2989Cran. I hope I am not too late, and yet the Gentleman

2990That was sent to me from the Councell, pray'd me

2991To make great hast. All fast? What meanes this? Hoa?

2992Who waites there? Sure you know me?

2994Keep. Yes, my Lord:

2995But yet I cannot helpe you.

2996Cran. Why?

2997Keep. Your Grace must waight till you be call'd for.

2999Cran. So.

3000Buts. This is a Peere of Malice: I am glad

3001I came this way so happily. The King

3003Cran. 'Tis Buts.

3004The Kings Physitian, as he past along

3005How earnestly he cast his eyes vpon me:

3006Pray heauen he sound not my disgrace: for certaine

3007This is of purpose laid by some that hate me,

3008(God turne their hearts, I neuer sought their malice)

3009To quench mine Honor; they would shame to make me

3010Wait else at doore: a fellow Councellor

3011'Mong Boyes, Groomes, and Lackeyes.

3012But their pleasures

3013Must be fulfill'd, and I attend with patience.

3016Buts. Ile shew your Grace the strangest sight.

3017King. What's that Buts?

3018Butts. I thinke your Highnesse saw this many a day.

3019Kin. Body a me: where is it?

3020Butts. There my Lord:

3021The high promotion of his Grace of Canterbury,

3022Who holds his State at dore 'mongst Purseuants,

3023Pages, and Foot-boyes.

3024Kin. Ha? 'Tis he indeed.

3025Is this the Honour they doe one another?

3026'Tis well there's one aboue 'em yet; I had thought

3027They had parted so much honesty among 'em,

3028At least good manners; as not thus to suffer

3029A man of his Place, and so neere our fauour

3030To dance attendance on their Lordships pleasures,

3031And at the dore too, like a Post with Packets:

3032By holy Mary (Butts) there's knauery;

3033Let 'em alone, and draw the Curtaine close:

3034We shall heare more anon.

3042Chan. Speake to the businesse, M. Secretary;

3043Why are we met in Councell?

3044Crom. Please your Honours,

3045The chiefe cause concernes his Grace of Canterbury.

3046Gard. Ha's he had knowledge of it?

3047Crom. Yes.

3048Norf. Who waits there?

3049Keep. Without my Noble Lords?

3050Gard. Yes.

3051Keep. My Lord Archbishop:

3052And ha's done halfe an houre to know your pleasures.

3053Chan. Let him come in.

3054Keep. Your Grace may enter now.

3056Chan. My good Lord Archbishop, I'm very sorry

3057To sit heere at this present, and behold

3058That Chayre stand empty: But we all are men

3059In our owne natures fraile, and capable

3060Of our flesh, few are Angels; out of which frailty

3061And want of wisedome, you that best should teach vs,

3062Haue misdemean'd your selfe, and not a little:

3063Toward the King first, then his Lawes, in filling

3064The whole Realme, by your teaching & your Chaplaines

3065(For so we are inform'd) with new opinions,

3066Diuers and dangerous; which are Heresies;

3067And not reform'd, may proue pernicious.

3068Gard. Which Reformation must be sodaine too

3069My Noble Lords; for those that tame wild Horses,

3070Pace 'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle;

3071But stop their mouthes with stubborn Bits & spurre 'em,

3072Till they obey the mannage. If we suffer

3073Out of our easinesse and childish pitty

3074To one mans Honour, this contagious sicknesse;

3075Farewell all Physicke: and what followes then?

3076Commotions, vprores, with a generall Taint

3077Of the whole State; as of late dayes our neighbours,

3078The vpper Germany can deerely witnesse:

3079Yet freshly pittied in our memories.

3080Cran. My good Lords; Hitherto, in all the Progresse

3081Both of my Life and Office, I haue labour'd,

3082And with no little study, that my teaching

3083And the strong course of my Authority,

3084Might goe one way, and safely; and the end

3085Was euer to doe well: nor is there liuing,

3086(I speake it with a single heart, my Lords)

3087A man that more detests, more stirres against,

3088Both in his priuate Conscience, and his place,

3089Defacers of a publique peace then I doe:

3090Pray Heauen the King may neuer find a heart

3091With lesse Allegeance in it. Men that make

3092Enuy, and crooked malice, nourishment;

3093Dare bite the best. I doe beseech your, Lordships,

3094That in this case of Iustice, my Accusers,

3095Be what they will, may stand forth face to face,

3096And freely vrge against me.

3097Suff. Nay, my Lord,

3098That cannot be; you are a Counsellor,

3099And by that vertue no man dare accuse you.

3101We will be short with you. 'Tis his Highnesse pleasure

3102And our consent, for better tryall of you,

3103From hence you be committed to the Tower,

3104Where being but a priuate man againe,

3105You shall know many dare accuse you boldly,

3106More then (I feare) you are prouided for.

3107Cran. Ah my good Lord of Winchester: I thanke you,

3108You are alwayes my good Friend, if your will passe,

3109I shall both finde your Lordship, Iudge and Iuror,

3110You are so mercifull. I see your end,

3111'Tis my vndoing. Loue and meekenesse, Lord

3112Become a Churchman, better then Ambition:

3113Win straying Soules with modesty againe,

3114Cast none away: That I shall cleere my selfe,

3115Lay all the weight ye can vpon my patience,

3116I make as little doubt as you doe conscience,

3117In doing dayly wrongs. I could say more,

3118But reuerence to your calling, makes me modest.

3119Gard. My Lord, my Lord, you are a Sectary,

3120That's the plaine truth; your painted glosse discouers

3121To men that vnderstand you, words and weaknesse.

3122Crom. My Lord of Winchester, y'are a little,

3123By your good fauour, too sharpe; Men so Noble,

3124How euer faultly, yet should finde respect

3125For what they haue beene: 'tis a cruelty,

3126To load a falling man.

