Gar. My lord, because we have business of more mo

ment,

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.

Cran. 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 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 discovers,*
To men that understand you, words and weakness.
Crom. My lord of Winchester, you are a little,
By your good favour, too sharp; men so noble,
However faulty, yet should find respect

For what they have been: 'tis a cruelty,

To load a falling man.5

Gar.

I cry your

Good master secretary,

honour mercy; you may, worst

Of all this table, say so.

Crom.

Why, my lord?

Gar. Do not I know you for a favourer

Of this new sect? ye are not sound.

your painted gloss &c.] Those that understand you, under this painted gloss, this fair outside, discover your empty talk and your false reasoning. Johnson.

To load a falling man.] This sentiment had occurred before. The Lord Chamberlain checking the Earl of Surrey for his reproaches to Wolsey, says:

"Press not a falling man too far." Steevens.

Crom.

Not sound?

'Would you were half so honest!

Gar. Not sound, I say.

Crom.

Men's prayers then would seek you, not their fears.
Gar. I shall remember this bold language.
Crom.

Remember your bold life too.

Chan.

Forbear, for shame, my lords.

Gar.

Crom.

Do.

This is too much;

I have done.

And I.

Chan. Then thus for you, my lord,—It stands agreed, I take it, by all voices, that forthwith

You be convey'd to the Tower a prisoner;

There to remain, till the king's further pleasure
Be known unto us: Are you all agreed, lords?
All. We are.

Cran.

Is there no other way of mercy, But I must needs to the Tower, my lords?

Gar.

What other Would you expect? You are strangely troublesome. Let some o' the guard be ready there.

I have a little yet to say. Look there, my lords;
By virtue of that ring, I take my cause
Out of the gripes of cruel men, and give it
To a most noble judge, the king my master.
Cham. This is the king's ring.?

6 Chan. Then thus for you, &c.] This, and the little speech above "This is too much," &c. are in the old copy given to the Lord Chamberlain. The difference between Cham. and Chan. is so slight, that I have not hesitated to give them both to the chancellor, who on Cranmer's entrance first arraigns him, and therefore, (without any consideration of his high station in the council) is the person to whom Shakspeare would naturally assign the order for his being committed to the Tower. The Chancellor's apologizing to the King for the committal in a subsequent passage likewise supports the emendation now made, which was suggested by Mr. Capell. Malone.

Sur.

'Tis no counterfeit. Suf. 'Tis the right ring, by heaven: I told ye all, When we first put this dangerous stone a rolling, 'Twould fall upon ourselves.

Nor.

The king will suffer but the little finger

Of this man to be vex'd?

Cham.

Do you think, my lords,

'Tis now too certain:

How much more is his life in value with him?

"Would I were fairly out on 't.

Crom.

My mind gave me,

In seeking tales, and informations,

Against this man, (whose honesty the devil
And his disciples only envy at)

Ye blew the fire that burns ye: Now have at ye.

Enter King, frowning on them; 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 commenda

tions,

Bishop of Winchester. But know, I come not
To hear such flattery now, and in my presence;

7 This is the king's ring.] It seems to have been a custom, begun probably in the dark ages, before literature was generally diffused, and before the regal power experienced the restraints of law, for every monarch to have a ring, the temporary possession of which invested the holder with the same authority as the owner himself could exercise. The production of it was sufficient to suspend the execution of the law; it procured indemnity for offences committed, and imposed acquiescence and submission on whatever was done under its authority. Instances abound in the history of almost every nation. See Procopius de bell. Vandal. L. I. p. 15, as quoted in Farnworth's Machiavel, Vol. I, p 9. The traditional story of the Earl of Essex, Queen Elizabeth, and the Countess of Nottingham, long considered as an incident of a romance is generally known, and now as generally credited. See Birch's Negotiations, p. 206. Reed.

They are too thin and base 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 tak'st me for, I am sure,

Thou hast a cruel nature, and a bloody.

Good man, [to CRAN.] sit down. Now let me see the proudest

He, that dares most, but wag his finger at thee:

By all that's holy, he had better starve,

Than but once think his place becomes thee not.1
Sur. May it please your grace,
K. Hen.

No, sir, it does not please me.

8 They are too thin &c.] i. e. the commendations above mentioned. Mr. Pope, in the former line, changed flattery to flatteries, and this unnecessary emendation has been adopted by all the subsequent editors. I believe our author wrote

They are too thin and bare;

and that the editor of the first folio, not understanding the word, changed it to base, as he did in King Henry IV, Part I. See Vol. VIII, p. 180, n. 9. Malone.

To hear such flattery now, and in my presence;

They are too thin and base to hide offences. &c.] I think the pointing of these lines preferable to that in the former edition, in which they stand thus:

I come not

To hear such flatteries now: and in my presence
They are too thin, &c.

It then follows:

To me you cannot reach: you play the spaniel,

And think with wagging of your tongue to win me.

But the former of these lines should evidently be thus written: To one you cannot reach you play the spaniel,

the relative whom being understood. Whalley.

I think the old copy is right. Malone.

Surely, the first of these lines should be pointed thus:
To me you cannot reach, you play the spaniel,—
That is, you fawn upon me, who am above your malice.

M. Mason. In the punctuation of this passage I have followed the concurring advice of Mr. Whalley and Mr. M. Mason. Steevens.

1 Than but once think his place becomes thee not.] Who dares to suppose that the place or situation in which he is, is not suitable to thee also? who supposes that thou art not as fit for the office of a privy counsellor as he is.

Mr. Rowe and all the subsequent editors read--this place.

Malone.

I had thought, I had had men of some understanding
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 lowsy footboy
At chamber door? and one as great as you are?
Why, what a shame was this? Did my
commission
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.

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 am sure, in me.

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 beholden 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;

That is, a fair young maid that yet wants baptism,2

2 That is, &c.] My suit is, that you would be a godfather to a fair young maid, who is not yet christened. Mr. Rowe readsThere is, &c. and all the subsequent editors have adopted this unnecessary alteration. The final word her, we should now consider as superfluous; but we have many instances of a similar phraseology in these plays-or, the construction may be—A fair young maid, &c. you must be godfather [to], and answer for her. So before, in this play:

66

whoever the king favours,

"The cardinal instantly will find employment [for],
"And far enough from court too."

Again, in The Merchant of Venice:

"How true a gentleman you send relief [to]."

Again, in Julius Cæsar: