Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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A council table brought in with chairs and stools and
placed under the state. 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. CHANCELLOR
Speak to the business, Master Secretary. 45
Why are we met in council? CROMWELL Please your honors,
The chief cause concerns his Grace of Canterbury. GARDINER
Has he had knowledge of it? CROMWELL Yes. 50 NORFOLK, to Keeper Who waits there? KEEPER
Without, my noble lords? GARDINER Yes. KEEPER My lord Archbishop,
And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures. 55 CHANCELLOR
Let him come in. KEEPER, at door Your Grace may enter now. Cranmer approaches the council table. | (Note: In the Folger's edition of the play that we're using, this is still Act 5, Scene 2.) In the Council meeting, the lords finally let Cranmer in—after they've discussed why they're meeting. |
CHANCELLOR
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, 60
In our own natures frail, and capable
Of our flesh—few are angels—out of which frailty
And want of wisdom you, that best should teach us,
Have misdemeaned yourself, and not a little,
Toward the King first, then his laws, in filling 65
The whole realm, by your teaching and your
chaplains’—
For so we are informed—with new opinions,
Divers and dangerous, which are heresies
And, not reformed, may prove pernicious. 70 GARDINER
Which reformation must be sudden too,
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, 75
Out of our easiness and childish pity
To one man’s honor, 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 neighbors, 80
The upper Germany, can dearly witness,
Yet freshly pitied in our memories. | The Lord Chancellor informs Cranmer that he's heard some nasty rumors around town about the Archbishop. Gardiner joins in on the dog pile. The rumors are that Cranmer is committing heresy. Gasp—that's pretty bad. |
CRANMER
My good lords, hitherto, in all the progress
Both of my life and office, I have labored,
And with no little study, that my teaching 85
And the strong course of my authority
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, 90
Both in his private conscience and his place,
Defacers of a public peace than I do.
Pray heaven the King may never find a heart
With less allegiance in it! Men that make
Envy and crookèd malice nourishment 95
Dare bite the best. I do beseech your Lordships
That, in this case of justice, my accusers,
Be what they will, may stand forth face to face
And freely urge against me. | When Cranmer gets his turn to answer, he defends himself: he's never
knowingly taught the wrong thing, and he's always tried to uphold the
peace. |
SUFFOLK Nay, my lord, 100
That cannot be. You are a councillor,
And by that virtue no man dare accuse you. GARDINER
My lord, because we have business of more moment,
We will be short with you. ’Tis his Highness’ pleasure,
And our consent, for better trial of you 105
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. | Suffolk points out that because Cranmer is a council member, no one can actually bring charges against him. Boo-ya. Gardiner interprets this as: let's toss Cranmer in the Tower. That'll knock him down a peg so others will be able to complain against him to the council. |
CRANMER
Ah, my good Lord of Winchester, I thank you. 110
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. 115
Win straying souls with modesty again;
Cast none away. That I shall clear myself,
Lay all the weight you can upon my patience,
I make as little doubt as you do conscience
In doing daily wrongs. I could say more, 120
But reverence to your calling makes me modest. | But Cranmer doesn't feel threatened—in fact he's even kind to Gardiner,
telling the guy that it's better to be nice than to be ambitious. |
GARDINER
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. CROMWELL
My Lord of Winchester, you’re a little, 125
By your good favor, too sharp. Men so noble,
However faulty, yet should find respect
For what they have been. ’Tis a cruelty
To load a falling man. GARDINER Good Master Secretary— 130
I cry your Honor mercy—you may worst
Of all this table say so. CROMWELL Why, my lord? GARDINER
Do not I know you for a favorer
Of this new sect? You are not sound. 135 | Gardiner wants a fight. We get the sense he's bummed when Cranmer agrees to go to the Tower, so he figures he'll push a few buttons to rile the guy up. He calls Cranmer a weak Protestant. This time, Cromwell steps in to tell Gardiner that he needs to back off: he's being too cruel, and he needs to cool it. (Looks like he took that advice from Wolsey to heart.) Gardiner retaliates by calling Cromwell a Protestant. This guy's all loaded and ready to fire. |
CROMWELL Not sound? GARDINER
Not sound, I say. CROMWELL Would you were half so honest!
Men’s prayers then would seek you, not their fears. GARDINER
I shall remember this bold language. 140 CROMWELL Do.
Remember your bold life too. CHANCELLOR This is too much!
