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Henry VIII: Act II, Scene 1

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Henry VIII
Act II, Scene 1

Scene 1

Westminster. A street.

  1. Enter two Gentlemen at several doors.

First Gentleman

1
  1. Whither away so fast?

Second Gentleman

2 - 4
  1.                       O, God save ye!
  2. Ev’n to the hall, to hear what shall become
  3. Of the great Duke of Buckingham.

First Gentleman

5 - 7
  1.                                  I’ll save you
  2. That labor, sir. All’s now done but the ceremony
  3. Of bringing back the prisoner.

Second Gentleman

8
  1.                                Were you there?

First Gentleman

9
  1. Yes indeed was I.

Second Gentleman

10
  1.                   Pray speak what has happen’d.

First Gentleman

11
  1. You may guess quickly what.

Second Gentleman

12
  1.                             Is he found guilty?

First Gentleman

13
  1. Yes, truly is he, and condemn’d upon’t.

Second Gentleman

14
  1. I am sorry for’t.

First Gentleman

15
  1.                   So are a number more.

Second Gentleman

16
  1. But pray how pass’d it?

First Gentleman

17 - 28
  1. I’ll tell you in a little. The great Duke
  2. Came to the bar; where to his accusations
  3. He pleaded still not guilty, and alleged
  4. Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.
  5. The King’s attorney on the contrary
  6. Urg’d on the examinations, proofs, confessions
  7. Of divers witnesses, which the Duke desir’d
  8. To him brought vivâ voce to his face;
  9. At which appear’d against him his surveyor,
  10. Sir Gilbert Perk his chancellor, and John Car,
  11. Confessor to him, with that devil monk,
  12. Hopkins, that made this mischief.

Second Gentleman

29 - 30
  1.                                   That was he
  2. That fed him with his prophecies?

First Gentleman

31 - 37
  1.                                   The same;
  2. All these accus’d him strongly, which he fain
  3. Would have flung from him; but indeed he could not.
  4. And so his peers upon this evidence
  5. Have found him guilty of high treason. Much
  6. He spoke, and learnedly, for life; but all
  7. Was either pitied in him or forgotten.

Second Gentleman

38
  1. After all this, how did he bear himself?

First Gentleman

39 - 44
  1. When he was brought again to th’ bar, to hear
  2. His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr’d
  3. With such an agony he sweat extremely,
  4. And something spoke in choler, ill, and hasty.
  5. But he fell to himself again, and sweetly
  6. In all the rest show’d a most noble patience.

Second Gentleman

45
  1. I do not think he fears death.

First Gentleman

46 - 48
  1.                                Sure he does not,
  2. He never was so womanish. The cause
  3. He may a little grieve at.

Second Gentleman

49 - 50
  1.                            Certainly
  2. The Cardinal is the end of this.

First Gentleman

51 - 55
  1.                                  ’Tis likely,
  2. By all conjectures: first, Kildare’s attendure,
  3. Then deputy of Ireland, who remov’d,
  4. Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too,
  5. Lest he should help his father.

Second Gentleman

56 - 57
  1.                                 That trick of state
  2. Was a deep envious one.

First Gentleman

58 - 62
  1.                         At his return
  2. No doubt he will requite it. This is noted,
  3. And generally, whoever the King favors,
  4. The Card’nal instantly will find employment,
  5. And far enough from court too.

Second Gentleman

63 - 67
  1.                                All the commons
  2. Hate him perniciously, and, o’ my conscience,
  3. Wish him ten fathom deep. This duke as much
  4. They love and dote on; call him bounteous Buckingham,
  5. The mirror of all courtesy—
  1. Enter Buckingham from his arraignment, Tipstaves before him,
  2. the axe with the edge towards him, Halberds on each side;
  3. accompanied with Sir Thomas Lovell, Sir Nicholas Vaux, Sir
  4. Walter Sands, and common people, etc.
Costume designs for two gentlemen

Costume designs for two gentlemen

Emma Hamilton Smith, circa 1856

First Gentleman

68 - 69
  1.                             Stay there, sir,
  2. And see the noble ruin’d man you speak of.

Second Gentleman

70
  1. Let’s stand close and behold him.

Duke of Buckingham

71 - 94
  1.                                   All good people,
  2. You that thus far have come to pity me,
  3. Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me.
  4. I have this day receiv’d a traitor’s judgment,
  5. And by that name must die; yet, heaven bear witness,
  6. And if I have a conscience, let it sink me,
  7. Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful!
  8. The law I bear no malice for my death;
  9. ’T has done, upon the premises, but justice;
  10. But those that sought it I could wish more Christians.
  11. Be what they will, I heartily forgive ’em;
  12. Yet let ’em look they glory not in mischief,
  13. Nor build their evils on the graves of great men,
  14. For then my guiltless blood must cry against ’em.
  15. For further life in this world I ne’er hope,
  16. Nor will I sue, although the King have mercies
  17. More than I dare make faults. You few that lov’d me
  18. And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham,
  19. His noble friends and fellows, whom to leave
  20. Is only bitter to him, only dying,
  21. Go with me like good angels to my end,
  22. And as the long divorce of steel falls on me,
  23. Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice,
  24. And lift my soul to heaven. Lead on a’ God’s name.

