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King Henry VI.

Part III.

Historical Notes.

THE action of this play (which was at first printed under this title, The True Tragedy of Richard Duke of York, and the good King Henry the Sixth; or, The Second Part of the Contention of York and Lancaster) opens just after the first battle of Saint Alban's, [May 23, 1455] wherein the York faction carried the day; and closes with the murder of King Henry VI. and the birth of Prince Edward, afterwards King Edward V. [November 4, 1471.] So that this history takes in the space of full sixteen years. THEObald.

I have never seen the quarto copy of the Second Part of THE WHOLE CONTENTION, &c. printed by Valentine Simmes for Thomas Millington, 1600; but the copy printed by W. W. for Thomas Millington, 1600, is now before me; and it is not precisely the same with that described by Mr. Pope and Mr. Theobald, nor does the undated edition (printed, in fact, in 1619) correspond with their description. The title of the piece printed in 1600, by W. W., is as follows: The True Tragedy of Richard Duke of Yorke, and the Death of good King Henrie the

Sixt: With the Whole Contention between the two Houses Lancaster and Yorke: as it was sundry Times acted by the Right Honourable the Earle of Pembrooke his Servants. Printed at London by W. W. for Thomas Millington, and are to be sold at his Shoppe under St. Peter's Church in Cornewall,* 1600. On this piece Shakspeare, as I conceive, in 1591, formed the drama before us. MALONE.

The present historical drama was altered by Crowne, and brought on the stage in the year 1680, under the title of The Miseries of Civil War. Surely the works of Shakspeare could have been little read at that period; for Crowne, in his Prologue, declares the play to be entirely his own composition :

"For by his feeble skill 'tis built alone,

The divine Shakspeare did not lay one stone." Whereas the very first scene is that of Jack Cade copied almost verbatim from The Second Part of King Henry VI., and several others from this third part, with as little variation. STEE

VENS.

* i. e. Cornhill.

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The three parts of King Henry VI. are suspected, by Mr. Theobald, of being suppositious, and are declared, by Dr Warburton, to be certainly not Shakspeare's. Mr. Theobald's suspicion arises from some obsolete words; but tae phraseology is like the rest of our author's style, and single words, of which however I do not observe more than two, can conclude little.

Dr Warburton gives no reason, but I suppose him to judge upon deeper principles and more comprehensive views, and to draw his opinion from the general effect and spirit of the composition, which he thinks inferior to the other historeal plays. From mere inferiority nothing can be inferred; in the productions of wit there will be inequality. Sometimes judgment Biler, and sometimes the matter itself will defeat the artist. Of every author's works one will be the best, and one wil be the worst. The colours are not equally pleasing, nor the attitudes equally graceful, in all the pictures of Titian

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Dissimilitude of style and heterogeneousness of sentiment, may sufficiently show that a work does not really belong to Le reputed author. But in these plays no such marks of spuriousness are found. The diction, the versification, and the fcures are Shakspeare's. These plays, considered without regard to characters and incidents, merely as narratives in Verse, are more happily conceived, and more accurately finished, than those of King John, Richard II. or the tragic scenes of King Henry IV and V. If we take these plays from Shakspeare, to whom shall they be given? What author of that agy had the same easiness of expression and fluency of numbers? Of these three plays I think the second the best. The trath is, that they have not sufficient variety of action, for the incidents are too often of the same kind; yet many of the characters are well discriminated. King Henry, and his queen, king Edward, the duke of Gloster, and the earl of WarWick, are very strongly and distinctly painted.

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Johnson.

Uncles to the Duke of York.

SIR JOHN MORTIMER,
SIR HUGH MORTIMER,
HENRY, Earl of Richmond, a Youth.

LORD RIVERS. Brother to Lady Grey.
SIR WILLIAM STANLEY.
SIR JOHN MONTGOMERY,

SIR JOHN SOMERVILLE.
Tutor to Rutland.

Mayor of York.

Lieutenant of the Tower.

A Nobleman.

Two Keepers.

A Huntsman.

A Son that has killed his Father.

A Father that has killed his Son.

DUKE OF NORFOLK,

MARQUIS OF MONTAGUE.

EARL OF WARWICK,

EARL OF PEMBROKE,

LORD HASTINGS.

LORD STAFFORD,

QUEEN MARGARET.

of the Duke of York's
Party.

LADY GREY, afterwards Queen to Edward IV.
BONA, Sister to the French Queen.

Soldiers, and other Attendants on King Henry and King
Edward, Messengers, Watchmen, etc.

SCENE,-During part of the third Act, in France; during all the rest of the Play, in England.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-London. The Parliament-House.
Drums. Some Soldiers of York's Party break in.
Then, enter the Duke of YORK, EDWARD,
RICHARD, NORFOLK, MONTAGUE, WARWICK, and
others with white roses in their hats.

