Shakespeare Portal

Act 5, Scene 1

A gallery in the palace.

  1. [Enter Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, a page with a torch before him, met by Sir Thomas Lovell.]
  2. Bishop Gardiner
  3. 2602 It's one o'clock, boy, is't not?
  4. Page
  5. 2603 It hath struck.
  6. Bishop Gardiner
  7. 2604 These should be hours for necessities,
  8. 2605 Not for delights; times to repair our nature
  9. 2606 With comforting repose, and not for us
  10. 2607 To waste these times. Good hour of night, Sir Thomas!
  11. 2608 Whither so late?
  12. Sir Thomas Lovell
  13. 2609 Came you from the King, my lord?
  14. Bishop Gardiner
  15. 2610 I did, Sir Thomas; and left him at primero
  16. 2611 With the Duke of Suffolk.
  17. Sir Thomas Lovell
  18. 2612 I must to him too,
  19. 2613 Before he go to bed. I'll take my leave.
  20. Bishop Gardiner
  21. 2614 Not yet, Sir Thomas Lovell. What's the matter?
  22. 2615 It seems you are in haste. An if there be
  23. 2616 No great offence belongs to't, give your friend
  24. 2617 Some touch of your late business. Affairs, that walk,
  25. 2618 As they say spirits do, at midnight, have
  26. 2619 In them a wilder nature than the business
  27. 2620 That seeks despatch by day.
  28. Sir Thomas Lovell
  29. 2621 My lord, I love you;
  30. 2622 And durst commend a secret to your ear
  31. 2623 Much weightier than this work. The Queen's in labour,
  32. 2624 They say in great extremity; and fear'd
  33. 2625 She'll with the labour end.
  34. Bishop Gardiner
  35. 2626 The fruit she goes with
  36. 2627 I pray for heartily, that it may find
  37. 2628 Good time, and live; but for the stock, Sir Thomas,
  38. 2629 I wish it grubb'd up now.
  39. Sir Thomas Lovell
  40. 2630 Methinks I could
  41. 2631 Cry thee amen; and yet my conscience says
  42. 2632 She's a good creature, and, sweet lady, does
  43. 2633 Deserve our better wishes.
  44. Bishop Gardiner
  45. 2634 But, sir, sir,
  46. 2635 Hear me, Sir Thomas. You're a gentleman
  47. 2636 Of mine own way; I know you wise, religious;
  48. 2637 And, let me tell you, it will ne'er be well,
  49. 2638 'Twill not, Sir Thomas Lovell, take't of me,
  50. 2639 Till Cranmer, Cromwell, her two hands, and she,
  51. 2640 Sleep in their graves.
  52. Sir Thomas Lovell
  53. 2641 Now, sir, you speak of two
  54. 2642 The most remark'd i' the kingdom. As for Cromwell,
  55. 2643 Beside that of the jewel house, is made master
  56. 2644 O' the rolls, and the King's secretary; further, sir,
  57. 2645 Stands in the gap and trade of moe preferments,
  58. 2646 With which the time will load him. The Archbishop
  59. 2647 Is the King's hand and tongue; and who dare speak
  60. 2648 One syllable against him?
  61. Bishop Gardiner
  62. 2649 Yes, yes, Sir Thomas,
  63. 2650 There are that dare; and I myself have ventur'd
  64. 2651 To speak my mind of him: and indeed this day,
  65. 2652 Sir, I may tell it you, I think I have
  66. 2653 Incens'd the lords o' the council, that he is,
  67. 2654 For so I know he is, they know he is,
  68. 2655 A most arch heretic, a pestilence
  69. 2656 That does infect the land; with which they moved
  70. 2657 Have broken with the King, who hath so far
  71. 2658 Given ear to our complaint, of his great grace
  72. 2659 And princely care foreseeing those fell mischiefs
  73. 2660 Our reasons laid before him, hath commanded
  74. 2661 To-morrow morning to the council-board
  75. 2662 He be convented. He's a rank weed, Sir Thomas,
  76. 2663 And we must root him out. From your affairs
  77. 2664 I hinder you too long. Good-night, Sir Thomas.
  78. Sir Thomas Lovell
  79. 2665 Many good-nights, my lord! I rest your servant.
  80. [Exeunt Gardiner and Page.]
  81. [Enter the King and Suffolk.]
  82. King Henry VIII
  83. 2666 Charles, I will play no more to-night.
  84. 2667 My mind's not on't; you are too hard for me.
  85. Duke of Suffolk
  86. 2668 Sir, I did never win of you before.
