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Cap.

Noble lady,

The Vision. Enter, solemnly tripping one after | What is your pleasure with me?
another, six Personages, clad in white robes,
wearing on their heads garlands of bays, and
golden vizards on their faces; branches of bays
or palm in their hands. They first congee unto
her, then dance; and, at certain changes, the
first two hold a spare garland over her head; at
which the other four make reverent court'sies:
then the two that held the garland deliver the
same to the other next two, who observe the same
order in their changes, and holding the garland
over her head which done, they deliver the same
garland to the last two, who likewise observe the
same order: at which, as it were by inspiration,
she makes in her sleep signs of rejoicing, and
holdeth up her hands to heaven: and so in their
dancing vanish, carrying the garland with them.
The music continues.

First, mine own service to your grace; the next,
The king's request that I would visit you ;
Who grieves much for your weakness, and by me
Sends you his princely commendations,
And heartily entreats you take good comfort.
Kath. O my good lord, that comfort comes
too late ;

Kath. Spirits of peace, where are ye? are ye
all gone,

And leave me here in wretchedness behind ye?
Grif. Madam, we are here.
Kath.

It is not you I call for :
Saw ye none enter since I slept?
Grif.

None, madam.

Kath. No? Saw you not, even now, a blessed
troop

Invite me to a banquet; whose bright faces
Cast thousand beams upon me, like the sun?
They promis'd me eternal happiness,
And brought me garlands, Griffith, which I feel
I am not worthy yet to wear: I shall, assuredly,
Grif. I am most joyful, madam, such good

dreams

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'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. 12 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!

She is young, and of a noble modest nature,
Beseeching him to give her virtuous breeding,-
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,
For virtue, and true beauty of the soul,
And now I should not lie, but will deserve,
For honesty, and decent carriage,

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A right good husband, let him be a noble ;
And, sure, those men are happy that shall have
'em.

The last is, for my men: they are the poorest,
But poverty could never draw 'em from me;
That they may have their wages duly paid 'em,
And something over to remember me by:
If heaven had pleas'd to have given me longer

life

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Call in more women. wench,

When I am dead, good | Stands in the gap and trade of more preferments,

Let me be us'd with honour: strew me over With maiden flowers, that all the world may know

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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.

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Gar. It's one o'clock, boy, is 't not?
Boy.

It hath struck. Gar. These should be hours for necessities, Not for delights; times to repair our nature

With comforting repose, and not for us

With which the time will load him. The archbishop

Is the king's hand and tongue; and who dare speak

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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, I may tell it you, I think I have
Insens'd the lords o' the council that he is,
For so I know he is, they know he is,
A most arch heretic, a pestilence
That does infect the land: with which they
mov'd

Have broken with the king; 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, hath commanded
To-morrow morning to the council-board
He be convented. He's a rank weed, Sir
Thomas,

And we must root him out. From your affairs

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To waste these times. Good hour of night, Sir I hinder you too long: good night, Sir Thomas' Thomas!

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No great offence belongs to 't, give your friend Some touch of your late business: affairs, that walk

As they say spirits do, at midnight, have
In them a wilder nature than the business
That seeks dispatch by day.

Lov.

Lov. Many good nights, my lord. I rest your servant. Exeunt GARDINER and Page.

Enter the KING and 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;

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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?

My lord, I love you, To pray for her? what! is she crying out?
Lov. So said her woman; and that her suffer-

And durst commend a secret to your ear
Much weightier than this work. The queen 's in

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You are potently oppos'd, and with a malice
Of as great size. Ween you of better luck,
I mean in perjur'd witness, than your master,
Whose minister you are, whiles here he liv'd
Upon this naughty earth? Go to, go to:
You take a precipice for no leap of danger,
And woo your own destruction.
Cran.
God and your majesty
Protect mine innocence! or I fall into
The trap is laid for me.
K. Hen.
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,
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

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There make before them. Look! the good man weeps;

He's honest, on mine honour.

mother!

God's blest

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K. Ien. Give her an hundred marks. the queen.

Old Lady. 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.

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This is of purpose laid by some that hate me, God turn their hearts! Inever sought their malice, To quench mine honour: they would shame to make me

Wait else at door, a fellow-counsellor,
'Mong boys, grooms, and lackeys. But their
pleasures

Must be fulfill'd, and I attend with patience.
Enter the KING and BUTTS at a window above.
Butts. I'll show your grace the strangest sight,-
K. Hen.
What's that, Butts?
Butts. Ithink your highness saw this many aday.
K. Hen. Body o' me, where is it?
Butts.
There, my lord: 2
The high promotion of his grace of Canterbury;
Who holds his state at door, 'mongst pursuivants,
Pages, and footboys.

K. Hen.

Ha! 'tis he, indeed.

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Have misdemean'd yourself, and not a little,
Toward the king first, then his laws, in filling
The 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.

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Gar. Which reformation must be sudden too, My noble lords; for those that tame wild horses Pace '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 pity
To one man's honour, this contagious sickness,
Farewell all physic: and what follows then?
Commotions, uproars, with a general taint
Of the wholestate: as, of late days, our neighbours,
The upper Germany, can dearly witness,
Yet freshly pitied in our memories.

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Cran. My good lords, hitherto, in all the progress Both of my life and office, I have labour'd, And with no little study, that my teaching And the strong course of my authority Might go one way, and safely; and the end 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. 50

Gar. 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,

Chan. Speak to the business, Master secretary: You shall know many dare accuse you boldly, Why are we met in council?

More than, I fear, you are provided for.

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

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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,

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In seeking tales and informations
Against this man, whose honesty the devil
And his disciples only envy at,

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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

In daily thanks, that gave us such a prince;
Not only good and wise, but most religious :
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
The cause betwixt her and this great offender.
K. Hen. You were ever good at sudden com-
mendations,

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He, that dares most, but wag his finger at thee:
By all that 's holy, he had better starve
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 under. standing

And 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 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.

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Thus far, My most dread sovereign, may it like your grace To let my tongue excuse all. What was purpos'd Concerning 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.

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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,
You must be godfather, and answer for her.

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