War. I wonder how the king escap'd our hands.
York. While we pursu'd the horsemen of the
He silly stole away, and left his men: [north,
Whereat the great lord of Northumberland,
Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat,
Cheer'd up the drooping army; and himself,
Lord Clifford, and lord Stafford, all a-breast,
Charg'd our main battle's front, and, breaking in,
Were by the swords of common soldiers slain.
Eda. Lord Stafford's father, duke of Buckingham,
Is either slain, or wounded dangerous :

I cleft his beaver with a downright blow;
That this is true, father. behold his blood.

(Shewing his bloody Sword.)
Mont. And, brother, here's the earl of Wiltshire's
blood,
(To York, shewing his.)
Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd.
Rich. Speak thou for me, and tell them what I did.
Throwing down the Duke of Somerset's head.)
York. Richard hath best deserv'd of all my sons.-
What, is your grace dead, my lord of Somerset?
Nurf. Such hope have all the line of John of
Gaunt!

Rick. Thus do I hope to shake king Henry's head.
War. And so do I-Victorious prince of York,
Before I see thee seated in that throne
Which now the house of Lancaster usurps,

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house.

War. The bloody parliament shall this be call'd,
Unless Plantagenet, duke of York, be king;
And bashful Henry depos'd, whose cowardice
Hath made us by-words to our enemies.

York. Then leave me not, my lords; be resolute;
I mean to take possession of my right.

War. Neither the king, nor he that loves him best, The proudest he that holds up Lancaster, Dares stir a wing, if Warwick shake his bells. I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares :Resolve thee, Richard; claim the English crown. (Warwick leads York to the throne, wha seats himself.)

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revenge

On him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends. North. If I be not, heavens, be reveng'd on me! Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford mouro in steel.

West. What, shall we suffer this? let's pluck him down:

y heart for anger burns, I cannot brook it. K. Hen. Be patient, gentle earl of Westmoreland. Clif. Patience is for poltrons, and such as he He durst not sit there, had your father liv'd. My gracious lord, here in the parliament Let us assail the family of York.

North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin; be it so. K. Hen. Ah, know you not, the city favours them, And they have troops of soldiers at their beck? Exe. But, when the duke is slain, they'll quickly fly.

K. Hen. Far be the thought of this from Henry's heart,

To make a shambles of the parliament-house!
Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words, and threats,
Shall be the war that Henry means to use.-
(They advance to the Duke.)
Thou factions duke of York, descend my throne,
And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet;
I am thy sovereign.
York.
Thou art deceiv'd, I am thine.
Exe. For shame, come down; he made thee

duke of York.

York. Twas my inheritance, as the earldom was. Exe. Thy father was a traitor to the crown. War. Exeter, thou art a traitor to the crown, In following this usurping Henry.

Clif. Whom should he follow, but his natural king?

War. True, Clifford; and that's Richard duke

of York.

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That we are those which chas'd you from the field, And slew your fathers, and with colours spread March'd through the city to the palace gates.

North. Yes, Warwick, I remember it to my grief; And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it.

West. Plantagenet, of thee, and these thy sons, Thy kinsmen, and thy friends, I'll have more lives, Than drops of blood were in my father's veins.

Clif. Urge it no more; lest that, instead of words, I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger, As shall revenge his death, before I stir.

War. Poor Clifford! how I scorn his worthless threats!

York. Will you, we shew our title to the crown? If not, our swords shall plead it in the field.

K. Hen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown? Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York; Thy grandfather, Roger Mortimer, earl of March: I am the son of Henry the Fifth,

Who made the Dauphin and the French to stoop, And seiz'd upon their towns and provinces.

War. Talk not of France, sith thou hast lost it all. K. Hen. The lord protector lost it, and not 1: When I was crown'd, I was but nine months old.

Rich. You are old enough now, and yet, methinks, you lose :-

L'ather, tear the crown from the usurper's head. Edio. Sweet father, do so; set it on your bead. Mont. Good brother, (to York) as thou lov'st and honour'st arms.

Let's fight it out, and not stand cavilling thus. Rich. Sound drums and trumpets, and the king will fly.

York. Sons, peace!

K. Hen. Peace thou! and give king Henry leave to speak.

War. Plantagenet shall speak first:-bear him, And be you silent and attentive too, (lords; For he that interrupts him shall not live.

K. Hen. Think'st thou that I will leave my kingly throne,

Wherein my grandsire, and my father, sat?
No: first shall war unpeople this my realm;
Ay, and their colours-often borne in France;
And now in England, to our heart's great sorrow,—
Shall be my winding-sheet.-'Why faint you,
lords?
My title's good, and better far than his.
War. But prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be

king.

K. Hen. Henry the Fourth, by conquest got the

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K. Hen. An if he may, then am I a lawful king For Richard, in the view of many lords, Resign'd the crown to Henry the Fourth; Whose heir my father was, and I am his.

York. He rose against him, being his sovereign, And made him to resign his crown perforce. War. Suppose, my lords, he did it unconstrain'd, Think you, 'twere prejudicial to his crown?

