King John & Henry VIII Read online

  How long her face is drawn? How pale she looks,

  And of an earthy cold? Mark her eyes!

  GRIFFITH She is going, wench: pray, pray.

  PATIENCE Heaven comfort her.

  Enter a Messenger

  MESSENGER An’t like111 your grace—

  KATHERINE You are a saucy112 fellow:

  Deserve we no more reverence?

  To the Messenger

  GRIFFITH You are to blame,

  Knowing she will not lose her wonted115 greatness,

  To use so rude behaviour. Go to, kneel.

  MESSENGER I humbly do entreat your highness’ pardon:

  My haste made me unmannerly. There is staying118

  A gentleman sent from the king to see you.

  KATHERINE Admit him entrance, Griffith. But this fellow

  Let me ne’er see again.

  Exit Messenger

  Enter Lord Caputius [ushered by Griffith]

  If my sight fail not,

  You should be lord ambassador from the emperor122,

  My royal nephew, and your name Caputius.

  CAPUTIUS Madam, the same. Your servant.

  KATHERINE O my lord,

  The times and titles now are altered strangely

  With me since first you knew me. But I pray you,

  What is your pleasure with me?

  CAPUTIUS Noble lady,

  First mine own service to your grace: the next,

  The king’s request that I would visit you,

  Who grieves much for your weakness, and by me

  Sends you his princely commendations,

  And heartily entreats you take good comfort.

  KATHERINE O my good lord, that comfort comes too late,

  ’Tis like a pardon after execution:

  That gentle physic given in time had137 cured me,

  But now I am past all comforts here but prayers.

  How does his highness?

  CAPUTIUS Madam, in good health.

  KATHERINE So may he ever do, and ever flourish,

  When I shall dwell with worms, and my poor name

  Banished the kingdom. Patience, is that letter

  I caused you write yet sent away?

  Gives it to Katherine

  PATIENCE No, madam.

  KATHERINE Sir, I most humbly pray you to deliver

  Gives the letter to Caputius

  This to my lord the king.

  CAPUTIUS Most willing148, madam.

  KATHERINE In which I have commended to his goodness

  The model of our chaste loves, his young daughter150 —

  The dews of heaven fall thick in blessings on her —

  Beseeching him to give her virtuous breeding152.

  She is young, and of a noble modest nature:

  I hope she will deserve well — and a little

  To love her for her mother’s sake, that loved him,

  Heaven knows how dearly. My next poor petition

  Is that his noble grace would have some pity

  Upon my wretched women, that so long

  Have followed both my fortunes159 faithfully:

  Of which there is not one, I dare avow,

  And now I should not lie, but will deserve

  For virtue and true beauty of the soul,

  For honesty and decent carriage163,

  A right good husband — let him be a noble —

  And sure those men are happy165 that shall have ’em.

  The last is for my men — they are the poorest,

  But poverty could never draw ’em from me —

  That they may have their wages duly paid ’em,

  And something over169 to remember me by.

  If heaven had pleased to have given me longer life

  And able171 means, we had not parted thus.

  These are the whole contents, and, good my lord,

  By that you love the dearest in this world,

  As you wish Christian peace to souls departed,

  Stand these poor people’s friend, and urge the king

  To do me this last right.

  CAPUTIUS By heaven, I will,

  Or let me lose the fashion178 of a man.

  KATHERINE I thank you, honest179 lord. Remember me

  In all humility unto his highness:

  Say his long trouble now is passing

  Out of this world. Tell him in death I blessed him,

  For so I will. Mine eyes grow dim. Farewell,

  My lord. Griffith, farewell. Nay, Patience,

  You must not leave me yet. I must to bed:

  Call in more women. When I am dead, good wench,

  Let me be used187 with honour: strew me over

  With maiden flowers188, that all the world may know

  I was a chaste wife to my grave: embalm me,

  Then lay me forth190: although unqueened, yet like

  A queen and daughter to a king inter me.

  I can192 no more.

  Exeunt leading Katherine

  Act 5 Scene 1

  running scene 12

  Enter Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, a Page with a torch before him, met by Sir Thomas Lovell

  GARDINER It’s one o’clock, boy, is’t not?

  PAGE It hath struck.

  GARDINER These should be hours for necessities3,

  Not for delights: times to repair our nature

  With comforting repose, and not for us

  To waste these times. Good hour of night, Sir Thomas:

  Whither7 so late?

  LOVELL Came you from the king, my lord?

  GARDINER I did, Sir Thomas, and left him at primero9

  With the Duke of Suffolk.

  LOVELL I must11 to him too,

  Before he go to bed. I’ll take my leave.

  GARDINER Not yet, Sir Thomas Lovell. What’s the matter?

