NORFOLK We had need pray,
And heartily, for our deliverance,
Or this imperious man will work us all
From princes into pages: all men’s honours
Lie like one lump51 before him, to be fashioned
Into what pitch52 he please.
SUFFOLK For53 me, my lords,
I love him not, nor fear him: there’s my creed:
As I am made without him, so I’ll stand55,
If the king please: his curses and his blessings
Touch me alike: they’re breath57 I not believe in.
I knew him, and I know him: so I leave him
To him that made him proud: the Pope.
NORFOLK Let’s in,
And with some other business put the king
From these sad thoughts, that work too much upon him:
My lord, you’ll bear us company?
CHAMBERLAIN Excuse me,
The king has sent me otherwhere65: besides,
You’ll find a most unfit time to disturb him:
Health to your lordships.
NORFOLK Thanks, my good Lord Chamberlain.
Exit Lord Chamberlain, and the King [Henry] draws the curtain and sits reading pensively
SUFFOLK How sad he looks: sure, he is much afflicted.
KING HENRY VIII Who’s there? Ha?
NORFOLK Pray God he be not angry.
KING HENRY VIII Who’s there, I say? How dare you thrust yourselves
Into my private meditations?
Who am I? Ha?
NORFOLK A gracious king that pardons all offences
Malice ne’er meant: our breach of duty this way76
Is business of estate77, in which we come
To know your royal pleasure.
KING HENRY VIII Ye are too bold:
Go to80: I’ll make ye know your times of business:
Is this an hour for temporal81 affairs? Ha?
Enter [Cardinal] Wolsey and [Cardinal] Campeius with a commission
Who’s there? My good lord cardinal? O my Wolsey,
The quiet83 of my wounded conscience:
Thou art a cure84 fit for a king.— You’re welcome,
To Cardinal Campeius
Most learnèd reverend sir, into our kingdom:
Use us and it.— My good lord, have great care
To Cardinal Wolsey
I be not found a talker87.
CARDINAL WOLSEY Sir, you cannot:
I would your grace would give us but an hour
Of private conference.
To Norfolk and Suffolk
KING HENRY VIII We are busy: go.
Norfolk and Suffolk speak
NORFOLK This priest92 has no pride in him?
aside
SUFFOLK Not to speak of:
I would not be so sick94 though for his place:
But this cannot continue.
NORFOLK If it do,
I’ll venture one have-at-him97.
SUFFOLK I another.
Exeunt Norfolk and Suffolk
CARDINAL WOLSEY Your grace has given a precedent99 of wisdom
Above all princes, in committing freely
Your scruple to the voice of Christendom101:
Who can be angry now? What envy102 reach you?
The Spaniard, tied by blood and favour to her103,
Must now confess104, if they have any goodness,
The trial just and noble. All the clerks105,
I mean the learnèd ones in Christian kingdoms,
Have their free voices107. Rome, the nurse of judgement,
Invited by your noble self, hath sent
One general tongue109 unto us: this good man,
This just and learnèd priest, Card’nal Campeius,
Whom once more I present unto your highness.
KING HENRY VIII And once more in mine arms I bid him welcome,
And thank the holy conclave113 for their loves:
They have sent me such a man I would have wished for.
CARDINAL CAMPEIUS Your grace must needs deserve all strangers115’ loves,
You are so noble: to your highness’ hand
I tender my commission, by whose virtue117,
The court of Rome commanding, you my lord
Cardinal of York, are joined with me their servant
In the unpartial120 judging of this business.
KING HENRY VIII Two equal men: the queen shall be acquainted
Forthwith for what you come. Where’s Gardiner?
CARDINAL WOLSEY I know your majesty has always loved her
So dear in heart, not to deny her that124
A woman of less place125 might ask by law:
Scholars allowed freely to argue for her.
KING HENRY VIII Ay, and the best she shall have, and my favour
To him that does best, God forbid else. Cardinal,
Prithee call Gardiner to me, my new secretary.
Cardinal Wolsey calls Gardiner
I find him a fit130 fellow.
Enter Gardiner
CARDINAL WOLSEY Give me your hand: much joy and favour to you;
Aside to Gardiner
You are the king’s now.
Aside to Wolsey
GARDINER But to be commanded
For ever by your grace, whose hand has raised me.
KING HENRY VIII Come hither, Gardiner.
[The King] walks and whispers [with Gardiner]
CARDINAL CAMPEIUS My lord of York, was not one Doctor Pace
In this man’s place before him?
CARDINAL WOLSEY Yes, he was.
CARDINAL CAMPEIUS Was he not held a learnèd man?
