j>i,iJliZ^ Q?' /f^^u^i^^i^<.^^ —
 
 King Henry : *' Look, as I blow this feather from my face " 
 
 King Henry VI Part III Act III Scene i
 
 Dookjovers Ecfiiion 
 
 nm 
 
 m^ 
 
 V 
 
 2^illian\Sl\ciI^speare 
 
 Vl/*itrl^lr^rocruc"t ior\s, 
 
 «>^otGS, Glossary, 
 
 Critical C?orT\n\crsjts, 
 
 ai\cf •A^et)\ptr of Study 
 
 T}\Q Ui\iver»si^y Society 
 New York
 
 Copyright, 1901 
 
 By 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY SOCIETY
 
 The Third Part of 
 King Henry VI
 
 Critical Comments. 
 I. 
 
 Argument. 
 
 I. The Duke of York reaches London in advance of 
 the King, and is seated by Warwick upon the throne. 
 There the weak-kneed monarch shortly afterwards finds 
 him; nor can he move him from his seat till York is 
 promised the kingly succession after Henry's death. 
 Neither of the rival houses long abides by the treaty. 
 The haughty Queen ^largaret becomes enraged at the 
 prospect of her son's deposition, and herself musters an 
 army against York, who is defeated and slain. 
 
 II. York's sons, Edward and Richard, though much 
 depressed by these tidings, take heart again upon being 
 joined by the powerful Warwick. The royal forces are 
 engaged once more near Towton. The battle is fiercely 
 fought, but at length the King's — or, more properly, the 
 Queen's — forces are routed. Edward proceeds to Lon- 
 don to mount the throne as Edward lY. 
 
 III. Having witnessed Edward's coronation, War- 
 wick crosses over to France to obtain for the new sov- 
 ereign the hand of the Princess Bona. At the French 
 court he encounters Queen Margaret and her son, who 
 had come to implore the French King's aid in their cause. 
 This is almost granted when the arrival of Warwick 
 changes the aspect of affairs, and Edward's overtures 
 are successful. Just at this moment, however, letters 
 from England bear intelligence that Edward has mar- 
 ried Lady Elizabeth Grey. Naturally both the King of 
 
 COLLEGE 
 LfBRARY 
 
 Ai
 
 Comments THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 ( 
 
 France and Warwick are incensed at the broken faith. 
 Warwick then and there becomes reconciled with Queen 
 Margaret, who is also promised French forces to renew 
 the struggle. 
 
 iV. Warwick hurries back to England, surprises Ed- 
 ward by forced marches, takes the crown from his head, 
 and gives it back to Henry, who has been languishing in 
 the Tower. But Edward in turn escapes from War- 
 wick's surveillance, and takes refuge in Burgundy, where 
 he recruits fresh troops. Upon returning to England 
 he proceeds to his dukedom of York, and soon gathers 
 strength enough to march on London. The impotent 
 Henry is again seized and consigned to the Tower. 
 
 V. Edward meets Warwick in an engagement near 
 Barnet, and the great earl, whose deeds have given him 
 the title of " King-maker," is slain. A still more decisive 
 battle is fought and won against Queen Margaret and the 
 remnants of the Lancastrian forces, supported by the 
 French, on the plains of Tewksbury. Queen Margaret 
 is taken prisoner, and her son is stabbed to the heart 
 by the three brothers of York. Henry's weak, troubled 
 reign is ended by a dagger-thrust at the hands of Ed- 
 ward's brother, Richard of Gloucester ; while Edward 
 assumes the crown so bloodily striven for, amid every 
 prospect of peace for himself and security for his infant 
 son. Destiny has not yet revealed the sinister intentions 
 of the ambitious Gloucester. 
 
 McSpadden : Shakespearian Synopses. 
 
 n. 
 
 King Henry. 
 
 The Poet, with his instinctive judgement, has given 
 the King a much higher character than the chroniclers 
 assign to him. Their relations leave little doubt upon 
 our minds that his imbecility was very nearly allied to
 
 KING HENRY VI. Comments 
 
 utter incapacity; and that the thin partition between 
 weakness and idiocy was sometimes wholly removed. 
 Buf Shakspere has never painted Henry under this as- 
 pect : he has shown us a king with virtues unsuited to 
 the age in which he lived; with talents unfitted for the 
 station in which he moved; contemplative amidst friends 
 and foes hurried along by a distempered energy ; peaceful 
 under circumstances that could have no issue but in 
 appeals to arms; just in thought, but powerless to assert 
 even his own sense of right amidst the contests of in- 
 justice which hemmed him in. The entire conception of 
 the character of Henry, in connection with the circum- 
 stances to which it was subjected, is to be found in the 
 Parliament-scene of the Third Part of Henry VI. This 
 scene is copied from the Contention, with scarcely the 
 addition or alteration of a word. We may boldly affirm 
 that none but Shakspere could have depicted with such 
 marvellous truth the weakness, based upon a hatred of 
 strife — the vacillation, not of imbecile cunning, but of 
 clear-sighted candour — the assertion of power through 
 the influence of habit, but of a power trembling even at 
 its own authority — the glimmerings of courage utterly 
 extinguished by the threats of '' armed men," and pro- 
 posing compromise even worse than war. We request 
 our readers to peruse this scene in the Second Part of 
 the Contention, and endeavour to recollect if any poet 
 besides Shakspere ever presented such a reality in the 
 exhibition of a mind whose principles have no coherency 
 and no self-reliance ; one moment threatening and ex- 
 horting his followers to revenge, the next imploring them 
 to be patient; now urging his rival to peace, and now 
 threatening war; turning from the assertion of his title 
 to acknowledge its weakness; and terminating his dis- 
 play of '' words, frowns, and threats " with 
 
 " Let me but reign in quiet while I live." 
 
 Knight: Pictorial Shakspere. 
 2
 
 Comments THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 III. 
 The Characters of Richard II. and Henry VI. 
 
 The characters and situations of both these persons are 
 so nearly ahke that they would have been completely 
 confounded by a commonplace poet. Yet they are kept 
 quite distinct in Shakespear. Both were kings, and both 
 unfortunate. Both lost their crowns owing to their 
 mismanagement and imbecility; the one from a thought- 
 less, wilful abuse of power, the other from an indifference 
 to it. The manner in which they bear their misfortunes 
 corresponds exactly to the causes which led to them. 
 The one is always lamenting the loss of his power which 
 he has not the spirit to regain; the other seems only 
 to regret that he had ever been King, and is glad to 
 be rid of the power, with the trouble; the effeminacy of 
 the one is that of a voluptuary, proud, revengeful, impa- 
 tient of contradiction, and inconsolable in his misfor- 
 tunes; the effeminacy of the other is that of ^n indolent, 
 good-natured mind, naturally averse to the turmoils of 
 ambition and the cares of greatness, and who wishes to 
 pass his time in monkish indolence and contemplation. 
 Richard bewails the loss of the kingly power only as 
 it ^vas the means of gratifying his pride and luxury; 
 Henry regards it only as a means of doing right, and is 
 less desirous of the advantages to be derived from pos- 
 sessing it than afraid of exercising it wrong. In knight- 
 ing a young soldier, he gives him ghostly advice : — 
 
 " Edward Plantagenet, arise a knight, 
 And learn this lesson, — draw thy sword in right." 
 
 Hazlitt : Characters of Shakespear' s Plays. 
 
 IV. 
 Queen Margaret. 
 
 In the third part of Henry [7., Margaret, engaged in 
 the terrible struggle for her husband's throne, appears 
 
 4
 
 KING HENRY VI. Comments 
 
 to rather more advantage. The indignation against 
 Henry, who had pitifully yielded his son's birthright for 
 the privilege of reigning unmolested during his own 
 life, is worthy of her, and gives rise to a beautiful speech. 
 We are here incHned to sympathize with her; but soon 
 after follows the murder of the Duke of York; and the 
 base, revengeful spirit and atrocious cruelty with which 
 she insults over him, unarmed and a prisoner — the 
 bitterness of her mockery, and the imwomanly malignity 
 with which she presents him with the napkin stained with 
 the blood of his youngest son, and " bids the father wipe 
 his eyes withal,'' turn all our sympathy into aversion and 
 horror. York replies in the celebrated speech beginning — 
 
 She-wolf of France, and worse than wolves of France, 
 Whose tongue more poisons than the adder's tooth — 
 
 and taunts her with the poverty of her father, the most 
 irritating topic he could have chosen. 
 
 By such a woman as I\Iargaret is here depicted such 
 a speech could be answered only in one way — with her 
 dagger's point — and thus she answers it. 
 
 It is some comfort to reflect that this trait of ferocity 
 is not historical; the body of the Duke of York was 
 found, after the battle, among the heaps of slain, and 
 his head struck ofT; but even this was not done by the 
 command of Margaret. 
 
 In another passage, the truth and consistency of the 
 character of Alargaret are sacrificed to the march of the 
 dramatic action, with a very ill effect. When her for- 
 tunes were at the very lowest ebb, and she had sought 
 refuge in the court of the French king, Warwick, her 
 most formidable enemy, upon some disgust he had taken 
 against Edvv^ard IV., offered to espouse her cause, and 
 proposed a match between the prince her son and his 
 daughter Anne of Warwick — the " gentle Lady Anne " 
 who figures in Richard III. In the play, Margaret em- 
 braces the offer without a moment's hesitation: we are 
 disgusted by her versatile policy, and a meanness of spirit 
 
 5
 
 Comments THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 in no way allied to the magnanimous forgiveness of her 
 terrible adversary. The Margaret of history sternly re- 
 sisted this degrading expedient. She should not, she said, 
 pardon from her heart the man who had been the primary 
 cause of all her misfortunes. She mistrusted Warwick, 
 despised him for the motives of his revolt from Edward, 
 and considered that to match her son into the family of 
 her enemy from mere poHcy was a species of degrada- 
 tion. It took Louis XL, with all his art and eloquence, 
 fifteen days to wring a reluctant consent, accompanied 
 with tears, from this high-hearted woman. 
 
 The speech of Margaret to her council of generals 
 before the battle of Tewksbury (V. iv. i ct scq.) is as re- 
 markable a specimen of false rhetoric as her address to 
 the soldiers, on the eve of the fight, is of true and pas- 
 sionate eloquence. 
 
 She witnesses the final defeat of her army, the mas- 
 sacre of her adherents, and the murder of her son; and 
 though the savage Richard would willingly have put an 
 end to her misery, and exclaims very pertinently — 
 Why should she live to fill the world with words? 
 
 she is dragged forth unharmed, a woful spectacle of 
 extremest wretchedness, to which death would have been 
 an undeserved relief. 
 
 Mrs. Jameson : Characteristics of Women. 
 
 V. 
 
 Richard. 
 
 The dire and ominous shadow of the historic Richard 
 is thrown nearly a generation backward. It is also deep- 
 ened and darkened by the aid of the blacker interpreta- 
 tion of Richard left by Sir Thomas More. HoHnshed's 
 Richard is the ruthless' champion of his House, who slays 
 Henry only " to the intent that his brother Edward might 
 reign with'more surety "; the dramatic Richard is " him- 
 self " and for himself alone. But even tjie dramatic 
 
 6
 
 KING HENRY VI. Comments 
 
 Richard does nothing, in the present play, which th2 
 champion of his House might not do; and thus the two 
 subHme monologues (III. ii., V. vi.) in which he lays 
 bare, with the terrific candour of Tamburlane, the policy 
 of his egoism, are only intelligible as preludes to the 
 wonderful drama in which Shakespeare, now at length 
 escaping from the traces of Greene and from the Mar- 
 lowe alliance if not as yet altogether from his spell, 
 worked out the destiny of the great avenger of the crimes 
 of Lancaster. 
 
 Herford : The Eversley Shakespeare. 
 
 VI. 
 
 WarwicK and Clifford. 
 
 Warwick and Clifford are appropriate specimens of the 
 old English feudal baronage in the height of its power 
 and splendour; a class of men brave, haughty, turbulent, 
 and rough, accustomed to wield the most despotic au- 
 thority on their estates, and therefore spurning at legal 
 restraint in their public capacity; and individually able, 
 sometimes, to overawe and browbeat both king and 
 Parliament. In the play, however, we see little of their 
 personal traits, these being, for the most part, lost in 
 the common habits and sentiments of their order; not 
 to mention that, in the collision of such steel-clad cham- 
 pions, individual features are apt to be kept out of sight, 
 and all distinctive tones are naturally drowned in the 
 clash of arms. It is mainly what they stand for in the 
 public action, that the drama concerns itself about, not 
 those characteristic issues which are the proper elements 
 of a personal acquaintance. Yet they are somewhat dis- 
 criminated: Clifford is more fierce and special in his 
 revenge, because more tender and warm in his affections ; 
 while Warwick is more free from particular hate, because 
 his mind is more at ease in the magnitude of his power, 
 and the feqling of his consequence. It is said that not 
 
 7
 
 Comments THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 less than thirty thousand persons hved daily at the tables 
 of his different castles and manors. Add to this, that his 
 hospitality was boundless, his dispositions magnificent, 
 his manners captivating, his spirit frank, forthright, and 
 undesigning, and it may well be conceived why his 
 " housekeeping won the greatest favour of the com- 
 mons," insomuch that, though but an earl in style, he 
 could in effect force kings to reign as viceroys under 
 him. Holinshed speaks of him thus : " Full fraught 
 was this nobleman with good qualities right excellent and 
 many, all which a certain natural grace did so far forth 
 recommend, that with high and low he was in singular 
 favour and good liking, so as, iinsought-for it seemed, 
 he grew able to command all alone." And his bearing 
 in the play is answerable to the character that history 
 assigns him; though it were to be wished, that in the 
 doings of the king-maker the Poet had given us more 
 taste of the individual man. 
 
 Hudson : The Works of Shakespeare. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Battling of the Base. 
 
 The play commences with abject meanness on his 
 [King Henry's] part in bartering the hopes of his heir 
 for his personal immunity and ease during life, and the 
 hollow compromise he relies on is presently broken 
 through by his own party, as well as that of York, and 
 with equal guilt of perjury on either side. Instability 
 and faithlessness are active also between members of the 
 same party, and Exeter, the fleeting Clarence and War- 
 wick desert and return under the influence of the merest 
 personal whims and piques and self-interest. All the 
 other virtues but valour in its lowest dogged form appear 
 lo have taken leave of society; in no direction that we 
 can turn is an effort apparent that claims our confidence 
 and deserves our sympathy, and the state of affairs is 
 
 8
 
 KING HENRY VI. Comments 
 
 represented that has occurred more than once among 
 the civil convulsions nearer to our own time, though 
 happily not in our own country — high motive and good 
 faith utterly wanting, or if found together unsupported 
 by even ordinary sagacity, application and courage. In 
 such a case the strongest right, much more its merest 
 shadow, forfeits the vantage-ground of natural strength 
 to the very basest ambition guided by first-rate talents, 
 energy and courage; and when the battle at last turns 
 between contenders wdio are all destitute of right and 
 virtue, the victory will surely fall to him who with the 
 best or cRi equal capacity is the most treacherous, prompt 
 and pitilessly unsparing. The better and indeed the 
 greater strength of the consistency of right is lost, and 
 the consistency of wrong has the reversion of suprem- 
 acy and bears down all before it, though only in its on- 
 w^ard and downward course to its own destruction. It is 
 by title of such steady and overruling consistency that 
 the house of York triumphs at last, and that within that 
 house the last prize is destined inevitably for Richard, the 
 most able, steadfast, daring and unscrupulous of all. 
 This destiny is distinctly indicated in the present play, 
 and the hint is given too in the prediction about Rich- 
 mond, that, if wickedness is rising to a head and ripening, 
 the sickle is also preparing that is to raze it to the ground. 
 For the rest the progress of the contest decimates a tur- 
 bulent nobility and leads us to anticipate a quieter world 
 in days to come. 
 Lloyd: Critical Essays on the Plays of Shakespeare. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 The Henry VI. Trilogy. 
 
 Let us again take a survey of the whole trilogy. 
 . . . We have history represented in its degenera- 
 tion into civil war, which is the consequence of the orig- 
 inal disturbance of its course and of the general demor-
 
 Comments THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 alisation which increases with it. This is the theme upon 
 which the z^^holc trilogy is based, and which exhibits the 
 two sides of Hfe according to Shakspeare's conception. 
 The three parts, then show the principal stages in the 
 development of such a state of things. History, when 
 so degenerate, first of all casts out those that are good 
 and noble but who are nevertheless not wholly unaiTected 
 by the spirit of their age, and at the same time shows 
 that the great and pure are not understood and that they 
 cannot keep themselves entirely pure. This is exhibited 
 in the First Part by the events belonging to it (and 
 hence, because appropriate here only, Shakspeare intro- 
 duces Talbot's death into this First Part in violation of 
 the laws of chronology). History then continues falling 
 into a wild state of chaos, where right and wrong flow 
 into one another and can no longer be distinguished, and 
 consequently where the bad and the good, or, to speak 
 more correctly, the bad and those that are less bad, are 
 drawn into the general vortex. This is the second stage, 
 of which we have a representation in the Second Part. 
 Having arrived at this climax, history demands that man 
 shall not interfere with its course, and refrain from 
 having any determination of his own, and that he shall 
 leave all action to that man whom it has itself chosen 
 to restore order. It therefore punishes every uncalled- 
 for interference as unauthorised presumption, whereas the 
 submissive spirit is inwardly exalted and glorified through 
 suffering and death. This is the thought which connects 
 the events of the Third Part into an organic unity. 
 
 Ulrici : Shakspeare's Dramatic Art. 
 
 IX. 
 
 The Poet and the Plays. 
 
 From mere inferiority nothing can be Inferred ; in 
 the productions of wit there will be inequality. Some- 
 times judgement will err, and sometimes the matter itself 
 will defeat the artist. Of every author's works one will 
 
 10
 
 KING HENRY VI. Comments 
 
 be the best, and one will be the worst. . . . Dis- 
 similitude of style, and heterogeneousness of sentiment, 
 may sufficiently show that a work does not really belong 
 to the reputed author. But in these plays no such marks 
 of spuriousness are found. The diction, the versification, 
 and the figures, are Shakspeare's. 
 Johnson : General Observations on Shakspeare's Plays. 
 
 Never attracting or affecting me quite as the other 
 works of Shakespeare, nor indeed ever seeming to me 
 to be his works, they had never been so perused as to 
 engage me in spontaneous interpretation or restoration. 
 Even up to the present hour too, of Shakespeare's close, 
 bold, and subtle reasoning; his epigrammatic play of 
 words and ideas; his grace and dignity of dialogue; his 
 psychological curiosity; his metaphorical prodigality; 
 his disclosed fruits of pensive experience; his encased 
 kernels of consolidated thought; his touches of human 
 nature, here finely caught, there mysteriously inspired ; 
 his world-wide illustration; his magical imagery of out- 
 ward things reflected from the innermost sense of them; 
 all involved in a stream of melody whose onflow becomes 
 in itself pathetic; — of these from the three parts of Henry 
 VI. I still miss some sensible measure. 
 Vaughan : New Readings and New Renderings of 
 Shakespeare's Tragedies.
 
 DRAMATIS PERSONAE. 
 
 King Henry tJic sixth. 
 
 Edward, Prince of IV ales, his son. 
 
 Lewis XL, King of France. 
 
 Duke of Somerset. 
 
 Duke of Exeter. 
 
 Earl of Oxford. 
 
 Earl of Northumberland. 
 
 Earl of Westmoreland. 
 
 Lord Clifford. 
 
 Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York. 
 
 Edward, Earl of March, afterwards "^ 
 
 King Edward IV., 
 Edmund, Earl of Rutland, > his sons. 
 
 George, afterwards Duke of Clarence, \ 
 
 Richard, afterwards Duke of Gloucester, J 
 Duke of Norfolk. 
 Marquess of Montague. 
 Earl of Warwick. 
 Earl of Pembroke. 
 Lord Hastings. 
 Lord Stafford. 
 
 Sir John Mortimer, ) ; . .; n ». r i/ ^ 
 
 Sir Hugh Mortimer, [ '''^'^'' ^' ^^'' ^"^^ ^^ ^^''^- 
 Henry, Earl of Richmond, a youth. 
 Lord Rivers, brother to Lady Grey. 
 Sir William Stanley. 
 Sir John Montgomery. 
 Sir John Somervile. 
 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. 
 
 Queen Margaret. 
 
 Lady Grey, afterwards Queen to Edward IV. 
 
 Bona, sister to the French Queen. 
 
 Soldiers, Attendants, Messengers, Watchmen, etc. 
 
 Scene: England and France. 
 
 12
 
 The Third Part of 
 
 KING HENRY VI. 
 
 ACT FIRST. 
 Scene I. 
 
 London. The ParUanioit-Iwitsc. 
 
 Alarum. Enter the Duke of York, Edzuard, Richa^^^. 
 Norfolk, Montague, Worzcick, and Soldiers. 
 
 War. I wonder how the king escaped our hands. 
 
 York. While we pursued the horsemen of the north, 
 He shly stole away and left his men : 
 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, 
 Charged our main battle's front, and breaking in 
 Were by the swords of common soldiers slain. 
 
 Edzv. Lord Stafford's father, Duke of Buckingham, lo 
 Is either slain or wounded dangerously ; 
 I cleft his beaver with a downright blow : 
 That this is true, father, behold his blood. 
 
 Mont. And, brother, here 's the Earl of Wiltshire's blood. 
 Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd. 
 
 Rieh. Speak thou for me and tell them what I did. 
 
 [^Throwing dozi'n the Duke of Somerset's head. 
 
 York. Richard hath best deserved of all my sons. 
 But is your grace dead, my Lord of Somerset? 
 
 13
 
 Act I. Sc. i, THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Norf. Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt! 
 
 Ricli. Thus do I hope to shake King Henry's head. 20 
 
 War. And so do I. Mctorious Prince of York, 
 Before I see thee seated in that throne 
 Which now the house of Lancaster usurps, 
 I vow by heaven these eyes shall never close. 
 This is the palace of the fearful king, 
 And this the regal seat : possess it, York ; 
 For this is thine, and not King Henry's heirs'. 
 
 York. Assist me, then, sweet \\^arwick, and I will ; 
 For hither we have broken in by force. 
 
 Norf. We '11 all assist you ; he that flies shall die. 30 
 
 York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk : stay by me, my lords ; 
 And, soldiers, stay and lodge by me this night. 
 
 [They go up. 
 
 War. And when the king comes, offer him no violence. 
 Unless he seek to thrust you out perforce. 
 
 York. The queen this day here holds her parliament, 
 But little thinks we shall be of her council: 
 By words or blows here let us win our right. 
 
 Rich. Arm'd as we are, let 's stay within this house. 
 
 JTar. The bloody parliament shall this be call'd. 
 
 Unless Plantagenet, Duke of York, be king, 4© 
 
 And bashful Henry deposed, w^hose 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 W'arwick shake his bells. 
 I '11 plain Plantagenet, root him up who dares : 
 Resolve thee, Richard ; claim the English crown. 
 
 14
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act I. Sc. i. 
 
 Flourish. Enter King Henry, Clifford, Northumherlana, 
 Westmoreland, Exeter, and the rest. 
 
 K, Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits, 50 
 Even in the chair of state : belike he means, 
 Back'd by the power of Warwick, that false peer 
 To aspire unto the crown and reign as king*. 
 Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father. 
 And thine, Lord Clififord ; and you both have vow'd 
 
 revenge 
 On him, his sens, his favourites and his friends. 
 
 North. If I be not, heavens be revenged on me ! 
 
 Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in ste^l. 
 
 West. What, shall we suffer this ? let 's pluck him down : 
 My heart for anger burns ; I cannot brook it. 60 
 
 K. Hen. Be patient, gentle Earl of Westmoreland. 
 
 Clif. Patience is for poltroons, such as he : 
 
 He durst not sit there, had your father lived. 
 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 '11 quickly fly. 
 
 K. Hen. Far be the thought of this from Henry's heart, 
 To make a shambles of the parliament-house! 71 
 Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words and threats 
 Shall be the war that Henry means to use. 
 Thou factious Duke of York, descend m.y throne, 
 And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet ; 
 I am thy sovereign. 
 
 York. I am thine. 
 
 15
 
 i\ct I. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Exc. For shame, come down : he made thee Duke of York. 
 York. 'Twas my inheritance, as the earldom was. 
 E.vc. Thy father was a traitor to the crown. 
 ]\^ar. Exeter, thou art a traitor to the crown, 80 
 
 In following this usurping Henry. 
 CUf. Whom should he follow but his natural king? 
 ]]^ar. True, Cliitord ; and that 's Richard Duke of Yoik„ 
 K. Hen. And shall I stand, and thou sit in my throne? 
 Yorh. It must and shall be so : content thyself. 
 War. Be Duke of Lancaster ; let him be king. 
 West. He is both king and Duke of Lancaster ; 
 
 And that the Lord of Westmoreland shall maintain. 
 War. And Warwick shall disprove it. You forget 
 
 That we are those wdiich chased you from the field, 
 
 And slew your fathers, and with colours spread 91 
 
 March'd through the city to the palace gates. 
 North. Yes, W^arwick, I remember it to my grief ; 
 
 And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it. 
 U^est. Plantagenet, of thee and these thy sons. 
 
 Thy kinsmen and thy friends, I '11 have more lives 
 
 Than drops of blood were in my father's veins. 
 CJif. Urge it no more; lest that, instead of words, 
 
 I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger 
 
 As shall revenge his death before I stir. 100 
 
 War. Poor Clifford! how I scorn his worthless threats! 
 York. Will you we show our title to the crown ? 
 
 If not, our sw^ords shall plead it in the field. 
 K. Hen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown? 
 
 Thy father w^as, as thou art, Duke of York ; 
 
 Thy grandfather, Roger Mortimer, Earl of March : 
 
 I am the son of Henry the Fifth, 
 
 W^ho made the Dauphin and the French to stoop.
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act I. Sc. i. 
 
 And seized upon their towns and provinces. 
 
 War. Talk not of France, sith thou hast lost it all. no 
 
 K. Hen. The lord protector lost it, and not I : 
 
 When I was crown'd I was but nine months old. 
 
 Rich. You are old enough now, and yet, methinks, you lose. 
 I Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head. 
 
 Edzi'. Sweet father, do so ; set it on your head. 
 
 Mont. Good brother, as thou lovest and honourest 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: hear him, lords; 121 
 And be you silent and attentive too, 
 For he that interrupts him shall not Uve. 
 
 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. 130 
 
 War. Prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king. 
 
 K. Hen. Henry the Fourth by conquest got the crown. 
 
 York. 'Twas by rebellion against his king. 
 
 K. Hen. [Aside] I know not what to say ; my title 's weak. 
 Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir? 
 
 York. What then? 
 
 K. Hen. An if he may, then am I 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. 140 
 
 17
 
 Act I. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 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 reign. 
 
 K. Hen. Art thou against us, Duke of Exeter? 
 
 Exc. 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. 150 
 
 K. Hen. [Aside] 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 deposed. 
 
 War. Deposed he shall be, in despite of all. 
 
 North. Thou art deceived : '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 ; 160 
 
 May that ground gape and swallow me alive, 
 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 over the chair of state, where now he sits, 
 Write up his title with usurping blood. 
 
 [He stamps with his foot, and the 
 Soldiers shozv themselves. 
 
 K. Hen. My Lord of Warwick, hear me but one word : 
 
 18
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act I. Sc. i. 
 
 Let me for this my life-time reign as king. 171 
 
 York. Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs, 
 
 And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou livest. 
 K. Hen. I am content : Richard Plantagenet, 
 
 Enjoy the kingdom after my decease. 
 Clif. What wrong is this unto the prince your son ! 
 JVar. What good is this to England and himself ! 
 JVcst. Base, fearful and despairing Henry! 
 Clif. How hast thou injured both thyself and us! 
 J Vest. I cannot stay to hear these articles. 180 
 
 Xcrth. Nor I. 
 
 Clif. Come, cousin, let us tell the queen these news. 
 West. Farewell, faint-hearted and degenerate king, 
 
 In whose cold blood no spark of honour bides. 
 North. Be thou a prey unto the house of York, 
 
 And die in bands for this unmanly deed ! 
 Clif. In dreadful war mayst thou be overcome, 
 
 Or live in peace abandon'd and despised! 
 
 [Exeunt North., Cliif., and IVest. 
 War. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them not. 
 Exe. They seek revenge and therefore will not yield. 190 
 K. Hen. Ah, Exeter! 
 
 War. Why should you sigh, my lord? 
 
 K. Hen. Not for myself. Lord Warwick, but my son, 
 
 Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit. 
 
 But be it as it may : I here entail 
 
 The crown to thee and to thine heirs for ever ; 
 
 Conditionally, that here thou take an oath 
 
 To cease this civil war, and, whilst I live. 
 
 To honour me as thy king and sovereign, 
 And neither by treason nor hostility 
 
 To seek to put me down and reign thyself. 200 
 
 19
 
 Act I. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 York. This oath I willingly take and will perform. 
 Jl'ar. Long live King Henry ! Plantagenet, embrace him. 
 K. Hen. And long live thou and these thy forward sons ! 
 York. Now York and Lancaster are reconciled. 
 Exc. Accursed be he that seeks to make them foes ! 
 
 [Sejinef. Here they eoine dozen. 
 York. Farewell, my gracious lord ; I '11 to my castle. 
 ll\ir. And I '11 keep London with my soldiers. 
 Norf. And I to Norfolk with my followers. 
 Mont. And I unto the sea from whence I came. 
 
 [Exeunt York and his Sons, Warzvick, Norfolk, 
 
 Montague, their Soldiers and Attendants. 
 
 K. Hen. And I, with grief and sorrow, to the court. 210 
 
 Enter Queen Margaret and the Prince of Wales. 
 
 Exe. Here comes the queen, whose looks bewray her anger : 
 I '11 steal away. 
 
 K. Hen. Exeter, so will L 
 
 Q. Mar. Nay, go not from me ; I will follow thee. 
 
 K. Hen. Be patient, gentle queen, and I will stay. 
 
 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 proved so unnatural a father ! 
 Hath he deserved to lose his birthright thus ? 
 Hadst thou but loved him half so well as I, 220 
 
 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 have made that savage duke thine heir, 
 And disinherited thine only son. 
 
 Prince. Father, vou cannot disinherit me:
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act I. Sc. i. 
 
 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 enforced me. 
 
 Q. Mar. Enforced thee ! art thou king, and wilt be forced ? 
 I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch ! 
 Thou hast undone thyself, thy son, and me ; 232 
 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 ? 
 \\^arwick is chancellor and the lord of Calais : 
 Stern Falconbridge commands the narrow seas ; 
 The duke is made protector of the realm ; 240 
 
 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. 250 
 
 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 is ready ; come, we 11 after them. 
 
 K. Hen. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me speak. 
 
 Q. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already : get thee gone.
 
 Act I. Sc. ii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 K. Hen. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay with me? 
 
 Q. Mar. Ay, to be murder'd by his enemies. 260 
 
 Prince. When I return with victory from the field 
 I '11 see your grace : till then I '11 follow, her. 
 
 Q. Mar. Come, son, away ; we may not linger thus. 
 
 [Exeunt Queen Margaret and the Prince. 
 
 K. Hen. Poor queen ! how love to me and to her son 
 Hath made her break out into terms of rage ! 
 Revenged 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 : 270 
 I '11 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. 
 
 Sandal Castle. 
 
 Enter Richard, Edward, and Montague. 
 
 Rich. Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave. 
 
 Edzv. No, I can better play the orator. 
 
 Mont. But I have reasons strong and forcible. 
 
 Enter the Duke of York. 
 
 York. Why, how now, sons and brother! at a strife? 
 
 What is your quarrel? how began it first? 
 Edzv. No quarrel, but a slight contention. 
 York. About what? 
 Rich. About that which concerns your grace and us ; 
 
 The crown of England, father, which is yours.
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act I. Sc. ii. 
 
 York. Mine, boy ? not till King Henry be dead. lo 
 
 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 an oath that he should quietly reign. 
 
 Edzi'. But for a kingdom any oath may be broken : 
 I would 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 '11 prove the contrary, if you 11 hear me speak. 
 
 York. Thou canst not, son; it is impossible. 21 
 
 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, 30 
 
 And all that poets feign of bliss and joy. 
 Why do we linger thus ? I cannot rest 
 Until the white rose that I wear be dyed 
 Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry's heart. 
 
 York. Richard, enough ; I will be king, or die. 
 Brother, thou shalt to London presently, 
 And whet on Warwick to this enterprise. 
 Thou, Richard, shalt to the Duke of Norfolk, 
 And tell him privily of our intent. 
 You, Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham, 40 
 
 With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise : 
 
 23
 
 Act I. Sc. ii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 In them I trust ; for they are soldiers, 
 
 Witty, courteous, hberal, full of spirit. 
 
 While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more, 
 
 But that I seek occasion how to rise, 
 
 And yet the king not privy to my drift, 
 
 Nor any of the house of Lancaster ? 
 
 Enter a Messcnc^cr. 
 
 But, stay : what news ? Why comest thou in such 
 post? 
 
 Mess. The queen with all the northern earls and lords 
 Intend here to besiege you in your castle : 50 
 
 She is hard by with twenty thousand men ; 
 And therefore fortify your hold, my lord. 
 
 York. Ay, with my sword. W^hat ! think' st thou that we 
 fear them ? 
 Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me ; 
 My brother Montague shall post to London : 
 Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest. 
 Whom we have left protectors of the king, 
 With powerful policy strengthen themselves. 
 And trust not simple Henry nor his oaths. 
 
 Mont. Brother, I go ; I '11 win them, fear it not : 60 
 
 And thus most humbly I do take my leave. [Exit. 
 
 Enter Sir John Mortimer and Sir Hugh Mortimer. 
 
 York. Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles, 
 You are come to Sandal in a happy hour ; 
 • The army of the queen mean to besiege us. 
 Sir John. She shall not need ; we '11 meet her in the field. 
 York. What, with five thousand men? 
 Rich. Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need: 
 
 24
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act I. Sc. iii. 
 
