Chapter VI: Act V: SCENE I. London. A gallery in the palace.727

_Enter_ GARDINER, Bishop of Winchester, _a_ Page _with a torch
before him, met by_ SIR THOMAS LOVELL.

_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
To waste these times. Good hour of night, Sir Thomas!
Whither so late? 5

_Lov._ Came you from the king, my lord?[728]

_Gar._ I did, Sir Thomas, and left him at primero[729]
With the Duke of Suffolk.

_Lov._ I must to him too,
Before he go to bed. I'll take my leave.

_Gar._ Not yet, Sir Thomas Lovell. What's the matter? 10
It seems you are in haste: an if there be[730]
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 15
That seeks dispatch by day.

_Lov._ My lord, I love you;
And durst commend a secret to your ear
Much weightier than this work. The queen's in labour,[731]
They say, in great extremity; and fear'd[732]
She'll with the labour end.

_Gar._ The fruit she goes with[733] 20
I pray for heartily, that it may find
Good time, and live: but for the stock, Sir Thomas,
I wish it grubb'd up now.

_Lov._ Methinks I could
Cry the amen; and yet my conscience says[734]
She's a good creature, and, sweet lady, does 25
Deserve our better wishes.

_Gar._ But, sir, sir,
Hear me, Sir Thomas: you're a gentleman[735]
Of mine own way; I know you wise, religious;[736]
And, let me tell you, it will ne'er be well,
'Twill not, Sir Thomas Lovell, take't of me, 30
Till Cranmer, Cromwell, her two hands, and she,
Sleep in their graves.

_Lov._ Now, sir, you speak of two
The most remark'd i' the kingdom. As for Cromwell,
Beside that of the jewel house, is made master[737]
O' the rolls, and the king's secretary; further, sir,[738] 35
Stands in the gap and trade of moe preferments,[739]
With which the time will load him. The archbishop[740]
Is the king's hand and tongue; and who dare speak[741]
One syllable against him?

_Gar._ Yes, yes, Sir Thomas,[742]
There are that dare; and I myself have ventured 40
To speak my mind of him: and indeed this day,[743]
Sir, I may tell it you, I think I have
Incensed the lords o' the council that he is--[744]
For so I know he is, they know he is--
A most arch-heretic, a pestilence 45
That does infect the land: with which they moved
Have broken with the king; who hath so far
Given ear to our complaint, of his great grace[745]
And princely care foreseeing those fell mischiefs
Our reasons laid before him, hath commanded[746] 50
To-morrow morning to the council-board
He be convented. He's a rank weed, Sir Thomas,[747]
And we must root him out. From your affairs
I hinder you too long: good night, Sir Thomas.

_Lov._ Many good nights, my lord: I rest your servant. 55

[_Exeunt Gardiner and Page._

_Enter_ KING _and_ SUFFOLK.[748]

_King._ Charles, I will play no more to-night;[749]
My mind's not on't; you are too hard for me.

_Suf._ Sir, I did never win of you before.

_King._ But little, Charles,
Nor shall not, when my fancy's on my play.[750] 60
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 great'st humbleness, and desired your highness[751] 65
Most heartily to pray for her.

_King._ What say'st thou, ha?
To pray for her? what, is she crying out?

_Lov._ So said her woman, and that her sufferance made
Almost each pang a death.

_King._ Alas, good lady!

_Suf._ God safely quit her of her burthen, and 70
With gentle travail, to the gladding of[752]
Your highness with an heir!

_King._ 'Tis midnight, Charles;
Prithee, to bed; and in thy prayers remember
The estate of my poor queen. Leave me alone;
For I must think of that which company 75
Would not be friendly to.

_Suf._ I wish your highness
A quiet night, and my good mistress will
Remember in my prayers.

_King._ Charles, good night. [_Exit Suffolk._

_Enter_ SIR ANTHONY DENNY.[753]

Well, sir, what follows?

_Den._ Sir, I have brought my lord the archbishop, 80
As you commanded me.

_King._ Ha! Canterbury?

_Den._ Ay, my good lord.[754]

_King._ 'Tis true: where is he, Denny?

_Den._ He attends your highness' pleasure.

_King._ Bring him to us.

[_Exit Denny._[755]

_Lov._ [_Aside_] This is about that which the bishop spake:[756]
I am happily come hither.[757] 85

_Re-enter_ DENNY, _with_ CRANMER.

_King._ Avoid the gallery. [_Lovell seems to stay_] Ha!
I have said. Be gone.[758]
What! [_Exeunt Lovell and Denny._

_Cran._ [_Aside_] I am fearful: wherefore frowns he thus?[759]
'Tis his aspect of terror. All's not well.

_King._ How now, my lord! you do desire to know[760]
Wherefore I sent for you.[760]

_Cran._ [_Kneeling_] It is my duty[761] 90
To attend your highness' pleasure.[762]

_King._ Pray you, arise,
My good and gracious Lord of Canterbury.
Come, you and I must walk a turn together;
I have news to tell you: come, come, give me your hand.[763]
Ah, my good lord, I grieve at what I speak, 95
And am right sorry to repeat what follows:
I have, and most unwillingly, of late
Heard many grievous, I do say, my lord,
Grievous complaints of you; which, being consider'd,
Have moved us and our council, that you shall 100
This morning come before us; where, I know,
You cannot with such freedom purge yourself,
But that, till further trial in those charges
Which will require your answer, you must take
Your patience to you and be well contented 105
To make your house our Tower: you a brother of us,[764]
It fits we thus proceed, or else no witness
Would come against you.

_Cran._ [_Kneeling_] I humbly thank your highness;[761]
And am right glad to catch this good occasion
Most throughly to be winnow'd, where my chaff 110
And corn shall fly asunder: for, I know,
There's none stands under more calumnious tongues
Than I myself, poor man.[765]

_King._ Stand up, good Canterbury:
Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted
In us, thy friend: give me thy hand, stand up:[766] 115
Prithee, let's walk. Now, by my holidame,[767]
What manner of man are you? My lord, I look'd
You would have given me your petition, that
I should have ta'en some pains to bring together
Yourself and your accusers, and to have heard you,[768] 120
Without indurance, further.

_Cran._ Most dread liege,
The good I stand on is my truth and honesty:[769]
If they shall fail, I, with mine enemies,[770]
Will triumph o'er my person; which I weigh not,
Being of those virtues vacant. I fear nothing 125
What can be said against me.[771]

_King._ Know you not
How your state stands i’ the world, with the whole world?
Your enemies are many, and not small; their practices[772]
Must bear the same proportion; and not ever
The justice and the truth o' the question carries 130
The due o' the verdict with it: at what ease[773]
Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt
To swear against you? Such things have been done.
You are potently opposed, and with a malice[774]
Of as great size. Ween you of better luck, 135
I mean, in perjured witness, than your master,
Whose minister you are, whiles here he lived[775]
Upon this naughty earth? Go to, go to;
You take a precipice for no leap of danger,[776]
And woo your own destruction.[777]

_Cran._ God and your majesty 140
Protect mine innocence, or I fall into
The trap is laid for me!

