Henry The Eighth (Modern)

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2.0.22988Enter Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury.
2.12989Cranmer
 I hope I am not too late, and yet the gentleman
2.22990That was sent to me from the council prayed me
2.32991To make great haste. All fast? What meanes this, ho?
2.42992Who waits there? Sure you know me?
2.4.12993Enter Keeper.
2.52994Keeper
 Yes, my lord,
2.62995But yet I cannot help you.
2.72996Cranmer
 Why?
2.82997Keeper
 Your Grace must wiat till you be callled for.
2.8.12998Enter Doctor Butts.
2.92999Cranmer
 So.
2.103000Butts
 This is a peer of malice. I am glad
2.113001I came this way so happily. The king
 3002Shall understand it presently.  
2.11.1Exit Butts
2.123003Cranmer
 'Tis Butts,
2.133004The king's physician; as he passed along
2.143005How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me.
2.153006Pray heaven he sound not my disgrace, for certain
2.163007This is of purpose laid by some that hate me,
2.173008(God turn their hearts, I never sought their malice),
2.183009To quench mine honor they would shame to make me
2.193010Wait else at door: a fellow counselor
2.203011'Mong boys, grooms, and lackeys.
2.213012But their pleasures
2.223013Must be fulfilled, and I attend with patience.
2.22.13014Enter the King, and Butts, at a window 3015above.
2.233016Butts
 I'll show your grace the strangest sight.
2.243017King Henry
 What's that, Butts?
2.253018Butts
 I think your highness saw this many a day.
2.263019King Henry
 Body a me: where is it?
2.273020Butts
 There, my lord.
2.283021The high promotion of his grace of Canterbury,
2.293022Who holds his state at door 'mongst pursuants,
2.303023Pages and footboys.
2.313024King Henry
 Ha? 'Tis he indeed.
2.323025Is this the honor they do one another?
2.333026'Tis well there's one above 'em yet. I had thought
2.343027They had parted so much honesty among 'em,
2.353028At least good manners, as not thus to suffer
2.363029A man of his place, and so near our favor
2.373030To dance attendance on their lordships' pleasures.
2.383031And at the door, too, like a post with packets
2.393032By holy Mary, Butts, there's knavery.
2.403033Let 'em alone and draw the curtain close:
2.413034We shall hear more anon.
2.41.13035A council table brought in with chairs and stools, and 3036placed under the state. Enter Lord Chancellor, places 3037himself at the upper end of the table, on the left hand: A 3038seat being left void aboue him, as for Canterbury's seat. 3039Duke of Suffolk, Duke of Norfolk, Surrey, Lord 3040Chamberlain, Gardiner, seat themselves in order on each side. 3041Cromwell at lower end, as Secretary.
2.423042Chancellor
 Speak to the business, master secretary;
2.433043Why are we met in council?
2.443044Cromwell
 Please your honors,
2.453045The chief cause concerns his grace of Canterbury.
2.463046Gardiner
 Has he had knowledge of it?
2.473047Comwell
 Yes.
2.483048Norfolk
 Who waits there?
2.493049Keeper
 Without my noble Lords?
2.503050Gardiner
 Yes.
2.513051Keeper
 My lord archbishop.
2.523052And has done half an hour to know your pleasures.
2.533053Chancellor
 Let him come in.
2.543054Keeper
 Your grace may enter now.
2.54.13055Cranmer approches the council table.
2.553056Chancellor
  My good lord archbishop, I'm very sorry
2.563057To sit here at this present and behold
2.573058That chair stand empty. But we all are men
2.583059In our own natures frail and capable
2.593060Of our flesh; few are angels. Out of which frailty
2.603061And want of wisdom you that best should teach us,
2.613062Have misdemeaned yourself, and not a little:
2.623063Toward the king first, then his laws, in filling
2.633064The whole realm by your teaching & your chaplains
2.643065(For so we are informed), with new opinions
2.653066Diverse and dangerous, which are heresies,
2.663067And not reformed may prove pernicious.
2.673068Gardiner
 Which reformation must be sudden, too,
2.683069My noble lords, for those that tame wild horses
2.693070Pace 'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle,
2.703071But stop their mouths with stubborn bits &, spur 'em,
2.713072Till they obey the mannage. If we suffer
2.723073Out of our easiness and childish pity
2.733074To one manʼs honor, this contagious sickness,
2.743075Farewell all physick. And what follows then?
2.753076Commotions, vapors, with a general taint
2.763077Of the whole state, as of late days our neighbors,
2.773078The upper Germany can dearly witness,
2.783079Yet freshly pitied in our memories..