 A woman 's general ; what shonld we fear ? 
 
 [A niarc/i afar off. 
 
 Edz<'. I hear their drums : let 's set our men in order, 70 
 And issue forth and bid them battle straight. 
 
 York. Five men to twenty! though the odds be great, 
 I doubt not, uncle, of our victory. 
 Many a battle have I won in France, 
 \Mien as the enemy hath been ten to one : 
 Wdiy should I not now have the like success ? 
 
 [Alarum. Exeunt. 
 
 Scene III. 
 
 Field of battle betzi'i.rt Sandal Castle and Wakefield. 
 
 Alarums. Enter Rutland and his Tutor. 
 
 Rut. Ah, whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands? 
 Ah, tutor, look where bloody Clififord comes ! 
 
 Enter Clifford and Soldiers. 
 
 Clif. Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy life. 
 
 As for the brat of this accursed duke, 
 
 Whose father slew my father, he shall die. 
 Tut. And I, my lord, will bear him company. 
 Clif. Soldiers, away with him ! 
 Tut. Ah, Clifford, murder not this innocent child, 
 
 Lest thou be hated both of God and man ! 
 
 [Exit, dragged off by Soldiers. 
 Clif. How now! is he dead already? or is it fear 10 
 
 That makes him close his eyes ? I '11 open them. 
 Rut. So looks the pent-up lion o'er the wretch 
 
 That trembles under his devouring paws ; 
 
 And so he walks, insulting o'er his prey, 
 
 And so he comes, to rend his limbs asunder. 
 
 25
 
 Act I. Sc. iii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Ah, gentle Clifford, kill me with thy sword, 
 And not with such a cruel threatening look. 
 Sweet Clifford, hear me speak before I die. 
 I am too mean a subject for thy wrath : 
 Be thou revenged on men, and let me live. 20 
 
 Clif. In vain thou speak'st, poor boy ; my father's blood 
 Hath stopp'd the passage where thy words should 
 enter. 
 
 Rut. Then let my father's blood open it again : 
 
 He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him. 
 Clif. Had I thy brethren here, their lives and thine 
 
 Were not revenge sufficient for me ; 
 
 No, if I digg'd up thy forefathers' graves, 
 
 And hung their rotten coffins up in chains, 
 
 It could not slake mine ire, nor ease my heart. 
 
 The sight of any of the house of York 30 
 
 Is as a fury to torment my soul ; 
 
 And till I root out their accursed line 
 
 And leave not one alive, I live in hell. 
 
 Therefore — [Lifting his hand. 
 
 Rut. O, let me pray before I take my death ! 
 
 To thee I pray; sweet Clifford, pity me! 
 Clif. Such pity as my rapier's point affords. 
 Rut. I never did thee harm: why wilt thou slay me? 
 Clif. Thy father hath. 
 Rut. But 'twas ere I was born. 
 
 Thou hast one son ; for his sake pity me, 40 
 
 Lest in revenge thereof, sith God is just, 
 
 He be as miserably slain as I. 
 
 Ah, let me live in prison all my days ; 
 
 And when I give occasion of offence, 
 
 Then let me die, for now thou hast no cause. 
 26
 
 KING HENRY VI Act I. Sc. iv. 
 
 Clif. No cause ! 
 
 Thy father slew my father ; therefore, die. 
 
 [Stabs him. 
 Rut. Di faciant laudis summa sit ista tuae ! [Dies. 
 
 Clif, Plantagenet ! I come, Plantagenet ! 
 
 And this thy son's blood cleaving to my blade 50 
 Shall rust upon my weapon, till thy blood, 
 Cong-eal'd with this, do make me wipe off both. 
 
 [Exit. 
 
 Scene IV. 
 
 Another part of the Held. 
 
 Alarum. Enter Richard, Duke of York. 
 
 York. The army of the queen hath got the field : 
 I\Iy uncles both are slain in rescuing me ; 
 And all my followers to the eager foe 
 Turn back and fly, like ships before the wind, 
 Or lambs pursued by hunger-starved wolves. 
 My sons, God knows what hath bechanced them: 
 But this I know, they have demean'd themselves 
 Like men born to renown by life or death. 
 Three times did Richard make a lane to me, 
 And thrice cried ' Courage, father ! fight it out ! ' 
 And full as oft came Edward to my side, 1 1 
 
 With purple falchion, painted to the hilt 
 In blood of those that had encounter'd him : 
 And when the hardiest warriors did retire, 
 Richard cried, ' Charge ! and give no foot of ground ! ' 
 And cried, ' A crown, or else a glorious tomb ! , 
 A sceptre, or an earthly sepulchre ! ' 
 With this, we charged again : but, out, alas ! 
 We bodged again ; as I have seen a swan 
 27
 
 Act I. Sc. iv. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 With bootless labour swim against the tide 20 
 
 And spend her strength with over-matching waves. 
 
 [A short alarum zi'itJiin. 
 Ah, hark ! the fatal followers do pursue ; 
 And I am faint, and cannot fly their fury : 
 And w^ere I strong, I would not shun their fury : 
 The sands are number'd that make up my life ; 
 Here must I stay, and here my life must end. 
 
 Enter Queen Margaret, Clifford, KortJuiniberland, the, 
 young Prince, and Soldiers. 
 
 Come, bloody Clififord, rough Northumberland, 
 I dare your quenchless fury to more rage : 
 I am your butt, and I abide your shot. 
 
 North. Yield to our mercy, proud Plantagenet. 30 
 
 Clif. Ay, to such mercy as his ruthless arm. 
 
 With downright payment, show'd unto my father. 
 Now Phaethon hath tumbled from his car, 
 And made an evening at the noontide prick. 
 
 York, ^ly ashes, as the phoenix, may bring forth 
 A bird that will revenge upon you all : 
 And in that hope I throw mine eyes to heaven. 
 Scorning whate'er you can aftlict me with. 
 \\'hy come you not ? what ! multitudes, and fear ? 
 
 Clif. So cowards fight when they can fly no further ; 40 
 So doves do peck the falcon's piercing talons ; 
 So desperate thieves, all hopeless of their lives, 
 Breathe out invectives 'gainst the officers. 
 
 York. O Clififord, but bethink thee once again. 
 And in thy thought o'er-run my former time ; 
 And, if thou canst for blushing, view this face. 
 And bite thy tongue, that slanders him with cowardice 
 
 28
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act I. Sc. iv. 
 
 \Miose frown hath made thee faint and fly ere this ! 
 
 67//. I will not bandy with thee word for word, 
 
 But buckle with thee blows, twice two for one. 50 
 
 Q. Mar. Hold, valiant Cliflford ! for a thousand causes 
 I would prolong awhile the traitor's life. 
 Wrath makes him deaf : speak thou, Northumberland. 
 
 North. Hold, Clifford ! do not honour him so much 
 To prick thy finger, though to w^ound his heart : 
 What valour were it, when a cur doth grin. 
 For one to thrust his hand between his teeth. 
 When he might spurn him with his foot away ? 
 It is war's prize to take all vantages ; 
 And ten to one is no impeach of valour. 60 
 
 [They lay hands on York, zvho struggles. 
 
 Clif. Ay, ay, so strives the woodcock with the gin. 
 
 North. So doth the cony struggle in the net. 
 
 York. So triumph thieves upon their conquer'd booty ; 
 So true men yield, with robbers so o'er-match'd. 
 
 North. \Miat would your grace have done unto him now ? 
 
 Q. Mar. Brave warriors, Clifford and Northumberland, 
 Come, make him stand upon this molehill here. 
 That raught at mountains with outstretched arms, 
 Yet parted but the shadow^ with his hand. 
 What! w^as it you that would be England's king? 
 Was 't you that revell'd in our parliament, 71 
 
 And made a preachment of your high descent? 
 Where are your mess of sons to back you now ? 
 The wanton Edward, and the lusty George? 
 And where 's that valiant crook-back prodig}% 
 Dicky your boy, that with his grumbling voice 
 Was wont to cheer his dad in mutinies ? 
 Or, with the rest, wdiere is your darling Rutland ? 
 
 2g
 
 Act I. Sc. iv. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Look, York : I stain'd this napkin with the blood 
 
 That valiant Clifford, with his rapier's point, 80 
 
 Made issue from the bosom of the boy ; 
 
 And if thine eyes can water for his death, 
 
 I give thee this to dry thy cheeks withal. 
 
 Alas, poor York ! but that I hate thee deadly, 
 
 I should lament thy miserable state. 
 
 I prithee, grieve, to make me merry, York. 
 
 What, hath thy fiery heart so parch'd thine entrails 
 
 That not a tear can fall for Rutland's death ? 
 
 Why art thou patient, man ? thou shouldst be mad ; 
 
 And I, to make thee mad, do mock thee thus. 90 
 
 Stamp, rave, and fret, that I may sing and dance. 
 
 Thou wouldst be fee'd, I see, to make me sport : 
 
 York cannot speak, unless he wear a crown. 
 
 A crown for" York ! and, lords bow low to him -. 
 
 Hold you his hands, whilst I do set it on. 
 
 [Putting a paper croi^.ni on his head. 
 Ay, marry, sir, now looks he like a king ! 
 Ay, this is he that took King Henry's chair ; 
 And this is he was his adopted heir. 
 But how is it that great Plantagenet 
 Is crown 'd so soon, and broke his solemn oath ? 100 
 As I bethink me, you should not be king 
 Till our King Henry had shook hands with death. 
 And will you pale your head in Henry's glory. 
 And rob his temples of the diadem. 
 Now in his life, against your holy oath? 
 O, 'tis a fault too too unpardonable ! 
 Off with the crown ; and, with the crown, his head ; 
 And, whilst we breathe, take time to do him dead. 
 Clif. That is my office, for my father's sake. 
 
 30
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act I. Sc. iv. 
 
 Q. Mar. Nay, stay ; let 's hear the orisons he makes, i lo 
 York. She-wolf of France, but worse than wolves of 
 France, 
 Whose tongue more poisons than the adder's tooth ! 
 How ill-beseeming is it in thy sex 
 To triumph, like an Amazonian trull, 
 Upon their woes whom fortune captivates ! 
 But that thy face is, visard-like, unchanging. 
 Made impudent with use of evil deeds, 
 I would assay, proud queen, to make thee blush. 
 To tell thee whence thou camest, of whom derived, 
 Were shame enough to shame thee, wert thou not 
 shameless. ^^° 
 
 Thy father bears the type of King of Naples, 
 Of both the Sicils and Jerusalem, 
 Yet not so wealthy as an English yeoman. 
 Hath that poor monarch taught thee to insult ? 
 It needs not, nor it boots thee not, proud queen. 
 Unless the adage must be verified, 
 That beggars mounted run their horse to death, 
 'Tis beauty that doth oft make women proud ; 
 But, God He knows, thy share thereof is small : 
 'Tis virtue that doth make them most admired; 130 
 The contrary doth make thee wonder' d at : 
 'Tis government that makes them seem divine ; 
 The want thereof makes thee abominable : 
 Thou art as opposite to every good 
 As the Antipodes are unto us. 
 Or as the south to the septentrion. 
 O tiger's heart wrapp'd in a woman's hide ! 
 How couldst thou drain the life-blood of the child. 
 To bid the father wipe his eyes withal, 
 31
 
 Act I. Sc. iv. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 And yet be seen to bear a woman's face? 140 
 
 Women are soft, mild, pitiful and flexible ; 
 Thou stern, obdurate, flinty, rough, remorseless. 
 Bid'st thou me rage ? why, now thou hast thy wish : 
 Wouldst have me weep ? why, now thou hast thy will : 
 For raging wind blows up incessant showers. 
 And when the rage allays, the rain begins. 
 These tears are my sweet Rutland's obsequies : 
 And every drop cries vengeance for his death, 
 'Gainst thee, fell Clifford, and thee, false French- 
 woman. 
 
 North. Beshrew me, but his passion moves me so 150 
 That hardly can I check my eyes from tears 
 
 York. That face of his the hungry cannibals 
 
 Would not have touch'd, would not have stain' d with 
 
 blood : 
 But you are more inhuman, more inexorable, 
 O, ten times more, than tigers of Hyrcania. 
 See, ruthless queen, a hapless father's tears : 
 This cloth thou dip'dst in blood of my sweet boy, 
 And I with tears do wash the blood away. 
 Keep thou the napkin, and go boast of this : 
 And if thou tell'st the heavy story right, 160 
 
 Upon my soul, the hearers will shed tears ; 
 Yea, even my foes will shed fast-falling tears, 
 And say ' Alas, it was a piteous deed ! ' 
 There, take the crown, and, with the crown, my curse ; 
 And in thy need such comfort come to thee 
 As now I reap at thy too cruel hand ! 
 Hard-hearted Clifford, take me from the world : 
 My soul to heaven, my blood upon your heads ! 
 
 North. Had he been slaughter-man to all my kin, 
 
 32
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act II. Sc. i. 
 
 I should not for my life but weep with him, 170 
 
 To see how inly sorrow gripes his soul. 
 Q. Mar. What, weeping-ripe, my Lord Northumberland ? 
 Think but upon the wrong he did us all, 
 And that will quickly dry thy melting tears. 
 Clif. Here 's for my oath, here 's for my father's death. 
 
 [Stabbing Iiijii. 
 0. Mar. And here 's to right our gentle-hearted king. 
 
 [Stabbing Jiiui. 
 York. Open thy gate of mercy, gracious God ! 
 
 My soul flies through these wounds to seek out Thee. 
 
 [Dies. 
 Q. Mar. Ofif with his head, and set it on York gates ; 
 
 So York may overlook the town of York. 180 
 
 [Flourish. Exeunt. 
 
 ACT SECOND. 
 Scene I. 
 
 A plain near Mortimer s Cross in Herefordshire. 
 A march. Enter Edzcard, Richard, and their pozcer. 
 
 Edzc. I wonder how our princely father 'scaped, 
 Or whether he be 'scaped away or no 
 From Clifford's and Northumberland's pursuit: 
 Had he been ta'en, we should have heard the news ; 
 Had he been slain, we should have heard the news : 
 Or had he 'scaped, methinks we should have heard 
 The happy tidings of his good escape. 
 How fares my brother? why is he so sad? 
 
 Rich. I cannot joy, until I be resolved 
 
 Where our right valiant father is become. 10 
 
 33
 
 Act II. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 I saw him in the battle range about ; 
 
 And watch'd him how he singled Clifford forth. 
 
 Methoiight he bore him in the thickest troop 
 
 As doth a lion in a herd of neat ; 
 
 Or as a bear, encompassed round with dogs, 
 
 Who having pinch'd a few and made them cry, 
 
 The rest stand all aloof, and bark at him. 
 
 So fared our father with his enemies ; 
 
 So fled his enemies my warlike father : 
 
 Methinks, 'tis prize enough to be his son. 20 
 
 See how the morning opes her golden gates, 
 
 And takes her farewell of the glorious sun ! 
 
 How well resembles it the prime of youth, 
 
 Trimm'd like a younker prancing to his love ! 
 
 Edzv. Dazzle mine eyes, or do I see three suns ? 
 
 Rich' Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun ; 
 Not separated with the racking clouds, 
 But severed in a pale clear-shining sky. 
 See, see! they join, embrace, and seem to kiss, 
 As if they vow'd some league inviolable : 30 
 
 Now are they but one lamp, one light, one sun. 
 In this the heaven figures some event. 
 
 Edzv. Tis wondrous strange, the like yet never heard of. 
 I think it cites us, brother, to the field, 
 That we, the sons of brave Plantagenet, 
 Each one already blazing by our meeds, 
 Should notwithstanding join our lights together, 
 And over-shine the earth as this the world. 
 Whate'er it bodes, henceforward will I bear 
 Upon my target three fair-shining suns. 40 
 
 Rich. Nay, bear three daughters : by your leave I speak it, 
 You love the breeder better than the male. 
 
 34
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act II. Sc. i. 
 
 Enter a Messenger. 
 
 But what art thou, whose heavy looks foretell 
 Some dreadful story hanging on thy tongue? 
 
 Mess. Ah, one that was a woful looker-on 
 
 When as the noble Duke of York was slain, 
 Your princely father and my loving lord ! 
 
 Edzu. O, speak no more, for I have heard too much. 
 
 Rich. Say how he died, for I w^ill hear it all. 
 
 Mess. Environed he was with many foes, 50 
 
 And stood against them, as the hope of Troy 
 Against the Greeks that would have enter'd Troy. 
 But Hercules himself must yield to odds ; 
 And many strokes, though w4th a little axe, 
 Hew down and fell the hardest-timber 'd oak. 
 By many hands your father was subdued ; 
 But only slaughter'd by the ireful arm 
 Of unrelenting Clifford and the queen, 
 Who crown'd the gracious duke in high despite, 
 Laugh'd in his face ; and when with grief he wept. 
 The ruthless queen gave him to dry his cheeks 61 
 A napkin steeped in the harmless blood 
 Of sweet young Rutland, by rough Cliflford slain : 
 And after many scorns, many foul taunts. 
 They took his head, and on the gates of York 
 They set the same ; and there it doth remain, 
 The saddest spectacle that e'er I view'd. 
 
 Edw. Sweet Duke of York, our prop to lean upon, 
 Now, thou art gone, we have no staff, no stay. 
 O Clifford, boisterous Clifford ! thou hast slain 70 
 The flower of Europe for his chivalry : 
 And treacherously hast thou vanquish'd him, 
 
 35
 
 Act II. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 For hand to hand he would have vanqnish'd thee. 
 
 Now my soul's palace is become a prison : 
 
 Ah, would she break from hence, that this my body 
 
 Might in the ground be closed up in rest ! 
 
 For never henceforth shall I joy again, 
 
 Never, O never, shall I see more joy! 
 
 Ricli. I cannot weep ; for all my body's moisture 
 
 Scarce serves to quench my furnace-burning heart : 80 
 Nor can my tongue unload my heart's great burthen ; 
 For selfsame wind that I should speak withal 
 Is kindling coals that fire all my breast, 
 And burns me up with flames that tears would quench. 
 To weep is to make less the depth of grief : 
 Tears then for babes ; blows and revenge for me ! 
 Richard, I bear thy name ; I '11 venge thy death. 
 Or die renowned by attempting it. 
 
 Edzc. His name that valiant duke hath left with thee ; 
 His dukedom and his chair with me is left. 90 
 
 Rich. Nay, if thou be that princely eagle's bird, 
 Show thy descent by gazing 'gainst the sun : 
 For chair and dukedom, throne and kingdom say ; 
 Either that is thine, or else thou wert not his. 
 
 March. Enter JVarzcick, Marquess of Montague, 
 and their army. 
 
 War. How now, fair lords! What fare? what news 
 abroad ? 
 
 Rich. Great Lord of Warwick, if we should recount 
 Our baleful news, and at each word's deliverance 
 Stab poniards in our flesh till all were told. 
 The words would add more anguish than the wounds. 
 O valiant lord, the Duke of York is slain ! 100 
 
 3C>
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act II. Sc. i. 
 
 Eih^'. O Warwick, Warwick ! that Plantagcnct, 
 
 Which held thee dearly as his soul's redemption, 
 Is by the stern Lord Clifford done to death. 
 
 ]Var. Ten days ago I drown'd these news in tears ; 
 And now, to add more measure to your woes, 
 I come to tell you things sith then befall'n. 
 After the bloody fray at Wakefield fought, 
 Where your brave father breathed his latest gasp, 
 Tidings, as swiftly as the posts could run, 
 Were brought me of your loss and his depart. no 
 I, then in London, keeper of the king, 
 IMuster'd my soldiers, gather'd flocks of friends. 
 And very well appointed, as I thought, 
 March'd toward Saint Alban's to intercept the queen, 
 Bearing the king in my behalf along; 
 For by my scouts I was advertised, 
 That she was coming with a full intent 
 To dash our late decree in parliament. 
 Touching King Henry's oath and your succession. 
 Short tale to make, we at Saint Alban's met, 120 
 
 Our battles join'd, and both sides fiercely fought: 
 But whether 'twas the coldness of the king, 
 Who look'd full gently on his warlike queen. 
 That robb'd my soldiers of their heated spleen ; 
 Or whether 'twas report of her success ; 
 Or more than common fear of Clifford's rigour, 
 Who thunders to his captives blood and death, 
 I cannot judge : but, to conclude with truth. 
 Their weapons like to lightning came and went ; 
 Our soldiers', like the night-owl's lazy flight, 130 
 
 Or like an idle thresher with a flail, 
 Fell gently down, as if they struck their friends. 
 
 Z7
 
 Act II. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 I cheer' d them up with justice of our cause, 
 With promise of high pay and great rewards : 
 But all in vain ; they had no heart to fight, 
 And we in them no hope to win the day ; 
 So that we fled ; the king unto the queen ; 
 Lord George your brother, Norfolk and myself. 
 In haste, post-haste, are come to join with you; 
 For in the marches here we heard you were, 140 
 
 Making-another head to fight again. 
 
 Edzv. Where is the Duke of Norfolk, gentle Warwick ? 
 And when came George from Burgundy to England? 
 
 War. Some six miles off the duke is with the soldiers ; 
 And for your brother, he was lately sent 
 From your kind aunt, Duchess of Burgundy, 
 With aid of soldiers to this needful war. 
 
 Rich. 'Twas odds, belike, when valiant Warwick fled : 
 Oft have I heard his praises in pursuit, 
 But ne'er till now his scandal of retire. 150 
 
 War. Nor now my scandal, Richard, dost thou hear ; 
 
 For thou shalt know this strong right hand of mine 
 
 Can pluck the diadem from faint Flenry's head, 
 
 And wring the awful sceptre from his fist. 
 
 Were he as famous and as bold in war. 
 
 As he is famed for mildness, peace, and prayer. 
 
 Rich. I know it well, Lord Warwick ; blame me not : 
 'Tis love I bear thy glories makes me speak. 
 But in this troublous time what 's to be done ? 
 Shall we go throw away our coats of steel, 160 
 
 And wrap our bodies in black mourning gowns, 
 Numbering our Ave-Maries with our beads? 
 Or shall we on the helmets of our foes 
 Tell our devotion with revengeful arms ? 
 
 38
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act II. Sc. i. 
 
 If for the last, say ay, and to it, lords. 
 
 War. Why, therefore Warwick came to seek you out ; 
 And therefore comes my brother Montague. 
 Attend me, lords. The proud insulting queen, 
 With Clifford and the haught Northumberland, 
 And of their feather many moe proud birds, 170 
 
 Have wrought the easy-melting king like wax. 
 He swore consent to your succession. 
 His oath enrolled in the parliament ; 
 And now to London all the crew are gone, 
 To frustrate both his oath and what beside 
 May make against the house of Lancaster. 
 Their power, I think, is thirty thousand strong : 
 Now, if the help of Norfolk and myself. 
 With all the friends that thou, brave Earl of March, 
 Amongst the loving Welshmen canst procure, 180 
 Will but amount to five and twenty thousand. 
 Why, Via ! to London will we march amain, 
 And once again bestride our foaming steeds. 
 And once again cry * Charge upon our foes ! ' 
 But never once again turn back and fly. 
 
 Rich. Ay, now methinks I hear great Warwick speak : 
 Ne'er may he live to see a sunshine day. 
 That cries ' Retire,' if Warwick bid him stay. 
 
 Edzi\ Lord Warwick, on thy shoulder will I lean ; 
 
 And when thou fail'st — as God forbid the hour ! — 
 Must Edward fall, which peril heaven for fend ! 191 
 
 War. No longer Earl of March, but Duke of York : 
 The next degree is England's royal throne ; 
 For King of England shalt thou be proclaim'd 
 In every borough as we pass along ; 
 And he that throws not up his cap for joy 
 
 39
 
 Act II. Sc. ii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Shall for the fault make forfeit of his head. 
 
 King Edward, valiant Richard, Montague, 
 
 Stay we no longer, dreaming of renown, 
 
 But sound the trumpets, and about our task. 200 
 
 Rich. Then, Clifford, were thy heart as hard as steel. 
 As thou hast shown it flinty by thy deeds, 
 I come to pierce it, or to give thee mine. 
 
 Edzi'. Then strike up drums : God and Saint George for us ! 
 
 Enter a Messenger. 
 
 IV ar. How now ! what news'? 
 
 Mess. The Duke of Norfolk sends you word by me, 
 
 The queen is coming with a puissant host ; 
 
 And craves your company for speedy counsel. ■ 
 War. Why then it sorts, brave warriors, let 's away. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene II. 
 
 Before York. 
 
 Flourish. Enter King Heavy, Queen Margaret, the 
 Prince of Wales, Clifford, and Northumberland, 
 liith drum and trumpets. 
 
 Q. Mar. Welcome, my lord, to this brave town of York. 
 Yonder 's the head of that arch-enemy 
 That sought to be encompassed with your crown : 
 Doth not the object cheer your heart, my lord? 
 
 7v. Hen. Ay, as the rocks cheer them that fear their wreck : 
 To sec this sight, it irks my very soul. 
 \\'ithhold revenge, dear God ! 'tis not my fault, 
 Nor wittingly have I infringed my vow. 
 
 Clif. My gracious liege, this too much lenity 
 
 And harmful pity must be laid aside. 10 
 
 40
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act II. Sc, ii. 
 
 To whom do lions cast their gentle looks ? 
 Not to the beast that would usurp their den. 
 Whose hand is that the forest bear doth lick? 
 Not his that spoils her young before her face. 
 Who 'scapes the lurking serpent's mortal sting? 
 Not he that sets his foot upon her back. 
 The smallest worm will turn being trodden on, 
 And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood. 
 Ambitious York did level at thy crown, 
 Thou smiling w^hile he knit his angry brows : 20 
 
 He, but a duke, w^ould have his son a king. 
 And raise his issue, like a loving sire ; 
 Thou, being a king, blest with a goodly son. 
 Didst yield consent to disinherit him, 
 Which argued thee a most unloving father. 
 Unreasonable creatures feed their young; 
 And though man's face be fearful to their eyes, 
 Yet, in protection of their tender ones, 
 Who hath not seen them, even with those wings 
 Which sometime they have used with fearful flight, 
 Make war with him that climb'd unto their nest, 31 
 Offering their own lives in their young's defence? 
 For shame, my liege, make them your precedent ! 
 Were it not pity that this goodly boy 
 Should lose his birthright by his father's fault. 
 And long hereafter say unto his child, 
 ' What my great-grandfather and grandsire got 
 My careless father fondly gave away ' ? 
 Ah, wdiat a shame were this ! Look on the boy ; 
 And let his manly face, which promiseth 40 
 
 Successful fortune, steel thy melting heart 
 To hold thine own, and leave thine own with him. 
 41
 
 Act II. Sc. ii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 K. Hen. Full well hath Clifford play'd the orator, 
 
 Inferring arguments of mighty force. 
 
 But, Clifford, tell me, didst thou never hear 
 
 That things ill-got had ever bad success ? 
 
 And happy always was it for that son 
 
 Whose father for his hoarding went to hell ? 
 
 I '11 leave my sons my virtuous deeds behind ; 
 
 And would my father had left me no more ! 50 
 
 For all the rest is held at such a rate 
 
 As brings a thousand-fold more care to keep 
 
 Than in possession any jot of pleasure. 
 
 Ah, cousin York ! would thy best friends did know 
 
 How it doth grieve me that thy head is here ! 
 Q. Mar. My lord, cheer up your spirits : our foes are nigh, 
 
 And this soft courage makes your followers faint. 
 
 You promised knighthood to our forward son : 
 
 Unsheathe your sword, and dub him presently. 
 
 Edward, kneel down. 60 
 
 K. Hen. Edward Plantagenet, arise a knight ; 
 
 And learn this lesson, draw thy sword in right. 
 Prince. My gracious father, by your kingly leave, 
 
 I '11 draw it as apparent to the crown. 
 
 And in that quarrel use it to the death. 
 CJif. Why, that is spoken like a toward prince. 
 
 Enter a Messenger. 
 
 Mess. Royal commanders, be in readiness: 
 For with a band of. thirty thousand men 
 Comes Warwick, backing of the Duke of York ; 
 And in the towns, as they do march along, 70 
 
 Proclaims him king, and many fly to him : 
 Darraign your battle, for they are at hand. 
 42
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act II. Sc. ii, 
 
 Clif. I would your highness would depart the field : 
 The queen hath best success when you are absent. 
 
 Q. Mar. Ay, good my lord, and leave us to our fortune. 
 
 K. Hen. Why, that 's my fortune too; therefore I '11 stay. 
 
 North. Be it with resolution then to fight. 
 
 Prince. My royal father, cheer these noble lords, 
 And hearten those that fight in your defence : 
 Unsheathe your sword, good father ; cry ' Saint 
 George ! ' 80 
 
 March. Enter Edzi'ard, George, Richard, Warzvick, 
 Norfolk, Montague, and Soldiers. 
 
 Edw. Now, perjured Henry! wilt thou kneel for grace, 
 And set thy diadem upon my head ; 
 Or bide the mortal fortune of the field ? 
 
 Q. Mar. Go, rate thy minions, proud insulting boy ! 
 Becomes it thee to be thus bold in terms 
 Before thy sovereign and thy lawful king? 
 
 Edzi\ I am his king, and he should bow his knee ; 
 I was adopted heir by his consent : 
 Since when, his oath is broke ; for, as I hear. 
 You, that are king, though he do wear the crown, 
 Have caused him, by new act of parliament, 91 
 
 To blot out me, and put his own son in. 
 
 Clif. And reason too : 
 
 Who should succeed the father but the son ? 
 
 Rich. Are you there, butcher? O, I cannot speak! 
 
 Clif. Ay, crook-back, here I stand to answer thee. 
 Or any he the proudest of thy sort. 
 
 Rich. 'Twas you that kill'd young Rutland, was it not? 
 
 Clif. Ay, and old York, and yet not satisfied. 
 
 Rich. For God's sake, lords, give signal to the fight. 100 
 
 43
 
 Act II. Sc. ii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 War. What say'st thou, Henry, wilt thou yield the crown ? 
 Q. Mar. Why, how now, long-tongued Warwick ! dare 
 you speak? 
 
 When you and I met at Saint Alban's last, 
 
 Your legs did better service than your hands. 
 War. Then 'twas my turn to fly, and now 'tis thine. 
 Clif. You said so much before, and yet you fled. 
 War. 'Twas not your valour, Clififord, drove me thence. 
 North. No, nor your manhood that durst make you stay. 
 Rich. Northumberland, I hold thee reverently. 
 
 Break ofif the parley ; for scarce I can refrain no 
 
 The execution of my big-swoln heart 
 
 Upon that Clififord, that cruel child-killer. 
 Clif. I slew thy father, call'st thou him a child ? 
 Rich. Ay, like a dastard and a treacherous coward. 
 
 As thou didst kill our tender brother Rutland ; 
 
 But ere sunset I '11 make thee curse the deed. 
 K. Hen. Have done with words, my lords, and hear me 
 
 speak. 
 Q. Mar. Defy them then, or else hold close thy lips. 
 K. Hen. I prithee, give no limits to my tongue : 
 
 I am a king, and privileged to speak. 120 
 
 Clif. My liege, the wound that bred this meeting here 
 
 Cannot be cured by words ; therefore be still. 
 Rich. Then, executioner, unsheathe thy sword : 
 
 By Him that made us all, I am resolved 
 
 That Clififord's manhood lies upon his tongue. 
 Edzv. Say, Henry, shall I have my right, or no? 
 
 A thousand men have broke their fasts to-day. 
 
 That ne'er shall dine unless thou yield the crown. 
 War. If thou deny, their blood upon thy head ; 
 
 For York in justice puts his armour on. 130 
 
 44
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act 11. Sc. ii. 
 
 Prince. If that be right which Warwick says is right, 
 There is no wrong, but every thing is right. 
 
 Rich. Whoever got thee, there thy mother stands ; 
 For, well I wot, thou hast thy mother's tongue. 
 
 0. Alar. But thou art neither like thy sire nor dam ; 
 But like a foul mis-shapen stigmatic, 
 Mark'd by the destinies to be avoided, 
 As venom toads, or lizards' dreadful stings. 
 
 Rich. Iron of Naples hid with English gilt, 
 
 Whose father bears the title of a king, — 140 
 
 As if a channel should be call'd the sea, — 
 Shamest thou not, knowing whence thou art extraught. 
 To let thy tongue detect thy base-born heart ? 
 
 Edzv. A wisp of straw were worth a thousand crowns. 
 To make this shameless callet know herself. 
 Helen of Greece was fairer far than thou, 
 Although thy husband may be Menelaus ; 
 And ne'er was Agamemnon's brother wrong'd 
 By that false woman, as this king by thee. 
 His father revell'd in the heart of France, 150 
 
 And tamed the king, and made the Dauphin stoop ; 
 And had he match'd according to his state, 
 He might have kept that glory to this day ; 
 But when he took a beggar to his bed, 
 And graced thy poor sire with his bridal-day, 
 Even then that sunshine brew'd a shower for him, 
 That wash'd his father's fortunes forth of France, 
 And heap'd sedition on his crown at home. 
 For what hath broach'd this tumult but thy pride? 
 • Hadst thou been meek, our title still had slept ; 160 
 And we, in pity of the gentle king, 
 Had slipp'd our claim until another age. 
 
 45
 
 Act II. Sc. iii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Geo. But when we saw our sunshine made thy spring, 
 And that thy summer bred us no increase, 
 We set the axe to thy usurping root ; 
 And though the edge hath something hit ourselves, 
 Yet, know thou, since w^e have begun to strike. 
 We '11 never leave till we have hewn thee down. 
 Or bathed thy growling with our heated bloods. 
 
 Edzv. And, in this resolution, I defy thee ; 170 
 
 Not willing any longer conference, 
 Since thou deniest the gentle king to speak. 
 Sound trumpets ! let our bloody colours wave ! 
 And either victory, or else a grave. 
 
