Whom after under the confession's seal He solemnly had sworn, that what he spoke My chaplain to no creature living, but 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' the commonalty: the duke Shall govern England.' QUEEN KATHARINE If I know you well, You were the duke's surveyor, and lost your office On the complaint o' the tenants: take good heed You charge not in your spleen a noble person And spoil your nobler soul: I say, take heed;Yes, heartily beseech you. KING HENRY VIII Let him on.
Go forward. Surveyor On my soul, I'll speak but truth.
I told my lord the duke, by the devil's illusions 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 answer'd, 'Tush, It can do me no damage;' adding further, That, had the king in his last sickness fail'd, The cardinal's and Sir Thomas Lovell's heads Should have gone off. KING HENRY VIII Ha! what, so rank? Ah ha!
There's mischief in this man: canst thou say further? Surveyor I can, my liege. KING HENRY VIII Proceed. Surveyor Being at Greenwich, After your highness had reproved the duke About Sir William Blomer,-- KING HENRY VIII I remember Of such a time: being my sworn servant, The duke retain'd 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 play'd The part my father meant to act upon The 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 to him.' KING HENRY VIII A giant traitor! CARDINAL WOLSEY Now, madam, may his highness live in freedom, and this man out of prison? QUEEN KATHARINE God mend all! KING HENRY VIII There's something more would out of thee;what say'st? Surveyor After 'the duke his father,' with 'the knife,'
He stretch'd 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 Does an irresolute purpose. KING HENRY VIII There's his period, To sheathe his knife in us. He is attach'd;Call him to present trial: if he may Find mercy in the law, 'tis his: if none, Let him not seek 't of us: by day and night, He's traitor to the height.
Exeunt SCENE III. An ante-chamber in the palace. Enter Chamberlain and SANDS Chamberlain Is't possible the spells of France should juggle Men into such strange mysteries? SANDS New customs, Though they be never so ridiculous, Nay, let 'em be unmanly, yet are follow'd. Chamberlain As far as I see, all the good our English Have got by the late voyage is but merely A fit or two o' the face; but they are shrewd ones;For when they hold 'em, you would swear directly Their very noses had been counsellors To Pepin or Clotharius, they keep state so. SANDS They have all new legs, and lame ones:
one would take it, That never saw 'em pace before, the spavin Or springhalt reign'd among 'em. Chamberlain Death! my lord, Their clothes are after such a pagan cut too, That, sure, they've worn out Christendom.
Enter LOVELL
How now!
What news, Sir Thomas Lovell? LOVELL Faith, my lord, I hear of none, but the new proclamation That's clapp'd upon the court-gate. Chamberlain What is't for? LOVELL The reformation of our travell'd gallants, That fill the court with quarrels, talk, and tailors. Chamberlain I'm glad 'tis there: now I would pray our monsieurs To think an English courtier may be wise, And never see the Louvre. LOVELL They must either, For so run the conditions, leave those remnants Of fool and feather that they got in France, With all their honourable point of ignorance Pertaining thereunto, as fights and fireworks, Abusing better men than they can be, Out of a foreign wisdom, renouncing clean The faith they have in tennis, and tall stockings, Short blister'd breeches, and those types of travel, And understand again like honest men;Or pack to their old playfellows: there, I take it, They may, 'cum privilegio,' wear away The lag end of their lewdness and be laugh'd at. SANDS 'Tis time to give 'em physic, their diseases Are grown so catching. Chamberlain What a loss our ladies Will have of these trim vanities! LOVELL Ay, marry, There will be woe indeed, lords: the sly whoresons Have got a speeding trick to lay down ladies;A French song and a fiddle has no fellow. SANDS The devil fiddle 'em! I am glad they are going, For, sure, there's no converting of 'em: now An honest country lord, as I am, beaten A long time out of play, may bring his plainsong And have an hour of hearing; and, by'r lady, Held current music too. Chamberlain Well said, Lord Sands;Your colt's tooth is not cast yet. SANDS No, my lord;Nor shall not, while I have a stump. Chamberlain Sir Thomas, Whither were you a-going? LOVELL To the cardinal's:
Your lordship is a guest too. Chamberlain O, 'tis true:
This night he makes a supper, and a great one, To many lords and ladies; there will be The beauty of this kingdom, I'll assure you. LOVELL That churchman bears a bounteous mind indeed, A hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us;His dews fall every where. Chamberlain No doubt he's noble;He had a black mouth that said other of him. SANDS He may, my lord; has wherewithal: in him Sparing would show a worse sin than ill doctrine:
Men of his way should be most liberal;
They are set here for examples. Chamberlain True, they are so:
But few now give so great ones. My barge stays;Your lordship shall along. Come, good Sir Thomas, We shall be late else; which I would not be, For I was spoke to, with Sir Henry Guildford This night to be comptrollers. SANDS I am your lordship's.
