Speeches (Lines) for Lord Chamberlain
in "Henry VIII"
Total: 38

1

I,3,570

(stage directions). [Enter Chamberlain and SANDS]

Lord Chamberlain. Is't possible the spells of France should juggle
Men into such strange mysteries?

2

I,3,575

Lord Sands. New customs,
Though they be never so ridiculous,
Nay, let 'em be unmanly, yet are follow'd.

Lord 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.

3

I,3,584

Lord 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.

Lord 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?

4

I,3,593

Sir Thomas Lovell. Faith, my lord,
I hear of none, but the new proclamation
That's clapp'd upon the court-gate.

Lord Chamberlain. What is't for?

5

I,3,596

Sir Thomas Lovell. The reformation of our travell'd gallants,
That fill the court with quarrels, talk, and tailors.

Lord 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.

6

I,3,614

Lord Sands. 'Tis time to give 'em physic, their diseases
Are grown so catching.

Lord Chamberlain. What a loss our ladies
Will have of these trim vanities!

7

I,3,626

Lord 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.

Lord Chamberlain. Well said, Lord Sands;
Your colt's tooth is not cast yet.

8

I,3,630

Lord Sands. No, my lord;
Nor shall not, while I have a stump.

Lord Chamberlain. Sir Thomas,
Whither were you a-going?

9

I,3,634

Sir Thomas Lovell. To the cardinal's:
Your lordship is a guest too.

Lord 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.

10

I,3,641

Sir Thomas Lovell. That churchman bears a bounteous mind indeed,
A hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us;
His dews fall every where.

Lord Chamberlain. No doubt he's noble;
He had a black mouth that said other of him.

11

I,3,647

Lord 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.

Lord 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.

12

I,4,669

Sir Henry Guildford. Ladies, a general welcome from his grace
Salutes ye all; this night he dedicates
To fair content and you: none here, he hopes,
In all this noble bevy, has brought with her
One care abroad; he would have all as merry
As, first, good company, good wine, good welcome,
Can make good people. O, my lord, you're tardy:
[Enter Chamberlain, SANDS, and LOVELL]
The very thought of this fair company
Clapp'd wings to me.

Lord Chamberlain. You are young, Sir Harry Guildford.

13

I,4,681

Lord Sands. As easy as a down-bed would afford it.

Lord Chamberlain. Sweet ladies, will it please you sit? Sir Harry,
Place you that side; I'll take the charge of this:
His grace is entering. Nay, you must not freeze;
Two women placed together makes cold weather:
My Lord Sands, you are one will keep 'em waking;
Pray, sit between these ladies.

14

I,4,696

(stage directions). [Kisses her]

Lord Chamberlain. Well said, my lord.
So, now you're fairly seated. Gentlemen,
The penance lies on you, if these fair ladies
Pass away frowning.

15

I,4,727

Cardinal Wolsey. What's that?

Lord Chamberlain. Look out there, some of ye.

16

I,4,733

(stage directions). [Re-enter Servant]

Lord Chamberlain. How now! what is't?

17

I,4,752

Cardinal Wolsey. Good lord chamberlain,
Go, give 'em welcome; you can speak the French tongue;
And, pray, receive 'em nobly, and conduct 'em
Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him.
[Exit Chamberlain, attended. All rise, and tables removed]
You have now a broken banquet; but we'll mend it.
A good digestion to you all: and once more
I shower a welcome on ye; welcome all.
[Hautboys. Enter KING HENRY VIII and others, as]
masquers, habited like shepherds, ushered by the
Chamberlain. They pass directly before CARDINAL
WOLSEY, and gracefully salute him]
A noble company! what are their pleasures?

Lord Chamberlain. Because they speak no English, thus they pray'd
To tell your grace, that, having heard by fame
Of this so noble and so fair assembly
This night to meet here, they could do no less
Out of the great respect they bear to beauty,
But leave their flocks; and, under your fair conduct,
Crave leave to view these ladies and entreat
An hour of revels with 'em.

18

I,4,769

Cardinal Wolsey. My lord!

Lord Chamberlain. Your grace?

19

I,4,775

Cardinal Wolsey. Pray, tell 'em thus much from me:
There should be one amongst 'em, by his person,
More worthy this place than myself; to whom,
If I but knew him, with my love and duty
I would surrender it.

Lord Chamberlain. I will, my lord.

20

I,4,778

Cardinal Wolsey. What say they?

Lord Chamberlain. Such a one, they all confess,
There is indeed; which they would have your grace
Find out, and he will take it.

21

I,4,793

Henry VIII. My lord chamberlain,
Prithee, come hither: what fair lady's that?

Lord Chamberlain. An't please your grace, Sir Thomas Bullen's daughter—
The Viscount Rochford,—one of her highness' women.

22

II,2,1017

(stage directions). [Enter Chamberlain, reading a letter]

Lord Chamberlain. 'My lord, the horses your lordship sent for, with
all the care I had, I saw well chosen, ridden, and
furnished. They were young and handsome, and of the
best breed in the north. When they were ready to
set out for London, a man of my lord cardinal's, by
commission and main power, took 'em from me; with
this reason: His master would be served before a
subject, if not before the king; which stopped our
mouths, sir.'
I fear he will indeed: well, let him have them:
He will have all, I think.

23

II,2,1030

Duke of Norfolk. Well met, my lord chamberlain.

Lord Chamberlain. Good day to both your graces.

24

II,2,1032

Duke of Suffolk. How is the king employ'd?

Lord Chamberlain. I left him private,
Full of sad thoughts and troubles.

25

II,2,1035

Duke of Norfolk. What's the cause?

Lord Chamberlain. It seems the marriage with his brother's wife
Has crept too near his conscience.

