Heard many greeuous. I do fay my Lord
Greeuous complaints of which being confider'd,
you;
Haue mou'd Vs, and our Councell, that you shall
This Morning come before vs, where I know
You cannot with fuch freedome purge your selfe,
But that till further Triall, in thofe Charges
Which will require your Answer, you must take
Your patience to you, and be well contented

To make your house our Towre: you, a Brother of vs
It fits we thus proceed, or elfe no witnesse
Would come against you.

Cran. I humbly thanke your Highneffe,
And am right glad to catch this good occafion
Moft throughly to be winnowed, where my Chaffe
And Corne shall flye afunder. For I know

There's none ftands vnder more calumnious tongues, Then I my felfe, poore man.

King. Stand vp, good Canterbury,
Thy Truth, and thy Integrity is rooted

In vs thy Friend. Giue me thy hand, stand vp,
Prythee let's walke. Now by my Holydame,
What manner of man are you? My Lord, I look'd
You would haue giuen me your Petition, that

I should haue tane fome paines, to bring together
Your felfe, and your Accufers, and to haue heard you
Without indurance further.

Cran. Moft dread Liege,

The good I ftand on, is my Truth and Honeftie:

If they fhall faile, I with mine Enemies

Will triumph o're my perfon, which I waigh not, Being of thofe Vertues vacant. I feare nothing What can be faid against me.

King. Know you not

How your ftate ftands i'th'world, with the whole world?
Your Enemies are many, and not small; their practises

Muft beare the fame proportion, and not euer
The Iuftice and the Truth o'th'queftion carries

The dew o'th'Verdict with it; at what ease
Might corrupt mindes procure, Knaues as corrupt

To fweare against you: Such things haue bene done.
You are Potently oppos'd, and with a Malice
Of as great Size. Weene you of better lucke,
I meane in periur'd Witneffe, then your Master,
Whofe Minifter you are, whiles heere he liu'd
Vpon this naughty Earth ? Go too, go too,
You take a Precepit for no leape of danger,
And woe your owne deftruction.

Cran. God, and your Maiefty

Protect mine innocence, or I fall into
The trap is laid for me.

King. Be of good cheere,

They shall no more preuaile, then we giue way too :
Keepe comfort to you, and this Morning fee

You do appeare before them. If they shall chance

In charging you with matters, to commit you:

The best perfwafions to the contrary

Faile not to vfe, and with what vehemencie
Th'occafion fhall inftruct you. If intreaties

Will render you no remedy, this Ring

Deliuer them, and your Appeale to vs

There make before them. Looke, the goodman weeps: He's honeft on mine Honor. Gods bleft Mother,

I fweare he is true-hearted, and a foule

None better in my Kingdome. Get you gone,
And do as I haue bid you.

Exit Cranmer.

He ha's ftrangled his Language in his teares.

Butts. I thinke your Highneffe faw this many a day. Kin. Body a me: where is it?

Butts. There my Lord:

The high promotion of his Grace of Canterbury, Who holds his State at dore 'mongst Purfeuants, Pages, and Foot-boyes.

Kin. Ha? "Tis he indeed.

Is this the Honour they doe one another?

"Tis well there's one aboue 'em yet; I had thought
They had parted fo much honesty among 'em,
At least good manners; as not thus to fuffer
A man of his Place, and fo neere our fauour
To dance attendance on their Lordships pleasures,
And at the dore too, like a Poft with Packets:
By holy Mary (Butts) there's knauery;
Let 'em alone, and draw the Curtaine close :
We shall heare more anon.

Keep. My Lord Archbishop:

And ha's done halfe an houre to know your pleasures.
Chan. Let him come in.

Keep. Your Grace may enter now.

Cranmer approches the Councell Table.

Chan. My good Lord Archbishop, I'm very forry
To fit heere at this prefent, and behold
That Chayre ftand empty: But we all are men
In our owne natures fraile, and capable

Of our flesh, few are Angels; out of which frailty
And want of wifedome, you that best should teach vs,
Haue misdemean'd your felfe, and not a little :
Toward the King firft, then his Lawes, in filling

The whole Realme, by your teaching & your Chaplaines
(For fo we are inform'd) with new opinions,
Diuers and dangerous; which are Herefies;
And not reform'd, may proue pernicious.

Gard. Which Reformation must be fodaine too
My Noble Lords; for those that tame wild Horses,
Pace 'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle;

But ftop their mouthes with ftubborn Bits & fpurre 'em, Till they obey the mannage. If we fuffer

Out of our eafineffe and childish pitty

To one mans Honour, this contagious fickneffe;
Farewell all Phyficke: and what followes then?
Commotions, vprores, with a generall Taint

Of the whole State; as of late dayes our neighbours,
The vpper Germany can deerely witnesse :

Yet freshly pittied in our memories.

