Henry VIII

Introduction by Jonathan Crewe
Edited by Jonathan Crewe
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$14.00 US
On sale Aug 01, 2001 | 176 Pages | 9780140714753
The acclaimed Pelican Shakespeare series edited by A. R. Braunmuller and Stephen Orgel
 
The legendary Pelican Shakespeare series features authoritative and meticulously researched texts paired with scholarship by renowned Shakespeareans. Each book includes an essay on the theatrical world of Shakespeare’s time, an introduction to the individual play, and a detailed note on the text used. Updated by general editors Stephen Orgel and A. R. Braunmuller, these easy-to-read editions incorporate over thirty years of Shakespeare scholarship undertaken since the original series, edited by Alfred Harbage, appeared between 1956 and 1967. With definitive texts and illuminating essays, the Pelican Shakespeare will remain a valued resource for students, teachers, and theater professionals for many years to come.
 
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
The Life of King Henry the Eighth

the prologue

I 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,

3

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

10

The play may pass-if they be still and willing,

I'll undertake may see away their shilling

12

Richly in two short hours. Only they

13

That come to hear a merry bawdy play,

14

A noise of targets, or to see a fellow

15

In a long motley coat guarded with yellow,

16

Will be deceived. For, gentle hearers, know

17

To rank our chosen truth with such a show

As fool and fight is, beside forfeiting

19

Our own brains and the opinion that we bring

20

To make that only true we now intend,

21

Will leave us never an understanding friend.

22

Therefore, for goodness' sake, and as you are known

The first and happiest hearers of the town,

24

Be sad, as we would make ye. Think ye see

25

The very persons of our noble story

As they were living. Think you see them great,

And followed with the general throng and sweat

Of thousand friends. Then, in a moment, see

How soon this mightiness meets misery.

30

And if you can be merry then, I'll say

A man may weep upon his wedding day.

*

¥    I.1 Enter the Duke of Norfolk at one door; at the other, the Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Abergavenny.

buckingham

Good morrow and well met. How have ye done

Since last we saw in France?

norfolk      I thank your grace,

Healthful, and ever since a fresh admirer

3

Of what I saw there.

4

buckingham      An untimely ague

Stayed me a prisoner in my chamber when

Those suns of glory, those two lights of men,

6

Met in the vale of Andren.

7

norfolk      'Twixt Guynes and Arde.

I was then present, saw them salute on horseback,

Beheld them when they lighted, how they clung

9

In their embracement, as they grew together;

10

Which had they, what four throned ones could have weighed

11

Such a compounded one?

buckingham      All the whole time

I was my chamber's prisoner.

norfolk      Then you lost

The view of earthly glory. Men might say

Till this time pomp was single, but now married

15

To one above itself. Each following day

Became the next day's master, till the last

17

Made former wonders, its. Today the French,

18

All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods

19

Shone down the English; and tomorrow they

20

Made Britain India: every man that stood

21

Showed like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were

22

As cherubins, all gilt. The madams too,

23

Not used to toil, did almost sweat to bear

The pride upon them, that their very labor

25

Was to them as a painting. Now this masque

26

Was cried incomparable; and th' ensuing night

27

Made it a fool and beggar. The two kings,

Equal in luster, were now best, now worst,

As presence did present them: him in eye

30

Still him in praise; and being present both,

'Twas said they saw but one, and no discerner

32

Durst wag his tongue in censure. When these suns

33

(For so they phrase 'em) by their heralds challenged

34

The noble spirits to arms, they did perform

Beyond thought's compass, that former fabulous story,

36

Being now seen possible enough, got credit,

That Bevis was believed.

38

buckingham      O you go far.

norfolk

As I belong to worship and affect

39

In honor honesty, the tract of ev'ry thing

40

Would by a good discourser lose some life

41

Which action's self was tongue to. All was royal.

