Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Cornets. Enter King Henry, leaning on the Cardinal’s
shoulder, with the Nobles, Sir Thomas Lovell, and
Attendants, including a Secretary of the Cardinal.
The Cardinal places himself under the King’s feet on
his right side. KING, to Wolsey
My life itself, and the best heart of it,
Thanks you for this great care. I stood i’ th’ level
Of a full-charged confederacy, and give thanks
To you that choked it.—Let be called before us
That gentleman of Buckingham’s; in person 5
I’ll hear him his confessions justify,
And point by point the treasons of his master
He shall again relate. A noise within crying “Room for the Queen!” Enter the
Queen Katherine, ushered by the Duke of Norfolk, and
the Duke of Suffolk. She kneels. The King riseth from
his state. QUEEN KATHERINE
Nay, we must longer kneel; I am a suitor. KING
Arise, and take place by us. 10 He takes her up, kisses and placeth her by him. | King Henry, Wolsey, and Sir Thomas Lovell enter. Henry thanks Wolsey for doing such a good job catching the bad guys, and he asks to speak to Buckingham's estate manager to get the inside scoop about what's happening with his land. Just then, Queen Katherine enters, kneels, and then decides to stay kneeling in order to ask the king a favor. |
KING
Arise, and take place by us. 10
He takes her up, kisses and placeth her by him.
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. QUEEN KATHERINE Thank your Majesty. 15
That you would love yourself, and in that love
Not unconsidered leave your honor nor
The dignity of your office, is the point
Of my petition. KING Lady mine, proceed. 20 QUEEN KATHERINE
I am solicited, not by a few,
And those of true condition, that your subjects
Are in great grievance. There have been commissions
Sent down among ’em which hath flawed the heart
Of all their loyalties, wherein, although 25
My good Lord Cardinal, they vent reproaches
Most bitterly on you as putter-on
Of these exactions, yet the King our master,
Whose honor heaven shield from soil, even he
escapes not 30
Language unmannerly—yea, such which breaks
The sides of loyalty and almost appears
In loud rebellion. NORFOLK Not “almost appears”—
It doth appear. For, upon these taxations, 35
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, compelled by hunger
And lack of other means, in desperate manner 40
Daring th’ event to th’ teeth, are all in uproar,
And danger serves among them. | She's here for the people: they're aren't thrilled about the new taxes, and they don't like that Wolsey started the taxes in the first place. Katherine doesn't want these squabbles to turn into something much bigger—like a rebellion. |
KING Taxation?
Wherein? And what taxation? My Lord Cardinal,
You that are blamed for it alike with us, 45
Know you of this taxation? WOLSEY Please you, sir,
I know but of a single part in aught
Pertains to th’ state, and front but in that file
Where others tell steps with me. 50 QUEEN KATHERINE No, my lord?
You know no more than others? But you frame
Things that are known alike, which are not wholesome
To those which would not know them, and yet must
Perforce be their acquaintance. These exactions 55
Whereof my sovereign would have note, they are
Most pestilent to th’ hearing, and to bear ’em
The back is sacrifice to th’ load. They say
They are devised by you, or else you suffer
Too hard an exclamation. 60 KING Still exaction!
The nature of it? In what kind, let’s know,
Is this exaction? QUEEN KATHERINE I am much too venturous
In tempting of your patience, but am boldened 65
Under your promised pardon. The subjects’ grief
Comes through commissions which compels from
each
The sixth part of his substance, to be levied
Without delay, and the pretense for this 70
Is named your wars in France. This makes bold
mouths.