Forbear, for shame, my lords. GARDINER I have done. 145 CROMWELL And I. CHANCELLOR, to Cranmer
Then thus for you, my lord: it stands agreed,
I take it, by all voices, that forthwith
You be conveyed to th’ Tower a prisoner,
There to remain till the King’s further pleasure 150
Be known unto us.—Are you all agreed, lords? | That does it. Cromwell and Gardiner fight like cats and dogs until the Lord Chancellor intercepts. Lord Chancellor asks if everyone is in agreement that Cranmer should head off to the Tower. |
ALL
We are. CRANMER Is there no other way of mercy
But I must needs to th’ Tower, my lords? GARDINER What other 155
Would you expect? You are strangely troublesome.
Let some o’ th’ guard be ready there. Enter the Guard. CRANMER For me?
Must I go like a traitor thither? GARDINER Receive him, 160
And see him safe i’ th’ Tower. CRANMER Stay, good my lords,
I have a little yet to say. Look there, my lords.
He holds out the ring.
By virtue of that ring, I take my cause
Out of the grips of cruel men and give it 165
To a most noble judge, the King my master. | Everyone is, so a guard comes in to take Cranmer away. Cranmer asks if there is another way. When he's told that there isn't, he pulls out a ring. This isn't just any ring; it belongs to the king, and it's a sign of the king's favor. |
CHAMBERLAIN
This is the King’s ring. SURREY ’Tis no counterfeit. SUFFOLK
’Tis the right ring, by heaven! I told you all,
When we first put this dangerous stone a-rolling, 170
’Twould fall upon ourselves. NORFOLK Do you think, my lords,
The King will suffer but the little finger
Of this man to be vexed? CHAMBERLAIN ’Tis now too certain. 175
How much more is his life in value with him!
Would I were fairly out on ’t! CROMWELL My mind gave me,
In seeking tales and informations
Against this man, whose honesty the devil 180
And his disciples only envy at,
You blew the fire that burns you. Now, have at you! | Uh-oh. The council members figure out that they've made a wrong move.
Maybe they shouldn't be picking on someone the king likes so much. |
Enter King, frowning on them; takes his seat. GARDINER
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; 185
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. 190 KING
You were ever good at sudden commendations,
Bishop of Winchester. But know I come not
To hear such flattery now, and in my presence
They are too thin and base to hide offenses.
To me you cannot reach. You play the spaniel, 195
And think with wagging of your tongue to win me;
But whatsoe’er thou tak’st me for, I’m sure
Thou hast a cruel nature and a bloody.—
Good man, sit down. Cranmer takes his seat. Now let me see the proudest 200
He, that dares most, but wag his finger at thee.
By all that’s holy, he had better starve
Than but once think this place becomes thee not. | Henry and Butts (yes, that is really this dude's name) have been listening at a window. They've heard enough, so in they come. Gardiner speaks first and thanks Henry for being wise enough to know when to step back and let the Church rule. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge? Henry points out how much Gardiner always flatters him and says he sees right through it. He's disappointed that the men have treated Cranmer so badly. It's not cool to leave your peer out in the cold, or to want to ship him off to the Tower to die. |
SURREY
May it please your Grace— KING No, sir, it does not please 205
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— 210
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 you so far forget yourselves? I gave you
Power as he was a councillor to try him, 215
Not as a groom. There’s some of you, I see,
More out of malice than integrity,
Would try him to the utmost, had you mean,
Which you shall never have while I live. CHANCELLOR Thus far, 220
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, 225
I’m sure, in me. | Henry wants everyone to just get along. He likes Cranmer, and he wants the council members to like him, too. |
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
May be beholding to a subject, I 230
Am, for his love and service, so to him.
Make me no more ado, but all embrace him.
Be friends, for shame, my lords. They embrace Cranmer. My Lord of Canterbury,
I have a suit which you must not deny me: 235
That is, a fair young maid that yet wants baptism.
You must be godfather and answer for her. CRANMER
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? 240 KING Come, come, my lord, you’d spare your spoons.
You shall have two noble partners with you: the
old Duchess of Norfolk and Lady Marquess Dorset.
Will these please you?—
Once more, my lord of Winchester, I charge you, 245
Embrace and love this man. GARDINER With a true heart
And brother-love I do it. He embraces Cranmer. CRANMER, weeping And let heaven
Witness how dear I hold this confirmation. 250 KING
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’s your friend forever.”—
Come, lords, we trifle time away. I long 255
To have this young one made a Christian.
As I have made you one, lords, one remain.
So I grow stronger, you more honor gain. They exit. | Group hug. No, really: Henry wants them to all "embrace and love this man." With that settled, Henry asks for the council to baptize his daughter. The men leave with a word from Henry about Cranmer: even if you're mean to him, says Henry, Cranmer's still you're friend. That's just how he rolls. |