Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Diane Jakacki
Not Peer Reviewed

Henry The Eighth (Modern)

Enter Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury.
Cranmer
I hope I am not too late, and yet the gentleman
2990That was sent to me from the council prayed me
To make great haste. All fast? What meanes this, ho?
Who waits there? Sure you know me?
Enter Keeper.
Keeper
Yes, my lord,
2995But yet I cannot help you.
Cranmer
Why?
Keeper
Your Grace must wiat till you be callled for.
Enter Doctor Butts.
Cranmer
So.
This is a peer of malice. I am glad
I came this way so happily. The king
Shall understand it presently.
Exit Butts
Cranmer
'Tis Butts,
The king's physician; as he passed along
3005How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me.
Pray heaven he sound not my disgrace, for certain
This is of purpose laid by some that hate me,
(God turn their hearts, I never sought their malice),
To quench mine honor they would shame to make me
3010Wait else at door: a fellow counselor
'Mong boys, grooms, and lackeys.
But their pleasures
Must be fulfilled, and I attend with patience.
Enter the King, and Butts, at a window 3015above.
I'll show your grace the strangest sight.
King Henry
What's that, Butts?
I think your highness saw this many a day.
King Henry
Body a me: where is it?
There, my lord.
The high promotion of his grace of Canterbury,
Who holds his state at door 'mongst pursuants,
Pages and footboys.
King Henry
Ha? 'Tis he indeed.
3025Is this the honor they do one another?
'Tis well there's one above 'em yet. I had thought
They had parted so much honesty among 'em,
At least good manners, as not thus to suffer
A man of his place, and so near our favor
3030To dance attendance on their lordships' pleasures.
And at the door, too, like a post with packets
By holy Mary, Butts, there's knavery.
Let 'em alone and draw the curtain close:
We shall hear more anon.
3035A council table brought in with chairs and stools, and placed under the state. Enter Lord Chancellor, places himself at the upper end of the table, on the left hand: A seat being left void aboue him, as for Canterbury's seat. Duke of Suffolk, Duke of Norfolk, Surrey, Lord 3040Chamberlain, Gardiner, seat themselves in order on each side. Cromwell at lower end, as Secretary.
Chancellor
Speak to the business, master secretary;
Why are we met in council?
Cromwell
Please your honors,
3045The chief cause concerns his grace of Canterbury.
Gardiner
Has he had knowledge of it?
Comwell
Yes.
Norfolk
Who waits there?
Keeper
Without my noble Lords?
3050Gardiner
Yes.
Keeper
My lord archbishop.
And has done half an hour to know your pleasures.
Chancellor
Let him come in.
Keeper
Your grace may enter now.
3055Cranmer approches the council table.
Chancellor
My good lord archbishop, I'm 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
3060Of our flesh; few are angels. Out of which frailty
And want of wisdom you that best should teach us,
Have misdemeaned yourself, and not a little:
Toward the king first, then his laws, in filling
The whole realm by your teaching & your chaplains
3065(For so we are informed), with new opinions
Diverse and dangerous, which are heresies,
And not reformed may prove pernicious.
Gardiner
Which reformation must be sudden, too,
My noble lords, for those that tame wild horses
3070Pace 'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle,
But stop their mouths with stubborn bits &, spur 'em,
Till they obey the mannage. If we suffer
Out of our easiness and childish pity
To one manʼs honor, this contagious sickness,
3075Farewell all physick. And what follows then?
Commotions, vapors, with a general taint
Of the whole state, as of late days our neighbors,
The upper Germany can dearly witness,
Yet freshly pitied in our memories..
3080Cranmer
My good lords, hitherto, in all the progress
Both of my life and office, I have labored,
And with no little study, that my teaching
And the strong course of my authority
Might go one way and safely, and the end
3085Was ever to do well. Mor is there living,
(I speak it with a single heart, my lords),
A man that more detests, more stirs against,
Both in his private conscience and his place,
Defacers of a public peace than I do.
3090Pray heaven the king may never find a heart
With less allegiance in it. Men that make
Envy and crooked malice nourishment,
Dare bite the best. I do beseech your lordships
That in this case of justice my accusers,
3095Be what they will, may stand forth face to face
And freely urge against me.
Suffolk
Nay my lord,
That cannot be. You are a councillor,
And by that virture no man dare accuse you.
3100Gardiner
My lord, because we have business of more moment
We will be short with you. 'Tis his highness' pleasure
And our consent for better trial of you,
From hence you be committed to the Tower,
Where being but a private man again,
3105You shall know many dare accuse you boldly,
More than (I fear), you are provided for.
Cranmer
Ah, my good lord of Winchester, I thank you.
You are always my good friend. If your will pass
I shall both find your lordship judge and juror;
3110You are so merciful. I see your end,
'Tis my undoing. Love and meekness, lord,
Become a church man better then ambition.
Win straying souls with modesty again;
Cast none away. That I shall clear myself,
3115Lay all the weight ye can upon my patience.
I make as little doubt as you do conscience
In doing daily wrongs. I could say more,
But reverence to your calling makes me modest.
