Synopsis:
At the supper, Wolsey and his guests are visited by Henry and his courtiers, all disguised as shepherds. Henry dances with Anne Bullen and exclaims over her beauty.
Henry VIIIHenry VIII
Contents
Characters in the Play
Entire Play
Two stories dominate Henry VIII: the fall of Cardinal Wolsey, Henry’s powerful advisor, and Henry’s quest to divorce Queen Katherine, who…
Prologue
Act 1, scene 1
The Duke of Buckingham, learning the details of the costly and ultimately fruitless meeting of French and English at the…
Act 1, scene 2
Queen Katherine reveals that Wolsey is heavily taxing the English in the king’s name, and Henry pronounces a pardon to…
Act 1, scene 3
Three courtiers discuss the royal proclamation against young fops who have adopted French manners and dress after returning from France….
Act 1, scene 4
At the supper, Wolsey and his guests are visited by Henry and his courtiers, all disguised as shepherds. Henry dances…
Act 2, scene 1
Buckingham, convicted of treason, is led to execution. He declares his innocence, forgives his enemies, and vows his loyalty to…
Act 2, scene 2
Norfolk, Suffolk, and the Lord Chamberlain join in denouncing Wolsey. They hold him responsible for dividing Henry from Katherine, and…
Act 2, scene 3
Anne Bullen pities Katherine, now threatened with divorce. The Lord Chamberlain enters to announce that Henry has created Anne marchioness…
Act 2, scene 4
At the trial, Katherine refuses to have the validity of her marriage judged by the church court, given Wolsey’s malice…
Act 3, scene 1
Wolsey and Campeius visit Katherine to persuade her to contest the divorce no longer.
Act 3, scene 2
Courtiers assemble to discuss Wolsey’s sudden fall from Henry’s favor, Henry’s marriage to Anne Bullen, and plans for her coronation….
Act 4, scene 1
The procession returns from Anne’s coronation, which is then described by a gentleman who was in attendance.
Act 4, scene 2
The dying Princess Dowager Katherine and her attendant Griffith provide contrasting accounts of the character of the newly dead Wolsey….
Act 5, scene 1
The new archbishop of Canterbury, Cranmer, is under attack because his religious beliefs seem heretical. The king, after receiving news…
Act 5, scene 2
Cranmer suffers the public humiliation of being locked out of a Privy Council meeting. Allowed in, he is then threatened…
Act 5, scene 3
A porter and his assistant fight to control the crowd determined to view the royal daughter’s christening.
Act 5, scene 4
At Princess Elizabeth’s christening, Cranmer prophesies a magnificent reign for the future Queen Elizabeth I and an equally successful one…
Act 5, epilogue
Scene 4
Hautboys. A small table under a state for the Cardinal, alonger table for the guests. Then enter Anne Bullen and
divers other ladies and gentlemen as guests at one door;
at another door enter Sir Henry Guilford.
GUILFORD
Ladies, a general welcome from his Grace
Salutes you all. This night he dedicates
To fair content and you. None here, he hopes,
In all this noble bevy has brought with her
5 One care abroad. He would have all as merry
As, first, good company, good wine, good welcome
Can make good people.
Enter Lord Chamberlain, Lord Sands, and
⌜Sir Thomas⌝ Lovell.
O, my lord, you’re tardy!
The very thought of this fair company
10 Clapped wings to me.
CHAMBERLAIN You are young, Sir Harry Guilford.
SANDS
Sir Thomas Lovell, had the Cardinal
But half my lay thoughts in him, some of these
Should find a running banquet, ere they rested,
15 I think would better please ’em. By my life,
They are a sweet society of fair ones.
LOVELL
O, that your Lordship were but now confessor
To one or two of these!
49
Henry VIII
ACT 1. SC. 4
20 They should find easy penance.
LOVELL Faith, how easy?
SANDS
As easy as a down bed would afford it.
CHAMBERLAIN
Sweet ladies, will it please you sit?—Sir Harry,
Place you that side; I’ll take the charge of this.
⌜The guests are seated.⌝
25 His Grace is ent’ring. Nay, you must not freeze;
Two women placed together makes cold weather.
My Lord Sands, you are one will keep ’em waking.
Pray sit between these ladies.
SANDS By my faith,
30 And thank your Lordship.—By your leave, sweet ladies.
⌜He sits between Anne Bullen and another lady.⌝
If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me;
I had it from my father.
ANNE Was he mad, sir?
SANDS
O, very mad, exceeding mad, in love too;
35 But he would bite none. Just as I do now,
He would kiss you twenty with a breath.
⌜He kisses Anne.⌝
CHAMBERLAIN Well said,
my lord.
So, now you’re fairly seated, gentlemen,
40 The penance lies on you if these fair ladies
Pass away frowning.
SANDS For my little cure,
Let me alone.
