And the strong course of my authority

Crom.

fears.

Gar. I shall remember this bold language.
Crom.

Remember your bold life too.

Chan.

Forbear, for shame, my lords.
Gar.

Crom.

Do. 84

This is too much;

I have done.

And I.

Would you were half so honest! Might go one way, and safely; and the end 36 Men's prayers then would seek you, not their Was ever, to do well: nor is there living,I speak it with a single heart, my lords,A man that more detests, more stirs against, Both in his private conscience and his place, 40 Defacers of a public peace, than I do. Pray heaven the king may never find a heart With less allegiance in it! Men, that make Envy and crooked malice nourishment Dare bite the best. I do beseech your lordships That, in this case of justice, my accusers, Be what they will, may stand forth face to face, And freely urge against me. Suf. Nay, my lord, That cannot be: you are a counsellor, And by that virtue no man dare accuse you. Gar. My lord, because we have business of more moment,

44

48

Cran. Ah! my good Lord of Winchester, I thank you;

61

64

You are always my good friend: if your will pass,
I shall both find your lordship judge and juror,
You are so merciful. I see your end;
'Tis my undoing: love and meekness, lord,
Become a churchman better than ambition:
Win straying souls with modesty again,
Cast none away. That I shall clear myself,
Lay all the weight ye can upon my patience,
I make as little doubt, as you do conscience,
In doing daily wrongs. I could say more,
But reverence to your calling makes me modest.
Gar. My lord, my lord, you are a sectary;
That's the plain truth: your painted gloss dis-

covers,

68

Chan. Then thus for you, my lord: it stands agreed,

88

I take it, by all voices, that forthwith
You be convey'd to the Tower a prisoner;
There to remain till the king's further pleasure
Be known unto us. Are you all agreed, lords?
All. We are.
Cran. Is there no other way of mercy,
But I must needs to the Tower, my lords?
Gar.

What other 93
Would you expect? You are strangely trouble-

some.

Let some o' the guard be ready there.
Enter Guard.

Cran.

Must I go like a traitor thither?
Gar.

And see him safe i̇' the Tower.
Cran.

For me?

Receive him, 96

Stay, good my lords;

I have a little yet to say. Look there, my lords;
By virtue of that ring I take my cause
Out of the gripes of cruel men, and give it 100
To a most noble judge, the king my master.
Chan. This is the king's ring.

Sur.
'Tis no counterfeit.
Suf. 'Tis the right ring, by heaven! I told ye all,
When we first put this dangerous stone a-rolling,
'Twould fall upon ourselves.

Nor.

Do you think, my lords, 105
The king will suffer but the little finger
Of this man to be vex'd?
Cham.
'Tis now too certain:
How much more is his life in value with him?
Would I were fairly out on 't.
Crom.

My mind gave me, 109
In seeking tales and informations
Against this man- -whose honesty the devil
And his disciples only envy at-

112

Ye blew the fire that burns ye: now have at ye!
Enter the KING, frowning on them: he takes

his seat.

Gar. Dread sovereign, how much are we
bound to heaven

Not sound? In daily thanks, that gave us such a prince;
Not only good and wise, but most religious: 116

One that in all obedience makes the Church
The chief aim of his honour; and, to strengthen
That holy duty, out of dear respect,
His royal self in judgment comes to hear 120
The cause betwixt her and this great offender.
K. Hen. You were ever good at sudden com-
mendations,

Bishop of Winchester; but know, I come not
To hear such flattery now, and in my presence;
They are too thin and bare to hide offences. 125
To me you cannot reach; you play the spaniel,
And think with wagging of your tongue to win
me;

You must be godfather, and answer for her.
Cran. The greatest monarch now alive may
glory

In such an honour: how may I deserve it, 164
That am a poor and humble subject to you?

K. Hen. Come, come, my lord, you'd spare your spoons: you shall have two noble partners with you; the old Duchess of Norfolk, and Lady Marquess Dorset: will these please you? 169 Once more, my Lord of Winchester, I charge you,

Embrace and love this man.
Gar.

But, whatsoe'er thou tak'st me for, I'm sure 128 And brother-love I do it.
Thou hast a cruel nature and a bloody.

Cran.

With a true heart

[To CRANMER.] Good man, sit down. Now let Witness, how dear I hold this confirmation. me see the proudest

He, that dares most, but wag his finger at thee:
By all that's holy, he had better starve 132
Than but once think this place becomes thee not.
Sur. May it please your Grace,
K. Hen.