_King._ 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,[778] 145
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 150
Deliver them, and your appeal to us
There make before them. Look, the good man weeps![779]
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, 155
And do as I have bid you. [_Exit Cranmer._] He has strangled[780][781]
His language in his tears.[781][782]

_Enter_ Old Lady; LOVELL _following_.

_Gent._ [_Within_] Come back: what mean you?

_Old L._ I'll not come back; the tidings that I bring
Will make my boldness manners. Now, good angels
Fly o'er thy royal head, and shade thy person 160
Under their blessed wings!

_King._ Now, by thy looks
I guess thy message. Is the queen deliver'd?
Say, ay, and of a boy.

_Old L._ Ay, ay, my liege;
And of a lovely boy: the God of heaven
Both now and ever bless her! 'tis a girl, 165
Promises boys hereafter. Sir, your queen
Desires your visitation, and to be
Acquainted with this stranger: 'tis as like you
As cherry is to cherry.

_King._ Lovell!

_Lov._ Sir?[783]

_King._ Give her an hundred marks. I'll to the queen.[784] 170

[_Exit._

_Old L._ An hundred marks! By this light, I 'll ha' more.[785]
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?[786][787]
I will have more, or else unsay't; and now,[786][788] 175
While it is hot, I'll put it to the issue. [_Exeunt._[786][789]

SCENE II. _Before the council-chamber._

Pursuivants, Pages, &c. _attending._

_Enter_ CRANMER, Archbishop of Canterbury.[790]

_Cran._ I hope I am not too late; and yet the gentleman[791]
That was sent to me from the council pray'd me
To make great haste. All fast? what means this? Ho!
Who waits there? Sure, you know me?

_Enter_ Keeper.

_Keep._ Yes, my lord;
But yet I cannot help you.[792] 5

_Cran._ Why?[792]

_Enter_ DOCTOR BUTTS.[793]

_Keep._ Your grace must wait till you be call'd for.[792]

_Cran._ So.

_Butts._ [_Aside_] This is a piece of malice. I am glad[794]
I came this way so happily: the king[795]
Shall understand it presently. [_Exit._

_Cran._ [_Aside_] 'Tis Butts,[796] 10
The king's physician: as he pass'd along,
How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me!
Pray heaven, he sound not my disgrace! For certain,[797]
This is of purpose laid by some that hate me--
God turn their hearts! I never sought their malice-- 15
To quench mine honour: they would shame to make me
Wait else at door, a fellow-councillor,
'Mong boys, grooms and lackeys. But their pleasures[798]
Must be fulfill'd, and I attend with patience.[799]

_Enter the_ KING _and_ BUTTS _at a window above_.

_Butts._ I'll show your grace the strangest sight--[800]

_King._ What's that, Butts? 20

_Butts._ I think your highness saw this many a day.

_King._ Body o' me, where is it?[801]

_Butts._ There, my lord:
The high promotion of his grace of Canterbury;
Who holds his state at door, 'mongst pursuivants,
Pages and footboys.

_King._ Ha! 'tis he, indeed: 25
Is this the honour they do one another?
'Tis well there's one above 'em yet. I had thought[802]
They had parted so much honesty among 'em,[803]
At least good manners, as not thus to suffer
A man of his place and so near our favour 30
To dance attendance on their lordships' pleasures,
And at the door too, like a post with packets.
By holy Mary, Butts, there's knavery:
Let 'em alone, and draw the curtain close;
We shall hear more anon. [_Exeunt._[804] 35

SCENE III. _The council-chamber._

_Enter_ LORD CHANCELLOR, _places himself at the upper end of
the table on the left hand; a seat being left void above
him, as for_ CANTERBURY'S _seat_; DUKE OF SUFFOLK, DUKE
OF NORFOLK, SURREY, LORD CHAMBERLAIN, GARDINER, _seat
themselves in order on each side_. CROMWELL _at lower end,
as secretary. Keeper at the door._[805]

_Chan._ Speak to the business, master secretary:[806]
Why are we met in council?[807]

_Crom._ Please your honours,
The chief cause concerns his grace of Canterbury.[808]

_Gar._ Has he had knowledge of it?

_Crom._ Yes.

_Nor._ Who waits there?

_Keep._ Without, my noble lords?

_Gar._ Yes.[809]

_Keep._ My lord archbishop; 5
And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures.

_Chan._ Let him come in.

_Keep._ Your grace may enter now.

[_Cranmer enters and approaches the council-table._[810]

_Chan._ My good lord archbishop, I'm very sorry
To sit here at this present and behold
That chair stand empty: but we all are men, 10
In our own natures frail and capable[811]
Of our flesh; few are angels: out of which frailty[811][812]
And want of wisdom, you, that best should teach us,
Have misdemean'd yourself, and not a little,
Toward the king first, then his laws, in filling 15
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.

_Gar._ Which reformation must be sudden too, 20
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 25
To one man's honour, this contagious sickness,
Farewell all physic: and what follows then?
Commotions, uproars, with a general taint
Of the whole state: as of late days our neighbours,
The upper Germany, can dearly witness, 30
Yet freshly pitied in our memories.

_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 35
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,[813]
Both in his private conscience and his place, 40
Defacers of a public peace, than I do.[814]
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, 45
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 councillor,
And, by that virtue, no man dare accuse you. 50

_Gar._ My lord, because we have business of more moment,[815]
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, 55
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;[816]
You are always my good friend; if your will pass,
I shall both find your lordship judge and juror, 60
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, 65
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; 70
That's the plain truth: your painted gloss discovers,
To men that understand you, words and weakness.[817]

_Crom._ My Lord of Winchester, you are a little,[818]
By your good favour, too sharp; men so noble,
However faulty, yet should find respect 75
For what they have been: 'tis a cruelty[819]
To load a falling man.

_Gar._ Good master secretary,[820]
I cry your honour mercy; you may, worst
Of all this table, say so.

_Crom._ Why, my lord?

_Gar._ Do not I know you for a favourer 80
Of this new sect? ye are not sound.

_Crom._ Not sound?

_Gar._ Not sound, I say.

_Crom._ Would you were half so honest!
Men's prayers then would seek you, not their fears.

_Gar._ I shall remember this bold language.

_Crom._ Do.
Remember your bold life too.

_Chan._ This is too much;[821] 85
Forbear, for shame, my lords.

_Gar._ I have done.[822]

_Crom._ And I.

_Chan._ Then thus for you, my lord: it stands agreed,[823]
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 90
Be known unto us: are you all agreed, lords?[824]

_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.[825]
Let some o' the guard be ready there.