CARDINAL WOLSEY Yes, surely.
CARDINAL CAMPEIUS Believe me, there’s an ill opinion spread then,
Even of yourself, lord cardinal.
CARDINAL WOLSEY How? Of me?
CARDINAL CAMPEIUS They will not stick144 to say you envied him,
And fearing he would rise, he was so virtuous,
Kept him a foreign man still146, which so grieved him,
That he ran mad and died.
CARDINAL WOLSEY Heav’n’s peace be with him:
That’s Christian care enough: for living murmurers149
There’s places of rebuke. He was a fool,
For he would needs be virtuous. That good fellow,
If I command him, follows my appointment152:
I will have none so near else153. Learn this, brother,
We live not to be griped by meaner154 persons.
To Gardiner
KING HENRY VIII Deliver this with modesty155 to th’queen.
Exit Gardiner
The most convenient place that I can think of
For such receipt of learning is Blackfriars157:
There ye shall meet about this weighty business.
My Wolsey, see it furnished159. O, my lord,
Would it not grieve an able160 man to leave
So sweet a bedfellow? But, conscience161, conscience:
O, ’tis a tender place, and I must leave her.
Exeunt
Act 2 Scene 3
running scene 6
Enter Anne Bullen and an Old Lady
ANNE Not for that neither: here’s the pang that pinches1:
His highness having lived so long with her, and she
So good a lady that no tongue could ever
Pronounce4 dishonour of her — by my life,
She never knew harm-doing — O, now, after
So many courses of the sun6 enthroned,
Still growing in a majesty and pomp, the which
To leave a thousandfold more bitter than
’Tis sweet at first to acquire — after this process9,
To give her the avaunt, it is a pity10
Would move a monster.
OLD LADY Hearts of most hard temper12
Melt and lament for her.
ANNE O, God’s will! Much better
She ne’er had know
n pomp: though’t be temporal15,
Yet, if that quarrel16, fortune, do divorce
It from the bearer, ’tis a sufferance panging17
As soul and body’s severing.
OLD LADY Alas, poor lady,
She’s a stranger20 now again.
ANNE So much the more
Must pity drop upon her: verily,
I swear, ’tis better to be lowly born,
And range with humble livers24 in content,
Than to be perked up in a glist’ring25 grief,
And wear a golden sorrow.
OLD LADY Our content
Is our best having28.
ANNE By my troth and maidenhead29,
I would not be a queen.
OLD LADY Beshrew31 me, I would,
And venture maidenhead for’t, and so would you,
For all this spice33 of your hypocrisy:
You, that have so fair parts34 of woman on you,
Have, too, a woman’s heart, which ever yet
Affected36 eminence, wealth, sovereignty:
Which, to say sooth37, are blessings: and which gifts,
Saving your mincing38, the capacity
Of your soft cheverel39 conscience would receive,
If you might please to stretch it.
ANNE Nay, good troth41.
OLD LADY Yes, troth and troth: you would not be a queen?
ANNE No, not for all the riches under heaven.
OLD LADY ’Tis strange: a three-pence bowed44 would hire me,
Old as I am, to queen it45: but, I pray you,
What think you of a duchess? Have you limbs
To bear that load of title47?
ANNE No, in truth.
OLD LADY Then you are weakly made: pluck off49 a little:
I would not be a young count in your way50,
For more than blushing comes to51: if your back
Cannot vouchsafe this burden52, ’tis too weak
Ever to get53 a boy.
ANNE How you do talk!
I swear again, I would not be a queen
For all the world.
OLD LADY In faith, for little England57
You’d venture an emballing58: I myself
Would for Caernarvonshire, although there longed59
No more to th’crown but that. Lo, who comes here?
Enter Lord Chamberlain
CHAMBERLAIN Good morrow, ladies: what were’t worth to know
The secret of your conference62?
ANNE My good lord,
Not your demand: it values not64 your asking:
Our mistress’ sorrows we were pitying.
CHAMBERLAIN It was a gentle66 business, and becoming
The action of good women: there is hope
All will be well.
ANNE Now I pray God, amen.
CHAMBERLAIN You bear a gentle mind, and heav’nly blessings
Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady,
Perceive I speak sincerely, and high note’s
Ta’en of your many virtues: the king’s majesty
Commends74 his good opinion of you, and
Does purpose75 honour to you no less flowing
Than Marchioness of Pembroke: to which title
A thousand pound a year, annual support,
Out of his grace78 he adds.