 Q. Mar. Stay, Edward. 
 
 Edzv. No, wrangling woman, we '11 no longer stay : 
 These words will cost ten thousand lives this day. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 Scene III. 
 
 A Held of battle between Tozvton and Sa.vton,in Yorkshire. 
 
 Alarum. Excursions. Enter Warzvick. 
 
 War. Forspent with toil, as runners with a race, 
 I lay me down a little while to breathe ; 
 For strokes received, and many blows repaid. 
 Have robb'd my strong-knit sinews of their strength, 
 And spite of spite needs must I rest awhile. 
 
 Enter Edzvard, running. 
 
 Edzv. Smile, gentle heaven ! or strike, ungentle death ! 
 
 For this world frowns, and Edward's sun is clouded. 
 War. How now, my lord ! what hap ? what hope of good ? 
 
 Enter George. 
 Geo. Our hap is loss, our hope but sad despair ; 
 
 46
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act II. Sc. iii. 
 
 Our ranks are broke, and ruin follows us : lo 
 
 What counsel give you ? whither shall we fly ? 
 Edzv. Bootless is flight, they follow us with wings ; 
 And weak we are and cannot shun pursuit. 
 
 Enter Richard. 
 
 Rich. Ah, Warwick, why hast thou withdrawn thyself? 
 Thy brother's blood the thirsty earth hath drunk, 
 Broach'd with the steely point of Clifford's lance ; 
 And in the very pangs of death he cried, 
 Like to a dismal clangor heard from far,' 
 * Warwick, revenge ! brother, revenge my death ! ' 
 So, underneath the belly of their steeds, 20 
 
 That stain'd their fetlocks in his smoking blood, 
 The noble gentleman gave up the ghost. 
 
 War. Then let the earth be drunken with our blood : 
 I '11 kill my horse, because I will not fly. 
 Why stand we like soft-hearted women here. 
 Wailing our losses, whiles the foe doth rage ; 
 And look upon, as if the tragedy 
 Were play'd in jest by counterfeiting actors? 
 Here on my knee I vow to God above, 
 I '11 never pause again, never stand still, 30 
 
 Till either death hath closed these eyes of mine, 
 Or fortune given me measure of revenge. 
 
 Edzv. O Warwick, I do bend my knee with thine ; 
 And in this vow do chain my soul to thine ! 
 And, ere my knee rise from the earth's cold face, 
 I throw my hands, mine eyes, my heart to Thee, 
 Thou setter up and plucker down of kings, 
 Beseeching Thee, if with Thy will it stands 
 That to my foes this body must be prey, 
 
 47
 
 Act II. Sc. iv. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Yet that Thy brazen gates of heaven may ope, 40 
 And give sweet passage to my sinful soul ! 
 Now, lords, take leave until we meet again. 
 Where'er it be, in heaven or in earth. 
 
 Rich. Brother, give me thy hand ; and, gentle Warwick, 
 Let me embrace thee in my weary arms : 
 I, that did never weep, now melt with woe 
 That winter should cut off our spring-time so. 
 
 War. Away, away ! Once more, sweet lords, farewell. 
 
 Geo. Yet let us all together to our troops. 
 
 And give them leave to fly that will not stay ; 50 
 
 And call them pillars that will stand to us ; 
 
 And, if we thrive, promise them such rewards 
 
 As victors w^ear at the Olympian games : 
 
 This may plant courage in their quailing breasts ; 
 
 For yet is hope of life and victory. 
 
 Forslow^ no longer, make we hence amain. [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene IV. 
 
 Another part of the field. 
 Excursions. Enter Richard and Clifford. 
 
 Rich. Now, Clifford, I have singled thee alone : 
 Suppose this arm is for the Duke of York, 
 And this for Rutland ; both bound to revenge, 
 Wert thou environ'd with a brazen wall. 
 
 Clif. Now, Richard, I am with thee here alone : 
 This is the hand that stabb'd thy father York ; 
 And this the hand that slew thy brother Rutland : 
 And here 's the heart that triumphs in their death, 
 And cheers these hands that slew thy sire and 
 brother 
 
 48
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act II. Sc. v. 
 
 To execute the like upon thyself ; lo 
 
 And so, have at thee ! 
 
 [They fight. Warwick comes; Clifford Hies. 
 Rich. Nay, Warwick, single out some other chase ; 
 
 For I myself will hunt this wolf to death. [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene V. 
 
 Another part of the Held. 
 
 Alarum. Enter King Henry alone. 
 
 Kijig. This battle fares like to the morning's war, 
 When dying clouds contend with growing light, 
 What time the shepherd, blowing of his nails, 
 Can neither call it perfect day nor night. 
 Now sways it this way, like a mighty sea 
 Forced by the tide to combat with the wind ; 
 Now sways it that way, like the selfsame sea 
 Forced to retire by fury of the wind : 
 Sometime the flood prevails, and then the wind ; 
 Now one the better, then another best ; lo 
 
 Both tugging to be victors, breast to breast. 
 Yet neither conqueror nor conquered : 
 So is the equal poise of this fell war. 
 Here on this molehill will I sit me down. 
 To whom God will, there be the victory ! 
 For Margaret my queen, and Clifford too, 
 Have chid me from the battle ; swearing both 
 They prosper best of all when I am thence. 
 Would I were dead ! if God's good will were so ; 
 For what is in this world but grief and woe? 20 
 
 O God ! methinks it were a happy life, 
 To be no better than a homely swain ; 
 
 49
 
 Act II. Sc. V. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 To sit upon a hill, as I do now, 
 
 To carve out dials quaintly, point by point, 
 
 Thereby to see the minutes how they run, 
 
 How many make the hour full complete ; 
 
 How many hours bring about the day ; 
 
 How many days will finish up the year ; 
 
 How many years a mortal man may live. 
 
 When this is known, then to divide the times : 30 
 
 So many hours -must I tend my flock ; 
 
 So many hours must I take my rest ; 
 
 So many hours must I contemplate ; 
 
 So many hours must I sport myself ; 
 
 So many days my ewes have been with young ; 
 
 So many weeks ere the poor fools will ean ; 
 
 So many years ere I shall shear the fleece : 
 
 So minutes, hours, days, months, and years, 
 
 Pass'd over to the end they were created, 
 
 Would bring white hairs unto a quiet grave. 40 
 
 Ah, what a life were this ! how sweet ! how lovely ! 
 
 Gives not the hawthorn-bush a sweeter shade 
 
 To shepherds looking on their silly sheep. 
 
 Than doth a rich embroider'd canopy 
 
 To kings that fear their subjects' treachery? 
 
 O, yes, it doth ; a thousand-fold it doth. 
 
 And to conclude, the shepherd's homely curds, 
 
 His cold thin drink out of his leather bottle, 
 
 His wonted sleep under a fresh tree's shade, 
 
 All w^hich secure and sweetly he enjoys, 50 
 
 Is far beyond a prince's delicates. 
 
 His viands sparkling in a golden cup, 
 
 His body couched in a curious bed. 
 
 When care, mistrust, and treason waits on him. 
 
 50
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act II. Sc. v. 
 
 Alarum. Enter a Son that has killed his father, 
 dragging in the body. 
 
 Son. Ill blows the wind that profits nobody. 
 
 This man, whom hand to hand I slew in fight, 
 Mav be possessed with some store of crowns ; 
 And I, that haply take them from him now, 
 IVIay vet ere night yield both my life and them 
 To some man else, as this dead man doth me. 60 
 Who's this? O God! it is my father's face, 
 Whom in this conflict I unwares have kill'd. 
 O heavy times, begetting such events ! 
 From London bv the king was I press'd forth ; 
 My father, being the Earl of Warwick's man, 
 Came on the part of York, press'd by his master ; 
 And I, who at his hands received my hfe, 
 Have by my hands of life bereaved him. 
 Pardon me, God, I knew not what I did! 
 And pardon, father, for I knew not thee! 70 
 
 Mv tears shall wipe away these bloody marks ; 
 And no more words till they have flow'd their fill. 
 K.Hen. O piteous spectacle ! O bloody times ! 
 Whiles lions war and battle for their dens. 
 Poor harmless lambs abide their enmity. 
 Weep, wretched man, I '11 aid thee tear for tear : 
 And let our hearts and eyes, like civil war, 
 Be blind with tears, and break o'ercharged with grief. 
 
 Enter a Father that has killed his son, bringing 
 in the body. 
 
 Path. Thou that so stoutly hast resisted me, 
 
 Give me thy gold, if thou hast any gold ; 80 
 
 For I have bought it with an hundred blows. 
 
 But let me see: is this our foeman's face? 
 
 .=ii
 
 Act II. Sc. V. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Ah, no, no, no, it is mine only son ! 
 
 Ah, boy, if any Hfe be left in thee, 
 
 Throw up thine eye ! see, see what showers arise, 
 
 Blown with the windy tempest of my heart, 
 
 Upon thy wounds, that kill mine eye and heart ! 
 
 O, pity, God, this miserable age ! 
 
 What stratagems, how fell, how butcherly. 
 
 Erroneous, mutinous and unnatural, 90 
 
 This deadly quarrel daily doth beget ! 
 
 O boy, thy father gave thee life too soon. 
 
 And hath bereft thee of thy life too late ! 
 
 K. Hen. Woe above woe ! grief more than common grief ! 
 O that my death would stay these ruthful deeds ! 
 O, pity, pity, gentle heaven, pity ! 
 The red rose and the white are on his face, 
 The fatal colours of our striving houses : 
 The one his purple blood right well resembles ; 
 The other his pale cheeks, methinks, presenteth : 
 Wither one rose, and let the other flourish; loi 
 
 If you contend, a thousand lives must wither. 
 
 Son. How will my mother for a father's death 
 Take on with me and ne'er be satisfied ! 
 
 Fath. How will my wife for slaughter of my son 
 Shed seas of tears and ne'er be satisfied ! 
 
 K. Hen. How will the country for these woful chances 
 Misthink the king and not be satisfied ! 
 
 Son. Was ever son so rued a father's death? 
 
 Fath. Was ever father so bemoan'd his son ? no 
 
 A'. Hen. Was ever king so grieved for subjects' woe? 
 Much is your sorrow ; mine ten times so much. 
 
 Son. I '11 bear thee hence, where I may weep my fill. 
 
 \^Exit zvith the body. 
 52
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act II. Sc. v. 
 
 Path. These arms of mine shall be thy winding-sheet ; 
 My heart, sweet boy, shall be thy sepulchre, 
 For from my heart thine image ne'er shall go ; 
 My sighing breast shall be thy funeral bell; 
 And so obsequious will thy father be, 
 Even for the loss of thee, having no more, 
 As Priam was for all his valiant sons. 120 
 
 I -'11 bear thee hence ; and let them fight that will, 
 For I have murdered where I should not kill. 
 
 [Exit zvith the body. 
 
 K. Hen. Sad-hearted men, much overgone with care, 
 Here sits a king more woful than you are. 
 
 Alarums. Excursions. Enter Queen Margaret, 
 the Prince, and Exeter. 
 
 Prince. Fly, father, fly ! for all your friends are fled. 
 And Warwick rages like a chafed bull : 
 Away ! for death doth hold us in pursuit. 
 
 O. Mar. :\Iount you, my lord ; towards Berwick post 
 amain : 
 Edward and Richard, like a brace of greyhounds 
 Having the fearful flying hare in sight, 13^ 
 
 With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath. 
 And bloody steel grasp'd in their ireful hands, 
 Are at our' backs ; and therefore hence amain. 
 
 Exe. Away ! for vengeance comes along with them : 
 Nay, stay not to expostulate, make speed ; 
 Or else come after: I 'U away before. 
 
 K. Hen. Nay, take me with thee, good sweet Exeter : 
 Not that I fear to stay, but love to go 
 Whither the queen intends. Forward ; away ! 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 53
 
 Act II. Sc. vi. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Scene VI. 
 
 .AnotJicr part of the Held. 
 
 A loud alarnin. Enter Clifford, zuounded. 
 
 Clif. Here burns my candle out ; ay, here it dies, 
 Which, whiles it lasted, gave King Henry light. 
 O Lancaster, I fear thy overthrow 
 More than my body's parting with my soul ! 
 My love and fear glued many friends to thee ; 
 And, now I fall, thy tough commixture melts. 
 Impairing Henry, strengthening misproud York, 
 The common people swarm like summer flies ; 
 And whither fly the gnats but to the sun ? 
 And who shines now but Henry's enemies? lo 
 
 Phoebus, hadst thou never given consent 
 That Phaethon should check thy fiery steeds. 
 Thy burning car never had scorch'd the earth ! 
 And, Henry, hadst thou sway'd as kings should do. 
 Or as thy father and his father did, 
 
 Giving no ground unto the house of York, 
 They never then had sprung like summer flies ; 
 
 1 and ten thousand in this luckless realm 
 Had left no mourning widows for our death ; 
 
 And thou this day hadst kept thy chair in peace. 20 
 
 For what doth cherish weeds but gentle air? 
 
 And what makes robbers bold but too much lenity ? 
 
 Bootless are plaints, and cureless are my wounds ; 
 
 Xo way to fly, nor strength to hold out flight : 
 
 The foe is merciless and will not pity ; 
 
 For at their hands I have deserved no pity. 
 
 The air hath got into my deadly wounds. 
 
 And much effuse of blood doth make me faint. 
 
 54
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act II. Sc. vi. 
 
 Come, York and Richard, Warwick and the rest; 
 I stabb'd your fathers' bosoms, split my breast. 30 
 
 [He faints. 
 
 Alarum and retreat. Enter Edzvard, George, Richard, 
 Montague, Warzvick, and Soldiers. 
 
 Edzv. Now breathe we, lords : good fortune bids us pause, 
 And smooth the frowns of war with peaceful looks. 
 Some troops pursue the bloody-minded queen. 
 That led calm Henry, though he were a king. 
 As doth a sail, fill'd with a fretting gust, 
 Command an argosy to stem the waves. 
 But think you, lords, that Clifford fled with them ? 
 
 War. No, 'tis impossible he should escape ; 
 
 For, though before his face I speak the words. 
 Your brother Richard mark'd him for the grave : 40 
 And wheresoe'er he is, he 's surely dead. 
 
 [Clifford groans and dies. 
 
 Edw. Whose soul is that which takes her heavy leave? 
 
 Rich. A deadly groan, like life and death's departing. 
 
 Edzv. See who it is : and, now the battle 's ended. 
 If friend or foe, let him be gently used. 
 
 Rich. Revoke that doom of mercy, for 'tis Clifford ; 
 Who not contented that he lopp'd the branch 
 In hewing Rutland when his leaves put forth, 
 But set his murdering knife unto the root 
 From whence that tender spray did sweetly spring, 
 I mean our princely father, Duke of York. 51 
 
 War. From ofif the gates of York fetch down the head, 
 Your father's head, which Clifford placed there; 
 Instead whereof let this supply the room : 
 Measure for measure must be answered. 
 
 55
 
 Act II. Sc. vi. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Edw. Bring forth that fatal screech-owl to our house, 
 That nothing sung but death to us and ours : 
 Now death shall stop his dismal threatening sound, 
 And his ill-boding tongue no more shall speak. 
 
 War. I think his understanding is bereft. 60 
 
 Speak, Clifford, dost thou know who speaks to thee ? 
 Dark cloudy death o'ershades his beams of life, 
 And he nor sees, nor hears us what we say. 
 
 Rich. O, would he did ! and so perhaps he doth : 
 'Tis but his policy to counterfeit, 
 Because he would avoid such bitter taunts 
 Which in the time of death he gave our father. 
 
 Geo. If so thou think'st, vex him with eager words. 
 
 Rich. Clifford, ask mercy and obtain no grace. 
 
 Edw. Clifford, repent in bootless penitence. 70 
 
 War, Clifford, devise excuses for thy faults. 
 
 Geo. While we devise fell tortures for thy faults. 
 
 Rich, Thou didst love York, and I am son to York. 
 
 Edzv. Thou pitied'st Rutland ; I wall pity thee. 
 
 Geo. Where 's Captain Margaret, to fence you now ? 
 
 War. They mock thee, Clifford : swear as thou wast wont. 
 
 Rich. What, not an oath ? nay, then the world goes hard, 
 When Clifford cannot spare his friends an oath. 
 I know by that he 's dead ; and, by my soul, 
 If this right hand would buy two hours' life, 80 
 
 That I in all despite might rail at him. 
 This hand should chop it off, and with the issuing 
 
 blood 
 Stifle the villain, whose unstanched thirst 
 York and young Rutland could not satisfy. 
 
 War. Ay, but he 's dead : off with the traitor's head. 
 And rear it in the place your father's stands. 
 
 56
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act II. Sc. vi. 
 
 And now to London with triumphant march, 
 
 There to be crowned England's royal king: 
 
 From whence shall Warwick cut the sea to France, 
 
 And ask the Lady Bona for thy queen : 90 
 
 So shalt thou sinew both these lands together ; 
 
 And, having France thy friend, thou shalt not dread 
 
 The scatter'd foe that hopes to rise again ; 
 
 For though they cannot greatly sting to hurt, 
 
 Yet look to have them buzz to offend thine ears. 
 
 First will I see the coronation ; 
 
 And then to Brittany I '11 cross the sea. 
 
 To effect this marriage, so it please my lord. 
 
 Edzv. Eyen as thou wilt, sweet Warwick, let it be ; 
 
 For in thy shoulder do I build my seat, 100 
 
 And never will I undertake the thing 
 Wherein thy counsel and consent is wanting. 
 Richard, I will create thee Duke of Gloucester, 
 And George, of Clarence : Warwick, as ourself, 
 Shall do and undo as him pleaseth best. 
 
 Rich. Let me be Duke of Clarence, George of Gloucester ; 
 For Gloucester's dukedom is too ominous. 
 
 VFar. Tut, that 's a foolish observation : 
 
 Richard, be Duke of Gloucester. Now to London, 
 To see these honours in possession. [Exeunt, no 
 
 57
 
 Act III. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 ACT THIRD. 
 Scene I. 
 
 A forest in the north of England. 
 Enter tzvo Keepers, zi'ith eross-bozi's in their hands. 
 
 First Keep. Under this thick-grown brake we '11 shroud 
 ourselves ; 
 For through this laund anon the deer will come ; 
 And in this covert will we make our stand, 
 Culling the principal of all the deer. 
 
 Sec. Keep. I '11 stay above the hill, so both may shoot. 
 
 First Keep. That cannot be ; the noise of thy cross-bow 
 Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost. 
 Here stand we both, and aim we at the best : 
 And, for the time shall not seem tedious, 
 I '11 tell thee what befel me on a day lo 
 
 In this self-place where now we mean to stand. 
 
 Sec. Keep. Here comes a man ; let 's stay till he be past. 
 
 Enter King Henry, disguised, zi'ith a prayer-book. 
 
 K. Hen. From Scotland am I stol'n, even of pure love. 
 To greet mine own land with my wishful sight. 
 No, Harry, Harry, 'tis no land of thine ; 
 Thy place is fiU'd, thy sceptre wrung from thee. 
 Thy balm wash'd off wherewith thou wast anointed : 
 Xo bending knee will call thee Caesar now. 
 No humble suitors press to speak for right, 
 No, not a man comes for redress of thee ; 20 
 
 For how can I help them, and not myself? 
 
 First Keep. Ay, here 's a deer whose skin 's a keeper's fee :
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act III. Sc. i. 
 
 This is the quondam king ; let 's seize upon him. 
 
 K. Hen. Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, 
 For wise men say it is the wisest course. 
 
 Sec. Keep. Why Hnger we ? let us lay hands upon him. 
 
 First Keep. Forbear awhile ; we '11 hear a little more. 
 
 K. Hen. My queen and son are gone to France for aid ; 
 And, as I hear, the great commanding Warwick 
 Is thither gone, to crave the French king's sister 30 
 To wife for Edward : if this news be true, 
 Poor queen and son, your labour is but lost ; 
 For Warwick is a subtle orator, 
 And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words. 
 By this account then Margaret may win him ; 
 For she 's a woman to be pitied much : 
 Her sighs will make a battery in his breast ; 
 Her tears will pierce into a marble heart ; 
 The tiger will be mild whiles she doth mourn ; 
 And Nero will be tainted with remorse, 40 
 
 To hear and see her plaints, her brinish tears. 
 Ay, but she 's come to beg, Warwick, to give ; 
 She, on his left side, craving aid for Henry, 
 He, on his right, asking a wife for Edward. 
 She weeps, and says her Henry is deposed ; 
 He smiles, and says his Edward is install'd ; 
 That she, poor wretch, for grief can speak no more ; 
 Whiles Warwick tells his title, smooths the wrong, 
 Inferreth arguments of mighty strength. 
 And in conclusion wins the king from her, 50 
 
 With promise of his sister, and what else. 
 To strengthen and support King Edward's place. 
 O Margaret, thus 'twill be ; and thou, poor soul. 
 Art then forsaken, as thou went'st forlorn ! 
 
 59
 
 Act III. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Sec. Keep. Say, what art thou that talk'st of kings and 
 queens ? 
 
 K. Hen. More than I seem, and less than I was born to : 
 A man at least, for less I should not be ; 
 And men may talk of kings, and why not I ? 
 
 Sec. Keep. Ay, but thou talk'st as if thou wert a king. 
 
 K. Hen. Why, so I am, in mind ; and that 's enough. 60 
 
 Sec. Keep. But, if thou be a king, where is thy crown ? 
 
 K. Hen. My crown is in my heart, not on my head ; 
 Not deck'd with diamonds and Indian stones, 
 Nor to be seen : my crown is call'd content : 
 A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy. 
 
 Sec. Keep. Well, if you be a king crown'd with content, 
 Your crown content and you must be contented 
 To go along with us ; for, as we think. 
 You are the king King Edward hath deposed ; 
 And we his subjects sworn in all allegiance 70 
 
 Will apprehend you as his enemy. 
 
 K. Hen. But did you never swear, and break an oath ? 
 
 Sec. Keep. No, never such an oath ; nor will not now. 
 
 K. Hen. Where did you dwell when I was King of 
 England ? 
 
 Sec. Keep. Here in this country, where we now remain. 
 
 K. Hen. I was anointed king at nine months old ; 
 My father and my grandfather were kings. 
 And you were sworn true subjects unto me: 
 And tell me, then, have you not broke your oaths? 
 
 First Keep. No; 80 
 
 For we were subjects but v/hile you were king. 
 
 K. Hen. Why, am I dead ? do I not breathe a man ? 
 Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear ! 
 Look, as I blow this feather from my face, 
 
 60
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act III. Sc. ii. 
 
 And as the air blows it to me again, 
 
 Obeying- with my wind when I do blow, 
 
 And yielding to another when it blows, 
 
 Commanded always by the greater gust; 
 
 Such is the lightness of you common men. 
 
 But do not break your oaths ; for of that sin 90 
 
 My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty. 
 
 Go where you will, the king shall be commanded : 
 
 And be you kings, command, and I '11 obey. 
 
 First Keep. We are true subjects to the king. King Edward. 
 
 A^ Hen. So would you be again to Henry, 
 If he were seated as King Edward is. 
 
 First Keep. We charge you in God's name, and the king's. 
 To go with us unto the officers. 
 
 K.Hen. In God's name, lead; your king's name be 
 obey'd : 
 And what God will, that let your king perform ; 100 
 And what he will, I humbly yield unto. \^Exeunt. 
 
 Scene II. 
 
 London. The palace. 
 
 Enter King Edzvard, Gloucester, Clarence, and 
 Lady Grey. 
 
 K. Edzv. Brother of Gloucester, at Saint Alban's field 
 This lady's husband. Sir Richard Grey, was slain, 
 His lands then seized on by the conqueror : 
 Her suit is now to repossess those lands ; 
 Which we in justice cannot well deny. 
 Because in quarrel of the house of York 
 The worthy gentleman did lose his life. 
 
 Glou. Your highness shall do well to grant her suit ; 
 It were dishonour to deny it her. 
 
 61
 
 Act III. Sc. ii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 K. Edii\ It were no less ; but yet I '11 make a pause. lo 
 Glou. [Aside to Clar. ] Yea, is it so ? 
 
 I see the lady hath a thing to grant, 
 Before the king will grant her humble suit. 
 Clar. [Aside to Gloii.] He knows the game: how true he 
 
 keeps the wind ! 
 Glou. [Aside to Clar.] Silence! 
 K. Edw. Widow, we v.^ill consider of your suit ; 
 
 And come some other time to know our mind. 
 L. Grey. Right gracious lord, I cannot brook delay : 
 Alay it please your highness to resolve me now ; 
 And what your pleasure is, shall satisfy me. 20 
 
 Glou. [Aside to Clar.] Ay, widow? then I '11 warrant you 
 all your lands, 
 An if w^hat pleases him shall pleasure you. 
 Fight closer, or, good faith, you '11 catch a blow. 
 Clar. [Aside to Glou.] I fear her net, unless she chance 
 
 to fall. 
 Glou. [Aside to Clar.] God forbid that! for he'll take 
 
 vantages. 
 A'. Edw. How many children hast thou, widow ? tell me. 
 Clar. [Aside to Glou.] I think he means to beg a child of 
 
 her. 
 Glou. [Aside to Clar.] Nay, whip me then: he'll rather 
 
 give her two. 
 L. Grey. Three, my most gracious lord. 
 Glou. [Aside to Clar.] You shall have four, if you'll be 
 ruled by him. 30 
 
 K. Edzi\ 'Twere pity they should lose their father's lands. 
 L. Grey. Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then. 
 K. Edw. Lords, give us leave : I '11 try this widow's wit. 
 Glou. [Aside to Clar.] Ay, good leave have you; for you 
 will have leave, 
 
 62
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act III. Sc. ii. 
 
 Till youth take leave and leave you to the crutch. 
 
 [Gloii. and Clar. retire. 
 K. Edzi'. Xow tell me, madam, do you love your children ? 
 L. Grey. Ay, full as dearly as I love myself. 
 K. Edw. And would you not do much to do them good ? 
 L. Grey. To do them good, I would sustain some harm. 
 K. Edzv. Then get your husband's lands, to do them good. 
 L. Grey. Therefore I came unto your majesty. 41 
 
 K. Edzv. I '11 tell you how these lands are to be got. 
 L. Grey. So shall you bind me to your highness' service. 
 K. Edzv. What service wilt thou do me, if I give them ? 
 L. Grey. What you command, that rests in me to do. 
 K. Edzv. But you will take exceptions to my boon. 
 L. Grey. No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it. 
 K. Edzv. Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask. 
 L. Grey. Why, then I will do what your grace commands. 
 Gloii. [Aside to Clar.'\ He plies her hard; and much rain 
 
 wears the marble. 50 
 
 Clar. [Aside to Glou.'] As red as fire! nay, then her wax 
 
 must melt. 
 L. Grey. Why stops my lord? shall I not hear my task? 
 K. Edzi'. An easy task ; 'tis but to love a king. 
 L. Grey. That 's soon perform'd, because I am a subject. 
 K. Edzv. Why, then, thy husband's lands I freely give 
 
 thee. 
 L. Grey. I take my leave with many thousand thanks. 
 GIoii. [Aside to Clar.] The match is made; she seals it 
 
 with a curt'sy. 
 K. Edzv, But stay thee, 'tis the fruits of love I mean. 
 L. Grey. The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege. 
 K. Edzv. Ay, but, I fear me, in another sense. 60 
 
 What love, think'st thou, I sue so much to get ? 
 
 63
 
 Act III. Sc. ii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 L. Grey. My love till death, my humble thanks, my prayers ; 
 
 That love which virtue begs and virtue grants. 
 K. Edzv. No, by my troth, I did not mean such love. 
 L. Grey. Why, then you mean not as I thought you did. 
 K. Edzv. But now you partly may perceive my mind. 
 L. Grey. My mind will never grant what I perceive 
 
 Your highness aims at, if I aim aright. 
 K. Edw. To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee. 
 L. Grey. To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison. 70 
 K.Edzv. Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband's lands. 
 L. Grey. Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower ; 
 
 For by that loss I will not purchase them. 
 K. Edzv. Therein thou wrongest thy children mightily. 
 L. Grey. Herein your highness wrongs both them and me. 
 
 But, mighty lord, this merry inclination 
 
 Accords not with the sadness of my suit : 
 
 Please you dismiss me, either with ' ay ' or ' no.' 
 K. Edzv. Ay, if thou wilt say ' ay ' to my request ; 
 
 No, if thou dost say ' no ' to my demand. 80 
 
 L. Grey. Then, no, my lord. Aly suit is at an end. 
 Glou. [Aside to Clar.] The widow likes him not, she knits 
 
 her brows. 
 Clar. [Aside to Glou.] He is the bluntest wooer in 
 
 Christendom. 
 K. Edzv. [Aside] Her looks do argue her replete with 
 modesty ; 
 
 Her words do show her wit incomparable ; 
 
 All her perfections challenge sovereignty : 
 
 One way or other, she is for a king ; 
 
 And she shall be my love, or else my queen. — 
 
 Say that King Edward take thee for his queen ? 
 L. Grey. 'Tis better said than done, my gracious lord : 90 
 
 64
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act III, Sc. ii. 
 
 I am a subject fit to jest withal, 
 
 But far unfit to be a sovereign. 
 K. Edzv. Sweet widow, by my state I swear to thee, 
 
 I speak no more than what my soul intends ; 
 
 And that is, to enjoy thee for my love. 
 L. Grey. And that is more than I will yield unto : 
 
 I know I am too mean to be your queen, 
 
 And yet too good to be your concubine. 
 K. Edzv. You cavil, widov/ : I did mean, my queen. 
 L. Grey. Twill grieve your grace my sons should call you 
 father. lOO 
 
 K. Edzi'. No more than when my daughters call thee 
 mother. 
 
 Thou art a widow, and thou hast some children ; 
 
 And, by God's mother, I, being but a bachelor, 
 
 Have other some : why, 'tis a happy thing 
 
 To be the father unto many sons. 
 
 Answer no more, for thou shalt be my queen. 
 Glou. [Aside to Clar.] The ghostly father now hath done 
 
 his shrift. 
 Glar. [Aside to Glou.] When he was made a shriver, 'twas 
 
 for shift. 
 K. Edzv. Brothers, you muse what chat we two have had. 
 Glou. The widow likes it not, for she looks very sad. no 
 K. Edzv. You 'Id think it strange if I should marry her. 
 Clar. To whom, my lord? 
 
 K. Edzv. ^^'by, Clarence, to myself. 
 
 Glou. That would be ten days' wonder at the least. 
 Clar. That 's a day longer than a wonder lasts. 
 Clou. By so much is the wonder in extremes. 
 K. Edzv. Well, jest on, brothers : I can tell you both, 
 
 Her suit is granted for her husband's lands, 
 
 6a
 
 Act III. Sc. ii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Enter a Nobleman. 
 
 Nob, My gracious lord, Henry your foe is taken, 
 And brought your prisoner to your palace gate. 
 
 K. Edii\ See that he be convey 'd unto the Tower : 120 
 And go we, brothers, to the man that took him, 
 To question of his apprehension. 
 Widow, go you along. Lords, use her honourably. 
 
 [Exeunt all but Gloucester, 
 
 Glou. Ay, Edward will use women honourably. 
 Would he were wasted, marrow, bones and all, 
 That from his loins no hopeful branch may spring, 
 To cross me from the golden time I look for ! 
 And yet, between my soul's desire and me — 
 The lustful Edward's title buried — 
 Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward, 130 
 And all the unlook'd for issue of their bodies. 
 To take their rooms, ere I can place myself : 
 A cold premeditation for my purpose ! 
 Why, then, I do but dream on sovereignty ; 
 Like one that stands upon a promontory, 
 And spies a far-off shore where he would tread, 
 Wishing his foot were equal with his eye, 
 And chides the sea that sunders him from thence. 
 Saying, he '11 lade it dry to have his way : 
 So do I wish the crown, being so far off ; 140 
 
 And so I chide the means that keeps me from it ; 
 And so I say, I '11 cut the causes off. 
 Flattering me with impossibilities. 
 My eye 's too quick, my heart o'erweens too much. 
 Unless my hand and strength could equal them. 
 Well, say there is no kingdom then for Richard ; 
 66
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act III. Sc. n. 
 
 What other pleasure can the world afford? 
 
 I '11 make my heaven in a lady's lap, 
 
 And deck my body in gay ornaments, 
 
 And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks. 
 
 O miserable thought ! and more unlikely 151 
 
 Than to accomplish twenty golden crowns ! 
 
 Why, love forswore me in my mother's womb : 
 
 And, for I should not deal in her soft laws, 
 
 She did corrupt frail nature with some bribe. 
 
 To shrink mine arm up like a wither'd shrub ; 
 
 To make an envious mountain on my back, 
 
 Where sits deformity to mock my body ; 
 
 To shape my legs of an unequal size ; 
 
 To disproportion me in every part, 160 
 
 Like to a chaos, or an unlick'd bear-whelp 
 
 That carries no impression like the dam. 
 
 And am I then a man to be beloved ? 
 
 monstrous fault, to harbour such a thought ! 
 Then, since this earth aft'ords no joy to me. 
 But to command, to check, to o'erbear such 
 As are of better person than myself, 
 
 1 '11 make my heaven to dream upon the crown. 
 And, whiles I live, to account this world but hell. 
 Until my mis-shaped trunk that bears this head 170 
 Be round impaled with a glorious crown. 
 
 And yet I know not how to get the crown. 
 
 For many lives stand between me and home : 
 
 And I, — like one lost in a thorny wood. 
 
 That rends the thorns and is rent with the thorns. 
 
 Seeking a way and straying from the way ; 
 
 Not knowing how to find the open air, 
 
 But toiling desperately to find it out, — 
 
 ^7
 
 Act III. Sc. iii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Torment myself to catch the Enghsh crown : 
 
 And from that torment I will free myself, i8o 
 
 Or hew my way out with a bloody axe. 
 
 Why, I can smile, and murder whiles I smile, 
 
 And cry ' Content ' to that which grieves my heart. 
 
 And wet my cheeks with artificial tears. 
 
