Enter the Duke of Norfolk at one door; at the other, the
Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Abergavenny.BUCKINGHAM Good morrow, and well met. How have you done Since last we saw in France?NORFOLK I thank your Grace, Healthful, and ever since a fresh admirer5 Of what I saw there.BUCKINGHAM An untimely ague Stayed me a prisoner in my chamber when Those suns of glory, those two lights of men, Met in the vale of Andren.NORFOLK 10 ’Twixt Guynes and Arde. I was then present, saw them salute on horseback, Beheld them when they lighted, how they clung In their embracement, as they grew together— Which had they, what four throned ones could have15 weighed Such a compounded one?BUCKINGHAM All the whole time I was my chamber’s prisoner.NORFOLK Then you lost20 The view of earthly glory. Men might say Till this time pomp was single, but now married To one above itself. Each following day
11
Henry VIII
ACT 1. SC. 1
Became the next day’s master, till the last Made former wonders its. Today the French,25 All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods, Shone down the English, and tomorrow they Made Britain India: every man that stood Showed like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were As cherubins, all gilt. The madams too,30 Not used to toil, did almost sweat to bear The pride upon them, that their very labor Was to them as a painting. Now this masque Was cried incomparable; and th’ ensuing night Made it a fool and beggar. The two kings,35 Equal in luster, were now best, now worst, As presence did present them: him in eye Still him in praise; and being present both, ’Twas said they saw but one, and no discerner Durst wag his tongue in censure. When these suns—40 For so they phrase ’em—by their heralds challenged The noble spirits to arms, they did perform Beyond thought’s compass, that former fabulous story, Being now seen possible enough, got credit That Bevis was believed.BUCKINGHAM 45 O, you go far.NORFOLK As I belong to worship, and affect In honor honesty, the tract of everything Would by a good discourser lose some life Which action’s self was tongue to. All was royal;50 To the disposing of it naught rebelled. Order gave each thing view. The office did Distinctly his full function.BUCKINGHAM Who did guide, I mean who set the body and the limbs55 Of this great sport together, as you guess?NORFOLK One, certes, that promises no element In such a business.
13
Henry VIII
ACT 1. SC. 1
BUCKINGHAM I pray you who, my lord?NORFOLK All this was ordered by the good discretion60 Of the right reverend Cardinal of York.BUCKINGHAM The devil speed him! No man’s pie is freed From his ambitious finger. What had he To do in these fierce vanities? I wonder That such a keech can with his very bulk65 Take up the rays o’ th’ beneficial sun And keep it from the Earth.NORFOLK Surely, sir, There’s in him stuff that puts him to these ends; For, being not propped by ancestry, whose grace70 Chalks successors their way, nor called upon For high feats done to th’ crown, neither allied To eminent assistants, but spiderlike, Out of his self-drawing web, ⌜he⌝ gives us note The force of his own merit makes his way—75 A gift that heaven gives for him which buys A place next to the King.ABERGAVENNY I cannot tell What heaven hath given him—let some graver eye Pierce into that—but I can see his pride80 Peep through each part of him. Whence has he that? If not from hell, the devil is a niggard, Or has given all before, and he begins A new hell in himself.BUCKINGHAM Why the devil,85 Upon this French going-out, took he upon him, Without the privity o’ th’ King, t’ appoint Who should attend on him? He makes up the file Of all the gentry, for the most part such To whom as great a charge as little honor90 He meant to lay upon; and his own letter, The honorable board of council out, Must fetch him in he papers.
15
Henry VIII
ACT 1. SC. 1
ABERGAVENNY I do know Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have95 By this so sickened their estates that never They shall abound as formerly.BUCKINGHAM O, many Have broke their backs with laying manors on ’em For this great journey. What did this vanity100 But minister communication of A most poor issue?NORFOLK Grievingly I think The peace between the French and us not values The cost that did conclude it.BUCKINGHAM 105 Every man, After the hideous storm that followed, was A thing inspired and, not consulting, broke Into a general prophecy: that this tempest, Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded110 The sudden breach on ’t.NORFOLK Which is budded out, For France hath flawed the league and hath attached Our merchants’ goods at Bordeaux.ABERGAVENNY Is it therefore115 Th’ ambassador is silenced?NORFOLK Marry, is ’t.ABERGAVENNY A proper title of a peace, and purchased At a superfluous rate!BUCKINGHAM Why, all this business120 Our reverend cardinal carried.NORFOLK Like it your Grace, The state takes notice of the private difference Betwixt you and the Cardinal. I advise you— And take it from a heart that wishes towards you125 Honor and plenteous safety—that you read The Cardinal’s malice and his potency Together; to consider further that
17
Henry VIII
ACT 1. SC. 1
What his high hatred would effect wants not A minister in his power. You know his nature,130 That he’s revengeful, and I know his sword Hath a sharp edge; it’s long, and ’t may be said It reaches far, and where ’twill not extend, Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel; You’ll find it wholesome. Lo where comes that rock135 That I advise your shunning.Enter Cardinal Wolsey, the purse borne before him,
certain of the Guard, and two Secretaries with papers.