ANNE I do not know
What kind of my obedience I should tender80:
More than my all is nothing81: nor my prayers
Are not words duly hallowed82, nor my wishes
More83 worth than empty vanities: yet prayers and wishes
Are all I can return. Beseech your lordship,
Vouchsafe85 to speak my thanks and my obedience,
As from a blushing handmaid to his highness,
Whose health and royalty I pray for.
CHAMBERLAIN Lady,
I shall not fail t’approve the fair conceit89
Aside
The king hath of you.— I have perused90 her well:
Beauty and honour in her are so mingled
That they have caught the king: and who knows yet
But from this lady may proceed a gem93
To Anne
To lighten94 all this isle.— I’ll to the king
And say I spoke with you.
ANNE My honoured lord.
Exit Lord Chamberlain
OLD LADY Why, this it is: see, see!
I have been begging sixteen years in court,
Am yet a courtier beggarly99, nor could
Come pat100 betwixt too early and too late
For any suit of pounds101, and you — O fate! —
A very fresh fish here — fie102, fie, fie upon
This compelled fortune! — have your mouth filled up103
Before you open it.
ANNE This is strange105 to me.
OLD LADY How tastes it? Is it bitter? Forty pence106, no:
There was a lady once, ’tis an old story,
That would not be a queen108, that would she not
For all the mud in Egypt109: have you heard it?
ANNE Come, you are pleasant110.
OLD LADY With your theme111, I could
O’ermount112 the lark. The Marchioness of Pembroke?
A thousand pounds a year for pure respect?
No other obligation? By my life,
That promises more thousands: honour’s train115
Is longer than his foreskirt: by this time
I know your back will bear a duchess117. Say,
Are you not stronger than you were?
ANNE Good lady,
Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy120,
And leave me out on’t121. Would I had no being
If this salute my blood a jot: it faints me122,
To think what follows.
The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful
In our long absence: pray, do not deliver125
What here you’ve heard to her.
OLD LADY What do you think me?
Exeunt
Act 2 Scene 4
running scene 7
Trumpets, sennet and cornets. Enter two Vergers, with short silver wands; next them two Scribes in the habit of doctors [and a Crier]: after them, the [Arch]bishop of Canterbury alone: after him, the Bishops of Lincoln, Ely, Rochester and St Asaph: next them, with some small distance, follows a Gentleman bearing the purse, with the great seal, and a cardinal’s hat: then two Priests, bearing each a silver cross: then a Gentleman-usher bare-headed, accompanied with a Sergeant-at-arms, bearing a silver mace: then two Gentlemen bearing two great silver pillars: after them, side by side, the two Cardinals
[Wolsey and Campeius], two Noblemen, with the sword and mace. The King [Henry] takes place under the cloth of state. The two Cardinals sit under him as judges. The Queen [Katherine, attended by Griffith] takes place some distance from the King. The Bishops place themselves on each side the court in manner of a consistory: below them, the Scribes. The Lords sit next the Bishops. The rest of the Attendants stand in convenient order about the stage
CARDINAL WOLSEY Whilst our commission from Rome is read,
Let silence be commanded.
KING HENRY VIII What’s the need?
It hath already publicly been read,
And on all sides th’authority allowed5:
You may then spare that time.
CARDINAL WOLSEY Be’t so. Proceed.
SCRIBE Say, ‘Henry, King of England, come into the court.’
CRIER Henry, King of England, come into the court.
KING HENRY VIII Here.
SCRIBE Say, ‘Katherine, Queen of England, come into the
court.’
CRIER Katherine, Queen of England, come into the court.
The Queen makes no answer, rises out of her chair, goes about the court, comes to the King, and kneels at his feet: then speaks
QUEEN KATHERINE Sir, I desire you do me right and justice,
And to bestow your pity on me, for
I am a most poor woman, and a stranger16,
Born out of your dominions, having here
No judge indifferent18, nor no more assurance
Of equal friendship and proceeding19. Alas, sir,
In what have I offended you? What cause
Hath my behaviour given to your displeasure,
That thus you should proceed to put me off22,
And take your good grace23 from me? Heaven witness,
I have been to you a true and humble wife,
At all times to your will conformable25,
Ever in fear to kindle your dislike26,
Yea, subject to your countenance27, glad or sorry,
As I saw it inclined. When was the hour
I ever contradicted your desire,
Or made it not mine too? Or which of your friends
Have I not strove to love, although I knew
He were mine enemy? What friend of mine,
That had to him derived33 your anger, did I
Continue in my liking? Nay, gave notice
He was from thence discharged? Sir, call to mind
That I have been your wife, in this obedience,
Upward of twenty years, and have been blessed
King John & Henry VIII Page 22