No Fear Shakespeare: Henry VIII: Act 5 Scene 2

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Henry VIII

William Shakespeare

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Original Text

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter CRANMER, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. (PAGES, FOOTBOYS, GROOMS, and other SERVANTS attend at the Council door.)	Enter CRANMER, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. (PAGES, FOOTBOYS, GROOMS, and other SERVANTS attend at the Council door.)
CRANMER I hope I am not too late, and yet the gentleman That was sent to me from the Council prayed me To make great haste. He tries the door. All fast? What means this? Ho! 5 Who waits there? Enter KEEPER. Sure you know me!	CRANMER I hope I am not too late, and yet the gentleman That was sent to me from the Council prayed me To make great haste. He tries the door. All fast? What means this? Ho! Who waits there? Enter KEEPER. Sure you know me!
KEEPER Yes, my lord, But yet I cannot help you.	KEEPER Yes, my lord, But yet I cannot help you.
CRANMER Why?	CRANMER Why?
KEEPER 10 Your Grace must wait till you be called for.	KEEPER Your Grace must wait till you be called for.
CRANMER So.	CRANMER So.
Enter DOCTOR BUTTS.	Enter DOCTOR BUTTS.
BUTTS, aside This is a piece of malice. I am glad I came this way so happily. The King Shall understand it presently. BUTTS exits.	BUTTS, aside This is a piece of malice. I am glad I came this way so happily. The King Shall understand it presently. BUTTS exits.
CRANMER, aside 15 Tis Butts, The King’s physician. As he passed along How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me! Pray heaven he sound not my disgrace. For certain This is of purpose laid by some that hate me— 20 God turn their hearts! I never sought their malice— To quench mine honor. They would shame to make me Wait else at door, a fellow councillor, ’Mong boys, grooms, and lackeys. But their pleasures Must be fulfilled, and I attend with patience.	CRANMER, aside Tis Butts, The King’s physician. As he passed along How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me! Pray heaven he sound not my disgrace. For certain This is of purpose laid by some that hate me— God turn their hearts! I never sought their malice— To quench mine honor. They would shame to make me Wait else at door, a fellow councillor, ’Mong boys, grooms, and lackeys. But their pleasures Must be fulfilled, and I attend with patience.
Enter the KING and BUTTS at a window above.	Enter the KING and BUTTS at a window above.
BUTTS 25 I’ll show your Grace the strangest sight.	BUTTS I’ll show your Grace the strangest sight.
KING What’s that, Butts?	KING What’s that, Butts?
BUTTS I think your Highness saw this many a day.	BUTTS I think your Highness saw this many a day.
KING Body o’ me, where is it?	KING Body o’ me, where is it?
BUTTS 30 There, my lord: The high promotion of his Grace of Canterbury, Who holds his state at door, ’mongst pursuivants, Pages, and footboys.	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. 35 Is this the honor they do one another? ’Tis well there’s one above ’em yet. I had thought They had parted so much honesty among ’em— At least good manners—as not thus to suffer A man of his place, and so near our favor, 40 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.	KING Ha! ’Tis he indeed. Is this the honor they do one another? ’Tis well there’s one above ’em yet. I had thought They had parted so much honesty among ’em— At least good manners—as not thus to suffer A man of his place, and so near our favor, 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.
They draw the curtain.	They draw the curtain.
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.	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 45 Speak to the business, Master Secretary. Why are we met in council?	CHANCELLOR Speak to the business, Master Secretary. Why are we met in council?
