Of all the gentry: for the most part such87
To whom as great a charge as little honour
He meant to lay upon: and his own letter89,
The honourable board of council out90,
Must fetch him in, he papers91.
ABERGAVENNY I do know
Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
By this so sickened94 their estates, that never
They shall abound95 as formerly.
BUCKINGHAM O, many
Have broke their backs with laying manors on ’em97
For this great journey. What did this vanity98
But minister communication of99
A most poor issue?
NORFOLK Grievingly101 I think
The peace between the French and us not values102
The cost that did conclude it.
BUCKINGHAM Every man,
After the hideous storm that followed, was
A thing inspired, and, not consulting106, broke
Into a general107 prophecy: that this tempest,
Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded108
The sudden breach on’t109.
NORFOLK Which is budded out110,
For France hath flawed the league, and hath attached111
Our merchants’ goods at Bordeaux.
ABERGAVENNY Is it therefore113
Th’ambassador is silenced114?
NORFOLK Marry115, is’t.
ABERGAVENNY A proper title of116 a peace, and purchased
At a superfluous rate117.
BUCKINGHAM Why, all this business
Our reverend cardinal carried119.
NORFOLK Like it120 your grace,
The state takes notice of the private difference121
Betwixt you and the cardinal. I advise you —
And take it from a heart that wishes towards you
Honour and plenteous safety — that you read124
The cardinal’s malice and his potency125
Together: to consider further that
What his high hatred would effect wants127 not
A minister128 in his power. You know his nature,
That he’s revengeful: and I know his sword
Hath a sharp edge: it’s long and’t may be said,
It reaches far, and where ’twill not extend,
Thither he darts it. Bosom up132 my counsel,
You’ll find it wholesome. Lo133, where comes that rock
That I advise your shunning.
Enter Cardinal Wolsey, the purse borne before him, certain of the Guard, and two Secretaries with papers. The Cardinal in his passage fixeth his eye on Buckingham, and Buckingham on him, both full of disdain
CARDINAL WOLSEY The Duke of Buckingham’s surveyor135, ha?
Where’s his examination136?
SECRETARY Here, so please you.
CARDINAL WOLSEY Is he in person ready?
SECRETARY Ay, please your grace.
CARDINAL WOLSEY Well, we shall then know more, and Buckingham
Shall lessen this big141 look.
Exeunt Cardinal and his train
BUCKINGHAM This butcher’s cur142 is venom-mouthed, and I
Have not the power to muzzle him: therefore best
Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar’s book144
Outworths a noble’s blood.
NORFOLK What, are you chafed146?
Ask God for temp’rance: that’s th’appliance only147
Which your disease requires.
BUCKINGHAM I read in’s looks
Matter150 against me, and his eye reviled
Me as his abject object151: at this instant
He bores152 me with some trick: he’s gone to th’king:
I’ll follow, and outstare him.
NORFOLK Stay, my lord,
And let your reason with your choler155 question
What ’tis you go about: to climb steep hills
Requires slow pace at first. Anger is like
A full hot158 horse, who being allowed his way,
Self-mettle159 tires him: not a man in England
Can advise me like you: be to yourself
As you would to your friend.
BUCKINGHAM I’ll to the king,
And from a mouth of honour quite163 cry down
This Ipswich164 fellow’s insolence, or proclaim
There’s difference165 in no persons.
NORFOLK Be advised166:
Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
That it do singe yourself. We may outrun,
By violent swiftness, that which we run at,
And lose by overrunning170: know you not
The fire that mounts171 the liquor till’t run o’er,
In seeming to augment it wastes it? Be advised:
I say again there is no English soul
More stronger to direct you than yourself,
If with the sap of reason you would quench
Or but allay176 the fire of passion.
BUCKINGHAM Sir,
I am thankful to you, and I’ll go along
By your prescription: but this top-proud179 fellow —
Whom from the flow of gall180 I name not, but
From sincere motions — by intelligence181,
And proofs as clear as founts182 in July when
We see each grain of gravel, I do know
To be corrupt and treasonous.
NORFOLK Say not ‘treasonous’.
BUCKINGHAM To th’king I’ll say’t, and make my vouch186 as strong
As shore of rock: attend. This holy fox,
Or wolf, or both — for he is equal188 rav’nous
As he is subtle189, and as prone to mischief
As able to perform’t, his mind and place190
Infecting one another, yea, reciprocally —
Only to show his pomp192 as well in France
As here at home, suggests193 the king our master
To this last costly treaty, th’interview194
That swallowed so much treasure195, and like a glass
Did break i’th’wrenching196.
NORFOLK Faith, and so it did.
BUCKINGHAM Pray give me favour198, sir: this cunning cardinal
The articles o’th’combination drew199
As himself pleased: and they were ratified
As he cried ‘Thus let be’, to as much end201
As give a crutch to th’dead. But our count-cardinal202
Has done this, and ’tis well: for worthy Wolsey,
Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows —
Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy
To th’old dam treason — Charles the Emperor206,
Under pretence to see the queen his aunt —
For ’twas indeed his colour208, but he came
To whisper209 Wolsey — here makes visitation:
His fears were that the interview betwixt
England and France might through their amity
Breed him some prejudice, for from this league
Peeped harms that menaced him. He privily213
Deals with our cardinal, and as I trow214 —
Which I do well, for I am sure the emperor
Paid ere216 he promised, whereby his suit was granted
Ere it was asked — but217 when the way was made
And paved with gold, the emperor thus desired
That he219 would please to alter the king’s course,
And break the foresaid peace. Let the king know,
As soon he shall by me, that thus the cardinal
Does buy and sell his honour as he222 pleases,
And for his own advantage.
NORFOLK I am sorry
To hear this of him, and could wish he were
Something mistaken226 in’t.
BUCKINGHAM No, not a syllable:
I do pronounce him in that very shape
He shall appear in proof229.
Enter Brandon,
a Sergeant-at-Arms before him, and two or three of the Guard
BRANDON Your office230, sergeant: execute it.
To Buckingham
SERGEANT Sir,
My lord the Duke of Buckingham, and Earl
Of Hertford233, Stafford and Northampton, I
Arrest thee of high treason, in the name
Of our most sovereign king.
BUCKINGHAM Lo you, my lord,
The net has fall’n upon me: I shall perish
Under device and practice238.
BRANDON I am sorry
To see you ta’en from liberty, to look on240
The business present. ’Tis his highness’ pleasure241
You shall to th’Tower242.
BUCKINGHAM It will help me nothing243
To plead mine innocence, for that dye is on me
Which makes my whit’st part black. The will of heav’n
Be done in this and all things: I obey.
O my Lord Aberga’nny, fare you well.
To Abergavenny
BRANDON Nay, he must bear you company.— The king
Is pleased you shall to th’Tower, till you know
How he determines further.
ABERGAVENNY As the duke said,
The will of heaven be done, and the king’s pleasure
By me obeyed.
BRANDON Here is a warrant from
The king t’attach Lord Montague and the bodies255
Of the duke’s confessor, John de la Car,
One Gilbert Perk, his chancellor—
BUCKINGHAM So, so;
These are the limbs o’th’plot: no more, I hope.
BRANDON A monk o’th’Chartreux260.
BUCKINGHAM O, Nicholas Hopkins?
BRANDON He.
BUCKINGHAM My surveyor is false263: the o’er-great cardinal
Hath showed him gold: my life is spanned264 already:
I am the shadow of poor Buckingham265,
Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on267,
By dark’ning my clear sun. My lord, farewell.
Exeunt
Act 1 Scene 2
running scene 2
Cornets. Enter King Henry [VIII], leaning on the Cardinal [Wolsey]’s shoulder, the Nobles, [Wolsey’s Secretary] and Sir Thomas Lovell: the Cardinal places himself under the King’s feet on his right side
KING HENRY VIII My life itself, and the best heart1 of it,
Thanks you for this great care: I stood i’th’level2
Of a full-charged confederacy3, and give thanks
To you that choked it. Let be called before us
That gentleman of Buckingham’s: in person
I’ll hear him his confessions justify6,
And point by point the treasons of his master
He shall again relate.
A noise within crying ‘Room for the Queen, ushered by the Duke of Norfolk’. Enter the Queen [Katherine], Norfolk and Suffolk: she kneels. [The] King riseth from his state, takes her up, kisses and placeth her by him
QUEEN KATHERINE Nay, we must longer kneel: I am a suitor9.
KING HENRY VIII Arise, and take place10 by us: half your suit
The Queen moves to his side
Never name to us: you have half our power:
The other moiety12 ere you ask is given:
Repeat your will13 and take it.
QUEEN KATHERINE Thank14 your majesty.
