First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
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| Enter Lord Chamberlaine, reading this letter. | Enter the Lord Chamberlain, reading this letter | | H8 II.ii.1 | |
| LORD CHAMBERLAIN | | | |
| My Lord, the Horses your Lordship | My lord, the horses your lordship | | H8 II.ii.1 | |
| sent for, with all the care I had, I saw well chosen, ridden, | sent for, with all the care I had I saw well-chosen, ridden, | rid (v.) manage, conduct, control | H8 II.ii.2 | |
| and furnish'd. They were young and handsome, and of the | and furnished. They were young and handsome, and of the | furnished (adj.) equipped, fitted out, outfitted | H8 II.ii.3 | |
| best breed in the North. When they were ready to set out for | best breed in the north. When they were ready to set out for | | H8 II.ii.4 | |
| London, a man of my Lord Cardinalls, by Commission, and | London, a man of my lord Cardinal's, by commission and | commission (n.) warrant, authority [to act] | H8 II.ii.5 | |
| maine power tooke 'em from me, with this reason: his | main power, took 'em from me, with this reason: his | main (adj.) very great, major, considerable | H8 II.ii.6 | |
| | power (n.) force, strength, might | | |
| maister would bee seru'd before a Subiect, if not before the | master would be served before a subject, if not before the | | H8 II.ii.7 | |
| King, which stop'd our mouthes Sir. | King; which stopped our mouths, sir. | | H8 II.ii.8 | |
| I feare he will indeede; well, let him haue them; | I fear he will indeed. Well, let him have them. | | H8 II.ii.9 | |
| hee will haue all I thinke. | He will have all, I think. | | H8 II.ii.10 | |
| Enter to the Lord Chamberlaine, the Dukes of Norfolke | Enter to the Lord Chamberlain the Dukes of Norfolk | | H8 II.ii.11.1 | |
| and Suffolke. | and Suffolk | | H8 II.ii.11.2 | |
| Norf. | NORFOLK | | | |
| Well met my Lord Chamberlaine. | Well met, my Lord Chamberlain. | | H8 II.ii.11 | |
| Cham. | LORD CHAMBERLAIN | | | |
| Good day to both your Graces. | Good day to both your graces. | | H8 II.ii.12 | |
| Suff. | SUFFOLK | | | |
| How is the King imployd? | How is the King employed? | | H8 II.ii.13.1 | |
| Cham. | LORD CHAMBERLAIN | | | |
| I left him priuate, | I left him private, | | H8 II.ii.13.2 | |
| Full of sad thoughts and troubles. | Full of sad thoughts and troubles. | sad (adj.) serious, grave, solemn | H8 II.ii.14.1 | |
| Norf. | NORFOLK | | | |
| What's the cause? | What's the cause? | | H8 II.ii.14.2 | |
| Cham. | LORD CHAMBERLAIN | | | |
| It seemes the Marriage with his Brothers Wife | It seems the marriage with his brother's wife | | H8 II.ii.15 | |
| Ha's crept too neere his Conscience. | Has crept too near his conscience. | | H8 II.ii.16.1 | |
| Suff. | SUFFOLK | | | |
| (aside) | | H8 II.ii.16 | |
| No, his Conscience | No, his conscience | | H8 II.ii.16.2 | |
| Ha's crept too neere another Ladie. | Has crept too near another lady. | | H8 II.ii.17.1 | |
| Norf. | NORFOLK | | | |
| Tis so; | 'Tis so; | | H8 II.ii.17.2 | |
| This is the Cardinals doing: The King-Cardinall, | This is the Cardinal's doing; the King-Cardinal, | | H8 II.ii.18 | |
| That blinde Priest, like the eldest Sonne of Fortune, | That blind priest, like the eldest son of fortune, | | H8 II.ii.19 | |
| Turnes what he list. The King will know him one day. | Turns what he list. The King will know him one day. | list (v.) wish, like, please | H8 II.ii.20 | |
| Suff. | SUFFOLK | | | |
| Pray God he doe, / Hee'l neuer know himselfe else. | Pray God he do! He'll never know himself else. | | H8 II.ii.21 | |
