Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Diane Jakacki
Not Peer Reviewed

Henry The Eighth (Modern)

Enter two Gentlemen, meeting one another.
1 Gentleman
Y'are well met once again.
2 Gentleman
So are you.
23801 Gentleman
You come to take your stand here and behold
The lady Anne pass from her coronation.
2 Gentleman
'Tis all my business. At our last encounter
The Duke of Buckingham came from his trial.
2 Gentleman
'Tis very true. But that time offered sorrow;
2385This, general joy.
2 Gentleman
'Tis well. The citizens,
I am sure, have shown at full their royal minds
As let 'em have their rights; they are ever forward
In celebration of this day with shows,
2390Pageants, and sights of honor.
1 Gentleman
Never greater,
Nor I'll assure you better taken, sir.
2 Gentleman
May I be bold to ask what that contains,
That Paper in your hand.
23951 Gentleman
Yes, 'tis the list
Of those that claim their offices this day,
By custom of the coronation.
The Duke of Suffolk is the first, and claims
To be High Steward; next the Duke of Norfolk,
2400He to be Earl Marshal. You may read the rest.
2 Gentleman
I thank you, sir. Had I not known those customs,
I should have been beholding to your paper;
But I beseech you, what's become of Katherine
The Princess Dowager? How goes her business?
24051 Gentleman
That I can tell you, too. The Archbishop
Of Canterbury, accompanied with other
Learned and reverend fathers of his order,
Held a late court at Dunstable, six miles off
From Ampthill, where the princess lay, to which
2410She was often sighted by them but appeared not.
And to be short, for not appearance and
The king's late scruple, by the main assent
Of all these learned men she was divorced,
And the late marriage made of none effect;
2415Since which, she was removed to Kimbolton,
Where she remains now sick.
2 Gentleman
Alas, good lady.
The trumpets sound; stand close,
The queen is coming.
Hautboys.
2420The Order of the Coronation:
1 A lively flourish of trumpets.
2 Then, two Judges.
3 Lord Chancellor, with Purse and Mace before him.
4 Choristers singing. Music.
24255 Mayor of London, bearing the Mace. Then Garter, in his Coat of Arms, and on his head he wore a Gilt Copper Crowne.
6 Marquess Dorset, bearing a Scepter of Gold, on his head, a Demy Coronall of Gold. With him, the Earle of Surrey, 2430bearing the Rod of Siluer with the Doue, Crowned with an Earles Coronet. Collars of Esses.
7 Duke of Suffolk, in his Robe of Estate, his Coronet on his head, bearing a long white Wand, as High Steward. With him, the Duke of Norfolk, with the Rod of Marshalship, 2435a Coronet on his head. Collars of Esses.
8 A Canopy, borne by foure of the Cinque-Ports, under it the Queen in her Robe, in her hair, richly adorned with Pearl, Crowned. On each side her, the Bishops of London, and Winchester.
24409 The Old Duchess of Norfolk, in a Coronall of Gold, wrought with Flowers bearing the Queen's Train.
10 Certain Ladies or Countesses, with plain Circlets of Gold, without Flowers.
Exeunt, first passing over the Stage in Order and State, and 2445then, a great Flourish of Trumpets.
2 Gentleman
A Royal Train believe me! These I know:
Who's that that bears the scepter?
1 Gentleman
Marquess Dorset,
And that the Earl of Surrey with the rod.
24502 Gentleman
A bold brave gentleman. That should be
The duke of Suffolk.
1 Gentleman
'Tis the same: high steward.
2 Gentleman
And that my lord of Norfolk?
1 Gentleman
Yes.
24552 Gentleman
Heaven bless thee,
Thou hast the sweetest face I ever looked on.
Sir, as I have a soul, she is an angel;
Our king has all the Indies in his arms,
And more, and richer, when he strains that lady.
2460I cannot blame his conscience.
1 Gentleman
They that bear
The cloth of honor over her are four barons
Of the Cinque-Ports.
2 Gentleman
Those men are happy.
2465And so are all, are near her.
I take it she that carries up the train
Is that old noble lady, duchess of Norfolk
1 Gentleman
It is, and all the rest are countesses.
2 Gentleman
Their coronets say so. These are stars indeed,
2470And sometimes falling ones.
2 Gentleman
No more of that.
Enter a third Gentleman.
1 Gentleman
God save you, sir. Where have you been broiling?
3 Gentleman
Among the crowd i'th'Abbey, where a finger
2475Could not be wedged in more. I am stifled
With the mere rankness of their joy.
2 Gentleman
You saw the ceremony?
3 Gentleman
That I did.
1 Gentleman
How was it?
24803 Gentleman
Well worth the seeing.
2 Gentleman
Good sir, speak it to us.
3 Gentleman
As well as I am able. The rich stream
Of lords and ladies, having brought the queen
To a prepared place in the choir, fell off
2485A distance from her, while her grace sat down
To rest a while, some half an hour or so,
In a rich chair of state, opposing freely
The beauty of her person to the people.
Believe me, sir, she is the goodliest woman
2490That ever lay by man; which, when the people
Had the full view of, such a noise arose
As the shrouds make at sea in a stiff tempest,
As loud and to as many tunes. Hats, cloaks,
(Doublets, I think) flew up, and had their faces
2495Been loose this day they had been lost. Such joy
I never saw before. Great bellied women,
That had not half a week to go, like rams
In the old time of war would shake the press
And make 'em reel before 'em. No man living
2500Could say: this is my wife there; all were woven
So strangely in one piece.
2 Gentleman
But what followed?
3 Gentleman
At length her grace rose, and with modest paces
Came to the altar, where she kneeled, and saint-like
2505Cast her fair eyes to heaven and prayed devoutly.
Then rose again and bowed her to the people.
When, by the Archbishop of Canterbury,
She had all the royal makings of a queen:
As holy oil, Edward Confessor's crown,
2510The rod, and bird of peace, and all such emblems
Laid nobly on her; which performed, the choir
With all the choicest music of the kingdom
Together sung Te Deum. So she parted,
And with the same full state paced back again
2515To York Place, where the feast is held.
1 Gentleman
Sir,
You must no more call it York Place. That's past.
For since the cardinal fell, that title's lost.
'Tis now the king's, and called Whitehall.
25203 Gentleman
I know it,
But 'tis so lately altered that the old name
Is fresh about me.
2 Gentleman
What two reverend bishops
Were those that went on each side of the queen?
25253 Gentleman
Stokeley and Gardiner, the one of Winchester,
Newly preferred from the king's secretary;
The other London.
2 Gentleman
He of Winchester
Is held no great good lover of the archbishops:
2530The virtuous Cranmer.
3 Gentleman
All the land knows that.
However, yet there is no great breach, when it comes
Cranmer will find a friend will not shrink from him.
2 Gentleman
Who may that be, I pray you?
25353 Gentleman
Thomas Cromwell,
A man in much esteem with th'king, and truly
A worthy friend. The king has made him
Master o'th'Jewel House,
And one already of the Privy Council.
25402 Gentleman
He will deserve more.
3 Gentleman
Yes, without all doubt.
Come, gentlemen, ye shall go my way,
Which is to'th court, and there ye shall be my guests:
Something I can command. As I walk thither
2545I'll tell ye more.
You may command us, sir.
Exeunt.