To the disposing of it nought rebelled;

43

Order gave each thing view. The office did

44

Distinctly his full function. Who did guide,

I mean who set the body and the limbs

Of this great sport together? As you guess:

47

One, certes, that promises no element

48

In such a business.

buckingham      I pray you who, my lord?

norfolk

All this was ordered by the good discretion

50

Of the right reverend Cardinal of York.

51

buckingham

The devil speed him! No man's pie is freed

From his ambitious finger. What had he

To do in these fierce vanities? I wonder

54

That such a keech can with his very bulk

55

Take up the rays o' th' beneficial sun

56

And keep it from the earth.

norfolk      Surely, sir,

There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends;

For, being not propped by ancestry, whose grace

Chalks successors their way, nor called upon

60

For high feats done to th' crown, neither allied

61

To eminent assistants, but spiderlike

62

Out of his self-drawing web, a gives us note,

63

The force of his own merit makes his way,

64

A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys

65

A place next to the king.

abergavenny      I cannot tell

What heaven hath given him. Let some graver eye

Pierce into that; but I can see his pride

Peep through each part of him. Whence has he that?

If not from hell the devil is a niggard,

70

Or has given all before, and he begins

71

A new hell in himself.

buckingham      Why the devil,

Upon this French going out, took he upon him

73

(Without the privity o' th' king) t' appoint

74

Who should attend on him? He makes up the file

75

Of all the gentry, for the most part such

To whom as great a charge as little honor

77

He meant to lay upon; and his own letter,

78

The honorable board of council out,

Must fetch him in he papers.

80

abergavenny      I do know

Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have

By this so sickened their estates that never

82

They shall abound as formerly.

buckingham      O many

Have broke their backs with laying manors on 'em

84

For this great journey. What did this vanity

But minister communication of

86

A most poor issue?

norfolk      Grievingly I think

The peace between the French and us not values

88

The cost that did conclude it.

buckingham      Every man,

After the hideous storm that followed, was

90

A thing inspired, and not consulting broke

91

Into a general prophecy: that this tempest,

Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded

93

The sudden breach on't.

94

norfolk      Which is budded out;

For France hath flawed the league and hath attached

95

Our merchants' goods at Bordeaux.

abergavenny      Is it therefore

Th' ambassador is silenced?

97

norfolk      Marry is't!

abergavenny

A proper title of a peace, and purchased

98

At a superfluous rate!

99

buckingham      Why, all this business

Our reverend cardinal carried.

100

norfolk      Like it your grace,

The state takes notice of the private difference

101

Betwixt you and the cardinal. I advise you

(And take it from a heart that wishes towards you

Honor and plenteous safety) that you read

104

The cardinal's malice and his potency

Together; to consider further, that

What his high hatred would effect wants not

107

A minister in his power. You know his nature,

108

That he's revengeful; and I know his sword

Hath a sharp edge; it's long, and 't may be said

110

It reaches far, and where 'twill not extend

Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel;

112

You'll find it wholesome. Lo where comes that rock

That I advise your shunning.

114

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.

wolsey

The Duke of Buckingham's surveyor, ha?

115

Where's his examination?

116

first secretary      Here, so please you.

wolsey

Is he in person ready?

first secretary      Ay, please your grace.

wolsey

Well, we shall then know more, and Buckingham

Shall lessen this big look.Exeunt Cardinal and his train.

119

buckingham

This butcher's cur is venom-mouthed, and I

120

Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore best

Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book

122

Outworths a noble's blood.

123

norfolk      What, are you chafed?

Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only

124

Which your disease requires.

buckingham      I read in's looks

Matter against me, and his eye reviled

Me as his abject object. At this instant

He bores me with some trick. He's gone to th' king.

128

I'll follow and outstare him.

norfolk      Stay, my lord,

And let your reason with your choler question

130

What 'tis you go about. To climb steep hills

Requires slow pace at first. Anger is like

A full hot horse, who being allowed his way,

Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in England

134

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 honor quite cry down

This Ipswich fellow's insolence, or proclaim

138

There's difference in no persons.

139

norfolk      Be advised.

Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot

140

That it do singe yourself. We may outrun

By violent swiftness that which we run at,

And lose by overrunning. Know you not

The fire that mounts the liquor till't run o'er

144

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 allay the fire of passion.

149

buckingham      Sir,

I am thankful to you, and I'll go along

150

By your prescription. But this top-proud fellow-

151

Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but

152

From sincere motions-by intelligence,

153

And proofs as clear as founts 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 vouch as strong

157

As shore of rock. Attend. This holy fox,

Or wolf, or both (for he is equal rav'nous

As he is subtile, and as prone to mischief

160

As able to perform't), his mind and place

161

Infecting one another, yea reciprocally,

Only to show his pomp as well in France

As here at home, suggests the king our master

164

To this last costly treaty; th' interview

That swallowed so much treasure and like a glass

Did break i' th' wrenching.

167

norfolk      Faith, and so it did.

buckingham

Pray give me favor, sir. This cunning cardinal

The articles o' th' combination drew

169

As himself pleased; and they were ratified

170

As he cried "Thus let be," to as much end

As give a crutch to th' dead. But our count-cardinal

172

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 emperor,

176

Under pretense to see the queen his aunt

(For 'twas indeed his color, but he came

178

To whisper Wolsey), here makes visitation.

His fears were that the interview betwixt

180

England and France might through their amity

Breed him some prejudice, for from this league

182

Peeped harms that menaced him: privily

Deals with our cardinal, and, as I trow,

184

Which I do well; for I am sure the emperor

Paid ere he promised, whereby his suit was granted

Ere it was asked; but when the way was made,

And paved with gold, the emperor thus desired,

That he would please to alter the king's course

And break the foresaid peace. Let the king know

190

(As soon he shall by me) that thus the cardinal

Does buy and sell his honor as he pleases,

And for his own advantage.

norfolk      I am sorry

To hear this of him, and could wish he were

Something mistaken in't.

195

buckingham      No, not a syllable.

I do pronounce him in that very shape

196

He shall appear in proof.

197

Enter Brandon, a Sergeant at Arms before him, and two or three of the Guard.

brandon

Your office, sergeant; execute it.

sergeant      Sir,

My lord the Duke of Buckingham, and Earl

Of Hereford, Stafford, and Northampton, I

200

Arrest thee of high treason, in the name

Of our most sovereign king.

202

buckingham      Lo you, my lord,

The net has fall'n upon me! I shall perish

Under device and practice.

204

brandon      I am sorry

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

205

The business present. 'Tis his highness' pleasure

You shall to th' Tower.

buckingham      It will help me nothing

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.

210

O my Lord Aberga'ny, fare you well!

brandon

Nay, he must bear you company.

[To Abergavenny]    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 Montacute and the bodies

217

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.

220

brandon

A monk o' th' Chartreux.

buckingham      O, Michael Hopkins?

brandon      He.

buckingham

My surveyor is false. The o'ergreat cardinal

Hath showed him gold; my life is spanned already.

223

I am the shadow of poor Buckingham,

Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on

225

By dark'ning my clear sun. My lord, farewell.Exeunt.

*

¥    I.2 Cornets. Enter King Henry, leaning on the Cardinal's shoulder, the Nobles, [the Cardinal's Secretary,] and Sir Thomas Lovell. The Cardinal places himself under the King's feet on his right side.

king

My life itself, and the best heart of it,

1

Thanks you for this great care. I stood i' th' level

2

Of a full-charged confederacy, and give thanks

3

To you that choked it. Let be called before us

That gentleman of Buckingham's; in person

I'll hear him his confessions justify,

6

And point by point the treasons of his master

He shall again relate.