_Enter_ Guard.[826]

_Cran._ For me? 95
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 100
To a most noble judge, the king my master.

_Cham._ This is the king's ring.[827]

_Sur._ 'Tis no counterfeit.

_Suf._ 'Tis the right ring, by heaven: I told ye all,[828]
When we first put this dangerous stone a-rolling,
'Twould fall upon ourselves.

_Nor._ Do you think, my lords, 105
The king will suffer but the little finger
Of this man to be vex'd?

_Cham._ 'Tis now too certain:[827]
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 110
Against this man, whose honesty the devil
And his disciples only envy at,[829]
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[830]
In daily thanks, that gave us such a prince, 115
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,[831]
His royal self in judgement comes to hear 120
The cause betwixt her and this great offender.

_King._ You were ever good at sudden commendations,[832]
Bishop of Winchester. But know, I come not
To hear such flattery now, and in my presence[833][834]
They are too thin and bare to hide offences.[834][835] 125
To me you cannot reach you play the spaniel,[836]
And think with wagging of your tongue to win me;
But, whatsoe'er thou takest me for, I'm sure
Thou hast a cruel nature and a bloody.
[_To Cranmer_] Good man, sit down. Now let me see the
proudest[837][838] 130
He, that dares most, but wag his finger at thee:[837]
By all that's holy, he had better starve
Than but once think this place becomes thee not.[839]

_Sur._ May it please your grace,--

_King._ No, sir, it does not please me.
I had thought I had had men of some understanding[840] 135
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? 140
Why, what a shame was this! Did my commission
Bid ye so far forget yourselves? I gave ye
Power as he was a councillor to try him,
Not as a groom: there's some of ye, I see,
More out of malice than integrity, 145
Would try him to the utmost, had ye mean:[841]
Which ye shall never have while I live.

_Chan._ Thus far,[842]
My most dread sovereign, may it like your grace
To let my tongue excuse all. What was purposed
Concerning his imprisonment, was rather, 150
If there be faith in men, meant for his trial
And fair purgation to the world, than malice,
I'm sure, in me.

_King._ 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 155
May be beholding to a subject, I[843]
Am, for his love and service, so to him.
Make me no more ado, but all embrace him:[844]
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;[845]
You must be godfather, and answer for her.

_Cran._ The greatest monarch now alive may glory
In such an honour: how may I deserve it,
That am a poor and humble subject to you? 165

_King._ Come, come, my lord, you'ld spare your[846]
spoons: you shall have two noble partners with you; the[846]
old Duchess of Norfolk, and Lady Marquess Dorset: will[846][847][848]
these please you?[846][848]
Once more, my Lord of Winchester, I charge you, 170
Embrace and love this man.[849]

_Gar._ With a true heart
And brother-love I do it.[850]

_Cran._ And let heaven
Witness how dear I hold this confirmation.

_King._ Good man, those joyful tears show thy true heart:[851]
The common voice, I see, is verified 175
Of thee, which says thus: 'Do my Lord of Canterbury
A shrewd turn, and he is your friend for ever.'[852]
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: 180
So I grow stronger, you more honour gain. [_Exeunt._

SCENE IV. _The palace yard._[853]

_Noise and tumult within. Enter_ Porter _and his_ Man.

_Port._ You'll leave your noise anon, ye rascals: do you[854][855]
take the court for Paris-garden? ye rude slaves, leave your[854][856]
gaping.[854]

[_Within_] 'Good master porter, I belong to the larder.'[854][857]

_Port._ Belong to the gallows, and be hanged, ye rogue![854][858] 5
Is this a place to roar in? Fetch me a dozen crab-tree[854][859]
staves, and strong ones: these are but switches to 'em.[854][860]
I'll scratch your heads: you must be seeing christenings?[854]
do you look for ale and cakes here, you rude rascals?[854]

_Man._ Pray, sir, be patient: 'tis as much impossible-- 10
Unless we sweep 'em from the door with cannons--
To scatter 'em, as 'tis to make 'em sleep
On May-day morning; which will never be:
We may as well push against Powle's as stir 'em.[861]

_Port._ How got they in, and be hang'd? 15

_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,[862] 20
To mow 'em down before me: but if I spared any[862]
That had a head to hit, either young or old,[862]
He or she, cuckold or cuckold-maker,[862]
Let me ne'er hope to see a chine again;[862][863]
And that I would not for a cow, God save her![862][864] 25

[_Within_] 'Do you hear, master porter?'[857]

_Port._ I shall be with you presently, good master puppy.[857]
Keep the door close, sirrah.

_Man._ What would you have me do?

_Port._ What should you do, but knock 'em down by[865][866] 30
the dozens? Is this Moorfields to muster in? or have we[866]
some strange Indian with the great tool come to court, the[866]
women so besiege us? Bless me, what a fry of fornication[866]
is at door! On my Christian conscience, this one christening[866][867]
will beget a thousand; here will be father, godfather,[866] 35
and all together.[866]

_Man._ The spoons will be the bigger, sir. There is a[866]
fellow somewhat near the door, he should be a brazier by[866]
his face, for, o' my conscience, twenty of the dog-days now[866]
reign in's nose; all that stand about him are under the[866][868] 40
line, they need no other penance: that fire-drake did I hit[866]
three times on the head, and three times was his nose[866]
discharged against me; he stands there, like a mortar-piece,[866]
to blow us. There was a haberdasher's wife of small[866][869]
wit near him, that railed upon me till her pinked porringer[866] 45
fell off her head, for kindling such a combustion in the[866][870]
state. I missed the meteor once, and hit that woman, who[866]
cried out 'Clubs!' when I might see from far some forty[866][871]
truncheoners draw to her succour, which were the hope o'[866][872]
the Strand, where she was quartered. They fell on; I made[866][873] 50
good my place: at length they came to the broomstaff to[866][874]
me; I defied 'em still: when suddenly a file of boys behind[866][874][875]
'em, loose shot, delivered such a shower of pebbles, that[866][875][876]
I was fain to draw mine honour in and let 'em win the[866]
work: the devil was amongst 'em, I think, surely.[866] 55

_Port._ These are the youths that thunder at a play-house[866]
and fight for bitten apples; that no audience, but[866]
the tribulation of Tower-hill, or the limbs of Limehouse,[866][877][878]
their dear brothers, are able to endure. I have some of[866][879]
'em in Limbo Patrum, and there they are like to dance[866] 60
these three days; besides the running banquet of two[866]
beadles that is to come.[866]

_Enter_ LORD CHAMBERLAIN.

_Cham._ Mercy o' me, what a multitude are here![880]
They grow still too; from all parts they are coming,
As if we kept a fair here. Where are these porters,[881] 65
These lazy knaves? Ye have made a fine hand, fellows:[882]
There's a trim rabble let in: are all these
Your faithful friends o' the suburbs? We shall have
Great store of room, no doubt, left for the ladies,
When they pass back from the christening.

