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- Edition: Henry VIII
Henry The Eighth (Folio 1, 1623)
- Texts of this edition
- Facsimiles
1823Scena Secunda.
1824Enter the Duke of Norfolke, Duke of Suffolke, Lord Surrey,
1825and Lord Chamberlaine.
1826Norf. If you will now vnite in your Complaints,
1827And force them with a Constancy, the Cardinall
1828Cannot stand vnder them. If you omit
1831With these you beare alreadie.
1832Sur. I am ioyfull
1834Remembrance of my Father-in-Law, the Duke,
1835To be reueng'd on him.
1836Suf. Which of the Peeres
1837Haue vncontemn'd gone by him, or at least
1838Strangely neglected? When did he regard
1840Out of himselfe?
1842What he deserues of you and me, I know:
1843What we can do to him (though now the time
1844Giues way to vs) I much feare. If you cannot
1845Barre his accesse to'th'King, neuer attempt
1846Any thing on him: for he hath a Witchcraft
1847Ouer the King in's Tongue.
1848Nor. O feare him not,
1849His spell in that is out: the King hath found
1850Matter against him, that for euer marres
1851The Hony of his Language. No, he's setled
1853Sur. Sir,
1855Once euery houre.
1856Nor. Beleeue it, this is true.
1857In the Diuorce, his contrarie proceedings
1858Are all vnfolded: wherein he appeares,
1859As I would wish mine Enemy.
1860Sur. How came
1863Sur. O how? how?
1865And came to th'eye o'th'King, wherein was read
1866How that the Cardinall did intreat his Holinesse
1867To stay the Iudgement o'th'Diuorce; for if
1868It did take place, I do (quoth he) perceiue
1870A Creature of the Queenes, Lady Anne Bullen.
1871Sur. Ha's the King this?
1872Suf. Beleeue it.
1873Sur. Will this worke?
1875And hedges his owne way. But in this point,
1876All his trickes founder, and he brings his Physicke
1877After his Patients death; the King already
1878Hath married the faire Lady.
1879Sur. Would he had.
1881For I professe you haue it.
1882Sur. Now all my ioy
1883Trace the Coniunction.
1884Suf. My Amen too't.
1885Nor. All mens.
1886Suf. There's order giuen for her Coronation:
1887Marry this is yet but yong, and may be left
1888To some eares vnrecounted. But my Lords
1889She is a gallant Creature, and compleate
1890In minde and feature. I perswade me, from her
1892In it be memoriz'd.
1893Sur. But will the King
1894Digest this Letter of the Cardinals?
1895The Lord forbid.
1896Nor. Marry Amen.
1897Suf. No, no:
1900Is stolne away to Rome, hath 'tane no leaue,
1901Ha's left the cause o'th'King vnhandled, and
1902Is posted as the Agent of our Cardinall,
1904The King cry'de Ha, at this.
1906And let him cry Ha, lowder.
1907Norf. But my Lord
1908When returnes Cranmer?
1909Suf. He is return'd in his Opinions, which
1911Together with all famous Colledges
1914Her Coronation. Katherine no more
1915Shall be call'd Queene, but Princesse Dowager,
1916And Widdow to Prince Arthur.
1918A worthy Fellow, and hath tane much paine
1921For it, an Arch-byshop.
1922Nor. So I heare.
1924Enter Wolsey and Cromwell.
1925The Cardinall.
1927Car. The Packet Cromwell,
1928Gau't you the King?
1929Crom. To his owne hand, in's Bed-chamber.
1933He did it with a Serious minde: a heede
1934Was in his countenance. You he bad
1935Attend him heere this Morning.
1936Card. Is he ready to come abroad?
1937Crom. I thinke by this he is.
1941Anne Bullen? No: Ile no Anne Bullens for him,
1942There's more in't then faire Visage. Bullen?
1943No, wee'l no Bullens: Speedily I wish
1944To heare from Rome. The Marchionesse of Penbroke?
1946Suf. Maybe he heares the King
1947Does whet his Anger to him.
1948Sur. Sharpe enough,
1949Lord for thy Iustice.
1950Car. The late Queenes Gentlewoman?
1951A Knights Daughter
1954Then out it goes. What though I know her vertuous
1955And well deseruing? yet I know her for
1958Our hard rul'd King. Againe, there is sprung vp
1959An Heretique, an Arch-one; Cranmer, one
1960Hath crawl'd into the fauour of the King,
1961And is his Oracle.
1963Enter King, reading of a Scedule.
1965The Master-cord on's heart.
1966Suf. The King, the King.