 And frame my face to all occasions. 
 
 I '11 drown more sailors than the mermaid shall ; 
 
 I '11 slay more gazers than the basilisk ; 
 
 I '11 play the orator as well as Nestor, 
 
 Deceive more slily than Ulysses could, 
 
 And, like a Sinon, take another Troy. ' 190 
 
 I can add colours to the chameleon. 
 
 Change shapes with Proteus for advantages. 
 
 And set the murderous Machiavel to school. 
 
 Can I do this, and cannot get a crown ? 
 
 Tut, were it further off, I '11 pluck it down. [Exit. 
 
 Scene III. 
 
 France. The King's palace. 
 
 Flourish. Enter Lewis the French King, his sister Bona, 
 his Admiral, called Bonrbon: Prince Edzvard, Queen 
 Margaret, and the Earl of Oxford. Lezvis sits, and 
 riseth up again. 
 
 K. Leii\ Fair Queen of England, w^orthy Margaret, 
 Sit down with us : it ill befits thy state 
 And birth, that thou shouldst stand while Lewis doth 
 sit. 
 Q. Mar. No, mighty King of France : now Margaret 
 Must strike her sail and learn a wdiile to serve 
 Where king's command. I was, I must confess, 
 68
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act III. Sc. iii. 
 
 Great Albion's queen in former golden days : 
 But now mischance hath trod my title down, 
 And with dishonour laid me on the ground ; 
 Where I must take like seat unto my fortune, lo 
 
 And to my humble seat conform myself. 
 K. Lezv. Why, say, fair queen, whence springs this deep 
 
 despair ? 
 Q. Mar. From such a cause as fills mine eyes with tears, 
 
 And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in cares. 
 K. Lczv. Whate'er it be, be thou still like thyself, 
 
 And sit thee by our side : [Scats her by him] yield not 
 
 thy neck 
 To fortune's yoke, but let thy dauntless mind 
 Still ride in triumph over all mischance. 
 Be plain, Queen Margaret, and tell thy grief ; 
 It shall be eased, if France can yield relief. 20 
 
 Q.Mar. Those gracious words revive my drooping 
 thoughts, 
 And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave to speak. 
 Now, therefore, be it known to noble Lewis, 
 That Henry, sole possessor of my love, 
 Is of a king become a banish' d man. 
 And forced to live in Scotland a forlorn ; 
 While proud ambitious Edward Duke of York 
 Usurps the regal title, and the seat 
 Of England's true-anointed lawful king. 
 This is the cause that I, poor Margaret, ^ 30 
 
 With this my son, Prince Edward, Henry's heir, 
 Am come to crave thy just and lawful aid ; 
 And if thou fail us, all our hope is done : 
 Scotland hath will to help, but cannot help ; 
 Our people and our peers are both misled, 
 69 .
 
 Act III. Sc. iii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Our treasure seized, our soldiers put to flight, 
 
 And, as thou seest, ourselves in heavy plight. 
 K. Lezv. Renowned queen, with patience calm the storm, 
 
 While wx bethink a means to break it off. 39 
 
 Q. Mar. The more we stay, the stronger grows our foe. 
 K. Lew. The more I stay, the more I '11 succour thee. 
 Q. Mar. O, but impatience waiteth on true sorrow. 
 
 And see where comes the breeder of my sorrow ! 
 
 Enter Wavzi'ick. 
 
 K. Lezv. ^^l^at 's he approacheth boldly to our presence ? 
 
 Q. Mar. Our Earl of Warwick,' Edward's greatest friend. 
 
 K. Lezv. Welcome, brave Warwick ! What brings thee 
 to France? [He descends. She arisctli. 
 
 0. Mar. Ay, now begins a second storm to rise ; 
 For this is he that moves both wind and tide. 
 
 War. From worthy Edward, king of Albion, 
 
 My lord and sovereign, and thy vowed friend, 50 
 
 I come, in kindness and unfeigned love. 
 
 First, to do greetings to thy royal person ; 
 
 And then to crave a league of amity ; 
 
 And lastly, to confirm that amity i> 
 
 With nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe to grant 
 
 That virtuous Lady Bona, thy fair sister, 
 
 To England's king in lawful marriage. 
 
 Q. Mar. [Aside] If that go forward, Henry's hope is done. 
 
 War. [To Bona] And, gracious madam, in our king's 
 behalf, 
 I am commanded, with your leave and favour, 60 
 
 Humbly to kiss your hand, and with my tongue 
 To tell the passion of my sovereign's heart ; 
 Where fame, late entering at his heedful ears.
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act III. Sc. iii. 
 
 Hath placed thy beauty's image and thy virtue. 
 
 0. Mar. King Lewis and Lady Bona, hear me speak, 
 Before you answer Warwick. His demand 
 Springs not from Edward's weU-meant honest love, 
 But from deceit bred by necessity ; 
 For how can tyrants safely govern home, 
 Unless abroad they purchase great alliance ? 70 
 
 To prove him tyrant this reason may suffice, 
 That Henry liveth still ; but were he dead. 
 Yet here Prince Edward stands. King Henry's son. 
 Look, therefore, Lewis, that by this league and mar- 
 riage 
 Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour ; 
 For though usurpers sway the rule a while, 
 Yet heavens are just, and time suppresseth wrongs. 
 
 War. Injurious ^largaret! 
 
 Prince. And why not queen ? 
 
 War. Because thy father Henry did usurp ; 
 
 And thou no more art prince than she is queen. 80 
 
 Oxf. Then Warwick disannuls great John of Gaunt, 
 Which did subdue the greatest part of Spain ; 
 And, after John of Gaunt, Henry the Fourth, 
 Whose wisdom was a mirror to the wisest ; 
 And, after that wise prince, Henry the Fifth, 
 Who by his prowess conquered all France : 
 From these our Henry lineally descends. 
 
 JVar. Oxford, how haps it, in this smooth discourse. 
 You told not how Henry the Sixth hath lost 
 All that which Henry the Fifth had gotten ?" 90 
 
 Methinks these peers of France should smile at that. 
 But for the rest, you tell a pedigree 
 Of threescore and two years ; a silly time 
 
 71
 
 Act III. Sc. iii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 To make prescription for a kingdom's worth. 
 
 O.vf. Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against thy Hege, 
 Whom thou obeyed'st thirty and six years. 
 And not bewray thy treason with a bhish ? 
 
 War. Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right, 
 Now buckler falsehood with a pedigree? 
 For shame ! leave Henry, and call Edward king. loo 
 
 Oxf. Call him my king by whose injurious doom 
 ]\Iy elder brother, the Lord Aubrey Vere, 
 Was done to death? and more than so, my father, 
 Even in the downfall of his mellow'd years, 
 When nature brought him to the door of death? 
 No, W^arwick, no ; while life upholds this arm, 
 This arm upholds the house of Lancaster. 
 
 War. And I the house of York. 
 
 K. Lciv. Queen Margaret, Prince Edward, and Oxford, 
 Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside, no 
 
 While I use further conference with Warwick. 
 
 [They stand aloof. 
 
 0. Mar. Heavens grant that W^arwick's words bewitch 
 him not ! 
 
 K. Lew. Now, Warwick, tell me, even upon thy conscience, 
 Is Edward your true king? for I were loath 
 To link with him that were not lawful chosen. 
 
 War. Thereon I pawn my credit and mine honour. 
 
 K. Lezv. But is he gracious in the people's eye ? 
 
 War. The more that Henry was unfortunate. 
 
 K. Lezv. Then further, all dissembling set aside, 
 
 Tell me for truth the measure of his love 120 
 
 Unto our sister Bona. 
 
 War. Such it seems 
 
 As may beseem a monarch like himself. 
 
 72
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act III.Sc. iii. 
 
 iMyself have often heard him say and swear 
 That this his love was an eternal plant, 
 Whereof the root w^as fix'd in virtue's ground, 
 The leaves and fruit maintain'd with beauty's sun, 
 Exempt from envy, but not from disdain, 
 Unless the Lady Bona quit his pain. 
 
 K. Lczu. Now, sister, let us hear your firm resolve. 
 
 Bo7ia. Your grant, or your denial, shall be mine: 130 
 
 [To ll^^ar.] Yet I confess that often ere this day, 
 When I have heard your king's desert recounted. 
 Mine ear hath tempted judgement to desire. 
 
 K. Lezv. Then, Warwick, thus : our sister shall be 
 Edward's ; 
 And now forthwith shall articles be drawn 
 Touching the jointure that your king must make. 
 Which with her dowry shall be counterpoised. 
 Draw near. Queen Margaret, and be a witness 
 That Bona shall be wife to the English king. 
 
 Prince. To Edward, but not to the English king. 140 
 
 Q. Mar. Deceitful Warwick ! it was thy device 
 By this alliance to make void my suit : 
 Before thy coming Lewis was Henry's friend. 
 
 K. Lew. And still is friend to him and Margaret : 
 But if your title to the crown be weak. 
 As may appear by Edward's good success. 
 Then 'tis but reason that I be released 
 From giving aid wdiich late I promised. 
 Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand 
 That your estate requires and mine can yield. 150 
 
 War. Henry now lives in Scotland at his ease. 
 Where having nothing, nothing can he lose. 
 And as for you yourself, our quondam queen, 
 
 7Z
 
 Act III. Sc. iii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 You have a father able to maintain you ; 
 
 And better 'twere you troubled him than France. 
 
 Q. Mar. Peace, impudent and shameless Warwick, peace, 
 Proud setter up and puller down of kings ! 
 I will not hence, till, with my talk and tears. 
 Both full of truth, I make King Lewis behold 
 Thy sly conveyance, and thy lord's false love; i6o 
 For both of you are birds of selfsame feather. 
 
 [^Post blows a horn zvithin. 
 
 K. Lezv. Warwick, this is some post to us or thee. 
 
 Enter a Post. 
 
 Post. [To War.] My lord ambassador, these letters are 
 for you. 
 Sent from your brother, Alarquess Montague : 
 [To Lezvis] These from our king unto your majesty : 
 [To Margaret] And, madam, these for you; from 
 whom I know not. [They all read their letters. 
 
 Oxf. I like it well that our fair queen and mistress 
 Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his. 
 
 Prince. Nay, mark how Lewis stamps, as he were nettled : 
 I hope all 's for the best. 170 
 
 K. Leiv. Warwick, what are thy new^s ? and yours, fair 
 queen ? 
 
 0. Mar. Aline, such as fill my heart with unhoped joys. 
 
 War. Mine, full of sorrow and heart's discontent. 
 
 K. Lezv. What ! has your king married the Lady Grey? 
 And now, to soothe your forgery and his. 
 Sends me a paper to persuade me patience? 
 Is this the alliance that he seeks with France ? 
 Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner ? 
 
 Q. Mar. I told your majesty as much before : 179 
 
 74
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act III. Sc. Hi. 
 
 This proveth Edward's love and Warwick's honesty. 
 
 IVar. King Lewis, I here protest, in sight of heaven, 
 And by the hope I have of heavenly bliss, 
 That I am clear from this misdeed of Edward's, 
 No more my king, for he dishonours me. 
 But most himself, if he could see his shame. 
 Did I forget that by the house of York 
 My father came untimely to his death? 
 Did I let pass the abuse done to my niece? 
 Did I impale him with the regal crown? 
 Did I put Henry from his native right? 19:) 
 
 And am I guerdon'd at the last wdth shame ? 
 Shame on himself! for my desert is honour: 
 And to repair my honour lost for him, 
 I here renounce him and return to Henry. 
 My noble queen, let former grudges pass. 
 And henceforth I am thy true servitor: 
 I will revenge his wrong to lady Bona, 
 And replant Henry in his former state. 
 
 Q. Alar. \\^arwick, these words have turn'd my hate to 
 love ; 
 And I forgive and quite forget old faults, 200 
 
 And joy that thou becomest King Henry's friend. 
 
 War. So much his friend, ay, his unfeigned friend. 
 That, if King Lewis vouchsafe to furnish us 
 With some few bands of chosen soldiers, 
 I '11 undertake to land them on our coast. 
 And force the tyrant from his seat by war. 
 'Tis not his new-made bride shall succour him: 
 And as for Clarence, as my letters tell me. 
 He 's very likely now to fall from him, 
 For matching more for wanton lust than honour, 210 
 
 75
 
 Act III. Sc. iii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Or than for strength and safet}- of our country. 
 Bona, Dear brother, how shall Bona be revenged 
 
 But by thy help to this distressed queen? 
 Q. Mar. Renowned prince, how shall poor Henry live, 
 
 Unless thou rescue him from foul despair? 
 Botia. My quarrel and this English queen's are one. 
 JVar. And mine, fair Lady Bona, joins with yours. 
 K. Lew. And mine with hers, and thine, and Margaret's. 
 
 Therefore at last I firmly am resolved 
 
 You shall have aid. . 220 
 
 Q. Mar. Let me give humble thanks for all at once. 
 K. Lezv. Then, England's messenger, return in post, 
 
 And tell false Edward, thy supposed king. 
 
 That Lewis of France is sending over masquers, 
 
 To revel it with him and his new bride: 
 
 Thou seest what 's past, go fear thy king withal. 
 Bona. Tell him, in hope he '11 prove a widower shortly, 
 
 I '11 wear the willow garland for his sake. 
 Q. Mar. Tell him, my mourning weeds are laid aside, 
 
 And I am ready to put armour on. 230 
 
 War. Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong. 
 
 And therefore I '11 uncrown him ere 't be long. 
 
 There's thy reward: be gone. {Exit Post. 
 
 K. Lczv. But, Warwick, 
 
 Thou and Oxford, with five thousand men, 
 
 Shall cross the seas, and bid false Edward battle; 
 
 And, as occasion serves, this noble queen 
 
 And prince shall follow with a fresh supply. 
 
 Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt, 
 
 What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty? 
 War. This shall assure my constant loyalty, 240 
 
 That if our queen and this young prince agree, 
 
 76
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act III. Sc. iii. 
 
 I '11 join mine eldest daughter and my joy 
 To him forthwith in holy wedlock bands. 
 
 0. Mar. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion. 
 Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous, 
 Therefore delay not, give thy hand to Warwick ; 
 And, with thy hand, thy faith irrevocable, 
 That only Warwick's daughter shall be thine. 
 
 Prince. Yes, I accept her, for she well deserves it ; 
 
 And here, to pledge my vow, I give my hand. 250 
 [He gives his hand to IVarzvick. 
 
 K. Lezu. Why stay we now ? These soldiers shall be levied, 
 And thou, Lord Bourbon, our high admiral, 
 Shall waft them over with our royal fleet. 
 I long till Edward fall by war's mischance, 
 For mocking marriage with a dame of France. 
 
 [ExeiDit all but IVarzuick. 
 
 War. I came from Edward as ambassador, 
 But I return his sw^orn and mortal foe : 
 ]\Iatter of marriage was the charge he gave me, 
 But dreadful war shall answer his demand. 
 Had he none else to make a stale but me ? 260 
 
 Then none but I shall turn his jest to sorrow. 
 I was the chief that raised him to the crown, 
 And I '11 be chief to bring him dow^n again : 
 Not that I pity Henry's misery, 
 But seek revenge on Edward's mockery. [Exit. 
 
 77
 
 Act IV. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 ACT FOURTH. 
 Scene I. 
 
 London. The palace. 
 Enter Gloucester, Clarence, Somerset, and Montague. 
 
 Glou. Now tell me, brother Clarence, what think you 
 Of this new marriage with the Lady Grey ? 
 Hath not our brother made a worthy choice ? 
 
 Clar. Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to France ; 
 How could he stay till Warwick made return ? 
 
 Som. My lords, forbear this talk ; here comes the king. 
 
 Gloii. And his well-chosen bride. 
 
 Clar. I mind to tell him plainly what I think. 
 
 Flourish. Enter King Edward, attended; Lady Grey, 
 as Queen; Pembroke, Stafford, Hastings, and others. 
 
 K. Edzv. Now, brother of Clarence, how like you our 
 choice, 
 
 That you stand pensive, as half malcontent? lo 
 
 Cla?'. As well as Lewis of France, or the Earl of Warwick, 
 
 \Miich are so weak of courage and in judgement 
 
 That they '11 take no offence at our abuse. 
 K. Edzu. Suppose they take offence without a cause, 
 
 They are but Lewis and Warwick : I am Edward, 
 
 Your king and AA'arwick's, and must have my will. 
 Glou. And shall have your will, because our king : 
 
 Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well. 
 K. Edzv. Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too ? 
 Glcu. Not 1 : 20 
 
 No, God forbid that I should wish them sever'd
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act IV. Sc. i. 
 
 Whom God hath join'd together; ay, and 'twere pity 
 To sunder them that yoke so well together. 
 K. Edzv. Setting your scorns and your mislike aside, 
 Tell me some reason why the Lady Grev 
 Should not become my wife and England's queen. 
 And you too, Somerset and Montague, 
 Speak freely what you think. 
 Clar. Then this is mine opinion : that King Lewis 
 
 Becomes your enemy, for mocking him 30 
 
 About the marriage of the Lady Bona. 
 Clou. And Warwick, doing what you gave in charge. 
 
 Is now dishonoured by this new marriage. 
 K. Edzv. What if both Lewis and Warwick be appeased 
 
 By such invention as I can devise? 
 Monf. Yet, to have join'd with France in such alliance 
 A\'ould more have strengthened this our common- 
 wealth 
 'Gainst foreign storms than any home-bred marriage. 
 Hast. Why, knows not Montague that of itself 
 
 England is safe, if true within itself? 40 
 
 Mout. But the safer when 'tis back'd with France. 
 Hast. 'Tis better using France than trusting France : 
 Let us be back'd with God and with the seas, 
 Which He hath given for fence impregnable. 
 And with their helps only defend ourselves ; 
 In them and in ourselves our safety lies. 
 Clar. For this one speech Lord Hastings well deserves 
 
 To have the heir of the Lord Hungerford. 
 K. Edii'. Ay, what of that? it was my will and grant ; 
 
 And for this once my will shall stand for law. 50 
 
 Gloii. And yet methinks your grace hath not done well, 
 To give the heir and daughter of Lord Scales 
 Unto the brother of your loving bride; 
 
 79
 
 Act IV. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 She better would have fitted me or Clarence : 
 But in your bride you bury brotherhood. 
 
 Clar. Or else you would not have bestow'd the heir 
 Of the Lord Bonville on your new wife's son, 
 And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere. 
 
 K. Edzv. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife 
 
 That thou art malcontent? I will provide thee. 60 
 
 Clar. In choosing for yourself, you show'd your judge- 
 ment. 
 Which being shallow, you shall give me leave 
 To play the broker in mine own behalf; 
 And to that end I shortly mind to leave you. 
 
 K. Edzi'. Leave me, or tarry, Edward wi'l be king, 
 And not be tied unto his brother's will. 
 
 0. Eli:;. Aly lords, before it pleased his majesty 
 To raise my state to title of a queen, 
 Do me but right, and you must all confess 
 Th^t I was not ignoble of descent; 70 
 
 And meaner than myself have had like fortune. 
 But as this title honours me and mine. 
 So your dislike, to whom I would be pleasing, 
 Doth cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow. 
 
 K. Edu\ Aly love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns : 
 What danger or what sorrow can befall thee. 
 So long as Edward is thy constant friend, 
 And their true sovereign, whom they must obey? 
 Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too, 
 Unless they seek for hatred at my hands; 80 
 
 Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe, 
 And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath. 
 
 Clou. I hear, yet say not much, but think the more. 
 
 [Aside. 
 
 80
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act IV. Sc. i. 
 
 Enter a Post. 
 
 K. Edzv. Now, messenger, what letters or what news 
 
 From France? 
 Post. My sovereign liege, no letters; and few words, 
 
 But such as I, without your special pardon, 
 
 Dare not relate. 
 K.Edzv. Go to, we pardon thee: therefore, in brief. 
 
 Tell me their words as near as thou canst guess them. 
 
 What answer makes King Lewis unto our letters? 91 
 Post. At my depart, these were his very words: 
 
 ' Go tell false Edward, thy supposed king, 
 
 That Lewis of France is sending over masquers 
 
 To revel it with him and his new bride.' 
 K. Edzv. Is Lewis so brave? belike he thinks me Henry. 
 
 But what said Lady Bona to my marriage? 
 Post. These were her words, utter'd with mild disdain: 
 
 ' Tell him, in hope he '11 prove a widower shortly, 
 
 I '11 wear the willow garland for his sake.' 100 
 
 K. EdziK I blame not her, she could say little less ; 
 
 She had the wrong. But what said Henry's queen ? 
 
 For I have heard that she was there in place. 
 Post. 'Tell him,' quoth she, 'my mourning weeds are done, 
 
 And I am ready to put armour on.' 
 K. Edzv. Belike she minds to play the Amazon. 
 
 But what said Warwick to these injuries? 
 Post. He, more incensed against your majesty 
 
 Than all the rest, discharged me with these words : 
 
 ' Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong, no 
 
 And therefore Fll uncrown him ere 't be long.' 
 K. Edzi\ Ha! durst the traitor breathe out so proud 
 words ? 
 
 81
 
 Act IV. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Well, I will arm me, being thus forewarn'd: 
 
 They shall have wars and pay for their presumption. 
 
 But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret? 
 
 Post. Ay, gracious sovereign ; they are so link'd in friend- 
 ship. 
 That young Prince Edward marries Warwick's 
 daughter. 
 
 Clar. Belike the elder; Clarence will have the younger 
 Now, brother king, farewell, and sit you fast, 
 For I wall hence to Warwick's other daughter; 120 
 That, though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage 
 I may not prove inferior to yourself. 
 You that love me and W^arwick, follow me. 
 
 [Exit Clarence, and Somerset follozcs. 
 
 Gloii. [Aside^ Not I : 
 
 ]\Iy thoughts aim at a further matter ; I 
 
 Stay not for the love of Edward, but the crown. 
 
 K. Edzv. Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick I 
 Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen; 
 And haste is needful in this desperate case. 
 Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf 130 
 
 Go levy men, and make prepare for war ; 
 They are already, or quickly will be landed : 
 Myself in person will straight follow you. 
 
 {Exeunt Pembroke and Stafford. 
 But, ere 1 go, Hastings and Montague, 
 Resolve my doubt. You twain, of all the rest, 
 Are near to Warwick by blood and by alliance: 
 Tell me if you love Warwick more than me ; 
 If it be so, then both depart to him ; 
 I rather wish you foes than hollow friends : 
 But if you mind to hold your true obedience, 140 
 
 82
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act IV. Sc. ii. 
 
 Give me assurance with some friendly vow, 
 
 That I may never have you in suspect. 
 Mont. So God help Montague as he proves true ! 
 Hast. And Hastings as he favours Edward's cause ! 
 K. Echv. Xow, brother Richard, will you stand by us ? 
 Glou. Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you. 
 K. Edzc. Why, so ! then am I sure of victory. 
 
 Now therefore let us hence ; and lose no hour. 
 
 Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power. 
 
 [E.reurit. 
 Scene II. 
 
 A plain in Warzdckshirc. 
 
 Enter Warzvick and Oxford, with French soldiers. 
 
 War. Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well ; 
 The common people by numbers swarm to us. 
 
 Enter Clarence and Somerset. 
 
 But see where Somerset and Clarence come I 
 Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends? 
 
 Clar. Fear not that, my lord. 
 
 IV ar. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick ; 
 And welcome, Somerset : I hold it cowardice 
 To rest mistrustful where a noble heart 
 Hath pawn'd an open hand in sign of bve ; 
 Else might I think that Clarence, Edward's brother, 
 Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings : 1 1 
 But welcome, sweet Clarence ; rny daughter shall be 
 
 thine. 
 And now what rests but, in night's coverture. 
 Thy brother being carelessly encamp'd. 
 His soldiers lurking in the towns about, 
 
 83
 
 Act IV. Sc. iii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 And but attended by a simple guard, 
 
 We may surprise and take him at our pleasure ? 
 
 Our scouts have found the adventure very easy : 
 
 That as Ulysses and stout Diomede 
 
 With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus' tents, 20 
 
 And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds, 
 
 So we, well cover'd with the night's black mantle. 
 
 At unawares may beat down Edward's guard, 
 
 And seize himself; I say not, slaughter him, 
 
 For I intend but only to surprise him. 
 
 You that will follow me to this attempt. 
 
 Applaud the name of Henry with your leader. 
 
 [They all cry, 'Henry!' 
 Why then, let 's on our way in silent sort : 
 For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George ! 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene III. 
 
 Edzvard's camp, near Warwick. 
 Enter three ivatchmen, to guard the King's tent. 
 
 First Watch. Come on, my masters, each man take his stand : 
 The king by this is set him down to sleep. 
 
 Second Watch. What, will he not to bed? 
 
 First Watch. Why, no ; for he hath made a solemn vow, 
 Never to lie and take his natural rest, 
 Till Warwick or himself be quite suppress'd. 
 
 Second Watch. To-morrow then belike shall be the day. 
 If Warwick be so near as men report. 
 
 Third Watch. But sav, I pray, what nobleman is that, 
 
 That with the king here resteth in his tent? 10 
 
 First Watch. 'Tis the Lord Hastings, the King's chief est 
 friend. 
 
 84
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act IV. Sc. iii. 
 
 Third JVatch. O, is it so? But why commands the king 
 That his chief fohowers lodge in towns about him, 
 While he himself keeps in the cold field? 
 
 Second Watch. Tis the more honour, because more dan- 
 gerous. 
 
 Third Watch. Ay, but give me worship and quietness ; 
 I like it better than a dangerous honour. 
 If Warwick knew in what estate he stands, 
 'Tis to be doubted he would waken him. 19 
 
 First Watch. Unless our halberds did shut up his passage. 
 
 Second Watch.' Ay, wherefore else guard we his royal tent. 
 But to defend his person from night-foes ? 
 
 Enter Warzvick, Clarence, Oxford, Somerset, and 
 French soldiers, silent all. 
 
 War. This is his tent ; and see where stand his guard. 
 Courage, my masters ! honour now or never ! 
 But follow me, and Edward shall be ours. 
 First Watch. Who goes there ? 
 Second Watch. Stay, or thou diest ! 
 
 [Warwick and the rest cry all, ' Warwick! 
 Warzvick!' and set upon the Guard, zvho 
 Hy, crying, ' Arm! arm!' Warwick and 
 the rest follozvijig them. 
 
 The drum playing and trumpet sounding, re-enter War- 
 zvick, Somerset, and the rest, bringing the King out 
 in his gown, sitting in a chair. Richard and Has- 
 tings fly over the stage. 
 
 Som. What are they that fly there? 
 
 War. Richard and Hastings : let them go ; here is 
 
 The duke. 
 K. Edw. The duke ! Whyl Warwick, when we parted, 
 
 Thou call'dst me king. 
 
 85
 
 Act IV. Sc. iii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 M'^ar. Ay, but the case is alter' d : 31 
 
 When you disgraced me in my embassade, 
 Then I degraded you from being king, 
 And come now to create you Duke of York. 
 Alas ! how should you govern any kingdom, 
 That know not how to use ambassadors. 
 Nor how to be contented with one wife. 
 Nor how to use your brothers brotherly. 
 Nor how to study for the people's welfare, 
 Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies? 40 
 
 K. Edzv. Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here too ? 
 Nay, then I see that Edward needs must down. 
 Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance. 
 Of thee thyself and all thy complices, 
 Edward will always bear himself as king : 
 Though fortune's malice overthrow my state. 
 My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel. 
 
 War. Then, for his mind, be Edward England's king : 
 
 [^Takcs off his crozcn. 
 But Henry now shall wear the English crown, 
 And be true king indeed, thou but the shadow. 50 
 My Lord of Somerset, at my request. 
 See that forthwith Duke Edward be convey'd 
 Unto my brother, Archbishop of York. 
 When I have fought with Pembroke and -his fellows, 
 I '11 follow you, and tell what answer 
 Lewis and the Lady Bona send to him. 
 Now, for a while farewell, good Duke of York. 
 
 [They lead him out forcibly. 
 
 K. Edzi'. \Miat fates impose, that men must needs abide ; 
 It boots not to resist both wind and tide. 
 
 [Exit^ guarded.
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act IV. Sc. iv. 
 
 Oxf. What now remains, my lords, for us to do, 60 
 
 But march to London with our soldiers? 
 
 War. Ay, that 's the first thing that we have to do ; 
 To free King Henry from imprisonment, 
 And see him seated in the regal throne. [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene IV. 
 
 London. The palace. 
 Enter Queen Elizabeth and Rivers. 
 
 Riv. Madam, what makes you in this sudden change? 
 
 Q. Eliz. Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn 
 What late misfortune is befall'n King Edward? 
 
 Riv. What! loss of some pitch'd battle against Warwick ? 
 
 Q. Eliz. No, but the loss of his own royal person. 
 
 Riv. Then is my sovereign slain? 
 
 Q. Eliz. Ay, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner, 
 Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard, 
 Or by his foe surprised at unawares : 
 And, as I further have to understand, 10 
 
 Is new committed to the Bishop of York, 
 Fell Warwick's brother and by that our foe, 
 
 Riv. These news I must confess are full of grief ; 
 Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may : 
 V\'arwick may lose, that now hath won the day. 
 
 Q. Eliz. Till then fair hope must hinder life's decay. 
 And I the rather wean me from despair 
 For love of Edward's ofifspring in my womb : 
 This is it that makes me bridle passion. 
 And bear with mildness my misfortune's cross; 20 
 Ay, ay, fos this I draw in many a tear 
 And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs, 
 
 87
 
 Act IV. Sc. V. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown 
 King Edward's fruit, true heir to the English crow^n. 
 
 Rk'. But, madam, where is Warwick then become? 
 
 Q. Eliz. I am inform'd that he comes towards London, 
 To set the crown once more on Henry's head: 
 Guess thou the rest ; King Edward's friends must down. 
 But, to prevent the tyrant's violence, — 
 P'or trust not him that hath once broken faith, — 30 
 I '11 hence forthv/ith unto the sanctuary, 
 To save at least the heir of Edward's right: 
 There shall I rest secure from force and fraud. 
 Come, therefore, let us fly while we may fly: 
 If Warwick take us we are sure to die. [Exciuif. 
 
 Scene V. 
 
 A park near Middlcliam Castle in Yorkshire. 
 
 Enter Gloueester, Lord Hastings, Sir IVilliani Stanley, 
 and others. 
 
 Clou. Now, my Lord Hastings and Sir William Stanley, 
 Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither. 
 Into this chiefest thicket of the park. 
 Thus stands the case : you know our king, my brother, 
 Is prisoner to the bishop here, at whose hands 
 He hath good usage and great liberty, 
 And, often but attended with weak guard, 
 Comes hunting this way to disport himself. 
 I have advertised him by secret means. 
 That if about this hour he make this way 10 
 
 Under the colour of his usual game, 
 He shall here find his friends with horse and men 
 To set him free from his captivity. 
 
 88
 
 KING HEMRY VI. Act IV. Sc. vi. 
 
 Enter King Edward and a Huntsman zvith him. 
 
 Hunt. This way, my lord ; for this way lies the game. 
 K. Edzu. Nay, this way, man : see where the huntsmen 
 stand. 
 
 Now, brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and the 
 rest. 
 
 Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop's deer ? 
 GIou. Brother, the time and case requireth haste : 
 
 Your horse stands ready at the park-corner. 
 K. Edzv. But whither shall we then ? 
 Hast. To Lynn, my lord, 
 
 And ship from thence to Flanders, 21 
 
 Glon. Well guess'd, believe me ; for that was my meaning. 
 K. Edzv. Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness. 
 Gloii. But wherefore stay we? 'tis no time to talk. 
 K. Edzv. Huntsman, what say'st thou ? wilt thou go 
 
 along ? 
 Hnnt. Better do so than tarry and be hang'd. 
 Clou. Come then, away; let 's ha' no more ado. 
 K. Edzv. Bishop, farewell : shield thee from Warwick's 
 frown ; 
 
 And pray that I may repossess the crown. [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene VL 
 
 London. The Tozver. 
 
 Flourish. Enter King Henry, Clarence, IVarzvick, Som- 
 erset, young Richmond, Oxford, Montague, and 
 Lieutenant of the Tozver. 
 
 K. Hen. Master lieutenant, now that God and friends 
 Have shaken Edward from the regal seat, 
 
 89
 
 Act IV. Sc. vi. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 And turn'd my captive state to liberty, 
 My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys, 
 At our enlargement what are thy due fees? 
 
 Lien. Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns ; 
 But if an humble prayer may prevail, 
 I then crave pardon of your majesty. 
 
 K. Hen. For what, lieutenant? for well using me? 
 
 Nay, be thou sure I '11 well requite thy kindness, lo 
 
 For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure ; 
 
 Ay, such a pleasure as incaged birds 
 
 Conceive, when after many moody thoughts, 
 
 At last, by notes of household harmony. 
 
 They quite forget their loss of liberty. 
 
 But, Warwick, after God, thou set'st me free. 
 
 And chiefly therefore I thank God and thee ; 
 
 He was the author, thou the instrument. 
 
 Therefore, that I may conquer fortune's spite 
 
 By living low, where fortune cannot hurt me, 20 
 
 And that the people of this blessed land 
 
 May not be punish'd with my thwarting stars, 
 
 Warwick, although my head still wear the crown, 
 
 I here resign my government to thee. 
 
 For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds. 
 
 War. Your grace hath still been famed for virtuous ; 
 And now may seem as wise as virtuous, 
 By spying and avoiding fortune's malice. 
 For few men rightly temper with the stars : 
 Yet in this one thing let me blame your grace, 30 
 
 For choosing me when Clarence is in place. 
 
 Clar. No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway, 
 To whom the heavens in thy nativity 
 Adjudged an olive branch and laurel crown, 
 90
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act IV. Sc. vi. 
 
 As likely to be blest in peace and war ; 
 And therefore I yield thee my free consent. 
 
 War. And I choose Clarence only for protector. 
 