_Port._ An't please your honour,[883] 70
We are but men; and what so many may do,[884]
Not being torn a-pieces, we have done:[885]
An army cannot rule 'em.

_Cham._ As I live,
If the king blame me for't, I'll lay ye all
By the heels, and suddenly; and on your heads 75
Clap round fines for neglect: ye 're lazy knaves;[886]
And here ye lie baiting of bombards when
Ye should do service. Hark! the trumpets sound;
They're come already from the christening:[887]
Go, break among the press, and find a way out[888] 80
To let the troop pass fairly, or I'll find
A Marshalsea shall hold ye play these two months.

_Port._ Make way there for the princess.[889]

_Man._ You great fellow,
Stand close up, or I'll make your head ache.

_Port._ You i' the camlet, get up o' the rail;[890] 85
I'll peck you o'er the pales else. [_Exeunt._[891]

SCENE V. _The palace._[892]

_Enter_ Trumpets, _sounding; then two_ Aldermen, Lord Mayor,
Garter, CRANMER, DUKE OF NORFOLK _with his marshal's
staff_, DUKE OF SUFFOLK, _two_ Noblemen _bearing great
standing-bowls for the christening-gifts; then four_
Noblemen _bearing a canopy, under which the_ DUCHESS OF
NORFOLK, _godmother, bearing the child richly habited in
a mantle, &c., train borne by a Lady; then follows the_
MARCHIONESS DORSET, _the other godmother, and_ Ladies. _The
troop pass once about the stage, and_ Garter _speaks_.

_Gart._ Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous[893]
life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty[893]
princess of England, Elizabeth![893]

_Flourish. Enter_ KING _and Guard_.[894]

_Cran._ [_Kneeling_] And to your royal grace, and the
good queen.[895][896]
My noble partners and myself thus pray:[896] 5
All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady,[897]
Heaven ever laid up to make parents happy,[898]
May hourly fall upon ye!

_King._ Thank you, good lord archbishop:[899]
What is her name?

_Cran._ Elizabeth.

_King._ Stand up, lord.

[_The King kisses the child._

With this kiss take my blessing: God protect thee![900] 10
Into whose hand I give thy life.

_Cran._ Amen.

_King._ My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal:[901]
I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady,
When she has so much English.

_Cran._ Let me speak, sir,
For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter 15
Let none think flattery, for they'll find 'em truth.
This royal infant--heaven still move about her!--
Though in her cradle, yet now promises
Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings,
Which time shall bring to ripeness: she shall be-- 20
But few now living can behold that goodness--[902]
A pattern to all princes living with her
And all that shall succeed: Saba was never[903]
More covetous of wisdom and fair virtue
Than this pure soul shall be: all princely graces,[904] 25
That mould up such a mighty piece as this is,[905]
With all the virtues that attend the good,
Shall still be doubled on her: truth shall nurse her,
Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her:
She shall be loved and fear'd: her own shall bless her; 30
Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn,[906]
And hang their heads with sorrow. Good grows with her:[907]
In her days every man shall eat in safety,
Under his own vine, what he plants, and sing
The merry songs of peace to all his neighbours: 35
God shall be truly known; and those about her
From her shall read the perfect ways of honour,[908][909]
And by those claim their greatness, not by blood.[909]
Nor shall this peace sleep with her; but, as when[910]
The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phœnix,[910] 40
Her ashes new create another heir[910]
As great in admiration as herself,[910]
So shall she leave her blessedness to one--[910]
When heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness--[910]
Who from the sacred ashes of her honour[910] 45
Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was,[910]
And so stand fix'd. Peace, plenty, love, truth, terror,[910]
That were the servants to this chosen infant,[910]
Shall then be his and like a vine grow to him:[910]
Wherever the bright sun of heaven shall shine,[910] 50
His honour and the greatness of his name[910]
Shall be, and make new nations: he shall flourish,[910]
And, like a mountain cedar, reach his branches[910]
To all the plains about him. Our children's children[910][911]
Shall see this, and bless heaven.[910]

_King._ Thou speakest wonders. 55

_Cran._ She shall be, to the happiness of England,[912]
An aged princess; many days shall see her,[912]
And yet no day without a deed to crown it.[912]
Would I had known no more! but she must die;[912]
She must; the saints must have her; yet a virgin,[912][913] 60
A most unspotted lily shall she pass[912][914]
To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her.[912][915]

_King._ O lord archbishop,
Thou hast made me now a man! never, before
This happy child, did I get any thing. 65
This oracle of comfort has so pleased me,
That when I am in heaven I shall desire
To see what this child does, and praise my Maker.
I thank ye all. To you, my good lord mayor,
And your good brethren, I am much beholding;[916] 70
I have received much honour by your presence,
And ye shall find me thankful. Lead the way, lords:
Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye;
She will be sick else. This day, no man think
Has business at his house; for all shall stay:[917] 75
This little one shall make it holiday. [_Exeunt._

FOOTNOTES:

[727] London. A gallery....] Gallery.... Capell. Before the Palace. Theobald.

[728] _Whither_] F₃ F₄. _Whether_ F₁ F₂.

[729] _and_] om. Pope.

[730] _an if_] Capell. _and if_ Ff.

[731] _work_] _word_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[732] _great_] om. F₄.

_and_] _and 'tis_ Rowe (ed. 2). _'tis_ Pope.

[733] _goes_] _goe_ F₂.

[734] _Cry the_] _Cry ye_ Anon. conj.

[735] _you're_] Theobald. _y' are_ Ff. _you are_ Steevens.

[736] _you_] _you are_ F₃ F₄.

[737] _is_] _he's_ Theobald. _he is_ Capell.

[738] _sir_] om. Pope.

[739] _trade of_] F₁ F₂ F₃. _trade for_ F₄. _tread for_ Warburton.

_moe_] Ff. _more_ Rowe.

[740] _time_] F₄. _Lime_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[741] _and tongue_] F₁ F₂. _or tongue_ F₃ F₄.

[742] _Yes, yes_] Ff. _Yes_ Pope.

[743] _and indeed this_] _indeed this_ Pope. _indeed this very_ Hanmer.

[744] _o' the_] _o' th'_ F₁ F₂. _of the_ F₃ F₄.

[745] _of_] _that of_ Keightley.

[746] _hath_] _he hath_ Pope. _h'ath_ Malone conj. _'hath_ Collier.

[747] _convented_] _convened_ Johnson.

[748] [Exeunt....] Exit.... Ff (after line 54).

Enter King....] Ff. Ex. Lov. Scene changes to an Apartment in the Palace. Enter King.... Theobald.

As Lovell is going, Enter the King, and the Duke of Suffolk, as new risen from Play. Capell.

[749] SCENE II. Pope.

_more_] _more with you_ S. Walker conj.

