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)
3
Words
448
Characters
2316
Typicality
0.26 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A11954.24
BritDrama no.
1674
Cluster
Cluster 9 — Boon companions & bluff banter
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 9 (ralph, blastfield, bully, abram, rees, signiour…). Matches are highlighted.
man: which when the people Had the full view of, such a noise arose, As the shrowds make at Sea, in a stiff Tempest, As loud, and to as many Tunes. Hats Cloaks, (Doublets, I think) flew up, and had their Faces Been lose, this day they had been lost. Such joy I never saw before. Great bellied women, That had not half a week to go,
Full speech
Lord Chancellor, with Purse and Mace before him. Among the crowed in the Abbey, where a finger Could not be wedged in more: I am stifled With the mere rankness of their joy. That I did. Well worth the seeing. As well as I am able. The rich stream Of Lords, and Ladies, having brought the Queen To a prepared place in the Qui e, fell off A distance from her; while her Grace sat down To rest a while, some half and hour, or so, In a rich Chair of State, opposing freely The Beauty of her Person to the People. Believe me Sir, she is the goodliest Woman That ever lay by man: which when the people Had the full view of, such a noise arose, As the shrowds make at Sea, in a stiff Tempest, As loud, and to as many Tunes. Hats Cloaks, (Doublets, I think) flew up, and had their Faces Been lose, this day they had been lost. Such joy I never saw before. Great bellied women, That had not half a week to go, Like Rams In the old time of War, would shake the press And make they reel before they. No man living Could say this is my wife there, all were woven So strangely in one piece. At length, her Grace rose, and with modest paces Came to the Altar, where she kneeled, and Saintlike Cast her fair eyes to Heaven, and prayed devoutly. Then rose again, and bowed her to the people: When by the Archbishop of Canterbury, She had all the Royal makings of a Queen; As holy Oil, Edward Confessors Crown, The Rod, and Bird of Peace, and all such Emblems Laid Nobly on her: which performed, the Choir With all the choicest Music of the Kingdom, Together sung To Deum. So she parted, And with the same full State paced back again To York-place, where the Feast is held. I know it: But it's so lately altered, that the old name Is fresh about me. Stokeley and Gardener, the one of Winchester, Newly preferred from the Kings Secretary: The other London. All the Land knows that: How ever, yet there is no great breach, when it comes Cranmer will find a Friend will not shrink from him. Thomas Cromwell, A man in much esteem with the King, and truly A worthy Friend. The King ha made him Master of the Jewel House, And one already of the Privy Council. Yes without all doubt. Come Gentlemen you shall go my way Which is to that Court, and there you shall be my Guests: Something I can command. As I walk thither, I'll tell you 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.