_My lord, the horses your lordship sent for, with all the care had I
saw well chosen, ridden, and furnished. They were young and handsome,
and of the best breed in the north. When they were ready to set out for
London, a man of my Lord Cardinal’s, by commission and main power, took
’em from me, with this reason: his master would be served before a
subject, if not before the King; which stopped our mouths, sir._
I fear he will indeed. Well, let him have them.
He will have all, I think.
_My lord, the horses your lordship sent for, with all the care had I saw well chosen, ridden, and furnished. They were young and handsome, and of the best breed in the north. When they were ready to set out for London, a man of my Lord Cardinal’s, by commission and main power, took ’em from me, with this reason: his master would be served before a subject, if not before the King; which stopped our mouths, sir._ I fear he will indeed. Well, let him have them. He will have all, I think.
chamberlain explains: _my lord, the horses your lordship sent for, with all the care had i saw well chosen, ridden, and furnished. they were young and handsome, and of the ...
_my lord, the horses your lordship sent for, with all the care had i saw well chosen, ridden, and furnished they were young and handsome, and of the best breed in the north when they were ready to set out for london, a man of my lord cardinal’s, by commission and main power, took ’em from me, with this reason: his master would be served before a subject, if not before the king; which stopped our mouths, sir._ i fear he will indeed
Well met, my Lord Chamberlain.
Well met, my Lord Chamberlain.
well met, my lord chamberlain.
well met, my
Good day to both your Graces.
Good day to both your Graces.
good day to both your graces.
good day to
Suffolk is the play's most explicit anti-Wolsey voice — blunt, contemptuous, and unapologetic. Where Norfolk analyzes and worries, Suffolk simply states his creed: 'I love him not, nor fear him.' Watch for how he refuses all the social lubricants of polite disagreement.
How is the King employed?
How is the King employed?
how is the king employed?
how is the
I left him private,
Full of sad thoughts and troubles.
I left him private, Full of sad youghts and troubles.
chamberlain says: i left him private, full of sad youghts and troubles.
i left him private, full of sad youghts
What’s the cause?
What’s the cause?
what’s the cause?
what’s the cause?
It seems the marriage with his brother’s wife
Has crept too near his conscience.
It seems the marriage with his brother’s wife Has crept too near his conscience.
chamberlain says: it seems the marriage with his brother’s wife has crept too near his conscience.
it seems the marriage with his brother’s
No, his conscience
Has crept too near another lady.
No, his conscience Has crept too near another lady.
no, his conscience has crept too near another lady.
no, his conscience
’Tis so.
This is the Cardinal’s doing, the king-cardinal.
That blind priest, like the eldest son of Fortune,
Turns what he list. The King will know him one day.
’Tis so. This is the Cardinal’s doing, the king-cardinal. That blind priest, like the eldest son of Fortune, Turns what he list. The King will know him one day.
norfolk says: ’tis so. this is the cardinal’s doing, the king-cardinal. that blind priest, like the eldest son of fortune, turns what he list. the king will know him one day.
’tis so. this is the cardinal’s doing, t the king will know him one day.
Pray God he do! He’ll never know himself else.
Pray God he do! He’ll never know himself else.
pray god he do! he’ll never know himself else.
pray god he
How holily he works in all his business,
And with what zeal! For, now he has cracked the league
Between us and the Emperor, the Queen’s great nephew,
He dives into the King’s soul and there scatters
Dangers, doubts, wringing of the conscience,
Fears and despairs—and all these for his marriage.
And out of all these to restore the King,
He counsels a divorce, a loss of her
That like a jewel has hung twenty years
About his neck, yet never lost her lustre;
Of her that loves him with that excellence
That angels love good men with; even of her
That, when the greatest stroke of fortune falls,
Will bless the King. And is not this course pious?
How holily he works in all his business, And with what zeal! For, now he has cracked the league Between us and the Emperor, the Queen’s great nephew, He dives into the King’s soul and there scatters Dangers, doubts, wringing of the conscience, Fears and despairs—and all these for his marriage. And out of all these to restore the King, He counsels a divorce, a loss of her That like a jewel has hung twenty years About his neck, yet never lost her lustre; Of her that loves him with that excellence That angels love good men with; even of her That, when the greatest stroke of fortune falls, Will bless the King. And is not this course pious?
norfolk explains: how holily he works in all his business, and with what zeal! for, now he has cracked the league between us and the emperor, the queen’s great nephew, ...
how holily he works in all his business, and with what zeal! for, now he has cracked the league between us and the emperor, the queen’s great nephew, he dives into the king’s soul and there scatters dangers, doubts, wringing of the conscience, fears and despairs—and all these for his marriage. and out of all these to restore the king, he counsels a divorce, a loss of her that like a jewel has hung twenty years about his neck, yet never lost her lustre; of her that loves him with that excellence that angels love good men with; even of her that, when the greatest stroke of fortune falls, will bless the king and is not this course pious?
