Henry VIII by William Shakespeare

Act 1 - Scene 1

London. An ante-chamber in the palace.

Duke of Buckingham : Good morrow, and well met. How have ye done [p]Since last we saw in
France?

Duke of Norfolk : I thank your grace, [p]Healthful; and ever since a fresh admirer [p]Of
what I saw there.

Duke of Buckingham : An untimely ague [p]Stay'd me a prisoner in my chamber when [p]Those
suns of glory, those two lights of men, [p]Met in the vale of Andren.

Duke of Norfolk : 'Twixt Guynes and Arde: [p]I was then present, saw them salute on
horseback; [p]Beheld them, when they lighted, how they clung [p]In
their embracement, as they grew together; [p]Which had they, what four
throned ones could have weigh'd [p]Such a compounded one?

Duke of Buckingham : All the whole time [p]I was my chamber's prisoner.

Duke of Norfolk : Then you lost [p]The view of earthly glory: men might say, [p]Till
this time pomp was single, but now married [p]To one above itself.
Each following day [p]Became the next day's master, till the
last [p]Made former wonders its. To-day the French, [p]All clinquant,
all in gold, like heathen gods, [p]Shone down the English; and,
to-morrow, they [p]Made Britain India: every man that stood [p]Show'd
like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were [p]As cherubins, all guilt: the
madams too, [p]Not used to toil, did almost sweat to bear [p]The pride
upon them, that their very labour [p]Was to them as a painting: now
this masque [p]Was cried incomparable; and the ensuing night [p]Made
it a fool and beggar. The two kings, [p]Equal in lustre, were now
best, now worst, [p]As presence did present them; him in eye, [p]Still
him in praise: and, being present both [p]'Twas said they saw but one;
and no discerner [p]Durst wag his tongue in censure. When these
suns-- [p]For so they phrase 'em--by their heralds challenged [p]The
noble spirits to arms, they did perform [p]Beyond thought's compass;
that former fabulous story, [p]Being now seen possible enough, got
credit, [p]That Bevis was believed.

Duke of Buckingham : O, you go far.

Duke of Norfolk : As I belong to worship and affect [p]In honour honesty, the tract of
every thing [p]Would by a good discourser lose some life, [p]Which
action's self was tongue to. All was royal; [p]To the disposing of it
nought rebell'd. [p]Order gave each thing view; the office
did [p]Distinctly his full function.

Duke of Buckingham : Who did guide, [p]I mean, who set the body and the limbs [p]Of this
great sport together, as you guess?

Duke of Norfolk : One, certes, that promises no element [p]In such a business.

Duke of Buckingham : I pray you, who, my lord?

Duke of Norfolk : All this was order'd by the good discretion [p]Of the right reverend
Cardinal of York.

Duke of Buckingham : The devil speed him! no man's pie is freed [p]From his ambitious
finger. What had he [p]To do in these fierce vanities? I
wonder [p]That such a keech can with his very bulk [p]Take up the rays
o' the beneficial sun [p]And keep it from the earth.

Duke of Norfolk : Surely, sir, [p]There's in him stuff that puts him to these
ends; [p]For, being not propp'd by ancestry, whose grace [p]Chalks
successors their way, nor call'd upon [p]For high feats done to the
crown; neither allied [p]For eminent assistants; but,
spider-like, [p]Out of his self-drawing web, he gives us note, [p]The
force of his own merit makes his way [p]A gift that heaven gives for
him, which buys [p]A place next to the king.

Lord Abergavenny : I cannot tell [p]What heaven hath given him,--let some graver
eye [p]Pierce into that; but I can see his pride [p]Peep through each
part of him: whence has he that, [p]If not from hell? the devil is a
niggard, [p]Or has given all before, and he begins [p]A new hell in
himself.

Duke of Buckingham : Why the devil, [p]Upon this French going out, took he upon
him, [p]Without the privity o' the king, to appoint [p]Who should
attend on him? He makes up the file [p]Of all the gentry; for the most
part such [p]To whom as great a charge as little honour [p]He meant to
lay upon: and his own letter, [p]The honourable board of council
out, [p]Must fetch him in the papers.

Lord Abergavenny : I do know [p]Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have [p]By this
so sickened their estates, that never [p]They shall abound as
formerly.

Duke of Buckingham : O, many [p]Have broke their backs with laying manors on 'em [p]For
this great journey. What did this vanity [p]But minister communication
of [p]A most poor issue?

Duke of Norfolk : Grievingly I think, [p]The peace between the French and us not
values [p]The cost that did conclude it.

Duke of Buckingham : Every man, [p]After the hideous storm that follow'd, was [p]A thing
inspired; and, not consulting, broke [p]Into a general prophecy; That
this tempest, [p]Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded [p]The
sudden breach on't.

Duke of Norfolk : Which is budded out; [p]For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath
attach'd [p]Our merchants' goods at Bourdeaux.

Lord Abergavenny : Is it therefore [p]The ambassador is silenced?

Duke of Norfolk : Marry, is't.

Lord Abergavenny : A proper title of a peace; and purchased [p]At a superfluous rate!

Duke of Buckingham : Why, all this business [p]Our reverend cardinal carried.

Duke of Norfolk : Like it your grace, [p]The state takes notice of the private
difference [p]Betwixt you and the cardinal. I advise you-- [p]And take
it from a heart that wishes towards you [p]Honour and plenteous
safety--that you read [p]The cardinal's malice and his
potency [p]Together; to consider further that [p]What his high hatred
would effect wants not [p]A minister in his power. You know his
nature, [p]That he's revengeful, and I know his sword [p]Hath a sharp
edge: it's long and, 't may be said, [p]It reaches far, and where
'twill not extend, [p]Thither he darts it. Bosom up my
counsel, [p]You'll find it wholesome. Lo, where comes that
rock [p]That I advise your shunning. [p][Enter CARDINAL WOLSEY, the
purse borne before him,] [p]certain of the Guard, and two Secretaries
with [p]papers. CARDINAL WOLSEY in his passage fixeth his [p]eye on
BUCKINGHAM, and BUCKINGHAM on him, both full [p]of disdain]

Cardinal Wolsey : The Duke of Buckingham's surveyor, ha? [p]Where's his examination?

