--- title: "King Henry VIII by William Shakespeare — Classic Ebook | Publica Now" description: "Read a free sample of King Henry VIII by William Shakespeare at Publica Now — a public-domain classic ebook, readable online." canonical: "https://publica.now/creators/vito/works/king-henry-viii-1" --- Literary # King Henry VIII by William Shakespeare [ V Vito ](https://publica.now/creators/vito) Follow $2.99 [ Sign in to buy ](https://publica.now/access?redirect=%2Fcheckout%2Fking-henry-viii-1) Secure payment on Stripe. publica.now never sees your card. Share Link copied Format epub Published May 02, 2026 Rating No reviews yet ![King Henry VIII](https://fls-a13cb2d7-1b3e-4883-a0bd-297afd110a11.367be3a2035528943240074d0096e0cd.r2.cloudflarestorage.com/works/01kqn1hytqez54cdk8t72vmqyh/editions/2026-09-06-html-v1/cover.png?X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=d29ce3bb571c165c97a702f29f7aee93%2F20260924%2Fauto%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20260924T160930Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-Signature=b898275939bf1a927734a105e10d31c3476af741c93eb651396ac53980b8fe06) ## About this work Enter a world of royal pageantry, political intrigue, and private sorrow. In Shakespeare’s King Henry VIII, the English court shimmers with ceremony while ambition works behind the scenes. Cardinal Wolsey rises through force of merit and influence; Buckingham faces accusation and ruin; Queen Katherine defends her honour with steadfast dignity; and Anne Bullen appears amid the splendour of a new coronation. Across London, Westminster, and Kimbolton, the play moves from council chambers to royal apartments, from public spectacle to moments of grief and prayer. Its Prologue asks the audience to set aside easy laughter and witness a noble story in which mightiness may swiftly meet misery. Serious, stately, and rich in theatrical display, this historical drama brings the court of Henry VIII vividly to the stage through powerful speeches, ceremonial scenes, and sharply observed struggles for favour and truth. This Publica.now Classics edition includes a new typographic cover and publisher opening and closing pages. Sample ## Take a look inside Contents ACT I Prologue. Scene I. London. An ante-chamber in the palace Scene II. The same. The council-chamber Scene III. An ante-chamber in the palace Scene IV. A Hall in York Place ACT II Scene I. Westminster. A street Scene II. An ante-chamber in the palace Scene III. An ante-chamber of the Queen’s apartments Scene IV. A hall in Blackfriars ACT III Scene I. London. The Queen’s apartments Scene II. Ante-chamber to the King’s apartment ACT IV Scene I. A street in Westminster Scene II. Kimbolton ACT V Scene I. A gallery in the palace Scene II. Lobby before the council-chamber Scene III. The palace yard Scene IV. The palace Epilogue Dramatis Personæ KING HENRY THE EIGHTH DUKE OF NORFOLK DUKE OF SUFFOLK CARDINAL WOLSEY SECRETARIES to Wolsey CROMWELL, servant to Wolsey CARDINAL CAMPEIUS GARDINER, Bishop of Winchester PAGE to Gardiner QUEEN KATHERINE, wife to King Henry, afterwards divorced GRIFFITH, gentleman usher to Queen Katherine PATIENCE, woman to Queen Katherine Queen’s GENTLEMAN USHER CAPUTIUS, Ambassador from the Emperor Charles V DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM LORD ABERGAVENNY, Buckingham’s son-in-law EARL OF SURREY, Buckingham’s son-in-law SIR NICHOLAS VAUX SURVEYOR to the Duke of Buckingham BRANDON SERGEANT-at-Arms Three Gentlemen ANNE BULLEN, her Maid of Honour, afterwards Queen An OLD LADY, friend to Anne Bullen LORD CHAMBERLAIN LORD SANDYS (called also SIR WILLIAM SANDYS) SIR THOMAS LOVELL SIR HENRY GUILDFORD BISHOP OF LINCOLN CRANMER, archbishop of Canterbury LORD CHANCELLOR GARTER King-of-Arms SIR ANTHONY DENNY DOCTOR BUTTS, physician to the King Door-KEEPER of the Council-chamber PORTER, and his Man A CRIER PROLOGUE EPILOGUE Spirits, Several Lords and Ladies in the Dumb Shows; Women attending upon the Queen; Scribes, Officers, Guards, and other Attendants SCENE: London; Westminster; Kimbolton Enter Prologue. THE PROLOGUE. I come no more to make you laugh. Things now That bear a weighty and… [ Sign in to buy ](https://publica.now/access?redirect=%2Fcheckout%2Fking-henry-viii-1) The sample continues in the full work. [ #Great Britain -- Kings and rulers -- Drama ](/search?query=Great+Britain+--+Kings+and+rulers+--+Drama) [ #Henry, VIII, King of England, 1491-1547 -- Drama ](/search?query=Henry%2C+VIII%2C+King+of+England%2C+1491-1547+--+Drama) [ #Historical drama ](/search?query=Historical+drama) [ #Great Britain -- History -- Henry VIII, 1509-1547 -- Drama ](/search?query=Great+Britain+--+History+--+Henry+VIII%2C+1509-1547+--+Drama) [ #Great Britain ](/search?query=Great+Britain) [ #Kings and rulers ](/search?query=Kings+and+rulers) [ #Drama ](/search?query=Drama) [ #Henry VIII ](/search?query=Henry+VIII) [ #King of England ](/search?query=King+of+England) ## Reviews No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts. 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