Summary: Scene three
Norfolk protests Cromwell’s intention to pursue More,
claiming that since More does not actively oppose Henry’s divorce,
they do not need to bother him. But Cromwell contends that everyone understands
More’s silence to be disapproval. Since More has shown himself to
be a patriot by passing on information about Chapuys’s rebellion,
Cromwell contends, More should have no problem swearing an oath
of loyalty to the administration.
When Norfolk protests again, Cromwell points out that
he has instructions from the king to get More to consent. Cromwell
plans to use the information Rich provided about the silver cup
to blackmail More into submission. When Norfolk refuses to believe
that More has ever accepted a bribe, Cromwell brings in Rich and
the woman who gave More the cup. Though the woman did not get the judgment
she wanted from More, she nonetheless admits that she sent him the
silver cup. Rich attests that More received the cup, and Cromwell
has enlisted Matthew to corroborate the fact that More gave the
cup to Rich. Norfolk, however, remembers the night that Rich received
the cup, and he reminds Rich that he got the cup the same month
that More did. Thus, Norfolk asserts, as soon as More realized the
cup was a bribe, he got rid of it. Cromwell admits that the scenario
Norfolk proposes is possible, but he promises to find some better
gossip that he can use to force More’s hand.
When Norfolk insists he wants nothing to do with Cromwell’s campaign
to discredit More, Cromwell mentions that the king particularly
wants Norfolk to participate because Norfolk is known to be More’s
friend. Norfolk’s involvement will make Cromwell’s campaign look
less like malicious prosecution and more like a fair investigation
of facts. When Norfolk exits, Cromwell turns on Rich and rebukes
him for not remembering that the duke was present the night More
gave Rich the cup.
Just as Cromwell and Rich are leaving, Matthew appears
and reminds Rich that he said that he might need a steward. Rich
hesitates since he feels that Matthew treated him poorly back when
he was More’s servant. But Matthew insists that Rich’s memories
are incorrect, and as he follows Rich offstage, he announces that
he thinks Rich will be a good match for him.
Summary: Scene four
Back at More’s home, the family’s fortunes have dwindled.
Chapuys has come to pay a visit, and he and his attendant chat about
how cold and poor More’s house suddenly seems. Chapuys speculates that
More supports Spain and seems to be against Cromwell.
When More arrives, Chapuys promises that his fortunes
are sure to change, implying that an alliance with Spain could be
very profitable. He hands More a letter from the king of Spain,
but More refuses to take it. Chapuys assures More that no one saw
him coming to his house, but More feels that opening the letter
would be unseemly and that he would feel obliged to take it straight
to Henry. He warns Chapuys not to be so sure about More’s views
on the divorce and points out his patriotism. More even has Alice
witness that he has not accepted the letter or broken its seal.
Departing, Chapuys announces that he suspects his king will admire
More all the more for having refused the letter.
