How long her face is drawn? How pale she looks,
And of an earthy cold? Mark her eyes!
GRIFFITH She is going, wench: pray, pray.
PATIENCE Heaven comfort her.
Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER An’t like111 your grace—
KATHERINE You are a saucy112 fellow:
Deserve we no more reverence?
To the Messenger
GRIFFITH You are to blame,
Knowing she will not lose her wonted115 greatness,
To use so rude behaviour. Go to, kneel.
MESSENGER I humbly do entreat your highness’ pardon:
My haste made me unmannerly. There is staying118
A gentleman sent from the king to see you.
KATHERINE Admit him entrance, Griffith. But this fellow
Let me ne’er see again.
Exit Messenger
Enter Lord Caputius [ushered by Griffith]
If my sight fail not,
You should be lord ambassador from the emperor122,
My royal nephew, and your name Caputius.
CAPUTIUS Madam, the same. Your servant.
KATHERINE O my lord,
The times and titles now are altered strangely
With me since first you knew me. But I pray you,
What is your pleasure with me?
CAPUTIUS Noble lady,
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.
KATHERINE O my good lord, that comfort comes too late,
’Tis like a pardon after execution:
That gentle physic given in time had137 cured me,
But now I am past all comforts here but prayers.
How does his highness?
CAPUTIUS Madam, in good health.
KATHERINE So may he ever do, and ever flourish,
When I shall dwell with worms, and my poor name
Banished the kingdom. Patience, is that letter
I caused you write yet sent away?
Gives it to Katherine
PATIENCE No, madam.
KATHERINE Sir, I most humbly pray you to deliver
Gives the letter to Caputius
This to my lord the king.
CAPUTIUS Most willing148, madam.
KATHERINE In which I have commended to his goodness
The model of our chaste loves, his young daughter150 —
The dews of heaven fall thick in blessings on her —
Beseeching him to give her virtuous breeding152.
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 loved 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 followed both my fortunes159 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 carriage163,
A right good husband — let him be a noble —
And sure those men are happy165 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 over169 to remember me by.
If heaven had pleased to have given me longer life
And able171 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.
CAPUTIUS By heaven, I will,
Or let me lose the fashion178 of a man.
KATHERINE I thank you, honest179 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 blessed him,
For so I will. Mine eyes grow dim. Farewell,
You must not leave me yet. I must to bed:
Call in more women. When I am dead, good wench,
Let me be used187 with honour: strew me over
With maiden flowers188, that all the world may know
I was a chaste wife to my grave: embalm me,
Then lay me forth190: although unqueened, yet like
A queen and daughter to a king inter me.
I can192 no more.
Exeunt leading Katherine
Act 5 Scene 1
running scene 12
Enter Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, a Page with a torch before him, met by Sir Thomas Lovell
GARDINER It’s one o’clock, boy, is’t not?
PAGE It hath struck.
GARDINER These should be hours for necessities3,
Not for delights: times to repair our nature
With comforting repose, and not for us
To waste these times. Good hour of night, Sir Thomas:
Whither7 so late?
LOVELL Came you from the king, my lord?
GARDINER I did, Sir Thomas, and left him at primero9
With the Duke of Suffolk.
LOVELL I must11 to him too,
Before he go to bed. I’ll take my leave.
GARDINER Not yet, Sir Thomas Lovell. What’s the matter?
It seems you are in haste: an if14 there be
No great offence15 belongs to’t, give your friend
Some touch of your late16 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.
LOVELL My lord, I love you,
And durst commend21 a secret to your ear
Much weightier than this work22. The queen’s in labour —
They say in great extremity — and feared23
She’ll with the labour end.
GARDINER The fruit she goes with25
I pray for heartily, that it may find
Good time, and live: but for the stock27, Sir Thomas,
I wish it grubbed up28 now.
LOVELL Methinks I could
Cry the amen30, and yet my conscience says
She’s a good creature and, sweet lady, does
Deserve our better wishes.
GARDINER But, sir, sir,
Hear me, Sir Thomas: you’re a gentleman
Of mine own way35. 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 hands38, and she
Sleep in their graves.
LOVELL Now, sir, you speak of two
The most remarked41 i’th’kingdom. As for Cromwell,
Beside that of the Jewel House, is made Master42
O’th’Rolls and the king’s secretary. Further, sir,
Stands in the gap and trade44 of more preferments,
With which the time45 will load him. Th’archbishop
Is the king’s hand and tongue, and who dare speak
One syllable against him?
GARDINER Yes, yes, Sir Thomas,
There are49 that dare, and I myself have ventured
To speak my mind of him: and indeed this day,
Sir, I may tell it you, I think I have
Incensed52 the lords o’th’council, that he is —
For so I know he
is, they know he is —
A most arch-heretic54, a pestilence
That does infect the land: with which they, moved55,
Have broken56 with the king, who hath so far
Given ear to our complaint, of his great grace
And princely care, foreseeing those fell mischiefs58
Our reasons laid before him, hath commanded
Tomorrow morning to the council board
He be convented. He’s a rank61 weed, Sir Thomas,
And we must root him out. From your affairs
I hinder you too long. Goodnight, Sir Thomas.
LOVELL Many good nights, my lord: I rest64 your servant.
Exeunt Gardiner and Page
Enter King [Henry] and Suffolk
To Suffolk
KING HENRY VIII Charles, I will play no more tonight:
My mind’s not on’t: you are too hard66 for me.
SUFFOLK Sir, I did never win of you before.
KING HENRY VIII But little, Charles,
Nor shall not when my fancy’s69 on my play.
