Printable version of this page

King Henry VIII: Act 2 Scene 1

Scene I Westminster. A street.

[Enter two Gentlemen, meeting]

FIRST GENTLEMAN

Whither away so fast?

SECOND GENTLEMAN

O, God save ye!

Even to the hall, to hear what shall become

Of the great Duke of Buckingham.

FIRST GENTLEMAN

I'll save you

That labour, sir. All's now done, but the ceremony

Of bringing back the prisoner.

SECOND GENTLEMAN

Were you there?

FIRST GENTLEMAN

Yes, indeed, was I.

SECOND GENTLEMAN

Pray, speak what has happen'd.

FIRST GENTLEMAN

You may guess quickly what.

SECOND GENTLEMAN

Is he found guilty?

FIRST GENTLEMAN

Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon't.

SECOND GENTLEMAN

I am sorry for't.

FIRST GENTLEMAN

So are a number more.

SECOND GENTLEMAN

But, pray, how pass'd it?

FIRST GENTLEMAN

I'll tell you in a little. The great duke

Came to the bar; where to his accusations

He pleaded still not guilty and alleged

Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.

The king's attorney on the contrary

Urged on the examinations, proofs, confessions

Of divers witnesses; which the duke desired

To have brought viva voce to his face:

At which appear'd against him his surveyor;

Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Car,

Confessor to him; with that devil-monk,

Hopkins, that made this mischief.

SECOND GENTLEMAN

That was he

That fed him with his prophecies?

FIRST GENTLEMAN

The same.

All these accused him strongly; which he fain

Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could not:

And so his peers, upon this evidence,

Have found him guilty of high treason. Much

He spoke, and learnedly, for life; but all

Was either pitied in him or forgotten.

SECOND GENTLEMAN

After all this, how did he bear himself?

FIRST GENTLEMAN

When he was brought again to the bar, to hear

His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr'd

With such an agony, he sweat extremely,

And something spoke in choler, ill, and hasty:

But he fell to himself again, and sweetly

In all the rest show'd a most noble patience.

SECOND GENTLEMAN

I do not think he fears death.

FIRST GENTLEMAN

Sure, he does not:

He never was so womanish; the cause

He may a little grieve at.

SECOND GENTLEMAN

Certainly

The cardinal is the end of this.

FIRST GENTLEMAN

'Tis likely,

By all conjectures: first, Kildare's attainder,

Then deputy of Ireland; who removed,

Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too,

Lest he should help his father.

SECOND GENTLEMAN

That trick of state

Was a deep envious one.

FIRST GENTLEMAN

At his return

No doubt he will requite it. This is noted,

And generally, whoever the king favours,

The cardinal instantly will find employment,

And far enough from court too.

SECOND GENTLEMAN

All the commons

Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience,

Wish him ten fathom deep: this duke as much

They love and dote on; call him bounteous Buckingham,

The mirror of all courtesy;--

FIRST GENTLEMAN

Stay there, sir,

And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of.

[Enter BUCKINGHAM from his arraignment; tip-staves

before him; the axe with the edge towards him;

halberds on each side: accompanied with LOVELL,

VAUX, SANDS, and common people]

SECOND GENTLEMAN

Let's stand close, and behold him.

BUCKINGHAM

All good people,

You that thus far have come to pity me,

Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me.

I have this day received a traitor's judgment,

And by that name must die: yet, heaven bear witness,

And if I have a conscience, let it sink me,

Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful!

The law I bear no malice for my death;

'T has done, upon the premises, but justice:

But those that sought it I could wish more Christians:

Be what they will, I heartily forgive 'em:

Yet let 'em look they glory not in mischief,

Nor build their evils on the graves of great men;

For then my guiltless blood must cry against 'em.

For further life in this world I ne'er hope,

Nor will I sue, although the king have mercies

More than I dare make faults. You few that loved me,

And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham,

His noble friends and fellows, whom to leave

Is only bitter to him, only dying,

Go with me, like good angels, to my end;

And, as the long divorce of steel falls on me,

Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice,

And lift my soul to heaven. Lead on, o' God's name.