Cran. My good Lords; Hitherto, in all the Progreffe Both of my Life and Office, I haue labour'd, And with no little study, that my teaching

Gard. My Lord, because we haue bufines of more moWe will be fhort with you. "Tis his Highneffe pleasure And our confent, for better tryall of you, From hence you be committed to the Tower, Where being but a priuate man againe, You fhall know many dare accufe you boldly, More then (I feare) you are prouided for.

Cran. Ah my good Lord of Winchefter: I thanke you, You are alwayes my good Friend, if your will paffe,

I fhall both. finde your Lordship, Iudge and Iuror,
You are fo mercifull. I fee your end,
'Tis my vndoing. Loue and meekenesse, Lord
Become a Churchman, better then Ambition :
Win ftraying Soules with modefty againe,
Caft none away: That I fhall cleere my felfe,
Lay all the weight ye can vpon my patience,
I make as little doubt as you doe confcience,
In doing dayly wrongs. I could fay more,
But reuerence to your calling, makes me modeft.
Gard. My Lord, my Lord, you are a Sectary,
That's the plaine truth; your painted gloffe discouers
To men that vnderftand you, words and weaknesse.
Crom. My Lord of Winchester, y' are a little,
By your good fauour, too fharpe; Men fo Noble,
How euer faultly, yet fhould finde respect
For what they haue beene: 'tis a cruelty,
To load a falling man.

Suff. 'Ts the right Ring, by Heau'n: I told ye all, When we first put this dangerous ftone a rowling, "Twold fall vpon our felues.

Norf. Doe you thinke my Lords

The King will fuffer but the little finger

Of this man to be vex'd?

Cham. Tis now too certaine;

How much more is his Life in value with him?
Would I were fairely out on't.

Crom. My mind gaue me,

In feeking tales and Informations
Against this man, whofe honefty the Diuell
And his Difciples onely enuy at,

Ye blew the fire that burnes ye: now haue at ye.

Enter King frowning on them, takes his Seate.
Gard. Dread Soueraigne,

How much are we bound to Heauen,
In dayly thankes; that gaue vs fuch a Prince;
Not onely good and wife, but most religious:
One that in all obedience, makes the Church
The cheefe ayme of his Honour, and to strengthen
That holy duty out of deare refpect,

His Royall felfe in Iudgement comes to heare
The caufe betwixt her, and this great offender.

Kin. You were euer good at fodaine Commendations,

Bishop of Winchefter. But know I come not

To heare fuch flattery now, and in my prefence

They are too thin, and bafe to hide offences,

To me you cannot reach. You play the Spaniell,
And thinke with wagging of your tongue to win me:
But whatfoere thou tak'ft me for; I'm fure
Thou haft a cruell Nature and a bloody.

Good man fit downe: Now let me fee the proudest
Hee, that dares moft, but wag his finger at thee.
By all that's holy, he had better itarue,
Then but once thinke his place becomes thee not.
Sur. May it please your Grace;

Kin. No Sir, it doe's not pleafe me,

I had thought, I had had men of fome vnderstanding,
And wifedome of my Councell; but I finde none :
Was it discretion Lords, to let this man,
This good man (few of you deferue that Title)
This honeft man, wait like a lowfie Foot-boy
At Chamber dore? and one, as great as you are?
Why, what a fhame was this? Did my Commiffion
Bid ye fo farre forget your felues? I gaue ye
Power, as he was a Counsellour to try him,

Not as a Groome: There's fome of ye, I see, More out of Malice then Integrity,

Would trye him to the vtmoft, had ye meane, Which ye fhall neuer haue while I liue.

Chan. Thus farre

My most dread Soueraigne, may it like your Grace,
To let my tongue excufe all. What was purpos'd
Concerning his Imprifonment, was rather

(If there be faith in men) meant for his Tryall,
And faire purgation to the world then malice,
I'm fure in me.

Kin. Well, well my Lords refpect him,
Take him, and vse him well; hee's worthy of it.

I will fay thus much for him, if a Prince

May be beholding to a Subiect; I

Am for his loue and feruice, fo to him.

Make me no more adoe, but all embrace him;

Be friends for fhame my Lords: My Lord of Canterbury

I haue a Suite which you must not deny mee.

That is, a faire young Maid that yet wants Baptisme,
You must be Godfather, and anfwere for her.

Cran. The greatest Monarch now aliue may glory
In fuch an honour: how may I deferue it,
That am a poore and humble Subiect to you?

