HISTORICAL NOTICE OF KING HENRY VIII. This drama is conjectured by Malone to have been written a short time previous to the death of Queen Elizabeth, which happened March 24, 1602-3, as well from the prophetic eulogium on that princess in the last scene, as from the imperfect manner in which the panegyric on her successor is connected with the foregoing and subsequent lines. After having been laid aside for several years, it is said to have been revived at the Globe Theatre, June 29th, 1613, under the title of All is True, with new decorations, and a prologue and epilogue. During this representation, the theatre accidentally caught fire, occasioned by the discharge of some small pieces, called chambers, on King Henry's arrival at Cardinal Wolsey's gate at Whitehall, one of which being injudiciously managed, set fire to the thatched roof of the building, which was intirely consumed. Unlike the other English historical plays of Shakspeare, Henry the Eighth had no predecessors on the stage. The page of history alone furnished materials for its composition; and there are few passages throughout the play which cannot be traced to Fox's Acts and Monuments of Christian Martyrs, or to Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, as found in the Chronicles of Holinshed. The action comprises a period of twelve years, commencing in 1521, the twelfth year of King Henry's reign, and ending with the baptism of Elizabeth in 1533. It should be observed, however, that Queen Katharine did not die until January 8, 1536. 'This play," says Dr. Johnson, is one of those which still keep possession of the stage by the splendor of its pageantry: yet pomp is not its only merit. The meek sorrows and virtuous distress of Katharine have furnished some scenes which may be justly numbered among the greatest efforts of tragedy: but the genius of Shakspeare comes in and goes out with Katharine. Every other part may be easily conceived and easily written.' ARGUMENT. The duke of Buckingham imprudently involves himself in personal hostilities with Cardinal Wolsey, who finds means of seducing the confidential servants of his rival, and convicting him of high treason. The king shortly after becomes violently enamored of a young lady named Anne Bullen, the power of whose attractions contributes to increase the conscientious scruples which he had previously entertained of the legality of his marriage with Queen Katharine, the widow of his deceased brother. The cardinal, apprehensive of his master's union with one who is suspected to favor the principles of the Reformation, sends private instructions to the papal court, to whose decision Queen Katharine had appealed, that the sentence of divorce may be delayed. This letter, together with an inventory of his enormous wealth, falls by mistake into the hands of the enraged monarch, who immediately deprives Wolsey of all his civil offices; and the fallen favorite is only saved from a charge of high treason by the timely interposition of death. The new queen is now crowned with great magnificence, while her amiable predecessor dies of a broken heart. In the mean time a conspiracy is formed against Archbishop Cranmer, who is enabled to triumph over the malice of his powerful enemies by the favor of the king. The play concludes with the baptism of the infant Elizabeth, the glories of whose future reign, and those of her successor, are prophetically foretold by Cranmer, who is appointed by Henry as sponsor to the princess. |