| Norf. | NORFOLK | | | |
| How holily he workes in all his businesse, | How holily he works in all his business, | | H8 II.ii.22 | |
| And with what zeale? For now he has crackt the League | And with what zeal! For, now he has cracked the league | | H8 II.ii.23 | |
| Between vs & the Emperor (the Queens great Nephew) | Between us and the Emperor, the Queen's great nephew, | | H8 II.ii.24 | |
| He diues into the Kings Soule, and there scatters | He dives into the King's soul and there scatters | | H8 II.ii.25 | |
| Dangers, doubts, wringing of the Conscience, | Dangers, doubts, wringing of the conscience, | | H8 II.ii.26 | |
| Feares, and despaires, and all these for his Marriage. | Fears, and despairs – and all these for his marriage. | | H8 II.ii.27 | |
| And out of all these, to restore the King, | And out of all these to restore the King, | | H8 II.ii.28 | |
| He counsels a Diuorce, a losse of her | He counsels a divorce, a loss of her | | H8 II.ii.29 | |
| That like a Iewell, ha's hung twenty yeares | That like a jewel has hung twenty years | | H8 II.ii.30 | |
| About his necke, yet neuer lost her lustre; | About his neck, yet never lost her lustre; | | H8 II.ii.31 | |
| Of her that loues him with that excellence, | Of her that loves him with that excellence | | H8 II.ii.32 | |
| That Angels loue good men with: Euen of her, | That angels love good men with; even of her | | H8 II.ii.33 | |
| That when the greatest stroake of Fortune falls | That, when the greatest stroke of fortune falls, | | H8 II.ii.34 | |
| Will blesse the King: and is not this course pious? | Will bless the King – and is not this course pious? | course (n.) course of action, way of proceeding | H8 II.ii.35 | |
| Cham. | LORD CHAMBERLAIN | | | |
| Heauen keep me from such councel: tis most true | Heaven keep me from such counsel! 'Tis most true | | H8 II.ii.36 | |
| These newes are euery where, euery tongue speaks 'em, | These news are everywhere, every tongue speaks 'em, | | H8 II.ii.37 | |
| And euery true heart weepes for't. All that dare | And every true heart weeps for't. All that dare | true (adj.) loyal, firm, faithful in allegiance | H8 II.ii.38 | |
| Looke into these affaires, see this maine end, | Look into these affairs see this main end, | | H8 II.ii.39 | |
| The French Kings Sister. Heauen will one day open | The French King's sister. Heaven will one day open | | H8 II.ii.40 | |
| The Kings eyes, that so long haue slept vpon | The King's eyes, that so long have slept upon | sleep upon (v.) disregard, ignore, pay no attention to | H8 II.ii.41 | |
| This bold bad man. | This bold bad man. | | H8 II.ii.42.1 | |
| Suff. | SUFFOLK | | | |
| And free vs from his slauery. | And free us from his slavery. | | H8 II.ii.42.2 | |
| Norf. | NORFOLK | | | |
| We had need pray, | We had need pray, | | H8 II.ii.43 | |
| And heartily, for our deliuerance; | And heartily, for our deliverance, | | H8 II.ii.44 | |
| Or this imperious man will worke vs all | Or this imperious man will work us all | | H8 II.ii.45 | |
| From Princes into Pages: all mens honours | From princes into pages. All men's honours | | H8 II.ii.46 | |
| Lie like one lumpe before him, to be fashion'd | Lie like one lump before him, to be fashioned | | H8 II.ii.47 | |
| Into what pitch he please. | Into what pitch he please. | pitch (n.) height [to which a bird of prey soars before swooping] | H8 II.ii.48.1 | |
| Suff. | SUFFOLK | | | |
| For me, my Lords, | For me, my lords, | | H8 II.ii.48.2 | |
