King HENRY the Eighth. PERSONS REPRESENTED. Cardinal WOLSEY. Cardinal CAMPEIUS. CRANMER, Archbishop of Canterbury. Duke of NORFOLK. Duke of BUCKINGHAM. Sir THOMAS AUDLEY, Lord Keeper. Lord ABERGAVENNY. Lord SANDS. Sir THOMAS LOVELL. Sir ANTHONY DENNY. 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. The SCENE lies mostly in Londonʼand Westminster; once, at Kimbolton. PROLOGUE. 1 COME no more to make you laugh; things now, The play may pass; if they be still and willing, SCENE I. 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. 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. The view of earthly glory: Men might say, I mean, who set the body and the limbs 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 There's in him stuff that put Aber. I cannot tell 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 40 Have broke their backs with Nor. Grievingly I think, 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 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 Enter Cardinal Wolsey, the purse borne before him, 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 Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot More stronger to direct you than yourself; I am thankful to you; and I'll go along 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 Buck. I read in his looks [only, [king; Matter against me; and his eye revil'd Nor. Stay, my lord, And let your reason with your choler question 45 Nor. Say not, treasonous. Nor. 'Faith, and so it did. [cardinal To the old dam, treason)-Charles the emperor, 50 England and France might, through their amity, '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 Buck. No, not a syllable; I do pronounce him in that very shape, Enter Brandon; a Serjeant at Arms before him, and two or three of the guard. Bran. Your office, serjeant; execute it. My lord the duke of Buckingham, and earl Buck. Lo you, my lord, The net has fallen upon me; I shall perish Bran. I am sorry To see you ta'en from liberty, to look on 15 Never name to us; you have! King. Lady mine, proceed. 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 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 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, King. Still exaction! The nature of it? In what kind, let's know, Queen. I am much too venturous In tempting of your patience; but am bolden'd cach 67 The sixth part of his substance, to be levy'd To each incensed will. I would, your highness This is against our pleasure. If I am I have no further gone in this, than by To cope malicious censurers; which ever, King. Things done well, King. It grieves many: The gentleman is learn'd, a most rare speaker, 20 30 1351 Things to strike honour sad.-Bid him recount We cannot feel too little, hear too much. Wol. Stand forth; and with bold spirit relate Most like a careful subject, have collected King. Speak freely. Sure. First, it was usual with him, every day Wol. Please your highness, note Queen. My learn'd lord cardinal, King. Speak on: 50 How grounded he his title to the crown, And with a care, exempt themselves from fear: Wol. A word with you. [To the Secretary. 60 Surv. He was brought to this Sure. Sir, a Chartreux friar, His confessor; who fed him every minute King. How know'st thou this? [France na matter of stata that more earnestly presses a dispatch 2 i. e. stop. 3 ie to er |