Synopsis:
Buckingham, convicted of treason, is led to execution. He declares his innocence, forgives his enemies, and vows his loyalty to Henry. Two gentlemen then discuss the rumor that Henry is separating from Katherine.
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 1
Enter two Gentlemen at several doors.FIRST GENTLEMAN
Whither away so fast?
SECOND GENTLEMAN O, God save you.
E’en to the Hall to hear what shall become
Of the great Duke of Buckingham.
FIRST GENTLEMAN 5 I’ll save you
That labor, sir. All’s now done but the ceremony
Of bringing back the prisoner.
SECOND GENTLEMAN Were you there?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Yes, indeed was I.
SECOND GENTLEMAN 10 Pray speak what has happened.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
You may guess quickly what.
SECOND GENTLEMAN Is he found guilty?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Yes, truly, is he, and condemned upon ’t.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
I am sorry for ’t.
FIRST GENTLEMAN 15 So are a number more.
SECOND GENTLEMAN But pray, how passed it?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
I’ll tell you in a little. The great duke
Came to the bar, where to his accusations
63
Henry VIII
ACT 2. SC. 1
20 Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.
The King’s attorney on the contrary
Urged on the examinations, proofs, confessions
Of divers witnesses, which the Duke desired
To him brought viva voce to his face;
25 At which appeared against him his surveyor,
Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor, and John Car,
Confessor to him, with that devil monk,
Hopkins, that made this mischief.
SECOND GENTLEMAN That was he
30 That fed him with his prophecies?
FIRST GENTLEMAN The same.
All these accused him strongly, which he fain
Would have flung from him, but indeed he could not.
And so his peers upon this evidence
35 Have found him guilty of high treason. Much
He spoke, and learnèdly, for life, but all
Was either pitied in him or forgotten.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
After all this, how did he bear himself?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
When he was brought again to th’ bar to hear
40 His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirred
With such an agony he sweat extremely
And something spoke in choler, ill and hasty.
But he fell to himself again, and sweetly
In all the rest showed a most noble patience.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
45 I do not think he fears death.
FIRST GENTLEMAN Sure he does not;
He never was so womanish. The cause
He may a little grieve at.
SECOND GENTLEMAN Certainly
50 The Cardinal is the end of this.
FIRST GENTLEMAN ’Tis likely,
65
Henry VIII
ACT 2. SC. 1
Then Deputy of Ireland, who, removed,
Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too,
55 Lest he should help his father.
SECOND GENTLEMAN That trick of state
Was a deep envious one.
FIRST GENTLEMAN At his return
No doubt he will requite it. This is noted,
60 And generally: whoever the King favors,
The Card’nal instantly will find employment,
And far enough from court too.
SECOND GENTLEMAN All the commons
Hate him perniciously and, o’ my conscience,
65 Wish him ten fathom deep. This duke as much
They love and dote on, call him bounteous
Buckingham,
The mirror of all courtesy.
FIRST GENTLEMAN Stay there, sir,
70 And see the noble ruined man you speak of.
Enter Buckingham from his arraignment, Tipstaves before
him, the ax with the edge towards him, Halberds on each
side, accompanied with Sir Thomas Lovell, Sir Nicholas
Vaux, Sir Walter Sands, and Common People, etc.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Let’s stand close and behold him.
BUCKINGHAM All good people,
You that thus far have come to pity me,
Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me.
75 I have this day received a traitor’s judgment,
And by that name must die. Yet heaven bear witness,
And if I have a conscience, let it sink me
Even as the ax falls, if I be not faithful!
The law I bear no malice for my death;
80 ’T has done, upon the premises, but justice.
But those that sought it I could wish more ⌜Christian.⌝
67
Henry VIII
ACT 2. SC. 1
Yet let ’em look they glory not in mischief,
Nor build their evils on the graves of great men,
85 For then my guiltless blood must cry against ’em.
For further life in this world I ne’er hope,
Nor will I sue, although the King have mercies
More than I dare make faults. You few that loved me
And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham,
90 His noble friends and fellows, whom to leave
Is only bitter to him, only dying,
Go with me like good angels to my end,
And as the long divorce of steel falls on me,
Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice,
95 And lift my soul to heaven.—Lead on, a’ God’s name.
LOVELL
I do beseech your Grace, for charity,
If ever any malice in your heart
Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.
