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Henry VIII - Act 4, scene 1
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Henry VIII - Act 4, scene 1Act 4, scene 1
Scene 1
Synopsis:
The procession returns from Anne’s coronation, which is then described by a gentleman who was in attendance.
Enter two Gentlemen, meeting one another, ⌜the FirstGentleman carrying a paper.⌝
FIRST GENTLEMAN
2281 You’re well met once again.
SECOND GENTLEMAN 2282 So are you.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
2283 You come to take your stand here and behold
2284 The Lady Anne pass from her coronation?
SECOND GENTLEMAN
2285 5 ’Tis all my business. At our last encounter,
2286 The Duke of Buckingham came from his trial.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
2287 ’Tis very true. But that time offered sorrow,
2288 This general joy.
SECOND GENTLEMAN 2289 ’Tis well. The citizens
2290 10 I am sure have shown at full their royal minds,
2291 As, let ’em have their rights, they are ever forward
2292 In celebration of this day with shows,
2293 Pageants, and sights of honor.
FIRST GENTLEMAN 2294 Never greater,
2295 15 Nor, I’ll assure you, better taken, sir.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
2296 May I be bold to ask what that contains,
2297 That paper in your hand?
FIRST GENTLEMAN 2298 Yes, ’tis the list
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2299
Of those that claim their offices this day2300 20 By custom of the coronation.
2301 The Duke of Suffolk is the first, and claims
2302 To be High Steward; next, the Duke of Norfolk,
2303 He to be Earl Marshal. You may read the rest.
⌜He offers him the paper.⌝
⌜SECOND⌝ GENTLEMAN
2304 I thank you, sir. Had I not known those customs,
2305 25 I should have been beholding to your paper.
2306 But I beseech you, what’s become of Katherine,
2307 The Princess Dowager? How goes her business?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
2308 That I can tell you too. The Archbishop
2309 Of Canterbury, accompanied with other
2310 30 Learnèd and reverend fathers of his order,
2311 Held a late court at Dunstable, six miles off
2312 From Ampthill, where the Princess lay, to which
2313 She was often cited by them, but appeared not;
2314 And, to be short, for not appearance and
2315 35 The King’s late scruple, by the main assent
2316 Of all these learnèd men she was divorced,
2317 And the late marriage made of none effect;
2318 Since which she was removed to Kymmalton,
2319 Where she remains now sick.
SECOND GENTLEMAN 2320 40 Alas, good lady!
Hautboys. A lively flourish of trumpets.
2321 The trumpets sound. Stand close. The Queen is coming.
Then, ⌜enter⌝ two Judges; Lord Chancellor, with purse
and mace before him. Choristers singing. Music.
⌜Enter⌝ Mayor of London, bearing the mace. Then
Garter, in his coat of arms, and on his head he wore a
gilt copper crown.
2322 A royal train, believe me! These I know.
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167
⌜Enter⌝ Marques Dorset, bearing a scepter of gold; on hishead a demi-coronal of gold. With him, the Earl of
Surrey, bearing the rod of silver with the dove, crowned
with an earl’s coronet. Collars of S’s.
2323 Who’s that that bears the scepter?
FIRST GENTLEMAN 2324 Marques Dorset,
2325 45 And that the Earl of Surrey with the rod.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
2326 A bold brave gentleman.
⌜Enter⌝ 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, a coronet on his head. Collars of S’s.
2327 That should be
2328 The Duke of Suffolk.
FIRST GENTLEMAN 2329 ’Tis the same: High Steward.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
2330 50 And that my Lord of Norfolk?
FIRST GENTLEMAN 2331 Yes.
⌜Enter⌝ a canopy, borne by four 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.
SECOND GENTLEMAN 2332 Heaven bless thee!
2333 Thou hast the sweetest face I ever looked on.—
2334 Sir, as I have a soul, she is an angel.
2335 55 Our king has all the Indies in his arms,
2336 And more, and richer, when he strains that lady.
2337 I cannot blame his conscience.
FIRST GENTLEMAN 2338 They that bear
2339 The cloth of honor over her are four barons
2340 60 Of the Cinque-ports.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
2341 Those men are happy, and so are all are near her.
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⌜Enter⌝ the Old Duchess of Norfolk, in a coronal ofgold wrought with flowers, bearing the Queen’s train.
Certain Ladies or Countesses, with plain circlets of gold
without flowers.
