King John & Henry VIII

by William Shakespeare

  nose: all that stand about him are under the line41, they need

  no other penance: that fire-drake42 did I hit three times on the

  head, and three times was his nose discharged43 against me:

  he stands there like a mortar-piece, to blow us44. There was a

  haberdasher’s wife of small wit near him, that railed upon45

  me till her pinked porringer fell off her head, for kindling46

  such a combustion in the state. I missed the meteor47 once,

  and hit that woman, who cried out ‘Clubs!’48, when I might see

  from far some forty truncheoners draw to her succour49,

  which were the hope o’th’Strand, where she was quartered50.

  They fell on: I made good my place: at length they came to51

  th’broomstaff to me: I defied ’em still, when suddenly a file of

  boys behind ’em, loose shot53, delivered such a shower of

  pebbles, that I was fain54 to draw mine honour in, and let ’em

  win the work55: the devil was amongst ’em, I think, surely.

  PORTER These are the youths56 that thunder at a playhouse,

  and fight for bitten apples, that no audience but the

  tribulation of Tower Hill, or the limbs of Limehouse58, their

  dear brothers, are able to endure. I have some of ’em in limbo59

  patrum, and there they are like60 to dance these three days,

  besides the running banquet of two beadles61 that is to come.

  Enter Lord Chamberlain

  CHAMBERLAIN Mercy o’me: what a multitude are here!

  They grow still, too: from all parts they are coming,

  As if we kept a fair here! Where are these porters,

  To the Porter and his Man

  These lazy knaves?— You’ve made a fine hand65, fellows:

  There’s a trim66 rabble let in: are all these

  Your faithful friends o’th’suburbs67? We shall have

  Great store of room68, no doubt, left for the ladies,

  When they pass back from the christening!

  PORTER An’t70 please your honour,

  We are but men, and what so many may do,

  Not being torn a-pieces, we have done:

  An army cannot rule73 ’em.

  CHAMBERLAIN As I live,

  If the king blame me for’t, I’ll lay ye all75

  By th’heels, and suddenly76, and on your heads

  Clap round77 fines for neglect: you’re lazy knaves,

  And here ye lie baiting of bombards78, when

  Trumpet

  Ye should do service79. Hark, the trumpets sound:

  They’re come already from the christening:

  Go break among the press81, and find a way out

  To let the troop pass fairly82, or I’ll find

  A Marshalsea shall hold ye play83 these two months.

  PORTER Make way there for the princess.

  MAN You great fellow,

  Stand close up86, or I’ll make your head ache.

  PORTER You i’th’camlet, get up o’th’rail87:

  I’ll peck you o’er the pales88 else.

  Exeunt

  Act 5 Scene 4

  running scene 15

  Enter Trumpets sounding: then two Aldermen, Lord Mayor, Garter, Cranmer, Duke of Norfolk with his Marshal’s staff, Duke of Suffolk, two Noblemen bearing great standing bowls for the christening gifts: then four Noblemen bearing a canopy, under which the Duchess of Norfolk, godmother, bearing the child richly habited in a mantle, etc., train borne by a Lady: then follows the Marchioness Dorset, the other godmother, and Ladies. The troop pass once about the stage, and Garter speaks

  GARTER Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous

  life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty Princess of

  England, Elizabeth.

  Flourish. Enter King [Henry] and Guard

  He kneels

  CRANMER And to your royal grace, and the good queen,

  My noble partners5 and myself thus pray

  All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady,

  Heaven ever laid7 up to make parents happy,

  May hourly fall upon ye.

  KING HENRY VIII Thank you, good lord archbishop:

  What is her name?

  CRANMER Elizabeth.

  KING HENRY VIII Stand up, lord.

  He kisses the child

  With this kiss take my blessing: God protect thee,

  Into whose hand I give thy life.

  CRANMER Amen.

  KING HENRY VIII My noble gossips, you’ve been too prodigal16:

  I thank ye heartily: so shall this lady,

  When she has so much English.

  CRANMER Let me speak, sir,

  For heaven now bids me: and the words I utter

  Let none think flattery, for they’ll find ’em truth.

  This royal infant — heaven still move about her22 —

  Though in her cradle, yet now promises

  Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings,

  Which time shall bring to ripeness: she shall be —

  But few now living can behold that goodness —

  A pattern27 to all princes living with her,

  And all that shall succeed: Saba28 was never

  More covetous of wisdom and fair virtue

  Than this pure soul shall be. All princely graces

  That mould up such a mighty piece31 as this is,

  With all the virtues that attend the good,

  Shall still33 be doubled on her. Truth shall nurse her,

  Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her:

  She shall be loved and feared. Her own35 shall bless her:

  Her foes shake like a field of beaten36 corn,

  And hang their heads with sorrow: good grows with her.

  In her days, every man shall eat in safety

  Under his own vine what he plants, and sing

  The merry songs of peace to all his neighbours.

  God41 shall be truly known, and those about her

  From her shall read42 the perfect ways of honour,

  And by those claim their greatness, not by blood43.

  Nor shall this peace sleep44 with her: but as when

  The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix45,

  Her ashes new create another heir,

  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 agèd 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 Guînes = 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 François 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 dismissive 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, a
nd 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.