No, sir, it does not please me. I had thought I had had men of some understanding

And wisdom of my council; but I find none. 136
Was it discretion, lords, to let this man,
This good man,-few of you deserve that title,-
This honest man, wait like a lousy footboy
At chamber-door? and one as great as you are?
Why, what a shame was this! Did my com-
mission

Bid ye so far forget yourselves? I gave ye
Power as he was a counsellor to try him,
Not as a groom. There's some of ye, I see,
More out of malice than integrity,
Would try him to the utmost, had ye mean;
Which ye shall never have while I live.
Chan.

141

144

Thus far, My most dread sov'reign, may it like your Grace 148

To let my tongue excuse all. What was pur-
pos'd

Concerning his imprisonment, was rather-
If there be faith in men-meant for his trial
And fair purgation to the world, than malice, 152
I'm sure, in me.

156

K. Hen. Well, well, my lords, respect him;
Take him, and use him well; he's worthy of it.
I will say thus much for him, if a prince
May be beholding to a subject, I
Am, for his love and service, so to him.
Make me no more ado, but all embrace him:
Be friends, for shame, my lords! My Lord of
Canterbury,

I have a suit which you must not deny me; 160
That is, a fair young maid that yet wants
baptism,

K. Hen. Good man! those joyful tears show thy true heart:

The common voice, I see, is verified

Of thee, which says thus, 'Do my Lord of
Canterbury
176
A shrewd turn, and he is your friend for ever.'
Come, lords, we trifle time away; I long
To have this young one made a Christian.
As I have made ye one, lords, one remain; 180
So I grow stronger, you more honour gain.

SCENE IV.-The Palace- Yard.

[Exeunt.

Noise and tumult within. Enter Porter and his Man.

Port. You'll leave your noise anon, ye rascals. Do you take the court for Paris-garden? ye rude slaves, leave your gaping.

[Within.] Good Master porter, I belong to the larder.

Port. Belong to the gallows, and be hanged, you rogue! Is this a place to roar in? Fetch me a dozen crab-tree staves, and strong ones: these are but switches to 'em. I'll scratch your heads: you must be seeing christenings! Do you look for ale and cakes here, you rude rascals?

12

Man. I am not Samson, nor Sir Guy, nor
Colbrand,

To mow 'em down before me; but if I spar'd any
That had a head to hit, either young or old, 25
He or she, cuckold or cuckold-maker,
Let me ne'er hope to see a chine again;
And that I would not for a cow, God save her!
[Within.] Do you hear, Master porter? 29
Port. I shall be with you presently, good
Master puppy. Keep the door close, sirrah.
Man. What would you have me do? 32
Port. What should you do, but knock 'em
down by the dozens? Is this Moorfields to
muster in? or have we some strange Indian
with the great tool come to court, the women so
besiege us? Bless me, what a fry of fornication
is at door! On my Christian conscience, this
one christening will beget a thousand: here
will be father, godfather, and all together. 40

As if we kept a fair here! Where are these porters,

These lazy knaves? Ye have made a fine hand, fellows:

76
There's a trim rabble let in. Are all these
Your faithful friends o' the suburbs? We shall
have

Great store of room, no doubt, left for the ladies,
When they pass back from the christening.
Port.
An't please your honour, 80
We are but men; and what so many may do,
Not being torn a-pieces, we have done:
An army cannot rule 'em.
Cham.
As I live,

84

If the king blame me for 't, I'll lay ye all
By the heels, and suddenly; and on your
heads
Clap round fines for neglect: ye're lazy knaves;
And here ye lie baiting of bombards, when
Ye should do service. Hark! the trumpets
sound;

88

They're come already from the christening.
Go, break among the press, and find a way out
To let the troop pass fairly, or I'll find
Marshalsea shall hold ye play these two
months.

Port. Make way there for the princess.
Man.

92

You great fellow,

Stand close up, or I'll make your head ache.
Port. You i' the camlet, get up o' the rail:
I'll pick you o'er the pales else. [Exeunt.