2.793080Cranmer
 My good lords, hitherto, in all the progress
2.803081Both of my life and office, I have labored,
2.813082And with no little study, that my teaching
2.823083And the strong course of my authority
2.833084Might go one way and safely, and the end
2.843085Was ever to do well. Mor is there living,
2.853086(I speak it with a single heart, my lords),
2.863087A man that more detests, more stirs against,
2.873088Both in his private conscience and his place,
2.883089Defacers of a public peace than I do.
2.893090Pray heaven the king may never find a heart
2.903091With less allegiance in it. Men that make
2.913092Envy and crooked malice nourishment,
2.923093Dare bite the best. I do beseech your lordships
2.933094That in this case of justice my accusers,
2.943095Be what they will, may stand forth face to face
2.953096And freely urge against me.
2.963097Suffolk
 Nay my lord,
2.973098That cannot be. You are a councillor,
2.983099And by that virture no man dare accuse you.
2.993100Gardiner
 My lord, because we have business of more moment
2.1003101We will be short with you. 'Tis his highness' pleasure
2.1013102And our consent for better trial of you,
2.1023103From hence you be committed to the Tower,
2.1033104Where being but a private man again,
2.1043105You shall know many dare accuse you boldly,
2.1053106More than (I fear), you are provided for.
2.1063107Cranmer
 Ah, my good lord of Winchester, I thank you.
2.1073108You are always my good friend. If your will pass
2.1083109I shall both find your lordship judge and juror;
2.1093110You are so merciful. I see your end,
2.1103111'Tis my undoing. Love and meekness, lord,
2.1113112Become a church man better then ambition.
2.1123113Win straying souls with modesty again;
2.1133114Cast none away. That I shall clear myself,
2.1143115Lay all the weight ye can upon my patience.
2.1153116I make as little doubt as you do conscience
2.1163117In doing daily wrongs. I could say more,
2.1173118But reverence to your calling makes me modest.
2.1183119Gardiner
 My lord, my lord, you are a sectary;
2.1193120That's the plain truth. Your painted gloss discovers
2.1203121To men that understand you words and weakness.
2.1213122Comwell
 My lord of Winchester, y'are a little
2.1223123By your good favor too sharp. Men so noble,
2.1233124However faultily, yet should find respect
2.1243125For what they have been. 'Tis a cruelty
2.1253126To load a falling man.
2.1263127Gardiner
 Good master secretary,
2.1273128I cry your honor mercy. You may worst
2.1283129Of all this table say so.
2.1293130Comwell
 Why my lord?
2.1303131Gardiner
 Do not I know you for a favorer
2.1313132Of this new sect? Ye are not sound.
2.1323133Comwell
 Not sound?
2.1333134Gardiner
 Not sound, I say.
2.1343135Comwell
 Would you were half so honest.
2.1353136Mens' prayers then would seek you, not their fears.
2.1363137Gardiner
 I shall remember this bold language.
2.1373138Comwell
 Do.
2.1383139Remember your bold life, too.
2.1393140Chamberlain
 This is too much.
2.1403141Forbear for shame, my lords.
2.1413142Gardiner
 I haue done.
2.1423143Comwell
 And I.
2.1433144Chamberlain
 Then thus for you, my lord; it stands agreed,
2.1443145I take it, by all voices: that forthwith
2.1453146You be conveyed to th'Tower a prisoner,
2.1463147There to remain till the king's further pleasure
2.1473148Be known unto us. Are you all agreed, lords?
2.1483149All
 We are.
2.1493150Cranmer
 Is there no other way of mercy
2.1503151But I must needs to th'Tower, my Lords?
2.1513152Gardiner
 What other
2.1523153Would you expect? You are strangely troublesome.
2.1533154Let some o'th'guard be ready there.
2.153.13155Enter the Guard.
2.1543156Cranmer
 For me?
2.1553157Must I go like a traitor thither?
2.1563158Gardiner
 Receive him,
2.1573159And see him safe i'th'Tower.
2.1583160Cranmer
 Stay, good my Lords,
2.1593161I have a little yet to say. Look there, my lords.
2.1603162By virtue of that ring I take my cause
2.1613163Out of the grips of cruel men and give it
2.1623164To a most noble judge: the king, my master.
2.1633165Chamberlain
 This is the king's ring.
2.1643166Surrey
 'Tis no counterfeit.
2.1653167Suffolk
 'Tis the right ring, by heaven. I told ye all
2.1663168When we first put this dangerous stone a rolling
2.1673169'Twould fall upon ourselves.