 K. Hen. Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands : 
 Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts, 
 That no dissension hinder government : 40 
 
 I make you both protectors of this land, 
 While I myself will lead a private life. 
 And in devotion spend my latter days, 
 To sin's rebuke and my Creator's praise. 
 
 War. What answers Clarence to his sovereign's will ? 
 
 Clar. That he consents, if Warwick yield consent, 
 For on thy fortune I repose myself. 
 
 War. Why, then, though loath, yet must I be content : 
 We 'li yoke together, like a double shadow 
 To Henry's body, and supply his place ; 50 
 
 I mean, in bearing weight of government. 
 While he enjoys the honour and his ease. 
 And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful 
 Forthwith that Edward be pronounced a traitor, 
 And all his lands and goods be confiscate. 
 
 Clar. What else ? and that succession be determined. 
 
 War. Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part. 
 
 K. Hen. But, with the first of all your chief affairs. 
 Let me entreat, for I command no more. 
 That Margaret your queen and my son Edward 60 
 Be sent for, to return from France with speed ; 
 For, till I see them here, by doubtful fear 
 My joy of liberty is half eclipsed. 
 
 Clar. It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed. 
 
 K. Hen. My Lord of Somerset, what youth is that, 
 Of whom you seem to have so tender care? 
 
 91
 
 Act IV. Sc. vi. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Soni. IMy liege, it is young Henry, earl of Richmond. 
 
 K. Hen. Come hither, England's hope. [Lays his hand on 
 his head] If secret powers 
 Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts, 
 This pretty lad will prove our country's bliss. 70 
 
 His looks are full of peaceful majesty. 
 His head by nature framed to wear a crown, 
 His hand to wield a sceptre, and himself 
 Likely in time to bless a regal throne. 
 Make much of him, my lords, for this is he 
 ]\Iust help you more than you are hurt by me. 
 
 Enter a Post. 
 
 Jfar. What news, my friend? 
 
 Post. That Edward is escaped from your brother. 
 
 And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy. 
 JJ^ar. Unsavoury news ! but how made he escape ? 80 
 Post. He was convey'd by Richard duke of Gloucester 
 
 And the Lord Hastings, who attended him 
 
 In secret ambush on the forest side. 
 
 And from the bishop's huntsmen rescued him ; 
 
 For hunting was his daily exercise. 
 JJ\jr. ]\Iy brother was too careless of his charge. 
 
 But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide 
 
 A salve for any sore that may betide. 
 
 [Exeunt all but Somerset, Riehmond, and Oxford. 
 Sen:. Aly lord, I like not of this flight of Edward's ; 
 
 For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help, 90 
 
 And we shall have more wars before 't be long. 
 
 As Henry's late presaging prophecy 
 
 Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond, 
 
 So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts 
 
 9i
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act IV. Sc. vii. 
 
 What may befall him, to his harm and ours : 
 Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst, 
 Forthwith we '11 send him hence to Brittany, 
 Till storms be past of civil enmity. 
 
 O.rf. Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown, 
 
 'Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down. 
 
 Soni. It shall be so; he shall to Brittany. loi 
 
 Come, therefore, let 's about it speedily. [E.rcuiU. 
 
 Scene VII. 
 
 Before York. 
 
 Flourish. Enter King Edzvard, Gloucester, 
 Hastings, and Soldiers. 
 
 K. Edzc. Now, brother Richard, Lord Hastings, and the 
 rest. 
 Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends. 
 And says that once more I shall interchange 
 My waned state for Henry's regal crow^n. 
 Well have we pass'd and now repass'd the seas, 
 And brought desired help from Burgundy: 
 What then remains, we being thus arrived 
 From Ravenspurgh haven before the gates of York, 
 But that we enter, as into our dukedom? 
 
 Clon. The gates made fast! Brother, I like not this; 
 For many men that stumble at the threshold 1 1 
 
 Are well.foretold that danger lurks within. 
 
 K. Edzv. Tush, man, abodements must not now affright 
 us: 
 By fair or foul means we must enter in. 
 For hither wdll our friends repair to us. 
 
 liast. ]\Iy liege, I '11 knock once more to summon them. 
 
 93
 
 Act IV. Sc. vii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Enter, on the zcalls, the Mayor of York and his Brethren. 
 
 May. My lords, we were forewarned of your coming, 
 And shut the gates for safety of ourselves ; 
 For now we owe allegiance unto Henry. 
 
 K. Edzi'. But, master mayor, if Henry be your king, 20 
 Yet Edward at least is Duke of York. 
 
 May. True, my good lord; I know you for no less. 
 
 K. Edzc. Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom, 
 As being well content with that alone. 
 
 Clou. [Aside] But when the fox hath once got in his nose, 
 He '11 soon find means to make the body follow. 
 
 Hast. Why, master mayor, why stand you in a doubt ? 
 Open the gates ; we are King Henry's friends. 
 
 May. Ay, say you so ? the gates shall then be open'd. 
 
 [They descend. 
 
 Clou. A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded! 30 
 
 Ucst. The good old man would fain that all were well, 
 So 'twere not 'long of him; but being enter'd, 
 I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade 
 Both him and all his brothers unto reason. 
 
 Enter the Mayor and tzco Aldermen, helozi\ 
 
 K. Edzi'. So, master m^ayor: these gates must not be shut 
 But in the night or in the time of war. 
 What! fear not, man, but yield me up the keys; 
 
 [Takes his keys. 
 For Edward will defend the town and thee. 
 And all those friends that deign to follow me. 
 
 Marc!:. Enter Montgomery, zcith drum and soldiers. 
 
 Clou. Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery, 40 
 
 Our trusty friend, unless I be deceived. 
 
 94
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act IV. Sc. vii. 
 
 K. Edzv. Welcome, Sir John ! But why come you in arms ? 
 Montg. To help King Edward in his time of storm, 
 
 As every loyal subject ought to do. 
 K. Edw. Thanks, good Montgomery ; but we now forget 
 
 Our title to the crown, and only claim 
 
 Our dukedom till God please to send the rest. 
 Montg, Then fare you well, for I will hence again : 
 
 I came to serve a king, and not a duke. 
 
 Drummer, strike up, and let us march away. 50 
 
 {The drum begins to march. 
 K. Edzv. Nay, stay, Sir John, a while, and we '11 debate 
 
 By what safe means the crown may be recover'd. 
 Montg. What talk you of debating? in few words, 
 
 If you '11 not here proclaim yourself our king, 
 
 I '11 leave you to your fortune, and be gone 
 
 To keep them back that come to succour you : 
 
 Why shall we fight, if you pretend no title ? 
 GloiL Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points ? 
 K. Edzv. When we grow stronger, then we '11 make our 
 claim : 
 
 Till then, 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning. 60 
 
 Hast. Avv-ay with scrupulous wit ! now arms must rule. 
 Gloii. And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns. 
 
 Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand ; 
 
 The bruit thereof will bring you many friends. 
 K. Edzv. Then be it as you will ; for 'tis my right. 
 
 And Henry but usurps the diadem. 
 Montg. Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself ; 
 
 And now will I be Edward's champion. 
 Hast. Sound trumpet ; Edward shall be here proclaim'd : 
 
 Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation. 70 
 
 [Flourish, 
 
 95
 
 Act IV. Sc. viii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Sold. Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God, king 
 
 of England and France, and lord of Ireland, &c. 
 Montg. And whosoe'er gainsays King Edward's right, 
 
 By this I challenge him to single fight. 
 
 [TIu'ozcs doii'ii his gauntlet. 
 All. Long live Edward the Fourth! 
 
 K. Edzv. Thanks, brave Alontgomery ; and thanks unto 
 you all : 
 
 If fortune serve me, I '11 requite this kindness. 
 
 Now, for this night, let 's harbour here in York ; 
 
 And when the morning sun shall raise his car 
 
 Above the border of this horizon, 
 
 Wq '11 forward towards Warwick and his mates ; 
 
 For well I wot that Henry is no soldier. 80 
 
 Ah, f roward Clarence ! how evil it beseems thee. 
 
 To flatter Henry and forsake thy brother ! 
 
 Yet, as we may, we '11 meet both thee and Warwick. 
 
 Come on, brave soldiers : doubt not of the day, 
 
 And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pav. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene VIII. 
 
 London. The palace. 
 
 Flourish. Enter King Henry, Warzvlck, Montague, 
 Clarence, Exeter, and Oxford. 
 
 War. What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia, 
 With hasty Germans and blunt Hollanders, 
 Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas, 
 And with his troops doth m.arch amain to London ; 
 And many giddy people flock to him. 
 
 K. Hen. Let 's levy men, and beat him back again. 
 
 Clar. A little fire is quickly trodden out ; 
 
 96
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act IV. Sc. viii. 
 
 Which, being sufferVI, rivers cannot quench. 
 
 War. In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends, 
 
 Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war; lo 
 
 Those will I muster up : and thou, son Clarence, 
 Shalt stir up in Suffolk, Norfolk and in Kent, 
 The knights and gentlemen to come with thee : 
 Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham, 
 Northampton and in Leicestershire, shalt find 
 Men well inclined to hear what thou command'st : 
 And thou, brave Oxford, w^ondrous well beloved. 
 In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends. 
 My sovereign, with the loving citizens. 
 Like to his island girt in with the ocean, 20 
 
 Or modest Dian circled with her nymphs. 
 Shall rest in London till we come to him. 
 Fair lords, take leave and stand not to reply. 
 Farewell, my sovereign. 
 
 K. Hen. Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's true hope. 
 
 Clav. In sign of truth, I kiss your highness' hand. 
 
 A'. Hen. W^ell-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate ! 
 
 Mont. Comfort, my lord; and so I take my leave. 
 
 Oxf. And thus I seal my truth, and bid adieu. 
 
 K. Hen. Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague, 30 
 And all at once, once more a happy farewell. 
 
 War. Farewell, sweet lords : let 's meet at Coventry. 
 
 [Exeunt all hut King Henry and Exeter, 
 
 K. Hen. Here at the- palace will I rest a while. 
 
 Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship ? 
 Methinks the power that Edward hath in field 
 Should not be able to encounter mine. 
 
 Exe. The doubt is that he will seduce the rest. 
 
 iv, Hen, That 's not my fear ; my meed hath got me fame : 
 
 97
 
 Act IV. Sc. viii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands, 
 Nor posted off their suits with slow delays ; 40 
 
 My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds, 
 My mildness hath allay'd their swelling griefs. 
 My mercy dried their water-flowing tears ; 
 I have not been desirous of their wealth, 
 Nor much oppress'd them with great subsidies, 
 Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd : 
 Then why should they love Edward more than me ? 
 No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace : 
 And when the lion fawns upon the lamb. 
 The lamb will never cease to follow him. 50 
 
 [Shout within, 'A Lancaster! A Lancaster! ' 
 Exe. Hark, hark, my lord ! what shouts are these ? 
 
 Enter King Edivard, Gloucester, and Soldiers. 
 
 K.Edzv. Seize upon the shame-faced Henry, bear him hence ; 
 And once again proclaim us king of England. 
 You are the fount that makes small brooks to flow : 
 Now stops thy spring; my sea shall suck them dry, 
 And swell so much the higher by their ebb. 
 Hence with him to the Tower ; let him not speak. 
 
 [Exeunt some with King Henry. 
 And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our course, 
 Where peremptory Warwick now remains : 
 The sun shines hot ; and, if we use delay, 60 
 
 Cold biting winter mars our hoped-for hay. 
 
 GIou. Away betimes, before his forces join, 
 
 And take the great-grown traitor unawares : 
 Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 98
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act V. Sc. i. 
 
 ACT FIFTH. 
 Scene I. 
 
 Coventry. 
 
 Enter Warwick, the Mayor of Coventry, tzvo Messengers, 
 and others upon the zi'alls. 
 
 War. Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford ? 
 
 How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow ? 
 First Mess. By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward. 
 IVar. How far off is our brother Alontague ? 
 
 Where is the post that came from Montague ? 
 Second Mess. By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop. 
 
 Enter Sir John Soniervile. 
 
 War. Say, Somervile, what says my loving son? 
 
 And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now ? 
 Som. At Southam I did leave him with his forces. 
 
 And do expect him here some two hours hence. lo 
 
 [Drum heard. 
 War. Then Clarence is at hand ; I hear his drum. 
 Som. It is not his, my lord ; here Southam lies : 
 
 The drum your honour hears marcheth fromW'arwick. 
 War. Who should that be? belike, unlook'd-for friends. 
 Som. They are at hand, and you shall quickly know. 
 
 March. Flourish. Enter King Edzvard, Gloucester, 
 and Soldiers. 
 
 K. Edzv. Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a parlc. 
 Clou. See how the surly Warwick mans the wall ! 
 War. O unbid spite ! is sportful Edward come ? 
 
 Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduced. 
 
 99
 
 Act V. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 repair ? 20 
 
 K. Edzv. Now, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city gates, 
 
 Speak gentle words and humbly bend thy knee, 
 
 Call Edward king and at his hands beg mercy ? 
 
 And he shall pardon thee these outrages. 
 War. Nay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence, 
 
 Confess who set thee up and pluck'd thee down, 
 
 Call Warwick patron and be penitent? 
 
 And thou shalt still remain the Duke of York. 
 Clou. I thought, at least, he would have said the king ; 
 
 Or did he make the jest against bis will? 30 
 
 War. Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift ? 
 Clou. Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl to give : 
 
 I '11 do thee service for so good a gift. 
 War. 'Twas I that gave the kingdom to thy brother. 
 K. Edzi'. Why then 'tis mine, if but by Warwick's gift. 
 War. Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight : 
 
 And, weakling, Warwick takes his gift again ; 
 
 And Henry is my king, Warwick his subject. 
 K. Ediv. But Warwick's king is Edward's prisoner : 
 
 And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this : 40 
 
 What is the body when the head is off? 
 Glon. Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast, 
 
 But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten, 
 
 The king was slily finger'd from the deck ! 
 
 You left poor Henry at the bishop's palace. 
 
 And, ten to one, you '11 meet him in the Tower. 
 A^ Edw. 'Tis even so ; yet you are Warwick still. 
 Clou. Come, Warwick, take the time; kneel down, kneel 
 down: 
 
 Nay, when ? strike now, or else the iron cools. 
 War. I had rather chop this hand off at a blow, 50 
 
 100
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act V. Sc. i. 
 
 And with the other fling it at thy face, 
 Than bear so low a sail, to strike to thee. 
 A.'. Ediv. Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide thy 
 friend, 
 This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair, 
 Shall, whiles thy head is warm and new cut off, 
 Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood, 
 ' Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more.' 
 
 Enter Oxford, ivitli drum and colours. 
 
 War. O cheerful colours ! see where Oxford comes ! 
 
 0-vf. Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster! 
 
 \^Hc and his forces enter tJic city. 
 
 Glou. The gates are open, let us enter too. 60 
 
 K. Edw. So other foes may set upon our backs. 
 Stand we in good array ; for they no doubt 
 Will issue out again and bid us battle : 
 If not, the city being but of small defence. 
 We '11 quickly rouse the traitors in the same. 
 
 War. O, welcome, Oxford ! for we want thy help. 
 
 Enter Montague, ivith drum and colours. 
 
 Mont. Montague, Montague, for Lancaster! 
 
 [He and his forces enter the city, 
 do It. Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason 
 
 Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear. 
 A'. Edzi'. The harder match'd, the greater victory : 70 
 
 My mind presageth happy gain and conquest. 
 
 Enter Somerset, zvith drum and colours. 
 
 Som. Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster ! 
 
 [He and his forces enter the city. 
 
 lOI
 
 Act V. Sc. i. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Gloii. Two of thy name, both Dukes of Somerset, 
 Have sold their Hves unto the house of York ; 
 And thou shalt be the third, if this sword hold. 
 
 Enter Clarence, zvith drinn and colours. 
 
 War. And lo, where George of Clarence sweeps along, 
 Of force enough to bid his brother battle ; 
 With whom an upright zeal to right prevails 
 More than the nature of a brother's love ! ^79 
 
 Come, Clarence, come ; thou wilt, if Warwick call. 
 
 Clar. Father of Warwick, know you what this means ? 
 
 [Taking his red rose out of his hat. 
 Look here, I throw my infamy at thee: 
 I will not ruinate my father's house, 
 Who gave his blood to lime the stones together, 
 And set up Lancaster. Why, trow'st thou, Warwick, 
 That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt, unnatural. 
 To bend the fatal instruments of war 
 Against his brother and his lawful king? 
 Perhaps thou wilt object my holy oath: 
 To keep that oath were more impiety 90 
 
 Than Jephthah's, wdien he sacrificed his daughter. 
 I am so sorry for my trespass made 
 That, to deserve well at my brother's hands, 
 I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe. 
 With resolution, wheresoe'er I meet thee — 
 As I will meet thee, if thou stir abroad — 
 To plague thee for thy foul misleading me. 
 And so, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee. 
 And to my brother turn m.y blushing cheeks. 
 Pardon me, Edward, I will make amends : 100 
 
 And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults, 
 
 102
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act V. Sc. ii. 
 
 For I will henceforth be no more imconstant. 
 K. Edzv. Now welcome more, and ten times more beloved, 
 
 Than if thou never hadst deserved our hate. 
 Gloti. Welcome, good Clarence; this is brother-like. 
 IVar. O passing traitor, perjured and unjust! 
 K. Edzv. What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the town, and 
 fight? 
 
 Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears? 
 War. Alas, I am not coop'd here for defence ! 
 
 I will away towards Barnet presently, no 
 
 And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou darest. 
 K. Edzv. Yes, Warwick, Edward dares, and leads the way. 
 
 Lords, to the field ; Saint George and victory ! 
 
 [Exeunt King Edzvard and his company. March. 
 IVarzi'ick and his company follozi'. 
 
 Scene II. 
 
 A field of battle near Barnet. 
 Alarum and excursions. Enter Kins: Edzvard, hr in sins 
 
 forth Warzvick zi^ounded. 
 
 K. EdzL'. So, lie thou there : die thou, and die our fear ; 
 For Warwick was a bug that fear'd us all. 
 Now, Montague, sit fast : I seek for thee. 
 That Warwick's bones mav keep thine company. 
 
 [Exit. 
 
 War. Ah, who is nigh ? come to me, friend or foe, 
 And tell me who is victor, York or Warwick ? 
 Why ask I that? my mangled body shows, 
 My blood, my want of strength, my sick heart shows. 
 That I must yield my body to the earth 
 And by my fall, the conquest to my foe. lO 
 
 Thus yields the cedar to the axe's edge, 
 
 103
 
 Act V. Sc. ii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Whose arms gave shelter to the princely eagle, 
 Under whose shade the ramping lion slept, 
 Whose top-branch overpeer'd Jove's spreading tree, 
 And kept low shrubs from winter's powerful wind. 
 These eyes, that now are dimm'd with death's black 
 
 veil. 
 Have been as piercing as the mid-day sun, 
 To search the secret treasons of the world : 
 The wrinkles in my brows, now fill'd with blood. 
 Were liken 'd oft to kingly sepulchres ; 20 
 
 For who lived king, but I could dig his grave? 
 And who durst smile when ^^^arwick bent his brow ? 
 Lo, now my glory smcar'd in dust and blood ! 
 ]\Iy parks, my walks, my manors that I had, 
 Even now forsake me, and of all my lands 
 Is nothing left me but my body's length. 
 Why, what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and dust? 
 And, live we how we can, yet die we must. 
 
 Enter Oxford and Somerset. 
 
 Som. Ah, Warwick, Warwick! wert thou as we are. 
 
 We might recover all our loss again : 30 
 
 The queen from France hath brought a puissant power : 
 Even now we heard the news : ah, couldst thou fly^! 
 
 War. Why, then I would not fly. Ah, IMontague, 
 If thou be there, sweet brother, take my hand, 
 i\nd with thy lips keep in my soul a while ! 
 Thou lovest me not ; for, brother, if thou didst, 
 Thy tears would wash this cold congealed blood, 
 That glues my lips and will not let me speak. 
 Come quickly, ]\Iontague, or I am dead. 
 
 Sonu Ah, Warwick! Montague hath breathed his last; 
 
 104
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act V. Sc. iii. 
 
 And to the latest ^asp cried out for Warwick, 41 
 And said ' Commend me to my valiant brother.' 
 And more he would have said, and more he spoke, 
 Which sounded like a clamour in a vault, 
 That mought not be distinguish'd ; but at last 
 I well might hear, delivered with a groan, 
 ' O, farewell, Warwick ! ' 
 War. Sweet rest his soul ! Fly, lords, and save yourselves ; 
 For Warwick bids vou all farewell, to meet in heaven. 
 
 [Dies. 
 
 Oxf. Away, away, to meet the queen's great power ! 50 
 [Here they bear azcay his body. Exeunt. 
 
 Scene III. 
 
 Another part of the field. 
 
 Flourish. Enter King Edz^'ard in triumph : zcith 
 Gloucester, Clarence, and the rest. 
 
 K. Edzv. Thus far our fortune keeps an upward course, 
 And we are graced with wreaths of victory. 
 But, in the midst of this bright-shining day, 
 I spy a black, suspicious, threatening cloud, 
 That will encounter with our glorious sun. 
 Ere he attain his easeful western bed : 
 I mean, my lords, those powers that the queen 
 Hath raised in Gallia have arrived our coast. 
 And, as we hear, march on to fight with us. 
 
 Clar. A little gale will soon disperse that cloud, 10 
 
 And blow it to the source from whence it came : 
 The very beams will dry those vapours up. 
 For every cloud engenders not a storm. 
 
 Glou: Tlic queen is valued thirty tliousand strong, 
 
 105
 
 Act V. Sc. iv. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 And Somerset, with Oxford, fled to her : 
 If she have time to breathe, be well assured 
 Her faction will be full as strong as ours. 
 K. Edzc, We are advertised by our loving friends 
 
 That they do hold their course toward Tewksbury : 
 We, having now the best at Barnet field, 20 
 
 Will thither straight, for willingness rids way ; 
 And, as we march, our strength will be augmented 
 In every county as we go along. 
 Strike up the drum ; cry ' Courage ! ' and away. 
 
 [E.vcunf. 
 
 Scene IV. 
 
 Plains near Tczvksbiiry. 
 
 March. Enter Queen Margaret, Prince Edward, 
 Somerset, Oxford, and Soldiers. 
 
 0. Mar. Great lords, wise men ne'er sit and wail their 
 loss. 
 But cheerly seek how to redress their harms. 
 What though the mast be now blown overboard, 
 The cable broke, the holding-anchor lost. 
 And half our sailors swallow'd in the flood? 
 Yet lives our pilot still. Is 't meet that he 
 Should leave the helm, and like a fearful lad 
 \\\th. tearful eyes add water to the sea. 
 And give more strength to that which hath too much. 
 Whiles, in his moan, the ship splits on the rock, 10 
 Which industry and courage might have saved ? 
 Ah, what a shame ! ah, what a fault were this ! 
 Say W^arwick was our anchor ; what of that ? 
 And Montague our topmast ; what of him ? 
 Our slaughtered friends the tackles ; what of these ? 
 
 106
 
 KING HENRY VL Act V. Sc. iv. 
 
 Why, is not Oxford here another anchor? 
 And Somerset another goodly mast ? 
 The friends of France our shrouds and tackhnsfs ? 
 And, though unskilful, why not Xed and I 
 For once allow'd the skilful pilot's charge? 20 
 
 We will not from the helm to sit and weep, 
 But keep our course, though the rough wind sav no. 
 From shelves and rocks that threaten us with wreck. 
 As good to chide the waves as speak them fair. 
 And what is Edward but a ruthless sea ? 
 What Clarence but a quicksand of deceit ? 
 And Richard but a ragged fatal rock ? 
 All these the enemies to our poor bark. 
 Say you can swim ; alas, 'tis but a while ! 
 Tread on the sand ; why, there you quickly sink : 30 
 Bestride the rock ; the tide will wash you off. 
 Or else you famish ; that 's a threefold death. 
 This speak I, lords, to let you understand, 
 If case some one of you vcould fly from us, 
 That there 's no hoped-for mercy with the brothers. 
 More than with ruthless waves, with sands and rocks. 
 Why, courage then ! what cannot be avoided 
 'Twere childish weakness to lament or fear. 
 Prince. iMethinks a woman of this valiant spirit 
 
 Should, if a coward heard her speak these words, 40 
 Infuse his breast with magnanimity, 
 And make him, naked, foil a man at arms. 
 I speak not this as doubting any here ; 
 For did I but suspect a fearful man, 
 He should have leave to go away betimes, 
 Lest in our need he might infect another, 
 And make him of like spirit to himself. 
 107
 
 Act V. Sc. iv. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 If any such be here — as God forbid ! — 
 Let him depart before we need his help, 
 Oxf. \A'omen and children of so high a courage, 50 
 
 And warriors faint! why, 'twere perpetual shame. 
 
 brave young prince ! thy famous grandfather 
 Doth live again in thee : long mayst thou live 
 To bear his image and renew his glories ! 
 
 So in. And he that will not fight for such a hope, 
 Go home to bed, and like the owl by day, 
 If he arise, be mock'd and wonder'd at. 
 
 Q. Mar. Thanks, gentle Somerset ; sweet Oxford, thanks. 
 
 Prince. And take his thanks that yet hath nothing else. 
 
 Enter a Messenger. 
 
 Mess. Prepare you, lords, for Edward is at hand, 60 
 
 Ready to fight ; therefore be resolute. 
 O.vf. I thought no less : it is his policy 
 
 To haste thus fast, to find us unprovided. 
 Soni. But he 's deceived; we are in readiness. 
 Q. Mar. This cheers my heart, to see your forwardness. 
 O.vf, Here pitch our battle ; hence we will not budge. 
 
 Flourish and March. Enter King Edzvard, Gloucester, 
 Clarence, and Soldiers. 
 
 K. Edzi'. Brave followers, yonder stands the thorny wood, 
 Which, by the heavens' assistance and your strength. 
 Must by the roots be hewn up yet ere night. 
 
 1 need not add more fuel to your fire, 70 
 For well I wot ye blaze to burn them out : 
 
 Give signal to the fight, and to it, lords ! 
 0. Mar. Lords, knights, and gentlemen, what I should say 
 My tears gainsay ; for every word I speak, 
 
 108
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act V. Sc. v. 
 
 Ye see, I drink the water of mine eyes. 
 
 Therefore, no more but this : Henry, your sovereign, 
 
 Is prisoner to the foe ; his state usurp'cl, 
 
 His reahn a slaughter-house, his subjects slain, 
 
 His statutes cancell'd, and his treasure spent; 
 
 And yonder is the wolf that makes this spoil. 80 
 
 You fight in justice : then, in God's name, lords. 
 
 Be vaHant, and give signal to the fight. 
 
 [Alarum: Retreat: Excursions. Exeunt, 
 
 Scene V. 
 
 Another part of the field. 
 
 Flourish. Enter King Edzvard, Gloucester, Clarence, and 
 Soldiers; zvith Queen Margaret, Oxford, and Som- 
 erset, prisoners. 
 
 K. Edzi'. Now here a period of tumultuous broils. 
 
 Away with Oxford to Hames Castle straight: 
 
 For Somerset, off with his guilty head. 
 
 Go, bear them hence ; I vvall not hear them speak. 
 Oxf. For my part, I '11 not trouble thee with words. 
 Som. Nor I, but stoop with patience to my fortune. 
 
 [Exeunt Oxford and Somerset, guarded. 
 Q. Alar. So part we sadly in this troublous world. 
 
 To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem. 
 K. Edzv. Is proclamation made, that who finds Edward 
 
 Shall have a high reward, and he his life? 10 
 
 Glou. It is : and lo, where youthful Edward comes ! 
 
 Enter Soldiers, zvith Prince Edzvard. 
 
 K. Edzv. Bring forth the gallant, let us hear him speak. 
 
 109
 
 Act V. Sc. V. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 What ! can so young a thorn begin to prick ? 
 Edward, what satisfaction canst thou make 
 For bearing arms, for stirring up my subjects, 
 And all the trouble thou hast turn'd me to? 
 
 Prince, Speak like a subject, proud ambitious York! 
 Suppose that I am now my father's mouth ; 
 Resign thy chair, and where I stand kneel thou, 
 Whilst I propose the selfsame words to thee, 20 
 
 Which, traitor, thou wouldst have me answer to. 
 
 Q. Mar. Ah, that thy father had been so resolved ! 
 
 Glon. That you might still have worn the petticoat. 
 And ne'er have stol'n the breech from Lancaster. 
 
 Prince. Let ^sop fable in a winter's night ; 
 
 His currish riddles sort not with this place. 
 
 Glon. By heaven, brat, I '11 plague ye for that word. 
 
 Q. Mar. Ay, thou wast born to be a plague to men. 
 
 Glon. For God's sake, take away this captive scold. 29 
 
 Prince. Nay, take away this scolding crook-back rather. 
 
 K. Edzv. Peace, wilful boy, or I will charm your tongue. 
 
 Clar. Untutor'd lad, thou art too malapert. 
 
 Prince. I know my duty ; you are all undutiful : 
 
 Lascivious Edward, and thou perjured George, 
 
 And thou mis-shapen Dick, I tell ye all 
 
 I am your better, traitors as ye are : 
 
 And thou usurp'st my father's right and mine. 
 
 A'. Edzv. Take that, thou likeness of this railer here. 
 
 [Stabs him. 
 
 Glon. Sprawl'st thou ? take that, to end thy agony. 
 
 [Stabs him. 
 
 Clar. And there 's for twitting me with perjury. 40 
 
 [Stabs him. 
 
 Q. Mar. O, kill me too ! 
 
 no
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act V. Sc. v. 
 
 Gloti. Marry, and shall. [Offers to kill her. 
 
 K. Edzu. Hold, Richard, hold ; for we have done too 
 much. 
 
 Gloii. Why should she live, to fill the world with words ? 
 
 K. Edzv. What, doth she swoon? use means for her 
 recovery. 
 
 Gloit. Clarence, excuse me to the king my brother; 
 I '11 hence to London on a serious matter : 
 Ere ye come there, be sure to hear some news. 
 
 Clar. What? what? 
 
 Glou. The Tower, the Tower. [Exit. 50 
 
 Q. Mar. O Ned, sweet Ned ! speak to thy mother, boy ! 
 Canst thou not speak ? O traitors ! murderers ! 
 They that stabb'd Caesar shed no blood at all. 
 Did not offend, nor were not worthy blame, 
 If this foul deed were by to equal it : 
 He was a man ; this, in respect, a child : 
 And men ne'er spend their fury on a child. 
 What 's worse than murderer, that I may name it ? 
 No, no, my heart will burst, an if I speak : 
 And I will speak, that so my heart may burst. 60 
 Butchers and villains ! bloody cannibals ! 
 How sweet a plant have you untimely cropp'd ! 
 You have no children, butchers ! if you had. 
 The thought of them would have stirr'd up remorse : 
 But if you ever chance to have a child, 
 Look in his youth to have him so cut off, 
 As, deathsmen, you have rid this sweet young prince ! 
 
 K. Edzv. Away with her ; go, bear her hence perforce. 
 
 Q. Mar. Nay, never bear me hence, dispatch me here ; 
 Here sheathe thy sword, I '11 pardon thee my death : 
 What, wilt thou not? then, Clarence, do it thou. 71 
 III
 
 Act V. Sc. vi. THE f HIRD PART OF 
 
 Clar. By heaven, I will not do thee so much ease. 
 
 Q. Mar. Good Clarence, do ; sweet Clarence, do thou do 
 it. 
 
 Clar. Didst thou not hear me swear I would not do it ? 
 
 Q. Mar. Ay, but thou usest to forswear thyself : 
 'Twas sin before, but now 'tis charity. 
 What, wilt thou not ? Where is that devil's butcher, 
 Hard-favour'd Richard? Richard, where art thou? 
 Thou art not here : murder is thy alms-deed ; 
 Petitioners for blood thou ne'er put'st back. 80 
 
 K. Edzv. Away, I say ; I charge ye, bear her hence. 
 
 Q. Mar. So come to you and yours, as to this prince ! 
 
 [Exit, led out forcibly. 
 
 K. Edzv. Where 's Richard gone ? 
 
 Clar. To London, all in post; and, as I guess, 
 To make a bloody supper in the Tower. 
 
 K. Edzv. He 's sudden, if a thing comes in his head. 
 Now march we hence : discharge the common sort 
 With pay and thanks, and let 's away to London, 
 And see our gentle queen how well she fares : 89 
 By this, I hope, she hath a son for me. [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene VL 
 
 London. The Tozver. 
 
 Enter King Henry and Gloucester, zvith the 
 Lieutenant, on the zvalls. 
 
 Glon. Good day, my lord. What, at your book so hard ? 
 
 K. Hen. Ay, my good lord : — my lord, I should say rather ; 
 'Tis sin to flatter ; ' good ' was Httle better : 
 * Good Gloucester ' and * good devil ' were alike, 
 And both preposterous ; therefore, not * good lord.'
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act V. Sc. vi. 
 
 Glou. Sirrah, leate us to ourselves: we must confer. 
 
 \^Exit Lieutenant. 
 K. Hen. So flies the reckless shepherd from the wolf ; 
 
 So first the harmless sheep doth yield his fleece, 
 
 And next his throat unto the butcher's knife. 
 
 What scene of death hath Roscius now to act? lo 
 Clou. Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind; 
 
 The thief doth fear each bush an officer. 
 K. Hen. The bird that hath been limed in a bush, 
 
 With trembling wings misdoubteth every bush ; 
 
 And I, the hapless male to one sweet bird. 
 
 Have now the fatal object in my eye. 
 
 Where my poor young was limed, was caught and 
 kiird. 
 Glou. Why, what a peevish fool was that of Crete, 
 
 That taught his son the office of a fowl ! 
 
 And yet, for all his wings, the fool was drown'd. 20 
 A'. Hen. I, Daedalus ; my poor boy, Icarus ; 
 
 Thy father, Minos, that denied our course ; 
 
 The sun that sear'd the wings of my sweet boy 
 
 Thy brother Edward, and thyself the sea 
 
 \\'hose envious gulf did swallow up his life. 
 
 Ah, kill me with thy weapon, not with words ' 
 
 My breast can better brook thy dagger's point. 
 
 Than can my ears that tragic history. 
 
 But wherefore dost thou come ? is 't for my life ? 
 Glou. Think'st thou I am an executioner? 30 
 
 K. Hen. A persecutor, I am sure, thou art : 
 
 If murdering innocents be executing. 
 
 Why, then thou art an executioner. 
 Glou. Thy son I kill'd for his presumption. 
 K. Hen. Hadst thou been kill'd when first thou didst 
 presume, 
 
 113
 
 Act V. Sc. vi. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Thou hadst not lived to kill a son oft mine. 
 
 And thus I prophesy, that many a thousand, 
 
 Which now mistrust no parcel of my fear, 
 
 And many an old man's sigh, and many a widow's, 
 
 And many an orphan's water-standing- eye — 40 
 
 Men for their sons, wives for their husbands, 
 
 And orphans for their parents' timeless death — 
 
 Shall rue the hour that ever thou wast born. 
 
 The owl shriek' d at thy birth, — an evil sign ; 
 
 The night-crow cried, aboding luckless time ; 
 
 Dogs howl'd, and hideous tempest shook douii trees ; 
 
 The raven rook'd her on the chimney's top. 
 
 And chattering pies in dismal discords sung. 
 
 Thy mother felt more than a mother's pain, 
 
 And yet brought forth less than a mother's hope, 50 
 
 To wit, an indigested and deformed lump, 
 
 Not like the fruit of such a goodly tree. 
 
 Teeth hadst thou in thy head when thou wast born. 
 
 To signify thou camest to bite the world : 
 
 And, if the rest be true which I have heard, 
 
 Thou camest — 
 
 CloiL I '11 hear no more : die, prophet, in thy speech : 
 
 [Stabs him. 
 For this, amongst the rest, was I ordain'd. 
 
 K. Hen. Ay, and for much more slaughter after this. 
 
 O, God forgive my sins, and pardon thee ! [Dies. 60 
 
 Clou. What, will the aspiring blood of Lancaster 
 
 Sink in the ground ? I thought it would have mounted. 
 See how my sword weeps for the poor king's death ! 
 O, may such purple tears be alway shed 
 From those that wish the downfall of our house ! 
 If any spark of life be yet remaining, 
 114
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act V. Sc. vi. 
 
 Down, down to hell ; and say I sent thee thither : 
 
 [Stabs him again. 
 I, that have neither pity, love, nor fear. 
 Indeed, 'tis true that Henry told me of ; 
 For I have often heard my mother say 70 
 
 I came into the world w4th my legs forward : 
 Had I not reason, think ye, to make haste. 
 And seek their ruin that usurp'd our right? 
 The midwife wonder'd, and the women cried 
 ' O, Jesus bless us, he is born with teeth ! ' 
 And so I was ; which plainly signified 
 That I should snarl and bite and play the dog. 
 Then, since the heavens have shaped my body so. 
 Let hell make crook'd my mind to answer it. 
 I have no brother, I am like no brother ; 80 
 
 And this word ' love,' which greybeards call divine, 
 Be resident in men like one another. 
 And not in me : I am myself alone. 
 Clarence, bew^are ; thou keep'st me from the light : 
 But I will sort a pitchy day for thee ; 
 For I will buz abroad such prophecies 
 That Edward shall be fearful of his life, 
 And then, to purge his fear, I '11 be thy death. 
 King Henry and the prince his son are gone: 
 Clarence, thy turn is next, and then the rest, 90 
 
 Counting myself but bad till I be best. 
 I '11 throw thy body in another room. 
 And triumph, Henry, in thy day of doom. 
 
 [E.rif, zi'ith the body. 
 
 115
 
 Act V. Sc. vii. THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Scene VII. 
 
 London. The palace. 
 
 Flourish. Enter King Edward, Queen Elisabeth, Clar- 
 ence, Gloucester, Hastings, a Nurse zvith the young 
 Prince, and Attendants. 
 
 K. Edzv. Once more we sit in England's royal throne, 
 Re-purchased with the blood of enemies. 
 What valiant foemen, like to autumn's corn, 
 Have we mow'd down in tops of all their pride ! 
 Three Dukes of Somerset, threefold renown'd 
 For hardy and undoubted champions ; 
 Two Cliffords, as the father and the son ; 
 And two Northumberlands ; two braver men 
 Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's sound ; 
 With them, the two brave bears, Warwick and 
 Montague, lo 
 
 That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion. 
 And made the forest tremble when they roar'd. 
 Thus have we swept suspicion from our seat. 
 And made our footstool of security. 
 Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy. 
 Young Ned, for thee, thine uncles and myself 
 Have in our armours watch'd the winter's night, 
 Went all afoot in summer's scalding heat, 
 That thou mightst repossess the crown in peace : 
 And of our labours thou shalt reap the gain. 20 
 
 Glou. [Aside] I '11 blast his harvest, if your head were laid ; 
 For yet I am not look'd on in the world. 
 This shoulder was ordain'd so thick to heave ; 
 And heave it shall some weight, or break my back : 
 116
 
 KING HENRY VI. Act V. Sc. vii. 
 
 Work thou the way, — and thou shalt execute. 
 K. Edw. Clarence and Gloucester, love my lovely queen j 
 
 And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both. 
 Clar. The duty that I owe unto your majesty 
 
 I seal upon the lips of. this sweet babe. 29 
 
 Q. Eli::. Thanks, noble Clarence ; worthy brother, thanks. 
 GloiL And, that I love the tree from whence thou sprang'st, 
 
 Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit. 
 
 [Aside] To say the truth, so Judas kiss'd his master, 
 
 And cried, ' all hail ! ' when as he meant all harm. 
 K. EdziK Now am I seated as my soul delights. 
 
 Having my country's peace and brothers' loves. 
 Clar. What will your grace have done with Margaret ? 
 
 Reignier, her father, to the King of France 
 
 Hath pawn'd the Sicils and Jerusalem, 
 
 And hither have they sent it for her ransom. 40 
 
 K. Ediv. Away with her, and waft her hence to France. 
 
 And now what rests but that we spend the time 
 
 With stately triumphs, mirthful comic shows, 
 
 Such as befits the pleasure of the court? 
 
 Sound drums and trumpets ! farewell sour annoy ! 
 
 For here, I hope, begins our lasting joy. [Exeunt. 
 
 xr
 
 THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Glossary. 
 
 Abodements, bad omens; IV. 
 vii. 13- 
 
 Aboding, boding ; V. vi. 45. 
 
 Adventure, enterprise; IV. ii. 
 18. 
 
 Advertised, informed; II. i. 
 116. 
 
 ^sop; an allusion to the belief 
 that he was humpbacked 
 (hence the application of the 
 name to Richard Crook- 
 back) ; V. V. 25. 
 
 Aims at, (i) endeavours to ob- 
 tain, III. ii. 68; (2) aim, 
 guess, III. ii. 68. 
 
 Alms-deed, act of charity; V. 
 
 V- 79- 
 Apparent, heir-apparent; II. ii. 
 
 64. 
 Appointed; "well a.," well 
 
 equipped; II. i. ii3- 
 Argosy, merchant ship ; II. vi. 
 
 36. 
 Arrived, reached, arrived at; 
 
 V. iii. 8. 
 As, that ; I. i. 234. 
 Assay, try, essay (Collier, "es- 
 say") ; I. iv. 118. 
 Attended, waited for; IV. vi. 
 
 82. 
 Aii'fiil, awe-inspiring; II. i. 
 
 154. 
 
 Balm, consecrated oil ; III. i. 17. 
 Bands, bonds; L i. 186. 
 
 Bandy, beat to and fro ; I. iv. 49. 
 Basilisk, a fabulous serpent 
 
 supposed to kill by its look ; 
 
 III. ii. 187. 
 
 From an illuminated MS. of XlVth 
 century. 
 
 Battle, army, body of troops ; 
 I. i. 8, 15. 
 
 Beaver, helmet; I. i. 12. 
 
 Belgia, Belgium; IV. viii. i. 
 
 Belike, I suppose; I. i. 51. 
 
 Bells, " shake his bells," an al- 
 lusion to the small bells at- 
 tached to hawks, to frighten 
 the birds hawked at ; I. i. 47. 
 
 Betimes, in good time, before it 
 is too late ; V. iv. 45. 
 
 Bewray, betray; I. i. 211. 
 
 Bishop's Palace, the Palace of 
 the Bishop of London ; V. i. 
 45- 
 
 18
 
 KING HENRY VI. 
 
 Glossary 
 
 Blase, burn; V. iv. 71, 
 
 Bloodsucking sighs, referring 
 to the old belief that with 
 each sigh the heart lost a 
 drop of blood; IV. iv. 22. 
 
 Bloody, blood-thirsty, cruel; I. 
 iii. 2. 
 
 Blunt, rough ; IV. viii. 2. 
 
 Bodged, yielded, gave way, 
 budged (Johnson conj. 
 "budged," Collier conj. 
 " hotch'd") ; I. iv. 19. 
 
 Bootless, useless ; I. iv. 20. 
 
 Boots, avails; I. iv. 125. 
 
 Broach'd, begun; II. ii. 159. 
 
 Bruit, rumour, report ; IV. vii. 
 64. 
 
 Buckle, join in close fight 
 (Theobald's correction [from 
 Quartos] of Folios, " buck- 
 ler") ; I. iv. 50. 
 
 Buckler, shield; III. iii. 99. 
 
 Bug, bugbear ; V. ii. 2. 
 
 But, except ; IV. vii. 2>^. 
 
 Buy, aby, pay for (Grant 
 White, "by," from " abie " 
 Quarto i) ; V. i. 68. 
 
 Collet, a woman of bad charac- 
 ter; II. ii. 145. 
 Captivates, makes captive ; I. 
 
 iv. 115. 
 Case; " if c," if it be the case, 
 
 if it happen (Folio 4, "In 
 
 case ") ; V. iv. 34. 
 Chafed, infuriated ; II. v. 126. 
 Challenge, claim; IV. vi. 6. 
 Chameleon, a kind of lizard 
 
 whose colour changes; III. ii. 
 
 191. 
 Channel, gutt&r (Roderick conj. 
 
 "kennel") ; II. ii 141. 
 
 Charm, silence, as by a charm ; 
 
 V. V. 31. 
 Chase, pursuit, game ; II. iv. 12. 
 Cheerly, cheerfully ; V. iv. 2. 
 Chid, driven by scolding; II. v. 
 
 17- 
 Close, secret ; IV. v. 17. 
 Colours, standards, ensigns ; I. 
 
 i. 91. 
 Conveyance, trickery; III. iii. 
 
 160. 
 Convey' d, carried off; IV. vi. 
 
 81. 
 Cony, rabbit (Folio i. "Con- 
 nie," Folio 2, " Conny") ; I. 
 
 iv. 62. 
 Coverture, covert, shelter 
 
 ( Warburton, '' overture ") ; 
 
 IV. ii. 13. 
 
 Darraign, range ; II. ii. 72. 
 Dazzle, " d. mine eyes," are my 
 
 eyes dazzled?; II. i. 25. 
 Dearest, best, most precious ; 
 
 V. i. 69. 
 
 Deck, pack of cards ; V. i. 44. 
 
 Delicates, delicacies; II. v. 51. 
 
 Demean d, behaved; I. iv. 7. 
 
 Depart, death, II. i. no; de- 
 parture, going away, IV. i. 
 92. 
 
 Departing, parting; II. vi. 43. 
 
 Despite, spite, malice; II. i. 59. 
 
 Detect, betray; II. ii. 143. 
 
 Disanniials, annuls, cancels: 
 
 III. iii. 81. 
 
 Done, done with, finished with; 
 
 IV. i. 104. 
 
 Done his shrift, heard the con- 
 fession and granted absolu- 
 tion ; III. ii. 107. 
 
 Doubt, fear; IV. viii. 2>7' 
 
 119
 
 Glossary 
 
 THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Doubted, feared ; IV. iii. 19. 
 DownrigJit, straight dawn; I. i. 
 12. 
 
 Eager, bitter ; 11. vi. 68. 
 
 Ean, bring forth young (Folios 
 
 I, 2, "Bane"; Theobald, 
 "yean ") ; II. v. 36. 
 
 Effuse, effusion ; II. vi. 28. 
 
 Embassade, embassy (Capell, 
 from Quartos, " embas- 
 sage") ; IV. iii. 32. 
 
 Empty, hungry; I. i. 268. 
 
 Encounter, fight, combat; V. iii. 
 5. 
 
 Enlargement, release from con- 
 finement ; IV. vi. 5. 
 
 Extraught, extracted, derived; 
 
 II. ii. 142. 
 
 Falehion, scimitar, sword; I. iv. 
 
 12. 
 Fear, affright, terrify; III. iii. 
 
 226. 
 Fear'd, affrighted, frightened 
 
 (Rowe, " scar'd") ; V. ii. 2. 
 Fearful, timorous, I. i. 25 ; II. 
 
 ii. 30; terrible, dreadful, II. 
 
 ii. 27. 
 Fence, defend, guard; II. vi. 
 
 75- 
 Figures, reveals; II. i. 32. 
 Fires, dissyllabic; II. i. 83. 
 Foil, defeat ; V. iv. 42. 
 Fondly, foolishly ; II. ii. 38. 
 For, as regards ; IV. iii. 48. 
 Forfend, forbid; II. i. 191. 
 Forgery, lie, deception ; III. iii. 
 
 175. 
 Forlorn; "a f.," an outcast 
 (Collier MS., "all for- 
 lorn"); III. iii. 26. 
 
 Forslozv, delay (Folios i, 2, 
 " Foreslow " ; Folios 3, 4, 
 "Fore-slow") ; II. iii. 56. 
 
 Forspent, exhausted (Folios, 
 " Forespent" ; Rann (from 
 Quartos), "Sore spent"); 
 II. iii. I. 
 
 Forward of, eager for ; IV. viii. 
 
 Fretting, violently agitating ; 
 
 II. vi. 35. 
 
 Gallant, spruce fellow, used 
 
 ironically; V. v. 12. 
 Q7///a, Gaul; V. iii. 8. 
 Ghostly, spiritual ; III. ii. 107. 
 Gin, snare; I. iv. 61. 
 Government, self-control ; I. iv. 
 
 132. 
 Grant, granting, bestowing; 
 
 III. iii. 130. 
 
 Hand; " out of h.," at once ; IV. 
 
 vii. 63. 
 Haply, fortunately ; II. v. 58. 
 Hard-favour'd, hard-featured, 
 
 ugly; V. v. 78. 
 Hasty, rash, passionate 
 
 (Walker conj. "lusty"; 
 
 Cartwright conj. "hardy"); 
 
 IV. viii. 2. 
 
 Haught, haughty; II. i. 169. 
 Have at thee, take care, be 
 
 warned ; II. iv. 11. 
 He, man; I. i. 46. 
 Head, making, raising an army; 
 
 II. i. 141. 
 Heir, heiress ; IV. i. 48. 
 Henry, trisyllabic; I. i. 107. 
 Flold, stronghold ; I. ii. 52. 
 Homely, humble ; II. v. 22. 
 Honesty, chastity; III. ii. 72. 
 
 120
 
 KING HENRY VI 
 
 Glossary 
 
 Hour (dissyllabic) ; II. v. 26, 
 31, 32, 23, etc. 
 
 Hyrcania, a country on the Cas- 
 pian Sea ; I. iv. 155. 
 
 Icarus, the son of Daedalus, 
 who, attempting to imitate 
 the example of his father and 
 fly on wings, was drowned 
 (Ovid, Meta. viii.) ; V. vi. 21. 
 
 Impale, encircle ; III. iii. 189. 
 
 Impeach, reproach ; I. iv. 60. 
 
 Indigested, shapeless; V. vi. 51. 
 
 Inferring, bringing forward; 
 11. ii. 44. 
 
 Injurious, insulting, III. iii. 78; 
 unjust, III. iii. loi. 
 
 Inly, inward; I. iv. 171. 
 
 Inviolable, not to be broken ; II. 
 i. 30. 
 
 Irks; "it i.," it pains; II. ii. 6. 
 
 Keeper with cross-bow; III. i. 
 Cp. illustration. 
 
 From an illuminated MS. of ("he XVth 
 century, in the National Library, Paris. 
 
 Lade, ladle, bale out ; III. ii. 139. 
 
 Lane, passage; I. iv. 9. 
 
 Laiind, lawn, glade (Capell, 
 
 " lawn ") ; III. i. 2. 
 Level, aim ; II. ii. 19. 
 Leather bottle; II. v. 48. {Cp. 
 
 annexed illustration, from a 
 
 specimen in the Roach-Smith 
 
 collection.) 
 
 Leather bottle. 
 
 Lime, join, cement; V. i. 84. 
 Limed, caught by bird-lime ; V. 
 
 vi. 13. 
 'Long, along of, owing to ; 
 
 (Folios, "long") ; IV. vii. 2^. 
 
 Machiavel, used proverbially 
 for a crafty politician ; III. 
 
 ii. 193. 
 Magnanimity, heroic bravery ; 
 
 V. iv. 41. 
 Malapert, pert, saucy; V. v. 2>^- 
 Male, male-parent ; V. vi. 15. 
 Man at arms, armed knight ; V. 
 
 iv. 42. 
 Manhood, bravery, courage; 
 
 IV. ii. 20. 
 Marches, country-borders ; II. 
 
 i. 140.
 
 Glossary 
 
 THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Masquers; III. iii. 224. Cp. 
 illustration. 
 
 Meeds, deserts, 
 merits ; II. i. 36. 
 
 Mermaid, siren; 
 III. li. 186. 
 
 Mess, set of four, 
 " as at great din- 
 ners the com- 
 pany was usu- 
 ally arranged 
 into fours" 
 (Nares) ; I. iv. 
 
 7Z- 
 
 Mind, mean, have 
 
 From an ilium- „ rninH • TV i" S 
 
 inationinthe ^ mmd , IV. 1. «. 
 
 Harl. MS. oiMisdoubtetJi, dis- 
 
 Froissart. ^^^^^^. y_ ^j_ j^_ 
 
 Misthink, misjudge; II. v. 108. 
 
 Moe, more ; II. i. 170. 
 
 Motion, proposal; III. iii. 244. 
 
 M ought, the reading of the Fo- 
 lios ; might, could (Capell 
 [Quartos], "could"; Pope, 
 "might' ) ; V. ii. 45. 
 
 Muse, marvel, wonder ; III. ii. 
 109. 
 
 Naked, unarmed ; V. iv. 42. 
 Napkin, handkerchief; I. iv. 79. 
 Narrow seas, English Channel ; 
 
 IV. viii. 3. 
 Neat, horned cattle ; II. i. 14. 
 Nestor, the oldest and wisest 
 
 hero before Troy ; III. ii. 188. 
 Nice, subtile, sophistical; IV. 
 
 vii. 58. 
 
 Obsequious, lavish of obse- 
 quies ; II. V. 118. 
 
 Of, instead of, from being; III. 
 iii. 25. 
 
 I Only, alone (Pope, "alone"); 
 IV. i. 45. 
 
 Overgone, overcome; II. v. 
 
 123. 
 Overpeer'd, looked down upon. 
 
 towered above ; V. ii. 14. 
 
 Pale, enclose, encompass ; I. iv. 
 103. 
 
 Parcel, part; V. vi. 38. 
 
 Passing, surpassing ; V. i. 106. 
 
 Passion, violent sorrow ; I. iv. 
 150. 
 
 Period, end. finish ; V. v. i. 
 
 Pies, magpies ; V. vi. 48. 
 
 Pinch'd, bitten ; II. i. 16. 
 
 Pitiful, merciful ; III. ii. 32. 
 
 Place; " in p.," present ; IV. i. 
 103. 
 
 Pleasetli ; "him p.," it pleases 
 him ; II. vi. 105. 
 
 Pleasure, give pleasure (Fo- 
 lios 2, 3, 4, "please"; Collier 
 MS., "please you too ") ; III. 
 ii. 22. 
 
 Poltroons, cowards (Folios, 
 " Poultroones") ; I. i. 62. 
 
 Post, messenger ; V. i. i. 
 
 From a tract entitled A speedy Post, 
 with a Packet of Letters aiid Com- 
 pliments, n.d. 
 
 122
 
 KING HENRY VI. 
 
 Glossary 
 
 Post, haste ; I. ii. 48. 
 Post, hasten ; I. ii. 55. 
 Posted off, put off carelessly; 
 
 IV. viii. 40. 
 
 Pozi'cr, force, army; II. i. 177. 
 Prancing, bounding : II. i. 24. 
 PreacJinient, high-flown dis- 
 course ; I. iv. 72. 
 Prepare, preparation ; IV. i. 
 
 131. 
 Prescription, right derived 
 
 from immemorial custom; 
 
 III. iii. 94. 
 P r e s e n t e t h , represents 
 
 (Steevens, "present") ; II. 
 
 V. 100. 
 
 Presently, immediately; I. ii. 
 
 36. 
 Pretend, assert ; IV. vii. 57. 
 Prick, mark, dial-point ; I. iv.34. 
 Prize, privilege (Warburton 
 
 [from Quartos], "pride"; 
 
 Walker conj. "praise"); II. 
 
 i. 20. 
 Proteus, the marine god. who 
 
 had the faculty of assuming 
 
 whatever shape he pleased ; 
 
 III. ii. 192. 
 
 Quaintly, pleasantly ; II. v. 24. 
 Quit, requite, reward; III. iii. 
 128. 
 
 Racking, moving as clouds; II. 
 
 i. 27. 
 Ragged, rugged (Folios, 
 
 " raged ") ; V. iv. 27. 
 Ramping, rampant ; V. ii. 13. 
 Raiight, reached (Folios 3, 4, 
 
 "caught") ; I. iv. 68. 
 Remorse, pity, compassion; III. 
 
 i. 40. 
 
 Rends, tears asunder (Folios, 
 " rents") ; III. ii. 175. 
 
 Repair, repairing hither (Fo- 
 lios I, 2, " repayre " ; Folios 
 3, 4, "repair") ; V. i. 20. 
 
 Resolve, come to a determina- 
 tion ; I. i. 49. 
 
 Respect; "in r.," in compari- 
 son ; V. V. 56. 
 
 Rest, remain ; V. ii. 8. 
 
 Resteth, remaineth ; I. ii. 44. 
 
 Retire, retreat flight; II. i. 150. 
 
 Revolt, fall off; I. i. 151. 
 
 Rhesus, the Thracian King, 
 who came to the assistance 
 of Troy, but was slaughtered 
 at night by Ulysses and Dio- 
 mede ; IV. ii. 20. 
 
 Rids; " r. way," i.e. gets rid of 
 distance ; V. iii. 21. 
 
 Rook'd, squatted ; V. vi. 47. 
 
 Roscius, the most celebrated 
 actor of ancient Rome 
 (Pope's emendation; Folios, 
 " Rossius" ; Hanmer [War- 
 burton], "Richard") ; V. vi. 
 10. 
 
 Ruinate, ruin ; V. i. 83. 
 
 Ruthful, piteous (Folios 3, 4, 
 " rueful ") ; II. v. 95. 
 
 Sadness, seriousness; III. ii. 
 
 77- 
 
 Sanctuary, the sanctuary at 
 Westminster, which afforded 
 protection from any perse- 
 cution ; IV. iv. 31. 
 
 Scrupulous, " too nice in de- 
 terminations of conscience " ; 
 IV. vii. 61. 
 
 Self-place, self-same place, 
 very place ; III. i. 11. 
 
 123
 
 Glossary 
 
 THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Selfsame, the selfsame (Han- 
 mer, " th' self-^a;^^ ") ; II. i. 
 
 82. 
 Sennet, a particular set of notes 
 
 on the cornet or trumpet ; I. 
 
 i. 206. X 
 
 Scptentrion, the North ; I. iv. 
 
 136. 
 Service ; " do thee s.," become 
 
 thy servitor ; V. i. ^2>- 
 Shame-faced, bashful ; IV. viii. 
 
 52. 
 Ship, take ship (Folio t. 
 
 " shipt"; Vaughan conj. 
 
 " shipp'd") ; IV. v. 21. 
 Shoot, shot ; III. i. 7. 
 Shriver, confessor; III. ii. 108. 
 Shrouds, sail-ropes ; V. iv. 18. 
 Sicils, Sicilies; I. iv. 122. 
 Silly, innocent, helpless, II. v. 
 
 43 ; petty, poor ; used con- 
 temptuously, III. iii. 93. 
 Sinezv toget}ier,kmt in strength 
 
 (Folios I, 2, 3, " sinow t.") ; 
 
 II. vi. 91. 
 
 Sinon, the Greek who per- 
 suaded the Trojans to carr^ 
 the wooden horse into Troy ; 
 
 III. ii. 190. 
 Sith, since ; I. i. no. 
 Slaughter-man, slayer, butcher; 
 
 I. iv. 169. 
 Sleight, artifice, trickery 
 
 (Rowe, " sliglit") ; IV. ii. 20. 
 Sometime, sometimes; II. ii. 30. 
 Soothe, to assent to as being 
 
 true, to humour (Folios, 
 
 "sooth"', Rann, Heath conj. 
 
 "smooth") ; III. iii. 175. 
 Sort, crew, set ; II. ii. 97. 
 Sorts, turns out wdl ; II. i. 
 
 209. 
 
 Spite, vexation, mortification ; 
 V. i. 18. 
 
 Spite of spite, come the worst 
 that may ; II. iii. 5. 
 
 Spleen; "heated s.," fiery im- 
 petuosity, heat (Warburton, 
 " hated spleen ") ; II. i. 124. 
 
 Sport, disport, amuse ; II. v. 
 
 34- 
 Stale, laughing-stock, dupe ; 
 
 III. iii. 260. 
 
 State, station, rank; III. ii. 93. 
 
 Stay, linger; III. iii. 40. 
 
 Stigmatic, one branded by na- 
 ture with deformity; II. ii. 
 136. 
 
 Stout, brave; IV. ii. 19. 
 
 Strategems, dreadful deeds 
 Folios I, 2, "stragems"); 
 II. V. 89. 
 
 Strike; " to s.," to lower sail ; 
 V. i. 52. 
 
 Strike sail, lower, let down 
 sail; III. iii. 5. 
 
 Success, result, issue ; II. ii. 46. 
 
 Suddenly, quickly ; IV. ii. 4. 
 
 Suffer'd, rllowed to have way; 
 
 IV. viii. 8. 
 
 Suspect, suspicion ; IV. i. 142. 
 
 Tacklings, cordage. rigging 
 
 (trisyllabic) ; V. iv. 18. 
 Tainted, touched, moved; III. 
 
 i. 40. 
 Take on, be furious ; II. v. 104. 
 Temper with the stars, act and 
 
 think in conformity with 
 
 fate ; IV. vi. 29. 
 Time ; " take the t.," improve 
 
 the opportunity ; V. i. 48. 
 Tire on, seize and feed on 
 
 ravenously; I. i. 269. 
 
 124
 
 KING HENRY VI. 
 
 Glossary 
 
 Title, claim, right (Grey conj. 
 
 " tale ") ; III. i. 48. 
 Toward, bold ; II. ii. 66. 
 Trozv'st, thinkest (Folios, 
 
 " trozvest") ; V. i. 85. 
 Troy; "the hope of T.," i.e. 
 
 Hector; II. i. 51. 
 Trull, harlot; I. iv. 114. 
 Truuipct, trumpeter; V. i. 16. 
 Type, sign, badge {i.e. the 
 
 crown). (Lloyd conj. 
 "style") ; I. iv. 121. 
 
 Ulysses, the famous king of 
 
 Ithaca ; III. ii. 189. 
 Unhid, unbidden, unwelcome; 
 
 V. i. 18. 
 Unconstant, inconstant; V. i. 
 
 102. 
 Undoubted, fearless (Capell 
 
 conj. "redoubted") ; V.vii.6. 
 Unreasonable, not endowed 
 
 with reason ; II. ii. 26. 
 Unfiitor'd, uninstructed, raw; 
 
 V. V. 32. 
 Umvares, unawares; (Folio 4, 
 
 " unaivares " ; H a n m e r , 
 
 " un' wares " ; Vaughan conj. 
 
 " tinware ") ; II. v. 62. 
 Usest, art accustomed ; V. v. 75. 
 Valued, rated, estimated; V. iii. 
 
 14. 
 
 Vantages, advantages; III. ii. 
 
 25- 
 Venom, venomous, poisonous 
 
 (Capell [from Quarto 3], 
 
 " venom'd ") ; II. ii. 138. 
 Via, away! an interjection of 
 
 encouragement ; II. i. 182. 
 Visard-like, like a mask; I. iv. 
 
 116. 
 Vozved, sworn; III. iii. 50. 
 
 Waft over, carry over the sea ; 
 III. iii. 253. 
 
 Waned, declined (Folios, 
 " wained ") ; IV. vii. 4. 
 
 Water-Hozving, flowing like 
 water, copious ; IV. viii. 43. 
 
 Wean me, alienate myself (Fo- 
 lios I, 2, " zvaine"; Folios 3, 
 4, " zvain") ; IV. iv. 17. 
 
 Weeping-ripe, ready to weep ; 
 Folios, " zi'eeping ripe ") ; I. 
 iv. 172. 
 
 When? an exclamation of im- 
 patience; V. i. 49. 
 
 Willozv garland, the emblem of 
 unhappy love ; III. iii. 22S. 
 
 Wind, scent; III. ii. 14. 
 
 Wisp of strazi.', a mark of dis- 
 grace placed on the heads of 
 scolds ; II. ii. 144. 
 
 Wit, wisdom ; IV. vii. 61. 
 
 Witch, bewitch; (Folios, 
 " 'zvitch ") ; III. ii. 150. 
 
 Withal, whh; III. ii. 91. 
 
 Witty, full of wit, intelligent ; 
 I. ii. 43. 
 
 Younker, stripling; II. i. 24. 
 
 125
 
 The Battle of Barnet. 
 From a contemporary MS. preserved in the Public Library at Ghent. 
 
 126
 
 KING HENRY VI. 
 
 Critical Notes. 
 
 BY ISRAEL GOLLANCZ. 
 
 I. i. II. 'dangerously' Theobald's correction (from Quartos); 
 Folios, ' dangerous.' 
 
 I. i. i8. 'But is your grace'; Pope, 'Is his grace'; Capell, 'Is 
 your grace'; Malone (from Quartos), 'What, is your grace'; 
 Steevens, ' What, 's your grace ' ; Lettsom, ' What, Is your grace.' 
 
 I. i. 19. 'hope'; Capell, 'end'; Dyce (Anon, conj.), 'hap.' 
 
 I. i. 34. 'thrust you out perforce'; Rowe, 'thrust you out by 
 force'; Capell (from Quartos), 'put us out by force.' 
 
 I. i. 36. 'council'; Pope's emendation of Folios i, 2, ' coun- 
 saile'; Folio 3, ' counsell' ; Folio 4, 'counsel' 
 
 I. i. 41. 'And bashful Henry deposed, whose cowardice' ; 
 Quartos, ' be deposde ' ; as the line stands in the Folios ' Henry ' 
 must be either dissyllabic or monosyllabic. 
 
 I. i. 55. 'You both have vow'd'; Folio 4, 'you have both 
 vow'd'; Pope, 'you vow'd'; Collier MS., 'you have vow'd'; 
 Collier conj. ' both have vow'd ' ; Vaughan conj. ' you both vow'd.' 
 
 I. i. 56. 'favourites' ; Capell, 'favourers.' 
 
 I. i. 62. 'poltroons, such as he' ; Folio i, ' Poultroones, such as 
 he'; Folios 2, 3, 'Poultroones, and such is he'; Folio 4, 'Pol- 
 troons, and such is he' ; Capell, 'poltroons, and such as he.' 
 
 I. i. 70. 'Far be the thought of this from Henry's heart'; Ca- 
 pell (from Quartos), 'Far be it from the thoughts of Henry's 
 heart.' 
 
 I. i. 76. '/ am thine'; Rowe, 'Henry, I am thine'; Theobald 
 (from Quartos), ' Thou'rt deceiv'd, I'm thine.' 
 
 I. i. 78. ' The earldom was,' i.e. the earldom of March, by which 
 he claimed the throne; Theobald (from Quartos), 'The king- 
 dom is.' 
 
 I. i. 83. 'and that's'; the reading of Folios 2, 3, 4; Folio i, 
 'that's'; Quartos, 'and that is'; Collier, 'that is.' 
 
 I. i. 105. 'Thy father'; 'Thy,' Rowe's correction (from Quar- 
 tos) of Folios, 'My'; 'father'; Capell conj. 'uncle.' 
 
 127
 
 Notes THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 L i. 144. 'his crown'; Johnson, ' liis son'; Dr. Percy pointed 
 out that Richard 11. had no son; Capell (from Quartos), ' fne 
 crown ' ; Vaughan, ' his line ' ; Wordsworth, ' the throne.' 
 
 I. i. 171. 'for this my life-time reign as king,' the reading of 
 Folio I ; Folios 2, 3, 4. " for this time,' etc. ; Theobald (from Quar- 
 tos), 'but reign in quiet, zvliile I live.' 
 
 I. i. 261. ' from,' the reading of Folios 2, 3, 4. and Quartos ; 
 Folio I, ' to.' 
 
 I. i. 268. ' cost/ so Folios ; Hanmer, ' truss ' ; Warburton, 
 ' coast,' i.e. ' watch and follow, or hover round ' ; Steevens, ' cote ' ; 
 Jackson, 'court' ; Dyce, ' souse.' Warburton's emendation is gen- 
 erally adopted by modern editors. 
 
