Ex Libris Kirkland

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First Written 1945
Genre Drama
Origin UK
Publisher Oxford University Press
My Copy clothbound hardback, gold letters on spine, really awesome dust jacket. First edition!
First Read October 22, 2013

Thomas Cranmer of Canterbury



I love this weird, weird verse play from Charles Williams. I love it so much I own two old copies, and I bought the second one just to own that awesome skeleton dust jacket.

Noted on October 22, 2013

THE SKELETON [singing before Cranmer's execution]
for the burning of a poor man, a very poor man:
a poor man in duty, God save him from duty!
a poor man in honour, God save him from honour!
a poor man in misery, God save him from misery!
All Christian people, pray for a poor man!

All Christian people, God save you from riches!
If you have duty, God save you from duty!
if you have honour, God save you from honour!
if you have misery, God save you from misery!
God make you poor men for the burning of a poor man.

THE SINGERS
He hath filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he hath sent empty away.

Quoted on October 22, 2013

THE SKELETON:
Take heed, my people, take heed to your praying
You shall give account of your least saying:
who knows how far your words may go?
It were good you said but yes or no.

Quoted on October 22, 2013

ANNE.
My neck is small: will the King have it cut?
He loved me--once.

CRANMER.
Madam, repent, confess,
entreat; the King is gracious.

THE SKELETON.
Heaven is gracious,
but few can can draw safe deductions on its method.

Quoted on October 22, 2013

Blessed Lord /
Thou has given me horses, books, Cambridge, and peace; /
foolish the man, having these, who seeks increase.

Quoted on October 22, 2013


Ex Libris Kirkland is a super-self-absorbed reading journal made by Matt Kirkland. Copyright © 2001 - .
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