26

II,2,1058

Duke of Norfolk. How holily he works in all his business!
And with what zeal! for, now he has crack'd the league
Between us and the emperor, the queen's great nephew,
He dives into the king's soul, and there scatters
Dangers, doubts, wringing of the conscience,
Fears, and despairs; and all these for his marriage:
And out of all these to restore the king,
He counsels a divorce; a loss of her
That, like a jewel, has hung twenty years
About his neck, yet never lost her lustre;
Of her that loves him with that excellence
That angels love good men with; even of her
That, when the greatest stroke of fortune falls,
Will bless the king: and is not this course pious?

Lord Chamberlain. Heaven keep me from such counsel! 'Tis most true
These news are every where; every tongue speaks 'em,
And every true heart weeps for't: all that dare
Look into these affairs see this main end,
The French king's sister. Heaven will one day open
The king's eyes, that so long have slept upon
This bold bad man.

27

II,2,1083

Duke of Norfolk. Let's in;
And with some other business put the king
From these sad thoughts, that work too much upon him:
My lord, you'll bear us company?

Lord Chamberlain. Excuse me;
The king has sent me otherwhere: besides,
You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him:
Health to your lordships.

28

II,3,1262

(stage directions). [Enter Chamberlain]

Lord Chamberlain. Good morrow, ladies. What were't worth to know
The secret of your conference?

29

II,3,1267

Anne Bullen. My good lord,
Not your demand; it values not your asking:
Our mistress' sorrows we were pitying.

Lord Chamberlain. It was a gentle business, and becoming
The action of good women: there is hope
All will be well.

30

II,3,1271

Anne Bullen. Now, I pray God, amen!

Lord Chamberlain. You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly blessings
Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady,
Perceive I speak sincerely, and high note's
Ta'en of your many virtues, the king's majesty
Commends his good opinion of you, and
Does purpose honour to you no less flowing
Than Marchioness of Pembroke: to which title
A thousand pound a year, annual support,
Out of his grace he adds.

31

II,3,1289

Anne Bullen. I do not know
What kind of my obedience I should tender;
More than my all is nothing: nor my prayers
Are not words duly hallow'd, nor my wishes
More worth than empty vanities; yet prayers and wishes
Are all I can return. Beseech your lordship,
Vouchsafe to speak my thanks and my obedience,
As from a blushing handmaid, to his highness;
Whose health and royalty I pray for.

Lord Chamberlain. Lady,
I shall not fail to approve the fair conceit
The king hath of you.
[Aside]
I have perused her well;
Beauty and honour in her are so mingled
That they have caught the king: and who knows yet
But from this lady may proceed a gem
To lighten all this isle? I'll to the king,
And say I spoke with you.

32

III,2,1843

Duke of Suffolk. Which of the peers
Have uncontemn'd gone by him, or at least
Strangely neglected? when did he regard
The stamp of nobleness in any person
Out of himself?

Lord Chamberlain. My lords, you speak your pleasures:
What he deserves of you and me I know;
What we can do to him, though now the time
Gives way to us, I much fear. If you cannot
Bar his access to the king, never attempt
Any thing on him; for he hath a witchcraft
Over the king in's tongue.

33

III,2,1876

Earl of Surrey. Will this work?

Lord Chamberlain. The king in this perceives him, how he coasts
And hedges his own way. But in this point
All his tricks founder, and he brings his physic
After his patient's death: the king already
Hath married the fair lady.

34

III,2,1907

Duke of Suffolk. No, no;
There be moe wasps that buzz about his nose
Will make this sting the sooner. Cardinal Campeius
Is stol'n away to Rome; hath ta'en no leave;
Has left the cause o' the king unhandled; and
Is posted, as the agent of our cardinal,
To second all his plot. I do assure you
The king cried Ha! at this.

Lord Chamberlain. Now, God incense him,
And let him cry Ha! louder!

35

III,2,2234

Earl of Surrey. Then that you have sent innumerable substance—
By what means got, I leave to your own conscience—
To furnish Rome, and to prepare the ways
You have for dignities; to the mere undoing
Of all the kingdom. Many more there are;
Which, since they are of you, and odious,
I will not taint my mouth with.

Lord Chamberlain. O my lord,
Press not a falling man too far! 'tis virtue:
His faults lie open to the laws; let them,
Not you, correct him. My heart weeps to see him
So little of his great self.

36

V,3,3175

Archbishop Cranmer. Stay, good my lords,
I have a little yet to say. Look there, my lords;
By virtue of that ring, I take my cause
Out of the gripes of cruel men, and give it
To a most noble judge, the king my master.

Lord Chamberlain. This is the king's ring.

37

V,4,3339

(stage directions). [Enter Chamberlain]

Lord Chamberlain. Mercy o' me, what a multitude are here!
They grow still too; from all parts they are coming,
As if we kept a fair here! Where are these porters,
These lazy knaves? Ye have made a fine hand, fellows:
There's a trim rabble let in: are all these
Your faithful friends o' the suburbs? We shall have
Great store of room, no doubt, left for the ladies,
When they pass back from the christening.

38

V,4,3352

Porter. An't please
your honour,
We are but men; and what so many may do,
Not being torn a-pieces, we have done:
An army cannot rule 'em.

Lord Chamberlain. As I live,
If the king blame me for't, I'll lay ye all
By the heels, and suddenly; and on your heads
Clap round fines for neglect: ye are lazy knaves;
And here ye lie baiting of bombards, when
Ye should do service. Hark! the trumpets sound;
They're come already from the christening:
Go, break among the press, and find a way out
To let the troop pass fairly; or I'll find
A Marshalsea shall hold ye play these two months.