CROMWELL Please your honors, The chief cause concerns his Grace of Canterbury.	CROMWELL Please your honors, The chief cause concerns his Grace of Canterbury.
GARDINER Has he had knowledge of it?	GARDINER Has he had knowledge of it?
CROMWELL 50 Yes.	CROMWELL Yes.
NORFOLK, to KEEPER Who waits there?	NORFOLK, to KEEPER Who waits there?
KEEPER Without, my noble lords?	KEEPER Without, my noble lords?
GARDINER Yes.	GARDINER Yes.
KEEPER My lord Archbishop, 55 And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures.	KEEPER My lord Archbishop, And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures.
CHANCELLOR Let him come in.	CHANCELLOR Let him come in.
KEEPER, at door Your Grace may enter now.	KEEPER, at door Your Grace may enter now.
CRANMER approaches the council table.	CRANMER approaches the council table.
CHANCELLOR My good lord Archbishop, I’m very sorry To sit here at this present and behold 60 That chair stand empty. But we all are men, 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, 65 Toward the King first, then his laws, in filling The whole realm, by your teaching and your chaplains’— For so we are informed—with new opinions, Divers and dangerous, which are heresies 70 And, not reformed, may prove pernicious.	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, 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 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.
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 75 Till they obey the manage. If we suffer, 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 80 Of the whole state, as of late days our neighbors, The upper Germany, can dearly witness, Yet freshly pitied in our memories.	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, 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, The upper Germany, can dearly witness, Yet freshly pitied in our memories.
CRANMER My good lords, hitherto, in all the progress Both of my life and office, I have labored, 85 And with no little study, that my teaching 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— 90 A man that more detests, more stirs against, 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 95 Envy and crookèd malice nourishment 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.	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 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, 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 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.
SUFFOLK 100 Nay, my lord, That cannot be. You are a councillor, And by that virtue no man dare accuse you.	SUFFOLK Nay, my lord, 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, 105 And our consent, for better trial of you 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.	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 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.
CRANMER 110 Ah, my good Lord of Winchester, I thank you. 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, 115 Become a churchman better than ambition. 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 120 In doing daily wrongs. I could say more, But reverence to your calling makes me modest.	CRANMER Ah, my good Lord of Winchester, I thank you. 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. 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, But reverence to your calling makes me modest.
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.	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 125 My Lord of Winchester, you’re a little, 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.	CROMWELL My Lord of Winchester, you’re a little, 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 130 Good Master Secretary— I cry your Honor mercy—you may worst Of all this table say so.	GARDINER Good Master Secretary— I cry your Honor mercy—you may worst Of all this table say so.
CROMWELL Why, my lord?	CROMWELL Why, my lord?