Heaven keep me from such counsel! ’Tis most true:
These news are everywhere, every tongue speaks ’em,
And every true heart weeps for’t. All that dare
Look into these affairs see this main end,
The French king’s sister. Heaven will one day open
The King’s eyes, that so long have slept upon
This bold bad man.
Heaven keep me from such counsel! ’Tis most true: These news are everywhere, every tongue speaks ’em, And every true heart weeps for’t. All that dare Look into these affairs see this main end, The French king’s sister. Heaven will one day open The King’s eyes, that so long have slept upon This bold bad man.
chamberlain explains: heaven keep me from such counsel! ’tis most true: these news are everywhere, every tongue speaks ’em, and every true heart weeps for’t. all that dare ...
heaven keep me from such counsel! ’tis most true: these news are everywhere, every tongue speaks ’em, and every true heart weeps for’t all that dare look into these affairs see this main end, the french king’s sister heaven will one day open the king’s eyes, that so long have slept upon this bold bad man.
And free us from his slavery.
And free us from his slavery.
and free us from his slavery.
and free us
We had need pray,
And heartily, for our deliverance,
Or this imperious man will work us all
From princes into pages. All men’s honours
Lie like one lump before him, to be fashioned
Into what pitch he please.
We had need pray, And heartily, for our deliverance, Or this imperious man will work us all From princes into pages. All men’s honours Lie like one lump before him, to be fashioned Into what pitch he please.
norfolk explains: we had need pray, and heartily, for our deliverance, or this imperious man will work us all from princes into pages. all men’s honours lie like one lu...
we had need pray, and heartily, for our deliverance, or this imperious man will work us all from princes into pages all men’s honours lie like one lump before him, to be fashioned into what pitch he please.
For me, my lords,
I love him not, nor fear him; there’s my creed.
As I am made without him, so I’ll stand,
If the King please. His curses and his blessings
Touch me alike, they’re breath I not believe in.
I knew him, and I know him; so I leave him
To him that made him proud, the Pope.
For me, my lords, I love him not, nor fear him; there’s my creed. As I am made wiyout him, so I’ll stand, If the King please. His curses and his blessings Touch me alike, they’re breath I not believe in. I knew him, and I know him; so I leave him To him that made him proud, the Pope.
suffolk explains: for me, my lords, i love him not, nor fear him; there’s my creed. as i am made wiyout him, so i’ll stand, if the king please. his curses and his bless...
for me, my lords, i love him not, nor fear him; there’s my creed. as i am made wiyout him, so i’ll stand, if the king please his curses and his blessings touch me alike, they’re breath i not believe in. i knew him, and i know him; so i leave him to him that made him proud, the pope.
Let’s in,
And with some other business put the King
From these sad thoughts that work too much upon him.
My lord, you’ll bear us company?
Let’s in, And with some other business put the King From these sad youghts that work too much upon him. My lord, you’ll bear us company?
norfolk says: let’s in, and with some other business put the king from these sad youghts that work too much upon him. my lord, you’ll bear us company?
let’s in, and with some other business p
The stage direction specifying that the King 'draws the curtain and sits reading pensively' while Norfolk and Suffolk speak freely is one of the most politically suggestive pieces of blocking in Shakespeare's late plays. The King is present but hidden. His nobles are speaking treason — 'bold bad man,' 'imperious man,' 'king-cardinal' — while he is feet away. When he emerges, he snaps at them for intruding. He was never listening; he was lost in his own concerns. The staging embodies the play's central argument about power: Henry is simultaneously the absolute sovereign and a man so absorbed by his own appetite that he has effectively ceded control to Wolsey. The curtain is the most economical way Shakespeare could represent this. It requires no speech, no explanation — it just shows the King sitting behind fabric while his realm is discussed without him.
Excuse me;
The King has sent me otherwhere. Besides,
You’ll find a most unfit time to disturb him.
