Act III, Scene 2

Ante-chamber to KING HENRY VIII’s apartment.

[Enter NORFOLK, SUFFOLK, SURREY, and Chamberlain]

• Duke of Norfolk. If you will now unite in your complaints,
  And force them with a constancy, the cardinal
  Cannot stand under them: if you omit 1830
  The offer of this time, I cannot promise
  But that you shall sustain moe new disgraces,
  With these you bear already.

• Earl of Surrey. I am joyful
  To meet the least occasion that may give me 1835
  Remembrance of my father-in-law, the duke,
  To be revenged on him.

• Duke of Suffolk. Which of the peers
  Have uncontemn'd gone by him, or at least
  Strangely neglected? when did he regard 1840
  The stamp of nobleness in any person
  Out of himself?

• Lord Chamberlain. My lords, you speak your pleasures:
  What he deserves of you and me I know;
  What we can do to him, though now the time 1845
  Gives way to us, I much fear. If you cannot
  Bar his access to the king, never attempt
  Any thing on him; for he hath a witchcraft
  Over the king in's tongue.

• Duke of Norfolk. O, fear him not; 1850
  His spell in that is out: the king hath found
  Matter against him that for ever mars
  The honey of his language. No, he's settled,
  Not to come off, in his displeasure.

• Earl of Surrey. Sir, 1855
  I should be glad to hear such news as this
  Once every hour.

• Duke of Norfolk. Believe it, this is true:
  In the divorce his contrary proceedings
  Are all unfolded wherein he appears 1860
  As I would wish mine enemy.

• Earl of Surrey. How came
  His practises to light?

• Duke of Suffolk. Most strangely.

• Earl of Surrey. O, how, how? 1865

• Duke of Suffolk. The cardinal's letters to the pope miscarried,
  And came to the eye o' the king: wherein was read,
  How that the cardinal did entreat his holiness
  To stay the judgment o' the divorce; for if
  It did take place, 'I do,' quoth he, 'perceive 1870
  My king is tangled in affection to
  A creature of the queen's, Lady Anne Bullen.'

• Earl of Surrey. Has the king this?

• Duke of Suffolk. Believe it.

• Earl of Surrey. Will this work? 1875

• Lord Chamberlain. The king in this perceives him, how he coasts
  And hedges his own way. But in this point
  All his tricks founder, and he brings his physic
  After his patient's death: the king already
  Hath married the fair lady. 1880

• Earl of Surrey. Would he had!

• Duke of Suffolk. May you be happy in your wish, my lord
  For, I profess, you have it.

• Earl of Surrey. Now, all my joy
  Trace the conjunction! 1885

• Duke of Suffolk. My amen to't!

• Duke of Norfolk. All men's!

• Duke of Suffolk. There's order given for her coronation:
  Marry, this is yet but young, and may be left
  To some ears unrecounted. But, my lords, 1890
  She is a gallant creature, and complete
  In mind and feature: I persuade me, from her
  Will fall some blessing to this land, which shall
  In it be memorised.

• Earl of Surrey. But, will the king 1895
  Digest this letter of the cardinal's?
  The Lord forbid!

• Duke of Norfolk. Marry, amen!

• Duke of Suffolk. No, no;
  There be moe wasps that buzz about his nose 1900
  Will make this sting the sooner. Cardinal Campeius
  Is stol'n away to Rome; hath ta'en no leave;
  Has left the cause o' the king unhandled; and
  Is posted, as the agent of our cardinal,
  To second all his plot. I do assure you 1905
  The king cried Ha! at this.

• Lord Chamberlain. Now, God incense him,
  And let him cry Ha! louder!

• Duke of Norfolk. But, my lord,
  When returns Cranmer? 1910

• Duke of Suffolk. He is return'd in his opinions; which
  Have satisfied the king for his divorce,
  Together with all famous colleges
  Almost in Christendom: shortly, I believe,
  His second marriage shall be publish'd, and 1915
  Her coronation. Katharine no more
  Shall be call'd queen, but princess dowager
  And widow to Prince Arthur.

