As great in admiration47 as herself.
So shall she leave her blessedness to one48, When heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness49, Who from the sacred ashes of her honour
Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was,
And so stand fixed. Peace, plenty, love, truth, terror52, That were the servants to this chosen infant,
Shall then be his, and like a vine grow to him:
Wherever the bright sun of heaven shall shine,
His honour and the greatness of his name
Shall be, and make new nations. He shall flourish,
And like a mountain cedar, reach his branches
To all the plains about him: our children's children
Shall see this, and bless heaven.
KING HENRY VIII Thou speakest wonders.
CRANMER She shall be to the happiness of England
An aged princess: many days shall see her,
And yet no day without a deed64 to crown it.
Would65 I had known no more: but she must die, She must, the saints must have her: yet a virgin,
A most unspotted lily shall she pass
To th'ground, and all the world shall mourn her.
KING HENRY VIII O lord archbishop,
Thou hast made me now a man. Never before
This happy child did I get71 anything.
This oracle of comfort has so pleased me,
That when I am in heaven I shall desire
To see what this child does, and praise my maker.
I thank ye all. To you, my good Lord Mayor, And your good brethren, I am much beholding76: I have received much honour by your presence, And ye shall find me thankful. Lead the way, lords: Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye: She will be sick80 else. This day, no man think H'as business at his house, for all shall stay81: This little one shall make it holiday82.
Exeunt
The Epilogue
[Enter Epilogue]
'Tis ten to one this play can never please All that are here: some come to take their ease, And sleep an act or two: but those, we fear, We've frighted with our trumpets: so 'tis clear, They'll say 'tis nought. Others to hear the city5
Abused extremely, and to cry 'That's witty!'
Which we have not done neither: that7, I fear All the expected good we're like to hear.
For this play at this time, is only in
The merciful construction10 of good women, For such a one11 we showed 'em. If they smile, And say 'twill do, I know within a while
All the best men are ours, for 'tis ill hap13
If they hold14 when their ladies bid 'em clap.
[Exit]
TEXTUAL NOTES
F = First Folio text of 1623, the only authority for the play
F2 = a correction introduced in the Second Folio text of 1632
F3 = a correction introduced in the Third Folio text of 1663-64
F4 = a correction introduced in the Fourth Folio text of 1685
Ed = a correction introduced by a later editor
SD = stage direction
SH = speech heading (i.e. speaker's name)
List of parts = Ed
THE ... EIGHTH Various contemporary references suggest the play was performed as "All Is True"
1.1.9 Andres = Ed. F = Andren. Ed = Ardres 10 Guines = Ed. F = Guynes Ardres = Ed. F = Arde 28 cherubins = F. Ed = cherubim/cherubims madams = F. Ed = mesdames 48-51 All ... function F assigns these lines to Buckingham who states he wasn't present. This edition follows editorial tradition in reassigning them to Norfolk 54 as you guess this edition follows F4's assignation of these words to Buckingham, whereas F places them at the beginning of Norfolk's reply 72 a = Ed. F = O 142 venom-mouthed = Ed. F = venom'd-mouth'd 196 wrenching = F. Ed = rinsing 213 He privily = F2. F = Priuily. 255 Montague spelled Mountacute in F 257 Perk = Ed. F = Pecke. Emendation is based on Holinshed and Hall's accounts chancellor = Ed. F = Councellour. The emendation is made in accordance with Holinshed's account 261 Nicholas = Ed. F = Michaell. The emendation is made in accordance with Holinshed's account 267 lord = Ed. F = Lords
1.2.75 baseness = F. Ed = business 154 His = Ed. F = This
165, 166 Hopkins = Ed. F = Henton. Henton was the name of Hopkins' monastery 176 feared = Ed. F = feare 184 confession's = Ed. F = Commissions 190 gain = F4. Not in F; other suggestions are win and purchase 203 him = Ed. F = this 216 Bulmer = Ed. F = Blumer
1.3.0 SD Sands spelled Sandys in F 13 see = F. Ed = saw 14 Or = Ed. F = A 17 SD Enter ... Lovell = Ed. Two lines down in F 39 oui = Ed. F = wee. F2 = weare 72 he's = Ed. F = Ha's. Ed = 'has
1.4.6 first = F. Ed = feast
2.1.26 Perk = Ed. F = Pecke 67 SD William = Ed. F = Walter. Emendation in accordance with Holinshed 102 make = F. Ed = mark
2.2.SH CHAMBERLAIN = Ed. Not in F 97 one have-at-him = Ed. F = one; haue at him
2.3.74 you = Ed. F = you, to you. Omitted by editors because thought to be a compositorial error, copied prematurely from the following line 102 fie, fie, fie = F. Ed = fie, fie
