Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Diane Jakacki
Not Peer Reviewed

Henry The Eighth (Modern)

Cornets. Enter King Henry, leaning on the Cardinal's shoulder, the nobles, and Sir Thomas Louell. [Secretary enters with Cardinal] The Cardinal places himself under the King's feet on 320his right side.
King Henry
My life itself, and the best heart of it,
Thanks you for this great care. I stood i'th'level
Of a full-charged confederacy, and give thanks
To you that choked it. Let be called before us
325That gentleman of Buckingham's: in person
I'll hear him his confessions justify,
And point by point the treasons of his master
He shall again relate.
A noise within crying "Room for the Queen." [The Queen is] ushered by the 330Duke of Norfolk. Enter the Queen, Norfolk and Suffolk. She kneels. King riseth from his state, takes her up, kisses and placeth her by him.
Katharine
Nay, we must longer kneel; I am a suitor.
335King Henry
Arise and take place by us. Half your suit
Never name to us; you have half our power.
The other moiety ere you ask is given.
Repeat your will and take it.
Katharine
Thank your majesty.
340That you would love yourself, and in that love
Not unconsidered leave your honor nor
The dignity of your office, is the point
Of my petition.
King Henry
Lady mine, proceed.
345Katharine
I am solicited not by a few,
And those of true condition, that your subjects
Are in great grievance. There have been commissions
Sent down among 'em which hath flawed the heart
Of all their loyalties; wherein although,
350[to Cardinal] My good Lord Cardinall, they vent reproaches
Most bitterly on you, as putter on
Of these exactions. Yet the king our master,
Whose honor heaven shield from soil, even he escapes not
Language unmannerly. Yea, such which breaks
355The sides of loyalty and almost appears
In loud rebellion.
Norfolk
Not almost appears,
It doth appear; for, upon these taxations,
The clothiers all, not able to maintain
360The many to them longing, have put off
The spinsters, carders, fullers, weavers who,
Unfit for other life, compelled by hunger
And lack of other means, in desperate manner,
Daring th'event to th'teeth, are all in uproar,
365And danger serves among them.
King Henry
Taxation?
Wherein, and what taxation? My lord cardinal,
You that are blamed for it alike with us,
Know you of this taxation?
370Wolsey
Please you, sir,
I know but of a single part in aught
Pertains to th'state, and front but in that file
Where others tell steps with me.
Katharine
No, my lord,
375You know no more then others, but you frame
Things that are known alike, which are not wholesome
To those which would not know them, and yet must
Perforce be their acquaintance. These exactions
(Whereof my sovereign would have note), they are
380Most pestilent to th'hearing, and to bear 'em
The back is sacrifice to th' load. They say
They are devised by you, ere else you suffer
Too hard an exclamation.
King Henry
Still, exaction!
385The nature of it? In what kind let's know:
Is this exaction?
Katharine
I am much too venturous
In tempting of your patience, but am emboldened
Under your promised pardon. The subjects' grief
390Comes through commissions, which compels from each
The sixth part of his substance, to be levied
Without delay; and the pretence for this
Is named your wars in France. This makes bold mouths,
Tongues spit their duties out and cold hearts freeze
395Allegiance in them; their curses now
Live where their prayers did, and it's come to pass
This tractable obedience is a slave
To each incensed will. I would your highness
Would give it quick consideration, for
400There is no primer baseness.
King Henry
By my life,
This is against our pleasure!
Wolsey
And for me,
I have no further gone in this than by
405A single voice, and that not past me, but
By learned approbation of the judges. If I am
Traduced by ignorant tongues, which neither know
My faculties nor person, yet will be
The chronicles of my doing, let me say
410'Tis but the fate of place and the rough brake
That virtue must go through. We must not stint
Our necessary actions in the fear
To cope malicious censurers, which ever,
As ravenous fishes, do a vessel follow
415That is new-trimmed, but benefit no further
Than vainly longing. What we oft do best,
By sick interpreters (once weak ones) is
Not ours or not allowed. What worst, as oft,
Hitting a grosser quality, is cried up
420For our best act. If we shall stand still
In fear our motion will be mocked or carped at;
We should take root here where we sit,
Or sit state-statues only.
King Henry
Things done well
425And with a care exempt themselves from fear.
Things done without example in their issue
Are to be feared. Have you a precedent
Of this commission? I believe not any.
We must not rend our subjects from our laws
430And stick them in our will. Sixth part of each?
A trembling contribution; why, we take
From every tree lop, bark, and part o'th'timber,
And though we leave it with a root thus hacked
The air will drink the sap. To every county
435Where this is questioned send our letters with
Free pardon to each man that has denied
The force of this commission. Pray, look to't;
I put it to your care.
Wolsey
[to Secretary] A word with you.
