Cran. Why?
Keep. Your Grace must waight till you be call"d for.
Enter Doctor Buts.
Cran. So
Buts. This is a Peere of Malice: I am glad I came this way so happily. The King Shall vnderstand it presently.
Exit Buts
Cran. "Tis Buts.
The Kings Physitian, as he past along How earnestly he cast his eyes vpon me: Pray heauen he found not my disgrace: for certaine This is of purpose laid by some that hate me, (G.o.d turne their hearts, I neuer sought their malice) To quench mine Honor; they would shame to make me Wait else at doore: a fellow Councellor "Mong Boyes, Groomes, and Lackeyes.
But their pleasures Must be fulfill"d, and I attend with patience.
Enter the King, and Buts, at a Windowe aboue.
Buts. Ile shew your Grace the strangest sight
King. What"s that Buts?
b.u.t.ts. I thinke your Highnesse saw this many a day
Kin. Body a me: where is it?
b.u.t.ts. There my Lord: The high promotion of his Grace of Canterbury, Who holds his State at dore "mongst Purseuants, Pages, and Foot-boyes
Kin. Ha? "Tis he indeed.
Is this the Honour they doe one another?
"Tis well there"s one aboue "em yet; I had thought They had parted so much honesty among "em, At least good manners; as not thus to suffer A man of his Place, and so neere our fauour To dance attendance on their Lordships pleasures, And at the dore too, like a Post with Packets: By holy Mary (b.u.t.ts) there"s knauery; Let "em alone, and draw the Curtaine close: We shall heare more anon.
A Councell Table brought in with Chayres and Stooles, and placed vnder the State. Enter Lord Chancellour, places himselfe at the vpper end of the Table, on the left hand: A Seate being left void aboue him, as for Canterburies Seate. Duke of Suffolke, Duke of Norfolke, Surrey, Lord Chamberlaine, Gardiner, seat themselues in Order on each side.
Cromwell at lower end, as Secretary.
Chan. Speake to the businesse, M[aster]. Secretary; Why are we met in Councell?
Crom. Please your Honours, The chiefe cause concernes his Grace of Canterbury
Gard. Ha"s he had knowledge of it?
Crom. Yes
Norf. Who waits there?
Keep. Without my n.o.ble Lords?
Gard. Yes
Keep. My Lord Archbishop: And ha"s done halfe an houre to know your pleasures
Chan. Let him come in
Keep. Your Grace may enter now.
Cranmer approches the Councell Table.
Chan. My good Lord Archbishop, I"m very sorry To sit heere at this present, and behold That Chayre stand empty: But we all are men In our owne natures fraile, and capable Of our flesh, few are Angels; out of which frailty And want of wisedome, you that best should teach vs, Haue misdemean"d your selfe, and not a little: Toward the King first, then his Lawes, in filling The whole Realme, by your teaching & your Chaplaines (For so we are inform"d) with new opinions, Diuers and dangerous; which are Heresies; And not reform"d, may proue pernicious
Gard. Which Reformation must be sodaine too My n.o.ble Lords; for those that tame wild Horses, Pace "em not in their hands to make "em gentle; But stop their mouthes with stubborn Bits & spurre "em, Till they obey the mannage. If we suffer Out of our easinesse and childish pitty To one mans Honour, this contagious sicknesse; Farewell all Physicke: and what followes then?
Commotions, vprores, with a generall Taint Of the whole State; as of late dayes our neighbours, The vpper Germany can deerely witnesse: Yet freshly pittied in our memories
Cran. My good Lords; Hitherto, in all the Progresse Both of my Life and Office, I haue labour"d, And with no little study, that my teaching And the strong course of my Authority, Might goe one way, and safely; and the end Was euer to doe well: nor is there liuing, (I speake it with a single heart, my Lords) A man that more detests, more stirres against, Both in his priuate Conscience, and his place, Defacers of a publique peace then I doe: Pray Heauen the King may neuer find a heart With lesse Allegeance in it. Men that make Enuy, and crooked malice, nourishment; Dare bite the best. I doe beseech your, Lordships, That in this case of Iustice, my Accusers, Be what they will, may stand forth face to face, And freely vrge against me
Suff. Nay, my Lord, That cannot be; you are a Counsellor, And by that vertue no man dare accuse you
Gard. My Lord, because we haue busines of more moment, We will be short with you. "Tis his Highnesse pleasure And our consent, for better tryall of you, From hence you be committed to the Tower, Where being but a priuate man againe, You shall know many dare accuse you boldly, More then (I feare) you are prouided for
Cran. Ah my good Lord of Winchester: I thanke you, You are alwayes my good Friend, if your will pa.s.se, I shall both finde your Lordship, Iudge and Iuror, You are so mercifull. I see your end, "Tis my vndoing. Loue and meekenesse, Lord Become a Churchman, better then Ambition: Win straying Soules with modesty againe, Cast none away: That I shall cleere my selfe, Lay all the weight ye can vpon my patience, I make as little doubt as you doe conscience, In doing dayly wrongs. I could say more, But reuerence to your calling, makes me modest
Gard. My Lord, my Lord, you are a Sectary, That"s the plaine truth; your painted glosse discouers To men that vnderstand you, words and weaknesse
Crom. My Lord of Winchester, y"are a little, By your good fauour, too sharpe; Men so n.o.ble, How euer faulty, yet should finde respect For what they haue beene: "tis a cruelty, To load a falling man
Gard. Good M[aster]. Secretary, I cry your Honour mercie; you may worst Of all this Table say so
Crom. Why my Lord?
Gard. Doe not I know you for a Fauourer Of this new Sect? ye are not sound
Crom. Not sound?
Gard. Not sound I say
Crom. Would you were halfe so honest: Mens prayers then would seeke you, not their feares
Gard. I shall remember this bold Language
Crom. Doe.
Remember your bold life too
Cham. This is too much; Forbeare for shame my Lords
Gard. I haue done
Crom. And I
Cham. Then thus for you my Lord, it stands agreed I take it, by all voyces: That forthwith, You be conuaid to th" Tower a Prisoner; There to remaine till the Kings further pleasure Be knowne vnto vs: are you all agreed Lords
All. We are
Cran. Is there no other way of mercy, But I must needs to th" Tower my Lords?
Gard. What other, Would you expect? You are strangely troublesome: Let some o"th" Guard be ready there.
Enter the Guard.
Cran. For me?
Must I goe like a Traytor thither?
Gard. Receiue him, And see him safe i"th" Tower
Cran. Stay good my Lords, I haue a little yet to say. Looke there my Lords, By vertue of that Ring, I take my cause Out of the gripes of cruell men, and giue it To a most n.o.ble Iudge, the King my Maister