If you do fight against your country's foes,
Your country's fat shall pay your pains the hire ;
If you do fight in safeguard of your wives,
Your wives shall welcome home the conquerors ;
If you do free your children from the sword,
Your children's children quit it in your age.
Then, in the name of God and all these rights,
Advance your standards, draw your willing

swords.
For me, the ransom of my bold attempt
Shall be this cold corpse on the earth's cold face ;
But if I thrive, the gain of my attempt
The least of you shall share his part thereof. —
Sound, drums and trumpets, boldly and cheer-
fully ;

247



King Richard III

God and Saint George ! Richmond and victory !

[E^reunt.

Entei- King Richard, Ratcliff, Attendants,

and Forces.
K. Rich. What said Northumberland as touch-

inp: Rirhniond?
Rat. That he was never trained up in arms.
K. Rich. He said the truth ; and what said

Surrey then ?
Rat. He sniil'd and said, ' the better for our

purpose.'
K. Rich. He was i' the right ; and so, indeed,
it is. [Clock strikes.

Tell the clock there. Give me a calendar.
Who saw the sun to-day?
Rat. Not I, my lord.

K. Rich. Then he disdains to shine ; for by
the book
He should have brav'd the east an hour ago ;
A black day will it be to somebody.
Ratcliff !
Rat. My lord ?

K. Rich. The sim will not be seen to-day;

The sky doth frown and lower upon our army.
I would these dewy tears were from the ground.
Not shine to-day ! Why, what is that to me
More than to Richmond? fortheselfsameheaven
That frowns on me looks sadly upon him.

Enter Norfolk.
Nor. Arm, arm, my lord ! the foe vaunts in

the field.
K. Rich. Come, bustle, bustle. Caparison my
horse.
Call up Lord Stanley, bid him bring his power.
I will lead forth my soldiers to the plain,

348



Act V Scene 3

And thus my battle shall be ordered :

My foreward* shall be drawn out all in [vanguard

length,
Consisting equally of horse and foot ;
Our archers shall be placed in the midst.
John Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Earl of Surrey.
Shall have the leading of the foot and horse.
They thus directed, we will follow
In the mainbattle,whosepuissance on either side
Shall be well winged with our chief est horse.
This, and Saint George to boot ! — What think'st

thou, Norfolk ?
Nor. A good direction, warlike sovereign.
This found I on my tent this morning.

[Giving a scroll.
K. Rich. [Reads] ' Jocky of Norfolk, he not so

bold.
For Dickon thy master is bought and sold.''
A thing devised by the enemy. —
Go, gentlemen, every man to his charge.
Let not our babbling dreams affright our souls,
For conscience is a word that cowards use,
Devis'd at first to keep the strong in awe ;
Our strong arms be our conscience, swords our

law.
March on, join bravely, let us to't pell-mell ;
If not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell. —
What shall I say more than I have inferr'd ?
Remember whom you are to cope withal, —
A sort* of vagabonds, rascals, and runaways, [pack
A scum of Bretons, and base lackey peasants.
Whom their o'er-cloyed country vomits forth
To desperate adventures and assur'd destruction.
You sleeping safe, they bring you to unrest ;
You having lands and bless'd with beauteous

wives,

249



King liiclianl i II

Thpy would restrain the one, distain* the [.uUy

other.
And who doth lead them but a paltry fellow
Ijohr kept in Bretafs^ne at our mother's cost.
A milk-sop, one that never in his life
Felt so much cold as over shoes in snow ?
Let's whip these stragglers o'er the seas again,
Lash hence these overweening rags of France,
These famish'd beggars, weary of their lives ;
Who, but for dreaming on this fond exploit,
For want of means, poor rats, had hang'd them-
selves.
If we be conquer'd, let men conquer us,
And not these bastard Bretons, whom our

fathers
Have in their own land beaten, bobb'd, and

thump'd,
And on record left them the heirs of shame. —
Shall these enjoy our lands ? lie with our wives ?
Ravish our daughters ? [Dimm afar off] Hark !

I hear their drum.
Fight, gentlemen of England! fight, bold

yeomen !
Draw, archers, draw your arrows to the head !
Spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood I
Amaze the welkin with your broken staves !

Enter a Messenger.

What says Lord Stanley? will he bring his
power ?
Mess. My lord, he doth deny to come.
K. Rich. Off with his son George's head !
Nor. My lord, the enemy is pass'd the marsh ;
After the battle let George Stanley die.
K. Rich. A thousand hearts are great within
ray bosom.

250



Act V Scene 4

Advance our standards ! set upon our foes 1
Our ancient word of courage, fair Saint George,
Inspire us with the spleen of fiery dragons I
Upon them 1 Victory sits on our helms.