[750] Re-enter Lovel. Theobald. Enter Lovell. Hanmer.

[751] _In the great'st_] _In the greatest_ F₄. _In greatest_ Pope.

[752] _travail_] _travel_ Rowe.

[753] _good_] _a good_ Pope.

Enter....] Ff (after _follows,_ line 79).

[754] _Ay_] Rowe. _I_ Ff. _Yea_ Pope.

[755] [Exit Denny.] Rowe.

[756] [Aside] Rowe.

[757] Re-enter....] Capell. Enter Cranmer and Denny. Ff.

[758] _Avoid ... gone_] One line in Capell Two in Ff.

[759] _What!_] _What?_ F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

SCENE III. Pope.

[_Aside_] Capell.

_fearful_] _much fearful_ Hanmer.

[760] _How ... you_] Arranged as in Rowe (ed. 2). As three lines in Ff, ending _Lord?... wherefore ... you._

[761] [Kneeling] Johnson.

[762] _To attend_] _T' attend_ Ff.

_arise_] _rise_ Pope.

[763] _I have ... hand_] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

_I have_] _I've_ Pope.

_come, come_] _come_ Pope.

[764] _you_] _were you_ Long MS. _to_ Collier MS.

[765] _myself, poor man._ King.] _myself._ King. _Poor man,_ Grey conj.

[766] [Cranmer rises. Johnson.

[767] _holidame_] _holydame_ Ff. _holy Dame_ Rowe.

[768] _to have_] _have_ Pope.

[769] _good_] _ground_ Rann (Johnson conj.)

[770] _fail_] _fall_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[771] _What_] _Which_ Johnson.

[772] _enemies are_] _foes are_ Pope. _enemies_ Capell.

[773] _due_] F₃ F₄. _dew_ F₁ F₂.

[774] _You are_] _You're_ Pope.

[775] _whiles_] _while_ Pope.

[776] _precipice_] _precepit_ F₁.

[777] _And woo_] F₃ F₄. _And woe_ F₁. _Ane wooe_ F₂.

[778] _shall_] om. Pope.

[779] _good man_] F₃ F₄. _goodman_ F₁ F₂.

[780] _He has_] _He ha's_ Ff. _He'as_ Pope.

[781] _He has ... tears_] Arranged as in Hanmer. As one line in Ff.

[782] _His language_] F₁. _all his language_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _All language_ Hanmer.

Enter....] Capell. Enter Olde Lady. Ff.

[783] Enter Lovell. Steevens.

[784] _Give ... queen_] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[Exit.] Exit King. Ff.

[785] _ha'_] F₃. _ha_ F₁ F₂ F₄. _have_ Capell.

[786] _Said ... issue_] Arranged as by Steevens. In Ff the lines end _Ile ... hot ... issue._

[787] _like to_] _like_ Pope.

[788] _I will_] Steevens. _Ile_ F₁ F₂. _I'le_ F₃ F₄.

_and now_] _now_ Pope.

[789] _it is_] Steevens. _'tis_ Ff.

[Exeunt.] Capell. Exit Ladie. Ff.

[790] SCENE II.] SCENE IV. Pope.

Before the council-chamber.] Theobald. The council-Chamber. Capell.

Pursuivants, Pages, &c. attending. Enter....] Chair, under a State, for the King; beneath, a Table: Chamber-keeper attending. Servants at the Door without; to which, Enter Cranmer. Capell. Enter Cranmer, Archbyshop of Canterbury. Ff.

[791] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

[792] _But ... grace_] One line in Capell.

[793] Enter....] Capell. In Ff after _for_ line 7.

[794] [Aside] Dyce and Staunton.

_piece_] _Peere_ F₁.

[795] _happily_] F₁ F₂ F₃. _haply_ F₄.

[796] [Aside] Johnson.

[797] _sound_] _found_ Rowe.

[798] _'Mong ... pleasures_] One line in Rowe (ed. 2). Two in Ff.

_'Mong_] _Among_ Capell.

_boys_] _footboys_ Anon. conj.

_grooms_] _and grooms_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[799] _fulfill'd_] Ff. _fulfilled_ Rowe.

[800] _sight--_] Rowe. _sight._ Ff.

[801] _o' me_] Pope. _a me_ Ff.

[802] _above 'em yet. I_] _above 'em.-- Yet I_ Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

_had_] om. Pope.

[803] _They had_] _They'd_ Pope.

[804] [Exeunt.] Reed (1803). Curtain drawn. Capell.

[805] SCENE III.] Edd. SCENE V. Pope. om. Ff. See note (X).

The council-chamber.] Reed. The council. Theobald. A Councell Table brought in with Chayres and Stooles, and placed under the State. Ff.

Enter ... secretary.] Ff.

Lord Chancellor,] Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor, Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

Keeper at the door.] Edd. om. Ff.

[806] _master_] Steevens. _M._ F₁ F₂. _Mr._ F₃ F₄.

[807] _are we_] _we are_ Anon. conj.

[808] _chief_] om. Pope. _chiefest_ Capell.

_cause_] om. Anon. conj.

_concerns_] _'cerns_ Lettsom conj.

[809] _noble_] om. Steevens conj.

Gar. _Yes._] om. Mitford conj.

[810] enters and] Edd. om. Ff.

[811] _and capable Of our flesh:_] Capell. _and capable Of our flesh,_ Ff. _and capable Of frailty,_ Pope. _and culpable; Those frailty free are angels:_ Theobald conj. _incapable; Of our flesh,_ Malone. _and culpable: Of our flesh,_ Mason conj. _and culpable Of our flesh;_ Collier (Collier MS.)

[812] _Of our flesh; few_] _Of falling; so_ Anon. conj.

_out of_] _from_ Pope.

[813] _stirs_] F₄. _stirres_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _strives_ Collier (Collier MS.)

[814] _of a_] _of the_ Rowe.

[815] _we have_] _we've_ Pope.

[816] _Ah_] _Ay_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[817] _you, words_] _your words_ Long MS.

[818] _you are_] Pope. _y'are_ Ff. _you're_ Rowe.

[819] _a cruelty_] _cruelty_ Anon. conj.

[820] _master_] Steevens. _M._ F₁ F₂. _Mr._ F₃ F₄.

[821] Chan.] Capell. Cham. Ff.

_This is_] _This'_ S. Walker conj.

[822] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

[823] Chan.] Capell (Theobald conj.) Cham. Ff.

[824] _lords?_] F₄. _lords._ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[825] _you are_] _you're_ Pope.

[826] Enter Guard] Enter the Guard. Ff.

[827] Cham.] Ff. Cha. Capell. Chan. Dyce.

[828] _'Tis the_] F₁ F₂. _'Tis his_ F₃ F₄.

[829] _disciples_] _diciples_ F₂.

[830] SCENE VI. Pope.

_Dread ... heaven_] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[831] _out of_] _of our_ F₃ F₄.