2.4.137 SH GRIFFITH = Ed. F = Gent. Ush.
3.1.3 SH WOMAN = Ed. F reads "SONG" instead of using a speech heading, but the song must be sung by one of the Queen's women 25 SD Campeius = F4. F = Campian 55 should = Ed. F = shoul 65 your = F2. F = our 130 he's = Ed. F = ha's 135 a curse = F. Ed = accursed
3.2.215 filed = Ed. F = fill'd 402 legative = F. Ed = legatine, legantine 406 Castles = F. Ed = chattels
4.1.24 SH SECOND GENTLEMAN = F4. F = I, i.e. First Gentleman 38 Kimbolton = F3. F = Kymmalton 66 And ... ones some editors ascribe this line to the First Gentleman, allocating his line to the Second Gentleman 67 SH FIRST GENTLEMAN = Ed. F = 2 SD and ... Trumpets moved from its original position at the end of "The Order of the Coronation" 121 Stokesley = F4. F = Stokely 142 SH FIRST ... GENTLEMEN = Ed. F = Both
4.2.8 think = F2. F = thanke 22 convent = Ed. F = Couent 108 cold = F. Ed = colour 114 to = Ed. F = too. Some editors retain F arguing it means "too blameworthy"
5.1.2 SH PAGE = Ed. F = Boy 45 time = F4. F = Lime 138 halidom spelled Holydame in F 145 good = F. Ed = ground 163 precipice = F2. F = Precepit 164 woo = Ed. F = woe 184 SH LOVELL = Ed. F = Gent.
5.2.10 piece = F2. F = Peere 16 sound = F. Ed = found 21 'Mong ... lackeys some editors direct the pursuivants, pages, footboys and grooms referred to in the text to enter with Cranmer at the beginning of this scene. However, it seems perfectly possible that these figures could also be imagined, hence the need for them to be "pointed out" by Cranmer and Butts 123 faulty = F2. F = faultly 139, 143 SH CHANCELLOR = Ed. F = Cham 190 base = F. Ed = bare 198 his = F. F4 = this 243 heart = F2. F = hearts
5.3.2 Paris = F4. F = Parish
5.4.42 ways = F4. F = way 76 your = Ed. F = you
SCENE-BY-SCENE ANALYSIS
PROLOGUE
The prologue tells the audience that they're not going to see a comedy but "Such noble scenes" as may make them weep. Those who "can pity," may "let fall a tear"; others may "find truth." Those who come for amusement will be richly entertained in "two short hours." Only those who have come "to hear a merry, bawdy play" will be disappointed. To present their show in that way would be beneath their intelligence and damage their reputation. Therefore the audience should be serious and imagine they see these characters "great" with many friends and followers and then "in a moment" see how soon they fall: "this mightiness meets misery." If you can laugh at that, the Prologue will say "A man may weep upon his wedding day."
ACT 1 SCENE 1
Lines 1-82: The Dukes of Buckingham and Norfolk discuss the meeting of Henry VIII and the French King Francois I (at the Field of the Cloth of Gold in June 1520). Buckingham was ill at the time so Norfolk describes the elaborate arrangements and the spectacle in detail. Every day was more splendid than the last as the two kings strove to outdo each other in pomp and magnificence. Buckingham asks who organized it all and Norfolk tells him it was "the right reverend Cardinal of York" (that is Cardinal Wolsey). Buckingham is dism
issive of the Cardinal and the way he has "his ambitious finger" in every pie. He wonders why it was anything to do with Wolsey. Norfolk suggests through personal merit, since he's not of noble stock, this merit must be a "gift" from "heaven." Abergavenny says he doesn't know "What heaven hath given him" but he can see his pride, which comes from the devil.