[Exeunt.

Scene 4.— Another Part of the Field.

Alartim: Excursions. Enter Norfolk and

Forces ; to him Catesby.

Cate. Rescue, my Lord of Norfolk ! rescue,
rescue 1
The king enacts more wonders than a man,
Daring an opposite to every danger.
His horse is slain, and all on foot he fights,
Seeking for Richmond in the throat of death.
Rescue, fair lord, or else the day is lost !

Alarum. Enter King Richard.
K. Rich. A horse ! a horse ! my kingdom for

a horse !
Cate. Withdraw, my lord ; I 'II help you to a

horse.
K. Rich. Slave ! I have set my life upon a cast,
And I will stand the hazard of the die.
I think there be six Richmonds in the field ;
Five have I slain to-day instead of him.
A horse ! a horse I my kingdom for a horse !

[Exeunt.

Alarums. Eiiter Richard and Richmond,
fighting ; aiid exeunt, fighting. Retreat
and flourish. Then enter RichmoTid, Stan-
ley bearing the crrown, with divers other
Lords, and Forces.
Richm. God and your arms be prais'd, vic-
torious friends,

251



King Richard III

The day is ours, the bloody dog is dead.

Stan. Courageous Richmond, well hast thou
acquit thee.
Lo, here, this long-usurped royalty
From the dead temples of this bloody wretch
Have I pluck'd off, to grace thy brows withal ;
Wear it, enjoy it, and make much of it.

Richm. Great God of heaven, say amen to all ! —
But, tell me, is young George Stanley living ?

Stan. He is, my lord, and safe in Leicester
town ;
Whither, if you please, we may withdraw us.

Richm. What men of name are slain on either
side?

Sta7t. John Duke of Norfolk, Walter Lord
Ferrers,
Sir Robert Brakenbury, and Sir William Bran-
don.

Richm. Inter their bodies as becomes their
births.
Proclaim a pardon to the soldiers fled
That in submission will return to us ;
And then, as we have ta'en the sacrament,
We will unite the white rose and the red. —
Smile, heaven, upon this fair conjunction.
That long hath f rown'd upon their enmity I
What traitor hears me, and says not amen ?
England hath long been mad, and scarr'd herself;
The brother blindly shed the brother's blood,
The father rashly slaughter'd his own son.
The son, conipell'd, been butcher to the sire :
All this divided York and Lancaster,
Divided in their dire division,
O, now let Richmond and Elizabeth,
The true succeeders of each royal house.
By God's fair ordinance conjoin together !

353



Act V Scene 4

And let their heirs, God, if thy will be so,
Enrich the time to come with smooth-fac'd

peace,
With smiling plenty, and fair prosperous days !
Abate the edge of traitors, gracious Lord,
That would reduce* these bloody days [bring back

again,
And make poor England weep in streams of

blood !
Let them not live to taste this land's increase
That would with treason wound this fair land's

peace !
Now civil wovmds are stopp'd. Peace lives again :
That she may long live here, God say amen 1

[Exeunt.



253



THE FAMOUS HISTORY

OF THE

LIFE OF KING HENRY VIII



955



DRAMATIS PERSONS. \

I
King Henry the Eighth. I

Cardinal Wolsev. '

Cardinal Campeius.
CArucius, Ambassador from Charles V.
Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury.
Duke of Norfolk.

Dl'kk of Buckingham. 1

Duke OF Suffolk. j

Earl of Surrey. i

Ix)rd Chamberlain. \

Lord Chancellor. '

Gardiner, Bishoj) of Winchester.

Bishop of Lincoln. I

Lord Abergavenny.
Lord Sands.

Sir Henry Guildford. i

Sir Thomas Lovell.

Sir Anthony Denny. <

Sir Nicholas Vaux.

Secretaries to Wolsey. 1

Cromwell, Servant to Wolsey.
Griffith, Gentleman Usher to Queen Katherine.
Three other Gentlemen. Garter King at Arms.
Doctor Butts, Phy.sician to the King. ,

Surveyor to the Duke of Buckingham.
Brandon, and a Sergeant at Arms.

Door-keeper of the Council Chamber. Porter and his Man.
Page to Gardiner. A Crier.

Queen Katherine, wife to King Henry.

Anne Bullen, her Maid of Honour, afterward Queen.

An old I^idy, friend to Anne LiuUen.

Patience, woman to Queen Katherine.

Several Ijords and Ladies in the Dumb Shows; Women
attending upon the Queen ; Spirits, which appear to ',
her ; Scribes, Officers, Guards, and other Attendants.