  It seems you are in haste: an if14 there be

  No great offence15 belongs to’t, give your friend

  Some touch of your late16 business: affairs that walk,

  As they say spirits do, at midnight, have

  In them a wilder nature than the business

  That seeks dispatch by day.

  LOVELL My lord, I love you,

  And durst commend21 a secret to your ear

  Much weightier than this work22. The queen’s in labour —

  They say in great extremity — and feared23

  She’ll with the labour end.

  GARDINER The fruit she goes with25

  I pray for heartily, that it may find

  Good time, and live: but for the stock27, Sir Thomas,

  I wish it grubbed up28 now.

  LOVELL Methinks I could

  Cry the amen30, and yet my conscience says

  She’s a good creature and, sweet lady, does

  Deserve our better wishes.

  GARDINER But, sir, sir,

  Hear me, Sir Thomas: you’re a gentleman

  Of mine own way35. I know you wise, religious,

  And let me tell you, it will ne’er be well —

  ’Twill not, Sir Thomas Lovell, take’t of me —

  Till Cranmer, Cromwell, her two hands38, and she

  Sleep in their graves.

  LOVELL Now, sir, you speak of two

  The most remarked41 i’th’kingdom. As for Cromwell,

  Beside that of the Jewel House, is made Master42

  O’th’Rolls and the king’s secretary. Further, sir,

  Stands in the gap and trade44 of more preferments,

  With which the time45 will load him. Th’archbishop

  Is the king’s hand and tongue, and who dare speak

  One syllable against him?

  GARDINER Yes, yes, Sir Thomas,

  There are49 that dare, and I myself have ventured

  To speak my mind of him: and indeed this day,

  Sir, I may tell it you, I think I have

  Incensed52 the lords o’th’council, that he is —

  For so I know he
is, they know he is —

  A most arch-heretic54, a pestilence

  That does infect the land: with which they, moved55,

  Have broken56 with the king, who hath so far

  Given ear to our complaint, of his great grace

  And princely care, foreseeing those fell mischiefs58

  Our reasons laid before him, hath commanded

  Tomorrow morning to the council board

  He be convented. He’s a rank61 weed, Sir Thomas,

  And we must root him out. From your affairs

  I hinder you too long. Goodnight, Sir Thomas.

  LOVELL Many good nights, my lord: I rest64 your servant.

  Exeunt Gardiner and Page

  Enter King [Henry] and Suffolk

  To Suffolk

  KING HENRY VIII Charles, I will play no more tonight:

  My mind’s not on’t: you are too hard66 for me.

  SUFFOLK Sir, I did never win of you before.

  KING HENRY VIII But little, Charles,

  Nor shall not when my fancy’s69 on my play.

  Now, Lovell, from the queen what is the news?

  LOVELL I could not personally deliver to her

  What you commanded me, but by her woman

  I sent your message, who returned her thanks

  In the great’st humbleness, and desired your highness

  Most heartily to pray for her.

  KING HENRY VIII What say’st thou? Ha?

  To pray for her? What, is she crying out?

  LOVELL So said her woman, and that her suff’rance78 made

  Almost each pang a death.

  KING HENRY VIII Alas, good lady.

  SUFFOLK God safely quit81 her of her burden, and

  With gentle travail, to the gladding82 of

  Your highness with an heir!

  KING HENRY VIII ’Tis midnight, Charles.

  Prithee to bed, and in thy prayers remember

  Th’estate86 of my poor queen. Leave me alone,

  For I must think of that which company

  Would not be friendly to.

  SUFFOLK I wish your highness

  A quiet night, and my good mistress will

  Remember in my prayers.

  KING HENRY VIII Charles, goodnight.

  Exit Suffolk

  Enter Sir Anthony Denny

  Well, sir, what follows?

  DENNY Sir, I have brought my lord the archbishop,

  As you commanded me.

  KING HENRY VIII Ha? Canterbury?

  DENNY Ay, my good lord.

  KING HENRY VIII ’Tis true: where is he, Denny?

  DENNY He attends99 your highness’ pleasure.

  KING HENRY VIII Bring him to us.

  [Exit Denny]

  Aside

  LOVELL This is about that which the bishop101 spake.

  I am happily102 come hither.

  Enter Cranmer and Denny

  KING HENRY VIII Avoid the gallery103.

  Lovell seems to stay

  Ha? I have said. Be gone.

  Exeunt Lovell and Denny

  What?

  Aside

  CRANMER I am fearful: wherefore frowns he thus?

  ’Tis his aspect of terror106. All’s not well.

  KING HENRY VIII How now, my lord? You desire to know

  Wherefore I sent for you.

