King John/Henry VIII (Signet Classics) Read online

  KING HENRY VIII Lady mine, proceed.

  QUEEN KATHERINE I am solicited20, not by a few,

  And those of true condition21, that your subjects

  Are in great grievance: there have been commissions22

  Sent down among 'em which hath flawed23 the heart

  Of all their loyalties: wherein, although,

  My good lord cardinal, they vent reproaches

  Most bitterly on you, as putter-on26

  Of these exactions27, yet the king our master --

  Whose honour heaven shield from soil28 -- even he escapes not

  Language unmannerly, yea, such which breaks

  The sides of loyalty, and almost appears

  In loud rebellion.

  NORFOLK Not 'almost appears',

  It doth appear: for, upon these taxations,

  The clothiers34 all, not able to maintain

  The many to them longing, have put off35

  The spinsters, carders, fullers36, weavers, who,

  Unfit for other life37, compelled by hunger

  And lack of other means, in desperate manner

  Daring th'event to th'teeth39, are all in uproar,

  And danger serves40 among them.

  KING HENRY VIII Taxation?

  Wherein, and what taxation? My lord cardinal,

  You that are blamed for it alike with us,

  Know you of this taxation?

  CARDINAL WOLSEY Please you, sir,

  I know but of a single part in aught46

  Pertains to th'state, and front but in that file47

  Where others tell48 steps with me.

  QUEEN KATHERINE No, my lord?

  You know no more than 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.53 These exactions,

  Whereof my sovereign would have note54, they are

  Most pestilent to th'hearing, and to bear55 'em

  The back is sacrifice to th'load56. They say

  They are devised by you, or else you suffer

  Too hard an exclamation58.

  KING HENRY VIII Still 'exaction':

  The nature of it? In what kind60, let's know,

  Is this exaction?

  QUEEN KATHERINE I am much too venturous62

  In tempting of your patience, but am boldened63

  Under your promised pardon. The subjects' grief64

  Comes through commissions, which compels from each

  The sixth part of his substance66, to be levied

  Without delay, and the pretence67 for this

  Is named your wars in France: this makes bold mouths:

  Tongues spit their duties out, and cold hearts freeze

  Allegiance in them: their curses now

  Live where their prayers71 did: and it's come to pass

  This tractable obedience is a slave72

  To each incensed will. I would73 your highness

  Would give it quick consideration, for

  There is no primer baseness75.

  KING HENRY VIII By my life,

  This is against our pleasure77.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY And for me,

  I have no further gone in this than by

  A single voice, and that not passed80 me but

  By learned approbation81 of the judges: if I am

  Traduced82 by ignorant tongues, which neither know

  My faculties83 nor person, yet will be

  The chronicles of my doing, let me say

  'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake85

  That virtue must go through: we must not stint86

  Our necessary actions, in the fear

  To cope malicious censurers88, which ever,

  As rav'nous fishes, do a vessel follow

  That is new trimmed90, but benefit no further

  Than vainly longing. What we oft do best91,

  By sick interpreters, once weak ones, is

  Not ours, or not allowed: what worst, as oft93,

  Hitting a grosser quality, is cried up

  For our best act: if we shall stand still,

  In fear our motion will be mocked or carped at96,

  We should take root here where we sit,

  Or sit state-statues98 only.

  KING HENRY VIII Things done well,

  And with a care, exempt themselves from fear:

  Things done without example, in their issue101

  Are to be feared. Have you a precedent

  Of103 this commission? I believe not any.

  We must not rend our subjects from our laws104,

  And stick them in our will. Sixth part of each?

  A trembling106 contribution; why, we take

  From every tree lop107, bark, and part o'th'timber:

  And though we leave it with a root, thus hacked

  The air will drink the sap109. To every county

  Where this is questioned110 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.

  To the Secretary

  CARDINAL WOLSEY A word with you.

  Let there be letters writ to every shire,

  Aside to Secretary

  Of the king's grace and pardon.-- The grieved commons116

  Hardly conceive of me. Let it be noised117

  That through our intercession this revokement118

  And pardon comes: I shall anon119 advise you

  Further in the proceeding.

  Exit Secretary

  Enter Surveyor

  To the King

  QUEEN KATHERINE I am sorry that the Duke of Buckingham

  Is run in122 your displeasure.

