SCENE I. Westminster. A street. The Life of King Henry the Eighth  Shakespeare homepage  |  Henry VIII  | Act 2, Scene 1 

 Previous scene  |  Next scene  SCENE I. Westminster. A street. 

 Enter two Gentlemen, meeting  First Gentleman  Whither away so fast? 

 Second Gentleman  O, God save ye! 

 Even to the hall, to hear what shall become 

 Of the great Duke of Buckingham. 

 First Gentleman  I'll save you 

 That labour, sir. All's now done, but the ceremony 

 Of bringing back the prisoner. 

 Second Gentleman  Were you there? 

 First Gentleman  Yes, indeed, was I. 

 Second Gentleman  Pray, speak what has happen'd. 

 First Gentleman  You may guess quickly what. 

 Second Gentleman  Is he found guilty? 

 First Gentleman  Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon't. 

 Second Gentleman  I am sorry for't. 

 First Gentleman  So are a number more. 

 Second Gentleman  But, pray, how pass'd it? 

 First Gentleman  I'll tell you in a little. The great duke 

 Came to the bar; where to his accusations 

 He pleaded still not guilty and alleged 

 Many sharp reasons to defeat the law. 

 The king's attorney on the contrary 

 Urged on the examinations, proofs, confessions 

 Of divers witnesses; which the duke desired 

 To have brought viva voce to his face: 

 At which appear'd against him his surveyor; 

 Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Car, 

 Confessor to him; with that devil-monk, 

 Hopkins, that made this mischief. 

 Second Gentleman  That was he 

 That fed him with his prophecies? 

 First Gentleman  The same. 

 All these accused him strongly; which he fain 

 Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could not: 

 And so his peers, upon this evidence, 

 Have found him guilty of high treason. Much 

 He spoke, and learnedly, for life; but all 

 Was either pitied in him or forgotten. 

 Second Gentleman  After all this, how did he bear himself? 

 First Gentleman  When he was brought again to the bar, to hear 

 His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr'd 

 With such an agony, he sweat extremely, 

 And something spoke in choler, ill, and hasty: 

 But he fell to himself again, and sweetly 

 In all the rest show'd a most noble patience. 

 Second Gentleman  I do not think he fears death. 

 First Gentleman  Sure, he does not: 

 He never was so womanish; the cause 

 He may a little grieve at. 

 Second Gentleman  Certainly 

 The cardinal is the end of this. 

 First Gentleman  'Tis likely, 

 By all conjectures: first, Kildare's attainder, 

 Then deputy of Ireland; who removed, 

 Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too, 

 Lest he should help his father. 

 Second Gentleman  That trick of state 

 Was a deep envious one. 

 First Gentleman  At his return 

 No doubt he will requite it. This is noted, 

 And generally, whoever the king favours, 

 The cardinal instantly will find employment, 

 And far enough from court too. 

 Second Gentleman  All the commons 

 Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience, 

 Wish him ten fathom deep: this duke as much 

 They love and dote on; call him bounteous Buckingham, 

 The mirror of all courtesy;-- 

 First Gentleman  Stay there, sir, 

 And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of. 



 Enter BUCKINGHAM from his arraignment; tip-staves  before him; the axe with the edge towards him;  halberds on each side: accompanied with LOVELL, VAUX, SANDS, and common people  Second Gentleman  Let's stand close, and behold him. 

 BUCKINGHAM  All good people, 

 You that thus far have come to pity me, 

 Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me. 

 I have this day received a traitor's judgment, 

 And by that name must die: yet, heaven bear witness, 

 And if I have a co nscience, let it sink me, 

 Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful! 

 The law I bear no malice for my death; 

 'T has done, upon the premises, but justice: 

 But those that sought it I could wish more Christians: 

 Be what they will, I heartily forgive 'em: 

 Yet let 'em look they glory not in mischief, 

 Nor build their evils on the graves of great men; 

 For then my guiltless blood must cry against 'em. 

 For further life in this world I ne'er hope, 

 Nor will I sue, although the king have mercies 

 More than I dare make faults. You few that loved me, 

 And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham, 

 His noble friends and fellows, whom to leave 

 Is only bitter to him, only dying, 

 Go with me, like good angels, to my end; 

 And, as the long divorce of steel falls on me, 

 Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice, 

 And lift my soul to heaven. Lead on, o' God's name. 