Kin. Come, come my Lord, you'd spare your spoones; You fhall haue two noble Partners with you: the old Ducheffe of Norfolke, and Lady Marqueffe Dorset? will thefe please you?

Once more my Lord of Winchefter, I charge you Embrace, and loue this man.

Port. You'l leaue your noyfe anon ye Rafcals: doe you take the Court for Parish Garden: ye rude Slaues, leaue your gaping:

Within. Good M. Porter I belong to th' Larder. Port. Belong to th' Gallowes, and be hang'd ye Rogue: Is this a place to roare in? Fetch me a dozen Crab-tree ftaues, and ftrong ones; thefe are but fwitches to 'em : Ile fcratch your heads; you must be seeing Christenings? Do you looke for Ale, and Cakes heere, you rude Raskalls?

Man. Pray Sir be patient; 'tis as much impoffible, Vnleffe wee fweepe 'em from the dore with Cannons, To scatter 'em, as 'tis to make 'em sleepe

On May-day Morning, which will neuer be:
We may as well pufh against Powles as ftirre 'em.
Por. How got they in, and be hang'd?

Man.

Man. Alas I know not, how gets the Tide in?
As much as one found Cudgell of foure foote,
(You fee the poore remainder) could diftribute,
I made no fpare Sir.

Port. You did nothing Sir.

Man. I am not Sampfon, nor Sir Guy, nor Colebrand,
To mow 'em downe before me: but if I fpar'd any
That had a head to hit, either young or old,
He or shee, Cuckold or Cuckold-maker:
Let me ne're hope to fee a Chine againe,

And that I would not for a Cow, God faue her.
Within. Do you heare M. Porter?

Port. I fhall be with you prefently, good M. Puppy,

Keepe the dore close Sirha.

Man. What would you haue me doe?

Por. What should you doe,

But knock 'em downe by th' dozens? Is this More fields to mufter in? Or haue wee fome ftrange Indian with the great Toole, come to Court, the women fo befiege vs? Bleffe me, what a fry of Fornication is at dore? On my Chriftian Confcience this one Chriftening will beget a thoufand, here will bee Father, God-father, and all together.

Man. The Spoones will be the bigger Sir: There is a fellow fomewhat neere the doore, he fhould be a Brafier by his face, for o'my confcience twenty of the Dogdayes now reigne in's Nofe; all that stand about him are vnder the Line, they need no other pennance: that FireDrake did I hit three times on the head, and three times was his Nose discharged against mee; hee ftands there like a Morter-piece to blow vs. There was a Habberdafhers Wife of fmall wit, neere him, that rail'd vpon me, till her pinck'd porrenger fell off her head, for kindling fuch a combuftion in the State. I mift the Meteor once, and hit that Woman, who cryed out Clubbes, when I might fee from farre, fome forty Truncheoners draw to her fuccour, which were the hope o'th' Strond where she was quartered; they fell on, I made good my place; at length they came to th' broome staffe to me, I defide 'em ftil, when fodainly a File of Boyes behind 'em, loose shot, deliuer'd fuch a fhowre of Pibbles, that I was faine to draw mine Honour in, and let 'em win the Worke, the Diuell was amongst 'em I thinke surely.

Por. These are the youths that thunder at a Playhouse, and fight for bitten Apples, that no Audience but the tribulation of Tower Hill, or the Limbes of Limehouse, their deare Brothers are able to endure. I haue fome of 'em in Limbo Patrum, and there they are like to dance thefe three dayes; befides the running Banquet of two Beadles, that is to come.

Enter Lord Chamberlaine.

Cham. Mercy o'me: what a Multitude are heere? They grow still too; from all Parts they are comming, As if we kept a Faire heere? Where are these Porters? These lazy knaues? Y'haue made a fine hand fellowes? Theres a trim rabble let in: are all these

Your faithfull friends o'th' Suburbs? We shall haue
Great ftore of roome no doubt, left for the Ladies,
When they paffe backe from the Christening?
Por. And't please your Honour,

We are but men;and what fo many may doe,
Not being torne a pieces, we haue done :
An Army cannot rule 'em.

Cham. As I liue,

If the King blame me for't; Ile lay ye all

By th' heeles, and fodainly:and on your heads
Clap round Fines for neglect: y' are lazy knaues,
And heere ye lye baiting of Bombards, when
Ye fhould doe Seruice. Harke the Trumpets found,
Th'are come already from the Christening,
Go breake among the preaffe, and finde away out
To let the Troope paffe fairely; or Ile finde

A Marshallfey, fhall hold ye play these two Monthes.
Por. Make way there, for the Princeffe.
Man. You great fellow,

Stand close vp, or lle make your head ake.
Por. You i'th'Chamblet, get vp o'th'raile,
Ile pecke you o're the pales elfe.