1967King. What piles of wealth hath he accumulated
1968To his owne portion? And what expence by'th'houre
1969Seemes to flow from him? How, i'th'name of Thrift
1970Does he rake this together? Now my Lords,
1971Saw you the Cardinall?
1972Nor. My Lord, we haue
1974Is in his braine: He bites his lip, and starts,
1975Stops on a sodaine, lookes vpon the ground,
1981King. It may well be,
1982There is a mutiny in's minde. This morning,
1984As I requir'd: and wot you what I found
1985There (on my Conscience put vnwittingly)
1986Forsooth an Inuentory, thus importing
1991Nor. It's Heauens will,
1992Some Spirit put this paper in the Packet,
1993To blesse your eye withall.
1994King. If we did thinke
1995His Contemplation were aboue the earth,
1998His Thinkings are below the Moone, not worth
2000King takes his Seat, whispers Louell, who goes
2001to the Cardinall.
2002Car. Heauen forgiue me,
2004King. Good my Lord,
2006Of your best Graces, in your minde; the which
2009To keepe your earthly Audit, sure in that
2010I deeme you an ill Husband, and am gald
2011To haue you therein my Companion.
2012Car. Sir,
2013For Holy Offices I haue a time; a time
2015I beare i'th'State: and Nature does require
2016Her times of preseruation, which perforce
2018Must giue my tendance to.
2021(As I will lend you cause) my doing well,
2022With my well saying.
2024And 'tis a kinde of good deede to say well,
2025And yet words are no deeds. My Father lou'd you,
2026He said he did, and with his deed did Crowne
2027His word vpon you. Since I had my Office,
2028I haue kept you next my Heart, haue not alone
2029Imploy'd you where high Profits might come home,
2031My Bounties vpon you.
2034King. Haue I not made you
2035The prime man of the State? I pray you tell me,
2036If what I now pronounce, you haue found true:
2038If you are bound to vs, or no. What say you?
2040Showr'd on me daily, haue bene more then could
2042Beyond all mans endeauors. My endeauors,
2044Yet fill'd with my Abilities: Mine owne ends
2045Haue beene mine so, that euermore they pointed
2047The profit of the State. For your great Graces
2048Heap'd vpon me (poore Vndeseruer) I
2049Can nothing render but Allegiant thankes,
2050My Prayres to heauen for you; my Loyaltie
2051Which euer ha's, and euer shall be growing,
2052Till death (that Winter) kill it.
2054A Loyall, and obedient Subiect is
2055Therein illustrated, the Honor of it
2056Does pay the Act of it, as i'th'contrary
2058That as my hand ha's open'd Bounty to you,
2059My heart drop'd Loue, my powre rain'd Honor, more
2060On you, then any: So your Hand, and Heart,
2061Your Braine, and euery Function of your power,
2062Should, notwithstanding that your bond of duty,
2063As 'twer in Loues particular, be more
2064To me your Friend, then any.
2066That for your Highnesse good, I euer labour'd
2067More then mine owne: that am, haue, and will be
2068(Though all the world should cracke their duty to you,
2069And throw it from their Soule, though perils did
2070Abound, as thicke as thought could make 'em, and
2071Appeare in formes more horrid) yet my Duty,
2072As doth a Rocke against the chiding Flood,
2073Should the approach of this wilde Riuer breake,
2076Take notice Lords, he ha's a Loyall brest,
2077For you haue seene him open't. Read o're this,
2078And after this, and then to Breakfast with
2079What appetite you haue.
2080Exit King, frowning vpon the Cardinall, the Nobles
2081throng after him smiling, and whispering.
2083What sodaine Anger's this? How haue I reap'd it?
2084He parted Frowning from me, as if Ruine
2085Leap'd from his Eyes. So lookes the chafed Lyon
2086Vpon the daring Huntsman that has gall'd him:
2087Then makes him nothing. I must reade this paper:
2088I feare the Story of his Anger. 'Tis so:
2089This paper ha's vndone me: 'Tis th'Accompt
2090Of all that world of Wealth I haue drawne together
2091For mine owne ends, (Indeed to gaine the Popedome,
2092And fee my Friends in Rome.) O Negligence!
2093Fit for a Foole to fall by: What crosse Diuell
2094Made me put this maine Secret in the Packet
2095I sent the King? Is there no way to cure this?
2096No new deuice to beate this from his Braines?
2098A way, if it take right, in spight of Fortune
2099Will bring me off againe. What's this? To th'Pope?
2101I writ too's Holinesse. Nay then, farewell:
2103And from that full Meridian of my Glory,
2105Like a bright exhalation in the Euening,
2106And no man see me more.