8

A noise within, crying "Room for the Queen!" Enter the Queen, ushered by the Duke of Norfolk, and Suffolk. She kneels. [The] King riseth from his state, takes her up, kisses and placeth her by him.
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was a poet, playwright, and actor who is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers in the history of the English language. Often referred to as the Bard of Avon, Shakespeare's vast body of work includes comedic, tragic, and historical plays; poems; and 154 sonnets. His dramatic works have been translated into every major language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. View titles by William Shakespeare

About

The acclaimed Pelican Shakespeare series edited by A. R. Braunmuller and Stephen Orgel
 
The legendary Pelican Shakespeare series features authoritative and meticulously researched texts paired with scholarship by renowned Shakespeareans. Each book includes an essay on the theatrical world of Shakespeare’s time, an introduction to the individual play, and a detailed note on the text used. Updated by general editors Stephen Orgel and A. R. Braunmuller, these easy-to-read editions incorporate over thirty years of Shakespeare scholarship undertaken since the original series, edited by Alfred Harbage, appeared between 1956 and 1967. With definitive texts and illuminating essays, the Pelican Shakespeare will remain a valued resource for students, teachers, and theater professionals for many years to come.
 
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Excerpt

The Life of King Henry the Eighth

the prologue

I 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,

3

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

10

The play may pass-if they be still and willing,

I'll undertake may see away their shilling

12

Richly in two short hours. Only they

13

That come to hear a merry bawdy play,

14

A noise of targets, or to see a fellow

15

In a long motley coat guarded with yellow,

16

Will be deceived. For, gentle hearers, know

17

To rank our chosen truth with such a show

As fool and fight is, beside forfeiting

19

Our own brains and the opinion that we bring

20

To make that only true we now intend,

21

Will leave us never an understanding friend.

22

Therefore, for goodness' sake, and as you are known

The first and happiest hearers of the town,

24

Be sad, as we would make ye. Think ye see

25

The very persons of our noble story

As they were living. Think you see them great,

And followed with the general throng and sweat

Of thousand friends. Then, in a moment, see

How soon this mightiness meets misery.

30

And if you can be merry then, I'll say

A man may weep upon his wedding day.

*

¥    I.1 Enter the Duke of Norfolk at one door; at the other, the Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Abergavenny.

buckingham

Good morrow and well met. How have ye done

Since last we saw in France?

norfolk      I thank your grace,

Healthful, and ever since a fresh admirer

3

Of what I saw there.

4

buckingham      An untimely ague

Stayed me a prisoner in my chamber when

Those suns of glory, those two lights of men,

6

Met in the vale of Andren.

7

norfolk      'Twixt Guynes and Arde.

I was then present, saw them salute on horseback,

Beheld them when they lighted, how they clung

9

In their embracement, as they grew together;

10

Which had they, what four throned ones could have weighed

11

Such a compounded one?

buckingham      All the whole time

I was my chamber's prisoner.

norfolk      Then you lost

The view of earthly glory. Men might say

Till this time pomp was single, but now married

15

To one above itself. Each following day

Became the next day's master, till the last

17

Made former wonders, its. Today the French,

18

All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods

19

Shone down the English; and tomorrow they

20

Made Britain India: every man that stood

21

Showed like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were

22

As cherubins, all gilt. The madams too,

23

Not used to toil, did almost sweat to bear

The pride upon them, that their very labor

25

Was to them as a painting. Now this masque

26

Was cried incomparable; and th' ensuing night

27

Made it a fool and beggar. The two kings,

Equal in luster, were now best, now worst,

As presence did present them: him in eye

30

Still him in praise; and being present both,

'Twas said they saw but one, and no discerner

32

Durst wag his tongue in censure. When these suns

33

(For so they phrase 'em) by their heralds challenged

34

The noble spirits to arms, they did perform

Beyond thought's compass, that former fabulous story,

36

Being now seen possible enough, got credit,

That Bevis was believed.

38

buckingham      O you go far.

norfolk

As I belong to worship and affect

39

In honor honesty, the tract of ev'ry thing

40

Would by a good discourser lose some life

41

Which action's self was tongue to. All was royal.

To the disposing of it nought rebelled;

43

Order gave each thing view. The office did

44

Distinctly his full function. Who did guide,

I mean who set the body and the limbs

Of this great sport together? As you guess:

47

One, certes, that promises no element

48

In such a business.

buckingham      I pray you who, my lord?

norfolk

All this was ordered by the good discretion

50

Of the right reverend Cardinal of York.