Man. The spoons will be the bigger, sir. There is a fellow somewhat near the door, he should be a brazier by his face, for, o' my conscience, twenty of the dog days now reign in's nose: all that stand about him are under the line, they need no other penance. That fire-drake did IA hit three times on the head, and three times was his nose discharged against me: he stands there, like a mortar-piece, to blow us. There was a haberdasher's wife of small wit near him, that railed upon me till her pinked porringer fell off her head, for kindling such a combustion in the state. I missed the meteor once, and hit that woman, who cried out, 'Clubs!' when I might see from far some forty truncheoners draw to her succour, which were the hope o' the Strand, where she was quartered. They fell on; I made good my place; at length they came to the broomstaff to me; I defied 'em still; when suddenly a file of boys behind 'em, loose shot, delivered such a shower of pebbles, that I was fain to draw mine honour in, and let 'em win the work. The devil was amongst 'em, I think, surely. 64

Port. These are the youths that thunder at a playhouse, and fight for bitten apples; that no audience, but the Tribulation of Tower-hill, or the Limbs of Limehouse, their dear brothers, are able to endure. I have some of 'em in Limbo Patrum, and there they are like to dance these three days; besides the running banquet of two beadles, that is to come.

72

SCENE V.-The Palace.

Enter trumpets, sounding; then two Aldermen, Lord Mayor, Garter, CRANMER, DUKE OF NORFOLK, with his marshal's staff, DUKE OF SUFFOLK, two Noblemen bearing great standing-bowls for the christening gifts; then, four Noblemen bearing a canopy, under which the DUCHESS OF NORFOLK, godmother, bearing the child, richly habited in a mantle, &c., train borne by a Lady; then follows the MARCHIONESS OF DORSET, the other godmother, and Ladies. The troop pass once about the stage, and Garter speaks.

Gart. Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty Princess of England, Elizabeth!

Flourish. Enter KING and Train.
Cran. [Kneeling.] And to your royal Grace,
and the good queen,

My noble partners, and myself, thus pray:
All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady,
Heaven ever laid up to make parents happy, 8

K. Hen. Thank you, good lord archbishop: And so stand fix'd. Peace, plenty, love, truth, What is her name?

K. Hen. O lord archbishop!
Thou hast made me now a man: never, before
This happy child, did I get any thing.
This oracle of comfort has so pleas'd me,
24 That when I am in heaven, I shall desire
To see what this child does, and praise my
Maker.

CALCHAS, a Trojan Priest, taking part with

the Greeks.

PANDARUS, Uncle to Cressida.

AGAMEMNON, the Grecian General.

MENELAUS, his Brother.

ACHILLES,

AJAX,

Grecian Commanders.

ULYSSES,

NESTOR,
DIOMEDES,

PATROCLUS,

Grecian Commanders.

THERSITES, a deformed and scurrilous Gre

cian.

ALEXANDER, Servant to Cressida.

Servant to Troilus.

Servant to Paris.

Servant to Diomedes.

HELEN, Wife to Menelaus.

ANDROMACHE, Wife to Hector.

CASSANDRA, Daughter to Priam; a prophetess.

CRESSIDA, Daughter to Calchas.

Trojan and Greek Soldiers, and Attendants.

SCENE.-Troy, and the Grecian Camp before it.

mures

8

The ravish'd Helen, Menelaus' queen,
With wanton Paris sleeps; and that's the
quarrel.

To Tenedos they come,

And the deep-drawing barks do there disgorge
Their war-like fraughtage: now on Dardan
plains

The fresh and yet unbruised Greeks do pitch
Their brave pavilions: Priam's six-gated city,
Dardan, and Tymbria, Ilias, Chetas, Trojan,
And Antenorides, with massy staples
And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts,
Sperr up the sons of Troy.

Now expectation, tickling skittish spirits,
On one and other side, Trojan and Greek,
Sets all on hazard. And hither am I come

13

17

SCENE I.-Troy. Before PRIAM's Palace.
Enter TROILUS armed, and PANDARUS.
Tro. Call here my varlet, I'll unarm again:
Why should I war without the walls of Troy,
That find such cruel battle here within?
Each Trojan that is master of his heart,
Let him to field; Troilus, alas! has none.
Pan. Will this gear ne'er be mended?

Tro. The Greeks are strong, and skilful to
their strength,

Fierce to their skill, and to their fierceness
valiant;

But I am weaker than a woman's tear,
20 Tamer than sleep, fonder than ignorance,
Less valiant than the virgin in the night,
And skilless as unpractis'd infancy.

8

12