And heartily entreats you take good comfort.
Kath, O my good lord, that comfort comes too late ; "Tis like a pardon after execution:
That gentle physic, given in time, had cur'd me;
But now I am past all comforts here, but prayers.
How does his highness?
Cap. Madam, in good health.
Kath. So may he ever do! and ever flourish,
When I shall dwell with worms, and my poor name
Banish'd the kingdom !-Patience, is that letter,
I caus'd you write, yet sent away?
Pat. No, madam.
[Giving it to Katharine. Kath. Sir, I most humbly pray you to deliver This to my lord the king.
Cap. Most willing, madam.
Kath. In which I have commended to his goodness The model of our chaste loves, his young daughter ;The dews of heaven fall thick in blessings on her Beseeching him, to give her virtuous breeding; (She is young, and of a noble modest nature; I hope, she will deserve well;) and a little To love her for her mother's sake, that lov'd him, Heaven knows how dearly. My next poor petition Is, that his noble grace would have some pity Upon my wretched women, that so long Have follow'd both my fortunes faithfully: Of which there is not one, I dare avow, (And now I should not lie,) but will deserve, For virtue, and true beauty of the soul, For honesty, and decent carriage,
A right good husband, let him be a noble ;
And, sure, those men are happy that shall have them.
The last is, for my men ;-they are the poorest,
But poverty could never draw them from me ;-
That they may have their wages duly paid them,
And something over to remember me by;
If heaven had pleas'd 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,
As you wish christian peace to souls departed,
Stand these poor people's friend, and urge the king
To do me this last right.
Cup. By heaven. I will;
Or let me lose the fashion of a man!
Kath. I thank you, honest lord. Remember me
In all humility unto his highness:
Say, his long trouble now is passing
Out of this world; tell him, in death I bless'd him,
For so I will.-Mine eyes grow dim.-Farewell,
My lord.-Griffith, farewell.-Nay, Patience,
You must not leave me yet. I must to bed;
Call in more women.-When I am dead, good wench,
Let me be us'd with honour; strew me over
With maiden flowers, that all the world may know
I was a chaste wife to my grave: embalm me,
Then lay me forth: although unqueen'd, yet like
A queen, and daughter to a king, inter me.
I can no more.
[Exeunt, leading Katharine.
ACT V.
SCENE I.—A Gallery in the Palace. Enter GARDINER Bishop of Winchester, a Page with a torch before him, met by Sir THOMAS LOVELL.
Gar. It's one o'clock, boy, is't not?
Boy. It hath struck.
Gar. These should be hours for necessities,
Not for delights ;7 times to repair our nature
With comforting repose, and not for us
To waste these times.-Good hour of night, sir Thomas! Whither so late?
Lov. Came you from the king, my lord?
Gar. I did, sir Thomas; and left him at primero® With the duke of Suffolk.
Lov. I must to him too,
Before he go to bed. I'll take my leave.
Gar. Not yet, sir Thomas Lovell. What's the matter?
It seems, your are in haste: an if there be
No great offence belongs to't, give your friend
Some touch of your late business :9 Affairs, that walk
(As, they say, spirits do) at midnight, have
[7] Gardiner himself is not much delighted. The delight at which he hints, seems to be the king's diversion, which keeps him in attendance. JOHNSON.
[8] Primero and Primavista, two games at cards, H. I. Primera, Primavista. La Primiere, G. Prime, f. Prime veue. Primum, et primum visum, that is, first, and first seen: because he that can show such an order of cards first, wins the game. GREY
[9] Some hint of the business that keeps you awake so late. JOHNSON.
In them a wilder nature, than the business
That seeks despatch by day.
Lov. 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 fear'd,
She'll with the labour end.
Gar. The fruit she goes with,
I pray for heartily; that it may find
I
Good time, and live : but for the stock, sir Thomas,
I wish it grubb'd up now.
Lov. Methinks, I could
Cry the amen ; and yet my conscience says
She's a good creature, and, sweet lady, does
Deserve our better wishes.
Gar. But, sir, sir,-
Hear me, sir Thomas : -You are 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,
Till Cranmer, Cromwell, her two hands, and she,
Sleep in their graves.
Lov. Now, sir, you speak of two
The most remark' i'th kingdom. As for Cromwell,-
Beside that of the jewel-house, he's made master
O'the rolls, and the king's secretary ; further, sir,
Stands in the gap and trade of more preferments,
With which the time will load him. The archbishop
Is the king's hand, and tongue ; and who dare speak
One syllable against him ?
Gar. Yes, yes, sir Thomas,
There are that dare ; and I myself have ventur'd
To speak my mind of him: and, indeed, this day,
Sir, (1 may tell it you,) I think, I have
Incens'd the lords o’the council, that he is,
(For so I know he is, they know he is,)
À most arch heretic, a pestilence
That does infect the land : with which they moved,
Have broken with the king ;u 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,) he hath commanded,
[1] Mine own opinion in religion.
Trade, is the practised method, the general course.
They have broken silence ; told their minds to the king.
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.
[Exeunt GARDINER and Page.
Lov. Many good nights, my lord; I rest your servant.
As LOVELL is going out, enter the King, and the Duke of SUFFOLK,
K. Hen. Charles, I will play no more to-night;
My mind's not on't, you are too hard for me.
Suf. Sir, I did never win of
you before.
K. Hen. But little, Charles;
Nor shall not, when my fancy's on my play.-
Now, Lovell, from the queen what is the news?
Lov. I could not personally deliver to her
What you commanded me, but by her woman
I sent your message; who return'd her thanks
In the greatest humbleness, and desir'd your highness
Most heartily to pray for her.
K. Hen. What say'st thou ? ha!
To pray for her! what, is she crying out?
Lov. So said her woman; and that her sufferance made Almost each pang a death.
K. Hen. Alas, good lady!
Suf. God safely quit her of her burden, and
With gentle travail, to the gladding of
Your highness with an heir!
K. Hen. 'Tis midnight, Charles,
Pr'ythee, to bed; and in thy prayers remember
The estate of my poor queen.
Leave me alone ;
For I must think of that, which company
Will not be friendly to..
Suf. I wish your highness
A quiet night, and my good mistress will
Remember in my prayers.
K. Hen. Charles, good night.-
Enter Sir ANTHONY DENNY
Well, sir, what follows?
Den. Sir, I have brought my lord the archbishop,
K. Hen. Bring him to us.
Lov. This is about that which the bishop spake ; I am happily come hither.
Re-enter DENNY, with CRANMER.
K. Hen. Avoid the gallery. [LOVELL seems to stay. Ha! I have said.-Begone.
What!
To attend your highness' pleasure.
K. Hen. 'Pray you, arise,
My good and gracious lord of Canterbury.
[Exeunt LOVELL and Denny. Cran. I am fearful :-Wherefore frowns he thus ? 'Tis his aspect of terror. All's not well.
K. Hen. How now, my lord? You do desire to know Wherefore I sent for you.
Cran. It is my duty,
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,
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 mov'd 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,5
It fits we thus proceed, or else no witness
Would come against you.
Cran. I humbly thank your highness;
And am right glad to catch this good occasion
Most thoroughly to be winnow'd, where my chaff
And corn shall fly asunder: for, I know,
There's none stands under more calumnious tongues,
Than I myself, poor man.
K. Hen. Stand up, good Canterbury;
Thy truth, and thy integrity, is rooted
In us, thy friend: Give me thy hand, stand up;
Pr'ythee, let's walk. Now, by my holy-dame,
What manner of man are you? My lord, I look'd
[5] You being one of the council, it is necessary to imprison you, that the witpesses against you may not be deterred. JOHNSON.
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