2107Enter to Woolsey, the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke, the
2108Earle of Surrey, and the Lord Chamberlaine.
2110Who commands you
2111To render vp the Great Seale presently
2114Till you heare further from his Highnesse.
2115Car. Stay:
2116Where's your Commission? Lords, words cannot carrie
2117Authority so weighty.
2119Bearing the Kings will from his mouth expressely?
2121(I meane your malice) know, Officious Lords,
2122I dare, and must deny it. Now I feele
2123Of what course Mettle ye are molded, Enuy,
2124How eagerly ye follow my Disgraces
2125As if it fed ye, and how sleeke and wanton
2126Ye appeare in euery thing may bring my ruine?
2127Follow your enuious courses, men of Malice;
2128You haue Christian warrant for 'em, and no doubt
2131(Mine, and your Master) with his owne hand, gaue me:
2132Bad me enioy it, with the Place, and Honors
2134Ti'de it by Letters Patents. Now, who'll take it?
2135Sur. The King that gaue it.
2141Sur. Thy Ambition
2142(Thou Scarlet sinne) robb'd this bewailing Land
2143Of Noble Buckingham, my Father-in-Law,
2144The heads of all thy Brother-Cardinals,
2145(With thee, and all thy best parts bound together)
2146Weigh'd not a haire of his. Plague of your policie,
2147You sent me Deputie for Ireland,
2148Farre from his succour; from the King, from all
2149That might haue mercie on the fault, thou gau'st him:
2151Absolu'd him with an Axe.
2153This talking Lord can lay vpon my credit,
2155Found his deserts. How innocent I was
2156From any priuate malice in his end,
2158If I lou'd many words, Lord, I should tell you,
2159You haue as little Honestie, as Honor,
2160That in the way of Loyaltie, and Truth,
2161Toward the King, my euer Roiall Master,
2162Dare mate a sounder man then Surrie can be,
2163And all that loue his follies.
2164Sur. By my Soule,
2167My Sword i'th'life blood of thee else. My Lords,
2168Can ye endure to heare this Arrogance?
2169And from this Fellow? If we liue thus tamely,
2170To be thus Iaded by a peece of Scarlet,
2171Farewell Nobilitie: let his Grace go forward,
2172And dare vs with his Cap, like Larkes.
2174Is poyson to thy Stomacke.
2176Of gleaning all the Lands wealth into one,
2177Into your owne hands (Card'nall) by Extortion:
2178The goodnesse of your intercepted Packets
2181My Lord of Norfolke, as you are truly Noble,
2187Worse then the Sacring Bell, when the browne Wench
2188Lay kissing in your Armes, Lord Cardinall.
2190But that I am bound in Charitie against it.
2192But thus much, they are foule ones.
2193Wol. So much fairer
2195When the King knowes my Truth.
2197I thanke my Memorie, I yet remember
2199Now, if you can blush, and crie guiltie Cardinall,
2201Wol. Speake on Sir,
2203It is to see a Nobleman want manners.
2205Haue at you.
2207You wrought to be a Legate, by which power
2210To Forraigne Princes, Ego & Rex meus
2212To be your Seruant.
2213Suf. Then, that without the knowledge
2214Either of King or Councell, when you went
2215Ambassador to the Emperor, you made bold
2216To carry into Flanders, the Great Seale.
2218To Gregory de Cassado, to conclude
2219Without the Kings will, or the States allowance,
2220A League betweene his Highnesse, and Ferrara.
2221Suf. That out of meere Ambition, you haue caus'd
2222Your holy-Hat to be stampt on the Kings Coine.
2224(By what meanes got, I leaue to your owne conscience)
2225To furnish Rome, and to prepare the wayes
2226You haue for Dignities, to the meere vndooing
2227Of all the Kingdome. Many more there are,
2228Which since they are of you, and odious,
2229I will not taint my mouth with.
2230Cham. O my Lord,
2231Presse not a falling man too farre: 'tis Vertue:
2232His faults lye open to the Lawes, let them
2234So little, of his great Selfe.
2235Sur. I forgiue him.
2238By your power Legatiue within this Kingdome,
2239Fall into 'th'compasse of a Premunire;
2241To forfeit all your Goods, Lands, Tenements,
2243Out of the Kings protection. This is my Charge.
2246About the giuing backe the Great Seale to vs,
2248So fare you well, my little good Lord Cardinall.
2249Exeunt all but Wolsey.
2250Wol. So farewell, to the little good you beare me.
