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 spleen a noble person
And spoil your nobler soul. I say, take heed;
Yes, heartily beseech you.
KING HENRY
Let him on.
(To the Surveyor) Go forward.
BUCKINGHAM’S SURVEYOR On my soul I’ll speak but truth.
I told my lord the Duke, by th’ devil’s illusions
The monk might be deceived, and that ‘twas
dangerous
To ruminate on this so far until
It forged him some design which, being believed,
It was much like to do. He answered, ’Tush,
It can do me no damage’, adding further
That had the King in his last sickness failed,
The Cardinal’s and Sir Thomas Lovell’s heads
Should have gone off.
KING HENRY
Ha? What, so rank? Ah, ha!
There’s mischief in this man. Canst thou say further?
BUCKINGHAM’S SURVEYOR
I can, my liege.
KING HENRY
Proceed.
BIJCKINGHAM’S SURVEYOR Being at Greenwich,
After your highness had reproved the Duke
About Sir William Bulmer—
KING HENRY
I remember
Such a time, being my sworn servant,
The Duke retained him his. But on—what hence?
RIICKINGHAM’S SURVEYOR
‘If’, quoth he, ‘I for this had been committed’—
As to the Tower, I thought—‘I would have played
The part my father meant to act upon
Th’usurper Richard who, being at Salisbury,
Made suit to come in’s presence; which if granted,
As he made semblance of his duty, would
Have put his knife into him.’
KING HENRY
A giant traitor!
CARDINAL WOLSEY (to the Queen)
Now, madam, may his highness live in freedom,
And this man out of prison?
QUEEN KATHERINE
God mend all.
KING HENRY (to the Surveyor)
There’s something more would out of thee—what
sayst?
BUCKINGHAM’S SURVEYOR
After ‘the Duke his father’, with ‘the knife’,
He stretched him, and with one hand on his dagger,
Another spread on’s breast, mounting his eyes,
He did discharge a horrible oath whose tenor
Was, were he evil used, he would outgo
His father by as much as a performance
Does an irresolute purpose.
KING HENRY
There’s his period—
To sheathe his knife in us. He is attached.
Call him to present 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’ height.
Flourish. Exeunt
1.3 Enter the Lord Chamberlain and Lord Sands
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
Is’t possible the spells of France should juggle
Men into such strange mysteries?
SANDS
New customs,
Though they be never so ridiculous—
Nay, let ’em be unmanly—yet are followed.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
As far as I see, all the good our English
Have got by the late voyage is but merely
A fit or two o’th’ face. But they are shrewd ones,
For when they hold ’em you would swear directly
Their very noses had been counsellors
To Pepin or Clotharius, they keep state so.
SANDS
They have all new legs, and lame ones; one would
take it,
That never see ’em pace before, the spavin
Or spring-halt reigned among ’em.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
Death, my lord,
Their clothes are after such a pagan cut to’t
That sure they’ve worn out 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 clapped upon the court gate.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
What is’t for?
LOVELL
The reformation of our travelled gallants
That fill the court with quarrels, talk, and tailors.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
I’m glad ’tis there. Now I would pray our ’messieurs’
To think an English courtier may be wise
And never see the Louvre.
LOVELL
They must either,
For so run the conditions, leave those remnants
Of fool and feather that they got in France,
With all their honourable points of ignorance
Pertaining thereunto—as fights and fireworks,
Abusing better men than they can be
Out of a foreign wisdom, renouncing clean
The faith they have in tennis and tall stockings,
Short blistered breeches, and those types of travel—
And understand again like honest men,
Or pack to their old playfellows. There, I take it,
They may, cum privilegio, ‘oui’ away
The lag end of their lewdness and be laughed at.
SANDS
‘Tis time to give ’em physic, their diseases
Are grown so catching.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
What a loss our ladies
Will have of these trim vanities!
LOVELL
Ay, marry,
There will be woe indeed, lords. The sly whoresons
Have got a speeding trick to lay down ladies.
A French song and a fiddle has no fellow.
