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Henry VIII: Act I, Scene 1

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Henry VIII
Act I, Scene 1

London. An ante-chamber in the palace.

King Henry VIII

King Henry VIII

Hans Holbein, circa 1542

  1. Enter the Duke of Norfolk at one door; at the other, the
  2. Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Abergavenny.

Duke of Buckingham

1 - 2
  1. Good morrow, and well met. How have ye done
  2. Since last we saw in France?

Duke of Norfolk

3 - 5
  1.                              I thank your Grace:
  2. Healthful, and ever since a fresh admirer
  3. Of what I saw there.

Duke of Buckingham

6 - 9
  1.                      An untimely ague
  2. Stay’d me a prisoner in my chamber when
  3. Those suns of glory, those two lights of men,
  4. Met in the vale of Andren.

Duke of Norfolk

10 - 15
  1.                            ’Twixt Guynes and Arde—
  2. I was then present, saw them salute on horseback,
  3. Beheld them when they lighted, how they clung
  4. In their embracement, as they grew together,
  5. Which had they, what four thron’d ones could have weigh’d
  6. Such a compounded one?

Duke of Buckingham

16 - 17
  1.                        All the whole time
  2. I was my chamber’s prisoner.

Duke of Norfolk

18 - 43
  1.                              Then you lost
  2. The view of earthly glory. Men might say
  3. Till this time pomp was single, but now married
  4. To one above itself. Each following day
  5. Became the next day’s master, till the last
  6. Made former wonders its. Today the French,
  7. All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods,
  8. Shone down the English; and, tomorrow, they
  9. Made Britain India: every man that stood
  10. Show’d like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were
  11. As cherubins, all gilt; the madams too,
  12. Not us’d to toil, did almost sweat to bear
  13. The pride upon them, that their very labor
  14. Was to them as a painting. Now this masque
  15. Was cried incomparable; and th’ ensuing night
  16. Made it a fool and beggar. The two kings,
  17. Equal in lustre, were now best, now worst,
  18. As presence did present them: him in eye
  19. Still him in praise, and being present both,
  20. ’Twas said they saw but one, and no discerner
  21. Durst wag his tongue in censure. When these suns
  22. (For so they phrase ’em) by their heralds challeng’d
  23. The noble spirits to arms, they did perform
  24. Beyond thought’s compass, that former fabulous story,
  25. Being now seen possible enough, got credit,
  26. That Bevis was believ’d.

Duke of Buckingham

44
  1.                          O, you go far.

Duke of Norfolk

45 - 51
  1. As I belong to worship and affect
  2. In honor honesty, the tract of ev’ry thing
  3. Would by a good discourser lose some life,
  4. Which action’s self was tongue to. All was royal;
  5. To the disposing of it nought rebell’d,
  6. Order gave each thing view; the office did
  7. Distinctly his full function.

Duke of Buckingham

52 - 54
  1.                               Who did guide—
  2. I mean, who set the body and the limbs
  3. Of this great sport together, as you guess?

Duke of Norfolk

55 - 56
  1. One, certes, that promises no element
  2. In such a business.

Duke of Buckingham

57
  1.                     I pray you, who, my lord?

Duke of Norfolk

58 - 59
  1. All this was ord’red by the good discretion
  2. Of the right reverend Cardinal of York.

Duke of Buckingham

60 - 65
  1. The devil speed him! No man’s pie is freed
  2. From his ambitious finger. What had he
  3. To do in these fierce vanities? I wonder
  4. That such a keech can with his very bulk
  5. Take up the rays o’ th’ beneficial sun,
  6. And keep it from the earth.

Duke of Norfolk

66 - 75
  1.                             Surely, sir,
  2. There’s in him stuff that puts him to these ends;
  3. For being not propp’d by ancestry, whose grace
  4. Chalks successors their way, nor call’d upon
  5. For high feats done to th’ crown, neither allied
  6. To eminent assistants, but spider-like
  7. Out of his self-drawing web, ’a gives us note
  8. The force of his own merit makes his way—
  9. A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
  10. A place next to the King.

Lord Abergavenny

76 - 82
  1.                           I cannot tell
  2. What heaven hath given him—let some graver eye
  3. Pierce into that—but I can see his pride
  4. Peep through each part of him. Whence has he that?
  5. If not from hell, the devil is a niggard,
  6. Or has given all before, and he begins
  7. A new hell in himself.

Duke of Buckingham

83 - 91
  1.                        Why the devil,
  2. Upon this French going out, took he upon him
  3. (Without the privity o’ th’ King) t’ appoint
  4. Who should attend on him? He makes up the file
  5. Of all the gentry; for the most part such
  6. To whom as great a charge as little honor
  7. He meant to lay upon; and his own letter,
  8. The honorable Board of Council out,
  9. Must fetch him in he papers.

