Original: In which I have commended to his goodness
Modern: In this letter, I have entrusted to his kind care

Original: The model of our chaste loves, his young daughter;
Modern: The living proof of our pure love, his young daughter;

Original: The dews of heaven fall thick in blessings on her!
Modern: May heaven shower her with blessings!

Original: Beseeching him to give her virtuous breeding—
Modern: I’m begging him to raise her to be good and moral—

Original: She is young, and of a noble modest nature,
Modern: She is young, and has a dignified, humble character,

Original: I hope she will deserve well,—and a little
Modern: I hope she will turn out well,—and also a little bit

Original: To love her for her mother’s sake, that loved him,
Modern: To love her for her mother’s sake, who loved him,

Original: Heaven knows how dearly. My next poor petition
Modern: God knows how deeply. My next humble request

Original: Is, that his noble grace would have some pity
Modern: Is that his honorable majesty would show some compassion

Original: Upon my wretched women, that so long
Modern: For my unfortunate ladies-in-waiting, who for so long

Original: Have follow’d both my fortunes faithfully:
Modern: Have loyally followed me through good times and bad:

Original: Of which there is not one, I dare avow,
Modern: Of these women, there is not one, I dare swear,

Original: And now I should not lie, but will deserve
Modern: And now I have no reason to lie, who won’t deserve

Original: For virtue and true beauty of the soul,
Modern: Because of her virtue and genuine inner beauty,

Original: For honesty and decent carriage,
Modern: Because of her integrity and proper behavior,

Original: A right good husband, let him be a noble
Modern: A truly good husband, even if he’s a nobleman

Original: And, sure, those men are happy that shall have ‘em.
Modern: And certainly, those men will be lucky to marry them.

Original: The last is, for my men; they are the poorest,
Modern: My last request is for my servants; they are the poorest,

Original: But poverty could never draw ‘em from me;
Modern: But being poor never made them abandon me;

Original: That they may have their wages duly paid ‘em,
Modern: Please make sure they receive all the wages owed to them,

Original: And something over to remember me by:
Modern: And a little extra as a token to remember me by:

Original: If heaven had pleased to have given me longer life
Modern: If God had chosen to let me live longer

Original: And able means, we had not parted thus.
Modern: And given me the money, we wouldn’t be separating like this.

Original: These are the whole contents: and, good my lord,
Modern: That’s everything in the letter: and, my good lord,

Original: By that you love the dearest in this world,
Modern: By everything you love most dearly in this world,

Original: As you wish Christian peace to souls departed,
Modern: As you hope for Christian mercy for the souls of the dead,

Original: Stand these poor people’s friend, and urge the king
Modern: Be an advocate for these poor people, and pressure the king

Original: To do me this last right.
Modern: To grant me this final act of justice.

In Act IV, Scene 2 of “Henry VIII,” Queen Katherine lies dying in her chamber at Kimbolton Castle, having been banished from court following her divorce from King Henry. She is attended by her loyal servants Griffith and Patience, who provide comfort in her final hours. The scene opens with Katherine in a weakened state, reflecting on her exile and the injustices she has suffered. When Griffith begins to speak about Cardinal Wolsey, who has recently died, Katherine initially expresses bitter feelings toward the man she holds responsible for engineering her downfall and the king’s divorce proceedings.

However, as Griffith continues to recount Wolsey’s final days and his repentance before death, Katherine’s anger gradually transforms into a more charitable perspective. She acknowledges Wolsey’s scholarly achievements and his ultimate recognition of his own pride and ambition as his fatal flaws. The scene culminates with Katherine having a vision of celestial figures who appear to welcome her, which she interprets as a divine sign of her approaching death. She makes final preparations, dictating a letter to the king requesting care for her servants and expressing forgiveness, before peacefully preparing for her end. The scene serves as Katherine’s dignified farewell, portraying her transition from earthly concerns to spiritual acceptance.

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.