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)
Camp. | Camp | Cam.
Words
382
Characters
2057
Typicality
0.42 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A11954.24
BritDrama no.
1674
Cluster
Cluster 14 — Law & judgment
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
My Lord of York, was not one Doctor Pa e In this men place before him? Was he not held a learned man? Believe me, there's and ill opinion spread then, Even of your self Lord Cardinal. His Grace Hath spoken well, and justly: Therefore Madam, It's fit this Royal Session do proceed, And that (without delay) their Arguments Be now produced, and herd. The Queen is obstinate, Stubborn to Justice, apt to accuse it, and Disdainful to be tried by't; 'tis not well. She's going away. So please your Highness, The Queen being absent, it's a needful fitness, That we adjourn this Court till further day; Mean while, must be and earnest motion Made to the Queen to call back her Appeal She intends unto his Holiness. Most honoured Madam, My Lord of York, out of his Noble nature, Zeal and obedience he still boar your Grace, Forgetting (Like a good man) your late Censure Both of his truth and him (which was too far) Offers, as I do, in a sign of peace, His Service, and his counsel. I would your Grace Would leave your griefs, and take my counsel. Put your main cause into the Kings protection, He's loving and most gracious. It'll be much, Both for your Honour better, and your Cause: For if the trial of the Law over take you, You'll partly away disgraced. Your rage mistakes us. Your fears are worse. Madam, you'll find it so: You wrong your Virtues With these weak Women's fears. A Noble Spirit As yours was, put into you, ever casts Such doubts as false Coin from it. The King loves you, Beware you lose it not: For us (if you please To trust us in your business) we are ready To use our utmost Studies, in your service. They will not stick to say, you envied him; And fearing he would rise (he was so virtuous) Kept him a foreign man still, which so grieved him, That he ran mad, and died. Your Grace must needs deserve all strangers loves, You are so Noble: To your Highness hand I tender my Commission; by whose virtue, The Court of Room commanding. You my Lord Cardinal of York, are joined with me their Servant, In the unpartial judging of this Business.
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.