Scene I explained

What happens

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Themes in this chapter

• Power and Ambition

  Wolsey's ambition drives the plot, manipulating events for his own gain.

• Loyalty and Betrayal

  Buckingham's arrest highlights betrayal by his surveyor and Wolsey's machinations.

• Fall of the Mighty

  Buckingham's sudden arrest and fall from grace foreshadows the theme of downfall.

Characters to notice

• Duke of Buckingham

  Arrested for high treason; criticizes Wolsey's ambition and manipulation.

• Duke of Norfolk

  Warns Buckingham about Wolsey's power and advises caution.

• Cardinal Wolsey

  Implied orchestrator of Buckingham's arrest; accused of ambition and corruption.

• Brandon

  Leads the arrest of Buckingham and Abergavenny.

• Nicholas Hopkins

  Mentioned as a monk involved in the plot against Buckingham.

• John de la Car

  Buckingham's confessor, arrested as part of the plot.

• Surveyor

  Buckingham's surveyor, suspected of being bribed by Wolsey.

Key passages

• “This cunning cardinal The articles o' the combination drew As himself pleased; and they were ratified As he cried 'Thus let be': to as much end As give a crutch to the dead”

  Wolsey wrote the treaty terms to his liking and forced them through, but they were as useless as a crutch for a corpse.

  Buckingham accuses Wolsey of manipulating the treaty for his own benefit.

• “The net has fall'n upon me! I shall perish Under device and practice.”

  I am caught in a trap and will be destroyed by scheming and deceit.

  Buckingham realizes he is ensnared by Wolsey's plot.

• “My surveyor is false; the o'er-great cardinal Hath show'd him gold; my life is spann'd already”

  My surveyor has betrayed me, bribed by Wolsey; my life is already measured out.

  Buckingham identifies the source of his betrayal.