  He kneels

  CRANMER It is my duty

  T’attend your highness’ pleasure.

  KING HENRY VIII Pray you, arise,

  My good and gracious lord of Canterbury.

  Come, you and I must walk a turn together:

  Cranmer stands. They walk

  I have news to tell you. Come, come, give me your hand

  Ah, my good lord, I grieve at what I speak,

  And am right sorry to repeat what follows.

  I have, and most unwillingly, of late

  Heard many grievous118 — I do say, my lord,

  Grievous — complaints of you, which, being considered,

  Have moved120 us and our council, that you shall

  This morning come before us, where I know

  You cannot with such freedom purge122 yourself,

  But that, till further trial in those charges

  Which will require your answer, you must take124

  Your patience to you, and be well contented

  To make your house our Tower. You a brother of us126,

  It fits127 we thus proceed, or else no witness

  Would come against you.

  He kneels

  CRANMER I humbly thank your highness,

  And am right glad to catch this good occasion

  Most throughly to be winnowed131, where my chaff

  And corn shall fly asunder. For I know

  There’s none stands under more calumnious133 tongues

  Than I myself, poor man.

  KING HENRY VIII Stand up, good Canterbury:

  Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted

  In us, thy friend. Give me thy hand, stand up:

  Cranmer stands. They walk

  Prithee, let’s walk. Now, by my halidom138,

  What manner of man are you? My lord, I looked139

  You would have given me your petition140 that

  I should have ta’en some pains to bring together

  Yourself and your accusers, and to have heard you

  Without endurance further143.

  CRANMER Most dread144 liege,

  The good I stand on is my truth and honesty:

  If they shall fail, I with mine enemies

  Will triumph o’er my person, which I weigh147 not,

  Being of those virtues vacant. I fear nothing148

  What can be said against me.

  KING HENRY VIII Know you not

  How your state stands i’th’world, with the whole world?

  Your enemies are many, and not small: their practices152

  Must bear the same proportion, and not ever153

  The justice and the truth o’th’question carries

  The dew o’th’verdict with it: at155 what ease

  Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt

  To swear157 against you? Such things have been done.

  You are potently opposed, and with a malice

  Of as great size. Ween you of159 better luck —

  I mean in perjured witness — than your master160,

  Whose minister you are, whiles here he lived

  Upon this naughty162 earth? Go to, go to:

  You take a precipice for no leap of danger163,

  And woo164 your own destruction.

  CRANMER God and your majesty

  Protect mine innocence, or I fall into

  The trap is167 laid for me.

  KING HENRY VIII Be of good cheer:

  They shall no more prevail than we give way to169.

  Keep comfort to you, and this morning see

  You do appear before them. If they shall chance171,

  In charging you with matters, to commit172 you,

  The best persuasions to the contrary

  Fail not to use, and with what vehemency

  Th’occasion shall instruct you. If entreaties

  Will render you no remedy, this ring

  Deliver them, and your appeal to us

  Cranmer weeps

  There make before them. Look, the good man weeps:

  He’s honest, on mine honour. God’s blest mother,

  I swear he is true-hearted, and a soul

  None better in my kingdom. Get you gone,

  And do as I have bid you.

  Exit Cranmer

  He has strangled

  His language in his tears.

  Enter Old Lady

  LOVELL Come back: what mean you?

  Within

  OLD LADY I’ll not come back: the tidings that I bring

  To the King

  Will make my boldness manners.— Now186 good angels

  Fly o’er thy royal head, and s
hade thy person

  Under their blessèd wings.

  KING HENRY VIII Now by thy looks

  I guess thy message. Is the queen delivered190?

  Say, ‘Ay, and of a boy.’

  OLD LADY Ay, ay, my liege,

  And of a lovely boy: the God of heaven

  Both now and ever bless her. ’Tis a girl194

  Promises195 boys hereafter. Sir, your queen

  Desires your visitation, and196 to be

  Acquainted with this stranger: ’tis as like you

  As cherry is to cherry.

  KING HENRY VIII Lovell.

  LOVELL Sir?

  KING HENRY VIII Give her an hundred marks201. I’ll to the queen.

  Exit King

  OLD LADY An hundred marks? By this light, I’ll ha’ more.

  An ordinary groom is for203 such payment.

  I will have more, or scold it out of him.

  Said I for this, the girl was like to him? I’ll

  Have more, or else unsay’t: and now, while ’tis hot206,

  I’ll put it to the issue207.

  Exit [Old] Lady [with Lovell]

  Act 5 Scene 2

  running scene 13

  Enter Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury

  CRANMER I hope I am not too late, and yet the gentleman

  That was sent to me from the council prayed me