SANDS
The devil fiddle ’em! I am glad they are going,
For sure there’s no converting of ’em. Now
An honest country lord, as I am, beaten
A long time out of play, may bring his plainsong
And have an hour of hearing, and, by’r Lady,
Held current music, too.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
Well said, Lord Sands.
Your colt’s tooth is not cast yet?
SANDS
No, my lord,
Nor shall not while I have a stump.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN (to Lovell)
Sir Thomas,
Whither were you a-going?
LOVELL
To the Cardinal’s.
Your lordship is a guest too.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
O, ’tis true.
This night he makes 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 fruitful as the land that feeds us.
His dews fall everywhere.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
No doubt he’s noble.
He had a black mouth that said other of him.
SANDS
He may, my lord; he’s wherewithal. In him
Sparing would show a worse sin than ill doctrine.
Men of his way should be most liberal.
They are set here for examples.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
True, they are so,
But few now give so great ones. My barge stays.
Your lordship shall along. (To Lovell) Come, good Sir
Thomas
,
We shall be late else, which I would not be,
For I was spoke to, with Sir Henry Guildford,
This night to be comptrollers.
SANDS
I am your lordship’s.
Exeunt
1.4 Hautboys. ⌈Enter servants with⌉ a small table for Cardinal Wolsey ⌈Which they place⌉ under the cloth of state, and a longer table for the guests. Then enter at one door Anne Boleyn and divers other ladies and gentlemen as guests, and at another door enter Sir Henry Guildford
GUlLDFORD
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 bevy, has brought with her
One care abroad. He would have all as merry
As feast, good company, good wine, good welcome
Can make good people.
Enter the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Sands, and Sir Thomas Lovell
(To the Lord Chamberlain) O, my lord, you’re tardy.
The very thought of this fair company
Clapped wings to me.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN You are young, Sir Harry Guildford.
SANDS
Sir Thomas Lovell, had the Cardinal
But half my lay thoughts in him, some of these
Should find a running banquet, ere they rested,
I think would better please ’em. By my life,
They are a sweet society of fair ones.
LOVELL
O, that your lordship were but now confessor
To one or two of these.
SANDS
I would I were.
They should find easy penance.
LOVELL
Faith, how easy?
SANDS
As easy as a down bed would afford it.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
Sweet ladies, will it please you sit?
(To Guildford)
Sir Harry,
Place you that side, I’ll take the charge of this.
They sit about the longer table. A noise within
His grace is ent‘ring. Nay, you must not freeze—
Two women placed together makes cold weather.
My lord Sands, you are one will keep ’em waking.
Pray sit between these ladies.
SANDS
By my faith,
And thank your lordship.
He sits between Anne and another
By your leave, sweet ladies.
If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me.
I had it from my father.
ANNE
Was he mad, sir?
SANDS
O, very mad; exceeding mad—in love, too.
But he would bite none. Just as I do now,
He would kiss you twenty with a breath.
He kisses her
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
Well said, my lord.
So now you’re fairly seated. Gentlemen,
The penance lies on you if these fair ladies
Pass away frowning.
SANDS For my little cure,
Let me alone.
Hautboys. Enter Cardinal Wolsey who takes his seat at the small table under the state
CARDINAL WOLSEY
You’re welcome, my fair guests. That noble lady
Or gentleman that is not freely merry
Is not my friend. This, to confirm my welcome,
And to you all, good health!
He drinks
SANDS
Your grace is noble.
Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks,
And save me so much talking.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
My lord Sands,
I am beholden to you. Cheer your neighbours.
Ladies, you are not merry! Gentlemen,
Whose fault is this?
SANDS
The red wine first must rise
In their fair cheeks, my lord, then we shall have ’em
Talk us to silence.
ANNE
You are a merry gamester,
My lord Sands.
SANDS
Yes, if I make my play.
Here’s to your ladyship; and pledge it, madam,
For ’tis to such a thing—
ANNE
You cannot show me.
SANDS (to Wolsey)
I told your grace they would talk anon.
Drum and trumpet. Chambers discharged
CARDINAL WOLSEY
What’s that?