Scene : Chiefly in London and Westminster ; once at
Kimbolton.



956



THE FAMOUS HISTORY OF THE
LIFE OF KING HEXRY VHI

PROLOGUE.

/ come no more to make you laugh : things noiv
That bear a xceighty and a serious hroic.
Sad, high, and u-orkiyig, full of state and icoe,
Such noble scenes as draic the eye to flow.
We no^v present. Those that can pity, here
May, if they think it n-cll, let falla tear ;
The subject will deserve it. Such as give
Their money out of hope they may believe.
May here find truth too. Those that come to see
Only a sJnnc or tico, and so agree
The play nuiy pass, if they be still and willing,
I'll undertake may see aicay their sh illing
Bichly in two short hours. 0)ily they
That come to hear a })ierry, bau-dy play,
A noise of targets, or to see a felloic
In a long viotley coat, guarded* with [trimmed

yellow.
Will be deceivd; for, gentle hearers, knorc.
To 7-ank our chosen truth with such a shoic
As fool and fight is, beside forfeit iyig
Our own bra ins and the opi)iion that we bri)ig—
To make that only true we now inteiid —
Will leave us never an understanding friend.
Therefore, for goodness' sake, and as you are

knoicn
The first a)ui happiest hearers of the toicn,

7 R 257



King Henry VIII

Be sad as we xvould make ye : think ye see
The very persons of our noble stoi^
As they uere living ; think you see them great,
And followed with the general throng arulsiveat
Of thousand friends ; then, in a moment, see
Hoic soon this mightiness meets itiiseiv/:
And if you ca/i be merry then, I'll say
A man may weep upon his ivedding day.



ACT I.

Scene 1.— London. An Ante-chamber in
the Palace.

Enter the Duke of Norfolk at one door; at the
other, the Duke of Buckingham and the
Lord Abergavenny.

Buck. Good morrow, and well met. How
have ye done
Since last we saw in France ?

Nor. I thank your grace,

Healthful ; and ever since a fresh admirer
Of what I saw there.

Buck. An untimely ague

Stay'd me a prisoner in my chamber when
Those suns of glory, those two lights of men,
Met in the vale of Andren. (towns in Picardy

Nor. 'Twixt Guynes* and Arde.*

I was then present, saw them salute on horse-
back,
Beheld them when they lighted, how they clung
In their ombracement, as they grew together;
Which luid they, what four thron'd ones could

have weigh'd
Such a compounded one ?

Buck. AH the whole time



Act I Scene 1

I was my chamber's prisoner.

Nor. Then you lost

The view of earthly glory ; men might say
Till this time pomp was single, but now married
To one above itself. Each following day
Became the next day's master, till the last
Made former wonders it's : to-day the Fi-ench,
All clinquant,* all in gold, like heathen [guttering

gods,
Shone down the English ; and to-morrow they
Made Britain India : every man that stood
Show'd like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were
As cherubins, all gilt ; the madams too.
Not us'd to toil, did almost sweat to bear
The pride upon them, that their very labour
Was to them as a painting ; now this mask
Was cried incomparable, and the ensuing night
Made it a fool and beggar. The two kings.
Equal in lustre, 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 —
For so they phrase 'em — by their heralds

challeng'd
The noble spirits to arms, they did perform
Beyond thought's compass ; that former fabul-
ous story.
Being now seen possible enough, got credit.
That Bevis was believ'd.

Buck. O, you go far !

Nor. As I belong to worship and affect
In honour honesty, the tract of every thing
Would by a good discourser lose some life
Which action's self was tongue to. All was royal :

359



Kins: Henrv VIII



To the disposing of it nought rebell'd :
Order gave each thing view ; the office did
Distinctly his full function.

Buck. "^^Tio did guide,

I mean, who set the body and the limbs
Of this great sport together, as you guess ?

Xor. One. certes. that promises no element
In such a business.

Buck. I pray you, who, my lord ?

*Var. All this was order'd by the good discre-
tion
Of the right reverend Cardinal of York.

Buck. The devil speed him I no man's pie is
freed
From his ambitious finger. "\\"hat had he
To do in these fierce vanities ? I wonder
That such a keech* can with his very n^mp o< t»t

bulk
Take up the rays o' the beneficial sun.
And keep it from the earth.

Sor. Surely, sir.

There 's in him stuff that puts him to these ends ;
For. being not propp'd by ancestry, whose grace
Chalks successors their way, nor call'd upon
For high feats done to the crown, neither allied
To eminent assistants, but. spider-like.
Out of his self -drawing web, he gives us note
The force of his own merit makes his way ;
A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
A place next to the king,

Aber. I cannot tell

"What heaven hath given him, — let some graver

eye
Pierce into that ; but I can see his pride
Peep through each part of him : whence has he
that ?

