King Henry The Eighth

1 Enter two Gentlemen at several doors.
2 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
3 Whither away so fast?
4 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
5 O, God save ye.
6 Even to the Hall, to hear what shall become
7 Of the great Duke of Buckingham.
8 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
9 I’ll save you
10 That labour, sir. All’s now done but the ceremony
11 Of bringing back the prisoner.
12 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
13 Were you there?
14 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
15 Yes, indeed, was I.
16 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
17 Pray speak what has happened.
18 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
19 You may guess quickly what.
20 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
21 Is he found guilty?
22 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
23 Yes, truly is he, and condemned upon’t.
24 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
25 I am sorry for’t.
26 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
27 So are a number more.
28 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
29 But pray, how passed it?
30 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
31 I’ll tell you in a little. The great Duke
32 Came to the bar, where to his accusations
33 He pleaded still not guilty and alleged
34 Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.
35 The King’s attorney on the contrary
36 Urged on the examinations, proofs, confessions
37 Of divers witnesses, which the Duke desired
38 To have brought _viva voce_ to his face;
39 At which appeared against him his surveyor,
40 Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor, and John Car,
41 Confessor to him, with that devil monk,
42 Hopkins, that made this mischief.
43 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
44 That was he
45 That fed him with his prophecies?
46 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
47 The same.
48 All these accused him strongly, which he fain
49 Would have flung from him, but, indeed he could not.
50 And so his peers, upon this evidence,
51 Have found him guilty of high treason. Much
52 He spoke, and learnedly, for life, but all
53 Was either pitied in him or forgotten.
54 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
55 After all this, how did he bear himself?
56 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
57 When he was brought again to th’ bar to hear
58 His knell rung out, his judgement, he was stirred
59 With such an agony, he sweat extremely
60 And something spoke in choler, ill and hasty.
61 But he fell to himself again, and sweetly
62 In all the rest showed a most noble patience.
63 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
64 I do not think he fears death.
65 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
66 Sure he does not;
67 He never was so womanish. The cause
68 He may a little grieve at.
69 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
70 Certainly
71 The Cardinal is the end of this.
72 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
73 ’Tis likely,
74 By all conjectures: first, Kildare’s attainder,
75 Then deputy of Ireland, who removed,
76 Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too,
77 Lest he should help his father.
78 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
79 That trick of state
80 Was a deep envious one.
81 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
82 At his return
83 No doubt he will requite it. This is noted,
84 And generally, whoever the King favours,
85 The Cardinal instantly will find employment,
86 And far enough from court too.
87 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
88 All the commons
89 Hate him perniciously and, o’ my conscience,
90 Wish him ten fathom deep. This duke as much
91 They love and dote on, call him bounteous Buckingham,
92 The mirror of all courtesy.
93 Enter Buckingham from his arraignment. Tipstaves before him, the axe
94 with the edge towards him, Halberds on each side, accompanied with Sir
95 Thomas Lovell, Sir Nicholas Vaux, Sir William Sandys and common people.
96 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
97 Stay there, sir,
98 And see the noble ruined man you speak of.
99 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
100 Let’s stand close and behold him.
101 BUCKINGHAM.
102 All good people,
103 You that thus far have come to pity me,
104 Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me.
105 I have this day received a traitor’s judgement,
106 And by that name must die; yet heaven bear witness,
107 And if I have a conscience, let it sink me,
108 Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful!
109 The law I bear no malice for my death;
110 ’T has done, upon the premises, but justice.
111 But those that sought it I could wish more Christians.
112 Be what they will, I heartily forgive ’em.
113 Yet let ’em look they glory not in mischief,
114 Nor build their evils on the graves of great men,
115 For then my guiltless blood must cry against ’em.
116 For further life in this world I ne’er hope,
117 Nor will I sue, although the King have mercies
118 More than I dare make faults. You few that loved me
119 And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham,
120 His noble friends and fellows, whom to leave
121 Is only bitter to him, only dying,
122 Go with me like good angels to my end,
123 And as the long divorce of steel falls on me,
124 Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice,
125 And lift my soul to heaven. Lead on, i’ God’s name.
126 LOVELL.
127 I do beseech your Grace, for charity,
128 If ever any malice in your heart
129 Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.