LOVELL

I do beseech your grace, for charity,

If ever any malice in your heart

Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.

BUCKINGHAM

Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you

As I would be forgiven: I forgive all;

There cannot be those numberless offences

'Gainst me, that I cannot take peace with:

no black envy

Shall mark my grave. Commend me to his grace;

And if he speak of Buckingham, pray, tell him

You met him half in heaven: my vows and prayers

Yet are the king's; and, till my soul forsake,

Shall cry for blessings on him: may he live

Longer than I have time to tell his years!

Ever beloved and loving may his rule be!

And when old time shall lead him to his end,

Goodness and he fill up one monument!

LOVELL

To the water side I must conduct your grace;

Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux,

Who undertakes you to your end.

VAUX

Prepare there,

The duke is coming: see the barge be ready;

And fit it with such furniture as suits

The greatness of his person.

BUCKINGHAM

Nay, Sir Nicholas,

Let it alone; my state now will but mock me.

When I came hither, I was lord high constable

And Duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun:

Yet I am richer than my base accusers,

That never knew what truth meant: I now seal it;

And with that blood will make 'em one day groan for't.

My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,

Who first raised head against usurping Richard,

Flying for succor to his servant Banister,

Being distress'd, was by that wretch betray'd,

And without trial fell; God's peace be with him!

Henry the Seventh succeeding, truly pitying

My father's loss, like a most royal prince,

Restored me to my honours, and, out of ruins,

Made my name once more noble. Now his son,

Henry the Eighth, life, honour, name and all

That made me happy at one stroke has taken

For ever from the world. I had my trial,

And, must needs say, a noble one; which makes me,

A little happier than my wretched father:

Yet thus far we are one in fortunes: both

Fell by our servants, by those men we loved most;

A most unnatural and faithless service!

Heaven has an end in all: yet, you that hear me,

This from a dying man receive as certain:

Where you are liberal of your loves and counsels

Be sure you be not loose; for those you make friends

And give your hearts to, when they once perceive

The least rub in your fortunes, fall away

Like water from ye, never found again

But where they mean to sink ye. All good people,

Pray for me! I must now forsake ye: the last hour

Of my long weary life is come upon me. Farewell:

And when you would say something that is sad,

Speak how I fell. I have done; and God forgive me!

[Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and Train]

FIRST GENTLEMAN

O, this is full of pity! Sir, it calls,

I fear, too many curses on their beads

That were the authors.

SECOND GENTLEMAN

If the duke be guiltless,

'Tis full of woe: yet I can give you inkling

Of an ensuing evil, if it fall,

Greater than this.

FIRST GENTLEMAN

Good angels keep it from us!

What may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir?

SECOND GENTLEMAN

This secret is so weighty, 'twill require

A strong faith to conceal it.

FIRST GENTLEMAN

Let me have it;

I do not talk much.

SECOND GENTLEMAN

I am confident,

You shall, sir: did you not of late days hear

A buzzing of a separation

Between the king and Katharine?

FIRST GENTLEMAN

Yes, but it held not:

For when the king once heard it, out of anger

He sent command to the lord mayor straight

To stop the rumor, and allay those tongues

That durst disperse it.

SECOND GENTLEMAN

But that slander, sir,

Is found a truth now: for it grows again

Fresher than e'er it was; and held for certain

The king will venture at it. Either the cardinal,

Or some about him near, have, out of malice

To the good queen, possess'd him with a scruple

That will undo her: to confirm this too,

Cardinal Campeius is arrived, and lately;

As all think, for this business.

FIRST GENTLEMAN

'Tis the cardinal;

And merely to revenge him on the emperor

For not bestowing on him, at his asking,

The archbishopric of Toledo, this is purposed.

SECOND GENTLEMAN

I think you have hit the mark: but is't not cruel

That she should feel the smart of this? The cardinal

Will have his will, and she must fall.

FIRST GENTLEMAN

'Tis woful.

We are too open here to argue this;

Let's think in private more.

[Exeunt]