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?
10
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
40
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.
The Arden Shakespeare Complete Works Page 258