130 BUCKINGHAM.
131 Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you
132 As I would be forgiven. I forgive all.
133 There cannot be those numberless offences
134 ’Gainst me that I cannot take peace with. No black envy
135 Shall mark my grave. Commend me to his Grace,
136 And if he speak of Buckingham, pray tell him
137 You met him half in heaven. My vows and prayers
138 Yet are the King’s and, till my soul forsake,
139 Shall cry for blessings on him. May he live
140 Longer than I have time to tell his years;
141 Ever beloved and loving may his rule be;
142 And when old Time shall lead him to his end,
143 Goodness and he fill up one monument!
144 LOVELL.
145 To th’ waterside I must conduct your Grace,
146 Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux,
147 Who undertakes you to your end.
148 VAUX.
149 Prepare there!
150 The Duke is coming. See the barge be ready,
151 And fit it with such furniture as suits
152 The greatness of his person.
153 BUCKINGHAM.
154 Nay, Sir Nicholas,
155 Let it alone. My state now will but mock me.
156 When I came hither, I was Lord High Constable
157 And Duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun.
158 Yet I am richer than my base accusers,
159 That never knew what truth meant. I now seal it,
160 And with that blood will make ’em one day groan for’t.
161 My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,
162 Who first raised head against usurping Richard,
163 Flying for succour to his servant Banister,
164 Being distressed, was by that wretch betrayed,
165 And, without trial, fell. God’s peace be with him.
166 Henry the Seventh succeeding, truly pitying
167 My father’s loss, like a most royal prince,
168 Restored me to my honours and out of ruins
169 Made my name once more noble. Now his son,
170 Henry the Eighth, life, honour, name, and all
171 That made me happy at one stroke has taken
172 For ever from the world. I had my trial,
173 And must needs say a noble one, which makes me
174 A little happier than my wretched father.
175 Yet thus far we are one in fortunes: both
176 Fell by our servants, by those men we loved most—
177 A most unnatural and faithless service.
178 Heaven has an end in all; yet, you that hear me,
179 This from a dying man receive as certain:
180 Where you are liberal of your loves and counsels
181 Be sure you be not loose; for those you make friends
182 And give your hearts to, when they once perceive
183 The least rub in your fortunes, fall away
184 Like water from ye, never found again
185 But where they mean to sink ye. All good people,
186 Pray for me. I must now forsake ye. The last hour
187 Of my long weary life is come upon me.
188 Farewell. And when you would say something that is sad,
189 Speak how I fell. I have done; and God forgive me.
190 [_Exeunt Duke and train._]
191 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
192 O, this is full of pity. Sir, it calls,
193 I fear, too many curses on their heads
194 That were the authors.
195 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
196 If the Duke be guiltless,
197 ’Tis full of woe. Yet I can give you inkling
198 Of an ensuing evil, if it fall,
199 Greater than this.
200 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
201 Good angels keep it from us!
202 What may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir?
203 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
204 This secret is so weighty, ’twill require
205 A strong faith to conceal it.
206 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
207 Let me have it.
208 I do not talk much.
209 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
210 I am confident;
211 You shall, sir. Did you not of late days hear
212 A buzzing of a separation
213 Between the King and Katherine?
214 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
215 Yes, but it held not;
216 For when the King once heard it, out of anger
217 He sent command to the Lord Mayor straight
218 To stop the rumour and allay those tongues
219 That durst disperse it.
220 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
221 But that slander, sir,
222 Is found a truth now, for it grows again
223 Fresher than e’er it was, and held for certain
224 The King will venture at it. Either the Cardinal,
225 Or some about him near, have, out of malice
226 To the good Queen, possessed him with a scruple
227 That will undo her. To confirm this too,
228 Cardinal Campeius is arrived, and lately,
229 As all think, for this business.
230 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
231 ’Tis the Cardinal;
232 And merely to revenge him on the Emperor
233 For not bestowing on him at his asking,
234 The archbishopric of Toledo this is purposed.
235 SECOND GENTLEMAN.
236 I think you have hit the mark. But is’t not cruel
237 That she should feel the smart of this? The Cardinal
238 Will have his will, and she must fall.
239 FIRST GENTLEMAN.
240 ’Tis woeful.
241 We are too open here to argue this.
242 Let’s think in private more.
243 [_Exeunt._]