51

buckingham

The devil speed him! No man's pie is freed

From his ambitious finger. What had he

To do in these fierce vanities? I wonder

54

That such a keech can with his very bulk

55

Take up the rays o' th' beneficial sun

56

And keep it from the earth.

norfolk      Surely, sir,

There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends;

For, being not propped by ancestry, whose grace

Chalks successors their way, nor called upon

60

For high feats done to th' crown, neither allied

61

To eminent assistants, but spiderlike

62

Out of his self-drawing web, a gives us note,

63

The force of his own merit makes his way,

64

A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys

65

A place next to the king.

abergavenny      I cannot tell

What heaven hath given him. Let some graver eye

Pierce into that; but I can see his pride

Peep through each part of him. Whence has he that?

If not from hell the devil is a niggard,

70

Or has given all before, and he begins

71

A new hell in himself.

buckingham      Why the devil,

Upon this French going out, took he upon him

73

(Without the privity o' th' king) t' appoint

74

Who should attend on him? He makes up the file

75

Of all the gentry, for the most part such

To whom as great a charge as little honor

77

He meant to lay upon; and his own letter,

78

The honorable board of council out,

Must fetch him in he papers.

80

abergavenny      I do know

Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have

By this so sickened their estates that never

82

They shall abound as formerly.

buckingham      O many

Have broke their backs with laying manors on 'em

84

For this great journey. What did this vanity

But minister communication of

86

A most poor issue?

norfolk      Grievingly I think

The peace between the French and us not values

88

The cost that did conclude it.

buckingham      Every man,

After the hideous storm that followed, was

90

A thing inspired, and not consulting broke

91

Into a general prophecy: that this tempest,

Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded

93

The sudden breach on't.

94

norfolk      Which is budded out;

For France hath flawed the league and hath attached

95

Our merchants' goods at Bordeaux.

abergavenny      Is it therefore

Th' ambassador is silenced?

97

norfolk      Marry is't!

abergavenny

A proper title of a peace, and purchased

98

At a superfluous rate!

99

buckingham      Why, all this business

Our reverend cardinal carried.

100

norfolk      Like it your grace,

The state takes notice of the private difference

101

Betwixt you and the cardinal. I advise you

(And take it from a heart that wishes towards you

Honor and plenteous safety) that you read

104

The cardinal's malice and his potency

Together; to consider further, that

What his high hatred would effect wants not

107

A minister in his power. You know his nature,

108

That he's revengeful; and I know his sword

Hath a sharp edge; it's long, and 't may be said

110

It reaches far, and where 'twill not extend

Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel;

112

You'll find it wholesome. Lo where comes that rock

That I advise your shunning.

114

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.

wolsey

The Duke of Buckingham's surveyor, ha?

115

Where's his examination?

116

first secretary      Here, so please you.

wolsey

Is he in person ready?

first secretary      Ay, please your grace.

wolsey

Well, we shall then know more, and Buckingham

Shall lessen this big look.Exeunt Cardinal and his train.

119

buckingham

This butcher's cur is venom-mouthed, and I

120

Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore best

Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book

122

Outworths a noble's blood.

123

norfolk      What, are you chafed?

Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only

124

Which your disease requires.

buckingham      I read in's looks

Matter against me, and his eye reviled

Me as his abject object. At this instant

He bores me with some trick. He's gone to th' king.

128

I'll follow and outstare him.

norfolk      Stay, my lord,

And let your reason with your choler question

130

What 'tis you go about. To climb steep hills

Requires slow pace at first. Anger is like

A full hot horse, who being allowed his way,

Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in England

134

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 honor quite cry down

This Ipswich fellow's insolence, or proclaim

138

There's difference in no persons.

139

norfolk      Be advised.

Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot

140

That it do singe yourself. We may outrun

By violent swiftness that which we run at,

And lose by overrunning. Know you not

The fire that mounts the liquor till't run o'er

144

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 allay the fire of passion.

