Gar.

I have done. Crom.

And I. Chan. Then thus for you, my lord:-It stands agreed, I take it, by, all voices, that forthwith You be conveyed 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 of the guard be ready there.

Enter Guard. Cran.

For me? Must I

go

like a traitor thither?
Gar.

Receive him,
And see him safe i' the Tower.
Cran.

Stay, good my lords,
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.

Chan. This is the king's ring.
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.

Do you think, my lords, The king will suffer but the little finger Of this man to be vexed ? Chan.

'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 the 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 honor; 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;
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 tak’st me for, I am sure,
Thou hast a cruel nature, and a bloody.
Good man, [To CRANMER.] 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.

Sur. May it please your grace, -
K. Hen.

No, sir, it does not please me.
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 lousy 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

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 purposed
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 Can-

terbury,
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.

Cran. The greatest monarch now alive may glory
In such an honor; how may I deserve it,
That am a poor and humble subject to you?
K. Hen. Come, come, my lord, you'd spare your

spoons;' you shall have Two noble partners with you ; the old duchess of

Norfolk,
And lady marquis Dorset. Will these please you?
Once more, my lord of Winchester, I charge you,
Embrace, and love this man.
Gar.

With a true heart,
And brother-love, I do it.
Cran.

And let Heaven
Witness, how dear I hold this confirmation.

K. Hen. Good man, those joyful tears show thy true

heart. The common voice, I see, is verified Of thee, which says thus, Do my lord of Canterbury A shrewd turn, and he is your friend forever.Come, lords, we trifle time away; I long To have this young one made a Christian. As I have made ye one, lords, one remain So I grow stronger, you more honor gain. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. The Palace Yard.

Noise and tumult within. Enter Porter and his Man.

Port. You'll leave your noise anon, ye rascals. Do you take the court for Paris-garden? Ye rude slaves, Seave your gaping

[Within.j Good master porter, I belong to the larder.

Port. Belong to the gallows, and be hanged, you rogue. Is this a place to roar in ?-Fetch me a dozen crab-tree staves, and strong ones; these are but switches to them.--I'll scratch your heads. You must be seeing christenings? Do you look for ale and cakes here, you rude rascals ?

Man. Pray, sir, be patient; 'tis as much impossible (Unless we sweep them from the door with cannons) To scatter them, as 'tis to make them sleep On May-day morning; which will never be. We may as well push against Paul's, as stir them.

Port. How got they in, and be hanged?

Man. Alas, I know not; how gets the tide in ?
As much as one sound cudgel of four foot
(You see the poor remainder) could distribute,
I made no spare, sir.

Port.

You did nothing, sir. Man. I am not Samson, nor sir Guy, nor Colbrand, to mow them down before me; but, if I spared any, that had a head to it, either young or old, he or she, cuckold or cuckold-maker, let me never hope to see a chine again ; and that I would not for a cow, God save her.

[Within.] Do you hear, master porter ?

Port. I shall be with you presently, good master puppy.—Keep the door close, sirrah.

Man. What would you have me do?

Port. What should you do, but knock them down by the dozens? Is this Moorfields to muster in ?? or have we some strange Indian with the great tool come to court, the women so besiege us? Bless me, what a fry of fornication is at door! On my Christian conscience, this one christening will beget a thousand ; here will be father, godfather, and all together.

Man. The spoons will be the bigger, sir. There is a fellow somewhat near the door; he should be a brazier by his face; for, o' my conscience, twenty of the dog-days now reign in's nose ; all that stand about him are under the line; they need no other penance. That fire-drake* did I hit three times on the head, and three times was his nose discharged against me ; he stands there, like a mortar-piece, to blow us. There was a haberdasher's wife of small wit near him, that railed upon me till her pinked porringerö fell off her head, for kindling such a combustion in the state. I missed the meteor once, and hit that woman, who