THE THIRD PART OF KING HENRY VI. FIRST printed in the folio of 1623.—An alteration by Shakespeare of a drama entitled The true Tragedie of Richard Duke of Yorke, and the death of good King Henrie the Sixt, with the whole contention betweene the two Houses Lancaster and Yorke, as it was sundrie times acted by the Right Honourable the Earle of Pembrooke his seruants,—originally printed in 1595, 8vo (reprinted for the Shakespeare Society in 1843).. See Introduction to The First Part of King Henry VI., p. 3 of this volume. DRAMATIS PERSONE. KING HENRY the Sixth. EDWARD, Prince of Wales, his son. 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, GEORGE, afterwards duke of Clarence, RICHARD, afterwards duke of Gloster, DUKE OF NORFOLK. MARQUESS OF MONTAGUE, EARL OF WARWICK. EARL OF PEMBROKE, LORD HASTINGS. LORD STAFFORD. his sons. SCENE-During part of the third act in France; during the rest of the play in England. THE THIRD PART OF KING HENRY VI. ACT I. SCENE I. London. The Parliament-house. Drums. Some Soldiers of YORK's party break in. Then enter the War. I wonder how the king escap'd our hands. He slily stole away, and left his men : Edw. Lord Stafford's father, Duke of Buckingham, I cleft his beaver with a downright blow : [Showing his bloody sword. Mont. [to York, showing his] And, brother,(3) here's the Earl of Wiltshire's blood, Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd. Rich. Speak thou for me, and tell them what I did. [Throwing down the Duke of Somerset's head. York. Richard hath best deserv'd of all my sons.— But, (4) is your grace dead, my Lord of Somerset ? Norf. Such hap have all the line of John of Gaunt! Rich. Thus do I hope(5) to shake King Henry's head. Which now the house of Lancaster usurps, York. Assist me, then, sweet Warwick, and I will; Norf. We'll all assist you; he that flies shall die. York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk:-stay by me, my lords ; And, soldiers, stay, and lodge by me this night. War. And when the king comes, offer him no violence, Unless he seek to thrust you out perforce. [The Soldiers retire. 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. War. The bloody parliament shall this be call'd, Unless Plantagenet, duke of York, be king, York. Then leave me not, my lords; be resolute; I mean to take possession of my right. War. Neither the king, nor he that loves him best, The proudest he that holds up Lancaster, Dares stir a wing, if Warwick shake his bells. I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares: [Warwick leads York to the throne, who seats himself. Flourish. Enter King HENRY, CLIFFORD, NORTHUMBerland, West- And thine, Lord Clifford; and you both have vow'd revenge On him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends. (6) North. If I be not, heavens be reveng'd on me! Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in steel. West. What, shall we suffer this? let's pluck him down: My heart for anger burns; I cannot brook it. K. Hen. Be patient, gentle Earl of Westmoreland. North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin: be it so. Exe.(8) But when the duke is slain, they'll quickly fly. K. Hen. Far be the thought of this from Henry's heart, To make a shambles of the parliament-house! Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words, and threats Shall be the war that Henry means to use. [They advance to the Duke. Thou factious Duke of York, descend my throne, And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet; I am thy sovereign. York. Thou'rt deceiv'd;(9) I'm thine. Exe. For shame, come down: he made thee Duke of York. York. 'Twas my inheritance, as the earldom was.(10) Exe. Thy father was a traitor to the crown. War. Exeter, thou'rt a traitor to the crown In following this usurping Henry. Clif. Whom should he follow but his natural king? War. And Warwick shall disprove it. You forget |