| I loue him not, nor feare him, there's my Creede: | I love him not, nor fear him – there's my creed. | | H8 II.ii.49 | |
| As I am made without him, so Ile stand, | As I am made without him, so I'll stand, | stand (v.) continue, remain, wait, stay put | H8 II.ii.50 | |
| If the King please: his Curses and his blessings | If the King please. His curses and his blessings | | H8 II.ii.51 | |
| Touch me alike: th'are breath I not beleeue in. | Touch me alike; they're breath I not believe in. | touch (v.) affect, move, stir | H8 II.ii.52 | |
| I knew him, and I know him: so I leaue him | I knew him, and I know him; so I leave him | | H8 II.ii.53 | |
| To him that made him proud; the Pope. | To him that made him proud – the Pope. | | H8 II.ii.54.1 | |
| Norf. | NORFOLK | | | |
| Let's in; | Let's in, | | H8 II.ii.54.2 | |
| And with some other busines, put the King | And with some other business put the King | | H8 II.ii.55 | |
| From these sad thoughts, that work too much vpon him: | From these sad thoughts that work too much upon him. | sad (adj.) serious, grave, solemn | H8 II.ii.56 | |
| My Lord, youle beare vs company? | My lord, you'll bear us company? | | H8 II.ii.57.1 | |
| Cham. | LORD CHAMBERLAIN | | | |
| Excuse me, | Excuse me, | | H8 II.ii.57.2 | |
| The King ha's sent me otherwhere: Besides | The king has sent me otherwhere. Besides, | otherwhere (adv.) elsewhere, somewhere else | H8 II.ii.58 | |
| You'l finde a most vnfit time to disturbe him: | You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him. | | H8 II.ii.59 | |
| Health to your Lordships. | Health to your lordships! | | H8 II.ii.60.1 | |
| Norfolke. | NORFOLK | | | |
| Thankes my good Lord Chamberlaine. | Thanks, my good Lord Chamberlain. | | H8 II.ii.60.2 | |
| Exit Lord Chamberlaine, and | Exit Lord Chamberlain | | H8 II.ii.60 | |
| the King drawes the Curtaine and sits reading pensiuely. | The King draws the curtain and sits reading pensively | | H8 II.ii.61.1 | |
| Suff. | SUFFOLK | | | |
| How sad he lookes; sure he is much afflicted. | How sad he looks; sure he is much afflicted. | | H8 II.ii.61 | |
| Kin. | KING HENRY | | | |
| Who's there? Ha? | Who's there, ha? | | H8 II.ii.62.1 | |
| Norff. | NORFOLK | | | |
| Pray God he be not angry. | Pray God he be not angry. | | H8 II.ii.62.2 | |
| Kin. | KING HENRY | | | |
| Who's there I say? How dare you thrust yourselues | Who's there, I say? How dare you thrust yourselves | | H8 II.ii.63 | |
| Into my priuate Meditations? | Into my private meditations? | | H8 II.ii.64 | |
| Who am I? Ha? | Who am I, ha? | | H8 II.ii.65 | |
| Norff. | NORFOLK | | | |
| A gracious King, that pardons all offences | A gracious king that pardons all offences | | H8 II.ii.66 | |
| Malice ne're meant: Our breach of Duty this way, | Malice ne'er meant. Our breach of duty this way | | H8 II.ii.67 | |
| Is businesse of Estate; in which, we come | Is business of estate, in which we come | estate (n.) state, kingdom | H8 II.ii.68 | |
| To know your Royall pleasure. | To know your royal pleasure. | | H8 II.ii.69.1 | |
| Kin. | KING HENRY | | | |
| Ye are too bold: | Ye are too bold. | | H8 II.ii.69.2 | |
| Go too; Ile make ye know your times of businesse: | Go to; I'll make ye know your times of business. | | H8 II.ii.70 | |
| Is this an howre for temporall affaires? Ha? | Is this an hour for temporal affairs, ha? | temporal (adj.) secular, civil, worldly | H8 II.ii.71 | |
| Enter Wolsey and Campeius with a Commission. | Enter Wolsey and Campeius with a commission | | H8 II.ii.72 | |