2251Farewell? A long farewell to all my Greatnesse.
2252This is the state of Man; to day he puts forth
2253The tender Leaues of hopes, to morrow Blossomes,
2254And beares his blushing Honors thicke vpon him:
2257His Greatnesse is a ripening, nippes his roote,
2258And then he fals as I do. I haue ventur'd
2259Like little wanton Boyes that swim on bladders:
2260This many Summers in a Sea of Glory,
2261But farre beyond my depth: my high-blowne Pride
2262At length broke vnder me, and now ha's left me
2263Weary, and old with Seruice, to the mercy
2265Vaine pompe, and glory of this World, I hate ye,
2266I feele my heart new open'd. Oh how wretched
2267Is that poore man, that hangs on Princes fauours?
2270More pangs, and feares then warres, or women haue;
2271And when he falles, he falles like Lucifer,
2272Neuer to hope againe.
2273Enter Cromwell, standing amazed.
2274Why how now Cromwell?
2276Car. What, amaz'd
2277At my misfortunes? Can thy Spirit wonder
2278A great man should decline. Nay, and you weep
2279I am falne indeed.
2280Crom. How does your Grace.
2281Card. Why well:
2282Neuer so truly happy, my good Cromwell,
2283I know my selfe now, and I feele within me,
2284A peace aboue all earthly Dignities,
2287These ruin'd Pillers, out of pitty, taken
2288A loade, would sinke a Nauy, (too much Honor.)
2289O 'tis a burden Cromwel, 'tis a burden
2290Too heauy for a man, that hopes for Heauen.
2291Crom. I am glad your Grace,
2292Ha's made that right vse of it.
2293Card. I hope I haue:
2294I am able now (me thinkes)
2295(Out of a Fortitude of Soule, I feele)
2296To endure more Miseries, and greater farre
2297Then my Weake-hearted Enemies, dare offer.
2298What Newes abroad?
2303Lord Chancellor, in your place.
2305But he's a Learned man. May he continue
2309May haue a Tombe of Orphants teares wept on him.
2310What more?
2311Crom. That Cranmer is return'd with welcome;
2313Card. That's Newes indeed.
2315Whom the King hath in secrecie long married,
2316This day was view'd in open, as his Queene,
2317Going to Chappell: and the voyce is now
2318Onely about her Corronation.
2319Card. There was the waight that pull'd me downe.
2320O Cromwell,
2321The King ha's gone beyond me: All my Glories
2322In that one woman, I haue lost for euer.
2324Or gilde againe the Noble Troopes that waighted
2325Vpon my smiles. Go get thee from me Cromwel,
2326I am a poore falne man, vnworthy now
2327To be thy Lord, and Master. Seeke the King
2328(That Sun, I pray may neuer set) I haue told him,
2329What, and how true thou art; he will aduance thee:
2330Some little memory of me, will stirre him
2331(I know his Noble Nature) not to let
2334For thine owne future safety.
2335Crom. O my Lord,
2338Beare witnesse, all that haue not hearts of Iron,
2339With what a sorrow Cromwel leaues his Lord.
2341For euer, and for euer shall be yours.
2344(Out of thy honest truth) to play the Woman.
2345Let's dry our eyes: And thus farre heare me Cromwel,
2346And when I am forgotten, as I shall be,
2347And sleepe in dull cold Marble, where no mention
2348Of me, more must be heard of: Say I taught thee;
2349Say Wolsey, that once trod the wayes of Glory,
2350And sounded all the Depths, and Shoales of Honor,
2351Found thee a way (out of his wracke) to rise in:
2353Marke but my Fall, and that that Ruin'd me:
2354Cromwel, I charge thee, fling away Ambition,
2355By that sinne fell the Angels: how can man then
2356(The Image of his Maker) hope to win by it?
2358Corruption wins not more then Honesty.
2359Still in thy right hand, carry gentle Peace
2361Let all the ends thou aym'st at, be thy Countries,
2362Thy Gods, and Truths. Then if thou fall'st (O Cromwell)
2364Serue the King: And prythee leade me in:
2365There take an Inuentory of all I haue,
2366To the last peny, 'tis the Kings. My Robe,
2367And my Integrity to Heauen, is all,
2368I dare now call mine owne. O Cromwel, Cromwel,
2369Had I but seru'd my God, with halfe the Zeale
2370I seru'd my King: he would not in mine Age
2371Haue left me naked to mine Enemies.
2372Crom. Good Sir, haue patience.
2373Card. So I haue. Farewell
2374The Hopes of Court, my Hopes in Heauen do dwell.
2375 Exeunt.