Now, Lovell, from the queen what is the news?
LOVELL I could not personally deliver to her
What you commanded me, but by her woman
I sent your message, who returned her thanks
In the great’st humbleness, and desired your highness
Most heartily to pray for her.
KING HENRY VIII What say’st thou? Ha?
To pray for her? What, is she crying out?
LOVELL So said her woman, and that her suff’rance78 made
Almost each pang a death.
KING HENRY VIII Alas, good lady.
SUFFOLK God safely quit81 her of her burden, and
With gentle travail, to the gladding82 of
Your highness with an heir!
KING HENRY VIII ’Tis midnight, Charles.
Prithee to bed, and in thy prayers remember
Th’estate86 of my poor queen. Leave me alone,
For I must think of that which company
Would not be friendly to.
SUFFOLK I wish your highness
A quiet night, and my good mistress will
Remember in my prayers.
KING HENRY VIII Charles, goodnight.
Exit Suffolk
Enter Sir Anthony Denny
Well, sir, what follows?
DENNY Sir, I have brought my lord the archbishop,
As you commanded me.
KING HENRY VIII Ha? Canterbury?
DENNY Ay, my good lord.
KING HENRY VIII ’Tis true: where is he, Denny?
DENNY He attends99 your highness’ pleasure.
KING HENRY VIII Bring him to us.
[Exit Denny]
Aside
LOVELL This is about that which the bishop101 spake.
I am happily102 come hither.
Enter Cranmer and Denny
KING HENRY VIII Avoid the gallery103.
Lovell seems to stay
Ha? I have said. Be gone.
Exeunt Lovell and Denny
What?
Aside
CRANMER I am fearful: wherefore frowns he thus?
’Tis his aspect of terror106. All’s not well.
KING HENRY VIII How now, my lord? You desire to know
Wherefore I sent for you.
He kneels
CRANMER It is my duty
T’attend your highness’ pleasure.
KING HENRY VIII Pray you, arise,
My good and gracious lord of Canterbury.
Come, you and I must walk a turn together:
Cranmer stands. They walk
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 grievous118 — I do say, my lord,
Grievous — complaints of you, which, being considered,
Have moved120 us and our council, that you shall
This morning come before us, where I know
You cannot with such freedom purge122 yourself,
But that, till further trial in those charges
Which will require your answer, you must take124
Your patience to you, and be well contented
To make your house our Tower. You a brother of us126,
It fits127 we thus proceed, or else no witness
Would come against you.
He kneels
CRANMER I humbly thank your highness,
And am right glad to catch this good occasion
Most throughly to be winnowed131, where my chaff
And corn shall fly asunder. For I know
There’s none stands under more calumnious133 tongues
Than I myself, poor man.
KING HENRY VIII Stand up, good Canterbury:
Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted
In us, thy friend. Give me thy hand, stand up:
Cranmer stands. They walk
Prithee, let’s walk. Now, by my halidom138,
What manner of man are you? My lord, I looked139
You would have given me your petition140 that
I should have ta’en some pains to bring together
Yourself and your accusers, and to have heard you
Without endurance further143.
CRANMER Most dread144 liege,
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 weigh147 not,
Being of those virtues vacant. I fear nothing148
What can be said against me.
KING HENRY VIII Know you not
How your state stands i’th’world, with the whole world?
Your enemies are many, and not small: their practices152
Must bear the same proportion, and not ever153
The justice and the truth o’th’question carries
The dew o’th’verdict with it: at155 what ease
Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt
To swear157 against you? Such things have been done.
You are potently opposed, and with a malice
Of as great size. Ween you of159 better luck —
I mean in perjured witness — than your master160,
Whose minister you are, whiles here he lived
Upon this naughty162 earth? Go to, go to:
You take a precipice for no leap of danger163,
And woo164 your own destruction.
CRANMER God and your majesty
Protect mine innocence, or I fall into
The trap is167 laid for me.
KING HENRY VIII Be of good cheer:
They shall no more prevail than we give way to169.
Keep comfort to you, and this morning see
You do appear before them. If they shall chance171,
In charging you with matters, to commit172 you,
The best persuasions to the contrary
Fail not to use, and with what vehemency
Th’occasion shall instruct you. If entreaties
Will render you no remedy, this ring
Deliver them, and your appeal to us
Cranmer weeps
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 Come back: what mean you?
Within
OLD LADY I’ll not come back: the tidings that I bring
To the King
Will make my boldness manners.— Now186 good angels
Fly o’er thy royal head, and s
hade thy person
Under their blessèd wings.
KING HENRY VIII Now by thy looks
I guess thy message. Is the queen delivered190?
Say, ‘Ay, and of a boy.’
OLD LADY Ay, ay, my liege,
And of a lovely boy: the God of heaven
Both now and ever bless her. ’Tis a girl194
Promises195 boys hereafter. Sir, your queen
Desires your visitation, and196 to be
Acquainted with this stranger: ’tis as like you
As cherry is to cherry.
KING HENRY VIII Lovell.
LOVELL Sir?
KING HENRY VIII Give her an hundred marks201. I’ll to the queen.
Exit King
OLD LADY An hundred marks? By this light, I’ll ha’ more.
An ordinary groom is for203 such payment.
I will have more, or scold it out of him.
Said I for this, the girl was like to him? I’ll
Have more, or else unsay’t: and now, while ’tis hot206,
I’ll put it to the issue207.
Exit [Old] Lady [with Lovell]
Act 5 Scene 2
running scene 13
Enter Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury
CRANMER I hope I am not too late, and yet the gentleman
That was sent to me from the council prayed me