Tongues spit their duties out, and cold hearts freeze
Allegiance in them. Their curses now
Live where their prayers did; and it’s come to pass 75
This tractable obedience is a slave
To each incensèd will. I would your Highness
Would give it quick consideration, for
There is no primer baseness. | All of this is news to Henry's ears; he didn't even know there was a new tax. (Hmm… seems like Wolsey is running things behind the king's back, after all). Well, that's not really an excuse, Katherine says. She tells the king that he's in charge, so he should still know about the tax in his own country. Anyway, the tax is for the campaign in France. |
KING By my life, 80
This is against our pleasure. WOLSEY And for me,
I have no further gone in this than by
A single voice, and that not passed me but
By learnèd approbation of the judges. If I am 85
Traduced by ignorant tongues, which neither know
My faculties nor person, yet will be
The chronicles of my doing, let me say
’Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake
That virtue must go through. We must not stint 90
Our necessary actions in the fear
To cope malicious censurers, which ever,
As ravenous fishes, do a vessel follow
That is new trimmed, but benefit no further
Than vainly longing. What we oft do best, 95
By sick interpreters, once weak ones, is
Not ours or not allowed; what worst, as oft,
Hitting a grosser quality, is cried up
For our best act. If we shall stand still
In fear our motion will be mocked or carped at, 100
We should take root here where we sit,
Or sit state-statues only. | Henry doesn't like the new tax. Wolsey quickly jumps in and passes the
blame. Sure, he issued the tax, but the judges made him do it. Plus, he
says, we can't just go around changing what we do whenever somebody has a
problem with it. |
KING Things done well,
And with a care, exempt themselves from fear;
Things done without example, in their issue 105
Are to be feared. Have you a precedent
Of this commission? I believe, not any.
We must not rend our subjects from our laws
And stick them in our will. Sixth part of each?
A trembling contribution! Why, we take 110
From every tree lop, bark, and part o’ th’ timber,
And though we leave it with a root, thus hacked,
The air will drink the sap. To every county
Where this is questioned send our letters with
Free pardon to each man that has denied 115
The force of this commission. Pray look to ’t;
I put it to your care. | Still, Henry thinks the tax is way too high. He gets rid of the tax and
orders that everyone who was locked up for not paying it should be let
out of prison. |
WOLSEY, aside to his Secretary A word with you.
Let there be letters writ to every shire
Of the King’s grace and pardon. The grievèd commons 120
Hardly conceive of me. Let it be noised
That through our intercession this revokement
And pardon comes. I shall anon advise you
Further in the proceeding. Secretary exits. | Wolsey gives in and orders the secretary to get rid of the tax. But—he
whispers—the secretary should make sure to let everyone know that it was
Wolsey who got rid of the tax. This dude is so up to something. |
Enter Buckingham’s Surveyor. QUEEN KATHERINE, to the King
I am sorry that the Duke of Buckingham 125
Is run in your displeasure. KING It grieves many.
The gentleman is learnèd and a most rare speaker;
To nature none more bound; his training such
That he may furnish and instruct great teachers 130
And never seek for aid out of himself. Yet see,
When these so noble benefits shall prove
Not well disposed, the mind growing once corrupt,
They turn to vicious forms ten times more ugly
Than ever they were fair. This man so complete, 135
Who was enrolled ’mongst wonders, and when we
Almost with ravished list’ning could not find
His hour of speech a minute—he, my lady,
Hath into monstrous habits put the graces
That once were his, and is become as black 140
As if besmeared in hell. Sit by us. You shall hear—
This was his gentleman in trust—of him
Things to strike honor sad.—Bid him recount
The fore-recited practices, whereof
We cannot feel too little, hear too much. 145 | Then Katherine brings up Buckingham: it's a shame he's on the outs, she
says. Henry agrees. Buckingham's a good guy, he says, so it's surprising
that he could commit treason. |
WOLSEY
Stand forth, and with bold spirit relate what you
Most like a careful subject have collected
Out of the Duke of Buckingham. KING Speak freely. SURVEYOR
First, it was usual with him—every day 150
It would infect his speech—that if the King
Should without issue die, he’ll carry it so
To make the scepter his. These very words
I’ve heard him utter to his son-in-law,
Lord Abergavenny, to whom by oath he menaced 155
Revenge upon the Cardinal. WOLSEY Please your Highness, note
This dangerous conception in this point:
Not friended by his wish to your high person,
His will is most malignant, and it stretches 160
Beyond you to your friends. | Wolsey asks the Surveyor (the guy in charge of Buckingham's land and property) to give them the deets on Buckingham. The Surveyor says that every day Buckingham would deliver a little speech about wanting to be king if Henry died. Wolsey quickly points out how dangerous Buckingham is. |
QUEEN KATHERINE My learnèd Lord Cardinal,
Deliver all with charity. KING, to Surveyor Speak on.