  KING HENRY VIII It grieves many:

  The gentleman is learned, and a most rare124 speaker,

  To nature none more bound125: his training such

  That he may furnish and instruct great teachers,

  And never seek for aid out of127 himself: yet see,

  When these so noble benefits shall prove

  Not well disposed129, the mind growing once corrupt,

  They turn to vicious130 forms, ten times more ugly

  Than ever they were fair. This man so complete131,

  Who was enrolled 'mongst wonders -- and when we,

  Almost with ravished133 listening, could not find

  His hour of speech a minute -- he, my lady,

  Hath into monstrous habits135 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 trust138 -- of him

  To Wolsey

  Things to strike honour sad.-- Bid him recount

  The fore-recited practices140, whereof

  We cannot feel too little, hear too much141.

  To the Surveyor

  CARDINAL WOLSEY Stand forth, and with bold spirit relate what you

  Most like a careful subject have collected143

  Out of the Duke of Buckingham.

  KING HENRY VIII 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 carry148 it so

  To make the sceptre149 his. These very words

  I've heard him utter to his son-in-law,

  Lord Aberga'nny, to whom by oath he menaced151

  Revenge upon the cardinal.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY Please your highness note

  His dangerous conception154 in this point,

  Not friended by his wish to your high person155:

  His will is most malignant, and it stretches

  Beyond you to your friends157.

  QUEEN KATHERINE My learned lord cardinal,

  Deliver159 all with charity.

  To the Su
rveyor

  KING HENRY VIII Speak on:

  How grounded he his title to the crown161

  Upon our fail? To this point162 hast thou heard him

  At any time speak aught?

  SURVEYOR He was brought to this

  By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Hopkins.

  KING HENRY VIII What was that Hopkins?

  SURVEYOR Sir, a Chartreux167 friar,

  His confessor, who fed him every minute

  With words of sovereignty.

  KING HENRY VIII How know'st thou this?

  SURVEYOR Not long before your highness sped to France,

  The Duke being at the Rose172, within the parish

  St Lawrence Poultney173, did of me demand

  What was the speech174 among the Londoners

  Concerning the French journey. I replied

  Men feared the French would prove perfidious176

  To the king's danger: presently177 the duke

  Said 'twas the fear indeed and that he doubted178

  '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 de la Car, my chaplain, a choice182 hour

  To hear from him a matter of some moment183:

  Whom 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 confidence187

  This pausingly ensued: "Neither the king nor's heirs,

  Tell you the duke, shall prosper: bid him strive

  To gain the love o'th'commonalty190: the duke

  Shall govern England." '

  QUEEN KATHERINE If I know you well,

  You were the duke's surveyor, and lost your office

  On the complaint o'th'tenants: take good heed

  You charge not in your spleen195 a noble person

  And spoil your nobler196 soul: I say, take heed:

  Yes, heartily beseech you.

  KING HENRY VIII Let him on198:

  To the Surveyor

  Go forward.

  SURVEYOR On my soul, I'll speak but200 truth.

  I told my lord the duke, by th'devil's illusions

  The monk might be deceived, and that 'twas dangerous

  For him to ruminate on this so far, until

  It forged204 him some design, which being believed,

  It was much like to do205: he answered, 'Tush,

  It can do me no damage', adding further,

  That had the king in his last sickness failed207,

  The cardinal's and Sir Thomas Lovell's heads

  Should have gone off.

  KING HENRY VIII Ha? What, so rank210? Ah, ha!

  There's mischief in this man: canst thou say further?

  SURVEYOR I can, my liege.

  KING HENRY VIII Proceed.

  SURVEYOR Being at Greenwich214,

  After your highness had reproved the duke

  About Sir William Bulmer--

  KING HENRY VIII I remember

  Of such a time: being my sworn servant,

  The duke retained him his219. But on: what hence?

  SURVEYOR 'If', quoth he, 'I for this had been committed220' --

  As to the Tower, I thought, -- 'I would have played

  The part my father meant to act upon

  Th'usurper Richard, who, being at Salisbury223,

  Made suit224 to come in's presence: which if granted,

  As he made semblance of his duty225, would

  Have put his knife to him.'

  KING HENRY VIII A giant traitor.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY Now, madam, may his highness live in freedom,

  And this man out of prison?

  QUEEN KATHERINE God mend all230.

  KING HENRY VIII There's something more would out of thee: what say'st?

  SURVEYOR After 'the duke his father', with 'the knife',

  He stretched him233, and with one hand on his dagger,

  Another spread on's breast, mounting234 his eyes,

  He did discharge a horrible oath, whose tenor

  Was, were he evil used, he would outgo236

  His father by as much as a performance

  Does an irresolute238 purpose.

  KING HENRY VIII There's his period239:

  To sheathe his knife in us: he is attached240:

  Call him to present241 trial: if he may

  Find mercy in the law, 'tis his: if none,

  Let him not seek't of us: by day and night,

  He's traitor to th'height244.