Hautboys. Enter Cardinal Wolsey, ⌜with Attendants and
Servants,⌝ and takes his state.
WOLSEY
You’re welcome, my fair guests. That noble lady
51
Henry VIII
ACT 1. SC. 4
Is not my friend. This to confirm my welcome,
And to you all good health.⌜He drinks to them.⌝
SANDS Your Grace is noble.
Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks
50 And save me so much talking.
WOLSEY My Lord Sands,
I am beholding to you. Cheer your neighbors.—
Ladies, you are not merry.—Gentlemen,
Whose fault is this?
SANDS 55 The red wine first must rise
In their fair cheeks, my lord. Then we shall have ’em
Talk us to silence.
ANNE You are a merry gamester,
My Lord Sands.
SANDS 60 Yes, if I make my play.
Here’s to your Ladyship, and pledge it, madam,
⌜He drinks to her.⌝
For ’tis to such a thing—
ANNE You cannot show me.
SANDS
I told your Grace they would talk anon.
Drum and Trumpet. Chambers discharged.
WOLSEY 65 What’s that?
CHAMBERLAIN
Look out there, some of you.⌜Servants exit.⌝
WOLSEY What warlike voice,
And to what end, is this?—Nay, ladies, fear not.
By all the laws of war you’re privileged.
Enter a Servant.
CHAMBERLAIN
70 How now, what is ’t?
SERVANT A noble troop of strangers,
For so they seem. They’ve left their barge and landed,
And hither make, as great ambassadors
From foreign princes.
53
Henry VIII
ACT 1. SC. 4
Go, give ’em welcome—you can speak the French
tongue—
And pray receive ’em nobly, and conduct ’em
Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
80 Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him.
⌜Lord Chamberlain exits, with Attendants.⌝
All rise, and tables removed.
You have now a broken banquet, but we’ll mend it.
A good digestion to you all; and once more
I shower a welcome on you. Welcome all!
Hautboys. Enter King and others as masquers, habited
like shepherds, ushered by the Lord Chamberlain.
They pass directly before the Cardinal and gracefully
salute him.
A noble company! What are their pleasures?
CHAMBERLAIN
85 Because they speak no English, thus they prayed
To tell your Grace: that, having heard by fame
Of this so noble and so fair assembly
This night to meet here, they could do no less,
Out of the great respect they bear to beauty,
90 But leave their flocks and, under your fair conduct,
Crave leave to view these ladies and entreat
An hour of revels with ’em.
WOLSEY Say, Lord Chamberlain,
They have done my poor house grace, for which I
95 pay ’em
A thousand thanks and pray ’em take their pleasures.
⌜The masquers⌝ choose Ladies. ⌜The⌝
King ⌜chooses⌝ Anne Bullen.
KING
The fairest hand I ever touched! O beauty,
Till now I never knew thee.
Music, Dance.
WOLSEY
My lord!
55
Henry VIII
ACT 1. SC. 4
WOLSEY Pray tell ’em thus much
from me:
There should be one amongst ’em by his person
More worthy this place than myself, to whom,
105 If I but knew him, with my love and duty
I would surrender it.
CHAMBERLAIN I will, my lord.
Whisper ⌜with the masquers.⌝
WOLSEY
What say they?
CHAMBERLAIN Such a one they all confess
110 There is indeed, which they would have your Grace
Find out, and he will take it.
WOLSEY Let me see, then.
⌜He leaves his state.⌝
By all your good leaves, gentlemen.
⌜He bows before the King.⌝
Here I’ll make
115 My royal choice.
KING, ⌜unmasking⌝ You have found him, cardinal.
You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord.
You are a churchman, or I’ll tell you, cardinal,
I should judge now unhappily.
WOLSEY 120 I am glad
Your Grace is grown so pleasant.
KING My Lord Chamberlain,
Prithee come hither. What fair lady’s that?
CHAMBERLAIN
An ’t please your Grace, Sir Thomas Bullen’s daughter,
125 The Viscount Rochford, one of her Highness’ women.
KING
By heaven, she is a dainty one.—Sweetheart,
I were unmannerly to take you out
And not to kiss you. ⌜He kisses Anne.⌝ A health,
gentlemen!
130 Let it go round.⌜He drinks a toast.⌝
57
Henry VIII
ACT 1. SC. 4
Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready
I’ th’ privy chamber?
LOVELL Yes, my lord.
WOLSEY Your Grace,
135 I fear, with dancing is a little heated.
KING
I fear, too much.
WOLSEY There’s fresher air, my lord,
In the next chamber.
KING
Lead in your ladies ev’ry one.—Sweet partner,
140 I must not yet forsake you.—Let’s be merry,
Good my Lord Cardinal. I have half a dozen healths
To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure
To lead ’em once again, and then let’s dream
Who’s best in favor. Let the music knock it.
They exit, with Trumpets.