Lord Abergavenny

92 - 95
  1.                              I do know
  2. Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
  3. By this so sicken’d their estates, that never
  4. They shall abound as formerly.
Costume design for Cardinal Wolsey

Costume design for Cardinal Wolsey

Emma Hamilton Smith, Charles Hamilton Smith, circa 1856

Duke of Buckingham

96 - 100
  1.                                O, many
  2. Have broke their backs with laying manors on ’em
  3. For this great journey. What did this vanity
  4. But minister communication of
  5. A most poor issue?

Duke of Norfolk

101 - 103
  1.                    Grievingly I think
  2. The peace between the French and us not values
  3. The cost that did conclude it.

Duke of Buckingham

104 - 109
  1.                                Every man,
  2. After the hideous storm that follow’d, was
  3. A thing inspir’d, and, not consulting, broke
  4. Into a general prophecy: that this tempest,
  5. Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded
    Apr 20, 2020 Miko
    foretold
  6. The sudden breach on’t.

Duke of Norfolk

110 - 112
  1.                         Which is budded out,
  2. For France hath flaw’d the league, and hath attach’d
  3. Our merchants’ goods at Bordeaux.

Lord Abergavenny

113 - 114
  1.                                   Is it therefore
  2. Th’ ambassador is silenc’d?

Duke of Norfolk

115
  1.                             Marry, is’t.

Lord Abergavenny

116 - 117
  1. A proper title of a peace, and purchas’d
  2. At a superfluous rate!

Duke of Buckingham

118 - 119
  1.                        Why, all this business
  2. Our reverend Cardinal carried.

Duke of Norfolk

120 - 134
  1.                                Like it your Grace,
  2. The state takes notice of the private difference
  3. Betwixt you and the Cardinal. I advise you
  4. (And take it from a heart that wishes towards you
  5. Honor and plenteous safety) that you read
  6. The Cardinal’s malice and his potency
  7. Together; to consider further, that
  8. What his high hatred would effect wants not
  9. A minister in his power. You know his nature,
  10. That he’s revengeful; and I know his sword
  11. Hath a sharp edge; it’s long, and’t may be said
  12. It reaches far, and where ’twill not extend,
  13. Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel,
  14. You’ll find it wholesome. Lo, where comes that rock
  15. That I advise your shunning.
  1. Enter Cardinal Wolsey, the purse borne before him, certain
  2. of the Guard, and two Secretaries with papers.
  1. The Cardinal in his passage fixeth his eye an Buckingham,
  2. and Buckingham on him, both full of disdain.

Cardinal Wolsey

135 - 136
  1. The Duke of Buckingham’s surveyor? Ha?
  2. Where’s his examination?

Wolsey’s First Secretary

137
  1.                          Here, so please you.

Cardinal Wolsey

138
  1. Is he in person ready?

Wolsey’s First Secretary

139
  1.                        Ay, please your Grace.

Cardinal Wolsey

140 - 141
  1. Well, we shall then know more, and Buckingham
  2. Shall lessen this big look.
  1. Exeunt Cardinal and his Train.

Duke of Buckingham

142 - 145
  1. This butcher’s cur is venom’d-mouth’d, and I
  2. Have not the power to muzzle him, therefore best
  3. Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar’s book
  4. Outworths a noble’s blood.

Duke of Norfolk

146 - 148
  1.                            What, are you chaf’d?
  2. Ask God for temp’rance, that’s th’ appliance only
  3. Which your disease requires.

Duke of Buckingham

149 - 153
  1.                              I read in ’s looks
  2. Matter against me, and his eye revil’d
  3. Me as his abject object; at this instant
  4. He bores me with some trick. He’s gone to th’ King;
  5. I’ll follow and outstare him.

Duke of Norfolk

154 - 161
  1.                               Stay, my lord,
  2. And let your reason with your choler question
  3. What ’tis you go about: to climb steep hills
  4. Requires slow pace at first. Anger is like
  5. A full hot horse, who being allow’d his way,
  6. Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in England
  7. Can advise me like you; be to yourself
  8. As you would to your friend.

Duke of Buckingham

162 - 165
  1.                              I’ll to the King,
  2. And from a mouth of honor quite cry down
  3. This Ipswich fellow’s insolence; or proclaim
  4. There’s difference in no persons.

Duke of Norfolk

166 - 176
  1.                                   Be advis’d;
  2. Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
  3. That it do singe yourself. We may outrun
  4. By violent swiftness that which we run at,
  5. And lose by overrunning. Know you not
  6. The fire that mounts the liquor till’t run o’er
  7. In seeming to augment it wastes it? Be advis’d;
  8. I say again, there is no English soul
  9. More stronger to direct you than yourself,
  10. If with the sap of reason you would quench,
  11. Or but allay, the fire of passion.

Duke of Buckingham

177 - 184
  1.                                    Sir,
  2. I am thankful to you, and I’ll go along
  3. By your prescription; but this top-proud fellow,
  4. Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but
  5. From sincere motions, by intelligence,
  6. And proofs as clear as founts in July when
  7. We see each grain of gravel, I do know
  8. To be corrupt and treasonous.

