Original: Sir, I desire you do me right and justice;
Modern: Sir, I’m asking you to treat me fairly and justly;

Original: And to bestow your pity on me: for
Modern: And to have mercy on me: because

Original: I am a most poor woman, and a stranger,
Modern: I am a helpless woman, and a foreigner,

Original: Born out of your dominions; having here
Modern: Born outside of your kingdom; having here

Original: No judge indifferent, nor no more assurance
Modern: No neutral judge, and no guarantee

Original: Of equal friendship and proceeding. Alas, sir,
Modern: Of fair treatment and justice. Oh sir,

Original: In what have I offended you? what cause
Modern: How have I wronged you? What reason

Original: Hath my behavior given to your displeasure,
Modern: Has my behavior given you to be displeased,

Original: That thus you should proceed to put me off,
Modern: That you would go ahead and reject me,

Original: And take your good grace from me? Heaven witness,
Modern: And take away your love from me? God knows,

Original: I have been to you a true and humble wife,
Modern: I have been a faithful and obedient wife to you,

Original: At all times to your will conformable;
Modern: Always agreeing with whatever you wanted;

Original: Ever in fear to kindle your dislike,
Modern: Always afraid of making you angry,

Original: Yea, subject to your countenance, glad or sorry
Modern: Yes, depending on your mood, happy or sad

Original: As I saw it inclined: when was the hour
Modern: Based on how I saw you felt: when was there ever a time

Original: I ever contradicted your desire,
Modern: I ever went against what you wanted,

Original: Or made it not mine too? Or which of your friends
Modern: Or didn’t want the same thing? Or which of your friends

Original: Have I not strove to love, although I knew
Modern: Have I not tried to love, even though I knew

Original: He were mine enemy? what friend of mine
Modern: He was my enemy? What friend of mine

Original: That had to him derived your anger, did I
Modern: Who had earned your anger, did I

Original: Continue in my liking? nay, gave notice
Modern: Keep as a friend? No, I made it clear

Original: He was from thence discharged. Sir, call to mind
Modern: He was no longer welcome. Sir, remember

Original: That I have been your wife, in this obedience,
Modern: That I have been your wife, with this obedience,

Original: Upward of twenty years, and have been blest
Modern: For more than twenty years, and have been blessed

Original: With many children by you: if, in the course
Modern: With many children by you: if, during all this time

Original: And process of this time, you can report,
Modern: And throughout this period, you can claim,

Original: And prove it too, against mine honour aught,
Modern: And prove it too, anything against my honor,

Original: My bond to wedlock, or my love and duty,
Modern: My commitment to marriage, or my love and loyalty,

Original: Against your sacred person, in God’s name,
Modern: Against you as my husband, in God’s name,

Original: Turn me away; and let the foul’st contempt
Modern: Send me away; and let the worst disgrace

Original: Shut door upon me, and so give me up
Modern: Close the door on me, and hand me over

Original: To the sharp’st kind of justice. Please you sir,
Modern: To the harshest punishment. If you please sir,

Original: The king, your father, was reputed for
Modern: The king, your father, was known as

Original: A prince most prudent, of an excellent
Modern: A very wise prince, with excellent

Original: And unmatch’d wit and judgment: Ferdinand,
Modern: And unmatched intelligence and judgment: Ferdinand,

Original: My father, king of Spain, was reckon’d one
Modern: My father, king of Spain, was considered one of

Original: The wisest prince that there had reign’d by many
Modern: The wisest princes who had ruled for many

Original: A year before: it is not to be question’d
Modern: Years before: there’s no doubt

Original: That they had gather’d a wise council to them
Modern: That they had brought together a wise council

Original: Of every realm, that did debate this business,
Modern: From every kingdom, who discussed this matter,

Original: Who deem’d our marriage lawful: wherefore I humbly
Modern: Who declared our marriage legal: therefore I humbly

Original: Beseech you, sir, to spare me, till I may
Modern: Beg you, sir, to give me time, until I can

Original: Be by my friends in Spain advised; whose counsel
Modern: Get advice from my friends in Spain; whose guidance

Original: I will implore: if not, i’ the name of God,
Modern: I will seek: if not, in the name of God,

Original: Your pleasure be fulfill’d!
Modern: Do whatever you want!

In Act II, Scene iv of “Henry VIII,” the formal trial of Queen Katherine begins in the ecclesiastical court at Blackfriars. King Henry enters with Cardinal Wolsey, Cardinal Campeius (the papal legate), and other nobles, while Queen Katherine arrives separately with her attendants. The court is formally opened, and both Henry and Katherine are called to appear before the cardinals. When Katherine is summoned, she approaches the King directly, kneeling before him and delivering an impassioned speech in which she proclaims her loyalty as his wife for twenty years and appeals to him as her judge, asserting that she has been a true and faithful wife.

Katherine refuses to acknowledge the authority of the ecclesiastical court, declaring that she will not submit to judges who may be her enemies or partial to the King’s cause. She demands that her case be heard by the Pope in Rome rather than by the English court, arguing that she cannot receive fair treatment in England. Despite the King’s attempts to persuade her to remain and Cardinal Wolsey’s protestations of impartiality, Katherine exits the court with her attendants, refusing to return even when called multiple times. The King then addresses the court, explaining his doubts about the validity of his marriage based on Katherine’s previous marriage to his deceased brother Arthur, and requesting that the learned men present render their judgment on this matter of conscience that has long troubled him.

Henry VIII: Plot Summary

The play opens in the court of King Henry VIII of England, where the powerful Cardinal Wolsey has orchestrated the downfall of the Duke of Buckingham, who is arrested for treason based on the testimony of his own surveyor. Despite pleas for mercy, Buckingham is condemned and executed. Meanwhile, King Henry meets Anne Bullen (Anne Boleyn) at a masque hosted by Cardinal Wolsey and becomes captivated by her. Henry also begins to express doubts about the validity of his marriage to Queen Katherine of Aragon, claiming his conscience troubles him over the legality of the union, as Katherine was previously married to his brother Prince Arthur.

Cardinal Wolsey works to manage the political situation, but his influence begins to unravel when Henry discovers that Wolsey has been secretly corresponding with the Pope to delay the annulment of Henry’s marriage to Katherine, and that Wolsey has been accumulating enormous personal wealth. Henry strips Wolsey of his offices and powers. Wolsey, broken by his fall from grace, dies before he can be brought to formal ruin. Queen Katherine, meanwhile, is put on trial regarding the annulment of her marriage. She passionately defends herself before the court but is ultimately cast aside. She later receives a vision of blessed spirits before dying, having been given the reduced title of Princess Dowager.

With Katherine removed, Henry marries Anne Bullen, and she is crowned Queen in a grand coronation celebrated by the common people. Archbishop Cranmer, a Protestant reformer and ally of the King, comes under threat from a council of nobles who attempt to bring charges against him. Henry, however, intervenes to protect Cranmer. The play concludes with the christening of Henry and Anne’s newborn daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth I, where Cranmer delivers a joyful prophecy foretelling the greatness of Elizabeth’s reign and the prosperity that will follow under her successor, King James I.