King John/Henry VIII (Signet Classics) Page 19
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