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they would shame to make me Wait else at door； a fellow councillor；
'Mong boys； grooms； and lackeys。 But their pleasures Must be fulfill'd；
and I attend with patience。
Enter the KING and BUTTS at window above
BUTTS。 I'll show your Grace the strangest sight KING。 What's that；
Butts？ BUTTS。 I think your Highness saw this many a day。 KING。 Body a
me； where is it？ BUTTS。 There my lord： The high promotion of his Grace
of Canterbury； Who holds his state at door； 'mongst pursuivants； Pages；
and footboys。 KING。 Ha； 'tis he indeed。 Is this the honour 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 mannersas not thus to suffer
A man of his place； and so near our favour； To 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。 Exeunt
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ACT V。 SCENE 3。
The Council Chamber
A 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 band； a seat being left void above him； as for
Canterbury's seat。 DUKE OF SUFFOLK； DUKE OF NORFOLK；
SURREY； LORD CHAMBERLAIN； GARDINER； seat themselves in
order on each side； CROMWELL at lower end； as secretary。 KEEPER at
the door
CHANCELLOR。 Speak to the business； master secretary； Why are
we met in council？ CROMWELL。 Please your honours； The chief cause
concerns his Grace of Canterbury。 GARDINER。 Has he had knowledge of
it？ CROMWELL。 Yes。 NORFOLK。 Who waits there？ KEEPER。 Without；
my noble lords？ GARDINER。 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。
CRANMER approaches the Council table
CHANCELLOR。 My good Lord Archbishop； I am 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 Of our flesh； few are angels； out of
which frailty And want of wisdom； you； that best should teach us； Have
misdemean'd yourself； and not a little； Toward the King first； then his laws；
in filling The whole realm by your teaching and your chaplains For so
we are inform'dwith new opinions； Divers and dangerous； which are
heresies； And； not reform'd； may prove pernicious。 GARDINER。 Which
reformation must be sudden too； My noble lords； for those that tame wild
horses Pace 'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle； But stop their
mouth with stubborn bits and spur 'em Till they obey the manage。 If we
suffer； Out of our easiness and childish pity To one man's honour； this
contagious sickness； Farewell all physic； and what follows then？
Commotions； uproars； with a general taint Of the whole state； as of late
days our neighbours； The upper Germany； can dearly witness； Yet freshly
pitied in our memories。 CRANMER。 My good lords； hitherto in all the
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KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
progress Both of my life and office； I have labour'd； And with no little
study； that my teaching And the strong course of my authority Might go
one way； and safely； and the end Was ever to do well。 Nor 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。 Pray 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； Be 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 virtue no man dare accuse you。 GARDINER。 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； You 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； You are so merciful。 I see your end
'Tis my undoing。 Love and meekness； lord； Become a churchman better
than ambition； Win straying souls with modesty again； Cast none away。
That I shall clear myself； Lay 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； That's the plain truth。 Your painted
gloss discovers； To men that understand you； words and weakness。
CROMWELL。 My Lord of Winchester； y'are a little； By your good favour；
too sharp； men so noble； However faulty； yet should find respect For what
they have been； 'tis a cruelty To load a falling man。 GARDINER。 Good
Master Secretary； I cry your honour mercy； you may； worst Of all this
table； say so。 CROMWELL。 Why； my lord？ GARDINER。 Do not I know
you for a favourer Of this new sect？ Ye are not sound。 CROMWELL。 Not
sound？ GARDINER。 Not sound； I say。 CROMWELL。 Would you were
half so honest！ Men's prayers then would seek you； not their fears。
GARDINER。 I shall remember this bold language。 CROMWELL。 Do。
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Remember your bold life too。 CHANCELLOR。 This is too much； Forbear；
for shame； my lords。 GARDINER。 I have done。 CROMWELL。 And I。
CHANCELLOR。 Then thus for you； my lord： it stands agreed； I take it； by
all voices； that forthwith You be convey'd to th' Tower a prisoner； There to
remain till the King's further pleasure Be known unto us。 Are you all
agreed； lords？ ALL。 We are。 CRANMER。 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。
Enter the guard
CRANMER。 For me？ Must I go like a traitor thither？ GARDINER。
Receive him； And see him safe i' th' Tower。 CRANMER。 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 gripes of cruel men and give it To a most noble
judge； the King my master。 CHAMBERLAIN。 This is the King's ring。
SURREY。 'Tis no counterfeit。 SUFFOLK。 'Tis the right ring； by heav'n。 I
told ye all； When we first put this dangerous stone a…rolling； 'Twould fall
upon ourselves。 NORFOLK。 Do you think； my lords； The King will suffer
but the little finger Of this man to be vex'd？ CHAMBERLAIN。 'Tis now
too certain； How much more is his life in value with him！ Would I were
fairly out on't！ CROMWELL。 My mind gave me； In seeking tales and
informations Against this manwhose honesty the devil And his disciples
only envy at Ye blew the fire that burns ye。 Now have at ye！
Enter the KING frowning on them； he takes his seat
GARDINER。 Dread sovereign； how much are we bound to heaven In
daily thanks； that gave us such a prince； Not only good and wise but most
religious； One that in all obedience makes the church The chief aim of his
honour and； to strengthen That holy duty； out of dear respect； His royal
self in judgment comes to hear The cause betwixt her and this great
offender。 KING。 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 bare to hide offences。 To 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 nature