2342 I take it she that carries up the train
2343 Is that old noble lady, Duchess of Norfolk.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
2344 It is, and all the rest are countesses.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
2345 65 Their coronets say so. These are stars indeed.
⌜FIRST GENTLEMAN⌝
2346 And sometimes falling ones.
SECOND GENTLEMAN 2347 No more of that.
⌜The Coronation procession exits, having
passed⌝ over the stage in order and state, and then
a great flourish of trumpets.
Enter a third Gentleman.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
2348 God save you, sir. Where have you been broiling?
THIRD GENTLEMAN
2349 Among the crowd i’ th’ Abbey, where a finger
2350 70 Could not be wedged in more. I am stifled
2351 With the mere rankness of their joy.
SECOND GENTLEMAN 2352 You saw
2353 The ceremony?
THIRD GENTLEMAN 2354 That I did.
FIRST GENTLEMAN 2355 75 How was it?
THIRD GENTLEMAN
2356 Well worth the seeing.
SECOND GENTLEMAN 2357 Good sir, speak it to us!
THIRD GENTLEMAN
2358 As well as I am able. The rich stream
2359 Of lords and ladies, having brought the Queen
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171
2360
80 To a prepared place in the choir, fell off2361 A distance from her, while her Grace sat down
2362 To rest awhile, some half an hour or so,
2363 In a rich chair of state, opposing freely
2364 The beauty of her person to the people.
2365 85 Believe me, sir, she is the goodliest woman
2366 That ever lay by man, which when the people
2367 Had the full view of, such a noise arose
2368 As the shrouds make at sea in a stiff tempest—
2369 As loud and to as many tunes. Hats, cloaks,
2370 90 Doublets, I think, flew up, and had their faces
2371 Been loose, this day they had been lost. Such joy
2372 I never saw before. Great-bellied women
2373 That had not half a week to go, like rams
2374 In the old time of war, would shake the press
2375 95 And make ’em reel before ’em. No man living
2376 Could say “This is my wife there,” all were woven
2377 So strangely in one piece.
SECOND GENTLEMAN 2378 But what followed?
THIRD GENTLEMAN
2379 At length her Grace rose, and with modest paces
2380 100 Came to the altar, where she kneeled and saintlike
2381 Cast her fair eyes to heaven and prayed devoutly,
2382 Then rose again and bowed her to the people.
2383 When by the Archbishop of Canterbury
2384 She had all the royal makings of a queen—
2385 105 As, holy oil, Edward Confessor’s crown,
2386 The rod, and bird of peace, and all such emblems—
2387 Laid nobly on her; which performed, the choir,
2388 With all the choicest music of the kingdom,
2389 Together sung Te Deum. So she parted,
2390 110 And with the same full state paced back again
2391 To York Place, where the feast is held.
FIRST GENTLEMAN 2392 Sir,
2393 You must no more call it “York Place”; that’s past,
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2394
For since the Cardinal fell, that title’s lost.2395 115 ’Tis now the King’s and called “Whitehall.”
THIRD GENTLEMAN 2396 I know it,
2397 But ’tis so lately altered that the old name
2398 Is fresh about me.
SECOND GENTLEMAN 2399 What two reverend bishops
2400 120 Were those that went on each side of the Queen?
THIRD GENTLEMAN
2401 Stokeley and Gardiner, the one of Winchester,
2402 Newly preferred from the King’s secretary,
2403 The other London.
SECOND GENTLEMAN 2404 He of Winchester
2405 125 Is held no great good lover of the Archbishop’s,
2406 The virtuous Cranmer.
THIRD GENTLEMAN 2407 All the land knows that.
2408 However, yet there is no great breach. When it comes,
2409 Cranmer will find a friend will not shrink from him.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
2410 130 Who may that be, I pray you?
THIRD GENTLEMAN 2411 Thomas Cromwell,
2412 A man in much esteem with th’ King, and truly
2413 A worthy friend. The King has made him
2414 Master o’ th’ Jewel House,
2415 135 And one already of the Privy Council.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
2416 He will deserve more.
THIRD GENTLEMAN 2417 Yes, without all doubt.
2418 Come, gentlemen, you shall go my way,
2419 Which is to th’ court, and there you shall be my
2420 140 guests,
2421 Something I can command. As I walk thither,
2422 I’ll tell you more.
BOTH 2423 You may command us, sir.
They exit.