440Let there be letters writ to every shire
Of the King's grace and pardon. The grieved commons
Hardly conceive of me. Let it be noised
That through our intercession this revokement
And pardon comes. I shall anon advise you
445Further in the proceeding.
Enter Surveyor.
Katharine
I am sorry that the Duke of Buckingham
Is run in your displeasure.
King Henry
It grieves many.
450The gentleman is learned and a most rare speaker,
To nature none more bound. His training such
That he may furnish and instruct great teachers
And never seek for aid out of himself. Yet see
When these so noble benefits shall prove
455Not well disposed; the mind growing once corrupt,
They turn to vicious forms ten times more ugly
Than ever they were fair. This man so complete
Who was enrolled amongst wonders; and when we,
Almost with ravished listening, could not find
460His hour of speech a minute. He, my lady,
Hath into monstrous habits put the graces
That once were his, and is become as black
As if besmeared in hell. Sit by us: you shall hear
(This was his gentleman in trust) of him
465Things to strike honor sad. Bid him recount
The fore-recited practices, whereof
We cannot feel too little, hear too much.
Wolsey
Stand forth and with bold spirit relate what you,
Most like a careful subject, have collected
470Out of the Duke of Buckingham.
King Henry
Speak freely.
Surveyor
First, it was usual with him, every day
It would infect his speech, that if the King
Should without issue die he'll carry it so
475To make the sceptre his. These very words
I've heard him utter to his son-in-law,
Lord Abergavenny, to whom by oath he menaced
Revenge upon the cardinal.
Wolsey
Please, your highness, note
480This dangerous conception in this point
Not friended by his wish to your high person.
His will is most malignant and it stretches
Beyond you to your friends.
Katharine
My learn'd lord cardinal,
485Deliver all with charity.
King Henry
Speak on.
How grounded he his title to the crown
Upon our fail? To this point hast thou heard him
At any time speak aught?
490Surveyor
He was brought to this
By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Hopkins.
King Henry
What was that Hopkins?
Surrey
Sir, a Chartreux friar,
His confessor, who fed him every minute
495With words of sovereignty.
King Henry
How know'st thou this?
Surveyor
Not long before your Highness 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 journey. I replied
Men fear the French would prove perfidious
To the king's danger. Presently, the duke
Said 'twas the fear indeed, and that he doubted
505'Twould prove the verity of certain words
Spoke by a holy monk that oft, says he,
"Hath sent to me, wishing me to permit
John Delacourt, my chaplain, a choice hour
To hear from him a matter of some moment".
510Whom after, under the confession's seal,
He solemnly had sworn that what he spoke
My chaplain to no creature living but
To me should utter with demure confidence
This pausingly ensued: "Neither the King, nor his heirs
515(Tell you the Duke) shall prosper, bid him strive
To the love of the commonalty, the Duke
Shall govern England".
Katharine
If I know you well,
You were the Duke's surveyor and lost your office
520On the complaint of the tenants. Take good heed
You charge not in your spleen a noble person
And spoil your nobler soul. I say take heed;
Yes, heartily beseech you.
King Henry
Let him on. Go forward.
525Surveyor
On my soul I'll speak but truth.
I told my lord the duke, by the devil's illusions
The monk might be deceived and that 'twas dangerous
For this to ruminate on this so far, until
It forged him some design, which being believed
530It was much like to do. He answered, "Tush,
It can doe me no damage," adding further,
That had the King in his last sickness failed,
The cardinal's and Sir Thomas Lovell's heads
Should have gone off.
535King Henry
Ha? What, so rank? Ah, ha!
There's mischief in this man. Canst thou say further?
Surveyor
I can, my liege.
King Henry
Proceed.
Surveyor
Being at Greenwich,
540After your highness had reproved the duke
About Sir William Blumer --
King Henry
I remember of such a time; being my sworn servant,
The duke retained him his. But on, what hence?
Surveyor
"If", quoth he, "I for this had been committed,
545As to the Tower I thought I would have played
The part my father meant to act upon
The usurper Richard; who being at Salisbury,
Made suit to come in his presence; which, if granted,
(As he made semblance of his duty) would
550Have put his knife into him."
King Henry
A giant traitor.
Wolsey
Now Madame, may his highness live in freedom
And this man out of prison.
Katharine
God mend all.
555King Henry
There's something more would out of thee; what sayest?
Surveyor
After the duke his father with the knife
He stretched 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 evil used, he would outgo
His father by as much as a performance
Does an irresolute purpose.
King Henry
There's his period:
To sheath his knife in us. He is attached.
565Call him to present trial. If he may
Find mercy in the law 'tis his; if none,
Let him not seek it of us. By day and night
He's traitor to the height.
Exeunt.