  87. King Henry VIII
  88. 2669 But little, Charles;
  89. 2670 Nor shall not, when my fancy's on my play.
  90. 2671 Now, Lovell, from the Queen what is the news?
  91. Sir Thomas Lovell
  92. 2672 I could not personally deliver to her
  93. 2673 What you commanded me, but by her woman
  94. 2674 I sent your message; who return'd her thanks
  95. 2675 In the great'st humbleness, and desir'd your Highness
  96. 2676 Most heartily to pray for her.
  97. King Henry VIII
  98. 2677 What say'st thou, ha?
  99. 2678 To pray for her? What, is she crying out?
  100. Sir Thomas Lovell
  101. 2679 So said her woman; and that her suff'rance made
  102. 2680 Almost each pang a death.
  103. King Henry VIII
  104. 2681 Alas, good lady!
  105. Duke of Suffolk
  106. 2682 God safely quit her of her burden, and
  107. 2683 With gentle travail, to the gladding of
  108. 2684 Your Highness with an heir!
  109. King Henry VIII
  110. 2685 'Tis midnight, Charles;
  111. 2686 Prithee, to bed; and in thy prayers remember
  112. 2687 The estate of my poor queen. Leave me alone;
  113. 2688 For I must think of that which company
  114. 2689 Will not be friendly to.
  115. Duke of Suffolk
  116. 2690 I wish your Highness
  117. 2691 A quiet night; and my good mistress will
  118. 2692 Remember in my prayers.
  119. King Henry VIII
  120. 2693 Charles, good-night.
  121. [Exit Suffolk.]
  122. [Enter Sir Anthony Denny.]
  123. King Henry VIII
  124. 2694 Well, sir, what follows?
  125. Sir Anthony Denny
  126. 2695 Sir, I have brought my lord the Archbishop,
  127. 2696 As you commanded me.
  128. King Henry VIII
  129. 2697 Ha! Canterbury?
  130. Sir Anthony Denny
  131. 2698 Ay, my good lord.
  132. King Henry VIII
  133. 2699 'Tis true; where is he, Denny?
  134. Sir Anthony Denny
  135. 2700 He attends your Highness' pleasure.
  136. King Henry VIII
  137. 2701 Bring him to us.
  138. [Exit Denny.]
  139. [Aside.]
  140. Sir Thomas Lovell
  141. 2702 This is about that which the bishop spake.
  142. 2703 I am happily come hither.
  143. [Re-enter Denny, with Cranmer.]
  144. King Henry VIII
  145. 2704 Avoid the gallery.
  146. [Lovell seems to stay.]
  147. King Henry VIII
  148. 2705 Ha! I have said. Be gone.
  149. 2706 What!
  150. [Exeunt Lovell and Denny.]
  151. [Aside.]
  152. Archbishop Cranmer
  153. 2707 I am fearful; wherefore frowns he thus?
  154. 2708 'Tis his aspect of terror. All's not well.
  155. King Henry VIII
  156. 2709 How now, my lord! you do desire to know
  157. 2710 Wherefore I sent for you.
  158. [Kneeling.]
  159. Archbishop Cranmer
  160. 2711 It is my duty
  161. 2712 To attend your Highness' pleasure.
  162. King Henry VIII
  163. 2713 Pray you, arise,
  164. 2714 My good and gracious Lord of Canterbury.
  165. 2715 Come, you and I must walk a turn together;
  166. 2716 I have news to tell you. Come, come, me your hand.
  167. 2717 Ah, my good lord, I grieve at what I speak,
  168. 2718 And am right sorry to repeat what follows.
  169. 2719 I have, and most unwillingly, of late
  170. 2720 Heard many grievous, I do say, my lord,
  171. 2721 Grievous complaints of you; which, being consider'd,
  172. 2722 Have mov'd us and our council, that you shall
  173. 2723 This morning come before us; where, I know,
  174. 2724 You cannot with such freedom purge yourself
  175. 2725 But that, till further trial in those charges
  176. 2726 Which will require your answer, you must take
  177. 2727 Your patience to you, and be well contented
  178. 2728 To make your house our Tower. You a brother of us,
  179. 2729 It fits we thus proceed, or else no witness
  180. 2730 Would come against you.
  181. [Kneeling.]
  182. Archbishop Cranmer
  183. 2731 I humbly thank your Highness;
  184. 2732 And am right glad to catch this good occasion
  185. 2733 Most throughly to be winnowed, where my chaff
  186. 2734 And corn shall fly asunder; for, I know,
  187. 2735 There's none stands under more calumnious tongues
  188. 2736 Than I myself, poor man.