 LOVELL  I do beseech your grace, for charity, 

 If ever any malice in your heart 

 Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly. 

 BUCKINGHAM  Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you 

 As I would be forgiven: I forgive all; 

 There cannot be those numberless offences 

 'Gainst me, that I cannot take peace with: 

 no black envy 

 Shall mark my grave. Commend me to his grace; 

 And if he speak of Buckingham, pray, tell him 

 You met him half in heaven: my vows and prayers 

 Yet are the king's; and, till my soul forsake, 

 Shall cry for blessings on him: may he live 

 Longer than I have time to tell his years! 

 Ever beloved and loving may his rule be! 

 And when old time shall lead him to his end, 

 Goodness and he fill up one monument! 

 LOVELL  To the water side I must conduct your grace; 

 Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux, 

 Who undertakes you to your end. 

 VAUX  Prepare there, 

 The duke is coming: see the barge be ready; 

 And fit it with such furniture as suits 

 The greatness of his person. 

 BUCKINGHAM  Nay, Sir Nicholas, 

 Let it alone; my state now will but mock me. 

 When I came hither, I was lord high constable 

 And Duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun: 

 Yet I am richer than my base accusers, 

 That never knew what truth meant: I now seal it; 

 And with that blood will make 'em one day groan for't. 

 My noble father, Henry of Buckingham, 

 Who first raised head against usurping Richard, 

 Flying for succor to his servant Banister, 

 Being distress'd, was by that wretch betray'd, 

 And without trial fell; God's peace be with him! 

 Henry the Seventh succeeding, truly pitying 

 My father's loss, like a most royal prince, 

 Restored me to my honours, and, out of ruins, 

 Made my name once more noble. Now his son, 

 Henry the Eighth, life, honour, name and all 

 That made me happy at one stroke has taken 

 For ever from the world. I had my trial, 

 And, must needs say, a noble one; which makes me, 

 A little happier than my wretched father: 

 Yet thus far we are one in fortunes: both 

 Fell by our servants, by those men we loved most; 

 A most unnatural and faithless service! 

 Heaven has an end in all: yet, you that hear me, 

 This from a dying man receive as certain: 

 Where you are liberal of your loves and counsels 

 Be sure you be not loose; for those you make friends 

 And give your hearts to, when they once perceive 

 The least rub in your fortunes, fall away 

 Like water from ye, never found again 

 But where they mean to sink ye. All good people, 

 Pray for me! I must now forsake ye: the last hour 

 Of my long weary life is come upon me. Farewell: 

 And when you would say something that is sad, 

 Speak how I fell. I have done; and God forgive me! 



 Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and Train  First Gentleman  O, this is full of pity! Sir, it calls, 

 I fear, too many curses on their beads 

 That were the authors. 

 Second Gentleman  If the duke be guiltless, 

 'Tis full of woe: yet I can give you inkling 

 Of an ensuing evil, if it fall, 

 Greater than this. 

 First Gentleman  Good angels keep it from us! 

 What may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir? 

 Second Gentleman  This secret is so weighty, 'twill require 

 A strong faith to conceal it. 

 First Gentleman  Let me have it; 

 I do not talk much. 

 Second Gentleman  I am confident, 

 You shall, sir: did you not of late days hear 

 A buzzing of a separation 

 Between the king and Katharine? 

 First Gentleman  Yes, but it held not: 

 For when the king once heard it, out of anger 

 He sent command to the lord mayor straight 

 To stop the rumor, and allay those tongues 

 That durst disperse it. 

 Second Gentleman  But that slander, sir, 

 Is found a truth now: for it grows again 

 Fresher than e'er it was; and held for certain 

 The king will venture at it. Either the cardinal, 

 Or some about him near, have, out of malice 

 To the good queen, possess'd him with a scruple 

 That will undo her: to confirm this too, 

 Cardinal Campeius is arrived, and lately; 

 As all think, for this business. 

 First Gentleman  'Tis the cardinal; 

 And merely to revenge him on the emperor 

 For not bestowing on him, at his asking, 

 The archbishopric of Toledo, this is purposed. 

 Second Gentleman  I think you have hit the mark: but is't not cruel 

 That she should feel the smart of this? The cardinal 

 Will have his will, and she must fall. 

 First Gentleman  'Tis woful. 

 We are too open here to argue this; 

 Let's think in private more. 



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