Many good nights, my lord; I rest your servant.

Exeunt Gardiner and Page at one door

Enter King Henry and Suffolk at another door

KING HENRY (to Suffolk)

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 HENRY But little, Charles,

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

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 great’st humbleness, and desired your highness

Most heartily to pray for her.

KING HENRY

What sayst thou? Ha?

To pray for her? What, is she crying out?

LOVELL

So said her woman, and that her suffrance made

Almost each pang a death.

KING HENRY

Alas, good lady.

SUFFOLK

God safely quit her of her burden, and

With gentle travail, to the gladding of

Your highness with an heir.

KING HENRY

’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

Would not be friendly to.

SUFFOLK

I wish your highness

A quiet night, and my good mistress will

Remember in my prayers.

KING HENRY

Charles, good night.

Exit Suffolk

Enter Sir Anthony Denny

Well, sir, what follows?

DENNY

Sir, I have brought my lord the Archbishop,

As you commanded me.

KING HENRY

Ha, Canterbury?

DENNY

Ay, my good lord.

KING HENRY

’Tis true—where is he, Denny?

DENNY

He attends your highness’ pleasure.

KING HENRY

Bring him to us.

Exit Denny

LOVELL. (aside)

This is about that which the Bishop spake.

I am happily come hither.

Enter Cranmer the Archbishop, ushered by Denny

KING HENRY (to Lovell and Denny) Avoid the gallery.

⌈Denny begins to depart.⌉ 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 HENRY

How now, my lord? You do desire to know

Wherefore I sent for you.

CRANMER (kneeling) It is my duty

T’attend your highness’ pleasure.

KING HENRY

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.

⌈Cranmer rises. They walk⌉

Ah, my good lord, I grieve at what I speak,

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

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

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 (kneeling)

I humbly thank your highness, And am right glad to catch this good occasion

Most throughly to be winnowed, where my chaff

And corn shall fly asunder. For I know

There’s none stands under more calumnious tongues

Than I myself, poor man.

KING HENRY

Stand up, good Canterbury.

Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted

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

Prithee, let’s walk.

Cranmer rises. They 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

Without indurance 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

What can be said against me.

KING HENRY

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

The dew 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,

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

Protect mine innocence, or I fall into

The trap is laid for me.

KING HENRY

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,

In charging you with matters, to commit you,