London. A Gallery in the Palace.
 Enter GARDINER Bishop of Winchester, a PAGE with a torch before him,
 met by SIR THOMAS LOVELL.

Gardiner	It's one a'clock boy, is't not?

Page									It hath struck.

Gardiner	These should be hours for necessities,
	Not for delights; times to repair our nature
	With comforting repose, and not for us
	To waste these times. Good hour of night, Sir Thomas!
	Whither so late?

Lovell					Came you from the king, my lord?

Gardiner	I did, Sir Thomas, and left him at primero
	With the Duke of Suffolk.

Lovell								I must to him too,
	Before he go to bed. I'll take my leave.

Gardiner	Not yet, Sir Thomas Lovell. What's the matter?
	It seems you are in haste. And if there be
	No great offence belongs to't, give your friend
	Some touch of your late business: affairs that walk,
	As they say spirits do, at midnight, have
	In them a wilder nature than the business
	That seeks despatch by day.

Lovell								My lord, I love you,
	And durst commend a secret to your ear
	Much weightier than this work. The queen's in labour,
	They say, in great extremity, and feared
	She'll with the labour end.

Gardiner								The fruit she goes with
	I pray for heartily, that it may find
	Good time, and live; but for the stock, Sir Thomas,
	I wish it grubbed up now.

Lovell							Methinks I could
	Cry the amen, and yet my conscience says
	She's a good creature, and, sweet lady, does
	Deserve our better wishes.

Gardiner								But sir, sir,
	Hear me Sir Thomas, you're a gentleman
	Of mine own way; I know you wise, religious,
	And let me tell you, it will ne'er be well,
	'Twill not Sir Thomas Lovell, take't of me,
	Till Cranmer, Cromwell, her two hands, and she,
	Sleep in their graves.

Lovell							Now sir, you speak of two
	The most remarked i'th'kingdom. As for Cromwell,
	Beside that of the jewel-house, is made master
	O'th'rolls, and the king's secretary; further, sir,
	Stands in the gap and trade of more preferments,
	With which the time will load him. The archbishop
	Is the king's hand and tongue, and who dare speak
	One syllable against him?

Gardiner							Yes, yes, Sir Thomas,
	There are that dare; and I myself have ventured
	To speak my mind of him; and indeed this day,
	Sir, I may tell it you, I think I have
	Incensed the lords o'th'council that he is
	- For so I know he is, they know he is-
	A most arch heretic, a pestilence
	That does infect the land; with which they moved
	Have broken with the king; who hath so far
	Given ear to our complaint - of his great grace
	And princely care, foreseeing those fell mischiefs
	Our reasons laid before him - hath commanded
	Tomorrow morning to the council board
	He be convented. He's a rank weed, Sir Thomas,
	And we must root him out. From your affairs
	I hinder you too long: good night, Sir Thomas.

Lovell	Many good nights, my lord. I rest your servant.
											[Exit GARDINER and PAGE.

                         Enter KING and SUFFOLK.

King Henry	Charles, I will play no more tonight,
	My mind's not on't, you are too hard for me.

Suffolk	Sir, I did never win of you before.

King Henry	But little, Charles,
	Nor shall not when my fancy's on my play.
	Now, Lovell, from the queen what is the news?

Lovell	I could not personally deliver to her
	What you commanded me, but by her woman
	I sent your message, who returned her thanks
	In the great'st humbleness, and desired your highness
	Most heartily to pray for her.

King Henry									What sayst thou, ha?
	To pray for her? What, is she crying out?

Lovell	So said her woman, and that her sufferance made
	Almost each pang a death.

King Henry							Alas good lady!

Suffolk	God safely quit her of her burden, and
	With gentle travail, to the gladding of
	Your highness with an heir.

King Henry								'Tis midnight Charles;
	Prithee to bed, and in thy prayers remember
	The estate of my poor queen. Leave me alone,
	For I must think of that which company
	Would not be friendly to.

Suffolk							I wish your highness
	A quiet night; and my good mistress will
	Remember in my prayers.

King Henry							Charles, good night.
											[Exit SUFFOLK.
                         Enter SIR ANTHONY DENNY.

	Well sir, what follows?

Denny	Sir, I have brought my lord the archbishop,
	As you commanded me.

King Henry						Ha? Canterbury?

Denny	Ay, my good lord.

King Henry					'Tis true. Where is he, Denny?

Denny	He attends your highness' pleasure.

King Henry									Bring him to us.
											[Exit DENNY.

Lovell	[Aside.] This is about that which the bishop spake;
	I am happily come hither.