• Duke of Norfolk. This same Cranmer's
  A worthy fellow, and hath ta'en much pain 1920
  In the king's business.

• Duke of Suffolk. He has; and we shall see him
  For it an archbishop.

• Duke of Norfolk. So I hear.

• Duke of Suffolk. 'Tis so. 1925
  The cardinal!

[Enter CARDINAL WOLSEY and CROMWELL]

• Duke of Norfolk. Observe, observe, he's moody.

• Cardinal Wolsey. The packet, Cromwell.
  Gave't you the king? 1930

• Cromwell. To his own hand, in's bedchamber.

• Cardinal Wolsey. Look'd he o' the inside of the paper?

• Cromwell. Presently
  He did unseal them: and the first he view'd,
  He did it with a serious mind; a heed 1935
  Was in his countenance. You he bade
  Attend him here this morning.

• Cardinal Wolsey. Is he ready
  To come abroad?

• Cromwell. I think, by this he is. 1940

• Cardinal Wolsey. Leave me awhile.
  [Exit CROMWELL]
  [Aside]
  It shall be to the Duchess of Alencon,
  The French king's sister: he shall marry her. 1945
  Anne Bullen! No; I'll no Anne Bullens for him:
  There's more in't than fair visage. Bullen!
  No, we'll no Bullens. Speedily I wish
  To hear from Rome. The Marchioness of Pembroke!

• Duke of Norfolk. He's discontented. 1950

• Duke of Suffolk. May be, he hears the king
  Does whet his anger to him.

• Earl of Surrey. Sharp enough,
  Lord, for thy justice!

• Cardinal Wolsey. [Aside] The late queen's gentlewoman, 1955
  a knight's daughter,
  To be her mistress' mistress! the queen's queen!
  This candle burns not clear: 'tis I must snuff it;
  Then out it goes. What though I know her virtuous
  And well deserving? yet I know her for 1960
  A spleeny Lutheran; and not wholesome to
  Our cause, that she should lie i' the bosom of
  Our hard-ruled king. Again, there is sprung up
  An heretic, an arch one, Cranmer; one
  Hath crawl'd into the favour of the king, 1965
  And is his oracle.

• Duke of Norfolk. He is vex'd at something.

• Earl of Surrey. I would 'twere something that would fret the string,
  The master-cord on's heart!

[Enter KING HENRY VIII, reading of a schedule, and LOVELL]

• Duke of Suffolk. The king, the king!

• Henry VIII. What piles of wealth hath he accumulated
  To his own portion! and what expense by the hour
  Seems to flow from him! How, i' the name of thrift,
  Does he rake this together! Now, my lords, 1975
  Saw you the cardinal?

• Duke of Norfolk. My lord, we have
  Stood here observing him: some strange commotion
  Is in his brain: he bites his lip, and starts;
  Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground, 1980
  Then lays his finger on his temple, straight
  Springs out into fast gait; then stops again,
  Strikes his breast hard, and anon he casts
  His eye against the moon: in most strange postures
  We have seen him set himself. 1985

• Henry VIII. It may well be;
  There is a mutiny in's mind. This morning
  Papers of state he sent me to peruse,
  As I required: and wot you what I found
  There,—on my conscience, put unwittingly? 1990
  Forsooth, an inventory, thus importing;
  The several parcels of his plate, his treasure,
  Rich stuffs, and ornaments of household; which
  I find at such proud rate, that it out-speaks
  Possession of a subject. 1995

• Duke of Norfolk. It's heaven's will:
  Some spirit put this paper in the packet,
  To bless your eye withal.

• Henry VIII. If we did think
  His contemplation were above the earth, 2000
  And fix'd on spiritual object, he should still
  Dwell in his musings: but I am afraid
  His thinkings are below the moon, not worth
  His serious considering.
  [King HENRY VIII takes his seat; whispers LOVELL,] 2005
  who goes to CARDINAL WOLSEY]

• Cardinal Wolsey. Heaven forgive me!
  Ever God bless your highness!

