in Henry the Eighth (All Is True) — Shakespeare, William; Fletcher, John
Metadata
Play
Henry the Eighth (All Is True)
Author
Shakespeare, William; Fletcher, John
Year (catalogued)
1623
First performance
1613
Decade
1620s
Genre
History
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
King's Men
Speech prefix(es)
2. | 2
Words
537
Characters
2802
Typicality
0.41 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A11954.24
BritDrama no.
1674
Cluster
Cluster 18 — Chronicle statesmen & prelates
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
Oh, God save you: Even to the Hall, to hear what shall become Of the great Duke of Buckingham. Were you there? Pray speak what ha happened. Is he found guilty? I am sorry fort. But pray how passed it? That was he That fed him with his Prophecies. After all this, how did he bear himself? I do not think he fears death. Certainly, The Cardinal is the end of this. That trick of State Was a deep envious one, All the Commons Hate him perniciously, and of my Conscience Wish him ten faddom deep: This Duke as much They love and dote on: call him bounteous Buckingham, The Mirror of all courtesy. Let's stand close and behold him. If the Duke be guiltless, It's full of woe: yet I can give you inkling Of and ensuing evil, if it fallen, Greater then this. This Secret is so weighty, it'll require A strong faith to conceal it. I am confident; You shall Sir: Did you not of late days hear A buzzing of a Separation Between the King and Katherine ? But that slander Sir, Is found a truth now: for it grows again Fresher then ever 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 possessed him with a scruple That will undo her: To confirm this too, Cardinal Campeius is arrived, and lately, As all think for this business. 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 fallen. So are you. It's all my business. At our last encounter, The Duke of Buckingham came from his Trial. It's well: The Citizens I am sure have shown at full their Royal minds, As let they have their rights, they are ever forward In Celebration of this day with Shows, Pageants, and Sights of Honour. May I be bold to ask what that contains, That Paper in your hand. Alas good Lady. The Trumpets found: Stand close, The Queen is coming. Then, two Judges. A Royal Train believe me: These I know: Who's that that bears the Sceptre? A bold brave Gentleman. That should be The Duke of Suffolk. And that my Lord of Norfolk? Heaven bless thee, Thou hast the sweetest face I ever looked on. Sir, as I have a Soul, she is and Angel; Our King has all the Indies in his Arms, And more, and richer, when he strains that Lady, I cannot blame his Conscience. 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. Their Coronets say so. These are Stars indeed, And sometime falling ones. No more of that. You saw the Ceremony? Good Sir, speak it to us? But what followed? What two Reverend Bishops Were those that went on each side of the Queen? He of Winchester Is held no great good lover of the Archbishop's, The virtuous Cranmer. Who may that be, I pray you. He will deserve more.
Plot summary
Plot — Henry the Eighth (All Is True)
The Kings of England and of France meet for a magnificent summit conference organized by Cardinal Wolsey. The English nobles resent Wolsey’s influence with the King, but Wolsey strikes first against the ringleader, Buckingham: evidence from his former surveyor, who bears him a grudge, secures his arrest; conviction for treason and execution follow. Queen Katherine persuades the King to repeal taxation which is causing hardship; Wolsey has it put about that his intercession secured this. King Henry attends a banquet at Wolsey’s house, performs in a masque of shepherds, and meets Anne Boleyn. Rumours circulate that he and the Queen are at odds: he claims to be troubled by the fact that she was originally married to his brother, but others notice that he is keen to marry Anne. Wolsey counsels divorce. A legatine court is summoned to judge the case, but Katherine refuses to co-operate and the court breaks up without reaching a decision. The King secretly marries Anne. The nobles conspire to overthrow Wolsey. Documents proving his corruption and treachery accidentally fall into the King’s hands, and Buckingham’s surviving allies serve him with articles of impeachment. He falls sick and dies. Anne is crowned Queen. Katherine too falls sick. Before her death she is visited by benevolent spirits, and by Caputius, the Imperial Ambassador, by whom she sends the King a request to love their daughter and provide for her former servants. Anne goes into labour and produces a daughter. A cabal of councillors attempts to overthrow Archbishop Cranmer, whom they consider a heretic. Before the hearing, Henry gives Cranmer his ring; the Archbishop produces it at a crucial moment, ensuring that the case is referred to the personal judgement of the King, who rebukes the conspirators. The vindicated Cranmer christens Henry’s new daughter, Elizabeth, and prophesies a golden future for England under her and her eventual successor.