That you would love yourself, and in that love
Not unconsidered leave your honour, nor
The dignity17 of your office, is the point
Of my petition.
KING HENRY VIII Lady mine, proceed.
QUEEN KATHERINE I am solicited20, not by a few,
And those of true condition21, that your subjects
Are in great grievance: there have been commissions22
Sent down among ’em which hath flawed23 the heart
Of all their loyalties: wherein, although,
My good lord cardinal, they vent reproaches
Most bitterly on you, as putter-on26
Of these exactions27, yet the king our master —
Whose honour heaven shield from soil28 — even he escapes not
Language unmannerly, yea, such which breaks
The sides of loyalty, and almost appears
In loud rebellion.
NORFOLK Not ‘almost appears’,
It doth appear: for, upon these taxations,
The clothiers34 all, not able to maintain
The many to them longing, have put off35
The spinsters, carders, fullers36, weavers, who,
Unfit for other life37, compelled by hunger
And lack of other means, in desperate manner
Daring th’event to th’teeth39, are all in uproar,
And danger serves40 among them.
KING HENRY VIII Taxation?
Wherein, and what taxation? My lord cardinal,
You that are blamed for it alike with us,
Know you of this taxation?
CARDINAL WOLSEY Please you, sir,
I know but of a single part in aught46
Pertains to th’state, and front but in that file47
Where others tell48 steps with me.
QUEEN KATHERINE No, my lord?
Things that are known alike, which are not wholesome
To those which would not know them, and yet must
Perforce be their acquaintance.53 These exactions,
Whereof my sovereign would have note54, they are
Most pestilent to th’hearing, and to bear55 ’em
The back is sacrifice to th’load56. They say
They are devised by you, or else you suffer
Too hard an exclamation58.
KING HENRY VIII Still ‘exaction’:
The nature of it? In what kind60, let’s know,
Is this exaction?
QUEEN KATHERINE I am much too venturous62
In tempting of your patience, but am boldened63
Under your promised pardon. The subjects’ grief64
Comes through commissions, which compels from each
The sixth part of his substance66, to be levied
Without delay, and the pretence67 for this
Is named your wars in France: this makes bold mouths:
Tongues spit their duties out, and cold hearts freeze
Allegiance in them: their curses now
Live where their prayers71 did: and it’s come to pass
This tractable obedience is a slave72
To each incensèd will. I would73 your highness
Would give it quick consideration, for
There is no primer baseness75.
KING HENRY VIII By my life,
This is against our pleasure77.
CARDINAL WOLSEY And for me,
I have no further gone in this than by
A single voice, and that not passed80 me but
By learnèd approbation81 of the judges: if I am
Traduced82 by ignorant tongues, which neither know
My faculties83 nor person, yet will be
The chronicles of my doing, let me say
’Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake85
That virtue must go through: we must not stint86
Our necessary actions, in the fear
To cope malicious censurers88, which ever,
As rav’nous fishes, do a vessel follow
That is new trimmed90, but benefit no further
Than vainly longing. What we oft do best91,
By sick interpreters, once weak ones, is
Not ours, or not allowed: what worst, as oft93,
Hitting a grosser quality, is cried up
For our best act: if we shall stand still,
In fear our motion will be mocked or carped at96,
We should take root here where we sit,
Or sit state-statues98 only.
KING HENRY VIII Things done well,
And with a care, exempt themselves from fear:
Things done without example, in their issue101
Are to be feared. Have you a precedent
Of103 this commission? I believe not any.
We must not rend our subjects from our laws104,
And stick them in our will. Sixth part of each?
A trembling106 contribution; why, we take
From every tree lop107, bark, and part o’th’timber:
And though we leave it with a root, thus hacked
The air will drink the sap109. To every county
Where this is questioned110 send our letters, with
Free pardon to each man that has denied
The force of this commission: pray, look to’t;
I put it to your care.
To the Secretary
CARDINAL WOLSEY A word with you.
Let there be letters writ to every shire,
Aside to Secretary
Of the king’s grace and pardon.— The grievèd commons116
Hardly conceive of me. Let it be noised117
That through our intercession this revokement118
And pardon comes: I shall anon119 advise you
Further in the proceeding.
Exit Secretary
Enter Surveyor
To the King
QUEEN KATHERINE I am sorry that the Duke of Buckingham
Is run in122 your displeasure.
KING HENRY VIII It grieves many: