Speeches (Lines) for First Gentleman
in "Henry VIII"
Total: 34

1

II,1,815

(stage directions). [Enter two Gentlemen, meeting]

First Gentleman. Whither away so fast?

2

II,1,819

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.

3

II,1,823

Second Gentleman. Were you there?

First Gentleman. Yes, indeed, was I.

4

II,1,825

Second Gentleman. Pray, speak what has happen'd.

First Gentleman. You may guess quickly what.

5

II,1,827

Second Gentleman. Is he found guilty?

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

6

II,1,829

Second Gentleman. I am sorry for't.

First Gentleman. So are a number more.

7

II,1,831

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.

8

II,1,845

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.

9

II,1,853

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.

10

II,1,860

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.

11

II,1,865

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.

12

II,1,872

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.

13

II,1,882

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]

14

II,1,974

(stage directions). [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.

15

II,1,981

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?

16

II,1,985

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.

17

II,1,991

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.

18

II,1,1005

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.

19

II,1,1012

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.

20

IV,1,2378

(stage directions). [Enter two Gentlemen, meeting one another]

First Gentleman. You're well met once again.

21

IV,1,2380

Second Gentleman. So are you.

First Gentleman. You come to take your stand here, and behold
The Lady Anne pass from her coronation?

22

IV,1,2384

Second Gentleman. 'Tis all my business. At our last encounter,
The Duke of Buckingham came from his trial.

First Gentleman. 'Tis very true: but that time offer'd sorrow;
This, general joy.

23

IV,1,2391

Second Gentleman. 'Tis well: the citizens,
I am sure, have shown at full their royal minds—
As, let 'em have their rights, they are ever forward—
In celebration of this day with shows,
Pageants and sights of honour.

First Gentleman. Never greater,
Nor, I'll assure you, better taken, sir.

24

IV,1,2395

Second Gentleman. May I be bold to ask at what that contains,
That paper in your hand?

First Gentleman. Yes; 'tis the list
Of those that claim their offices this day
By custom of the coronation.
The Duke of Suffolk is the first, and claims
To be high-steward; next, the Duke of Norfolk,
He to be earl marshal: you may read the rest.

25

IV,1,2405

Second Gentleman. I thank you, sir: had I not known those customs,
I should have been beholding to your paper.
But, I beseech you, what's become of Katharine,
The princess dowager? how goes her business?

First Gentleman. That I can tell you too. The Archbishop
Of Canterbury, accompanied with other
Learned and reverend fathers of his order,
Held a late court at Dunstable, six miles off
From Ampthill where the princess lay; to which
She was often cited by them, but appear'd not:
And, to be short, for not appearance and
The king's late scruple, by the main assent
Of all these learned men she was divorced,
And the late marriage made of none effect
Since which she was removed to Kimbolton,
Where she remains now sick.

26

IV,1,2454

Second Gentleman. A royal train, believe me. These I know:
Who's that that bears the sceptre?

First Gentleman. Marquess Dorset:
And that the Earl of Surrey, with the rod.

27

IV,1,2458

Second Gentleman. A bold brave gentleman. That should be
The Duke of Suffolk?

First Gentleman. 'Tis the same: high-steward.

28

IV,1,2460

Second Gentleman. And that my Lord of Norfolk?

First Gentleman. Yes;

29

IV,1,2468

Second Gentleman. Heaven bless thee!
[Looking on QUEEN ANNE]
Thou hast the sweetest face I ever look'd on.
Sir, as I have a soul, she is an angel;
Our king has all the Indies in his arms,
And more and richer, when he strains that lady:
I cannot blame his conscience.

First Gentleman. They that bear
The cloth of honour over her, are four barons
Of the Cinque-ports.

30

IV,1,2474

Second Gentleman. Those men are happy; and so are all are near her.
I take it, she that carries up the train
Is that old noble lady, Duchess of Norfolk.

First Gentleman. It is; and all the rest are countesses.

31

IV,1,2477

Second Gentleman. Their coronets say so. These are stars indeed;
And sometimes falling ones.

First Gentleman. No more of that.

32

IV,1,2480

(stage directions). [Enter a third Gentleman]

First Gentleman. God save you, sir! where have you been broiling?

33

IV,1,2487

Third Gentleman. That I did.

First Gentleman. How was it?

34

IV,1,2524

Third Gentleman. At length her grace rose, and with modest paces
Came to the altar; where she kneel'd, and saint-like
Cast her fair eyes to heaven and pray'd devoutly.
Then rose again and bow'd her to the people:
When by the Archbishop of Canterbury
She had all the royal makings of a queen;
As holy oil, Edward Confessor's crown,
The rod, and bird of peace, and all such emblems
Laid nobly on her: which perform'd, the choir,
With all the choicest music of the kingdom,
Together sung 'Te Deum.' So she parted,
And with the same full state paced back again
To York-place, where the feast is held.

First Gentleman. Sir,
You must no more call it York-place, that's past;
For, since the cardinal fell, that title's lost:
'Tis now the king's, and call'd Whitehall.