3127Gard. Good M. Secretary,

3128I cry your Honour mercie; you may worst

3129Of all this Table say so.

3130Crom. Why my Lord?

3131Gard. Doe not I know you for a Fauourer

3132Of this new Sect? ye are not sound.

3133Crom. Not sound?

3134Gard. Not sound I say.

3135Crom. Would you were halfe so honest:

3136Mens prayers then would seeke you, not their feares.

3137Gard. I shall remember this bold Language.

3138Crom. Doe.

3139Remember your bold life too.

3140Cham. This is too much;

3141Forbeare for shame my Lords.

3142Gard. I haue done.

3143Crom. And I.

3144Cham. Then thus for you my Lord, it stands agreed

3145I take it, by all voyces: That forthwith,

3146You be conuaid to th'Tower a Prisoner;

3147There to remaine till the Kings further pleasure

3148Be knowne vnto vs: are you all agreed Lords.

3149All. We are.

3150Cran. Is there no other way of mercy,

3151But I must needs to th'Tower my Lords?

3152Gard. What other,

3153Would you expect? You are strangely troublesome:

3154Let some o'th'Guard be ready there.

3156Cran. For me?

3157Must I goe like a Traytor thither?

3158Gard. Receiue him,

3159And see him safe i'th'Tower.

3160Cran. Stay good my Lords,

3161I haue a little yet to say. Looke there my Lords,

3162By vertue of that Ring, I take my cause

3163Out of the gripes of cruell men, and giue it

3164To a most Noble Iudge, the King my Maister.

3165Cham. This is the Kings Ring.

3166Sur. 'Tis no counterfeit.

3167Suff. 'Ts the right Ring, by Heau'n: I told ye all,

3168When we first put this dangerous stone a rowling,

3169'Twold fall vpon our selues.

3170Norf. Doe you thinke my Lords

3171The King will suffer but the little finger

3172Of this man to be vex'd?

3173Cham. Tis now too certaine;

3174How much more is his Life in value with him?

3175Would I were fairely out on't.

3176Crom. My mind gaue me,

3177In seeking tales and Informations

3178Against this man, whose honesty the Diuell

3179And his Disciples onely enuy at,

3180Ye blew the fire that burnes ye: now haue at ye.

3182Gard. Dread Soueraigne,

3183How much are we bound to Heauen,

3184In dayly thankes; that gaue vs such a Prince;

3185Not onely good and wise, but most religious:

3186One that in all obedience, makes the Church

3187The cheefe ayme of his Honour, and to strengthen

3188That holy duty out of deare respect,

3189His Royall selfe in Iudgement comes to heare

3190The cause betwixt her, and this great offender.

3191Kin. You were euer good at sodaine Commendations,

3192Bishop of Winchester. But know I come not

3193To heare such flattery now, and in my presence

3194They are too thin, and base to hide offences,

3195To me you cannot reach. You play the Spaniell,

3196And thinke with wagging of your tongue to win me:

3197But whatsoere thou tak'st me for; I'm sure

3198Thou hast a cruell Nature and a bloody.

3199Good man sit downe: Now let me see the proudest

3200Hee, that dares most, but wag his finger at thee.

3201By all that's holy, he had better starue,

3202Then but once thinke his place becomes thee not.

3203Sur. May it please your Grace; ---

3204Kin. No Sir, it doe's not please me,

3205I had thought, I had had men of some vnderstanding,

3206And wisedome of my Councell; but I finde none:

3207Was it discretion Lords, to let this man,

3208This good man (few of you deserue that Title)

3209This honest man, wait like a lowsie Foot-boy

3210At Chamber dore? and one, as great as you are?

3211Why, what a shame was this? Did my Commission

3212Bid ye so farre forget your selues? I gaue ye

3213Power, as he was a Counsellour to try him,

3214Not as a Groome: There's some of ye, I see,

3215More out of Malice then Integrity,

3216Would trye him to the vtmost, had ye meane,

3217Which ye shall neuer haue while I liue.

3218Chan. Thus farre

3219My most dread Soueraigne, may it like your Grace,

3220To let my tongue excuse all. What was purpos'd

3221Concerning his Imprisonment, was rather

3222(If there be faith in men) meant for his Tryall,

3223And faire purgation to the world then malice,

3224I'm sure in me.

3225Kin. Well, well my Lords respect him,

3226Take him, and vse him well; hee's worthy of it.

3227I will say thus much for him, if a Prince

3228May be beholding to a Subiect; I

3229Am for his loue and seruice, so to him.

3230Make me no more adoe, but all embrace him;

3231Be friends for shame my Lords: My Lord of Canterbury

3232I haue a Suite which you must not deny mee.

3233That is, a faire young Maid that yet wants Baptisme,

3234You must be Godfather, and answere for her.

3235Cran. The greatest Monarch now aliue may glory

3236In such an honour: how may I deserue it,

3237That am a poore and humble Subiect to you?

3238Kin. Come, come my Lord, you'd spare your spoones;

3239You shall haue two noble Partners with you: the old

3240Duchesse of Norfolke, and Lady Marquesse Dorset? will

3241these please you?

3242Once more my Lord of Winchester, I charge you

3243Embrace, and loue this man.

3244Gard. With a true heart,

3245And Brother; loue I doe it.

3246Cran. And let Heauen

3247Witnesse how deare, I hold this Confirmation.

3249The common voyce I see is verified

3250Of thee, which sayes thus: Doe my Lord of Canterbury

3251A shrewd turne, and hee's your friend for euer:

3252Come Lords, we trifle time away: I long

3253To haue this young one made a Christian.

3254As I haue made ye one Lords, one remaine: