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King HENRY the Eighth.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Cardinal WOLSEY. Cardinal CAMPEIUS.
CAPUCIUS, Ambassador from the Emperor
Charles V.

CRANMER, Archbishop of Canterbury.

Duke of NORFOLK. Duke of BUCKINGHAM.
Duke of SUFFOLK. Earl of SURREY.
Lord Chamberlain.

Sir THOMAS AUDLEY, Lord Keeper.
GARDINER, Bishop of Winchester.
Bishop of LINCOLN.

Lord ABERGAVENNY. Lord SANDS.
Sir HENRY GUILDFORD.

Sir THOMAS LOVELL.

Sir ANTHONY DENNY.
Sir NICHOLAS VAUX.
Sir WILLIAM SANDS'.
CROMWELL, Servant to Wolsey.

GRIFFITH, Gentleman-Usher to Queen Katharine.

Three other Gentlemen.

Doctor BUTTS, Physician to the King Garter King at Arms.

Surveyor to the Duke of Buckingham. BRANDON, and a Serjeant at Arms. Door-keeper of the Council Chamber. Porter, and his Man.

Queen KATHARINE. ANNE BULLEN.

An old Lady, Friend to Anne Bullen.
PATIENCE, Woman to Queen Katharine.
Several Lords and Ladies in the dumb shows.
Women attending upon the Queen. Spirits,
which appear to her. Scribes, Officers,
Guards, and other Attendants.

The SCENE lies mostly in Londonʼand Westminster; once, at Kimbolton.

PROLOGUE.

1 COME no more to make you laugh; things now,
That bear a weighty and a serious brow,
Sad, high, and working, full of state and woe,
Such noble scenes as draw the eye to flow,
We now present. Those that can pity, here
May, if they think it well, let fall a tear;
The subject will deserve it. Such, as give
Their money out of hope they may believe,
May here find truth too. Those, that come to see
Only a show or two, and so agree,

The play may pass; if they be still and willing,
Pll undertake, may see away their shilling
Richly in two short hours. Only they,
That come to hear a merry, bawdy play;
A noise of targets; or to see a fellow
In a long motley coat, guarded with yellow,

SCENE I.
London.

An antichamber in the Palace.

Will be deceiv'd: for, gentle hearers, know, To rank our chosen truth with such a show As fool and fight is, (beside forfeiting Our own brains, and the opinion that we bring 5 To make that only true we now intend 1) Will leave us never an understanding friend. Therefore, for goodness' sake,and as you are known The first and happiest hearers of the town, Be sad, as we could make ye: Think, ye see 10 The very persons of our noble story,

As they were living; think, you see them great, And follow'd with the general throng, and sweat Of thousand friends; then, in a moment, see How soon this mightiness meets misery! 15 And, if you can be merry then, I'll say, A man may weep upon his wedding-day

A C T I.

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Nor. I thank your grace:

Healthful; and ever since a fresh admirer Of what I saw there.

Buck. An untimely ague

Stay'd me a prisoner in my chamber, when Those sons of glory, those two lights of nien, Met in the vale of Arde.

Nor. 'Twixt Guines and Arde:

'Mr. Steevens observes, that Sir William Sands was created Lord Sands about this time, but is here introduced among the persons of the drama, as a distinct character. Sir William has not a single speech assigned to him; and, to make the blunder the greater, is brought on after Lord Sands has already made his appearance. Alluding to the fools and buffoons, introduced for the generality in the plays a little before our author's time; and of whom he has left us a small taste in his own. i. e. pretend. i. e. an untired admirer.

2

I was

Which had they, what four thron'd ones could

have weigh'd

Such a compounded one?

Buck. All the whole time

I was my chamber's prisoner.
Nor. Then you lost

The view of earthly glory: Men might say,
"Till this time, pomp was single; but now marry'd
To one above itself. Each following day
Became the next day's master, 'till the last
Made former wonders it's: To-day, the French,
All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods,
Shone down the English; and, to-morrow, they
Made Britain, India: every man, that stood,
Shew'd like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were
As cherubims, all gilt: the mádams too,
Not us'd to toil, did almost sweat to bear
The pride upon them, that their very labour
Was to them as a painting: now this mask
Was cry'd incomparable; and the ensuing night
Made it a fool, and beggar. The two kings,
Equal in lustre, were now best, now worst,
As presence did present them; him in eye,
Still him in praise: and, being present both,
'Twas said, they saw but one: and no discerner
Durst wag his tongue in censure'. When these

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I mean, who set the body and the limbs
Of this great sport together, as you guess?
Nor. One, certes, that promises no element'
In such a business.

Buck. I pray you, who, my lord?

Nor. All this was order'd by the good discretion Of the right reverend cardinal of York.

i. e. all glittering, all shining.

5

To do in these fierce vani

That such a keech' can wi
Take up the rays o' the ben
And keep it from the earth.
Nor. Surely, sir,

There's in him stuff that put
10 For, being not propt by anc
Chalk'd successors their wa
For high feats done to the ci
To eminent assistants, but,
Out of his self-drawing web,
15 The force of his own merit
A gift that heaven gives for
A place next to the king.

Aber. I cannot tell
What heaven hath given him,
20 Pierce into that; but I can
Peep through each part of hi

that?

If not from hell, the devil îs Or has given all before, and 25 A new hell in himself.

Buck. Why the devil, Upon this French going-out, t Without the privity o' the kir Who should attend on him? H 30 Of all the gentry; for the mo Too, whom as great a charge He meant to lay upon: and The honourable board of cour Must fetch in him he papers

35

10

Aber. I do know
Kinsmen of mine, three at the
By this so sicken'd their estate
They shall abound as formerly
Buck. O, many

40 Have broke their backs with
For this great journey. What
But minister communcation of
A most poor issue"?

Nor. Grievingly I think,
45 The peace between the French
The cost that did conclude it.

Buck. Every man,

After the hideous storm that fo A thing inspir'd; and, not cons 50 Into a general prophecy,-Tha Dashing the garment of this pea The sudden breach on't.

6

Censure for the determination of which had the no 3 The old romantic legend of Bevis of Southampton. This Bevis (or Beavois) a S prowess created by William the Conqueror earl of Southampton. i. e. the com lating this festivity was well executed. No initiation, no previous practices. keech is a solid lump or mass. A cake of wax or tallow formed in a mould is called v a keech. There may, perhaps, be a singular propriety in this term of contempt. of a butcher, and in the Second Part of King Henry IV. a butcher's wife is called i. e. the list. "That is, all mention of the board of council being left out of his I His own letter, by his own single authority, and without the concurrence of the coun him whom he papers down. i. e. Issue here refers to the wretched conclusion shew, as also to the poverty of their families, occasioned by laying inanors on their b

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Aber. Is it therefore

The ambassador is silenc'd1?

Nor. Marry, is't.

Aber. A propertitle of a peace2; and purchas'd At a superfluous rate!

Buck. Why, all this business Our reverend cardinal carry'd.

Nor. Like it your grace,

The state takes notice of the private difference
Betwixt you and the cardinal. I advise you,
(And take it from a heart that wishes towards you
Honour and plenteous safety) that you read
The cardinal's malice and his potency
Together: to consider further, that
What his high hatred would effect, wants not
A minister in his power: You know his nature,
That he's revengeful; and I know, his sword
Hath a sharp edge: it's long, and, it may be said,
It reaches far; and where 'twill not extend,
Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel, [rock,
You'll find it wholesome. Lo, where comes that
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.

Wol. The duke of Buckingham's surveyor? ha Where's his examination?

Secr. Here, so please you.

Wol. Is he in person ready?

Secr. Ay, please your grace.

5

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Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
That it do singe yourself: We may out-run,
By violent swiftness, that which we run at,
And lose by over-running. Know you not,
10 The fire, that mounts the liquor 'till it run o'er,
In seeming to augment it, wastes it? Be advis'd;
I say again, there is no English soul

More stronger to direct you than yourself;
If with the sap of reason you would quench,
15 Or but allay, the fire of passion.
Buck. Sir,

I am thankful to you; and I'll go along
By your prescription:-but this top-proud fellow,
Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but
20 From sincere motions") by intelligence,
And proofs as clear as founts in July, when
We see each grain of gravel, I do know
To be corrupt and treasonous.

25

30

[ingham 35

Wol. Well, weshall then know more; and BuckShall lessen this big look.

[Exeunt Cardinal, and his train. Buck.Thisbutcher'scur' is venom-mouth'd,and Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore, best 40 Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book Qut-worths a noble's blood".

Nor. What, are you chaf'd?

Ask God for temperance; that's the appliance
Which your disease requires.

Buck. I read in his looks

[only,

[king;

Matter against me; and his eye revil'd
Me, as his abject object; at this instant
He bores' me with some trick: He's gone to the
I'll follow, and out-stare him.