| Who's there? my good Lord Cardinall? O my Wolsey, | Who's there? My good lord Cardinal? O my Wolsey, | | H8 II.ii.72 | |
| The quiet of my wounded Conscience; | The quiet of my wounded conscience, | quiet (n.) calmness, peace of mind, serenity | H8 II.ii.73 | |
| Thou art a cure fit for a King; you'r welcome | Thou art a cure fit for a king. (to Campeius) You're welcome, | | H8 II.ii.74 | |
| Most learned Reuerend Sir, into our Kingdome, | Most learned reverend sir, into our kingdom; | | H8 II.ii.75 | |
| Vse vs, and it: My good Lord, haue great care, | Use us, and it. (to Wolsey) My good lord, have great care | | H8 II.ii.76 | |
| I be not found a Talker. | I be not found a talker. | talker (n.) someone of words but not deeds | H8 II.ii.77.1 | |
| Wol. | WOLSEY | | | |
| Sir, you cannot; | Sir, you cannot. | | H8 II.ii.77.2 | |
| I would your Grace would giue vs but an houre | I would your grace would give us but an hour | | H8 II.ii.78 | |
| Of priuate conference. | Of private conference. | | H8 II.ii.79.1 | |
| Kin. | KING HENRY | | | |
| (to Norfolk and Suffolk) | | H8 II.ii.79 | |
| We are busie; goe. | We are busy; go. | | H8 II.ii.79.2 | |
| Norff. | NORFOLK | | | |
| (aside to Suffolk) | | H8 II.ii.80 | |
| This Priest ha's no pride in him? | This priest has no pride in him! | | H8 II.ii.80.1 | |
| Suff. | SUFFOLK | | | |
| (aside to Norfolk) | | H8 II.ii.80 | |
| Not to speake of: | Not to speak of! | | H8 II.ii.80.2 | |
| I would not be so sicke though for his place: | I would not be so sick though for his place. | sick (adj.) longing, pining, avid | H8 II.ii.81 | |
| But this cannot continue. | But this cannot continue. | | H8 II.ii.82.1 | |
| Norff. | NORFOLK | | | |
| (aside to Suffolk) | | H8 II.ii.82.0 | |
| If it doe, | If it do, | | H8 II.ii.82.2 | |
| Ile venture one; haue at him. | I'll venture one have-at-him. | have-at-him (n.) thrust | H8 II.ii.83.1 | |
| Suff. | SUFFOLK | | | |
| (aside to Norfolk) | | H8 II.ii.83.0 | |
| I another. | I another. | | H8 II.ii.83.2 | |
| Exeunt Norfolke and Suffolke. | Exeunt Norfolk and Suffolk | | H8 II.ii.83.3 | |
| Wol. | WOLSEY | | | |
| Your Grace ha's giuen a President of wisedome | Your grace has given a precedent of wisdom | | H8 II.ii.84 | |
| Aboue all Princes, in committing freely | Above all princes, in committing freely | | H8 II.ii.85 | |
| Your scruple to the voyce of Christendome: | Your scruple to the voice of Christendom. | scruple (n.) suspicion, misgiving, doubt | H8 II.ii.86 | |
| | voice (n.) authoritative opinion, judgement | | |
| Who can be angry now? What Enuy reach you? | Who can be angry now? What envy reach you? | envy (n.) malice, ill-will, enmity | H8 II.ii.87 | |
| The Spaniard tide by blood and fauour to her, | The Spaniard, tied by blood and favour to her, | | H8 II.ii.88 | |
| Must now confesse, if they haue any goodnesse, | Must now confess, if they have any goodness, | | H8 II.ii.89 | |
| The Tryall, iust and Noble. All the Clerkes, | The trial just and noble. All the clerks – | clerk (n.) scholar, sage, man of learning | H8 II.ii.90 | |
| (I meane the learned ones in Christian Kingdomes) | I mean the learned ones in Christian kingdoms – | | H8 II.ii.91 | |
| Haue their free voyces. Rome (the Nurse of Iudgement) | Have their free voices. Rome, the nurse of judgement, | | H8 II.ii.92 | |
| Inuited by your Noble selfe, hath sent | Invited by your noble self, hath sent | | H8 II.ii.93 | |
| One generall Tongue vnto vs. This good man, | One general tongue unto us, this good man, | general (adj.) joint, common, communal | H8 II.ii.94 | |