• Henry VIII. Good my lord,
  You are full of heavenly stuff, and bear the inventory 2010
  Of your best graces in your mind; the which
  You were now running o'er: you have scarce time
  To steal from spiritual leisure a brief span
  To keep your earthly audit: sure, in that
  I deem you an ill husband, and am glad 2015
  To have you therein my companion.

• Cardinal Wolsey. Sir,
  For holy offices I have a time; a time
  To think upon the part of business which
  I bear i' the state; and nature does require 2020
  Her times of preservation, which perforce
  I, her frail son, amongst my brethren mortal,
  Must give my tendence to.

• Henry VIII. You have said well.

• Cardinal Wolsey. And ever may your highness yoke together, 2025
  As I will lend you cause, my doing well
  With my well saying!

• Henry VIII. 'Tis well said again;
  And 'tis a kind of good deed to say well:
  And yet words are no deeds. My father loved you: 2030
  His said he did; and with his deed did crown
  His word upon you. Since I had my office,
  I have kept you next my heart; have not alone
  Employ'd you where high profits might come home,
  But pared my present havings, to bestow 2035
  My bounties upon you.

• Cardinal Wolsey. [Aside] What should this mean?

• Earl of Surrey. [Aside] The Lord increase this business!

• Henry VIII. Have I not made you,
  The prime man of the state? I pray you, tell me, 2040
  If what I now pronounce you have found true:
  And, if you may confess it, say withal,
  If you are bound to us or no. What say you?

• Cardinal Wolsey. My sovereign, I confess your royal graces,
  Shower'd on me daily, have been more than could 2045
  My studied purposes requite; which went
  Beyond all man's endeavours: my endeavours
  Have ever come too short of my desires,
  Yet filed with my abilities: mine own ends
  Have been mine so that evermore they pointed 2050
  To the good of your most sacred person and
  The profit of the state. For your great graces
  Heap'd upon me, poor undeserver, I
  Can nothing render but allegiant thanks,
  My prayers to heaven for you, my loyalty, 2055
  Which ever has and ever shall be growing,
  Till death, that winter, kill it.

• Henry VIII. Fairly answer'd;
  A loyal and obedient subject is
  Therein illustrated: the honour of it 2060
  Does pay the act of it; as, i' the contrary,
  The foulness is the punishment. I presume
  That, as my hand has open'd bounty to you,
  My heart dropp'd love, my power rain'd honour, more
  On you than any; so your hand and heart, 2065
  Your brain, and every function of your power,
  Should, notwithstanding that your bond of duty,
  As 'twere in love's particular, be more
  To me, your friend, than any.

• Cardinal Wolsey. I do profess 2070
  That for your highness' good I ever labour'd
  More than mine own; that am, have, and will be—
  Though all the world should crack their duty to you,
  And throw it from their soul; though perils did
  Abound, as thick as thought could make 'em, and 2075
  Appear in forms more horrid,—yet my duty,
  As doth a rock against the chiding flood,
  Should the approach of this wild river break,
  And stand unshaken yours.

• Henry VIII. 'Tis nobly spoken: 2080
  Take notice, lords, he has a loyal breast,
  For you have seen him open't. Read o'er this;
  [Giving him papers]
  And after, this: and then to breakfast with
  What appetite you have. 2085
  [Exit KING HENRY VIII, frowning upon CARDINAL WOLSEY:]
  the Nobles throng after him, smiling and whispering]

• Cardinal Wolsey. What should this mean?
  What sudden anger's this? how have I reap'd it?
  He parted frowning from me, as if ruin 2090
  Leap'd from his eyes: so looks the chafed lion
  Upon the daring huntsman that has gall'd him;
  Then makes him nothing. I must read this paper;
  I fear, the story of his anger. 'Tis so;
  This paper has undone me: 'tis the account 2095
  Of all that world of wealth I have drawn together
  For mine own ends; indeed, to gain the popedom,
  And fee my friends in Rome. O negligence!
  Fit for a fool to fall by: what cross devil
  Made me put this main secret in the packet 2100
  I sent the king? Is there no way to cure this?
  No new device to beat this from his brains?
  I know 'twill stir him strongly; yet I know
  A way, if it take right, in spite of fortune
  Will bring me off again. What's this? 'To the Pope!' 2105
  The letter, as I live, with all the business
  I writ to's holiness. Nay then, farewell!
  I have touch'd the highest point of all my greatness;
  And, from that full meridian of my glory,
  I haste now to my setting: I shall fall 2110
  Like a bright exhalation m the evening,
  And no man see me more.
  [Re-enter to CARDINAL WOLSEY, NORFOLK and SUFFOLK, SURREY,]
  and the Chamberlain]