Gardiner
My lord, my lord, you are a sectary;
3120That's the plain truth. Your painted gloss discovers
To men that understand you words and weakness.
Comwell
My lord of Winchester, y'are a little
By your good favor too sharp. Men so noble,
However faultily, yet should find respect
3125For what they have been. 'Tis a cruelty
To load a falling man.
Gardiner
Good master secretary,
I cry your honor mercy. You may worst
Of all this table say so.
3130Comwell
Why my lord?
Gardiner
Do not I know you for a favorer
Of this new sect? Ye are not sound.
Comwell
Not sound?
Gardiner
Not sound, I say.
3135Comwell
Would you were half so honest.
Mens' prayers then would seek you, not their fears.
Gardiner
I shall remember this bold language.
Comwell
Do.
Remember your bold life, too.
3140Chamberlain
This is too much.
Forbear for shame, my lords.
Gardiner
I haue done.
Comwell
And I.
Chamberlain
Then thus for you, my lord; it stands agreed,
3145I take it, by all voices: that forthwith
You be conveyed to th'Tower a prisoner,
There to remain till the king's further pleasure
Be known unto us. Are you all agreed, lords?
We are.
3150Cranmer
Is there no other way of mercy
But I must needs to th'Tower, my Lords?
Gardiner
What other
Would you expect? You are strangely troublesome.
Let some o'th'guard be ready there.
3155Enter the Guard.
Cranmer
For me?
Must I go like a traitor thither?
Gardiner
Receive him,
And see him safe i'th'Tower.
3160Cranmer
Stay, good my Lords,
I have a little yet to say. Look there, my lords.
By virtue of that ring I take my cause
Out of the grips of cruel men and give it
To a most noble judge: the king, my master.
3165Chamberlain
This is the king's ring.
'Tis no counterfeit.
Suffolk
'Tis the right ring, by heaven. I told ye all
When we first put this dangerous stone a rolling
'Twould fall upon ourselves.
3170Norfolk
Do you think, my lords,
The King will suffer but the little finger
Of this man to be vexed?
Chamberlain
'Tis now too certain.
How much more is his life in value with him?
3175Would I were fairly out on't.
Comwell
My mind gave me,
In seeking tales and informations
Against this man, whose honesty the devil
And his disciples only envy at,
3180Ye blew the fire that burns ye. Now have at ye.
Enter King frowning on them, takes his seat.
Gardiner
Dread sovereign,
How much are we bound to heaven
In daily thanks that gave is such a prince
3185Not only good and wise but most religious.
One that in all obedience makes the church
The chief aim of his honor, and to strengthen
That holy duty out of dear respect,
His royal self in judgement comes to hear
3190The cause betwixt her and this great offender.
King Henry
You were ever good at sudden commendations,
Bishop of Winchester. But know I come not
To hear such flattery now, and in my presence
They are too thin and base to hide offences,
3195To me you cannot reach. You play the spaniel,
And think with wagging of your tongue to win me.
But whatsoe'er thou tak'st me for, I'm sure
Thou hast a cruel mature and a bloody.
Good man sit down. Now let me see the proudest
3200He that dares most but wag his finger at thee.
By all that's holy he had better starve
Than but once think his place becomes thee not.
May it please your grace ...
King Henry
No, sir, it does not please me.
3205I had thought I had had men of some understanding
And wisdom of my council, but I find none.
Was it discretion, lords, to let this man,
This good man (few of you deserve that title),
This honest man wait like a lousy foot boy
3210At chamber door? And one as great as you are?
Why, what a shame was this? Did my commission
Bid ye so far forget yourselves? I gave ye
Power as he was a councillor to try him,
Not as a groom. There's some of ye, I see,
3215More out of malice than integrity,
Would try him to the utmost had ye mean,
Which ye shall never have while I live.
Chancellor
Thus far,
My most dread sovereign, may it like your grace
3220To let my tongue excuse all. What was purposed
Concerning his imprisonment was rather
(If there be faith in men), meant for his trial
And fair purgation to the world than malice,
I'm sure in me.
3225King Henry
Well, well, my lords; respect him.
Take him and use him well; he's worthy of it.
I will say thus much for him: if a prince
May be beholding to a subject, I
Am for his love and service so to him.
3230Make 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.
You must be godfather and answer for her.
3235Cranmer
The greatest monarch now alive may glory
In such an honor. How may I deserve it
That am a poor and humble subject to you?
King Henry
Come come, my lord, you'd spare your spoons.
You shall have two noble partners with you: the old
3240Duchess of Norfolk and lady Marquesse Dorset. Will
These please you?
Once more, my lord of Winchester, I charge you
Embrace, and love this man.
Gardiner
With a true heart
3245And brother love I do it.
Cranmer
And let heaven
Witness how dear I hold this confirmation.
King Henry
Good man, those joyful tears show thy true hearts.
The common voice I see is verified
3250Of thee, which says thus: Do my lord of Canterbury
A shrewd turn and he's your friend forever.
Come lords, we trifle time away. I long
To have this young one made a Christian.
As I have made ye one lords, one remain.
3255So I grow stronger, you more honor gain.
Exeunt.