Scena Quarta.

Exeunt.

Enter Trumpets founding: Then two Aldermen, L. Maior, Garter, Cranmer, Duke of Norfolke with his Marshals Staffe, Duke of Suffolke, two Noblemen, bearing great ftanding Bowles for the Chriftening Guifts: Then foure Noblemen bearing a Canopy, under which the Dutcheffe of Norfolke, Godmother, bearing the Childe richly babited in a Mantle, &c. Traine borne by a Lady: Then followes the Marchioneffe Dorfet, the other Godmother, and Ladies. The Troope paffe once about the Stage, and Garter Speakes.

Gart. Heauen

From thy endleffe goodneffe, fend profperous life, Long, and euer happie, to the high and Mighty Princeffe of England Elizabeth.

Flourish. Enter King and Guard.

Cran. And to your Royall Grace, & the good Queen, My Noble Partners, and my felfe thus pray All comfort, ioy in this moft gracious Lady, Heauen euer laid vp to make Parents happy, May hourely fall vpon ye.

Kin. Thanke you good Lord Archbishop: What is her Name?

Cran. Elizabeth.

Kin. Stand vp Lord,

With this Kiffe, take my Bleffing: God protect thee, Into whofe hand, I giue thy Life.

Cran. Amen.

Kin. My Noble Goffips, y'haue beene too Prodigall; I thanke ye heartily : So fhall this Lady, When the ha's fo much English.

Cran. Let me fpeake Sir,

For Heauen now bids me; and the words I vtter,
Let none thinke Flattery; for they'l finde 'em Truth.
This Royall Infant, Heauen ftill moue about her;
Though in her Cradle; yet now promifes
Vpon this Land a thousand thousand Bleffings,
Which Time shall bring to ripeneffe: She shall be,
(But few now liuing can behold that goodnesse)
A Patterne to all Princes liuing with her,
And all that fhall fucceed: Saba was neuer
More couetous of Wifedome, and faire Vertue
Then this pure Soule fhall be. All Princely Graces
That mould vp fuch a mighty Piece as this is,
With all the Vertues that attend the good,
Shall ftill be doubled on her. Truth fhall Nurse her,

Holy

Holy and Heauenly thoughts ftill Counfell her :
She fhall be lou'd and fear'd. Her owne fhall bleffe her;
Her Foes fhake like a Field of beaten Corne,
And hang their heads with forrow:

Good growes with her.

In her dayes, Euery Man fhall eate in fafety,
Vnder his owne Vine what he plants; and fing
The merry Songs of Peace to all his Neighbours.
God fhall be truely knowne, and thofe about her,
From her fhall read the perfect way of Honour,
And by thofe claime their greatneffe;not by Blood.
Nor fhall this peace fleepe with her: But as when
The Bird of Wonder dyes, the Mayden Phoenix,
Her Afhes new create another Heyre,

As great in admiration as her felfe.

So fhall fhe leaue her Bleffedneffe to One,

(When Heauen fhal call her from this clowd of darknes)
Who, from the facred Athes of her Honour
Shall Star-like rife, as great in fame as the was,

And fo ftand fix'd. Peace, Plenty, Loue, Truth, Terror,
That were the Seruants to this chofen Infant,
Shall then be his, and like a Vine grow to him;
Where euer the bright Sunne of Heauen fhall fhine,
His Honour, and the greatneffe of his Name,
Shall be, and make new Nations. He fhall flourish,

And like a Mountaine Cedar, reach his branches,
To all the Plaines about him: Our Childrens Children
Shall fee this, and bleffe Heauen.

Kin. Thou fpeakeft wonders.

Cran. She fhall be to the happineffe of England,
An aged Princeffe; many dayes fhall fee her,
And yet no day without a deed to Crowne it.
Would I had knowne no more: But the muft dye,
She muft, the Saints muft haue her; yet a Virgin,
A moft vnfpotted Lilly fhall the paffe

To th' ground, and all the World fhall mourne her.
Kin. O Lord Archbishop

Thou haft made me now a man, neuer before
This happy Child, did I get any thing.
This Oracle of comfort, ha's fo pleas'd me,
That when I am in Heauen, I fhall defire

To fee what this Child does, and praife my Maker.
I thanke ye all. To you my good Lord Maior,
And you good Brethren, I am much beholding:
I haue receiu'd much Honour by your prefence,
And ye fhall find me thankfull. Lead the way Lords,
Ye muft all fee the Queene, and the muft thanke ye,
She will be ficke els. This day, no man thinke
'Has bufineffe at his houfe; for all shall stay:
This Little-One fhall make it Holy-day.

Exeunt.