• Duke of Norfolk. Hear the king's pleasure, cardinal: who commands you 2115
  To render up the great seal presently
  Into our hands; and to confine yourself
  To Asher House, my Lord of Winchester's,
  Till you hear further from his highness.

• Cardinal Wolsey. Stay: 2120
  Where's your commission, lords? words cannot carry
  Authority so weighty.

• Duke of Suffolk. Who dare cross 'em,
  Bearing the king's will from his mouth expressly?

• Cardinal Wolsey. Till I find more than will or words to do it, 2125
  I mean your malice, know, officious lords,
  I dare and must deny it. Now I feel
  Of what coarse metal ye are moulded, envy:
  How eagerly ye follow my disgraces,
  As if it fed ye! and how sleek and wanton 2130
  Ye appear in every thing may bring my ruin!
  Follow your envious courses, men of malice;
  You have Christian warrant for 'em, and, no doubt,
  In time will find their fit rewards. That seal,
  You ask with such a violence, the king, 2135
  Mine and your master, with his own hand gave me;
  Bade me enjoy it, with the place and honours,
  During my life; and, to confirm his goodness,
  Tied it by letters-patents: now, who'll take it?

• Earl of Surrey. The king, that gave it. 2140

• Cardinal Wolsey. It must be himself, then.

• Earl of Surrey. Thou art a proud traitor, priest.

• Cardinal Wolsey. Proud lord, thou liest:
  Within these forty hours Surrey durst better
  Have burnt that tongue than said so. 2145

• Earl of Surrey. Thy ambition,
  Thou scarlet sin, robb'd this bewailing land
  Of noble Buckingham, my father-in-law:
  The heads of all thy brother cardinals,
  With thee and all thy best parts bound together, 2150
  Weigh'd not a hair of his. Plague of your policy!
  You sent me deputy for Ireland;
  Far from his succor, from the king, from all
  That might have mercy on the fault thou gavest him;
  Whilst your great goodness, out of holy pity, 2155
  Absolved him with an axe.

• Cardinal Wolsey. This, and all else
  This talking lord can lay upon my credit,
  I answer is most false. The duke by law
  Found his deserts: how innocent I was 2160
  From any private malice in his end,
  His noble jury and foul cause can witness.
  If I loved many words, lord, I should tell you
  You have as little honesty as honour,
  That in the way of loyalty and truth 2165
  Toward the king, my ever royal master,
  Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be,
  And all that love his follies.

• Earl of Surrey. By my soul,
  Your long coat, priest, protects you; thou 2170
  shouldst feel
  My sword i' the life-blood of thee else. My lords,
  Can ye endure to hear this arrogance?
  And from this fellow? if we live thus tamely,
  To be thus jaded by a piece of scarlet, 2175
  Farewell nobility; let his grace go forward,
  And dare us with his cap like larks.

• Cardinal Wolsey. All goodness
  Is poison to thy stomach.

• Earl of Surrey. Yes, that goodness 2180
  Of gleaning all the land's wealth into one,
  Into your own hands, cardinal, by extortion;
  The goodness of your intercepted packets
  You writ to the pope against the king: your goodness,
  Since you provoke me, shall be most notorious. 2185
  My Lord of Norfolk, as you are truly noble,
  As you respect the common good, the state
  Of our despised nobility, our issues,
  Who, if he live, will scarce be gentlemen,
  Produce the grand sum of his sins, the articles 2190
  Collected from his life. I'll startle you
  Worse than the scaring bell, when the brown wench
  Lay kissing in your arms, lord cardinal.