2.1683170Norfolk
 Do you think, my lords,
2.1693171The King will suffer but the little finger
2.1703172Of this man to be vexed?
2.1713173Chamberlain
 'Tis now too certain.
2.1723174How much more is his life in value with him?
2.1733175Would I were fairly out on't.
2.1743176Comwell
 My mind gave me,
2.1753177In seeking tales and informations
2.1763178Against this man, whose honesty the devil
2.1773179And his disciples only envy at,
2.1783180Ye blew the fire that burns ye. Now have at ye.
2.178.13181Enter King frowning on them, takes his seat.
2.1793182Gardiner
 Dread sovereign,
2.1803183How much are we bound to heaven
2.1813184In daily thanks that gave is such a prince
2.1823185Not only good and wise but most religious.
2.1833186One that in all obedience makes the church
2.1843187The chief aim of his honor, and to strengthen
2.1853188That holy duty out of dear respect,
2.1863189His royal self in judgement comes to hear
2.1873190The cause betwixt her and this great offender.
2.1883191King Henry
 You were ever good at sudden commendations,
2.1893192Bishop of Winchester. But know I come not
2.1903193To hear such flattery now, and in my presence
2.1913194They are too thin and base to hide offences,
2.1923195To me you cannot reach. You play the spaniel,
2.1933196And think with wagging of your tongue to win me.
2.1943197But whatsoe'er thou tak'st me for, I'm sure
2.1953198Thou hast a cruel mature and a bloody.
2.1963199Good man sit down. Now let me see the proudest
2.1973200He that dares most but wag his finger at thee.
2.1983201By all that's holy he had better starve
2.1993202Than but once think his place becomes thee not.
2.2003203Surrey
 May it please your grace ... 
2.2013204King Henry
 No, sir, it does not please me.
2.2023205I had thought I had had men of some understanding
2.2033206And wisdom of my council, but I find none.
2.2043207Was it discretion, lords, to let this man,
2.2053208This good man (few of you deserve that title),
2.2063209This honest man wait like a lousy foot boy
2.2073210At chamber door? And one as great as you are?
2.2083211Why, what a shame was this? Did my commission
2.2093212Bid ye so far forget yourselves? I gave ye
2.2103213Power as he was a councillor to try him,
2.2113214Not as a groom. There's some of ye, I see,
2.2123215More out of malice than integrity,
2.2133216Would try him to the utmost had ye mean,
2.2143217Which ye shall never have while I live.
2.2153218Chancellor
 Thus far,
2.2163219My most dread sovereign, may it like your grace
2.2173220To let my tongue excuse all. What was purposed
2.2183221Concerning his imprisonment was rather
2.2193222(If there be faith in men), meant for his trial
2.2203223And fair purgation to the world than malice,
2.2213224I'm sure in me.
2.2223225King Henry
 Well, well, my lords; respect him.
2.2233226Take him and use him well; he's worthy of it.
2.2243227I will say thus much for him: if a prince
2.2253228May be beholding to a subject, I
2.2263229Am for his love and service so to him.
2.2273230Make me no more ado but all embrace him.
2.2283231Be friends for shame, my lords. My lord of Canterbury,
2.2293232I have a suit which you must not deny me:
2.2303233That is, a fair young maid that yet wants baptism.
2.2313234You must be godfather and answer for her.
2.2323235Cranmer
 The greatest monarch now alive may glory
2.2333236In such an honor. How may I deserve it
2.2343237That am a poor and humble subject to you?
2.2353238King Henry
 Come come, my lord, you'd spare your spoons.
2.2363239You shall have two noble partners with you: the old
2.2373240Duchess of Norfolk and lady Marquesse Dorset. Will
2.2383241These please you?
2.2393242Once more, my lord of Winchester, I charge you
2.2403243Embrace, and love this man.
2.2413244Gardiner
 With a true heart
2.2423245And brother love I do it.
2.2433246Cranmer
 And let heaven
2.2443247Witness how dear I hold this confirmation.
2.2453248King Henry
 Good man, those joyful tears show thy true hearts.
2.2463249The common voice I see is verified
2.2473250Of thee, which says thus: Do my lord of Canterbury
2.2483251A shrewd turn and he's your friend forever.
2.2493252Come lords, we trifle time away. I long
2.2503253To have this young one made a Christian.
2.2513254As I have made ye one lords, one remain.
 3255So I grow stronger, you more honor gain.  
2.251.1Exeunt.
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Henry The Eighth (Modern)