How grounded he his title to the crown 165
Upon our fail? To this point hast thou heard him
At any time speak aught? SURVEYOR He was brought to this
By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Henton. KING
What was that Henton? 170 SURVEYOR Sir, a Chartreux friar,
His confessor, who fed him every minute
With words of sovereignty. KING How know’st thou this? SURVEYOR
Not long before your Highness sped to France, 175
The Duke being at the Rose, within the parish
Saint Laurence Poultney, did of me demand
What was the speech among the Londoners
Concerning the French journey. I replied
Men fear the French would prove perfidious, 180
To the King’s danger. Presently the Duke
Said ’twas the fear indeed, and that he doubted
’Twould prove the verity of certain words
Spoke by a holy monk “that oft,” says he,
“Hath sent to me, wishing me to permit 185
John de la Car, my chaplain, a choice hour
To hear from him a matter of some moment;
Whom after under the confession’s seal
He solemnly had sworn that what he spoke
My chaplain to no creature living but 190
To me should utter, with demure confidence
This pausingly ensued: ‘Neither the King, nor ’s heirs—
Tell you the Duke—shall prosper. Bid him strive
To gain the love o’ th’ commonalty; the Duke
Shall govern England.’” 195 QUEEN KATHERINE If I know you well,
You were the Duke’s surveyor, and lost your office
On the complaint o’ th’ tenants. Take good heed
You charge not in your spleen a noble person
And spoil your nobler soul. I say, take heed— 200
Yes, heartily beseech you. | Katherine isn't convinced: didn't Buckingham fire this guy because too many people complained about him? This whole testimony is a sham; it's just payback. |
KING Let him on.—
Go forward. SURVEYOR On my soul, I’ll speak but truth.
I told my lord the Duke, by th’ devil’s illusions 205
The monk might be deceived, and that ’twas dangerous
For him to ruminate on this so far until
It forged him some design, which, being believed,
It was much like to do. He answered “Tush,
It can do me no damage,” adding further 210
That had the King in his last sickness failed,
The Cardinal’s and Sir Thomas Lovell’s heads
Should have gone off. KING Ha! What, so rank? Ah ha!
There’s mischief in this man! Canst thou say further? 215 SURVEYOR
I can, my liege. KING Proceed. SURVEYOR Being at Greenwich,
After your Highness had reproved the Duke
About Sir William Blumer— 220 KING
I remember of such a time, being my sworn servant,
The Duke retained him his. But on. What hence? SURVEYOR
“If,” quoth he, “I for this had been committed,”
As to the Tower, I thought, “I would have played
The part my father meant to act upon 225
Th’ usurper Richard, who, being at Salisbury,
Made suit to come in ’s presence; which if granted,
As he made semblance of his duty, would
Have put his knife into him.” KING A giant traitor! 230 WOLSEY
Now, madam, may his Highness live in freedom
And this man out of prison? QUEEN KATHERINE God mend all. KING, to Surveyor
There’s something more would out of thee. What sayst? SURVEYOR
After “the Duke his father” with “the knife,” 235
He stretched him, and with one hand on his dagger,
Another spread on ’s breast, mounting his eyes,
He did discharge a horrible oath whose tenor
Was, were he evil used, he would outgo
His father by as much as a performance 240
Does an irresolute purpose. KING There’s his period,
To sheathe his knife in us! He is attached.
Call him to present trial. If he may
Find mercy in the law, ’tis his; if none, 245
Let him not seek ’t of us. By day and night,
He’s traitor to th’ height! They exit. | Henry lets the Surveyor continue. The Surveyor goes on to give more incriminating evidence against Buckingham, like how Buckingham plans to kill Wolsey and Lovell if Henry dies. Oh, and did the Surveyor mention the help Buckingham's dad gave Richard III when he was killing his way to the throne? Buckingham plans to stab Henry in the back. That's enough to convince Henry: yep, Buckingham's a traitor all right. King Henry calls a trial. |