149

buckingham      Sir,

I am thankful to you, and I'll go along

150

By your prescription. But this top-proud fellow-

151

Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but

152

From sincere motions-by intelligence,

153

And proofs as clear as founts 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 vouch as strong

157

As shore of rock. Attend. This holy fox,

Or wolf, or both (for he is equal rav'nous

As he is subtile, and as prone to mischief

160

As able to perform't), his mind and place

161

Infecting one another, yea reciprocally,

Only to show his pomp as well in France

As here at home, suggests the king our master

164

To this last costly treaty; th' interview

That swallowed so much treasure and like a glass

Did break i' th' wrenching.

167

norfolk      Faith, and so it did.

buckingham

Pray give me favor, sir. This cunning cardinal

The articles o' th' combination drew

169

As himself pleased; and they were ratified

170

As he cried "Thus let be," to as much end

As give a crutch to th' dead. But our count-cardinal

172

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 emperor,

176

Under pretense to see the queen his aunt

(For 'twas indeed his color, but he came

178

To whisper Wolsey), here makes visitation.

His fears were that the interview betwixt

180

England and France might through their amity

Breed him some prejudice, for from this league

182

Peeped harms that menaced him: privily

Deals with our cardinal, and, as I trow,

184

Which I do well; for I am sure the emperor

Paid ere he promised, whereby his suit was granted

Ere it was asked; but when the way was made,

And paved with gold, the emperor thus desired,

That he would please to alter the king's course

And break the foresaid peace. Let the king know

190

(As soon he shall by me) that thus the cardinal

Does buy and sell his honor as he pleases,

And for his own advantage.

norfolk      I am sorry

To hear this of him, and could wish he were

Something mistaken in't.

195

buckingham      No, not a syllable.

I do pronounce him in that very shape

196

He shall appear in proof.

197

Enter Brandon, a Sergeant at Arms before him, and two or three of the Guard.

brandon

Your office, sergeant; execute it.

sergeant      Sir,

My lord the Duke of Buckingham, and Earl

Of Hereford, Stafford, and Northampton, I

200

Arrest thee of high treason, in the name

Of our most sovereign king.

202

buckingham      Lo you, my lord,

The net has fall'n upon me! I shall perish

Under device and practice.

204

brandon      I am sorry

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

205

The business present. 'Tis his highness' pleasure

You shall to th' Tower.

buckingham      It will help me nothing

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.

210

O my Lord Aberga'ny, fare you well!

brandon

Nay, he must bear you company.

[To Abergavenny]    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 Montacute and the bodies

217

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.

220

brandon

A monk o' th' Chartreux.

buckingham      O, Michael Hopkins?

brandon      He.

buckingham

My surveyor is false. The o'ergreat cardinal

Hath showed him gold; my life is spanned already.

223

I am the shadow of poor Buckingham,

Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on

225

By dark'ning my clear sun. My lord, farewell.Exeunt.

*

¥    I.2 Cornets. Enter King Henry, leaning on the Cardinal's shoulder, the Nobles, [the Cardinal's Secretary,] and Sir Thomas Lovell. The Cardinal places himself under the King's feet on his right side.

king

My life itself, and the best heart of it,

1

Thanks you for this great care. I stood i' th' level

2

Of a full-charged confederacy, and give thanks

3

To you that choked it. Let be called before us

That gentleman of Buckingham's; in person

I'll hear him his confessions justify,

6

And point by point the treasons of his master

He shall again relate.

8

A noise within, crying "Room for the Queen!" Enter the Queen, ushered by the Duke of Norfolk, and Suffolk. She kneels. [The] King riseth from his state, takes her up, kisses and placeth her by him.

Author

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was a poet, playwright, and actor who is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers in the history of the English language. Often referred to as the Bard of Avon, Shakespeare's vast body of work includes comedic, tragic, and historical plays; poems; and 154 sonnets. His dramatic works have been translated into every major language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. View titles by William Shakespeare