[832] _You were_] _You're_ Pope.

[833] _flattery_] _flatteries_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[834] _presence They_] F₁. _presence, They_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _presence; They_ Capell.

[835] _bare_] Dyce (Malone conj.) _base_ Ff.

[836] _To me_] _To one_ Rann (Whalley conj.)

_reach you_] _reach, you_ Steevens (Mason conj.) _reach. You_ Ff.

[837] [To Cranmer.] Rowe. om. Ff.

[838] _proudest He,_] Ff. _proudest, He_ Collier.

[839] _this_] Rowe. _his_ Ff.

[840] _I had thought I had had men_] Ff. _I had had thought I had men_ Rowe (ed. 1). _I had thought I had men_ Rowe (ed. 2). _I thought I had men_ Pope.

[841] _mean_] _means_ Pope.

[842] _live_] _do live_ Rowe (ed. 2).

Chan.] F₁ F₂. Cham. F₃ F₄.

_Thus far_] om. Pope.

[843] _beholding_] _beholden_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[844] _him_] om. Johnson.

[They embrace him; Gardiner last. Collier (Collier MS.)

[845] _That is,_] _There is_ Rowe.

[846] _Come ... you?_] As in Ff. Pope arranges as verse, ending the lines _have ... Dutchess ... Dorset._ Capell ends them _have ... Norfolk ... please you._

[847] _Lady_] _the Lady_ Rowe (ed. 2). _the old Lady_ Johnson (1771).

_Dorset_] F₁ F₂. _of Dorset_ F₃ F₄.

[848] _will these please you?_] Omitted by Pope.

[849] [They embrace again. Collier (Collier MS.)

[850] _brother-love_] Malone. _brother; love_ F₁. _brothers love_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _brother's love_ Rowe.

[851] _heart_] _hearts_ F₁.

[852] _A_] _But one_ Pope.

_he is_] Capell. _hee's_ F₁ F₂. _he's_ F₃ F₄.

[853] SCENE IV.] Edd. Scæna Tertia. Ff. SCENE VII. Pope.

The palace yard.] Theobald.

[854] _You'll ... rude rascals?_] As ten lines of verse in Capell, ending _noise ... court ... gaping ... larder ... rogue ... roar in ... ones to'em ... christnings? ... rascals?_

[855] _leave_] _leane_ F₂.

[856] _Paris-Garden_] F₄. _Parish garden_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[857] _master_] Steevens. _M._ F₁ F₂. _Mr._ F₃ F₄.

[858] _ye_] _you_ Capell.

[859] _roar_] _roate_ F₂.

[860] _switches to em._] _switches.--To 'em._ Warburton.

[861] _as well_] _is well_ F₂.

_Powle's_] _Powles_ F₁ F₂. _Poule's_ F₃. _Pauls_ F₄.

[862] _I ... her!_] As in Ff. Prose in Pope.

[863] _ne'er_] _never_ Rowe (ed. 2).

_chine_] _queen_ Collier (Collier MS.)

[864] _a cow_] _a crown_ Collier (Collier MS.) _my cow_ Staunton conj.

[865] _What should you do,_] In a line by itself in Ff. As prose in Rowe.

[866] _but knock ... to come._] As prose in Ff. As verse in Capell. See note (XI).

[867] _at door_] _at dore_ F₁ F₂. _at the door_ F₃ F₄.

[868] _in's_] _in his_ Capell.

[869] _blow us_] F₁ F₂. _blow us up_ F₃ F₄.

[870] _fell_] _sell_ F₂.

_a_] om. Capell.

[871] _from far_] om. Pope.

[872] _truncheoners_] F₁ F₂. _truncheons_ F₃ F₄. _truncheoneers_ Capell.

_hope_] _forlorn hope_ Hanmer.

_o'_] of Pope.

[873] _Strand_] F₄. _Strond_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[874] _to me_] _with me_ Pope. _wi'me_ Capell.

[875] _behind 'em, ... pebbles,_] _behind 'em deliver'd ... pibbles, loose shot,_ Pope.

[876] _pebbles_] Johnson. _pibbles_ Ff.

[877] _tribulation_] Ff. _Tribulation_ Theobald. _sweet tribulation_ Capell.

[878] _limbs_] Pope. _Limbes_ F₁ F₂. _Limbs_ F₃ F₄. _lambs_ Steevens conj. _young lambs_ Anon. conj.

[879] _brothers_] _brethren_ S. Walker conj.

[880] _a_] om. F₂.

[881] _here_] om. Pope.

[882] _Ye have_] _Y' have_ Ff.

_a fine_] _fine_ F₂.

[883] _An't please_] Capell. _And't please_ Ff. _Please_ Pope.

[884] _what so many_] _what-so man_ Anon. conj.

[885] _a-pieces_] _a pieces_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _in pieces_ F₄.

[886] _ye 're_] Dyce. _y' are_ Ff. _you are_ Steevens.

[887] _They're_] Capell. _Th' are_ Ff. _They are_ Steevens.

[888] _press_] F₄. _preasse_ F₁ F₂. _preass_ F₃.

_a way_] _away_ F₁.

[889] _there_] om. Warburton.

[890] _camlet_] Steevens. _Chamblet_ Ff. _camblet_ Pope.

_up o'_] _off_ Rann (Mason conj.) _up off_ Mason conj.

[891] _peck_] F₃ F₄. _pecke_ F₁ F₂. _pick_ Johnson.

_pales_] _pates_ Knight, ed. 2, (Anon. conj.) _poll_ Collier MS.

[892] SCENE V.] Edd. Scena Quarta. Ff. SCENE VIII. Pope.

The palace.] Theobald. Palace at Greenwich. Collier (Reed conj.)

[893] _Heaven ... Elizabeth!_] Printed as prose, first, by Capell. As four lines, ending _Heaven, ... life, ... mighty ... Elisabeth,_ in Ff. See note (XII).

[894] Guard.] Train. Capell.

[895] [Kneeling] Johnson. om. Ff.

[896] _queen. My ... pray:_] Edd. _queen, My ... pray_ Ff. _queen, My ... pray,_ Rowe. _queen, My ... pray;_ Pope.

[897] _lady_] _day_ Johnson, 1771 (a misprint).

[898] _Heaven ever_] _That heav'n e'er_ Pope.

[899] _archbishop_] om. Steevens conj.

[900] [The King....] Johnson. om. Ff.

[901] _ye have_] Johnson. _y' have_ Ff. _you have_ Hanmer.

[902] _few now_] _few or none_ Warburton.

[903] _Saba_] _Sheba_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[904] _pure_] _poor_ Rowe (ed. 2). _blest_ Pope.

[905] _such_] F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

_is_] om. Pope.

[906] _corn_] F₃ F₄. _Corne_ F₁ F₂. See note (XIII).

