Shakespearefor Bharat
Henry VIII

Act V · Scene III

The Council-Chamber.

Hover a speech to translate it — or press play to hear it performed.

Enter Chancellor; places himself at the upper end of the table on the left hand; a seat being left void above him, as for CRANMER's seat. SUFFOLK, NORFOLK, SURREY, Chamberlain, GARDINER, seat themselves in order on each side. CROMWELL at lower end, as secretary. Keeper at the door

Chancellor
Speak to the business, master-secretary:Why are we met in council?
CROMWELL
Please your honours,The chief cause concerns his grace of Canterbury.
GARDINER
Has he had knowledge of it?
CROMWELL
Yes.
NORFOLK
Who waits there?
Keeper
Without, my noble lords?
GARDINER
Yes.
Keeper
My lord archbishop;And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures.
Chancellor
Let him come in.
Keeper
Your grace may enter now.

CRANMER enters and approaches the council-table

Chancellor
My good lord archbishop, I'm very sorryTo sit here at this present, and beholdThat chair stand empty: but we all are men,In our own natures frail, and capableOf our flesh; few are angels: out of which frailtyAnd want of wisdom, you, that best should teach us,Have misdemean'd yourself, and not a little,Toward the king first, then his laws, in fillingThe whole realm, by your teaching and your chaplains,For so we are inform'd, with new opinions,Divers and dangerous; which are heresies,And, not reform'd, may prove pernicious.
GARDINER
Which reformation must be sudden too,My noble lords; for those that tame wild horsesPace 'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle,But stop their mouths with stubborn bits, and spur 'em,Till they obey the manage. If we suffer,Out of our easiness and childish pityTo one man's honour, this contagious sickness,Farewell all physic: and what follows then?Commotions, uproars, with a general taintOf the whole state: as, of late days, our neighbours,The upper Germany, can dearly witness,Yet freshly pitied in our memories.
CRANMER
My good lords, hitherto, in all the progressBoth of my life and office, I have labour'd,And with no little study, that my teachingAnd the strong course of my authorityMight go one way, and safely; and the endWas 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,Defacers of a public peace, than I do.Pray heaven, the king may never find a heartWith less allegiance in it! Men that makeEnvy and crooked malice nourishmentDare 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.
SUFFOLK
Nay, my lord,That cannot be: you are a counsellor,And, by that virtue, no man dare accuse you.
GARDINER
My lord, because we have business of more moment,We will be short with you. 'Tis his highness' pleasure,And our consent, for better trial of you,From hence you be committed to the Tower;Where, being but a private man again,You shall know many dare accuse you boldly,More than, I fear, you are provided for.
CRANMER
Ah, my good Lord of Winchester, I thank you;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 conscienceIn doing daily wrongs. I could say more,But reverence to your calling makes me modest.
GARDINER
My lord, my lord, you are a sectary,That's the plain truth: your painted gloss discovers,To men that understand you, words and weakness.
CROMWELL
My Lord of Winchester, you are a little,By your good favour, too sharp; men so noble,However faulty, yet should find respectFor what they have been: 'tis a crueltyTo load a falling man.
GARDINER
Good master secretary,I cry your honour mercy; you may, worstOf all this table, say so.
CROMWELL
Why, my lord?
GARDINER
Do not I know you for a favourerOf this new sect? ye are not sound.
CROMWELL
Not sound?
GARDINER
Not sound, I say.
CROMWELL
Would you were half so honest!Men's prayers then would seek you, not their fears.
GARDINER
I shall remember this bold language.
CROMWELL
Do.Remember your bold life too.
Chancellor
This is too much;Forbear, for shame, my lords.
GARDINER
I have done.
CROMWELL
And I.
Chancellor
Then thus for you, my lord: it stands agreed,I take it, by all voices, that forthwithYou be convey'd to the Tower a prisoner;There to remain till the king's further pleasureBe known unto us: are you all agreed, lords?
All
We are.
CRANMER
Is there no other way of mercy,But I must needs to the Tower, my lords?
GARDINER
What otherWould you expect? you are strangely troublesome.Let some o' the guard be ready there.

Enter Guard

CRANMER
For me?Must I go like a traitor thither?
GARDINER
Receive him,And see him safe i' the Tower.
CRANMER
Stay, good my lords,I have a little yet to say. Look there, my lords;By virtue of that ring, I take my causeOut of the gripes of cruel men, and give itTo a most noble judge, the king my master.
Chamberlain
This is the king's ring.
SURREY
'Tis no counterfeit.
SUFFOLK
'Tis the right ring, by heaven: I told ye all,When ye first put this dangerous stone a-rolling,'Twould fall upon ourselves.
NORFOLK
Do you think, my lords,The king will suffer but the little fingerOf this man to be vex'd?
Chancellor
'Tis now too certain:How much more is his life in value with him?Would I were fairly out on't!
CROMWELL
My mind gave me,In seeking tales and informationsAgainst this man, whose honesty the devilAnd his disciples only envy at,Ye blew the fire that burns ye: now have at ye!

Enter KING, frowning on them; takes his seat

GARDINER
Dread sovereign, how much are we bound to heavenIn daily thanks, that gave us such a prince;Not only good and wise, but most religious:One that, in all obedience, makes the churchThe chief aim of his honour; and, to strengthenThat holy duty, out of dear respect,His royal self in judgment comes to hearThe cause betwixt her and this great offender.
KING HENRY VIII
You were ever good at sudden commendations,Bishop of Winchester. But know, I come notTo hear such flattery now, and in my presence;They are too thin and bare to hide offences.To me you cannot reach, you play the spaniel,And think with wagging of your tongue to win me;But, whatsoe'er thou takest me for, I'm sureThou hast a cruel nature and a bloody.

To CRANMER

KING HENRY VIII
Good man, sit down. Now let me see the proudestHe, that dares most, but wag his finger at thee:By all that's holy, he had better starveThan but once think this place becomes thee not.
SURREY
May it please your grace,--
KING HENRY VIII
No, sir, it does not please me.I had thought I had had men of some understandingAnd wisdom of my council; but I find none.Was it discretion, lords, to let this man,This good man,--few of you deserve that title,--This honest man, wait like a lousy footboyAt chamber--door? and one as great as you are?Why, what a shame was this! Did my commissionBid ye so far forget yourselves? I gave yePower 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.
Chancellor
Thus far,My most dread sovereign, may it like your graceTo let my tongue excuse all. What was purposedConcerning his imprisonment, was rather,If there be faith in men, meant for his trial,And fair purgation to the world, than malice,I'm sure, in me.
KING HENRY VIII
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 princeMay be beholding to a subject, IAm, 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 ofCanterbury,I have a suit which you must not deny me;That is, a fair young maid that yet wants baptism,You must be godfather, and answer for her.
CRANMER
The greatest monarch now alive may gloryIn such an honour: how may I deserve itThat am a poor and humble subject to you?
KING HENRY VIII
Come, come, my lord, you'ld spare your spoons: youshall have two noble partners with you; the oldDuchess of Norfolk, and Lady Marquess Dorset: willthese please you?Once more, my Lord of Winchester, I charge you,Embrace and love this man.
GARDINER
With a true heartAnd brother-love I do it.
CRANMER
And let heavenWitness, how dear I hold this confirmation.
KING HENRY VIII
Good man, those joyful tears show thy true heart:The common voice, I see, is verifiedOf thee, which says thus, 'Do my Lord of CanterburyA shrewd turn, and he is your friend for ever.'Come, lords, we trifle time away; I longTo have this young one made a Christian.As I have made ye one, lords, one remain;So I grow stronger, you more honour gain.

Exeunt