  Exeunt

  Act 1 Scene 3

  running scene 2 continues

  Enter [the] Lord Chamberlain and Lord Sands

  CHAMBERLAIN Is't possible the spells of France should juggle1

  Men into such strange mysteries2?

  SANDS New customs,

  Though they be never so ridiculous,

  Nay, let 'em be5 unmanly, yet are followed.

  CHAMBERLAIN As far as I see, all the good our English

  Have got by the late7 voyage is but merely

  A fit or two o'th'face: but they are shrewd8 ones,

  For when they hold 'em9, you would swear directly

  Their very noses had been counsellors

  To Pepin or Clotharius, they keep state so11.

  SANDS They have all new legs, and lame ones: one would take it12,

  That never see 'em pace before, the spavin13

  Or springhalt14 reigned among 'em.

  CHAMBERLAIN Death15, my lord,

  Their clothes are after such a pagan cut to't16

  That sure they've worn out17 Christendom.

  Enter Sir Thomas Lovell

  How now?

  What news, Sir Thomas Lovell?

  LOVELL Faith, my lord,

  I hear of none, but the new proclamation

  That's clapped21 upon the court gate.

  CHAMBERLAIN What is't for?

  LOVELL The reformation of our travelled gallants,

  That fill the court with quarrels, talk and tailors.

  CHAMBERLAIN I'm glad 'tis there: now I would pray our monsieurs

  To think an English courtier may be wise,

  And never see the Louvre27.

  LOVELL They must either,

  For so run the conditions, leave those remnants

  Of fool and feather30 that they got in France,

  With all their honourable points of ignorance31

  Pertaining thereunto -- as fights and fireworks32,

  Abusing33 better men than they can be

  Out of a foreign wisdom, renouncing clean34

  The faith they have in tennis and tall stockings35,

  Short blistered breeches, and those types of travel36 --

  And understand again like honest37 men,

  Or pack to their old playfellows38: there, I take it,

  They may cum privilegio 'oui'39 away

  The lag end of their lewdness40 and be laughed at.

  SANDS 'Tis time to give 'em physic41, their diseases

  Are grown so catching.

  CHAMBERLAIN What a loss our ladies

  Will have of these trim vanities44!

  LOVELL Ay, marry45,

  There will be woe indeed, lords: the sly whoresons46

  Have got a speeding trick to lay down47 ladies:

  A French song and a fiddle has no fellow48.

  SANDS The devil fiddle49 'em! I am glad they are going,

  For sure there's no converting of 'em50: now

  An honest country lord, as I am, beaten

  A long time out of play, may bring his plainsong52

  And have an hour of hearing, and, by'r lady53,

  Held current54 music too.

  CHAMBERLAIN Well said, Lord Sands:

  Your colt's tooth is not cast56 yet?

  SANDS No, my lord,

  Nor shall not, while I have a stump58.

 
; To Lovell

  CHAMBERLAIN Sir Thomas,

  Whither were you a-going?

  LOVELL To the cardinal's:

  Your lordship is a guest too.

  CHAMBERLAIN O, 'tis true:

  This night he makes64 a supper, and a great one,

  To many lords and ladies: there will be

  The beauty of this kingdom, I'll assure you.

  LOVELL That churchman bears a bounteous mind indeed,

  A hand as fruitful68 as the land that feeds us:

  His dews69 fall everywhere.

  CHAMBERLAIN No doubt he's noble:

  He had a black mouth that said other71 of him.

  SANDS He may, my lord, he's wherewithal72 in him:

  Sparing73 would show a worse sin than ill doctrine:

  Men of his way74 should be most liberal:

  They are set here for examples.

  CHAMBERLAIN True, they are so:

  But few now give so great ones. My barge stays77:

  To Lovell

  Your lordship shall along78. Come, good Sir Thomas,

  We shall be late else, which I would not be,

  For I was spoke to80, with Sir Henry Guildford,

  This night to be comptrollers81.

  SANDS I am your lordship's82.

  Exeunt

  Act 1 Scene 4

  running scene 3

  Hautboys. A small table under a state for the Cardinal, a longer table for the guests. Then enter Anne Bullen, and divers other Ladies and Gentlemen, as guests at one door; at another door enter Sir Henry Guildford

  GUILDFORD Ladies, a general welcome from his grace

  Salutes ye all: this night he dedicates

  To fair content and you: none here, he hopes,

  In all this noble bevy4, has brought with her

  One care abroad5: he would have all as merry

  As, first, good company, good wine, good welcome,

  Can make good people.

  Enter Lord Chamberlain, Lords Sands and Lovell

  To Chamberlain

  O, my lord, you're tardy:

  The very thought of this fair company