BUCKINGHAM
Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you
100 As I would be forgiven. I forgive all.
There cannot be those numberless offenses
’Gainst me that I cannot take peace with. No black
envy
Shall make my grave. Commend me to his Grace.
105 And if he speak of Buckingham, pray tell him
You met him half in heaven. My vows and prayers
Yet are the King’s and, till my soul forsake,
Shall cry for blessings on him. May he live
Longer than I have time to tell his years.
110 Ever beloved and loving may his rule be;
And when old Time shall lead him to his end,
Goodness and he fill up one monument!
LOVELL
To th’ waterside I must conduct your Grace,
Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux,
115 Who undertakes you to your end.
69
Henry VIII
ACT 2. SC. 1
The Duke is coming. See the barge be ready,
And fit it with such furniture as suits
The greatness of his person.
BUCKINGHAM 120 Nay, Sir Nicholas,
Let it alone. My state now will but mock me.
When I came hither, I was Lord High Constable
And Duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun.
Yet I am richer than my base accusers,
125 That never knew what truth meant. I now seal it,
And with that blood will make ’em one day groan for ’t.
My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,
Who first raised head against usurping Richard,
Flying for succor to his servant Banister,
130 Being distressed, was by that wretch betrayed,
And, without trial, fell. God’s peace be with him.
Henry the Seventh, succeeding, truly pitying
My father’s loss, like a most royal prince
Restored me to my honors and out of ruins
135 Made my name once more noble. Now his son,
Henry the Eighth, life, honor, name, and all
That made me happy at one stroke has taken
Forever from the world. I had my trial,
And must needs say a noble one, which makes me
140 A little happier than my wretched father.
Yet thus far we are one in fortunes: both
Fell by our servants, by those men we loved most—
A most unnatural and faithless service.
Heaven has an end in all; yet, you that hear me,
145 This from a dying man receive as certain:
Where you are liberal of your loves and counsels
Be sure you be not loose; for those you make friends
And give your hearts to, when they once perceive
The least rub in your fortunes, fall away
150 Like water from you, never found again
71
Henry VIII
ACT 2. SC. 1
Pray for me. I must now forsake you. The last hour
Of my long weary life is come upon me.
Farewell. And when you would say something that
155 is sad,
Speak how I fell. I have done; and God forgive me.
Duke and train exit.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
O, this is full of pity, sir! It calls,
I fear, too many curses on their heads
That were the authors.
SECOND GENTLEMAN 160 If the Duke be guiltless,
’Tis full of woe. Yet I can give you inkling
Of an ensuing evil, if it fall,
Greater than this.
FIRST GENTLEMAN Good angels keep it from us!
165 What may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir?
SECOND GENTLEMAN
This secret is so weighty ’twill require
A strong faith to conceal it.
FIRST GENTLEMAN Let me have it.
I do not talk much.
SECOND GENTLEMAN 170 I am confident;
You shall, sir. Did you not of late days hear
A buzzing of a separation
Between the King and Katherine?
FIRST GENTLEMAN Yes, but it held not;
175 For when the King once heard it, out of anger
He sent command to the Lord Mayor straight
To stop the rumor and allay those tongues
That durst disperse it.
SECOND GENTLEMAN But that slander, sir,
180 Is found a truth now, for it grows again
Fresher than e’er it was, and held for certain
The King will venture at it. Either the Cardinal,
Or some about him near, have, out of malice
73
Henry VIII
ACT 2. SC. 2
185 That will undo her. To confirm this too,
Cardinal Campeius is arrived, and lately,
As all think, for this business.
FIRST GENTLEMAN ’Tis the Cardinal;
And merely to revenge him on the Emperor
190 For not bestowing on him at his asking
The archbishopric of Toledo this is purposed.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
I think you have hit the mark. But is ’t not cruel
That she should feel the smart of this? The Cardinal
Will have his will, and she must fall.
FIRST GENTLEMAN 195 ’Tis woeful.
We are too open here to argue this.
Let’s think in private more.
They exit.