360



Act I Scene 1

If not from hell, the devil is a niggard.
Or has given all before, and he begins
A new hell in himself.

B^u:k. Why the devil.

Upon this French goLng-out, took he upon him.
Without the privity o' the king, to appoint
T\Tio 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 honour
He meant to lay upon ; and his own letter.
The honourable board of council out,
Must fetch hun in the papers.

Aher. I do know

Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
By this so sickened their estates that never
They shall abound as formeriy.

Bu4:k. O, many

Have broke their backs with laying manors

on 'em
For this great journey. What did this vanity
But minister communication of
A most poor issue ?

yor. Grievingly I think.

The peace between the French and us not values
The cost that did conclude it.

Buck. Every man.

After the hideous storm that followed, was
A thing inspir'd, and, not consulting, broke
Into a general prophecy, that this tempe5t>
Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded*
The sudden breach on 't. [t-reboded

Xor. Which is budded out ;

For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath

attach'd
Our merchants' goods at Bourdeaux.

261



King Henry VTTT



Aber. Is it therefore

The amhassador is silenc'd ?

Nor. Marry, is't.

Aber. A proper title of a peace, and purchas'd
At a superfluous rate !

Buck. Why, all this business

Our reverend cardinal carried.

Nor. 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 you
Honour and plenteous safety — that you read
The cardinal's malice and his potency
Together ; to consider further that
"What his high hatred would effect wants not
A minister in his power. You know his nature,
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 '11 find it wholesome. — Lo, where comes

that rock
That I advise your shunning !

Kilter Cardinal Wolsey, the purse home before
hun ; certain of the Guard, aiui two Secre-
taries with papers. The Cardinal in his
passage JLccth his eye on Buckingham, and
Buckingham on him, both full of disdain.

Wol. The Duke of Buckingham's surveyor? hal
"Where's his examination ?
\st Sec. Here, so please you.

Wol. Is he in person ready ?
\st Sec. Ay, please your grace.

Wol. "Well, we shall then know more ; and
Buckingham

262



Act I Scene 1

Shall lessen this big look.

[Exeunt Wolsey and train.
Bxick. This butcher's cur is venom-mouth'd,
and I
Have not the power to muzzle him : therefore,

best
Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book
Out-worths a noble's blood.

Nor. What, are you chaf d ?

Ask God for temperance ; that 's the appliance

only
Which your disease requires.

Buck. I read in 's looks

Matter against nae, and his eye revil'd
Me as his abject object ; at this instant
He bores* me with some trick. He 's gone [injures

to the king ;
I '11 follow and out-stare him.

Nor. 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 allow'd his way,
Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in England
Can advise me like you ; be to yourself
As you would to your friend.

Btick. I '11 to the king ;

And from a mouth of honour quite cry down
This Ipswich fellow's insolence, or pi'oclaim
There's difference in no persons.

Nor. Be advis'd ;

Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
That it do singe yourself ; we may outrun
By violent swiftness that which we run at.
And lose by over-running. Know you not
The fire that mounts the liquor till 't run o'er,

263



King Henry VIII

In seeming to augment it wastes it? Beadvis'd;
I say again, thei-e is no English soul
More stronger to direct you than yourself,
If with the sap of reason you would quench,
Or hut allay, the fire of passion.

Buck. Sir,

I am thankful to you, and I '11 go along
By your prescription ; hut 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 know
To be corrupt and treasonous.

Xor. Say not ' treasonous.'

Buck. To the king I'll say't, and make iny
vouch as strong
As shore of rock. Attend. This holy fox,
Or wolf, or both, — for he is equal ravenous
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 master
To this last costly treaty, the interview
That swallowed so much treasure, and like a glass
Did break i' the wrenching.* (rinsing

Nor. Faith, and so it did.

Buck. Pray give me favour, sir. This cunning
cardinal
The articles o' the combination di-ew
As himself pleas'd ; and they were ratified.
As he cried ' Thus let it be,' to as much end
As give a crutch to the dead. But our count-
cardinal
Has done this, and 'tis well ; for worthy Wolsey,
Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows, —

364



Act 1 Scene 1

Which, as I take it, is a kind ot puppy
To the old dam, treason, — Charles the emperor,
Under pretence to see the queen, his aunt, —
For 'twas indeed his colour, but he came
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
Peep'd harms that menac'd him. He privily
Deals with our cardinal, and, as I trow, —
Which I do well, for, I am sure, the emperor
Paid ere he promis'd, whereby his suit was

granted
Ere it was ask'd ; but when the way was

made.
And pav'd with gold, the emperor thus desir'd.
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
Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases.
And for his own advantage.