Exe. No; for he could not so resign his crown, But that the next heir should succeed and reigu. K. Hen. Art thou against us, duke of Exeter? Exe. His is the right, and therefore pardon me. York. Why whisper you, my lords, and answer not?

Exe. My conscience tells me he is lawful king. K. Hen. All will revolt from me, and turn to him.

North. Plantagenet, for all the claim thou lay'st, Think not, that Henry shall be so depos'd.

War. Depos'd he shall be, in despite of all. North. Thou art deceiv'd: 'tis not thy southern

power.

Of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent,Which makes thee thus presumptuous and proud,Can set the duke up, in despite of me.

Clif King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, Lord Clifford vows to fight in thy defence: May that ground and swallow me alive, gape, Where I shall kneel to him that slew my father K. Hen. O Clifford, how thy words revive my heart!

York. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown:What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords?

War. Do right unto this princely duke of York; Or I will fill the house with armed men, And o'er the chair of state, where now he sits, Write up his title with usurping blood.

(He stamps, and the Soldiers shew themselves) K. Hen. My lord of Warwick, hear me but one

word;

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K. Hen. Be patient, gentle queen, and I will
Q. Mar. Who can be patient in such extremes?
Ah, wretched man! 'would I had died a maid,
And never seen thee, never borne thee son,
Seeing thou hast prov'd so unnatural a father!
Hath be deserv'd to lose his birthright thus?
Had'st thou but lov'd him half so well as I;
Or felt that pain, which I did for him once;
Or nourish'd him, as I did with my blood;

Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there,
Rather than made that savage duke thine heir,
And disinherited thine only son,

Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me :
If you be king, why should not I succeed?

K. Hen. Pardon me, Margaret ;-pardon me,

sweet son;

The earl of Warwick, and the duke, enforc'd me.
Q. Mar. Enforc'd thee! art thou king, and wilt
be forc'd?

I shame to bear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch!
Thou hast undone thyself, thy sou, and me;
And given unto the house of York such head,
As thou shalt reign but by their sufferance.
To entail him and his heirs unto the crown,
What is it but to make thy sepulchre,
And creep into it far before thy time?
Warwick is chancellor, and the lord of Calais;
Stern Faulconbridge commands the narrow seas;
The duke is made protector of the realm;

And yet shalt thou be safe? such safety finds
The trembling lamb, environed with wolves.
Had I been there, which am a silly woman,
The soldiers should have toss'd me on their pikes,
Before I would have granted to that act.
But thou preferr'st thy life before thine honour:
And seeing thou dost, I here divorce myself,
Both from thy table, Henry, and thy bed,
Until that act of parliament be repeal'd,
Whereby my son is disinherited.

The northern lords, that have forsworn thy colours.
Will follow mine, if once they see them spread :
And spread they shall be ; to thy foul disgrace,
And utter ruin of the house of York.
Thus do I leave thee:-Come, son, let's away:
Our army's ready; come, we'll after them.
K. Hen. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear m
speak.

Q. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already; get thee gone.

K. Hen. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay with me?

Q. Mar. Ay, to be murder'd by his enemies. Prince. When I return with victory from the field, I'll see your grace: till then, I'll follow her. Q. Mar. Come, son, away; we may not linger thus. [Exeunt Q. Marg. and the Prince. K. Hen. Poor queen! how love to me, and to her son,

Hath made her break out into terms of rage!
Reveng'd may she be on that hateful duke;
Whose haughty spirit, winged with desire,
Will cost my crown, and, like an empty eagle,
Tire on the flesh of me, and of my son!
The loss of those three lords torments my heart:
I'll write unto them, and entreat them fair;-
Come, cousin, you shall be the messenger.

Exe. And I, I hope, shall reconcile them all.

[Exeunt. SCENE II.- A Room in Sandal Custle, near Wakefield, in Yorkshire.

Enter EDWARD, RICHARD, and MONTAGUE. Rich. Brother, though I be youngest, give me Edw. No, I can better play the orator. [leave. Mont. But I have reasous strong and forcible. Enter YORK.

York. Why, how now, sons and brother, at a
strife?

What is your quarrel? how began it first?
Edw. No quarrel, but a slight contention.
York. About what?

[and us.

Rich. About that, which concerns your grace, The crown of England, fathers, which is yours. York. Mine, boy? not till king Henry be dead. Rich. Your right depends not on his life, or death, Edw. Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now: By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe, It will outrun you, father, in the end.

York. I took au oath, that he should quietly reign. Edw. But, for a kingdom, any oath may be

broken:

I'd break a thousand oaths, to reign one year. Rich. No; God forbid, your grace should be forsworn.

York. I shall be, if I claim by open war. Rich. I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speak.

York. Thou canst not, son; it is impossible. Rich. An oath is of no moment, being not took Before a true and lawful magistrate, That hath authority over him that swears: Henry had none, but did usurp the place; Then, seeing 'twas he that made you to depose, Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous. Therefore, to arms. And, father, do but think How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown; Within whose circuit is Elysium, And all that poets feign of bliss and joy.

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