Lines 83-134: They discuss their resentment of Wolsey and his position and influence with the king, asking why he should have had the selection of those to accompany him to France, an expensive enterprise with "little honour." Abergavenny has three relatives whose estates have been crippled. Buckingham knows many who had to sell land to pay for fine clothes and asks what was the point of such "vanity" except to impoverish their heirs. Norfolk doesn't think the peace treaty concluded between England and France was worth it. The terrible storm that followed was an omen that peace wouldn't last. That has now come to pass since the French have seized English merchants' goods at Bordeaux. The ambassador is under house arrest. Buckingham says it's all Wolsey's fault. Norfolk warns him to be careful and advises him that the king/Privy Council know about the mutual hostility between the Cardinal and him, and that he shouldn't underestimate the Cardinal's power. He tells Buckingham to take his advice to heart and have nothing to do with him as the Cardinal approaches in person.
Lines 135-176: As he passes, Wolsey asks his secretary if they have Buckingham's surveyor's statement. They'll examine him in person and when they "know more" Buckingham won't look so proud. Afterward Buckingham complains that Wolsey ("This butcher's cur") has a poisonous tongue but that he doesn't know how to silence him so it's best to let him sleep: a poor scholar's worth more than a noble family nowadays. Norfolk suggests self-control ("temperance") is the only remedy for his anger. Buckingham says he could see Wolsey was talking about him and has some trick to dishonor him. He's convinced he's gone to the king to complain. Norfolk again urges caution and not to let his anger get the better of him. Buckingham is determined, though, to complain to the king about Wolsey's insolence. Norfolk again advises him not to make things so hot for his enemy that he himself gets burned in the process.
Lines 177-229: Buckingham thanks him but says he knows Wolsey to be "corrupt and treasonous." He's convinced that Wolsey set up the whole costly affair (the Field of the Cloth of Gold) in order to show off his own power in France. Wolsey himself drew up the peace treaty but then "Charles the Emperor" (Charles V, King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor) "came / To whisper Wolsey" under the pretext of visiting his aunt, Katherine of Aragon. Buckingham's charge is that the emperor, fearful of Spain's interest in a league between England and France, bribed Wolsey to change the king's mind and break the treaty. Norfolk says he hopes Buckingham's mistaken but Buckingham assures him that the evidence will prove him right.
Lines 230-267: Brandon and a Sergeant-at-Arms come to arrest Buckingham on a charge of "high treason" and accompany him to the Tower (of London). They also arrest Abergavenny and have warrants for all those connected with Buckingham. Both men accept their fate, saying "the will of heaven be done." Buckingham knows it's pointless to plead his innocence, believing his surveyor has been bribed by Wolsey to lie.
ACT 1 SCENE 2
Lines 1-31: Henry thanks Wolsey for the discovery and prevention of Buckingham's plot. He calls for Buckingham's surveyor to be brought before the court to "justify" his "confessions" and go through Buckingham's "treasons" "point by point." The queen arrives with the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk and kneels before the king. As Henry raises her, she says she'll remain kneeling since she's "a suitor" to him. He places her beside him, saying half her suit is granted, since she has half his power, and the other half granted before asked, and tells her to continue. She thanks him and explains that she wishes the king to "love" himself and not forget his "honour" or the "dignity" of his "office." Henry's subjects are grieved by the taxes imposed on them, which are blamed on the Cardinal but that the king himself has not escaped reproach, and there is talk of rebellion.
Lines 32-75: The Duke of Norfolk confirms all this, and explains how the cloth workers have had to lay off those who depend on them for work, who are now starving and desperate. Henry knows nothing of this and asks Wolsey to explain. The Cardinal claims that he's only responsible for "a single part" of state business. Katherine argues that Wolsey is responsible for "fram[ing]" policies. The "exactions" (taxes) the king wishes to know about are an impossible burden to bear. They're said to have been devised by Wolsey but if this is not the case he is blamed unjustly. The king again demands clarification. Katherine apologizes for trying his "patience" and explains that commissions have been set up demanding one sixth of a subject's wealth to be paid immediately, the money supposedly going to pay for the king's wars with France. This is why the people are angry and she wishes he would consider the matter at once, since there's no greater example of dishonorable treatment.
Lines 76-120: Henry exclaims that this is not according to his wishes. The Cardinal explains that his was only a single vote in the Privy Council and that others are just as much responsible. Slander by those who don't know anything about him or his deeds is the price virtue has to suffer. We shouldn't fear to do what's necessary because of those who always complain. Malicious critics often refuse to believe in or censure our best deeds while our worst are praised. If we're too frightened to move in case we're made fun of or criticized, we'll take root and become no more than "state-statues." Henry retorts that "Things done well" and with "care" will not lead to "fear." Things done without a precedent will turn out badly. He asks if Wolsey had any legal precedent. Henry believes not and argues that people must be subject to the law, not the king's will. Taking one sixth of people's income is like hacking at a tree, which may leave it standing but will ultimately lead to its death. Henry orders letters to be sent to all the counties with free pardons. Wolsey tells his secretary to write revoking the tax, adding that he should imply that this has been through his intercession with the king.
