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)
Crom.
Words
305
Characters
1607
Typicality
0.31 (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
To his own hand, in's Bedchamber. Presently He did unseal them, and the first he viewed, He did it with a Serious mind: a heed Was in his countenance. You he bade Attend him here this Morning. I think by this he is. I have no power to speak Sir. How does your Grace. I am glad your Grace, Ha made that right use of it. The heaviest, and the worst, Is your displeasure with the King. The next is, that Sir Thomas More is chosen Lord Chancellor, in your place. That Cranmer is returned with welcome; Installed Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Last, that the Lady Anne, Whom the King hath in secrecy long married, This day was viewed in open, as his Queen, Going to Chapel: and the voice is now Only about her Coronation. Oh my Lord, Must I then leave you? Must I needs forgo So good, so Noble, and so true a Master? Bear witness, all that have not hearts of Iron, With what a sorrow Cromwell leaves his Lord. The King shall have my service; but my prayres For ever, and for ever shall be yours. Good Sir, have patience. Please your Honours, The chief cause concerns his Grace of Canterbury. Yes. My Lord of Winchester, you are a little, By your good favour, too sharp; Men so Noble, How ever faultly, yet should find respect For what they have been: it's a cruelty, To load a falling man. Why my Lord? Not found? Would you were half so honest: Men's prayers then would seek you, not their fears. Do. Remember your bold life too. And I. My mind gave me, In seeking tales and Informations Against this man, whose honesty the Devil And his Disciples only envy at, You blue the fire that burns you: now have at you.
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.