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)
Man.
Words
354
Characters
1798
Typicality
0.52 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A11954.24
BritDrama no.
1674
Cluster
Cluster 15 — Devils, vices & grotesques
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
Pray Sir be patient; it's as much impossible, Unless we sweep they from the door with Cannons, To scatter they, as it's to make they sleep On Mayday Morning, which will never be: We may as well push against Powles as stir they. Alas I know not, how gets the Tide in? As much as one found Cudgel of four foot, (You see the poor remainder) could distribute, I made no spare Sir. I am not Sampson, nor Sir Guy, nor Colebrand, To mow they down before me: but if I spared any That had a head to hit, either young or old, He or she, Cuckold or Cuckold-maker: Let me never hope to see a Chine again, And that I would not for a Cow, God save her. What would you have me do? The Spoons will be the bigger Sir: There is a fellow somewhat near the door, he should be a Brasi er by his face, for of my conscience twenty of the Dogdays now reign in's Nose; all that stand about him are under the Line, they needs no other penance: that Firedrake did I hit three times on the head, and three times was his Nose discharged against me; he stands there Like a Mortar-piece to blow us. There was a Habberda shers Wife of small wit, near him, that railed upon me, till her pinked porringer fell off her head, for kindling such a combustion in the State. I missed the Meteor once, and hit that Woman, who cried out Clubs, when I might see from far, some forty Truncheoners draw to her succour, which were the hope of the Strand where she was quartered; they fell on, I made good my place; at length they came to the broom staff to me, I defied they still, when suddenly a File of Boys behind they, lose shot, delivered such a shower of Pebbles, that I was feign to draw mine Honour in, and let they win the Work, the Devil was amongst they I think surely. You great fellow, Stand close up, or I'll make your head ache.
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.