• Cardinal Wolsey. How much, methinks, I could despise this man,
  But that I am bound in charity against it! 2195

• Duke of Norfolk. Those articles, my lord, are in the king's hand:
  But, thus much, they are foul ones.

• Cardinal Wolsey. So much fairer
  And spotless shall mine innocence arise,
  When the king knows my truth. 2200

• Earl of Surrey. This cannot save you:
  I thank my memory, I yet remember
  Some of these articles; and out they shall.
  Now, if you can blush and cry 'guilty,' cardinal,
  You'll show a little honesty. 2205

• Cardinal Wolsey. Speak on, sir;
  I dare your worst objections: if I blush,
  It is to see a nobleman want manners.

• Earl of Surrey. I had rather want those than my head. Have at you!
  First, that, without the king's assent or knowledge, 2210
  You wrought to be a legate; by which power
  You maim'd the jurisdiction of all bishops.

• Duke of Norfolk. Then, that in all you writ to Rome, or else
  To foreign princes, 'Ego et Rex meus'
  Was still inscribed; in which you brought the king 2215
  To be your servant.

• Duke of Suffolk. Then that, without the knowledge
  Either of king or council, when you went
  Ambassador to the emperor, you made bold
  To carry into Flanders the great seal. 2220

• Earl of Surrey. Item, you sent a large commission
  To Gregory de Cassado, to conclude,
  Without the king's will or the state's allowance,
  A league between his highness and Ferrara.

• Duke of Suffolk. That, out of mere ambition, you have caused 2225
  Your holy hat to be stamp'd on the king's coin.

• Earl of Surrey. Then that you have sent innumerable substance—
  By what means got, I leave to your own conscience—
  To furnish Rome, and to prepare the ways
  You have for dignities; to the mere undoing 2230
  Of all the kingdom. Many more there are;
  Which, since they are of you, and odious,
  I will not taint my mouth with.

• Lord Chamberlain. O my lord,
  Press not a falling man too far! 'tis virtue: 2235
  His faults lie open to the laws; let them,
  Not you, correct him. My heart weeps to see him
  So little of his great self.

• Earl of Surrey. I forgive him.

• Duke of Suffolk. Lord cardinal, the king's further pleasure is, 2240
  Because all those things you have done of late,
  By your power legatine, within this kingdom,
  Fall into the compass of a praemunire,
  That therefore such a writ be sued against you;
  To forfeit all your goods, lands, tenements, 2245
  Chattels, and whatsoever, and to be
  Out of the king's protection. This is my charge.

• Duke of Norfolk. And so we'll leave you to your meditations
  How to live better. For your stubborn answer
  About the giving back the great seal to us, 2250
  The king shall know it, and, no doubt, shall thank you.
  So fare you well, my little good lord cardinal.

[Exeunt all but CARDINAL WOLSEY]

• Cardinal Wolsey. So farewell to the little good you bear me.
  Farewell! a long farewell, to all my greatness! 2255
  This is the state of man: to-day he puts forth
  The tender leaves of hopes; to-morrow blossoms,
  And bears his blushing honours thick upon him;
  The third day comes a frost, a killing frost,
  And, when he thinks, good easy man, full surely 2260
  His greatness is a-ripening, nips his root,
  And then he falls, as I do. I have ventured,
  Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders,
  This many summers in a sea of glory,
  But far beyond my depth: my high-blown pride 2265
  At length broke under me and now has left me,
  Weary and old with service, to the mercy
  Of a rude stream, that must for ever hide me.
  Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye:
  I feel my heart new open'd. O, how wretched 2270
  Is that poor man that hangs on princes' favours!
  There is, betwixt that smile we would aspire to,
  That sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin,
  More pangs and fears than wars or women have:
  And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer, 2275
  Never to hope again.
  [Enter CROMWELL, and stands amazed]
  Why, how now, Cromwell!

• Cromwell. I have no power to speak, sir.

• Cardinal Wolsey. What, amazed 2280
  At my misfortunes? can thy spirit wonder
  A great man should decline? Nay, an you weep,
  I am fall'n indeed.

• Cromwell. How does your grace?