| This iust and learned Priest, Cardnall Campeius, | This just and learned priest, Cardinal Campeius, | | H8 II.ii.95 | |
| Whom once more, I present vnto your Highnesse. | Whom once more I present unto your highness. | | H8 II.ii.96 | |
| Kin. | KING HENRY | | | |
| And once more in mine armes I bid him welcome, | And once more in mine arms I bid him welcome, | | H8 II.ii.97 | |
| And thanke the holy Conclaue for their loues, | And thank the holy conclave for their loves. | | H8 II.ii.98 | |
| They haue sent me such a Man, I would haue wish'd for. | They have sent me such a man I would have wished for. | | H8 II.ii.99 | |
| Cam. | CAMPEIUS | | | |
| Your Grace must needs deserue all strangers loues, | Your grace must needs deserve all strangers' loves, | stranger (n.) foreigner, alien, outsider | H8 II.ii.100 | |
| You are so Noble: To your Highnesse hand | You are so noble. To your highness' hand | | H8 II.ii.101 | |
| I tender my Commission; by whose vertue, | I tender my commission, by whose virtue, | | H8 II.ii.102 | |
| The Court of Rome commanding. You my Lord | The court of Rome commanding, you, my lord | | H8 II.ii.103 | |
| Cardinall of Yorke, are ioyn'd with me their Seruant, | Cardinal of York, are joined with me their servant | | H8 II.ii.104 | |
| In the vnpartiall iudging of this Businesse. | In the unpartial judging of this business. | unpartial (adj.) impartial, detached, neutral | H8 II.ii.105 | |
| Kin. | KING HENRY | | | |
| Two equall men: The Queene shall be acquainted | Two equal men. The Queen shall be acquainted | equal (adj.) fair, equitable, evenhanded | H8 II.ii.106 | |
| Forthwith for what you come. Where's Gardiner? | Forthwith for what you come. Where's Gardiner? | | H8 II.ii.107 | |
| Wol. | WOLSEY | | | |
| I know your Maiesty, ha's alwayes lou'd her | I know your majesty has always loved her | | H8 II.ii.108 | |
| So deare in heart, not to deny her that | So dear in heart not to deny her that | | H8 II.ii.109 | |
| A Woman of lesse Place might aske by Law; | A woman of less place might ask by law – | | H8 II.ii.110 | |
| Schollers allow'd freely to argue for her. | Scholars allowed freely to argue for her. | | H8 II.ii.111 | |
| Kin. | KING HENRY | | | |
| I, and the best she shall haue; and my fauour | Ay, and the best she shall have, and my favour | | H8 II.ii.112 | |
| To him that does best, God forbid els: Cardinall, | To him that does best, God forbid else. Cardinal, | | H8 II.ii.113 | |
| Prethee call Gardiner to me, my new Secretary. | Prithee call Gardiner to me, my new secretary; | | H8 II.ii.114 | |
| I find him a fit fellow. | I find him a fit fellow. | fit (adj.) suited, fitting, appropriate | H8 II.ii.115 | |
| Exit Wolsey | | H8 II.ii.115 | |
| Enter Gardiner. | Enter Wolsey, with Gardiner | | H8 II.ii.116 | |
| Wol. | WOLSEY | | | |
| (aside to Gardiner) | | H8 II.ii.116 | |
| Giue me your hand: much ioy & fauour to you; | Give me your hand: much joy and favour to you. | | H8 II.ii.116 | |
| You are the Kings now. | You are the King's now. | | H8 II.ii.117.1 | |
| Gard. | GARDINER | | | |
| (aside to Wolsey) | | H8 II.ii.117 | |
| But to be commanded | But to be commanded | | H8 II.ii.117.2 | |
| For euer by your Grace, whose hand ha's rais'd me. | For ever by your grace, whose hand has raised me. | | H8 II.ii.118 | |
| Kin. | KING HENRY | | | |
| Come hither Gardiner. | Come hither, Gardiner. | | H8 II.ii.119 | |
| Walkes and whispers. | Walks and whispers | | H8 II.ii.120 | |
| Camp. | CAMPEIUS | | | |