[907] _And ... her:_] One line in Rowe (ed. 2). Two lines, the first ending _sorrow,_ in Ff.

[908] _read_] _tread_ Collier conj.

[909] _ways ... by those claim_] F₄. _way ... by those claime_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _ways ... claim by those_ Pope. _way ... by that claim_ Capell.

[910] _Nor shall ... heaven._] See note (XIV).

[911] _Our_] om. Pope.

[912] _She shall ... mourn her._] See note (XIV).

[913] _her; yet a virgin,_] Ff. _her yet a virgin;_ Theobald.

[914] _most_] _pure_ Capell (corrected in Errata).

[915] _To_] _Unto_ Dyce conj.

[916] _your good_] Theobald (Thirlby conj.) _you good_ Ff.

_beholding_] _beholden_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[917] _Has_] _'Has_ Ff. _H'as_ Rowe (ed. 2). _He'as_ Hanmer. _He has_ Capell.

THE EPILOGUE.

'Tis ten to one this play can never please
All that are here: some come to take their ease,[918]
And sleep an act or two; but those, we fear,[919]
We have frighted with our trumpets; so, 'tis clear,[920]
They'll say 'tis naught: others, to hear the city[921] 5
Abused extremely, and to cry 'That's witty!'
Which we have not done neither; that, I fear,
All the expected good we're like to hear[922]
For this play at this time, is only in[923]
The merciful construction of good women;[923] 10
For such a one we show'd 'em: if they smile,
And say 'twill do, I know, within a while
All the best men are ours; for 'tis ill hap,
If they hold when their ladies bid 'em clap.

FOOTNOTES:

[918] _ease_] _case_ F₂.

[919] _sleep_] _sleep out_ F₃ F₄.

[920] _We have_] _W' have_ Ff. _We've_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[921] _'tis_] F₁. _it's_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[922] _we're_] _w'are_ Ff. _we are_ Capell.

[923] _is only in The_] _we shall not owe men, But_ Collier conj.

NOTES.

NOTE I.

I. 1. 167. Mr Collier says: "In the three earlier folios the word is spelt 'wrenching,' which the printer of the fourth folio, not understanding, altered to 'drenching.'" In the three copies of the fourth folio now before us the word is 'wrenching.'

NOTE II.

I. 2. Capell, followed by Malone, made many gratuitous alterations in the stage-directions of the Folios, which we have not thought it worth while always to record.

NOTE III.

II. 3. 7-9. Pope's reading is as follows:

'Still growing in a majesty and pomp,
The which to leave, a thousand-fold more bitter
Than sweet at first t'acquire.'

Theobald, followed by Hanmer, has:

'Still growing to a majesty and pomp,
The which to leave's a thousand-fold more bitter
Than sweet at first t'acquire.'

Capell reads, following the arrangement of the Folios:

'Still growing in a majesty and pomp,--the which
To leave, 's a thousand fold more bitter, than
'Tis sweet at first to acquire.'

We are in doubt here as to which is the reading of Mr Collier's MS. Corrector, for in his edition of Coleridge's Lectures he gives it,

'To leave's a thousand times more bitter, than
Sweet, &c.'

while in the second edition of his Shakespeare he quotes it as follows:

'To leave's a thousand-fold more better, than
'Tis sweet, &c.'

NOTE IV.

II. 3. 103. Mr Collier says, "If the blood of Anne Bullen had saluted or welcomed the news,--'If my blood salute this a jot--' there would have been no difficulty." It is not clear whether Mr Collier intends this as a conjectural emendation or not.

NOTE V.

II. 3. The stage direction which we have given from the Folios has been variously altered. The only important change which Capell introduces is in making the Archbishop of Canterbury follow the Bishops. The alteration 'between' for 'below' appeared in Reed's edition of 1803, and has been followed by some modern editors.

NOTE VI.

II. 4. 75. This line appears to have been accidentally omitted by the printer of the edition by Johnson, who, without taking the trouble to refer even to Warburton's text, conjectured that the passage was corrupt and proposed to read:

'Nay, before.--
Induc'd by potent circumstances, that
You are my enemy, I make my challenge.
You shall not be my judge.'

NOTE VII.

II. 4. 182. Mr Collier, in his 2nd edition, says, "We are quite satisfied that Theobald was right in reading 'The bottom of my conscience.'" Theobald does not adopt the conjecture in his text. His note is as follows: "Tho this reading be sense, and therefore I have not ventur'd to displace it; yet, I verily believe, the poet wrote; 'The bottom of my conscience,--' My reason is this. Shakespeare in all his historical plays was a most diligent observer of Hollingshead's Chronicle; and had him always in eye, wherever he thought fit to borrow any matter from him. Now Hollingshead, in the speech which he has given to King Henry upon this subject, makes him deliver himself thus. 'Which words, once conceived within the secret bottom of my conscience, ingendred such a scrupulous doubt, that my conscience was incontinently accombred, vex'd, and disquieted.'" Theobald appears to have forgotten that the emendation was suggested to him by Dr Thirlby. See Nichols' _Illustrations_, II. p. 461.

NOTE VIII.

III. 2. 192. The first and second folios, which in so doubtful a case we have followed, read:

'that am, have, and will be (Though ... horrid) yet my duty, &c.'

The third and fourth extend the parenthesis so as to include line 198, '(Though ... break).'

Rowe reads: 'that am I, have been, and will be: Though ... horrid; yet, my duty, &c.'

Pope: 'that am I, have been, will be:' pointing the rest with Rowe.

Capell, reading as the folios, puts a full stop at 'be,' line 192, and a semicolon at 'horrid,' line 196.

Mason proposes to omit the words 'that am, have, and will be,' because he can find no meaning in them.

Malone supposes that a line following 192 has been lost.

Seymour proposes to read:

'that I am, have been, and shall be
....................................
And throw it from their soul (most firm and loyal)
Though perils &c.'

Jackson conjectures: 'that aim, has and will be, Though, &c.' or, 'that aim has, and will be To you, though ... duty, And throw, &c.'

Mr Knight conjectures: 'that aim I have and will, Though, &c.,' 'will' being here a noun.

Mr Collier adopts this reading, but takes 'will' to be a verb, for 'will have.'

Mr Singer reads: 'that I am true, and will be, Though, &c.' by which, he says, all is made 'congruous and clear.'

Mitford would read: 'that am, and will be yours. Though, &c.'

Dr Badham suggests: 'that am your slave and will be. Though, &c.'

Mr Staunton conjectures: 'to that I am slave and will be, Though, &c.'

Sidney Walker says: "If there be no other corruption, the period after 'be' ought to be replaced by a comma: otherwise the words appear unintelligible. Even so, however, this will be a most harsh instance of ἀνακολουθία. But I rather think that a line is lost, somewhat to the following effect:

'that I am, have, and will be,
[In heart and act, tied to your service; yea,]
Though all the world should, &c.'"