Sir Thomas Lovell

95 - 97
  1. I do beseech your Grace, for charity,
  2. If ever any malice in your heart
  3. Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.

Duke of Buckingham

98 - 110
  1. Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you
  2. As I would be forgiven. I forgive all.
  3. There cannot be those numberless offenses
  4. ’Gainst me, that I cannot take peace with; no black envy
  5. Shall make my grave. Commend me to his Grace;
  6. And if he speak of Buckingham, pray tell him
  7. You met him half in heaven. My vows and prayers
  8. Yet are the King’s; and, till my soul forsake,
  9. Shall cry for blessings on him. May he live
  10. Longer than I have time to tell his years;
  11. Ever belov’d and loving may his rule be;
  12. And when old Time shall lead him to his end,
  13. Goodness and he fill up one monument!

Sir Thomas Lovell

111 - 113
  1. To th’ water side I must conduct your Grace;
  2. Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux,
  3. Who undertakes you to your end.

Sir Nicholas Vaux

114 - 117
  1.                                 Prepare there,
  2. The Duke is coming. See the barge be ready;
  3. And fit it with such furniture as suits
  4. The greatness of his person.

Duke of Buckingham

118 - 154
  1.                              Nay, Sir Nicholas,
  2. Let it alone; my state now will but mock me.
  3. When I came hither, I was Lord High Constable
  4. And Duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun.
  5. Yet I am richer than my base accusers,
  6. That never knew what truth meant. I now seal it;
  7. And with that blood will make ’em one day groan for’t.
  8. My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,
  9. Who first rais’d head against usurping Richard,
  10. Flying for succor to his servant Banister,
  11. Being distress’d, was by that wretch betray’d,
  12. And without trial fell; God’s peace be with him!
  13. Henry the Seventh succeeding, truly pitying
  14. My father’s loss, like a most royal prince
  15. Restor’d me to my honors; and out of ruins
  16. Made my name once more noble. Now his son,
  17. Henry the Eight, life, honor, name, and all
  18. That made me happy, at one stroke has taken
  19. Forever from the world. I had my trial,
  20. And must needs say a noble one; which makes me
  21. A little happier than my wretched father.
  22. Yet thus far we are one in fortunes: both
  23. Fell by our servants, by those men we lov’d most;
  24. A most unnatural and faithless service.
  25. Heaven has an end in all; yet, you that hear me,
  26. This from a dying man receive as certain:
  27. Where you are liberal of your loves and counsels,
  28. Be sure you be not loose; for those you make friends
  29. And give your hearts to, when they once perceive
  30. The least rub in your fortunes, fall away
  31. Like water from ye, never found again
  32. But where they mean to sink ye. All good people,
  33. Pray for me! I must now forsake ye. The last hour
  34. Of my long weary life is come upon me.
  35. Farewell!
  36. And when you would say something that is sad,
  37. Speak how I fell. I have done; and God forgive me!
  1. Exeunt Duke and Train.
Scene designs for King Henry VIII

Scene designs for King Henry VIII

From Charles Kean's scrapbook

19th century

First Gentleman

155 - 157
  1. O, this is full of pity! Sir, it calls,
  2. I fear, too many curses on their heads
  3. That were the authors.

Second Gentleman

158 - 161
  1.                        If the Duke be guiltless,
  2. ’Tis full of woe; yet I can give you inkling
  3. Of an ensuing evil, if it fall,
  4. Greater than this.

First Gentleman

162 - 163
  1.                    Good angels keep it from us!
  2. What may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir?

Second Gentleman

164 - 165
  1. This secret is so weighty, ’twill require
  2. A strong faith to conceal it.

First Gentleman

166 - 167
  1.                               Let me have it;
  2. I do not talk much.

Second Gentleman

168 - 171
  1.                     I am confident;
  2. You shall, sir. Did you not of late days hear
  3. A buzzing of a separation
  4. Between the King and Katherine?

First Gentleman

172 - 176
  1.                                 Yes, but it held not;
  2. For when the King once heard it, out of anger
  3. He sent command to the Lord Mayor straight
  4. To stop the rumor, and allay those tongues
  5. That durst disperse it.

Second Gentleman

177 - 185
  1.                         But that slander, sir,
  2. Is found a truth now; for it grows again
  3. Fresher than e’er it was, and held for certain
  4. The King will venture at it. Either the Cardinal,
  5. Or some about him near, have out of malice
  6. To the good Queen possess’d him with a scruple
  7. That will undo her. To confirm this too,
  8. Cardinal Campeius is arriv’d, and lately,
  9. As all think, for this business.

First Gentleman

186 - 189
  1.                                  ’Tis the Cardinal;
  2. And merely to revenge him on the Emperor
  3. For not bestowing on him at his asking
  4. The archbishopric of Toledo, this is purpos’d.

Second Gentleman

190 - 192
  1. I think you have hit the mark; but is’t not cruel.
  2. That she should feel the smart of this? The Cardinal
  3. Will have his will, and she must fall.

First Gentleman

193 - 195
  1.                                        ’Tis woeful.
  2. We are too open here to argue this;
  3. Let’s think in private more.
  1. Exeunt.
Theatrical designs for Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham

Theatrical designs for Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham

Charles Hamilton Smith, Emma Hamilton Smith, 19th century

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