The Cardinal in his passage fixeth his eye on Buckingham,
and Buckingham on him, both full of disdain.WOLSEY, ⌜aside to a Secretary⌝ The Duke of Buckingham’s surveyor, ha? Where’s his examination?SECRETARY Here, so please you.⌜He hands Wolsey a paper.⌝WOLSEY Is he in person ready?SECRETARY 140 Ay, please your Grace.WOLSEY Well, we shall then know more, and Buckingham Shall lessen this big look.Cardinal ⌜Wolsey⌝ and his train exit.BUCKINGHAM This butcher’s cur is venomed-mouthed, and I Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore best145 Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar’s book Outworths a noble’s blood.NORFOLK What, are you chafed? Ask God for temp’rance. That’s th’ appliance only Which your disease requires.BUCKINGHAM 150 I read in ’s looks Matter against me, and his eye reviled Me as his abject object. At this instant
19
Henry VIII
ACT 1. SC. 1
He bores me with some trick. He’s gone to th’ King. I’ll follow and outstare him.NORFOLK 155 Stay, my lord, And let your reason with your choler question What ’tis you go about. To climb steep hills Requires slow pace at first. Anger is like A full hot horse who, being allowed his way,160 Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in England Can advise me like you; be to yourself As you would to your friend.BUCKINGHAM I’ll to the King, And from a mouth of honor quite cry down165 This Ipswich fellow’s insolence, or proclaim There’s difference in no persons.NORFOLK Be advised. Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot That it do singe yourself. We may outrun170 By violent swiftness that which we run at And lose by overrunning. Know you not The fire that mounts the liquor till ’t run o’er In seeming to augment it wastes it? Be advised. I say again there is no English soul175 More stronger to direct you than yourself, If with the sap of reason you would quench Or but allay the fire of passion.BUCKINGHAM Sir, I am thankful to you, and I’ll go along180 By your prescription. But this top-proud fellow— Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but From sincere motions—by intelligence, And proofs as clear as founts in July when We see each grain of gravel, I do know185 To be corrupt and treasonous.NORFOLK Say not “treasonous.”BUCKINGHAM To th’ King I’ll say ’t, and make my vouch as strong
21
Henry VIII
ACT 1. SC. 1
As shore of rock. Attend. This holy fox, Or wolf, or both—for he is equal rav’nous190 As he is subtle, and as prone to mischief As able to perform ’t, his mind and place Infecting one another, yea reciprocally— Only to show his pomp as well in France As here at home, suggests the King our master195 To this last costly treaty, th’ interview That swallowed so much treasure and like a glass Did break i’ th’ rinsing.NORFOLK Faith, and so it did.BUCKINGHAM Pray give me favor, sir. This cunning cardinal200 The articles o’ th’ combination drew As himself pleased; and they were ratified As he cried “Thus let be,” to as much end As give a crutch to th’ dead. But our Count Cardinal Has done this, and ’tis well, for worthy Wolsey,205 Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows— Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy To th’ old dam treason: Charles the Emperor, Under pretense to see the Queen his aunt— For ’twas indeed his color, but he came210 To whisper Wolsey—here makes visitation; His fears were that the interview betwixt England and France might through their amity Breed him some prejudice, for from this league Peeped harms that menaced him; privily215 Deals with our cardinal and, as I trow— Which I do well, for I am sure the Emperor Paid ere he promised, whereby his suit was granted Ere it was asked. But when the way was made And paved with gold, the Emperor thus desired220 That he would please to alter the King’s course And break the foresaid peace. Let the King know— As soon he shall by me—that thus the Cardinal
23
Henry VIII
ACT 1. SC. 1
Does buy and sell his honor as he pleases And for his own advantage.NORFOLK 225 I am sorry To hear this of him, and could wish he were Something mistaken in ’t.BUCKINGHAM No, not a syllable. I do pronounce him in that very shape230 He shall appear in proof.Enter Brandon, a Sergeant-at-Arms before him, and two
or three of the Guard.BRANDON Your office, Sergeant: execute it.SERGEANT, ⌜to Buckingham⌝ Sir, My lord the Duke of Buckingham and Earl Of Hertford, Stafford, and Northampton, I235 Arrest thee of high treason, in the name Of our most sovereign king.BUCKINGHAM, ⌜to Norfolk⌝ Lo you, my lord, The net has fall’n upon me. I shall perish Under device and practice.BRANDON 240 I am sorry To see you ta’en from liberty, to look on The business present. ’Tis his Highness’ pleasure You shall to th’ Tower.BUCKINGHAM It will help me nothing245 To plead mine innocence, for that dye is on me Which makes my whit’st part black. The will of heaven Be done in this and all things. I obey. O my Lord Abergavenny, fare you well.BRANDON Nay, he must bear you company.—The King250 Is pleased you shall to th’ Tower, till you know How he determines further.ABERGAVENNY As the Duke said, The will of heaven be done, and the King’s pleasure By me obeyed.
25
Henry VIII
ACT 1. SC. 2
BRANDON 255 Here is a warrant from The King t’ attach Lord Mountacute, and the bodies Of the Duke’s confessor, John de la Car, One Gilbert Peck, his counselor—BUCKINGHAM So, so;260 These are the limbs o’ th’ plot. No more, I hope.BRANDON A monk o’ th’ Chartreux.BUCKINGHAM O, Michael Hopkins?BRANDON He.BUCKINGHAM My surveyor is false. The o’ergreat cardinal265 Hath showed him gold. My life is spanned already. I am the shadow of poor Buckingham, Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on By dark’ning my clear sun. ⌜To Norfolk.⌝ My ⌜lord,⌝ farewell.They exit.
Henry VIII: 