| My Lord of Yorke, was not one Doctor Pace | My Lord of York, was not one Doctor Pace | | H8 II.ii.120 | |
| In this mans place before him? | In this man's place before him? | | H8 II.ii.121.1 | |
| Wol. | WOLSEY | | | |
| Yes, he was. | Yes, he was. | | H8 II.ii.121.2 | |
| Camp. | CAMPEIUS | | | |
| Was he not held a learned man? | Was he not held a learned man? | | H8 II.ii.122.1 | |
| Wol. | WOLSEY | | | |
| Yes surely. | Yes, surely. | | H8 II.ii.122.2 | |
| Camp. | CAMPEIUS | | | |
| Beleeue me, there's an ill opinion spread then, | Believe me, there's an ill opinion spread then, | ill (adj.) bad, adverse, unfavourable | H8 II.ii.123 | |
| Euen of your selfe Lord Cardinall. | Even of yourself, lord Cardinal. | | H8 II.ii.124.1 | |
| Wol. | WOLSEY | | | |
| How? of me? | How? Of me? | | H8 II.ii.124.2 | |
| Camp | CAMPEIUS | | | |
| They will not sticke to say, you enuide him; | They will not stick to say you envied him, | stick (v.) hesitate, linger, think twice | H8 II.ii.125 | |
| And fearing he would rise (he was so vertuous) | And fearing he would rise, he was so virtuous, | | H8 II.ii.126 | |
| Kept him a forraigne man still, which so greeu'd him, | Kept him a foreign man still, which so grieved him | still (adv.) constantly, always, continually | H8 II.ii.127 | |
| That he ran mad, and dide. | That he ran mad and died. | | H8 II.ii.128.1 | |
| Wol. | WOLSEY | | | |
| Heau'ns peace be with him: | Heaven's peace be with him! | | H8 II.ii.128.2 | |
| That's Christian care enough: for liuing Murmurers, | That's Christian care enough. For living murmurers | | H8 II.ii.129 | |
| There's places of rebuke. He was a Foole; | There's places of rebuke. He was a fool, | | H8 II.ii.130 | |
| For he would needs be vertuous. That good Fellow, | For he would needs be virtuous. That good fellow, | | H8 II.ii.131 | |
| If I command him followes my appointment, | If I command him, follows my appointment; | appointment (n.) order, direction, arrangement | H8 II.ii.132 | |
| I will haue none so neere els. Learne this Brother, | I will have none so near else. Learn this, brother, | near (adj.) intimate, familiar | H8 II.ii.133 | |
| We liue not to be grip'd by meaner persons. | We live not to be griped by meaner persons. | mean (adj.) of low rank, inferior in position, less important | H8 II.ii.134 | |
| | gripe (v.) clutch, grasp, seize | | |
| Kin. | KING HENRY | | | |
| Deliuer this with modesty to th'Queene. | Deliver this with modesty to th' Queen. | modesty (n.) propriety, protocol, seemly behaviour | H8 II.ii.135 | |
| Exit Gardiner. | Exit Gardiner | | H8 II.ii.135 | |
| The most conuenient place, that I can thinke of | The most convenient place that I can think of | | H8 II.ii.136 | |
| For such receipt of Learning, is Black-Fryers: | For such receipt of learning is Blackfriars; | receipt (n.) reception, receiving venue | H8 II.ii.137 | |
| | learning (n.) scholarship, learned opinion | | |
| There ye shall meete about this waighty busines. | There ye shall meet about this weighty business. | | H8 II.ii.138 | |
| My Wolsey, see it furnish'd, O my Lord, | My Wolsey, see it furnished. O, my lord, | | H8 II.ii.139 | |
| Would it not grieue an able man to leaue | Would it not grieve an able man to leave | able (adj.) strong, vigorous, powerful | H8 II.ii.140 | |
| So sweet a Bedfellow? But Conscience, Conscience; | So sweet a bedfellow? But conscience, conscience! | | H8 II.ii.141 | |
| O 'tis a tender place, and I must leaue her. | O, 'tis a tender place, and I must leave her. | | H8 II.ii.142 | |
| Exeunt. | Exeunt | | H8 II.ii.142 | |