Nor. I am sorry

To hear this of him, and could wish he were
Something mistaken in 't.

Buck. No, not a syllable ;

I do pronounce him in that very shape
He shall appear in proof.

Enter Brandon, tvith Sergeant at Amis
and Guards.

Bran. Your office, sergeant ; execute it.

Serg. Sir,

My lord the Dvike of Buckingham, and Earl
Of Hereford, Stafford, and Northampton, I
Arrest thee of high treason, in the name

26s



King Henry VIII

Of our most sovereign king.

Buck. Lo, you, my lord,

The net has fallen upon me 1 I shall perish
Under device and practice.* [uitrigue and artifice

Bran. I am sorry,

To see you ta'en from liberty, to look on
The business present. 'Tis his highness' pleasure
You shall to the Tower.

Buck. It will help me nothing

To plead mine innocence, for that dye is on me
Which makes my whitest part black. The will

of heaven
Be done in this and all things I I obey. —
O my Lord Aberga'ny, fare you well I
Bran. Nay, he must bear you company. —
The king [To Abergavenny.

Is pleas 'd you shall to the Tower, till you know
How he determines further.

Aher. As the duke said,

The will of heaven be done, and the king's

pleasure
By me obey'd 1

Bran. Here is a warrant from

The king to attach Lord Montacute ; and the

bodies
Of the duke's confessor, John de la Car,
One Gilbert Peck, his chancellor, —

Buck. So, so ;

These are the limbs o' the plot. No more, I hope.
Bran. A monk o' the Chartreux.
BtLck. O, Nicholas Hopkins ?

Bran. He.

Buck. My surveyor is false ; the o'er-great
cardinal
Hath show'd him gold. My life is spann'd
already ;

266



Act I Scene 2

I am the shadow of poor Buckingham,
Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on,
By darkening my clear sun.— My lord, farewell.

[Exeunt.

Scene 2.— The Council-chamber,

Coronets. Enter King Henry, Cardinal Wol-
sey, the Lords of the Council, Sir Thomas
Lovell, Officers, and Attendants. The King
entei^s leaning on the Cardinal's shoulder.

K. Hen. My life itself, and the best heart of it.
Thanks you for this great care. I stood i' the

level* [rang*

Of a full charg'd confederacy, and give thanks
To you that chok'd it. Let be call'd before us
That gentleman of Buckingham's ; in person
I'll hear him his confessions justify,
And point by point the treasons of his master
He shall again relate.

[ The King takes his seat. The Lords of the
Council OCCUPY their several places.
The Cardinal places himself under
the King's feet, on his right side.

A noise within, crying, ' Room for the Queen.
Enter' the Queen, \ishered by Norfolk and
Suffolk: she kneels. The King risethfrom
his state, takes her tip, kisses hei', and placet h
her by him.
Q. Kath. Nay, we must longer kneel ; I am a

suitor.
K. Hen. Arise, and take place by us. Half
your suit
Never name to us ; you have half our power :
The other moiety, ere you ask, is given ;
Repeat your will, and take it.

267



King TIenry VIII

Q. Kaih. Thank your majesty.

That you would love yourself, and in that love
Not unconsidcr'd leave your honour, nor
The dij,n)it y of your office, is the point
Of my petition.
K. Ilcn. Lady mine, proceed,
Q. Kath. I am solicited not hy a few.
And those of true condition, that your subjects
Are in great grievance. There have been com-
missions
Sent down among 'em, which hath fiaw'd the

heart
Of all their loyalties ; wherein, although.
My good lord cardinal, they vent reproaches
Most bitterly on you, as putter-on
Of these exactions, yet the king our master—
Whose honour heaven shield from soil I— even

he escapes not
Language unmannerly, yea, such which breaks
The sides of loyalty and almost appears
In loud rebellion.

Nor. Not almost appears,

It doth appear ; for upon these taxations
The clothiers all, not able to maintain
The many to them longing, have put off
The spinsters, carders, fullers, weavers, who,
Unfit for other life, compell'd by hunger
And lack of other means, in desperate manner
Daiing the event to the teeth, are all in uproar.
And danger serves among them.

K. Hen. Taxation !

Wherein? and what taxation?— My lord car-
dinal.
You that are blam'd for it alike with us.
Know you of this taxation ?

Wol. Please you, sir,

268



Act I Scene 2

I know biit of a single part, in aught
Pertains to the state, and front but in that file
Where others tell steps with me.

Q. Kath. No, my lord,

You know no more than others ; but you frame