Mr Grant White adopts Mr Singer's reading, nearly: 'that am true and will be, &c.'

Mr Nichols proposes to transfer 'yours' from line 199 to follow 'will be:'

'that am, have, and will be yours
.................................
... and stand unshaken.'

Mr Keightley prints, 'that am, have and will be ... Though &c.,' indicating that the sense is interrupted.

NOTE IX.

III. 2. 208, 209. The misreading 'may' for 'have,' which is so familiar to us in this often-quoted passage, was not corrected by Pope or any subsequent editor till Capell.

NOTE X.

V. 3. Mr Grant White suggests that a new scene should begin here, "although the stage direction in the folio is only 'A Councell Table brought in with Chayres and Stooles, and placed under the State,' &c. But this is plainly the mere result of the absence of scenery of any kind on Shakespeare's stage, and the audience were to imagine that the scene changed from the lobby before the Council Chamber to that apartment itself." We have adopted his suggestion, thinking that the obvious propriety of changing the scene outweighs any inconvenience which might result for purposes of reference. Hanmer, Warburton, and Johnson all follow Pope in calling this Scene V. Theobald also supposes a new scene to begin here, although in his edition the scenes are not numbered. Capell, by his stage direction, indicated that the scene presented the Council-chamber and the lobby both at once to the eyes of the spectators.

NOTE XI.

V. 4. 30-61. It is scarcely worth while to record how Capell cut up these thirty lines of prose into verse. No editor has followed him. Mr Sidney Walker however has made a similar attempt, but is forced to admit that in some changes of reading he has 'ventured beyond the lawful limits of an emendator.' With the same license, it would be easy to convert an Act of Parliament or a leading article into verse.

Mr Walker also has followed Capell, or perhaps has hit independently on the same arrangement, as regards the first part of the scene. The intervening lines from 10 to 30 are printed as verse in the folio. In these he proposes some trifling changes of arrangement.

NOTE XII.

V. 5. 1-4. Pope, with more than usual audacity, makes the lines run smoothly by thus changing them:

'Heav'n, from thy endless goodness, send long life,
And ever happy, to the high and mighty
Princess of England, fair Elizabeth.'

Theobald, Hanmer, Warburton, and Johnson adopt Pope's reading without remark.

NOTE XIII.

V. 5. 32. Mr Collier mentions that the second Folio has 'Come' in this line, a misprint rectified by his 'old annotator.' In three copies which we have consulted it is distinctly 'Corne.'

NOTE XIV.

V. 5. 39-55, 56-62. Theobald was the first to suggest that lines 39 to 55 'Nor shall this peace ... bless heaven,' and lines 56 to 62, 'She shall be ... mourn her,' were an interpolation. Cranmer's speech originally, as he supposed, ended at 'not by blood.' Then the King replied:

'Thou speakest wonders. O lord Archbishop, &c.'

TROILUS AND CRESSIDA.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ[D].

PRIAM, king of Troy.
HECTOR, }
TROILUS, }
PARIS, } his sons.
DEIPHOBUS, }
HELENUS, }
MARGARELON, a bastard son of Priam[E].
ÆNEAS, }
ANTENOR, } Trojan commanders.
CALCHAS, a Trojan priest, taking part with the Greeks.
PANDARUS, uncle to Cressida.
AGAMEMNON, the Grecian general.
MENELAUS, his brother.
ACHILLES, }
AJAX, }
ULYSSES, } Grecian commanders.
NESTOR, }
DIOMEDES, }
PATROCLUS, }
THERSITES, a deformed and scurrilous Grecian.
ALEXANDER, servant to Cressida[E].
Servant to Troilus[E].
Servant to Paris.
Servant to Diomedes.

HELEN, wife to Menelaus.
ANDROMACHE, wife to Hector.
CASSANDRA, daughter to Priam; a prophetess[E].
CRESSIDA, daughter to Calchas.

Trojan and Greek Soldiers, and Attendants.

SCENE: _Troy, and the Grecian camp_.

[D] DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.] First given, imperfectly, by Rowe.

[E] Added by Theobald.

TROILUS AND CRESSIDA.[924]

FOOTNOTES:

[924] TROILUS AND CRESSIDA.] See note (I).

THE PROLOGUE.[925]

In Troy there lies the scene. From isles of Greece
The princes orgulous, their high blood chafed,[926]
Have to the port of Athens sent their ships,
Fraught with the ministers and instruments
Of cruel war: sixty and nine, that wore 5
Their crownets regal, from the Athenian bay
Put forth toward Phrygia, and their vow is made
To ransack Troy, within whose strong immures[927]
The ravish'd Helen, Menelaus' queen,
With wanton Paris sleeps; and that's the quarrel. 10
To Tenedos they come;
And the deep-drawing barks do there disgorge[928]
Their warlike fraughtage: now on Dardan plains
The fresh and yet unbruised Greeks do pitch
Their brave pavilions: Priam's six-gated city,[929] 15
Dardan, and Timbria, Helias, Chetas, Troien,[930]
And Antenorides, with massy staples,[931]
And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts,[932]
Sperr up the sons of Troy.[933]
Now expectation, tickling skittish spirits, 20
On one and other side, Trojan and Greek,
Sets all on hazard: and hither am I come
A prologue arm'd, but not in confidence
Of author's pen or actor's voice, but suited
In like conditions as our argument, 25
To tell you, fair beholders, that our play
Leaps o'er the vaunt and firstlings of those broils,
Beginning in the middle; starting thence away[934]
To what may be digested in a play.
Like, or find fault; do as your pleasures are: 30
Now good or bad, 'tis but the chance of war.[935]

FOOTNOTES:

[925] THE PROLOGUE. _In Troy ... of war._] Omitted in Q. Ritson and Steevens (1793), suggest that it is not Shakespeare's.

[926] _orgulous_] Steevens. _orgillous_ Ff.

[927] _immures_] _emures_ F₁.

[928] _barks_] F₃ F₄. _barkes_ F₂. _barke_ F₁.

[929] _six-gated city_] _six gates i' th' city_ Theobald.

[930] _Timbria, Helias, Chetas, Troien_] Ff. _Thymbria, Ilia, Scæa, Troian_ Theobald. _Thymbria, Ilias, Chetas, Troyan_ Capell.

[931] _Antenorides_] Theobald. _Antenonidus_ Ff. _Anteroridas_ Pope.

[932] _fulfilling_] _full-filling_ Theobald conj.

[933] _Sperr_] _Sperre_ Theobald. _Stirre_ F₁ F₂. _Stirr_ F₃. _Stir_ F₄. _Sperrs_ Capell. _Sparr_ Collier MS.

[934] _Beginning in the_] _'Ginning i' th'_ Theobald.

_away_] om. Pope.

[935] _Now good or bad_] _Now good, now bad_ or _Or good or bad_ Capell conj.