TPTT The Famous History of the Life of Henry the Eighth: ACT II
Introduction
THE PROLOGUE
ACT I
ACT II
SCENE I. Westminster. A street.
SCENE II. An ante-chamber in the palace.
SCENE III. An ante-chamber of the QUEEN'S apartments.
SCENE IV. A hall in Black-Friars.
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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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
5     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
10    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
15    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
20    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:
25    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
30    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,
35    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
40    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
45    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
50    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,
55    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,
60    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,
65    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
70    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,
75    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:
80    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.
85    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
90    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
95    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;
100   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
105   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!
110   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
115   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,
120   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;
125   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,
130   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,
135   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:
140   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:
145   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
150   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
155   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
160   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
165   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
170   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
175   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
180   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;
185   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
190   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;
195   Let's think in private more.
Exeunt
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