Original Text	Modern Text
Enter CRANMER, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. (PAGES, FOOTBOYS, GROOMS, and other SERVANTS attend at the Council door.)	Enter CRANMER, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. (PAGES, FOOTBOYS, GROOMS, and other SERVANTS attend at the Council door.)
CRANMER I hope I am not too late, and yet the gentleman That was sent to me from the Council prayed me To make great haste. He tries the door. All fast? What means this? Ho! 5 Who waits there? Enter KEEPER. Sure you know me!	CRANMER I hope I am not too late, and yet the gentleman That was sent to me from the Council prayed me To make great haste. He tries the door. All fast? What means this? Ho! Who waits there? Enter KEEPER. Sure you know me!
KEEPER Yes, my lord, But yet I cannot help you.	KEEPER Yes, my lord, But yet I cannot help you.
CRANMER Why?	CRANMER Why?
KEEPER 10 Your Grace must wait till you be called for.	KEEPER Your Grace must wait till you be called for.
CRANMER So.	CRANMER So.
Enter DOCTOR BUTTS.	Enter DOCTOR BUTTS.
BUTTS, aside This is a piece of malice. I am glad I came this way so happily. The King Shall understand it presently. BUTTS exits.	BUTTS, aside This is a piece of malice. I am glad I came this way so happily. The King Shall understand it presently. BUTTS exits.
CRANMER, aside 15 Tis Butts, The King’s physician. As he passed along How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me! Pray heaven he sound not my disgrace. For certain This is of purpose laid by some that hate me— 20 God turn their hearts! I never sought their malice— To quench mine honor. They would shame to make me Wait else at door, a fellow councillor, ’Mong boys, grooms, and lackeys. But their pleasures Must be fulfilled, and I attend with patience.	CRANMER, aside Tis Butts, The King’s physician. As he passed along How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me! Pray heaven he sound not my disgrace. For certain This is of purpose laid by some that hate me— God turn their hearts! I never sought their malice— To quench mine honor. They would shame to make me Wait else at door, a fellow councillor, ’Mong boys, grooms, and lackeys. But their pleasures Must be fulfilled, and I attend with patience.
Enter the KING and BUTTS at a window above.	Enter the KING and BUTTS at a window above.
BUTTS 25 I’ll show your Grace the strangest sight.	BUTTS I’ll show your Grace the strangest sight.
KING What’s that, Butts?	KING What’s that, Butts?
BUTTS I think your Highness saw this many a day.	BUTTS I think your Highness saw this many a day.
KING Body o’ me, where is it?	KING Body o’ me, where is it?
BUTTS 30 There, my lord: The high promotion of his Grace of Canterbury, Who holds his state at door, ’mongst pursuivants, Pages, and footboys.	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. 35 Is this the honor they do one another? ’Tis well there’s one above ’em yet. I had thought They had parted so much honesty among ’em— At least good manners—as not thus to suffer A man of his place, and so near our favor, 40 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.	KING Ha! ’Tis he indeed. Is this the honor they do one another? ’Tis well there’s one above ’em yet. I had thought They had parted so much honesty among ’em— At least good manners—as not thus to suffer A man of his place, and so near our favor, 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.
They draw the curtain.	They draw the curtain.
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.	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 45 Speak to the business, Master Secretary. Why are we met in council?	CHANCELLOR Speak to the business, Master Secretary. Why are we met in council?
CROMWELL Please your honors, The chief cause concerns his Grace of Canterbury.	CROMWELL Please your honors, The chief cause concerns his Grace of Canterbury.
GARDINER Has he had knowledge of it?	GARDINER Has he had knowledge of it?
CROMWELL 50 Yes.	CROMWELL Yes.
NORFOLK, to KEEPER Who waits there?	NORFOLK, to KEEPER Who waits there?
KEEPER Without, my noble lords?	KEEPER Without, my noble lords?
GARDINER Yes.	GARDINER Yes.
KEEPER My lord Archbishop, 55 And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures.	KEEPER My lord Archbishop, And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures.
CHANCELLOR Let him come in.	CHANCELLOR Let him come in.
KEEPER, at door Your Grace may enter now.	KEEPER, at door Your Grace may enter now.
CRANMER approaches the council table.	CRANMER approaches the council table.
CHANCELLOR My good lord Archbishop, I’m very sorry To sit here at this present and behold 60 That chair stand empty. But we all are men, 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, 65 Toward the King first, then his laws, in filling The whole realm, by your teaching and your chaplains’— For so we are informed—with new opinions, Divers and dangerous, which are heresies 70 And, not reformed, may prove pernicious.	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, 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 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.
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 75 Till they obey the manage. If we suffer, 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 80 Of the whole state, as of late days our neighbors, The upper Germany, can dearly witness, Yet freshly pitied in our memories.	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, 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, The upper Germany, can dearly witness, Yet freshly pitied in our memories.
CRANMER My good lords, hitherto, in all the progress Both of my life and office, I have labored, 85 And with no little study, that my teaching 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— 90 A man that more detests, more stirs against, 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 95 Envy and crookèd malice nourishment 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.	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 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, 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 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.
SUFFOLK 100 Nay, my lord, That cannot be. You are a councillor, And by that virtue no man dare accuse you.	SUFFOLK Nay, my lord, 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, 105 And our consent, for better trial of you 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.	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 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.
CRANMER 110 Ah, my good Lord of Winchester, I thank you. 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, 115 Become a churchman better than ambition. 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 120 In doing daily wrongs. I could say more, But reverence to your calling makes me modest.	CRANMER Ah, my good Lord of Winchester, I thank you. 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. 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, But reverence to your calling makes me modest.
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.	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 125 My Lord of Winchester, you’re a little, 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.	CROMWELL My Lord of Winchester, you’re a little, 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 130 Good Master Secretary— I cry your Honor mercy—you may worst Of all this table say so.	GARDINER Good Master Secretary— I cry your Honor mercy—you may worst Of all this table say so.
CROMWELL Why, my lord?	CROMWELL Why, my lord?