour, too sharp; men so noble,
82   However faulty, yet should find respect
83   For what they have been: 'tis a cruelty
84   To load a falling man.

85   Good master secretary,
86   I cry your honour mercy; you may, worst
87   Of all this table, say so.

88   Why, my lord?

89   Do not I know you for a favourer
90   Of this new sect? ye are not sound.

91   Not sound?

92   Not sound, I say.

93   Would you were half so honest!
94   Men's prayers then would seek you, not their fears.

95   I shall remember this bold language.

96   Do.
97   Remember your bold life too.

98   This is too much;
99   Forbear, for shame, my lords.

100  I have done.

101  And I.

102  Then thus for you, my lord: it stands agreed,
103  I take it, by all voices, that forthwith
104  You be convey'd to the Tower a prisoner;
105  There to remain till the king's further pleasure
106  Be known unto us: are you all agreed, lords?

107  We are.

108  Is there no other way of mercy,
109  But I must needs to the Tower, my lords?

110  What other
111  Would you expect? you are strangely troublesome.
112  Let some o' the guard be ready there.

113  For me?
114  Must I go like a traitor thither?

115  Receive him,
116  And see him safe i' the Tower.

117  Stay, good my lords,
118  I have a little yet to say. Look there, my lords;
119  By virtue of that ring, I take my cause
120  Out of the gripes of cruel men, and give it
121  To a most noble judge, the king my master.

122  This is the king's ring.

123  'Tis no counterfeit.

124  'Tis the right ring, by heaven: I told ye all,
125  When ye first put this dangerous stone a-rolling,
126  'Twould fall upon ourselves.

127  Do you think, my lords,
128  The king will suffer but the little finger
129  Of this man to be vex'd?

130  'Tis now too certain:
131  How much more is his life in value with him?
132  Would I were fairly out on't!

133  My mind gave me,
134  In seeking tales and informations
135  Against this man, whose honesty the devil
136  And his disciples only envy at,
137  Ye blew the fire that burns ye: now have at ye!

138  Dread sovereign, how much are we bound to heaven
139  In daily thanks, that gave us such a prince;
140  Not only good and wise, but most religious:
141  One that, in all obedience, makes the church
142  The chief aim of his honour; and, to strengthen
143  That holy duty, out of dear respect,
144  His royal self in judgment comes to hear
145  The cause betwixt her and this great offender.

146  You were ever good at sudden commendations,
147  Bishop of Winchester. But know, I come not
148  To hear such flattery now, and in my presence;
149  They are too thin and bare to hide offences.
150  To me you cannot reach, you play the spaniel,
151  And think with wagging of your tongue to win me;
152  But, whatsoe'er thou takest me for, I'm sure
153  Thou hast a cruel nature and a bloody.
To CRANMER
154  Good man, sit down. Now let me see the proudest
155  He, that dares most, but wag his finger at thee:
156  By all that's holy, he had better starve
157  Than but once think this place becomes thee not.

158  May it please your grace,--

159  No, sir, it does not please me.
160  I had thought I had had men of some understanding
161  And wisdom of my council; but I find none.
162  Was it discretion, lords, to let this man,
163  This good man,--few of you deserve that title,--
164  This honest man, wait like a lousy footboy
165  At chamber--door? and one as great as you are?
166  Why, what a shame was this! Did my commission
167  Bid ye so far forget yourselves? I gave ye
168  Power as he was a counsellor to try him,
169  Not as a groom: there's some of ye, I see,
170  More out of malice than integrity,
171  Would try him to the utmost, had ye mean;
172  Which ye shall never have while I live.

173  Thus far,
174  My most dread sovereign, may it like your grace
175  To let my tongue excuse all. What was purposed
176  Concerning his imprisonment, was rather,
177  If there be faith in men, meant for his trial,
178  And fair purgation to the world, than malice,
179  I'm sure, in me.

180  Well, well, my lords, respect him;
181  Take him, and use him well, he's worthy of it.
182  I will say thus much for him, if a prince
183  May be beholding to a subject, I
184  Am, for his love and service, so to him.
185  Make me no more ado, but all embrace him:
186  Be friends, for shame, my lords! My Lord of
187  Canterbury,
188  I have a suit which you must not deny me;
189  That is, a fair young maid that yet wants baptism,
190  You must be godfather, and answer for her.

191  The greatest monarch now alive may glory
192  In such an honour: how may I deserve it
193  That am a poor and humble subject to you?

194  Come, come, my lord, you'ld spare your spoons: you
195  shall have two noble partners with you; the old
196  Duchess of Norfolk, and Lady Marquess Dorset: will
197  these please you?
198  Once more, my Lord of Winchester, I charge you,
199  Embrace and love this man.

200  With a true heart
201  And brother-love I do it.

202  And let heaven
203  Witness, how dear I hold this confirmation.

204  Good man, those joyful tears show thy true heart:
205  The common voice, I see, is verified
206  Of thee, which says thus, 'Do my Lord of Canterbury
207  A shrewd turn, and he is your friend for ever.'
208  Come, lords, we trifle time away; I long
209  To have this young one made a Christian.
210  As I have made ye one, lords, one remain;
211  So I grow stronger, you more honour gain.