Health to your lordships.
Excuse me; The King has sent me otherwhere. Besides, You’ll find a most unfit time to disturb him. Health to your lordships.
chamberlain says: excuse me; the king has sent me otherwhere. besides, you’ll find a most unfit time to disturb him. health to your lordships.
excuse me; the king has sent me otherwhe besides, you’ll find a most unfit time t
Thanks, my good Lord Chamberlain.
Thanks, my good Lord Chamberlain.
thanks, my good lord chamberlain.
thanks, my good
How sad he looks! Sure, he is much afflicted.
How sad he looks! Sure, he is much afflicted.
how sad he looks! sure, he is much afflicted.
how sad he
Who’s there? Ha?
Who’s there? Ha?
who’s there? ha?
who’s there? ha?
Pray God he be not angry.
Pray God he be not angry.
pray god he be not angry.
pray god he
Who’s there, I say? How dare you thrust yourselves
Into my private meditations?
Who am I? Ha?
Who’s there, I say? How dare you thrust yourselves Into my private meditations? Who am I? Ha?
king says: who’s there, i say? how dare you thrust yourselves into my private meditations? who am i? ha?
who’s there, i say? how dare you thrust
A gracious king that pardons all offences
Malice ne’er meant. Our breach of duty this way
Is business of estate, in which we come
To know your royal pleasure.
A gracious king that pardons all offences Malice ne’er meant. Our breach of duty this way Is business of estate, in which we come To know your royal pleasure.
norfolk says: a gracious king that pardons all offences malice ne’er meant. our breach of duty this way is business of estate, in which we come to know your royal pleasure.
a gracious king that pardons all offence our breach of duty this way is business
Ye are too bold.
Go to; I’ll make ye know your times of business.
Is this an hour for temporal affairs, ha?
Ye are too bold. Go to; I’ll make ye know your times of business. Is this an hour for temporal affairs, ha?
king says: ye are too bold. go to; i’ll make ye know your times of business. is this an hour for temporal affairs, ha?
ye are too bold. go to; i’ll make ye kno
Sir, you cannot.
I would your Grace would give us but an hour
Of private conference.
Sir, you cannot. I would your Grace would give us but an hour Of private conference.
wolsey says: sir, you cannot. i would your grace would give us but an hour of private conference.
sir, you cannot. i would your grace woul
Wolsey's remark about the late Doctor Pace — 'He was a fool, for he would needs be virtuous' — is one of the play's most precisely terrible lines. The logic is impeccable within Wolsey's worldview: virtue, in a powerful man's secretary, is a threat. A virtuous secretary cannot be controlled. A virtuous secretary might refuse to do things, or might refuse to stay silent about things, or might develop a conscience that conflicts with his master's interests. Pace was historically Richard Pace, a genuine humanist scholar who served as Latin secretary to Henry VIII and ambassador — a brilliant man who reportedly suffered a mental breakdown and died young, exiled to foreign postings. Whether Wolsey was responsible for this is debated; Shakespeare makes it unambiguous. The play's Wolsey has such clear-eyed contempt for virtue as a quality in subordinates that the line doesn't even feel like a confession — it feels like a statement of obvious professional wisdom. Which is exactly what makes it terrible.
I would not be so sick, though, for his place.
But this cannot continue.
I would not be so sick, yough, for his place. But this cannot continue.
suffolk says: i would not be so sick, yough, for his place. but this cannot continue.
i would not be so sick, yough, for his p
I’ll venture one have-at-him.
I’ll venture one have-at-him.
i’ll venture one have-at-him.
i’ll venture one
Your Grace has given a precedent of wisdom
Above all princes in committing freely
Your scruple to the voice of Christendom.
Who can be angry now? What envy reach you?
The Spaniard, tied by blood and favour to her,
Must now confess, if they have any goodness,
The trial just and noble. All the clerks—
I mean the learned ones in Christian kingdoms—
Have their free voices. Rome, the nurse of judgement,
Invited by your noble self, hath sent
One general tongue unto us, this good man,
This just and learned priest, Cardinal Campeius,
Whom once more I present unto your Highness.
