The Arden Shakespeare Complete Works

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The Arden Shakespeare Complete Works Page 258

by William Shakespeare


  The last is for my men – they are the poorest,

  But poverty could never draw ’em from me –

  That they may have their wages duly paid ’em,

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  And something over to remember me by.

  If heaven had pleased to have given me longer life

  And able means, we had not parted thus.

  These are the whole contents, and, good my lord,

  By that you love the dearest in this world,

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  As you wish Christian peace to souls departed,

  Stand these poor people’s friend, and urge the King

  To do me this last right.

  CAPUTIUS By heaven, I will,

  Or let me lose the fashion of a man.

  KATHERINE I thank you, honest lord. Remember me

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  In all humility unto his highness.

  Say his long trouble now is passing

  Out of this world. Tell him in death I blessed him,

  For so I will. Mine eyes grow dim. Farewell,

  My lord. Griffith, farewell. Nay, Patience,

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  You must not leave me yet: I must to bed.

  Call in more women. When I am dead, good wench,

  Let me be used with honour. Strew me over

  With maiden flowers, that all the world may know

  I was a chaste wife to my grave. Embalm me,

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  Then lay me forth. Although unqueened, yet like

  A queen and daughter to a king inter me.

  I can no more. Exeunt leading Katherine.

  5.1 Enter GARDINER, Bishop of Winchester, a Page with a torch before him, met by Sir Thomas LOVELL.

  GARDINER It’s one o’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 the night, Sir Thomas.

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  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?

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  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

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  That seeks dispatch 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

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  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

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  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 –

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  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,

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  Stands in the gap and trade of more preferments,

  With which the time will load him. Th’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

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  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

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  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

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  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.

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  Exeunt Gardiner and Page.

  Enter KING and SUFFOLK.

  KING 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 But little, Charles,

  Nor shall not, when my fancy’s on my play.

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  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 greatest humbleness and desired your highness

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  Most heartily to pray for her.

  KING What sayest 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 Alas, good lady.

  SUFFOLK God safely quit her of her burden, and

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  With gentle travail, to the gladding of

  Your highness with an heir.

  KING ’Tis midnight, Charles.

  Prithee to bed, and in thy prayers remember

  Th’estate of my poor Queen. Leave me alone,

  For I must think of that which company

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  Would not be friendly to.

  SUFFOLK I wish your highness

  A quiet night, and my good mistress will

  Remember in my prayers.

  KING Charles, good night.

  Exit Suffolk.

  Enter Sir Anthony DENNY.

  Well, sir, what follows?

  DENNY Sir, I have brought my lord the Archbishop,

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  As you commanded me.

  KING Ha? Canterbury?

  DENNY Ay, my good lord.

  KING ’Tis true. Where is he, Denny?

  DENNY He attends your highness’ pleasure.

  KING Bring him to us. Exit Denny.

  LOVELL [aside]

  This is about that which the Bishop spake.

  I am happily come hither.

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  Enter CRANMER and DENNY.

  KING 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 How now, my lord? You do desire to know


  Wherefore I sent for you.

  CRANMER [Kneels.] It is my duty

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  T’attend your highness’ pleasure.

  KING 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,

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  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

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  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

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  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 [Kneels.] I humbly thank your highness,

  And am right glad to catch this good occasion

  Most throughly to be winnowed, where my chaff

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  And corn shall fly asunder. For I know

  There’s none stands under more calumnious tongues

  Than I myself, poor man.

  KING Stand up, good Canterbury.

  Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted

  In us, thy friend. Give me thy hand. Stand up.

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  Prithee, let’s walk. Now, by my halidom,

  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

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  Without endurance 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

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  What can be said against me.

  KING 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

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  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 –

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  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

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  Protect mine innocence, or I fall into

  The trap is laid for me.

  KING 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,

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  In charging you with matters, to commit you,

  The best persuasions to the contrary

  Fail not to use, and with what vehemency

  Th’occasion shall instruct you. If entreaties

  Will render you no remedy, this ring

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  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,

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  And do as I have bid you. Exit Cranmer.

  He has strangled

  His language in his tears.

  Enter Old Lady; LOVELL follows.

  LOVELL [within] Come back! What mean you?

  OLD LADY I’ll not come back. The tidings that I bring

  Will make my boldness manners. [to the King] Now good angels

  Fly o’er thy royal head and shade thy person

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  Under their blessed wings.

 

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