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wherefore frowns he thus? All's not well.

Cran. [Aside] I am fearful
'Tis his aspect of terror.
King. How now, my lord! you

Wherefore I sent for you.

Cran. [Kneeling] !!

King.

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do desire to know

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To attend your highness' pleasure.

My good and gracious Lord of Canterbury.
and I must walk a turn together;

Come, you

I have news to tell you: come, come, give me your

hand.

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 consider'd,
Have moved us and our council, that you shall 100
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.

Cran. [Kneeling]

King.

Cran.

King.

I humbly thank your highness; And am right glad to catch this good occasion Most throughly to be winnow'd, where my chaff And corn shall fly asunder: for, I know,

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There's none stands under more calumnious tongues
Than I myself, poor man.

Stand up, good Canterbury:

give me thy hand, stand up:

Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted

In us, thy friend

Prithee, let's walk. Now, by my holidame,

What manner of man are you? My lord, I look'd
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.

Most dread liege, 121
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.

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Know you not

How your state stands i' the world, with the whole

world?

Your enemies are many, and not small; their practices

Cran.

King.

Must bear the same proportion; and not ever
The justice and the truth o' the question carries 130
The due o' the 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.

God and your majesty
Protect mine innocence, or I fall into
The trap is laid for me!

Be of good cheer;

141

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,
The best persuasions to the contrary
Fail not to use, and with what vehemency
The occasion shall instruct you: if entreaties
Will render you no remedy, this ring
Deliver them, and your appeal to us

150

Gent.

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,
And do as I have bid you. [Exit Cranmer.] He
has strangled

His language in his tears.

Enter Old Lady; Lovell following.

[Within] Come back: what mean you? Old L. I'll not come back; the tidings that I bring Will make my boldness manners. Now, good angels Fly o'er thy royal head, and shade thy person 160 Under their blessed wings!

King.

I guess thy message.
Say, ay, and of a boy.

Old L.

Now, by thy looks
Is the queen deliver❜d?

Ay, ay, my liege;
And of a lovely boy: the God of heaven
Both now and ever bless her! 'tis a girl,
Promises boys hereafter. Sir, your queen
Desires your visitation, and to be

Acquainted with this stranger: 'tis as like you
As cherry is to cherry.

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Lov.

Sir?

169

[Exit.

King. Give her an hundred marks. I'll to the queen.

Old L. An hundred marks! By this light, I'll ha' more.
An ordinary groom is for such payment.

I will have more, or scold it out of him.
Said I for this, the girl was like to him?
I will have more, or else unsay 't; and now,
While it is hot, I'll put it to the issue.

[Exeunt.

Scene 11.

Before the council-chamber.

Pursuivants, Pages, &c. attending.

Enter Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury.

Gran. I hope I am not too late; and yet the gentleman
That was sent to me from the council pray'd me
To make great haste. All fast? what means this?

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