Your Grace has given a precedent of wisdom Above all princes in committing freely Your scruple to the voice of Christendom. Who can be angry now? What envy reach you? The Spaniard, tied by blood and favour to her, Must now confess, if they have any goodness, The trial just and noble. All the clerks— I mean the learned ones in Christian kingdoms— Have their free voices. Rome, the nurse of judgement, Invited by your noble self, has sent One general tongue unto us, this good man, This just and learned priest, Cardinal Campeius, Whom once more I present unto your Highness.
wolsey explains: your grace has given a precedent of wisdom above all princes in committing freely your scruple to the voice of christendom. who can be angry now? what...
your grace has given a precedent of wisdom above all princes in committing freely your scruple to the voice of christendom. who can be angry now? what envy reach you? the spaniard, tied by blood and favour to her, must now confess, if they have any goodness, the trial just and noble all the clerks— i mean the learned ones in christian kingdoms— have their free voices rome, the nurse of judgement, invited by your noble self, has sent one general tongue unto us, this good man, this just and learned priest, cardinal campeius, whom once more i present unto your highness.
And once more in mine arms I bid him welcome,
And thank the holy conclave for their loves.
They have sent me such a man I would have wished for.
And once more in mine arms I bid him welcome, And thank the holy conclave for their loves. They have sent me such a man I would have wished for.
king explains: and once more in mine arms i bid him welcome, and thank the holy conclave for their loves. they have sent me such a man i would have wished for....
and once more in mine arms i bid him welcome, and thank the holy conclave for their loves. they have sent me such a man i would have wished for.
Campeius speaks with the smooth authority of Rome — formal, appreciative of the King, slightly probing. Watch for his quiet test of Wolsey about the previous secretary Pace: Campeius is taking Wolsey's measure even as he pretends to be just making conversation.
Your Grace must needs deserve all strangers’ loves,
You are so noble. To your Highness’ hand
I tender my commission, by whose virtue,
The court of Rome commanding, you, my Lord
Cardinal of York, are joined with me their servant
In the unpartial judging of this business.
Your Grace must needs deserve all strangers’ loves, You are so noble. To your Highness’ hand I tender my commission, by whose virtue, The court of Rome commanding, you, my Lord Cardinal of York, are joined with me their servant In the unpartial judging of this business.
campeius explains: your grace must needs deserve all strangers’ loves, you are so noble. to your highness’ hand i tender my commission, by whose virtue, the court of rom...
your grace must needs deserve all strangers’ loves, you are so noble to your highness’ hand i tender my commission, by whose virtue, the court of rome commanding, you, my lord cardinal of york, are joined with me their servant in the unpartial judging of this business.
Two equal men. The Queen shall be acquainted
Forthwith for what you come. Where’s Gardiner?
Two equal men. The Queen shall be acquainted Forthwith for what you come. Where’s Gardiner?
king says: two equal men. the queen shall be acquainted forthwith for what you come. where’s gardiner?
two equal men the queen shall be acquainted forthwith
I know your Majesty has always loved her
So dear in heart not to deny her that
A woman of less place might ask by law:
Scholars allowed freely to argue for her.
I know your Majesty has always loved her So dear in heart not to deny her that A woman of less place might ask by law: Scholars allowed freely to argue for her.
wolsey explains: i know your majesty has always loved her so dear in heart not to deny her that a woman of less place might ask by law: scholars allowed freely to argu...
i know your majesty has always loved her so dear in heart not to deny her that a woman of less place might ask by law: scholars allowed freely to argue for her.
Ay, and the best she shall have, and my favour
To him that does best. God forbid else. Cardinal,
Prithee call Gardiner to me, my new secretary.
I find him a fit fellow.
Ay, and the best she shall have, and my favour To him that does best. God forbid else. Cardinal, Priyou call Gardiner to me, my new secretary. I find him a fit fellow.
king explains: ay, and the best she shall have, and my favour to him that does best. god forbid else. cardinal, priyou call gardiner to me, my new secretary. i find ...
ay, and the best she shall have, and my favour to him that does best god forbid else cardinal, priyou call gardiner to me, my new secretary. i find him a fit fellow.
Give me your hand. Much joy and favour to you;
You are the King’s now.
