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  • Title: Henry The Eighth (Modern)
  • Editor: Diane Jakacki

  • Copyright Diane Jakacki. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Diane Jakacki
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Henry The Eighth (Modern)

    Enter Lord Chamberlain, reading this letter.
    Chamberlain
    'My lord, The horses your lordship sent for, with all the
    care I had, I saw well chosen, ridden, and furnished.
    1030They were young and handsome, and of the best breed in the
    north. When they were ready to set out for London, a man
    of my lord cardinal's, by commission and main power, took
    'em from me, with this reason: his master would be served
    before a subject, if not before the king, which stopped our mouths,
    1035sir.'
    I fear he will indeed; well, let him have them; he
    will have all, I think.
    Enter to the Lord Chamberlain the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk.
    1040Norfolk
    Well met, my lord Chamberlain.
    Chamberlain
    Good day to both your graces.
    Suffolk
    How is the king employed?
    Chamberlain
    I left him private, full of sad thoughts and troubles.
    1045Norfolk
    What's the cause?
    Chamberlain
    It seems the marriage with his brother's wife Has crept too near his conscience.
    Suffolk
    No, his Conscience
    Ha's crept too neere another Ladie.
    1050Norfolk
    Tis so;
    This is the Cardinals doing: The King-Cardinall,
    That blinde Priest, like the eldest Sonne of Fortune,
    Turnes what he list. The King will know him one day.
    Suffolk
    Pray God he do.
    1055He'll never know himself else.
    Norfolk
    How holily he works in all his business,
    And with what zeal? For now he has cracked the league
    Between us and the emperor (the queen's great-nephew).
    He dives into the king's soul and there scatters
    1060Dangers, doubts, wringing of the conscience,
    Fears and despairs, and all these for his marriage.
    And out of all these, to restore the king,
    He counsels a divorce, a loss of her
    That like a jewel has hung twenty years
    1065About his neck, yet never lost her luster;
    Of her that loves him with that excellence
    That angels love good men with. Even of her,
    That when the greatest stroke of fortune falls
    Will bless the king. And is not this course pious?
    1070Chamberlain
    Heaven keep me from such counsel; 'tis most true.
    These news are everywhere; every tongue speaks 'em,
    And every true heart weeps for't. All that dare
    Look into these affairs see this main end:
    The French king's sister. Heaven will one day open
    1075The king's eyes that so long have slept upon
    This bold, bad man.
    Suffolk
    And free us from his slavery.
    Norfolk
    We had need pray,
    And heartily, for our deliverance,
    1080Or this imperious man will work us all
    From princes into pages. All men's honors
    Lie like one lump before him, to be fashioned
    Into what pitch he please.
    Suffolk
    For me, my lords,
    1085I love him not nor fear him: there's my creed.
    As I am made without him, so I'll stand,
    If the King please. His curses and his blessings
    Touch me alike; they're breath I not believe in.
    I knew him, and I know him; so I leave him
    1090To him that made him proud, the pope.
    Norfolk
    Let's in,
    And with some other business put the king
    From these sad thoughts that work too much upon him.
    My lord, you'll bear us company?
    1095Chamberlain
    Excuse me,
    the king has sent me otherwhere. Besides
    You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him.
    Health to your lordships.
    Norfolk
    Thanks, my good lord Chamberlaine.
    1100Exit Lord Chamberlain. The King draws the Curtain and sits reading pensively.
    Suffolk
    How sad he looks; sure he is much afflicted.
    King Henry
    Who's there? Ha?
    Norfolk
    Pray God he be not angry.
    1105King Henry
    Who's there, I say? How dare you thrust yourselves
    Into my private meditations!
    Who am I? Ha?
    Norfolk
    A gracious King, that pardons all offences
    Malice ne'er meant. Our breach of duty this way
    1110Is business of estate, in which we come
    To know your royal pleasure.
    King Henry
    Ye are too bold.
    Go to; I'll make ye know your times of business.
    Is this an hour for temporal affairs? Ha?
    1115Enter Wolsey and Campeius with a Commission.
    Who's there? my good lord cardinal? O, my Wolsey,
    The quiet of my wounded conscience;
    Thou art a cure fit for a king. you're welcome,
    Most learned reverend sir, into our kingdom;
    1120Use us, and it. My good lord, have great care
    I be not found a talker.
    Wolsey
    Sir, you cannot;
    I would your grace would give us but an hour
    Of private conference.
    1125King Henry
    We are busy; go.
    Norfolk
    This priest has no pride in him.
    Suffolk
    Not to speake of.
    I would not be so sick, though, for his place.
    But this cannot continue.
    1130Norfolk
    If it do
    I'll venture one have at him.
    Suffolk
    I another.
    Exeunt Norfolk and Suffolk.
    Wolsey
    Your grace has given a precedent of wisdom
    Above all princes, in committing freely
    1135Your scruple to the voice of Christendom.
    Who can be angry now? What envy reach you?
    The Spaniard tied by blood and favor to her
    Must now confess, if they have any goodness,
    The trial, just and noble. All the clerks
    1140(I mean the learned ones in Christian kingdoms)
    Have their free voices. Rome, the nurse of judgement
    Invited by your noble self, hath sent
    One general tongue unto us: this good man,
    This just and learned priest Cardinal Campeius,
    1145Whom once more I present unto your highness.
    King Henry
    AAnd once more in mine arms I bid him welcome,
    And thank the holy conclave for their loves;
    They have sent me such a man I would have wished for.
    Campeius
    Your grace must needs deserve all strangers' loves,
    1150You are so noble. To your highness' hand
    I tender my commission, by whose virtue
    The court of Rome commanding. You, my Lord
    Cardinal of York, are joined with me, their servant
    In the unpartial judging of this business.
    1155King Henry
    Two equal men; the queen shall be acquainted
    Forthwith for what you come. Where's Gardiner?
    I know your majesty has always loved her
    So dear in heart not to deny her that
    A woman of less place might ask by law,
    1160Scholars allowed freely to argue for her.
    King Henry
    Aye, and the best she shall have; and my favor
    To him that does best, God forbid else. Cardinal,
    Prithee call Gardiner to me, my new secretary.
    I find him a fit fellow.
    1165 Enter Gardiner.
    Give me your hand. Much joy and favor to you;
    You are the king's now.
    Gardiner
    But to be commanded
    Forever by your grace, whose hand has raised me.
    1170King Henry
    Come hither, Gardiner.
    Walks and whispers.
    Campeius
    My lord of York, was not one Doctor Pace
    In this man's place before him?
    Yes, he was.
    1175Campeius
    Was he not held a learned man?
    Yes, surely.
    Campeius
    Believe me, there's an ill opinion spread, then,
    Even of yourself, lord cardinal.
    How? of me?
    1180Campeius
    They will not stick to say you envied him
    And, fearing he would rise (he was so virtuous)
    Kept him a foreign man still, which so grieved him
    That he ran mad and died.
    Heaven's peace be with him;
    1185That's Christian care enough. for living murmurers
    There's places of rebuke. He was a fool,
    For he would needs be virtuous. That good fellow,
    If I command him, follows my appointment;
    I will have none so near else. Learn this, brother:
    1190We live not to be gripped by meaner persons.
    King Henry
    Deliver this with modesty to th' queen.
    Exit Gardiner.
    The most convenient place that I can think of
    For such receipt of learning is Blackfriars.
    1195There ye shall meet about this weighty business.
    My Wolsey, see it furnished. O, my lord,
    Would it not grieve an able man to leave
    So sweet a bedfellow? But conscience, conscience;
    O, 'tis a tender place and I must leave her.
    Exeunt.