HENRY VIII From the Portrait by Holbein, at Warwick Castle...

In these notes, written as a holiday task, it is not intended to give an exhaustive record of the events of Henry’s reign; but rather to offer an impression of the more prominent personages in Shakespeare’s play; and perhaps to aid the playgoer in a fuller appreciation of the conditions which governed their actions. Marienbad, 1910  ...

His Character Holbein has drawn the character and written the history of Henry on the canvas of his great picture. Masterful, cruel, crafty, merciless, courageous, sensual, through-seeing, humorous, mean, matter of fact, worldly-wise, and of indomitable will, Henry the Eighth is perhaps the most outstanding figure in English history. The reason is not far to seek. The genial adventurer with sporting tendencies and large-hearted proclivities is always popular with the mob, and “Bluff King Hal,” a

His Early Life Wolsey was born at Ipswich, probably in the year 1471. His father, Robert Wolsey, was a grazier, and perhaps also a butcher in well-to-do circumstances. Sent to Oxford at the age of 11, at 15 he was made a Bachelor of Arts. He became a parish priest of St. Mary’s, at Lymington, in 1500. Within a year he was subjected to the indignity of being put into the public stocks—for what reason is not known. It has been said that he was concerned in a drunken fray. I prefer to think that, i

For purity and steadfastness of devotion and duty, Katharine stands unsurpassed in the history of the world, and Shakespeare has conceived no more pathetic figure than that of the patient Queen living in the midst of an unscrupulous Court. Daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, she was betrothed at the age of five to Arthur, Henry VII.’s eldest son. Though known as the Princess of Wales, it was not till 1501, when only sixteen years old, that she was married to Prince Arthur. She had scarc

The estimation of the character of Anne Boleyn would seem to be as varied as the spelling of her name. She is believed to have been born in 1507. The Boleyns or Bullens were a Norfolk family of French origin, but her mother was of noble blood, being daughter of the Earl of Ormonde, and so a descendant of Edward I. It is a curious fact that all of Henry’s wives can trace their descent from this King. Of Anne’s early life little is known save that she was sent as Maid of Honour to the French Queen

As to the divorce, it will be well to clear away the enormous amount of argument, of vituperation and prevarication by which the whole question is obscured, and to seek by the magnet of common sense to find the needle of truth in this vast bundle of hay. The situation was complicated. In those days it was generally supposed that no woman could succeed to the throne, and a male successor was regarded as a political necessity. Charles V., too, was plotting to depose Henry and to proclaim James V.

We must remind ourselves that the divorce was merely the irritation which brought the discontent with Rome to a head. Religious affairs were in a very turbulent state. The monasteries were corrupt. The rule of Rome had become political, not spiritual. Luther had worked at shattering the pretensions of the Pope in Europe. Wolsey had prepared the English to acquiesce in Henry’s religious supremacy by his long tenure of the whole Papal authority within the realm and the consequent suspension of app

In the days of Henry VIII., the ways of society differed from our own more in observance than in spirit. Though the gay world danced and gambled very late, they rose very early. Their conversation was coarse and lacked reserve. The ladies cursed freely. Outward show and ceremony were considered of the utmost importance. Hats were worn by the men in church and at meals, and only removed in the presence of the King and Cardinal. Kissing was far more prevalent as a mode of salutation. The Court soc

From the descriptions which have appeared in these pages, it will be seen that the period of Henry VIII. was characterized by great sumptuousness; indeed, the daily life of the Court consisted largely of revels, masques and displays of splendour. Henry VIII. is largely a pageant play. As such it was conceived and written, as such we shall endeavour to present it to the public. Indeed, it is obvious that it would be far better not to produce the play at all than to do so without those adjuncts, b

Here I am tempted to hark back to the modern manner of producing Shakespeare, and to say a few words in extenuation of those methods, which have been assailed in a recent article with almost equal brilliancy and vehemence. The writer tells us that there are two different kinds of plays, the realistic and the symbolic. Shakespeare’s plays, we are assured, belong to the latter category. “The scenery,” it is insisted, “not only may, but should be imperfect.” This seems an extraordinary doctrine, fo

Printed by Cassell & Company, Limited, London, E.C. 15.311 Introductions by the famous Shakespearean Scholar, assisted by JOHN MUNRO Commencing with the Henry VIII Edition, published on the eve of His Majesty’s Theatre Revival , the CENTURY SHAKESPEARE WILL BE ISSUED Weekly in 40 Volumes at 9 D. net One Volume per week thus affording every reader an opportunity of obtaining this famous Edition, with its unsurpassable scholarship, at a merely nominal weekly cost. Each volume will contain

thus affording every reader an opportunity of obtaining this famous Edition, with its unsurpassable scholarship, at a merely nominal weekly cost. Each volume will contain a beautiful Photogravure Frontispiece, reproduced from a Painting by a FAMOUS ARTIST The Henry VIII Volume bears on its cover a Colour Reproduction of Mr. Charles Buchel’s picture of Sir Herbert Tree as “Cardinal Wolsey.” The next volume is by Dr. Furnivall and John Munro . The most human document about the Poet yet published.