Lines 121-244: Buckingham's surveyor enters. Katherine's sorry the duke no longer enjoys the king's favor. Henry's sorry too: the duke's an educated man with great natural gifts but his mind has grown "corrupt." He invites Katherine to listen to the case against him. The Surveyor claims that Buckingham said if the king died without children, he'd seize the throne and revenge himself on the Cardinal. The Surveyor says Buckingham based this on the "vain prophecy of Nicholas Hopkins," a Carthusian monk who was his confessor, that "Neither the king" nor his "heirs" would prosper, and the duke would govern England. Katherine points out that the Surveyor was dismissed because of the tenants' complaints and warns him not to make these charges out of resentment and thus endanger his "nobler soul." The Surveyor claims he'd warned the duke but he took no notice, adding that if the king had died in his last illness, he'd have had Wolsey and Sir Thomas Lovell beheaded. Furthermore, Buckingham planned to assassinate him personally. Wolsey asks if it's safe for Buckingham to remain free. Katherine responds only with the hope that God will put things right: "God mend all." Henry is convinced of Buckingham's guilt and refuses to show him mercy.
ACT 1 SCENE 3
The Lord Chamberlain and Lord Sands are discussing the spellbinding effect of the new fashions brought back from France when Sir Thomas Lovell announces a proclamation against them. They agree that they're glad to see the back of them, English dress and customs are better. All three are going to a great feast later that evening given by Wolsey and praise his generosity.
ACT 1 SCENE 4
Sir Henry Guildford welcomes the ladies to Cardinal Wolsey's feast as the Lord Chamberlain, Sands, and Lovell arrive and seat themselves between the ladies. Their conversation is filled with sexual innuendo. Sands sits next to Anne (Bullen), apologizes for talking "a little wild" and then kisses her. Wolsey arrives and bids all his guests be merry. Sands continues to flirt with Anne. A masque of shepherds (including Henry in disguise) arrive and dance with the ladies. Henry chooses Anne. Wolsey says if there's one among them worth
ier of the place than he, then he would surrender it with his "love and duty." They confirm that there is but he must guess who. Wolsey chooses Henry, who asks him about Anne. Henry proposes a toast and leads Anne and the others into the next room.
ACT 2 SCENE 1
Lines 1-67: Two Gentlemen discuss Buckingham's trial. He pleaded not guilty and demanded to see his accusers face-to-face. His surveyor, chancellor, and confessor were brought before him, together with the monk, Hopkins, and accused him. He was found guilty. When he came to the bar to hear the judgment, he was initially upset but recovered himself. They blame Wolsey, who had Buckingham's son-in-law made Lord Deputy of Ireland so that he'd be out of the way and not in a position to help his father-in-law. They note that Wolsey sends away anyone the king likes and that everyone hates him while all admire " 'bounteous Buckingham / The mirror of all courtesy.' "
Lines 68-153: Buckingham enters with officers of the court and commoners. He addresses those present, proclaiming his innocence and forgiving his enemies. He asks his friends to accompany him and, with their prayers, lift his soul to heaven. Lovell asks forgiveness, which Buckingham gives with "blessings" and his wishes for the king's long life. He relates how his father was betrayed, whereas he at least had a trial, but, like his father, he was betrayed by servants. He warns them to be careful how they choose their friends. He asks for their prayers, then says "Farewell" and "God forgive me" before departing.
Lines 154-194: The two Gentlemen are full of pity. One says he's heard a hint of something even worse--rumor of a separation between "the king and Katherine." The other didn't believe it because Henry commanded the Lord Mayor to stop the rumor. The other replies that "it grows again"; it's believed that the Cardinal or someone near him, "out of malice" to the "good queen" has planted a "scruple" in Henry's head that will "undo" her. Cardinal Campeius, the papal legate, has arrived. They believe that Wolsey is punishing Katherine because her nephew, the Holy Roman Emperor, refused him the archbishopric of Toledo. They conclude that the place is too public and they should continue their conversation in private.