LORD CHAMBERLAIN (to the servants)
Look out there, some of ye.
Exit a servant
CARDINAL WOLSEY
What warlike voice,
And to what end is this? Nay, ladies, fear not.
By all the laws of war you’re privileged.
Enter the servant
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
How now—what is’t?
SERVANT
A noble troop of strangers,
For so they seem. They’ve left their barge and landed,
And hither make as great ambassadors
From foreign princes.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
Good Lord Chamberlain,
Go give ’em welcome—you can speak the French
tongue.
And pray receive ’em nobly, and conduct ’em
Into our presence where this heaven of beauty
Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him.
Exit Chamberlain, attended
All rise, and some servants remove the tables
You have now a broken banquet, but we’ll mend it.
A good digestion to you all, and once more
I shower a welcome on ye—welcome all.
Hautboys. Enter, ushered by the Lord Chamberlain, King Henry and others as masquers habited like shepherds. They pass directly before Cardinal Wolsey and gracefully salute him
A noble company. What are their pleasures?
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
Because they speak no English, thus they prayed
To tell your grace, that, having heard by fame
Of this so noble and so fair assembly
This night to meet here, they could do no less,
Out of the great respect they bear to beauty,
But leave their flocks, and, under your fair conduct,
Crave leave to view these ladies, and entreat
An hour of revels with ’em.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
Say, Lord Chamberlain,
They have done my poor house grace, for which I pay
’em
A thousand thanks, and pray ’em take their pleasures.
The masquers choose ladies. The King chooses Anne Boleyn
KING HENRY (to Anne)
The fairest hand I ever touched. O beauty,
Till now I never knew thee.
Music. They dance
CARDINAL WOLSEY (to the Lord Chamberlain) My lord.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN Your grace.
CARDINAL WOLSEY Pray tell ’em thus much from me. There should be one amongst ’em by his person More worthy this place than myself, to whom, If I but knew him, with my love and duty I would surrender it.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN I will, my lord.
He whispers with the masquers
CARDINAL WOLSEY
What say they?
LORD CHAMBERLAIN Such a one they all confess
There is indeed, which they would have your grace
Find out, and he will take it.
CARDINAL WOLSEY standing
Let me see then.
By all your good leaves, gentlemen, here I’ll make
My royal choice.
He bows before the King
KING HENRY unmasking Ye have found him, Cardinal.
You hold a fair assembly. You do well, lord.
You are a churchman, or I’ll tell you, Cardinal,
I should judge now unhappily
.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
I am glad
Your grace is grown so pleasant.
KING HENRY
My Lord Chamberlain,
Prithee come hither.
(Gesturing towards Anne) What fair lady’s that?
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
An’t please your grace, Sir Thomas Boleyn’s daughter—
The Viscount Rochford—one of her highness’ women.
KING HENRY
By heaven, she is a dainty one. (To Anne) Sweetheart,
I were unmannerly to take you out
And not to kiss you ⌈kisses her⌉. A health, gentlemen;
He drinks
Let it go round.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready
I’th’ privy chamber?
LOVELL
Yes, my lord.
CARDINAL WOLSEY (to the King)
Your grace
I fear with dancing is a little heated.
KING HENRY I fear too much.
CARDINAL WOLSEY There’s fresher air, my lord,
In the next chamber.
KING HENRY
Lead in your ladies, every one. (To Anne) Sweet partner,
I must not yet forsake you. (To Wolsey) Let’s be merry,
Good my lord Cardinal. I have half a dozen healths
To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure
To lead ’em once again, and then let’s dream
Who’s best in favour. Let the music knock it.
Exeunt with trumpets
2.1 Enter two Gentlemen, at several doors
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Whither away so fast?
SECOND GENTLEMAN
O, God save ye.
Ev’n 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 happened.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
You may guess quickly what.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Is he found guilty?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Yes, truly is he, and condemned upon’t.
SECOND GENTLEMAN I am sorry for’t.
FIRST GENTLEMAN So are a number more.
The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works Page 402