                         Enter CRANMER and DENNY.

King Henry							Avoid the gallery.
											[LOVELL seems to stay.
	Ha? I have said. Be gone. What!
											[Exeunt LOVELL and DENNY.

Cranmer	[Aside.] I am fearful. Wherefore frowns he thus?
	'Tis his aspect of terror. All's not well.

King Henry	How now, my lord! You do desire to know
	Wherefore I sent for you.

Cranmer					[Kneeling.] It is my duty
	T'attend your highness' pleasure.

King Henry									Pray you, arise,
	My good and gracious Lord of Canterbury.
	Come, you and I must walk a turn together;
	I have news to tell you. Come, come give me your hand.
	Ah, my good lord, I grieve at what I speak,
	And am right sorry to repeat what follows.
	I have, and most unwillingly, of late
	Heard many grievous, I do say, my lord,
	Grievous complaints of you; which, being considered,
	Have moved us and our council, that you shall
	This morning come before us, where I know
	You cannot with such freedom purge yourself,
	But that, till further trial in those charges
	Which will require your answer, you must take
	Your patience to you, and be well contented
	To make your house our Tower: you, a brother of us,
	It fits we thus proceed, or else no witness
	Would come against you.

Cranmer					[Kneeling.] I humbly thank your highness,
	And am right glad to catch this good occasion
	Most throughly to be winnowed, where my chaff
	And corn shall fly asunder; for I know
	There's none stands under more calumnious tongues
	Than I myself, poor man.

King Henry							Stand up, good Canterbury;
	Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted
	In us, thy friend. Give me thy hand, stand up;
	Prithee, let's walk. Now, by my holidame,
	What manner of man are you? My lord, I looked
	You would have given me your petition, that
	I should have ta'en some pains to bring together
	Yourself and your accusers, and to have heard you
	Without indurance further.

Cranmer								Most dread liege,
	The good I stand on is my truth and honesty.
	If they shall fail, I, with mine enemies,
	Will triumph o'er my person, which I weigh not,
	Being of those virtues vacant. I fear nothing
	What can be said against me.

King Henry									Know you not
	How your state stands i'th'world, with the whole world?
	Your enemies are many, and not small; their practices
	Must bear the same proportion, and not ever
	The justice and the truth o'th'question carries
	The due o'th'verdict with it. At what ease
	Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt
	To swear against you? Such things have been done.
	You are potently opposed, and with a malice
	Of as great size. Ween you of better luck,
	I mean in perjured witness, than your master,
	Whose minister you are, whiles here he lived
	Upon this naughty earth? Go to, go to;
	You take a precipice for no leap of danger,
	And woo your own destruction.

Cranmer								God and your majesty
	Protect mine innocence; or I fall into
	The trap is laid for me.

King Henry							Be of good cheer,
	They shall no more prevail than we give way to.
	Keep comfort to you, and this morning see
	You do appear before them. If they shall chance,
	In charging you with matters to commit you,
	The best persuasions to the contrary
	Fail not to use, and with what vehemency
	The occasion shall instruct you. If entreaties
	Will render you no remedy, this ring
	Deliver them, and your appeal to us
	There make before them. Look, the good man weeps;
	He's honest, on mine honour. God's blest mother!
	I swear he is true-hearted, and a soul
	None better in my kingdom. Get you gone,
	And do as I have bid you.
											[Exit CRANMER.
	He has strangled
	His language in his tears.

                             Enter OLD LADY.

Gentleman						[Within.] Come back! - what mean you?

Old Lady	I'll not come back, the tidings that I bring
	Will make my boldness manners. Now, good angels
	Fly o'er thy royal head, and shade thy person
	Under their blessd wings!

King Henry								Now by thy looks
	I guess thy message. Is the queen delivered?
	Say ay, and of a boy.

Old Lady							Ay, ay, my liege,
	And of a lovely boy. The God of heaven
	Both now and ever bless her! 'Tis a girl
	Promises boys hereafter. Sir, your queen
	Desires your visitation, and to be
	Acquainted with this stranger; 'tis as like you
	As cherry is to cherry.

King Henry						Lovell!

                             Re-enter LOVELL.

Lovell									Sir.

King Henry	Give her an hundred marks. I'll to the queen.
											[Exit KING.

Old Lady	An hundred marks? By this light, I'll ha' more.
	An ordinary groom is for such payment.
	I will have more, or scold it out of him.
	Said I for this the girl was like to him? I'll
	Have more, or else unsay't; and now, while 'tis hot,
	I'll put it to the issue.
											[Exeunt.
