'Tis well there's one above them yet. I had

thought

They had parted so much honesty among them,
(At least, good manners,) as not thus to suffer
A man of his place, and so near our favour,
To dance attendance on their lordships' plea-
sures,

And at the door, too, like a post with packets.
By holy Mary, Butts, there's knavery:

Let them alone, and draw the curtains close;
We shall hear more anon.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-The Council-Chamber.

Enter the LORD CHANCELLOR, the DUKE OF SUFFOLK, DUKE OF NORFOLK, EARL OF SURREY, LORD CHAMBERLAIN, GARDINER, and CROMWELL. The CHANCELLOR places himself at the upper end of the table on the left hand; a seat being left void above him, as for the ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. The rest seat themselves in order on each side. CROMWELL at the lower end, as secretary. The Door-Keeper attending.

Chan. Speak to the business, master secretary: Why are we met in council?

Crom.

Please your honours, The chief cause concerns his grace of Canter

bury.

Gar. Has he had knowledge of it?

Crom.

Nor.

D.-Keep. Without, my noble lords?

Who waits there?

Gar.
D.-Keep.

Yes.

My lord archbishop;

And has done half an hour, to know your plea

sures.

(

Chan. Let him come in.

D.-Keep.

Your grace may enter now.

CRANMER enters, and approaches the Council-table. Chan. 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 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'd,) with new opinions, Divers and dangerous; which are heresies, And, not reform'd, may prove pernicious.

Gar. Which reformation must be sudden too, My noble lords: for those that tame wild horses Pace them not in their hands to make the gentle;

But stop their mouths with stubborn bits, and spurn them,

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.

Cran. My good lords, hitherto, in all the pro

gress,

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.

Suf. Nay, my lord, That cannot be; you are a counsellor, And, by that virtue, no man dare accuse you. Gar. 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.

Cran. 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 you can upon my patience,
I make as little doubt, as you do conscience,
In doing daily wrongs.
could say more,
But reverence to your calling makes me modest.
Gar. My lord, my lord, you are a sectary,
That's the plain truth; your painted gloss dis-

covers,

To men that understand you, words and weak

ness.

Crom. My lord of Winchester, you 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.

Crom.

Good master secretary,

you may, worst

Why, my lord?

Gar. Do not I know you for a favourer

Of this new sect? ye are not sound.

Crom.

Not sound?

Crom.

Forbear, for shame, my lords.

Chan. Then thus for you, my lord,—it stands

I have done.

And I,

agreed,

I take it, by all voices, that forthwith

You be conveyed to the Tower a prisoner ;
There to remain, till the king's further pleasure
Be known unto us: are you all agreed, lords?

All. We are.

Cran.

Is there no other way of mercy,

But I must needs to the Tower, my lords?

Gar.

What other.

Would you expect? You are strangely trouble

some;

Let some o' the guard be ready there.

Enter Guard.

Cran.

Must I go like a traitor thither?

Gar.

And see him safe i' the Tower.

Cran.

I have a little yet to say.

For me?

Receive him,

Stay, good my lords;
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.
Cham. This is the king's ring.

Sur.

'Tis no counterfeit.

Suf. 'Tis the right ring, by heaven: I told ye all, When we first put this dangerous stone a-rolling, "Twould fall upon ourselves.

Nor.

Do you think, my lords,

The king will suffer but the little finger
Of this man to be vex'd?

Cham.

'Tis now too certain :

How much more is his life in value with him?

'Would I were fairly out on't.

• Crom.

My mind gave me,

In seeking tales and informations

Against this man, (whose honesty the devil