 I. ii. 16. 'any'; Dyce. 'an.' (?) 'But for a kingdom may an 
 oath he broken.' 
 
 I. ii. 38. ' shalt to the Duke of Norfolk' ; the reading of Folios 
 I, 2, 3; Folio 4, 'shalt be D. of N. ' ; Rowe, ' shall go to the D. of 
 N.'; Pope, 'shalt to th' D. of X. go' ; Steevens, 'shalt unto the D. 
 of N.'; Vaughan, 'shalt straight to the D. of N.' 
 
 I. ii. 40. 'Lord Cobham'; Hanmer. 'Lord of Cobham.' 
 
 I. iii. 48. ' Di faciant laudis sumnia sit ista tuce'; i.e. ' The gods 
 grant that this be the sum of thy glory' (Ovid, Epistle from 
 Phillis to Demophoon) . 
 
 I. iv. 109. 'sake'; Capell (from Quartos), 'death.' 
 
 I. iv. 150. 'passion moves'; Folios 2, 3. 4, 'passions move'; 
 Folio I, 'passions moues.' 
 
 I. iv. 152, 153. ' That face of his the hungry cannibals JVould 
 not have touch'd, would not have stain'd with blood ' ; Warbur- 
 ton's arrangement (from Quartos) ; printed as three lines in 
 Folios, ending his . . . toucht . . . blood. For 'with blood' 
 Folios 2, 3, 4 read 'the roses just ivith blood'; Theobald, 'the 
 roses juic'd with blood': Hanmer, 'the roses just i' th' bud'; 
 Collier MS., 'the rose's hues zvith blood.' 
 
 I. iv. 169. 'to all'; Capell (from Quartos), 'of all.' 
 
 n. i. 20. ' Methinks. 'tis prize enough to be his son '; so Folios; 
 Warburton (from Quartos), 'pride.' 
 
 n. i. 113. Omitted in Folios, added by Steevens (from Quartos). 
 
 n. i. 131. ' idle,' Capell's emendation (from Quartos) of Folios. 
 ' lazy: 
 
 H. i. 146. ' Your kind aunt, Duchess of Burgundy! i.e. Isabel, 
 daughter of John I. King of Portugal, by Philippa of Lan- 
 caster, eldest daughter of John of Gaunt ; she was, therefore, 
 really third cousin to Edward, and not aunt. 
 
 128
 
 KING HENRY VI. 
 
 Notes 
 
 II. i. 182. 'to London will we march amain' \ Theobald's emen- 
 dation (from Quartos) ; Folios read 'to London will we march'', 
 Hanmer, 'straight to London will wc march.' 
 
 II. i. 190. 'fail'st'; Steevens, ' falVst'; Quartos, 'faints.' 
 
 11, ii. 47-48. cp. Greene's Royal Exchange : — " It hath been an 
 old proverb, that happy is that son whose father goes to the 
 devil," etc. 
 
 II. ii. 147. 'Althotigh thy husband may be Mcnelaus' cp. Troi- 
 lus and Crcssida, V. i. 61, where Thersites calls Menelaus "the 
 primitive statue and oblique memorial of cuckolds." 
 
 II. ii. 172. ' dcnicst' Warburton's correction (from Quartos); 
 Folios I, 2, ' denicd'st' \ Folios 3, 4, ' deni'dst.' 
 
 II. ii. 177. 'these'; Capell (from Quartos), 'thy.' 
 
 II. iii. S7- ' Thou setter up and plucker dozvn of kiiigs ; cp. 
 Daniel ii. 21, '' He removeth kings and setteth up kings." 
 
 in earth'; the reading of Folios i. 2; Folios 3, 4, 
 
 ; Pope, ' on earth.' 
 
 all together/ Rowe's emendation of Folios. ' alto- 
 
 Collicr (cd. 2), 'ware.' 
 
 II. iii. 43. 
 ' in the earth 
 
 II. iii. 49. 
 get her.' 
 
 II. iii. 53. 'wear' ; Collier MS.. ' zuore 
 
 II. V. 26. ' make ' ; Folios, ' makes.' 
 
 II. V. 38. 'months'; Rowe, 'weeks, months: 
 
 II. V. 44. 'rich embroidered canopy' ; embroidery was a favour- 
 ite occupation in this period, as is illustrated by the accompany- 
 ing drawing from the MS. Bibl. Reg. 2 B. v" 
 
 II. V. 60. 'as this dead man doth 
 me'; Hanmer, 'as this dead man to 
 me'; Wordsworth, 'as this dead doth 
 to me.' 
 
 II. V. 80. ' hast.' the reading of Folios 
 3, 4; Folios I, 2, ' hath.' 
 
 II. V. 87. ' kill,' Rowe's correction of 
 Folios, 'kills.' 
 
 II. V. 92, 93. ' O boy, thy father gave 
 thee life too soon. And hath bereft thee 
 of thy life too late ' ; much has been 
 written on these lines, the difificulty 
 being in the words ' too late ' ; the sim- 
 plest meaning of the phrase seems to 
 be 'when too- late'; others explain 'too late' =:' too recently.' 
 The Quartos read ' too late ' in the first line, and ' too soon ' in the 
 second. t 
 
 Embroidery (see note on II. 
 V. 44). 
 
 129
 
 Notes THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 The force of the crude couplet seems to be : — O boy, too soon 
 thy father gave thee life (better thou had'st never been born!) ; 
 too late he discovers that the fatal blow v^^as aimed at thee. 
 
 II. V. 119. 'Even,' Capell's emendation; Folios i, 2, 3, 'Mcji'; 
 Folio 4. ' Man ' ; Rowe, ' Sad ' : Mitford, ' Mere ' ; Delius (Mitford 
 conj.) 'Son'; Collier MS., 'E'cn'\ Keightley conj. ''Fore men' 
 or ' To men ' ; Anon, conj., 'Main' etc. 
 
 II. vi. 6. 'And, now I fall, tJiy tough commixture melts,' Rowe's 
 reading; Folios, 'fall. Thy'; Rann, 'fall, that'; Johnson conjec- 
 tured 'fall, the'; 'commixture melts,' Steevens' correction (from 
 Quartos); Folio i, 'Commixtures melts'; Folios 2, 3, 4, 'Com- 
 mixtures melt.' 
 
 II. vi. 8. Omitted in Folios. Restored by Theobald (from 
 Quartos). 
 
 II. vi. 17. Omitted by Capell, following Quartos. 
 
 II. vi. 42-45. The assignment to the speakers is due to Capell, 
 following Quartos, which here are more correct than Folios. 
 
 II. vi. 80. ' If this right hand would buy two hours' life ' ; 
 Capell (from Quartos), 'would this right hand buy but an hour's 
 life'; Folio i, 'two hours''; Folios 2, 3, 4, 'but tzuo hours'.' 
 
 II. vi. 82. ' This hand should' ; Capell (from Quartos), 'I'd.' 
 
 II. vi. 100. 'in thy shoulder'; so Folio i; Folios 2, 3. 4, 'on 
 thy s.' 
 
 III. i. 'Enter two keepers'; Folios, 'Enter Sinklo and Hum- 
 frey'; "as Sinklo is certainly the name of an Actor who is men- 
 tioned in the stage directions in The Taming of the Shrew (Ind. 
 i. 86), and in Henry IV., Part II. (Act v. Sc. 4), there is a great 
 probability that Humphrey is the name of another Actor ; perhaps, 
 as Malone suggests. Humfrey Jeaffes. Neither of these is men- 
 tioned in the list of ' Principall Actors ' prefixed to the first Folio " 
 (Camb. Editors). 
 
 III. i. 13. 'Enter King Henry, disguised, with a Prayer-book,' 
 Malone's emendation ; Folios, ' Enter the King zvith a Prayer 
 booke'; Collier MS., adds, 'disguised as a Churchman' ; Capell 
 (from Quartos), 'Enter King Henrie disguisde.' 
 
 III. i. 14. 'To greet mine own land with my wishful sight'; 
 Rann (from Quartos), 'and thus disguis'd to greet my native land.' 
 
 III. i. 17. 'wast' the reading of Folios 3. 4; Folios i, 2, 'was.' 
 
 III. i. 24. ' thee, sour adversity ' ; Dyce's emendation ; Folios, 
 ' the sower Adversaries ' ; Pope, ' these sour adversities ' ; Clarke's 
 Concordance, ' these sour adversaries ' ; Delius, ' the sour ad- 
 versities/ •. 
 
 130
 
 KING HENRY VI. Notes 
 
 III. i. 55. 'thou that talk'st' etc.; Rowe's emendation; Quartos, 
 ' thou that talkes,' etc. ; Folios, ' thou talk'st,' etc. ; Collier, ' thou 
 talkest,' etc. 
 
 III. i. 60. 'and that's enough' ; Rann (from Quartos), 'though 
 not in shew.' 
 
 III. i. 97. ' IVe charge you, in God's name, and the king's'; 
 ' You ' ; Anon, conj., ' you nozu ' or ' you then ' ; ' and the king's'; 
 Rowe, ' and in the king's.' 
 
 III. ii. 2. ' Richard ' ; the reading of Folios and Quartos ; Pope 
 (from Hall), 'John.' 
 
 III. ii. 3. 'lands'; Capell's correction (from Quartos) ; Folios, 
 'land: 
 
 III. ii. 6-7. ' In quarrel of the House of York,' etc. ; but in reality 
 Sir John Grey fell in the second battle of St. Albans, fighting on 
 the side of King Henry. 
 
 III. ii. 32. 'then'; Quartos. ' tJieni.' 
 
 III. ii. 108. "twas for shift'; so Folios i, 2; Folio 3 reads, 
 "twas for a shift'; Folio 4, 'it was for a shift.' 
 
 III. ii. no. ' very sad' ; so Folio i ; Folios 2, 3, 4. 'sad.' 
 
 III. ii. 119. ' your prisoner'; the reading of Folios; Capell (from 
 Quartos), 'as prisoner'; Id. conj., 'a prisoner.' 
 
 III. ii. 143. 'Flattering me zuith impossibilities' ; Pope, ' Flat- 
 t'ring my mind with things impossible' ; (' w^' = ' myself '). 
 
 III. ii. 156. 'shrub'; Quartos, ' shrimp e.' 
 
 III. ii. 170. ' Until my mis-shaped trunk that bears this head' ; 
 the reading of Folios i, 2; Folios 3, 4, ' Until this . . . head' ; 
 Pope, 'Until the . . . head'; Thirlby, 'Until the head of this 
 mis-shapen trunk'; Hanmer, 'Until the head this mis-shap'd 
 trunk doth bear,' etc. 
 
 III. ii. 193. 'the murderous Machiavel'; Warburton (from 
 Quartos), ' th' aspiring Catiline'; Folios i, 2, ' MacheuiW ; 
 ¥o\\o ^, ' Matchevii: 
 
 III. iii. 3. ' zi'hile Lewis doth sit'; Rowe, 'whiles Lewis sits'; 
 Pope, ' while Lewis sits.' 
 
 III. iii. II. ' seat' ; Walker conj. 'state.' 
 
 III. iii. 42. ' zvaiteth on true sorrozv' ; Warburton, ' zvaiting rues 
 to-morrozv.' 
 
 III. iii. 45. ' Our'; Collier MS., ' The ' ; Vaughan conj. ' Proud.' 
 
 III. iii. 75. ' thy ' ; Johnson, ' thee.' 
 
 III. iii. 96. 'thirty and six years'; Quartos, ' thirtie and eight'; 
 the correct number, according to Malone. 
 
 III. iii. 124. 'an eternal plant'; Warburton's emendation (from 
 
 131
 
 Notes THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Quartos) ; Folios read 'an externall p.'; Hanmer, 'a perennial p." 
 III. iii. 127. 'Exempt from envy, but not from disdain'; i.e. 
 not liable to malice or hatred, altho' not secured from female 
 disdain. 
 
 III. iii. 133. ' tempted ' ; Vaughan, ' temper' d.' 
 III. iii. 156. 'Warwick, peace'; the reading of Folios 2, 3, 4 ; 
 Folio I, ' Warwick.' 
 III. iii. 228. 'I'll' Capell (from Quartos) ; Folios read '/.' 
 III. iii. 22)Z-. 234. 'But, Warwick, Thou and Oxford, with five 
 thousand men'; Theobald, 'But, Warwick, Thyself and . . . 
 men'; Hanmer, 'But Warwick, thou Thyself and . . . men'; 
 Steevens, 'But Warwick, thou And . . . men'; Collier MS., 
 'But, Warwick, thou And . . . warlike men'; Keightley, 'But, 
 Warwick, Thou and Lord . . . men'; Anon, conj., 'But, War- 
 zvick, thou And . . . men of mine.' Perhaps, as an anonymous 
 scholar has suggested, the line should be read as an Alexandrine. 
 III. iii. 242. 'Mine eldest daughter' ; the reading of Folios 
 (following Quartos) ; Theobald (from Holinshed), 'my younger 
 d.' It was, however, Anne, Warwick's second daughter, whom 
 Edward married. 
 
 III. iii. 253. 'Shalt,' the reading of Folios 2, 3, 4; Folio i, 
 ' Shall.' 
 
 IV. i. 13. 'our'; Capell, 'your.' 
 
 IV. i. 17. 'And shall'; Rowe, 'And you shall'; Walker, 'Ay 
 and shall,' or ' Marry, and shall.' 
 
 IV. i. 41. 'But the safer'; Folios 2, 3, 4, ' Yes, but the safer'; 
 S. Walker conj. 'But then the safer'; Keightley, 'Ay, but the 
 safer'; Anon, conj., 'But yet the safer'; Vaughan, 'But all the 
 safer' ; Folio 2, ' saftcr.' 
 
 IV. i, 42. ' using ' ; Vaughan, ' losing.' 
 
 IV. i. 66. ' brother's ' ; Rowe's emendation of Folios, 'Brothers ' ; 
 Anon, conj., ' brothers'.' 
 
 IV. i. yz^ 74- ' dislike . . . Doth ' ; Folios, ' dislikes . . . 
 Doth ' ; Rowe, ' dislikes . . . Do.' 
 
 IV. i. 89, 90. 'therefore, in brief. Tell me'; Folio t, ' Therefore, 
 in brief e, tell me'; Folios 2, 3. 4. 'Therefore, in brief e, tell'; 
 Pope, ' So tell' 
 
 IV. i. 93. 'thy'; Rowe (from Quartos); Folios, 'the.' 
 
 IV. i. iiS. ' elder . . . younger'; Folios (from Quartos); 
 Theobald, 'younger . . . elder.' 
 
 IV. i. 126. ' the love ' ; Pope, ' love.' 
 
 IV. i. 128. ' Yet am I arm'd'; Vaughan, ' Yet am I warn'd.' 
 
 132
 
 KING HENRY VI. Notes 
 
 IV. ii. 12. ' Sweet Clarence ' ; Pope, ' friend ' ; Capell, ' Clarence.' 
 Many modern editions omit ' hut.' 
 
 IV. ii. 15. 'towns'; Theobald (Thirlby conj.) ; Folios, 'town.' 
 
 IV. ii. 21. It had been prophesied that if the horses of the 
 Thracian Rhesus drank of the Xanthus and grazed on the Trojan 
 plains, the Greeks would never take Troy. Wherefore Diomede 
 and Ulysses killed him at night, and carried off his horses. Vide 
 Iliad, X.; Ovid, Metamorphoses, xiii. 98-108, 249-252; Virgil, 
 yEneid, i. 469-473. 
 
 IV. iii. 14. 'keeps'; so Folios 3, 4; Folios i, 2, 'keepes'; 
 Theobald, ' keepeth ' ; Hanmer, ' keeps here ' ; Vaughan, ' keeps 
 out ' ; Keightley, ' field here.' 
 
 IV. iii. 15. 'more dangerous' ; so Folios i, 2; Folios 3, 4. 'the 
 more d.' ; Hanmer, ' dangerous.' 
 
 IV. iii. 41. 'Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here too?''. 
 Pope, 'Brother of C, and art thou here too?'; Capell, 'Yea, 
 brother of C, and art thou here too?' 
 
 IV. iii. 55. ' tell what answer ' ; Pope. ' tell you what reply ' ; 
 Capell, 'tell Ids grace ivhat anszvcr'; Keightley, 'tell him what 
 answer'; Anon. conj.. 'tell the duke zvhat anszvcr'; Dyce, 'tell 
 him there what anszvcr.' 
 
 IV. iv. II. 'new committed'; Rowe. 'now committed.' 
 
 IV. iv. 19. ' is it that makes me bridle passion ' ; the reading of 
 Folio I ; Folios 2, 3, ' is it . . . my passion ' ; Folio 4, ' is . . . 
 my passion " ; Rowe, ' is it . . . in itiy passion ' ; Pope, ' is 't 
 . . . in my passion ' ; Vaughan, ' is it, makes . . . passion.' 
 
 IV. V. 16. 'brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings* ; Pope, 
 'brother Glo'ster, Hastings' ; Collier MS., 'brother of Gloster, 
 Hastings.' 
 
 IV. V. 21. 'Flanders' ; Vaughan suggests the addition of the 
 words, ' as I guess.' 
 
 IV. vi. 55. 'be confiscate' ; Malone's emendation; Folio i, 'con- 
 fiscate ' ; Folios 2, 3. 4. ' confiscated.' 
 
 IV. vii. 8. Ravcnspurgh, the name of a sea-port in Yorkshire; 
 the reading of Folios 2, 3, 4; Folio i, ' Rauenspurre' ; Quartos i, 
 3, ' Raunspur' ; ' Ravens pur gh haven before'', Pope omits 
 ' haven ' ; Steevens conj. ' fore.' 
 
 IV. vii. 30. 'A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded' ', 'cap- 
 tain ' probably trisyllabic ; Keightley, ' /' faith, a wise ' ; Collier 
 MS., 'captain he'; Delius (Lettsom conj.), 'capitain'; Cart- 
 wright, 'captain, faith'; Pope, 'persuaded soon.' 
 
 IV. vii. 57. 'shall'; Capell (from Quartos), 'should.' 
 
 133
 
 Notes THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 IV. viii. In the Folios, Somerset is named in the stage direction, 
 though he had gone with young Richmond into Brittany. The 
 mistake arose, as the Cambridge Eds. point out, from the Quartos, 
 in which Scenes vi. and viii. form but one. 
 
 IV. viii. 2. ' hasty Germans ' ; S. Walker, ' lusty ' ; Cartwright, 
 ' hardy' 
 
 IV. viii. 43. ' water-flozving tears ' ; Capell, ' water-Uowing 
 eyes'; Collier MS., ' bittcr-iiowing tears'; Vaughan. 'wet o'er- 
 Howing tears.' 
 
 IV. viii. 61. 'hoped-for hay' ; Quartos, 'hope for haie'; Malone 
 proposed, altogether unnecessarily, to change the words to ' hope 
 for aye.' 
 
 V. i. 6. ' Daintry' popular pronunciation of Daventry. 
 V. i. 50. ' / had ' ; Pope, ' I 'd.' 
 
 V. i. 73. 'Two of thy name, both Dukes of Somerset'; "Ed- 
 mund, slain at the battle of St. Alban's, 1455 ; and Henry, his son. 
 beheaded after the battle of Hexham, 1463 " (Ritson). 
 
 V. i. 78. 'whom an'; Rowe's emendation; Folios 2, 3, 4, 'whom, 
 an'; Folio i, 'whom, in.' 
 
 V. i. 86. * That Clarence is' ; Steevens conj. ' Clarence, so harsli. 
 so blunt'; Quartos, 'so harsh' (so blunt omitted) ; Collier conj. 
 'so harsh, so blind'; Mitford, 'so harsh' or 'so blunt'; S. 
 Walker, 'blunt-unnatural'; Anon, conj., 'brute-unnatural.' 
 
 V. i. 91. ' Jephthah's' ; Rowe, ' Jepthah's' ; Folios i, 2, 
 ' lephah' ; Folios 3, 4, ' Jepthah.' 
 
 V. ii. 44. ' clamour,' Warburton's reading from Quartos ; Folios, 
 ' cannon.' 
 
 V. ii. 47-49. The arrangement of the lines in the Quartos; they 
 form three lines in Folios, and have been variously arranged by 
 editors. 
 
 V. iii. 5. ' our glorious sun,' alluding to the cognizance of 
 Edward. 
 
 V. iv. 18. ' The friends of France our shrouds and tacklings' ; 
 S. Walker, 'Our . . . our' or 'These . . . our,' etc.; Cart- 
 wright, ' Our . . . the,' etc. ; Pope, ' tacklings still ' ; Johnson, 
 ' tackling still' ; 'tacklings ' is evidently trisyllabic in this passage. 
 
 V. iv. 75. 'mine eyes'; Capell (from Quartos) ; Folios, '^13; ^3;^.' 
 
 V. V. I. ' Now here ' ; the reading of Folio i ; Folios 2, 3, 4, 
 'Now here's'; Capell (from Quartos), ' Lo, here.' 
 
 V. V. 2. ' Hames ' ; the reading of Quartos and Folios ; ' Ham ' 
 in Picardy; Rowe reads ' Hammes' ; Hanmer, 'Holmes'; Capell, 
 ' Hammes ' ; Delius, ' Ham's.' 
 
 134
 
 KING HENRY VI. Notes 
 
 V. V. 38. ' t]}ou'\ Rowe (from Quarto 3) ; Folios (Quartos i, 
 2), 'the.' 
 
 V. V. 50. ' Tlie Tower, the Tower': Capell's reading; Folios, 
 'Tower, the Tower'; Theobald (from Quartos), 'The Tower, 
 man, the Tower! — /''// root 'em out'; Steevens, 'The Tower, 
 man, Tower! ' 
 
 V. V. yy, 78. Steevens' reading, which is nearest to Quartos ; 
 Folio I, ' Where is that devil's butcher, Richard? Hard favor'd 
 Richard,' etc. 
 
 V. vi. 20. 'fool'; Seymour conj. (from Quartos) 'fowl.' 
 
 V. vi. 41. 'Men for their sons, wives for their husbands'; 
 Anon. conj. (from Quartos), 'Wives for their husbands, fathers 
 for their sons'; Folio i, ' sonnes, . . . Jiusbands'; Folio 2, 
 ' sonnes, . . . husbands fate '; Folios 3, 4, ' sons . . . hus- 
 bands fate'; Warburton, 'sons . . . husbands' fate'; Knight, 
 'sons' . . . Jiusbands,' etc. 
 
 V. vi. 45. ' aboding luckless time'; Quartos, ' aboding . . . 
 tune '; Thtohald, ' a boding . . . tune.' 
 
 V. vi. 48. 'discords' ; Grant White (from Quartos), 'discord.' 
 
 V. vi. 51. 'To wit, an indigested and deformed lump'; Capell 
 (from Quartos), 'to wit an indigest deformed lump'; Dyce 
 (Capell conj.) omits 'to zvif.' 
 
 V. vi. 79. After this line, Theobald inserts from Quartos, " / 
 had no father, I am like no father.' 
 
 V. vii. 30. The Camb. editor quotes from Steevens : — " In my 
 copy of the second Folio, which had belonged to King Charles 
 the First, his Majesty has erased Cla. and written King in its 
 stead. Shakespeare, therefore, in the catalogue of his restorers, 
 may boast a Royal name." 
 
 135
 
 THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Explanatory Notes. 
 
 The Explanatory Notes in this edition have been specially selected and 
 adapted, with emendations after the latest and best authorities, from the 
 most eminent Shakespearian scholars and commentators, including Johnson, 
 Malone, Steevens, Singer, Dyce, Hudson, White, Furness, Dowden, and 
 others. This method, here introduced for the first time, provides the best 
 annotation of Shakespeare ever embraced in a single edition. 
 
 ACT FIRST. 
 Scene I. 
 
 9. The circumstances of old Clifford's death are here stated as 
 they really were. The historical discrepancies in these plays have 
 already been frequently pointed out. Of course the personal fight 
 of York and Clifford in the former play was for dramatic effect ; 
 and here the author probably fell back upon the historical facts 
 without thinking of his preceding fiction. 
 
 14. brother: — In this play York and Montague are made to ad- 
 dress each other several times as brothers. Perhaps the dramatist 
 thought that John Neville, Marquess of Montague, was brother to 
 York's wife, whereas he was her nephew. Montague was brother 
 to the Earl of Warwick ; and the Duchess of York was half-sister 
 to their father, the Earl of Salisbury. 
 
 105. Thy father was . . . Duke of York : — His father was 
 not Duke of York, but Earl of Cambridge, and even that title was 
 forfeited, leaving this duke plain Richard Plantagenet, until he 
 was advanced by the King. Accordingly. Exeter has said, a few 
 lines before, " He made thee Duke of York." So that here we 
 have another discrepancy, and that in the same Scene. 
 
 190. They go away, not because they doubt the justice of this 
 determination, but because they have been conquered, and seek to 
 be revenged. They are not influenced by principle, but passion. 
 
 204. reconciled : — The terms of this compromise are thus given 
 in Hall and Holinshed : " After long debating of the matter 
 
 136
 
 KING HENRY VI. Notes 
 
 amongest the peeres, prelats, and commons, upon the vigill of All- 
 saints it was condescended, for so much as King Henrie had beene 
 taken as king by the space of thirtie and eight yeares and more, 
 that he should injoy the name and title of king, and have posses- 
 sion of the realme during his naturall life. And if he either died, 
 or resigned, or forfeited the same by breaking or going against 
 anie point of this concord, then the said crowne and authoritie 
 roiall should immediately be devoluted and come to the Duke of 
 Yorke, if he then lived; or else to the next heire of his linage. 
 And that the Duke of Yorke from thense foorth should be pro- 
 tectotir and regent of the land." 
 
 239. Falconbridge: — This was Thomas, natural son of William 
 Neville Lord Falconbridge, who was uncle to Warwick and Mon- 
 tague. He had been appointed by Warwick vice-admiral of the 
 sea, and had in charge so to keep the passage between Dover and 
 Calais, that none which either favoured King Henry or his friends 
 should escape untaken or undrowned. 
 
 272. cousin : — Henry Holland, this Duke of Exeter, was cousin 
 german to the King, his grandfather, John Holland, Earl of Hunt- 
 ingdon and Duke of Exeter in the time of Richard H., having 
 married Elizabeth Plantagenet, daughter to John of Ghent by his 
 first wife. The earldom of Huntingdon was his inheritance, and 
 he was created Duke of Exeter in 1444. 
 
 Scene II. 
 
 22,23. "The obligation of an oath is here avoided," says John- 
 son, " by a very despicable sophistry. A lawful magistrate alone 
 has the power to exact an oath, but the oath derives no part of its 
 force from the magistrate. The plea against the obligation of an 
 oath obliging to maintain a usurper (taken from the unlawfulness 
 of the oath itself), in the foregoing play, was rational and just." 
 
 59. From the hollow reconciliation signified in the foregoin-^ 
 Scene, both parties went directly to preparing for war. The battle 
 of Wakefield followed soon after. 
 
 Scene III. 
 
 39. ere I ivas horn : — Edmund, Earl of Rutland, was born May 
 17. 1443: the battle of Saint Alban's, where Clifford's father was 
 killed, took place May 22, 1455. At that time, therefore, Rutland 
 
 137
 
 Notes THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 was in his thirteenth year, and in his eighteenth at the time of his 
 death, December 30, 1460. However, Hall and Holinshed make 
 him to have been seven at the former time and twelve at the latter. 
 The one son of the Lord Clifford here was named Henry, and, 
 says Holinshed, " was brought up with a sheepheard in poore 
 habit, ever in feare to be knowne, till King Henrie the seventh 
 obteined the crowne, by whom he was restored to his name and 
 possessions." He is the subject of Wordsworth's Song at the 
 Feast of Brougliam Castle. This grand lyric closes thus : — 
 
 " Glad were the vales, and every cottage hearth ; 
 The Shepherd-lord was honoured more and more ; 
 And, ages after he was laid in earth, 
 ' The good Lord Clifford ' was the name he bore." 
 
 47. tlicrcfore, die : — This savage slaughter of Rutland is thus 
 related by Hall : " Whilst this battle was in fighting, a priest 
 called Sir Robert Aspall, chaplain and schoolmaster to the young 
 Earl of Rutland, perceiving that flight was more safeguard than 
 tarrying, both for himself and his master, secretly conveyed the 
 earl out of the field, by the Lord Clifford's band, towards the 
 town: but ere he could enter into a house he was by the safd 
 Lord Clifford espied, followed, and taken, and by reason of his 
 apparel demanded what he was. The 3^oung gentleman, dismayed, 
 had not a word to speak, but kneeled on his knees imploring 
 mercy, and desiring grace, both with holding up his hands and 
 making dolorous countenance ; for his speech was gone for fear. 
 Save him, said his chaplain, for he is a prince's son, and perad- 
 venture may do you good hereafter. With that word, the Lord 
 Clifford marked him, and said. By God's blood, thy father slew 
 mine, and so I will do thee and all thy kin : and with that word 
 he struck the earl to the heart with his dagger, and bade his chap- 
 lain bear the earl's mother and brother word what he had said and 
 done." 
 
 Scene IV. 
 
 I et seq. The story of the battle here described by York is thus 
 told by the chronicler : " The Duke of Summerset and the 
 Queenes part appointed the Lord Clifford to lie in one stale, and 
 the Earle of Wiltshire in another, and the duke with the other to 
 keepe the maine battell. The Duke of Yorke descended downe 
 the hill in good order and arraie ; but when he was in the plaine 
 betweene his castell and the towne of Wakefield, he was in- 
 
 138
 
 KING HENRY VI. Notes 
 
 vironed on everie side, like fish in a net, so that, though he fought 
 manfullie, yet was he within halfe an houre slaine, and his whole 
 armie discomfited." 
 
 io8. do him dead: — The piece of exquisite inhumanity, which 
 furnished the basis of this scene, is thus narrated by the chron- 
 iclers : "The same Lord Clifford came to the place where the 
 dead corpse of the Duke of Yorke laie, caused his head to be 
 striken off, and set on it a crowne of paper, fixed it on a pole, and 
 presented it to the Qucene, not lieng farre from the field, in great 
 despite; at which great rejoising was showed: but they laughed 
 then that shortlie after lamented, and were glad then of other 
 mens deaths, that knew not their owne to be so neere at hand." 
 Thus far^Holinshed copies Hall, and then adds the following: 
 " Some write that the duke was taken alive, and in derision caused 
 to stand upon a molehill ; on whose head they put a garland in 
 steed of a crowne, which they had fashioned and made of serges 
 or bulrushes ; and, having so crowned him, they kneeled downe 
 afore him, as the Jewes did unto Christ, in scorne, saieng to him, 
 * Haile, king without rule, haile, king without heritage, haile, duke 
 and prince without people or possessions.' And at length, having 
 thus scorned him with these and diverse other the like despiteful 
 words, they stroke off his head, which they presented to the 
 Queene." 
 
 i8o. " After this victorie," says Holinshed, " the Earle of Salis- 
 burie and all the prisoners were sent to Pomfret, and there be- 
 headed : whose heads, togither with the Duke of Yorkes head, 
 were conveied to Yorke, and there set on poles over the gate of 
 the city." 
 
 ACT SECOND. 
 Scene I. 
 
 25. three suns: — The battle of Mortimer's Cross took place 
 February 2. 1461, and the event of the text is spoken of by the 
 chroniclers as having happened on the morning of that day : " At 
 which time the sunne, as some write, appeared to the Earle of 
 March like three sunnes, and suddenlie joined altogither in one. 
 Upon which sight he tooke such courage, that he fiercelie setting 
 on his enimies put them to flight : and for this cause men im- 
 agined, that he gave the sunne in his full brightnesse for his 
 badge or cognizance." 
 
 139
 
 Notes THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 27. racking: — The original of this word is reek. Rack, noun, 
 however, formerly meant the highest and therefore lightest 
 clouds; and perhaps the verb is here used in the sense of the 
 noun. See Antony and Cleopatra, IV. xiv. g. 10: "That which 
 is now a horse, even wath a thought the rack dislimns and makes 
 it indistinct." 
 
 48,49. O, speak no more, etc.: — The generous tenderness of 
 Edward, and savage fortitude of Richard, are well distinguished 
 by their different reception of their father's death. 
 
 141. The second battle of Saint Alban's, of which Warwick 
 here tells the story, took place February 17, 1461. The account is 
 for the most part historically true. Of course it will be under- 
 stood that the king was at that time in the keeping of f ho?e who 
 were really fighting against him, though nominally with his sanc- 
 tion ; and the effect of the battle was to release him from their 
 hands, and restore him to his friends, who under the leading of 
 the Queen were seeking to break up the compromise that had been 
 forced through in the late Parliament. 
 
 142 et seq. This is slightly at variance with fact. The dramatist 
 anticipates. York's sons, George and Richard, the one being then 
 in his twelfth year, the otaer in his ninth, were sent into Flanders 
 immediately after the battle of Wakefield, and did not return till 
 Edward had taken the crown. And the Duchess of Burgundy was 
 not their aunt, but their third cousin. 
 
 Scene II. 
 
 73,74. / would your highness, etc.: — Hall tells us that the 
 Queen was " fortunate in hir two battels, but unfortunate was the 
 King in all his enterprises; for where his person was present the 
 victorie fled ever from him to the other part." 
 
 Scene III. 
 
 [A field of battle, etc.] Soon after the second battle of Saint 
 Alban's, Edward, coming fresh from his victory at Mortimer's 
 Cross, united his forces wath those under Warwick and Montague, 
 and marched straight to London, which he knew was altogether 
 of his faction. A few days later, a great council being held, it was 
 resolved that Henry, by joining the Queen's forces, had broken 
 the late compact, and forfeited tlic crown to Edward, the heir to 
 
 140
 
 KING HENRY VI. Notes 
 
 Richard late Duke of York. Edward then made harangues to the 
 people, who with shouts and acclamations, ratified the sentence of 
 the council ; whereupon he was proclaimed King. This was done 
 March 4, 1461. The 12th of the same month he started northward 
 with a large army, intending to finish the war at one stroke. 
 " King Henrie," says Holinshed, " having his armie in readinesse, 
 committed the governance thereof to the Duke of Summerset, the 
 Earle of Northumberland, and the Lord Clifford, as men desiring 
 to revenge the death of their parents, slaine at the first battell at 
 saint Albons." 
 