Nor. Stay, my lord,

And let your reason with your choler question
What 'tis you go about: To climb steep hills,
Requires slow pace at first: Anger is like
A full-hot horse; who being allow'd his way,
Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in England
Can advise me like you: be to yourself
As you would to your friend.

45

Nor. Say not, treasonous.
[as strong
Buck. To the king I'll say't; and make myvouch
As shore of rock. Attend. This holy fox,
Or wolf, or both, (for he is equal ravenous
As he is subtle; and as prone to mischief
As able to perform 't: his mind and place
Infecting one another, yea, reciprocally)
Only to shew his pomp as well in France
As here at home, suggests' the king our master
To this last costly treaty, the interview,
That swallow'd so much treasure, and like a glass
Did break i' the rinsing.

Nor. 'Faith, and so it did.

[cardinal
Buck. Pray, give me favour, sir. This cunning
The articles o' the combination drew,
As himself pleas'd; and they were ratify'd,
As he cry'd, Thus let be: to as much end,
As give a crutch to the dead: But our courtcardinal
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 the old dam, treason)-Charles the emperor,
Under pretence to see the queen his aunt,
(For 'twas, indeed, his colour; but he came
To whisper Wolsey) here makes visitation:
His fears were, that the interview betwixt

50 England and France might, through their amity,
Breed him some prejudice; for, from this league
Peep'd harms that menac'd him: He privily
Deals with our cardinal; and, as I trow,-
Which I do well; for, I am sure, the emperor
55 Pay'dere he promis'd; whereby hissuitwasgranted,
Ere it was ask'd:--but when the way was made,
And pav'd with gold, the emperor thus desir'd;-
That he would please to alter the king's course,

'Silenc'd for recalled. 2 A fine name of a peace! spoken ironically. 'Wolsey, as has been before observed, is said to have been the son of a butcher. * That is, the literary qualifications of a bookish beggar are more prized than the high descent of hereditary greatness. This is a contemp tuous exclamation very naturally put into the mouth of one of the ancient, unletter'd, martial nobility. i. c. be stabs or wounds me by some artifice or fiction. ⚫ i. e. from honest indignation; warmth of integrity. ? i. e. excites.

And for his own advantage.

Nor. I am sorry

To hear this of him; and could wish, he were
Something mistaken in't.

Buck. No, not a syllable;

I do pronounce him in that very shape,
He shall appear in proof.

Enter Brandon; a Serjeant at Arms before him, and two or three of the guard.

Bran. Your office, serjeant; execute it.
Serj. Sir,

My lord the duke of Buckingham, and earl
Of Hereford, Stafford, and Northampton, I
Arrest thee of high treason, in the name
Of our most sovereign king.

Buck. Lo you, my lord,

The net has fallen upon me; I shall perish
Under device and practice.

Bran. I am sorry

To see you ta'en from liberty, to look on

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15 Never name to us; you have!
The other moiety, ere you ask
Repeat your will, and take it.
Queen. Thank your majesty.
That you would love yourself;
20 Not unconsider'd leave your h
The dignity of your office, is tl
Of my petition.

King. Lady mine, proceed.
Queen. I am solicited, not by

The business present: "Tis his highness' pleasure, 25 And those of true condition, th You shall to the Tower.

Buck. It will help me nothing,

To plead mine innocence; for that dye is on me, Which makes my whitest part black. The will

of heaven

Be done in this and all things!I obey.O my lord Aberga'ny, fare you well.

king

30

Bran. Nay, he must bear you company:-The
[To Aberg.
Is pleas'd, you shall to the Tower, 'till you know 35
How he determines further.

Aber. As the duke said,

The will of heaven be done, and the king's pleasure By me obey'd!

Bran. Here is a warrant from

The king,to attach lord Montacute; and the bodies Of the duke's confessor, John de la Court,

One Gilbert Peck, his chancellor,—

Buck. So, so;

40

Are in great grievance: There

missions

Sent down among them, whic Of all their loyalties:wherein

My good lord cardinal, they vo Most bitterly on you, as putter Of these exactions, yet the kin (Whose honour heaven shield fr

escapes not

Language unmannerly, yea, su The sides of loyalty, and almos In loud rebellion.

Nor. Not almost appears, It doth appear: for, upon thes The clothiers all, not able to m The many to them 'longing, The spinsters, carders, fullers, Unfit for other life, compell'd

These are the limbs of the plot: No more, I hope. 45 And lack of other means, in de

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Daring the event to the teeth, And Danger serves among the King. Taxation!

Wherein? and what taxation?You that are blam'd for it alik Know you of this taxation?