Duke of Norfolk

185
  1.                               Say not treasonous.
Scene designs for King Henry VIII

Scene designs for King Henry VIII

From Charles Kean's scrapbook

19th century

Duke of Buckingham

186 - 196
  1. To th’ King I’ll say’t, and make my vouch as strong
  2. As shore of rock. Attend. This holy fox,
  3. Or wolf, or both (for he is equal rav’nous
  4. As he is subtile, and as prone to mischief
  5. As able to perform’t), his mind and place
  6. Infecting one another, yea, reciprocally,
  7. Only to show his pomp as well in France
  8. As here at home, suggests the King our master
  9. To this last costly treaty—th’ interview
  10. That swallowed so much treasure, and like a glass
  11. Did break i’ th’ wrenching.

Duke of Norfolk

197
  1.                             Faith, and so it did.

Duke of Buckingham

198 - 223
  1. Pray give me favor, sir: this cunning Cardinal
  2. The articles o’ th’ combination drew
  3. As himself pleas’d; and they were ratified
  4. As he cried, “Thus let be!” to as much end
  5. As give a crutch to th’ dead. But our count-cardinal
  6. Has done this, and ’tis well; for worthy Wolsey
  7. (Who cannot err), he did it. Now this follows
  8. (Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy
  9. To th’ old dam, treason), Charles the Emperor,
  10. Under pretense to see the Queen his aunt
  11. (For ’twas indeed his color, but he came
  12. To whisper Wolsey), here makes visitation—
  13. His fears were that the interview betwixt
  14. England and France might through their amity
  15. Breed him some prejudice; for from this league
  16. Peep’d harms that menac’d him—privily
  17. Deals with our Cardinal, and, as I trow—
  18. Which I do well, for I am sure the Emperor
  19. Paid ere he promis’d, whereby his suit was granted
  20. Ere it was ask’d—but when the way was made
  21. And pav’d with gold, the Emperor thus desir’d,
  22. That he would please to alter the King’s course,
  23. And break the foresaid peace. Let the King know
  24. (As soon he shall by me) that thus the Cardinal
  25. Does buy and sell his honor as he pleases,
  26. And for his own advantage.

Duke of Norfolk

224 - 226
  1.                            I am sorry
  2. To hear this of him; and could wish he were
  3. Something mistaken in’t.

Duke of Buckingham

227 - 229
  1.                          No, not a syllable:
  2. I do pronounce him in that very shape
  3. He shall appear in proof.
  1. Enter Brandon, a Sergeant at Arms before him, and two or
  2. three of the Guard.

Brandon

230
  1. Your office, sergeant; execute it.

Sergeant at Arms

231 - 235
  1.                                    Sir,
  2. My lord the Duke of Buckingham and Earl
  3. Of Herford, Stafford, and Northampton, I
  4. Arrest thee of high treason, in the name
  5. Of our most sovereign King.

Duke of Buckingham

236 - 238
  1.                             Lo you, my lord,
  2. The net has fall’n upon me! I shall perish
  3. Under device and practice.

Brandon

239 - 242
  1.                            I am sorry
  2. To see you ta’en from liberty, to look on
  3. The business present. ’Tis his Highness’ pleasure
  4. You shall to th’ Tower.

Duke of Buckingham

243 - 247
  1.                         It will help me nothing
  2. To plead mine innocence; for that dye is on me
  3. Which makes my whit’st part black. The will of heav’n
  4. Be done in this and all things! I obey.
  5. O my Lord Aburga’ny, fare you well!

Brandon

248 - 251
  1. Nay, he must bear you company.
  2. To Abergavenny.
  3.                                The King
  4. Is pleas’d you shall to th’ Tower, till you know
  5. How he determines further.

Lord Abergavenny

252 - 254
  1.                            As the Duke said,
  2. The will of heaven be done, and the King’s pleasure
  3. By me obey’d!

Brandon

255 - 258
  1.               Here is a warrant from
  2. The King t’ attach Lord Montacute, and the bodies
  3. Of the Duke’s confessor, John de la Car,
  4. One Gilbert Perk, his chancellor—

Duke of Buckingham

259 - 260
  1.                                   So, so;
  2. These are the limbs o’ th’ plot. No more, I hope?

Brandon

261
  1. A monk o’ th’ Chartreux.

Duke of Buckingham

262
  1.                          O, Nicholas Hopkins?

Brandon

263
  1.                      He.

Duke of Buckingham

264 - 268
  1. My surveyor is false; the o’er-great Cardinal
  2. Hath show’d him gold; my life is spann’d already.
  3. I am the shadow of poor Buckingham,
  4. Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on
  5. By dark’ning my clear sun. My lord, farewell.
  1. Exeunt.
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