 15. Thy brother's blood : — " The Lord Clifford,'' according to 
 Holinshed, *' determined to make a charge upon them that kept 
 the passage of Ferrybridge ; and so he departed with his light 
 horsemen, and earlie. 3'er his enmiies were aware, slue the keep- 
 ers, and wan the bridge. The lord Fitz Walter, hearing the noise, 
 suddenlie rose out of his bed, and, thinking it had been a fraie 
 amongst his men, came downe to appease the same ; but yer he 
 knew what the matter meant was slaine, and with him tJie bastard 
 of Salisburic, brotJicr to the Earle of JVarwicke." 
 
 24. I'll kill my horse, etc.: — Holinshed says that "when the 
 Earle of Warwicke was informed " of the affair treated in the 
 preceding note, " like a man desperat. he mounted on his hacknie. 
 and hasted puffing and blowing to King Edward, saieng, ' Sir, I 
 praie God have mercie of their soules, which in the beginning of 
 your enterprise have lost their lives.' With that he lighted downe, 
 and slue his horse with his sword, saieng, ' Let him flee that will, 
 for surelie I will tarrie with him that will tarrie with me.' '' 
 
 Scene V. 
 
 3. blozving of Jiis nails: — This seems to have been a mode of 
 whiling away one's time, when one could do nothing else or had 
 nothing else to do. 
 
 5 et seq. So in Holinshed: "This deadlie conflict continued 
 ten houres in doubtfull state of victorie. uncertainlie heaving and 
 setting on both sides." 
 
 21 et seq. " This speech," says Johnson. " is mournful and soft, 
 exquisitely suited to the character of the King, and makes a pleas- 
 ing interchange by affording, amidst the tumult and horror of the 
 battle, an unexpected glimpse of rural innocence and pastoral 
 tranquillity." There are preserved some verses attributed to King 
 
 141
 
 Notes THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Henry VI. which are in a strain of the same pensive moralizing 
 character. They are here subjoined, that the reader may compare 
 them with the congenial thoughts the dramatist has attributed to 
 him : — 
 
 " Kingdoms are but cares ; 
 
 State is devoid of stay ; 
 
 Riches are ready snares, 
 
 And hasten to decay. 
 
 Pleasure is a privy game, 
 Which vice doth still provoke ; 
 Pomp unprompt ; and fame a flame ; 
 Power a smouldering smoke. 
 
 Who meaneth to remove the rock 
 Out of his slimy mud, 
 Shall mire himself, and hardly scape. 
 The swelling of the flood." 
 
 ']'], 78. let our hearts, etc. : — Johnson's interpretation of this is 
 probably right : " The state of their hearts and eyes shall be like 
 that of the kingdom in a civil war ; all shall be destroyed by a 
 power formed within themselves." Of course these instances of 
 unwitting parricide and filicide are meant to illustrate generally 
 the horrors of this civil war. They were suggested, no doubt, by 
 a passage in Hall concerning the battle of Towton : " This con- 
 flict was in manner unnatural, for in it the son fought against the 
 father, the brother against the brother, the nephew against the 
 uncle, and the tenant against his lord." 
 
 139. The great battle of Towton was fought March 29, 1461. the 
 day after the action at Ferrybridge. Its effect was to fix the crown 
 on the brow of Edward. Holinshed's account of it is mainly 
 copied from Hall : " This battell was sore foughten, for hope of 
 life was set aside on either part, and taking of prisoners pro- 
 claimed a great offense; so everie man determined to vanquish or 
 die in the field. But in the end King Edward so couragiouslie 
 comforted bis men, that the other part was discomfitted and over- 
 come ; who, like men amazed, fled toward Tadcaster bridge to 
 save themselves, vrhere in the mid waie is a little brooke called 
 Cocke, not verie broad, but of great deepnesse, in which, what for 
 hast to escape, and what for feare of their followers, a great num- 
 ber was drowned. It was reported that men alive passed the river 
 upon dead carcasses, and that the great river of Wharfe whereinto 
 
 142
 
 KING HENRY VI. Notes 
 
 that brooke dooth run, and all the water comming from Towton, 
 was coloured with bloud. The chase continued all night and the 
 most part of the next daie, and ever the northerne men, as they 
 saw anie advantage, returned againe, and fought with their eni- 
 mies, to the great losse of both parts. For in these two dales 
 were slaine, as they that knew it wrote, on both parts six and 
 thirtie thousand seven hundred threescore and sixteene persons, 
 all Englishmen and of one nation." 
 
 Scene VI. 
 
 [Enter Clifford, wounded.] In the old play the stage direction 
 adds, zoith an arrow in his neck. It is thought that Beaumont and 
 Fletcher ridiculed this by introducing Ralph, the grocer's prentice, 
 in TJie Knight of the Burning Pestle, with a forked arrow through 
 his head. The circumstance is related by Holinshed : " The lord 
 Clifford, either for heat or paine, putting ofif his gorget, suddenlie 
 with an arrow (as some sale) without a head, was striken into the 
 throte, and immediately rendered his spirit." 
 
 56-59. Bring forth . . . speak: — In the Quarto this speech 
 stands thus : — 
 
 " Bring forth that fatal screech-owl to our house, 
 That nothing sung to us but blood and death : 
 Now his evil-boding tongue no more shall speak." 
 
 So in Richard III., IV. iv. 509: " Out on you, owls! nothing but 
 songs of death? " 
 
 77-84. What, not an oath, etc. : — This most characteristic speech 
 is but slightly altered from the Quarto : " Could such a union of 
 sarcastic humour and bloody-thoughtedness," asks Hudson, "have 
 sprung from any but the author of Richard's character as devel- 
 oped in the play which bears his name? " 
 
 85, 86. off with the traitor's head, etc. : — So the chroniclers : 
 "After this great victorie, King Edward rode to Yorke; and first 
 he caused the heads of his father, the Earle of Salisburie, and 
 other his freends, to be taken from the gates, and to be buried 
 with their bodies, and there he caused the Earle of Devonshire 
 and three other to be beheaded, and set their heads in the same 
 place." 
 
 107. Gloucester's dnkcdcni ir, t :o ominous: — Holinshed, after 
 
 143
 
 Notes THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Hall, winds up the story of " the good Duke Humphrey's " death 
 with the following : " Some thinke that the name and title of 
 Glocester hath beene unluckie to diverse, as Hugh Spenser, 
 Thomas of Woodstoke, and this Duke Humfrie ; which three per- 
 sons by miserable death finished their daies, and after them King 
 Richard the Third also. So that this name is taken for an un- 
 happie stile, as the proverb speaketh of Sejans horsse, whose rider 
 was ever unhorsed, and whose possessor was ever brought to 
 miserie." 
 
 ACT THIRD. 
 Scene I. 
 
 9. for the time . . . tedious: — That — or in order that — the 
 time may not seem tedious : a mode of expression often found in 
 the old writers. 
 
 13. [Enter King Henry, etc.] The dramatist here leaps over 
 something more than four years of military and parliamentary 
 slaughter. After the battle of Towton the King fled into Scot- 
 land, and from thence sent the Queen and the Prince to France. 
 In October, 1463, the Queen returned to Scotland with a small 
 power of men, and soon after, having obtained a great company 
 of Scots, she entered England with the King. At first the Lan- 
 castrian cause had a gleam of success, but was again crushed at 
 the battle of Hexham, in April, 1464. After this overthrow the 
 King escaped a second time into Scotland ; and it was upon his 
 second return in June, 1465, that he was taken, somewhat as is 
 represented in this Scene. Such, at least, is the account given by 
 Hall and Holinshed. 
 
 23. let's seize upon him: — We have already mentioned the 
 taking of King Henry. Lingard probably has the truth of the 
 matter. His account differs from that of the chroniclers. He 
 tells us that after the battle of Hexham the King " sought an 
 asylum among the natives of Lancashire and Westmoreland, a 
 people sincerely devoted to his interests. Their fidelity enabled 
 him for more than a year to elude the vigilance and researches 
 of the government ; but he was at last betrayed by the perfidy of 
 a monk of Abingdon, and taken by the servants of Sir James 
 Harrington, as he sat at dinner in Waddington hall in Yorkshire. 
 At Islington he was met by Warwick, who ordered that no one 
 should show him any respect, tied his feet to the stirrups as a 
 
 144
 
 KING HENRY VI. Notes 
 
 prisoner, led him thrice round the pillory, and conducted him to 
 the Tower. There he was treated with humanity, but kept in the 
 most rigorous confinement for some years." 
 
 53, 54. O Margaret, etc. : — " The piety of Henry," observes 
 Steevens, " scarce interests us more for his misfortunes than this 
 his constant solicitude for the welfare of his deceitful Queen." 
 
 Scene II. 
 
 ^-7. This seems a very needless departure from fact. Grey's 
 lands were not seized by the Queen, who conquered in the second 
 battle of Saint Alban's, where he fell, but by King Edward after 
 the victory at Towton. Shakespeare has the matter correctly in 
 Richard HI., I. iii. :— 
 
 " In all which time you and your husband Grey 
 Were factious for the house of Lancaster ; 
 And, Rivers, so were you. Was not your husband 
 In Margaret's battle at Saint Alban's slain?" 
 
 117. Her suit is granted: — The first meeting of Edward with 
 the lady Elizabeth is thus noted in the Chronicles: "The King, 
 being on hunting in the forest of Wichwood beside Stonistratford, 
 came for his recreation to the manor of Grafton, where the 
 Duchesse of Bedford then sojourned, wife to Sir Richard Wood- 
 vile Lord Rivers, on whome was then attendant a daughter of 
 hirs, called the Ladie Elizabeth Graie, widow of Sir John Graie 
 knight, slaine at the last battell of saint Albons. This widow, 
 having a sute to the King for such lands as hir husband had given 
 hir in jointure, so kindled the Kings affections, that he not onelie 
 favoured hir sute, but more hir person. For she was a woman 
 of a more formall countenance, than of excellent beautie ; and yet 
 both of such beautie and favour, that with hir sober demeanour, 
 sweete looks, and comelie smiling, neither too wanton nor too 
 bashfull, besides hir pleasant toong and trim wit, she so alured 
 and made subject unto hir the heart of that great prince, that, 
 after she had denied him to be his paramour, with so good maner, 
 and words so well set as better could not be devised, he finallie re- 
 solved with himselfe to marrie hir, not asking counsell of anie 
 man. till they might perceive it was no bootie to advise him to the 
 contrarie of that his purpose." 
 
 124 et seq. This speech of Gloucester's is a great enlargement 
 
 145
 
 Notes THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 and improvement upon the Quarto. Nevertheless, the most char- 
 acteristic parts are found there, insomuch that no one, it should 
 seem, can well avoid the conclusion, that the original form of the 
 speech could have come from none other than the delineator of the 
 full-grown Richard. But the reader may judge for himself: — 
 
 Ay, Edward will use women honourably. 
 
 Would he were wasted, marrow, bones, and all. 
 
 That from his loins no issue might succeed. 
 
 To hinder me from the golden time I look for : 
 
 For I am not yet look'd on in the world. 
 
 First is there Edward, Clarence, and Henry, 
 
 And his son, and all they look for issue 
 
 Of their loins, ere I can plant myself: 
 
 A cold premeditation for my purpose ! 
 
 What other pleasure is there in the world beside? 
 
 I will go clad my body in gay ornaments. 
 
 And lull myself within a lady's lap. 
 
 And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks. 
 
 O, monstrous man, to harbour such a thought ! 
 
 Why, love did scorn me in my mother's womb ; 
 
 And, for I should not deal in her affairs. 
 
 She did corrupt frail nature in the flesh, 
 
 And plac'd an envious mountain on my back. 
 
 Where sits deformity to mock my body ; 
 
 To dry mine arm up like a wither'd shrimp ; 
 
 To make my legs of an unequal size. 
 
 And am I, then, a man to be belov'd? 
 
 Easier for me to compass twenty crowns. 
 
 But ! I can smile, and murder when I smile ; 
 
 I cry, content, to that which grieves me most, 
 
 I can add colours to the chameleon ; 
 
 And for a need change shapes with Proteus, 
 
 And set the aspiring Catiline to school. 
 
 Can I do this, and cannot get the crown ? 
 
 Tush ! were it ten times higher. I '11 pull it down." 
 
 i6i. an unlick'd hear-whclp : — Johnson tells us that "it was an 
 opinion which, in spite of its absurdity, prevailed long, that the 
 bear brings forth only shapeless lumps of flesh, which she licks 
 into the form of bears." 
 
 i66, 167. to o'erbear, etc. : — " Richard." says Johnson, " speaks 
 here the language of nature. . . . The truth is. that the de-
 
 KING HENRY VI. Notes 
 
 formed, like all other men, are displeased with inferiority, and 
 endeavour to gain ground by good or bad means, as they are 
 virtuous or corrupt." 
 
 193. Machiavel : — The anachronism is repeated here which oc- 
 curs in I Henry VI., V. iv. 74. The writers of Shakespeare's time 
 frequently had this allusion. 
 
 Scene III. 
 
 44. [Enter Warwick.'] The part which Warwick is made to act 
 in this Scene, though amply justified by the Chronicles, seems to 
 have little or no foundation in fact. The king was privately mar- 
 ried to the Lady Elizabeth Grey, May i, 1464, and there was no 
 open rupture between him and Warwick till the fall of 1468, 
 though the elements had long been secretly preparing for a storm. 
 The causes that finally set the earl so fiercely against his royal 
 creature are clouded in mystery ; perhaps, as has been said, " we 
 need seek no further than that jealousy and ingratitude which is 
 too often experienced in those who are under obligations too great 
 to be discharged." 
 
 103. done to death : — This was during Edward's first Parlia- 
 ment, in 1461, and is thus mentioned in the Chronicles: "The 
 Earle of Oxford, far striken in age, and his sonne and heire, the 
 Lord Awbreie Veer, either through malice of their enimies, or for 
 that they had offended the King, were both, with diverse of their 
 counsellors, attainted and put to execution; which caused John 
 Earle of Oxford ever after to rebell." 
 
 105. door of death : — This passage brings to mind that fine 
 image of old age in Sackville's Mirror for Magistrates : " His 
 v/ithered fist still knocking at death's door." 
 
 187. his death : — This is erroneous. Salisbury was wounded 
 and taken prisoner by the Lancastrians in the battle of Wakefield; 
 was soon after beheaded, and his head, along with York's, set upon 
 the gates of York. 
 
 188. the abuse done to my niece: — " King Edward," says Holin- 
 shed, " did attempt a thing once in the earles house, which was 
 much against the earles honestie, (whether he would have de- 
 tiowred his daughter or his neece, the certaintie was not for both 
 Iheir honours revealed,) for surely such a thing was attempted 
 by King Edward." 
 
 147
 
 Notes THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 ACT FOURTH. 
 Scene I. 
 
 56,57. yoii ivould not have bestozved the heir, etc.: — Formerly 
 minors coming into possession of great estates were in the ward- 
 ship of the King, who often bestowed them on his favourites, or 
 in other words gave then\ up to plunder, and afterwards disposed 
 of them in marriage as he pleased. 
 
 58. your brothers: — The King's advancement of his wife's fam- 
 ily is thus mentioned by Holinshed : " Hir father was created 
 earle Rivers, and made high constable of England : hir brother, 
 Lord Anthonie, was married to the sole heire of Thomas Lord 
 Scales : Sir Thomas Graie, sonne to Sir John Graie, the Queens 
 first husband, was created Marquesse of Dorset, and married to 
 Cicelie, heire to the Lord Bonville." In fact, however, the Queen's 
 son Thomas was married to Anne, the King's niece, daughter and 
 heiress to the Duke of Exeter. These things were done in the 
 spring of 1465, the King's marriage having been publicly acknowl- 
 edged a short time before, and the Queen having been introduced 
 at court and crowned. 
 
 70. not ignoble: — Her father was Sir Richard Woodville, after- 
 wards Earl of Rivers ; her mother Jaquetta, Duchess Dowager of 
 Bedford, who was daughter of Peter of Luxemburg, earl of St. 
 Paul, and widow of John Duke of Bedford, brother to King 
 Henry V. 
 
 1 18-123. Belike the elder, etc.: — Johnson has remarked upon the 
 actual improbability of Clarence making this speech in the King's 
 hearing. When the Earl of Essex attempted to raise u rebellion 
 in the city, with a design, as was supposed, to storm the Queen's 
 palace, he ran about the streets with his sword drawn, crying out, 
 " They that love me follow me." 
 
 Scene III. 
 
 SI et seq. This capture of Edward is related by the chroniclers 
 as having taken place in the latter part of 1469. Thus Holinshed : 
 " After the battell at Hedgecote, commonlie called Banberie field, 
 the northerne men resorted toward Warwike, where the earle had 
 gathered a great multitude of people. The King in this meane 
 time had assembled his power, and was comming toward the 
 earle, who, being advertised thereof, sent to the Duke of Clarence, 
 requiring him to come and joine with him. The duke being not 
 
 148
 
 KING HENRY VI. Notes 
 
 farre off, with all speed repaired to the earle, and so they joined 
 their powers together, upon secret knowledge had, that the King 
 tooke small heed to himselfe, nothing doubting anie outward 
 attempt of his enimies. The earle, intending not to leese such 
 opportunitie, in the dead of the night, with an elect companie of 
 men, set on the Kings field, killing them that kept the watch, and 
 yer the King was ware, at a place called Wolnie, he was taken 
 prisoner and brought to the castell of Warwike. And, to the in- 
 tent his friends should not know what was become of him, the 
 earle caused him by secret journies in the night to be conveied to 
 Middleham castell in Yorkeshire, and there to be kept under the 
 custodie of the Archbishop of Yorke, and other his freends in 
 those parties." 
 
 Scene V. 
 
 13. set him free: — So in Holinshed : "King Edward, being 
 thus in captivitie, spake ever faire to the archbishop, and to his 
 other keepers, so that he had leave diverse dales to go hunt. Now 
 on a dale, when he was thus abrode, there met with him Sir Wil- 
 liam Stanlie and diverse other of his friends, with such a great 
 band of men, that neither his keepers would nor once durst move 
 him to returne unto prison againe. After that he was once at lib- 
 ertie, he came to Yorke, where he was joifullie received, and taried 
 there two dales ; but when he perceived he could get no armie to- 
 gither in that countrie, he turned to Lancaster, where he found 
 his chamberlaine the Lord Hastings well accompanied, by whose 
 aid he came safelie to London." " By modern writers," says Lin- 
 gard, " the captivity of Edward has been scornfully rejected. But 
 they should have accounted for the mention which is made of it 
 by almost every writer of the age, whether foreigner or native. 
 There is a record which places the imprisonment beyond a doubt, 
 the attainder of Clarence, in which the King enumerates it among 
 his offences: 'as in jupartyng the King's royall estate, persone 
 and life in straite warde, putting him thereby from all his libertie, 
 aftre procurying grete commocions.' " 
 
 Scene VI. 
 
 67. young Henry : — This " young Henry," then in his tenth 
 year, was son to Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond, and Margaret, 
 daughter and heir to John Beaufort, first Duke of Somerset. The 
 groundwork of the present representation was furnished by the 
 chroniclers. 
 
 149
 
 Notes THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Scene VII. 
 
 [King Edward.] In October, 1470, about a year after his escape 
 from York, Edward, having failed in several schemes for recover- 
 ing his power, embarked from Lynn, and sought refuge with the 
 Duke of Burgundy, who had lately been married to his sister. 
 Being there fitted out with a fleet and fifteen hundred men, he 
 returned to England, and landed at Ravenspurgh, the same place 
 where Bolingbroke had come on a similar errand in 1399. In less 
 than two months after his landing, Edward was again on the 
 throne: but his course was one of inexpressible perfidy; "still 
 bruiting that his comming was not to chalenge the crowne, but ' 
 onelie the duchie of Yorke " ; and when at last, on this ground, he 
 was let into the city of York, he " received the sacrament, and 
 there solemnlie sware to keepe and observe two speciall articles — 
 the one, that he should use the citizens after a gentle and courte- 
 ous maner, the other, that he should be faithfull and obedient unto 
 King Henries commandments." 
 
 Scene VIII. 
 
 52. Henry : — On this occasion Henry was betrayed into the 
 hands of Edward by the Archbishop of York, in whose care he 
 had been left by Warwick. On the morning of x\pril nth, 1471, 
 the archbishop, who was brother to Warwick, had Henry out to 
 an official ride through the streets of London, and in the evening 
 he gave orders for Edward to be admitted by a postern. The ex- 
 cuse which he alleged was, that he found the city bent on having 
 Edward for their king. Henry, however, was not remanded to 
 the Tower till after his cause was again crushed in the battle of 
 Barnet. 
 
 60, 61. The sun shines hot, etc. : — The allusion is to the proverb 
 " Make hay while the sun shines." 
 
 ACT FIFTH. 
 Scene I. 
 
 28. Duke of York : — Hudson says that in this play and in the 
 one preceding " the character of Richard is set forth in the proc- 
 esses of development and formation; whereas in Richard III. we 
 
 ISO
 
 KING HENRY VI. Notes 
 
 have little else than the working-out of his character as already 
 formed. In Shakespeare's time the prevailing idea of Richard 
 was derived from the history of his life and reign, put forth by 
 Sir Thomas More, but supposed to have been partly written by 
 Dr. John Morton, himself a part of the subject. More's History, 
 as it is commonly called, was adopted by both Hall and Holin- 
 shed." 
 
 Scene II. 
 
 11-13. cedar . . . slept: — These lines bring to mind the 
 well-known words of Ezekiel, xxxi. 6 : " All the fowls of heaven 
 made their nests in his boughs, 'and under his branches did all the 
 beasts of the field bring forth their young." 
 
 28. die 7ve must: — The great Earl of Warwick fell in the battle 
 of Barnet, April 14, 1471. The chroniclers relate that " the Earle 
 of Warwike, when his souldiers were all wearied with long fight, 
 and sore weakened with woundes and hurts, rushed into the 
 middest of his enimies, whereas he, adventuring so farre from his 
 companie to slea his adversaries, that he could not be rescued, was 
 amongst the preasse of his enimies striken downe and slaine." 
 
 44. clamour in a vault: — Steevens remarks that the indistinct 
 gabble of undertakers, while they adjust a coffin in a family vault, 
 will abundantly illustrate this simile ; and he adds that such a 
 peculiar hubbub of inarticulate sounds might have attracted the 
 author's notice. 
 
 Scene IV. 
 
 9, to that zvhich hath too much : — So Jaques moralizing upon 
 the weeping stag, as told in As You Like It, II. i. : — 
 
 " Thou makest a testament 
 As worldlings do, giving tJiy sum of more 
 To that which Jiad too much." 
 
 Scene V. 
 
 3. Somerset: — The battle of- Tewksbury was fought May 4, 
 [471. Two days after, the Duke of Somerset, with other fugitives, 
 was dragged from sanctuary and beheaded. The Queen and 
 I he Prince had been in France for some time, seeking aid, and 
 landed in England the very day of the battle of Barnet. We are
 
 Notes THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 told that when the Queen got news of that disaster, " all her hopes 
 were instantly broken : she sank to the ground in despair ; and, as 
 soon as she came to herself, hastened with her son to the sanc- 
 tuary of Beaulieu. But the Lancastrian lords who still remained 
 faithful to her cause induced her to quit her asylum, and raised 
 a considerable body of troops to fight under her banner." While 
 these were on the march to join another army in Wales, they were 
 intercepted by Edward at Tewksbury, and there finished. 
 
 25. j^sop : — He calls Richard v^sop on account of his crooked- 
 ness ; and Richard here betrays the same morbid sensitiveness 
 touching his person which afterwards makes him " descant on his 
 own deformity." This passage, being the same in the Quarto, is 
 aptly cited as inferring an identity of authorship running through 
 the whole delineation of Richard. 
 
 40. Prince Edward was born October 13. 1453; so that he was 
 in his eighteenth year when killed. The Chronicles give the fol- 
 lowing account of his death : " After the field was ended, procla- 
 mation was made, that whosoever could bring foorth Prince Ed- 
 ward, alive or dead, should have an annuitie of a hundred pounds 
 during his life, and the Princes life to be saved, if he were brought 
 foorth alive. Sir Richard Crofts, nothing mistrusting the Kings 
 promise, brought foorth his prisoner Prince Edward, being a faire 
 and well proportioned yoong gentleman ; whom when King Ed- 
 ward had well advised, he demanded of him how he durst so pre- 
 sumptuouslie enter into his realme with banner displaj'ed. Where- 
 unto the Prince boldlie answered, saieng, ' To recover my fathers 
 kingdome and heritage, from his father and grandfather to him, 
 and from him after him to me lineallie descended.' At which 
 words King Edward said nothing, but with his hand thrust him 
 from him, or, as some sale, stroke him with his gauntlet ; whome, 
 incontinentlie, George Duke of Clarence, Richard Duke of Gloces- 
 ter, Thomas Greie Marquesse Dorcet, and William Lord Hastings, 
 that stood by, suddenlie murthered ; for the which cruell act the 
 more part of the dooers in their latter daies dranke of the like cup. 
 by the righteous justice and due punishment of God." 
 
 Scene VI. 
 
 [Kuig Henry and Gloucester.] This Scene, whether considered 
 in itself or in reference to the play of Richard III., affords a most 
 important test of the probabilities of authorship. It is acknowl- 
 edged to be the most Shakespearian in style of anything in the 
 
 152
 
 KING HENRY VI. Notes 
 
 whole play ; while, in characterization, its identity with what 
 nobody doubts to be Shakespeare's is, in the opinion of able com- 
 mentators, too manifest to be shirked or dodged. In short, if in 
 this play there be any one thing more than another, which nobody 
 but Shakespeare could have written, this undoubtedly is that 
 thing. Comparison with the Quarto shows that no material 
 change or addition was made in the Folio. 
 
 60. [Dies.] The following is Holinshed's account of Henry's 
 death: "Here is to be remembered, that poore King Henrie the 
 sixt. a little before deprived of his realme and imperiall crowne, 
 was now in the Tower spoiled of his life by Richard Duke of 
 Glocester, as the constant fame ran ; who, to the intent that his 
 brother King Edward might reigne in more suretie, murthered the 
 said King Henrie with a dagger. Howbeit, some writers of that 
 time, favouring altogither the house of Yorke, have recorded that 
 after he understood what losses had chanced unto his freends, and 
 how not onelie his sonne, but also all other his cheefe partakers 
 were dead and despatched, he tooke it so to hart, that of pure dis- 
 pleasure, indignation, and melancholic, he died the three and 
 twentith of Maie." 
 
 85. sort a pitchy day : — Pick out or select a dark or fateful day. 
 
 Scene VII. 
 
 25. Work thou the zvay, — and thou shalt execute: — Gloucester 
 must be understood to touch his head at the first phrase, and to 
 look significantly at his hand as he utters the second. 
 
 119
 
 THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 Questions on 3 Henry VI 
 
 ACT FIRST. 
 
 1. What is significant in Richard Plantagenet's part in Sc. i.? 
 
 2. AVhat power does Warwick here assert that gave him the title 
 of King-maker? 
 
 3. What place does York occupy in the Parliament-house when 
 the King enters? 
 
 4. Does the King's weakness inspire pity? How does he defend 
 his title to the crown? Was his vacillation foreshadowed in the 
 characters of his father and grandfather ? 
 
 5. What is his compact with York for securing peace? What 
 is the consequent effect upon his adherents? 
 
 6. Why does Exeter not join in the indignation of the others? 
 
 7. How does Henry behave at the approach of the Queen? 
 Does the tide of sympathy turn in her favour? What effect does 
 her indignation produce? 
 
 8. Had she been a woman of higher character, are there not 
 here materials for a splendid tragic figure? 
 
 9. What early indications does Richard Plantagenet give of his 
 unmoral nature? What mental qualities does he show in Sc. ii. ? 
 
 10. What event gives York color of excuse for breaking his oath? 
 
 11. Do you note any resemblance between Rutland and the 
 King? What aesthetic fitness do you see in the death of Rutland? 
 
 12. How is the battle described in Sc. iv.? W^hat is fore- 
 shadowed in lines 35-39? 
 
 13. Characterize Margaret's speech to the captured York. How 
 nearly right was York in estimating her character? 
 
 14. How does the hardness of Margaret's nature show in com- 
 parison of her with Northumberland? 
 
 ACT SECOND. 
 
 15. Show the difference between the mental traits of Edward 
 and Richard Plantagenet as exhibited in their seeing of the por- 
 
 t54
 
 KING HENRY VI. Questions 
 
 tent ; in their reception of the messenger ; in their determination 
 after receiving news of their father's death. 
 
 i6. What further news does Warwick bring? How does Rich- 
 ard comment on the tale of Warwick ? 
 
 17. How does Henry receive the news of the death of York? 
 What is the effect upon him of Clifford's long address in Sc. ii.? 
 What does Clifford need to make him a tragic figure? 
 
 18. How and when does Edward demand the crown of Henry? 
 
 19. How is Richard always addressed *Dy his enemies? Was it 
 his personal deformity only that made him odious? 
 
 20. With what do Edward and George taunt ^largaret at the 
 close of Sc. ii. ? Are their protestations sincere? 
 
 21. What tide in the fortunes of the Plantagenets does Sc. iii. 
 exhibit? What state of mind does it induce in Richard? 
 
 22. What is the effect of the mournful speech of the King 
 (Sc. V.) set amidst the scenes of battle and ferocious quarrelling 
 of the barons? Does it secure for the King feelings of sympathy 
 as well as of pity? 
 
 23. Show how the two special instances exhibited in Sc. v. illus- 
 trate the horrors of civil war. 
 
 24. Does the last hope of the King's party perish with Clifford? 
 
 25. To what does Warwick next address himself? 
 
 26. Why does Richard object to being Duke of Gloucester? 
 
 ACT THIRD. 
 
 27. Where in other plays has Shakespeare used a touch of 
 reality similar to that in Sc. i. 10: I'll tell flicc what bcfel me on 
 a day? 
 
 28. What brings Henry out of Scotland, where he had been 
 confined? What line of Richard II. does line 17 recall? 
 
 29. How does the King express solicitude for his queen ? 
 
 30. How does Henry argue his rights as king with the Keepers? 
 
 31. What can you argue for the new king's rule from Sc. ii., 
 the first in which he is represented as king? 
 
 32. Has Richard, before his soliloquy in Sc. ii., given indications 
 of his desire for the crown? Why is a full-length portrait given 
 of him and none of Edward? 
 
 33. Comment on Richard's intellectual qualities ; his imagina- 
 tion; his ambition. 
 
 155
 
 Questions THE THIRD PART OF 
 
 34. What is Margaret's errand (Sc. iii.) at the court of France? 
 
 35. On what mission does Warwick come? 
 
 36. How does Margaret oppose the suit of King Edward? 
 
 37. How and why does King Lewis decide between Margaret 
 and Warwick? 
 
 38. Does the entrance of the Post make an effective dramatic 
 situation? Aside from this,, does the play contain anything essen- 
 tially dramatic? 
 
 39. Is the act of Edward sufficient to cause the direful conse- 
 quences of foreign and civil strife? What is implied of moral 
 degeneration that makes possible such conditions? 
 
 ACT FOURTH. 
 
 40. What disaffection begins to develop in the court of Edward? 
 
 41. Upon him what is the effect of the French king's enmity and 
 of Warwick's foresworn allegiance ? 
 
 42. What alliance brings Clarence over to the side of Henry? 
 
 43. What ebb in the fortunes of King Edward does Sc. iii. pre- 
 sent? Are his shortcomings accurately estimated by Warwick? 
 
 44. What contrasts in maternal affection are presented in the 
 case of the two queens, Margaret and Elizabeth ? 
 
 45. How is King Edward rescued from imprisonment? 
 
 46. In Sc. vi. how does Henry report concerning his imprison- 
 ment? Whom does he designate protectors after his abdication? 
 
 47. What does he say of Richmond? What does Richmond 
 afterward become? 
 
 48. Where is he sent for safety after the news of Edward's 
 escape reaches the King's party ? 
 
 49. What is the presage of Edward's hesitation (Sc. vii.) in re- 
 assuming the kingship at York? Who is the strong man of his 
 party ? 
 
 50. How (Sc. viii.) are Henry's suggestions regarded by the 
 council? Does Henry show himself to have been taught anything 
 by his hard experiences? 
 
 ACT FIFTH. 
 
 51. What leads to the defection of Clarence from Warwick? 
 How does Warwick end his life? 
 
 52. What traits does Prince Edward display in Sc. v.? Does 
 
 156
 
 KING HENRY VI. Questions 
 
 his fate awaken pity? Is there felt to be any chance that the for- 
 tunes of the house of Lancaster could be revived through him? 
 
 53. Does Margaret become noble in her grief? 
 
 54. Does Henry ever exceed the pitch of powerful expression 
 to which he rises in Sc. vi. ? 
 
 55. How is the succeeding play foreshadowed in the speeches of 
 Henry and of Gloucester? 
 
 ^,6. Is King Henry VI., as presented in this trilogy, to be judged 
 as one morally responsible for the evils of civil war with which 
 his reign was filled? 
 
 57. Contrast Henry VI. with the two weak kings that Shake- 
 speare has drawn — John and Richard II. Are they not distinct in 
 their characterization? 
 
 58. In more favourable times could Henry have been an efficient 
 king? Was his weakness congenital? 
 
 59. Is he more to be admired, as Hazlitt says, than his queen? 
 
 60. Who of all that time was most suitable to be king? 
 Wherein lay the incapacity of Gloucester? 
 
 61. Was Warwick ruled so much by patriotic as by personal 
 feeling ? 
 
 62. Does the growing personality of Richard Duke of Gloucester 
 serve to point to a means of salvation for. the kingdom? 
 
 63. Do the Cade scenes indicate that the dramatist wishes to 
 state the case of democracy as an alternative? 
 
 ^57
 
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