First Secretary : Here, so please you.

Cardinal Wolsey : Is he in person ready?

First Secretary : Ay, please your grace.

Cardinal Wolsey : Well, we shall then know more; and Buckingham [p]Shall lessen this big
look.

Duke of Buckingham : This butcher's cur is venom-mouth'd, and I [p]Have not the power to
muzzle him; therefore best [p]Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's
book [p]Outworths a noble's blood.

Duke of Norfolk : What, are you chafed? [p]Ask God for temperance; that's the appliance
only [p]Which your disease requires.

Duke of Buckingham : I read in's looks [p]Matter against me; and his eye reviled [p]Me, as
his abject object: at this instant [p]He bores me with some trick:
he's gone to the king; [p]I'll follow and outstare him.

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

Duke of Buckingham : I'll to the king; [p]And from a mouth of honour quite cry down [p]This
Ipswich fellow's insolence; or proclaim [p]There's difference in no
persons.

Duke of Norfolk : Be advised; [p]Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot [p]That it do
singe yourself: we may outrun, [p]By violent swiftness, that which we
run at, [p]And lose by over-running. Know you not, [p]The fire that
mounts the liquor til run o'er, [p]In seeming to augment it wastes it?
Be advised: [p]I say again, there is no English soul [p]More stronger
to direct you than yourself, [p]If with the sap of reason you would
quench, [p]Or but allay, the fire of passion.

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

Duke of Norfolk : Say not 'treasonous.'

Duke of Buckingham : To the king I'll say't; and make my vouch as strong [p]As shore of
rock. Attend. This holy fox, [p]Or wolf, or both,--for he is equal
ravenous [p]As he is subtle, and as prone to mischief [p]As able to
perform't; his mind and place [p]Infecting one another, yea,
reciprocally-- [p]Only to show his pomp as well in France [p]As here
at home, suggests the king our master [p]To this last costly treaty,
the interview, [p]That swallow'd so much treasure, and like a
glass [p]Did break i' the rinsing.

Duke of Norfolk : Faith, and so it did.

Duke of Buckingham : Pray, give me favour, sir. This cunning cardinal [p]The articles o'
the combination drew [p]As himself pleased; and they were
ratified [p]As he cried 'Thus let be': to as much end [p]As give a
crutch to the dead: but our count-cardinal [p]Has done this, and 'tis
well; for worthy Wolsey, [p]Who cannot err, he did it. Now this
follows,-- [p]Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy [p]To the old
dam, treason,--Charles the emperor, [p]Under pretence to see the queen
his aunt-- [p]For 'twas indeed his colour, but he came [p]To whisper
Wolsey,--here makes visitation: [p]His fears were, that the interview
betwixt [p]England and France might, through their amity, [p]Breed him
some prejudice; for from this league [p]Peep'd harms that menaced him:
he privily [p]Deals with our cardinal; and, as I trow,-- [p]Which I do
well; for I am sure the emperor [p]Paid ere he promised; whereby his
suit was granted [p]Ere it was ask'd; but when the way was
made, [p]And paved with gold, the emperor thus desired, [p]That he
would please to alter the king's course, [p]And break the foresaid
peace. Let the king know, [p]As soon he shall by me, that thus the
cardinal [p]Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases, [p]And for his
own advantage.

Duke of Norfolk : I am sorry [p]To hear this of him; and could wish he were [p]Something
mistaken in't.

Duke of Buckingham : No, not a syllable: [p]I do pronounce him in that very shape [p]He
shall appear in proof. [p][Enter BRANDON, a Sergeant-at-arms before
him, and] [p]two or three of the Guard]

Brandon : Your office, sergeant; execute it.

Sergeant : Sir, [p]My lord the Duke of Buckingham, and Earl [p]Of Hereford,
Stafford, and Northampton, I [p]Arrest thee of high treason, in the
name [p]Of our most sovereign king.

Duke of Buckingham : Lo, you, my lord, [p]The net has fall'n upon me! I shall
perish [p]Under device and practise.

Brandon : I am sorry [p]To see you ta'en from liberty, to look on [p]The
business present: 'tis his highness' pleasure [p]You shall to the
Tower.

Duke of Buckingham : It will help me nothing [p]To plead mine innocence; for that dye is on
me [p]Which makes my whitest part black. The will of heaven [p]Be done
in this and all things! I obey. [p]O my Lord Abergavenny, fare you
well!

Brandon : Nay, he must bear you company. The king [p][To ABERGAVENNY] [p]Is
pleased you shall to the Tower, till you know [p]How he determines
further.

Lord Abergavenny : As the duke said, [p]The will of heaven be done, and the king's
pleasure [p]By me obey'd!

Brandon : Here is a warrant from [p]The king to attach Lord Montacute; and the
bodies [p]Of the duke's confessor, John de la Car, [p]One Gilbert
Peck, his chancellor--

Duke of Buckingham : So, so; [p]These are the limbs o' the plot: no more, I hope.

Brandon : A monk o' the Chartreux.

Duke of Buckingham : O, Nicholas Hopkins?

Brandon : He.

Duke of Buckingham : My surveyor is false; the o'er-great cardinal [p]Hath show'd him gold;
my life is spann'd already: [p]I am the shadow of poor
Buckingham, [p]Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on, [p]By
darkening my clear sun. My lord, farewell.

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