  189. King Henry VIII
  190. 2737 Stand up, good Canterbury!
  191. 2738 Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted
  192. 2739 In us, thy friend. Give me thy hand, stand up;
  193. 2740 Prithee, let's walk. Now, by my holidame,
  194. 2741 What manner of man are you? My lord, I look'd
  195. 2742 You would have given me your petition, that
  196. 2743 I should have ta'en some pains to bring together
  197. 2744 Yourself and your accusers; and to have heard you,
  198. 2745 Without indurance, further.
  199. Archbishop Cranmer
  200. 2746 Most dread liege,
  201. 2747 The good I stand on is my truth and honesty.
  202. 2748 If they shall fail, I, with mine enemies,
  203. 2749 Will triumph o'er my person; which I weigh not,
  204. 2750 Being of those virtues vacant. I fear nothing
  205. 2751 What can be said against me.
  206. King Henry VIII
  207. 2752 Know you not
  208. 2753 How your state stands i' th' world, with the whole world?
  209. 2754 Your enemies are many, and not small; their practices
  210. 2755 Must bear the same proportion; and not ever
  211. 2756 The justice and the truth o' the question carries
  212. 2757 The due o' the verdict with it. At what ease
  213. 2758 Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt
  214. 2759 To swear against you? Such things have been done.
  215. 2760 You are potently oppos'd, and with a malice
  216. 2761 Of as great size. Ween you of better luck,
  217. 2762 I mean, in perjur'd witness, than your Master,
  218. 2763 Whose minister you are, whiles here He liv'd
  219. 2764 Upon this naughty earth? Go to, go to!
  220. 2765 You take a precipice for no leap of danger,
  221. 2766 And woo your own destruction.
  222. Archbishop Cranmer
  223. 2767 God and your Majesty
  224. 2768 Protect mine innocence, or I fall into
  225. 2769 The trap is laid for me!
  226. King Henry VIII
  227. 2770 Be of good cheer;
  228. 2771 They shall no more prevail than we give way to.
  229. 2772 Keep comfort to you; and this morning see
  230. 2773 You do appear before them. If they shall chance,
  231. 2774 In charging you with matters, to commit you,
  232. 2775 The best persuasions to the contrary
  233. 2776 Fail not to use, and with what vehemency
  234. 2777 The occasion shall instruct you. If entreaties
  235. 2778 Will render you no remedy, this ring
  236. 2779 Deliver them, and your appeal to us
  237. 2780 There make before them. Look, the good man weeps!
  238. 2781 He's honest, on mine honour. God's blest mother!
  239. 2782 I swear he is true-hearted; and a soul
  240. 2783 None better in my kingdom. Get you gone,
  241. 2784 And do as I have bid you.
  242. [Exit Cranmer.]
  243. King Henry VIII
  244. 2785 He has strangled his language in his tears.
  245. [Enter Old Lady, Lovell following.]
  246. [Within.]
  247. A Gentleman
  248. 2786 Come back! What mean you?
  249. Old Lady
  250. 2787 I'll not come back; the tidings that I bring
  251. 2788 Will make my boldness manners. Now, good angels
  252. 2789 Fly o'er thy royal head, and shade thy person
  253. 2790 Under their blessed wings!
  254. King Henry VIII
  255. 2791 Now, by thy looks
  256. 2792 I guess thy message. Is the Queen deliver'd?
  257. 2793 Say ay; and of a boy.
  258. Old Lady
  259. 2794 Ay, ay, my liege;
  260. 2795 And of a lovely boy. The God of Heaven
  261. 2796 Both now and ever bless her! 'tis a girl,
  262. 2797 Promises boys hereafter. Sir, your queen
  263. 2798 Desires your visitation, and to be
  264. 2799 Acquainted with this stranger. 'Tis as like you
  265. 2800 As cherry is to cherry.
  266. King Henry VIII
  267. 2801 Lovell!
  268. Sir Thomas Lovell
  269. 2802 Sir?
  270. King Henry VIII
  271. 2803 Give her an hundred marks. I'll to the Queen.
  272. [Exit.]
  273. Old Lady
  274. 2804 An hundred marks! By this light, I'll ha' more.
  275. 2805 An ordinary groom is for such payment.
  276. 2806 I will have more, or scold it out of him.
  277. 2807 Said I for this, the girl was like to him?
  278. 2808 I will have more, or else unsay't; and now,
  279. 2809 While it is hot, I'll put it to the issue.
  280. [Exeunt.]