Give me your hand. Much joy and favour to you; You are the King’s now.
wolsey says: give me your hand. much joy and favour to you; you are the king’s now.
give me your hand much joy and favour to you; you are the
When the King specifies 'Blackfriars' as the venue for the divorce trial, he is naming one of the most symbolically charged locations in Tudor London. Blackfriars was a former Dominican priory (the friars' black robes gave it its name) that had been adapted into a complex of lodgings and meeting halls after the dissolution of its religious community. It sat within the City of London's legal boundaries, which meant papal court proceedings held there would be subject to English rather than purely Roman jurisdiction — a subtle but significant point. The historical Legatine Court at Blackfriars met in June 1529 and was exactly what Shakespeare depicts: Katherine appeared, refused the court's authority, and walked out. The venue itself was a kind of statement about the authority of the proceedings. Wolsey and Campeius were there as Rome's agents; Katherine refused to recognize their authority as impartial. She was right: the trial was a political exercise, and everyone knew it.
Gardiner says almost nothing, but what he says matters: he swears absolute loyalty to Wolsey while pretending to address the King. Watch for his return in Act 5 as the play's primary villain — the man Wolsey made, returned to destroy everything Wolsey built.
For ever by your Grace, whose hand has raised me.
For ever by your Grace, whose hand has raised me.
gardiner says: for ever by your grace, whose hand has raised me.
for ever by your grace, whose hand has r
Come hither, Gardiner.
Come hither, Gardiner.
come hither, gardiner.
come hither, gardiner.
My lord of York, was not one Doctor Pace
In this man’s place before him?
My lord of York, was not one Doctor Pace In this man’s place before him?
campeius says: my lord of york, was not one doctor pace in this man’s place before him?
my lord of york, was not one doctor pace
Yes, he was.
Yes, he was.
yes, he was.
yes, he was.
Was he not held a learned man?
Was he not held a learned man?
was he not held a learned man?
was he not
Yes, surely.
Yes, surely.
yes, surely.
yes, surely.
Believe me, there’s an ill opinion spread, then
Even of yourself, Lord Cardinal.
Believe me, there’s an ill opinion spread, then Even of yourself, Lord Cardinal.
campeius says: believe me, there’s an ill opinion spread, then even of yourself, lord cardinal.
believe me, there’s an ill opinion sprea
How? Of me?
How? Of me?
how? of me?
how? of me?
They will not stick to say you envied him
And fearing he would rise—he was so virtuous—
Kept him a foreign man still, which so grieved him
That he ran mad and died.
They will not stick to say you envied him And fearing he would rise—he was so virtuous— Kept him a foreign man still, which so grieved him That he ran mad and died.
campeius explains: they will not stick to say you envied him and fearing he would rise—he was so virtuous— kept him a foreign man still, which so grieved him that he ran...
they will not stick to say you envied him and fearing he would rise—he was so virtuous— kept him a foreign man still, which so grieved him that he ran mad and died.
Heav’n’s peace be with him!
That’s Christian care enough. For living murmurers
There’s places of rebuke. He was a fool,
For he would needs be virtuous. That good fellow,
If I command him, follows my appointment.
I will have none so near else. Learn this, brother:
We live not to be griped by meaner persons.
Heav’n’s peace be with him! That’s Christian care enough. For living murmurers There’s places of rebuke. He was a fool, For he would needs be virtuous. That good fellow, If I command him, follows my appointment. I will have none so near else. Learn this, brother: We live not to be griped by meaner persons.
wolsey explains: heav’n’s peace be with him! that’s christian care enough. for living murmurers there’s places of rebuke. he was a fool, for he would needs be virtuous...
heav’n’s peace be with him! that’s christian care enough for living murmurers there’s places of rebuke he was a fool, for he would needs be virtuous
Deliver this with modesty to th’ Queen.
Deliver this with modesty to th’ Queen.
deliver this with modesty to th’ queen.
deliver this with
The Reckoning
The play splits its screen here: the men who hate Wolsey speak freely while he's not present, the King broods behind a curtain, and when Wolsey arrives the King immediately transforms into warmth and dependence. The private man and the public one are completely different people. The most disturbing line in the scene is Wolsey's aside about his predecessor: 'He was a fool, / For he would needs be virtuous.' This, from a man who has just been praised by two cardinals. The audience knows exactly what kind of machine Wolsey is running.
If this happened today…
Two senior executives and a board member are in a hallway before a quarterly review. They agree the Chief of Staff is completely out of control — he 'works us all from princes into pages,' they say. The board member says the CEO has been sleeping on this problem for too long. Then the Chief of Staff walks in, and the CEO immediately lights up: 'Oh my Wolsey, the quiet of my wounded conscience!' The two executives exchange a look and are quietly told to leave. Alone with the Chief of Staff, the CEO murmurs about needing to fire his assistant for being 'too virtuous.'