King Henry VIII Play
King Henry VIII begins with the Duke of Buckingham
being arrested for treason, Buckingham being sent to
the Tower of London.. Cardinal Wolsey, an advisor to
King Henry, plays a major role in Buckingham's downfall...
Wolsey has not been pleased with Buckingham's criticism
over Wolsey's excessive role in recent peace negotiations
with France. The Queen tells Henry VIII that a one sixth
tax has been levied on his subjects, without his authorisation
but Wolsey's. Henry VIII tells Wolsey to refund all
those who have paid this tax but Wolsey, takes credit
for the new tax being abolished. At Buckingham's trial,
a witness (Buckingham's former surveyer) claims Buckingham
wanted to become the new King. Queen Katherine begs
for Buckingham to be shown mercy, only to see Buckingham
beheaded. Wolsey, meanwhile has been adding new enemies
to the taxes he was collecting...
Henry, however has turned his attentions elsewhere;
at a gala (party) Wolsey holds, the King, disguised
as a foreigner to crash this party, meets Anne Bullen,
immediately falling in love with her after he dances
with the young lady in waiting to Queen Katherine. Two
gentlemen at this gala, reveal the population's general
hatred of Wolsey and also reveal the widespread belief
that Wolsey was behind the false accusations levelled
at Buckingham. These gentlemen believe Wolsey wants
to rid England of their Queen, Katherine (Katherine
was originally King Henry VIII's brother's wife). Meanwhile,
Henry wanting to marry Anne, decides he wants a divorce.
To settle matters, Wolsey has the Pope send a representative
to make a decision on the divorce. Unfortunately, Queen
Katherine will not go quietly; she has been Queen for
twenty years and furthermore, views marriage as a sacred
unbreakable bond...
Anne Bullen, greatly admiring the Queen, is saddened
by the Queen's pending divorce and privately resolves
never to marry King Henry VIII... This does not stop
King Henry, who at the trial in Blackfriars, claims
he wants the divorce because in twenty years Katherine
has borne him no male heirs to the throne. Anne later
learns from Chamberlain, that she has been made Marcioness
of Penbroke, greatly increasing her fears of becoming
the new Queen... Wolsey however, wants the Henry to
marry the French King's sister, Mary. King Henry learns
that Wolsey, realising he wanted to marry Anne, told
the Pope to delay a decision on the divorce. Wolsey
now loses favor with King Henry who secretly marries
Anne, ignoring the Pope.
Wolsey passes away quickly followed by an ill Queen
Katherine. Gardiner (Lord of Winchester), Wolsey's secretary
plots against Cranmer, the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
Cranmer too goes to trial and to the Tower of London
like Buckingham, but because he is under the protection
of the monarchy, goes free. Cranmer now a free man again,
christens Elizabeth, Anne's baby daughter. Cranmer prophesizes
a golden age for England under this future Queen, noting
that she will die a virgin and be greatly missed by
her people.
Contents
Dramatis
Personæ
Prologue
Act I
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV
Act II
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV
Act III
Scene I, Scene
II
Act IV
Scene I, Scene
II
Act V
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V
Epilogue
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