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Henry The Eighth (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
The Life of King Henry the Eight.
209
Card. Stand forth, & with bold spirit relate what you
Most like a carefull Subiect haue collected
470Out of the Duke of Buckingham.
Kin. Speake freely.
Sur. First, it was vsuall with him; euery day
It would infect his Speech: That if the King
Should without issue dye; hee'l carry it so
475To make the Scepter his. These very words
I'ue heard him vtter to his Sonne in Law,
Lord Aburgany, to whom by oth he menac'd
Reuenge vpon the Cardinall.
Card. Please your Highnesse note
480This dangerous conception in this point,
Not frended by his wish to your High person;
His will is most malignant, and it stretches
Beyond you to your friends.
Queen. My learn'd Lord Cardinall,
485Deliuer all with Charity.
Kin. Speake on;
How grounded hee his Title to the Crowne
Vpon our faile; to this poynt hast thou heard him,
At any time speake ought?
490Sur. He was brought to this,
By a vaine Prophesie of Nicholas Henton.
Kin. What was that Henton?
Sur. Sir, a Chartreux Fryer,
His Confessor, who fed him euery minute
495With words of Soueraignty.
Kin. How know'st thou this?
Sur. Not long before your Highnesse sped to France,
The Duke being at the Rose, within the Parish
Saint Laurence Poultney, did of me demand
500What was the speech among the Londoners,
Concerning the French Iourney. I replide,
Men feare the French would proue perfidious
To the Kings danger: presently, the Duke
Said, 'twas the feare indeed, and that he doubted
505'Twould proue the verity of certaine words
Spoke by a holy Monke, that oft, sayes he,
Hath sent to me, wishing me to permit
Iohn de la Car, my Chaplaine, a choyce howre
To heare from him a matter of some moment:
510Whom after vnder the Commissions Seale,
He sollemnly had sworne, that what he spoke
My Chaplaine to no Creature liuing, but
To me, should vtter, with demure Confidence,
This pausingly ensu'de; neither the King, nor's Heyres
515(Tell you the Duke) shall prosper, bid him striue
To the loue o'th'Commonalty, the Duke
Shall gouerne England.
Queen. If I know you well,
You were the Dukes Surueyor, and lost your Office
520On the complaint o'th'Tenants; take good heed
You charge not in your spleene a Noble person,
And spoyle your nobler Soule; I say, take heed;
Yes, heartily beseech you.
Kin. Let him on: Goe forward.
525Sur. On my Soule, Ile speake but truth.
I told my Lord the Duke, by th'Diuels illusions
The Monke might be deceiu'd, and that 'twas dangerous
For this to ruminate on this so farre, vntill
It forg'd him some designe, which being beleeu'd
530It was much like to doe: He answer'd, Tush,
It can doe me no damage; adding further,
That had the King in his last Sicknesse faild,
The Cardinals and Sir Thomas Louels heads
Should haue gone off.
535Kin. Ha? What, so rancke? Ah, ha,
There's mischiefe in this man; canst thou say further?
Sur. I can my Liedge.
Kin. Proceed.
Sur. Being at Greenwich,
540After your Highnesse had reprou'd the Duke
About Sir William Blumer.
Kin. I remember of such a time, being my sworn ser-
The Duke retein'd him his. But on: what hence?
Sur. If (quoth he) I for this had beene committed,
545As to the Tower, I thought; I would haue plaid
The Part my Father meant to act vpon
Th'Vsurper Richard, who being at Salsbury,
Made suit to come in's presence; which if granted,
(As he made semblance of his duty) would
550Haue put his knife into him.
Kin. A Gyant Traytor.
Card. Now Madam, may his Highnes liue in freedome,
And this man out of Prison.
Queen. God mend all.
555Kin. Ther's somthing more would out of thee; what
Sur. After the Duke his Father, with the knife
He stretch'd him, and with one hand on his dagger,
Another spread on's breast, mounting his eyes,
He did discharge a horrible Oath, whose tenor
560Was, were he euill vs'd, he would outgoe
His Father, by as much as a performance
Do's an irresolute purpose.
Kin. There's his period,
To sheath his knife in vs: he is attach'd,
565Call him to present tryall: if he may
Finde mercy in the Law, 'tis his; if none,
Let him not seek't of vs: By day and night
Hee's Traytor to th'height.
Exeunt.

Scæna Tertia.


570
Enter L. Chamberlaine and L. Sandys.
L. Ch. Is't possible the spels of France should iuggle
Men into such strange mysteries?
L. San. New customes,
Though they be neuer so ridiculous,
575(Nay let 'em be vnmanly) yet are follow'd.
L. Ch. As farre as I see, all the good our English
Haue got by the late Voyage, is but meerely
A fit or two o'th'face, (but they are shrewd ones)
For when they hold 'em, you would sweare directly
580Their very noses had been Councellours
To Pepin or Clotharius, they keepe State so.
L. San. They haue all new legs,
And lame ones; one would take it,
That neuer see 'em pace before, the Spauen
585A Spring-halt rain'd among 'em.
L. Ch. Death my Lord,
Their cloathes are after such a Pagan cut too't,
That sure th'haue worne out Christendome: how now?
What newes, Sir Thomas Louell?

590
Enter Sir Thomas Louell.
Louell. Faith my Lord,
I heare of none but the new Proclamation,
That's clapt vpon the Court Gate.
L. Cham.