• Cardinal Wolsey. Why, well; 2285
  Never so truly happy, my good Cromwell.
  I know myself now; and I feel within me
  A peace above all earthly dignities,
  A still and quiet conscience. The king has cured me,
  I humbly thank his grace; and from these shoulders, 2290
  These ruin'd pillars, out of pity, taken
  A load would sink a navy, too much honour:
  O, 'tis a burthen, Cromwell, 'tis a burthen
  Too heavy for a man that hopes for heaven!

• Cromwell. I am glad your grace has made that right use of it. 2295

• Cardinal Wolsey. I hope I have: I am able now, methinks,
  Out of a fortitude of soul I feel,
  To endure more miseries and greater far
  Than my weak-hearted enemies dare offer.
  What news abroad? 2300

• Cromwell. The heaviest and the worst
  Is your displeasure with the king.

• Cardinal Wolsey. God bless him!

• Cromwell. The next is, that Sir Thomas More is chosen
  Lord chancellor in your place. 2305

• Cardinal Wolsey. That's somewhat sudden:
  But he's a learned man. May he continue
  Long in his highness' favour, and do justice
  For truth's sake and his conscience; that his bones,
  When he has run his course and sleeps in blessings, 2310
  May have a tomb of orphans' tears wept on em! What more?

• Cromwell. That Cranmer is return'd with welcome,
  Install'd lord archbishop of Canterbury.

• Cardinal Wolsey. That's news indeed.

• Cromwell. Last, that the Lady Anne, 2315
  Whom the king hath in secrecy long married,
  This day was view'd in open as his queen,
  Going to chapel; and the voice is now
  Only about her coronation.

• Cardinal Wolsey. There was the weight that pull'd me down. O Cromwell, 2320
  The king has gone beyond me: all my glories
  In that one woman I have lost for ever:
  No sun shall ever usher forth mine honours,
  Or gild again the noble troops that waited
  Upon my smiles. Go, get thee from me, Cromwell; 2325
  I am a poor fall'n man, unworthy now
  To be thy lord and master: seek the king;
  That sun, I pray, may never set! I have told him
  What and how true thou art: he will advance thee;
  Some little memory of me will stir him— 2330
  I know his noble nature—not to let
  Thy hopeful service perish too: good Cromwell,
  Neglect him not; make use now, and provide
  For thine own future safety.

• Cromwell. O my lord, 2335
  Must I, then, leave you? must I needs forego
  So good, so noble and so true a master?
  Bear witness, all that have not hearts of iron,
  With what a sorrow Cromwell leaves his lord.
  The king shall have my service: but my prayers 2340
  For ever and for ever shall be yours.

• Cardinal Wolsey. Cromwell, I did not think to shed a tear
  In all my miseries; but thou hast forced me,
  Out of thy honest truth, to play the woman.
  Let's dry our eyes: and thus far hear me, Cromwell; 2345
  And, when I am forgotten, as I shall be,
  And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention
  Of me more must be heard of, say, I taught thee,
  Say, Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory,
  And sounded all the depths and shoals of honour, 2350
  Found thee a way, out of his wreck, to rise in;
  A sure and safe one, though thy master miss'd it.
  Mark but my fall, and that that ruin'd me.
  Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition:
  By that sin fell the angels; how can man, then, 2355
  The image of his Maker, hope to win by it?
  Love thyself last: cherish those hearts that hate thee;
  Corruption wins not more than honesty.
  Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace,
  To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not: 2360
  Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy country's,
  Thy God's, and truth's; then if thou fall'st,
  O Cromwell,
  Thou fall'st a blessed martyr! Serve the king;
  And,—prithee, lead me in: 2365
  There take an inventory of all I have,
  To the last penny; 'tis the king's: my robe,
  And my integrity to heaven, is all
  I dare now call mine own. O Cromwell, Cromwell!
  Had I but served my God with half the zeal 2370
  I served my king, he would not in mine age
  Have left me naked to mine enemies.

• Cromwell. Good sir, have patience.

• Cardinal Wolsey. So I have. Farewell
  The hopes of court! my hopes in heaven do dwell. 2375

[Exeunt]