Wol. Please you, sir,

I know but of a single part, in Pertains to the state; and from Where others tell steps with m

Queen. No, my lord,

You know no more than other Things, that are known alike wholesome

To those which would not know Perforce be their acquaintance. Whereof my sovereign would h Most pestilent to the hearing;

2 i. e. I am but first in the row of counsel

Act 1. Scene 2.]

KING HENRY VIII.

The back is sacrifice to the load. They say,
They are devis'd by you; or else you suffer
Too hard an exclamation.

King. Still exaction!

The nature of it? In what kind, let's know,
Is this exaction?

Queen. I am much too venturous

In tempting of your patience; but am bolden'd
Under your promis'd pardon. The subject's grief
Comes through commissions, which compel from

cach

67

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The sixth part of his substance, to be levy'd
Without delay; and the pretence for this
Is nam'd, your wars in France: This makes bold
mouths:
[freeze 15
Tongues spit their duties out, and cold hearts
Allegiance in them; their curses now,
Live where their prayers did; and it's come to pass,|
That tractable obedience is a slave

To each incensed will. I would, your highness
Would give it quick consideration, for
There is no primer business 1.
King By my life,

This is against our pleasure.
Wol. And for me,

If I am

I have no further gone in this, than by
A single voice; and that not past me, but
By learned approbation of the judges.
Traduc'd by ignorant tongues, which neither know
My faculties, nor person, yet will be
The chronicles of my doing,-let me say,
'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake
That virtue must go through. We must not stint 2
Our necessary actions, in the fear

To cope malicious censurers; which ever,
As ravenous fishes, do a vessel follow
That is new trimm'd; but benefit no further
Than vainly longing. What we oft do best,
By sick interpreters, once weak ones, is
Not ours, or not allow'd; what worst, as oft
Hitting a grosser quality, is cry'd up
For our best act. If we shall stand still,
In fear our motion will be mock'd or carp'd at,
We should take root here where we sit, or sit
State statues only.

King. Things done well,

King. It grieves many:

The gentleman is learn'd, a most rare speaker,
To nature none more bound; his training such,
That he may furnish and instruct great teachers,
And never seek for aid out of himself.
Yet sec,
When these so noble benefits shall prove
Not well dispos'd, the mind growing once corrupt,
They turn to vicious forms, ten times more ugly
Than ever they were fair. This man, so complete,
Who was enroll'd 'mongst wonders, and when we,
Almost with ravish'd list'ning, could not find
His hour of speech a minute; he, my lady,
Hath into monstrous habits put the graces
That once were his, and is become as black
25 As if besmear'd in hell. Sit by us; you shall hear
(This was his gentleman in trust) of him

20

30

1351

Things to strike honour sad.-Bid him recount
The fore-recited practices; whereof

We cannot feel too little, hear too much.

Wol. Stand forth; and with bold spirit relate
what you,

Most like a careful subject, have collected
Out of the duke of Buckingham.

King. Speak freely.

Sure. First, it was usual with him, every day
It would infect his speech, That if the king
Should without issue die, he'd carry it so
To make the sceptre his: These very words
I have heard him utter to his son-in-law,
40 Lord Aberga'ny; to whom by oath he menac'd
Revenge upon the cardinal.

Wol. Please your highness, note
This dangerous conception in this point.
Not friended by his wish, to your high person
45 His will is most malignant; and it stretches
Beyond you, to your friends.

Queen. My learn'd lord cardinal,
Deliver all with charity.

King. Speak on:

50 How grounded he his title to the crown,
Upon our fail to this point hast thou heard him
At any time speak ought?

And with a care, exempt themselves from fear:
Things done without example, in their issue
Are to be fear'd. Have you a precedent
Of this commission? I believe, not any.
We must not rend our subjects from our laws,
And stick them in our will. Sixth part of each?
A trembling contribution! Why, we take,
From every tree, lop, bark, and part o' the timber;
And, though we leave it with a root, thus hack'd, 55
The air will drink the sap. To every county,
Where this is question'd, send our letters, with
Free pardon to each man that has deny'd
The force of this commission: Pray, look to 't;
I put it to your care.

Wol. A word with you. [To the Secretary.

60

Surv. He was brought to this
By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Hopkins.
King. What was that Hopkins?

Sure. Sir, a Chartreux friar,

His confessor; who fed him every minute
With words of sovereignty.

King. How know'st thou this? [France
Surv. Not long before your highness sped to
The duke being at the Rose, within the parish

na matter of stata that more earnestly presses a dispatch

2 i. e. stop.

3 ie to er

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