FIRST PART OF KING HENRY VI. PERSONS REPRESENTED. KL. HENRY THE SIXTH. DUKE OF BEDFORD, Uncle to the King, and THE BEAUFORT, Duke of Exeter, great Uncle to the King. HENRY BEAUFORT, great Uncle to the King, Bishop of Winchester; and afterwards Cardinal. JOHN BLAUFORT, Earl of Somerset; afterwards Duke. RICHARD PLANTAGENET, eldest Son of Richard, late Earl of Cambridge; afterwards Duke of York. EARL OF WARWICK.-EARL OF SALISBURY. EARL OF SUFFOLK. LORD TALBOT, afterwards Earl of Shrewsbury. EDMUND MORTIMER, Earl of March. SIR JOHN FASTOLFE.-SIR WILLIAM LUCY. GRAVE. MAYOR OF LONDON. WOODVILLE, Lieutenant of the Tower. VERNON, of the White Rose, or York Faction. BASSET, of the Red Rose, or Lancaster Faction. CHARLES, Dauphin, and afterwards King of France. REIGNIER, Duke of Anjou, and titular King of Naples. DUKE OF BURGUNDY.-DUKE OF ALENÇON. A FRENCH SERGEANT.-A PORTER. MARGARET, Daughter to Reignier; afterwards Fiends appearing to La Pucelle, Lords, Warders of the Tower, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and several Attendants both on the English and French. SCENE; partly in England, and partly in France. ACT I. SCENE I.-Westminster Abbey. Dead march. Corpse of King HENRY the Fifth discovered, lying in state; attended on by the Dukes of BEDFORD, GLOSTER, and EXETER; the Earl of WARWICK, the Bishop of WINCHESTER, Heralds, &c. Bed. Hung be the heavens with black,* yield day to night! Comets, importing change of times and states, That have consented unto Henry's death! His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings; His sparkling eyes replete with wrathful fire, * Alluding to our ancient stage-practice when a tragedy was to be acted More dazzled and drove back nis enemies, Than mid-day sun, fierce bent against their faces. [speech: What should I say? his deeds exceed all He ne'er lift up his hand, but conquered. Exe. We mourn in black; Why mourn we not in blood? Henry is dead, and never shall revive: Upon a wooden coffin we attend; And death's dishonourable victory We with our stately presence glorify, Like captives bound to a triumphant car. What? shall we curse the planets of mishap, That plotted thus our glory's overthrow? Or shall we think the subtle-witted French Conjurers and sorcerers, that, afraid of him, By magic verses* bave contriv'd his end? Win. He was a king bless'd of the King of kings. Unto the French the dreadful judgement day There was a notion long prevalent, that life might be taken away by metrical charms. Glo. The church! where is it? Had not churchmen pray'd, His thread of life had not so soon decay'd: And lookest to command the prince, and realm, Bed. Cease, cease these jars, and rest your Let's to the altar:-Heralds, wait on us:- money. Among the soldiers this is muttered,- You are disputing of your generals. tides. Bed. Me they concern; regent I am of France: Give me my steeled coat, I'll fight for France. Away with these disgraceful wailing robes! Wounds I will lend the French, instead of eyes, To weep their intermissive miseries. Enter another MESSENGER. 2 Mess Lords, view these letters, full of bad mischance, Nurse was anciently so spelt. | France is revolted from the English quite; The bastard of Orleans with him is join'd; Exe. The Dauphin crowned king! all fly to him. O, whither shall we fly from this reproach? Glo. We will not fly, but to our enemies' throats: Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out. An army have I muster'd in my thoughts, Enter a third MESSENGER. 3 Mess. My gracious lords,-to add to your laments, [hearse,Wherewith you now bedew King Henry's I must inform you of a dismal fight, Betwixt the stout lord Talbot and the French. Win. What! wherein Talbot overcame ? is't so? 3 Mess. O, no; wherein lord Talbot was o'erthrown: The circumstance I'll tell you more at large. Having full scarce six thousand in his troop, him; Here, there, and every where, enrag'd he slew: strength, For living idly here, in pomp and ease, And lord Scales with him, and lord Hunger3 Mess. O no, he lives; but is took prisoner, ford: Most of the rest slaughter'd, or took, likewise. Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay: I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne, His crown shall be the ransom of my friend; te. Theit miseries which have had only a short inter- Four of their lords I'll change for one of + Her, i. e. England's. mission ours.- Farewell, my masters; to my task will I; 3 Mess. So you had need; for Orleans is be- The English army is grown weak and faint: Exe. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry Being ordain'd his special governor; So in the earth, to this day is not known: ghosts, Faintly besiege us one hour in a month. The other lords, like lions wanting food, England all Olivers and Rowlands bred, Reig. I think, by some odd gimmalst or de vice, Their arms are set, like clocks, still to strike {on; By my consent, we'll e'en let them alone. Else ne'er could they hold out so, as they do. Alen. Be it so. Enter the BASTARD of Orleans. Bust. Where's the prince Dauphin, I have news for him. Char. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us. Bust. Methinks, your looks are sad, your Be not dismay'd, for succour is at hand: The spirit of deep prophecy she hath, she can descry. Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words, For they are certain and unfallible. Char. Go, call her in: [Exit BASTARD.] But, Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place: Alen. They want their porridge, and their fat By this means shall we sound what skill she bull-beeves: Either they must be dieted like mules, idly here? Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear: on them. Now for the honour of the forlorn French :- [Exeunt. Alarums; Excursions; afterwards a Retreat. Re-enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, REIGNIER, und others. Char. Who ever saw the like? what men have Dogs! cowards! dastards!-I would ne'er But that they left me 'midst my enemies. hath. [Retires. Enter LA PUCELLE, BASTARD of Orleans, and others. Reig. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these wond'rous feats? Puc. Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile me?Where is the Dauphin?-come, come from be[hind; I know thee well, though never seen before. Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me: In private will I talk with thee apart:Stand back, you lords, and give us leave a while. Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first Puc. Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's * I. c. The prey for which they are hungry. + A gimmal is a piece of jointed work, where one piece moves within another; here it is taken at large for an en gine. This was not in former times a term of reproach. {Countenance. Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs, God's mother deigned to appear to me; My courage try by combat, if thou dar'st, Char. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high terms; Only this proof I'll of thy valour make,- Puc. I am prepar'd: here is my keen-edg'd sword, Deck'd with five flour-de-luces on each side; The which at Touraine, in Saint Katharine's church-yard, Out of a deal of old iron I chose forth. Char. Then come o'God's name, I fear no Amazon, And fightest with the sword of Deborah. Puc. Christ's mother helps me, else I were too weak. Char. Whoe'er helps thee, 'tis thou that must help me: Impatiently I burn with thy desire; Char. Meantime, look gracious on thy prostrate thrall. Reig. My lord, methinks, is very long in talk. Alen. Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock; Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech. Reig. Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no mean? Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself, Char. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove? Reig. Woman, do what thou canst to save our honours; Drive them from Orleans, and be immortaliz'd. Char. Presently we'll try:-Come let's away about it: SCENE III.-London.-Hill before the Tower. Enter, at the Gates, the Duke of GLOSTER, with his Serving-men, in blue coats. Glo. I am come to survey the Tower this day; Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance.t-Where be these warders, that they wait not here? Open the gates; Gloster it is that calls. [SERVANTS knock. 1 Ward. [Within.] Who is there that knocks so imperiously? 1 Serv. It is the noble Duke of Gloster. 2 Ward. [Within.] Whoe'er he be, you may not be let in. 1 Serv. Answer you so the lord protector, villains? 1 Ward. [Within.] The Lord protect him! We do no otherwise than we are will'd. so we answer him: Glo. Who will'd you? or whose will stands but mine? There's none protector of the realm, but I.— Break up the gates, I'll be your warrantize: Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms? SERVANTS rush at the Tower Gates. Enter, to the Gates, WOODVILLE, the Lieutenant. Wood. [Within.] What noise is this? wha traitors have we here? Glo. Lieutenant, is it you, whose voice I hear? [enter. Open the gates; here's Gloster that would Wood. [Within.] Have patience, noble duke: I may not open; The cardinal of Winchester forbids: Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore me? Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate, Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook? Thou art no friend to God, or to the king: Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly. 1 Serv. Open the gates unto the lord protector; [quickly. Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not Enter WINCHESTER, attended by a Train of Servants in tawny Coats. Win. How now, ambitious Humphry? what means this? * Meaning the four daughters of Philip mentioned in Acts xxi. 9. + Theft. Break open. Glo. Piel'd priest, dost thou command me to be shut out? Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor,t And not protector of the king or realm. Glo. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator; Thou, that contriv'dst to murder our dead lord; Thou, that giv'st whores indulgences to sin: I'll canvast thee in thy broad cardinal's hat, If thou proceed in this thy insolence. Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a foot; This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain, Glo. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back: Thy scarlet robes, as a child's bearing-cloth I'll use, to carry thee out of this place. Win. Do what thou dar'st; I beard thee to thy face. Glo. What? am I dar'd, and bearded to my face? Draw, men, for all this privileged place; your beard; [GLOSTER and his Men attack the Bishop. I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly: Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat; In spite of pope or dignities of church, Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down. Win. Gloster, thou'lt answer this before the pope. Glo. Winchester goose,§ I cry-a rope! a rope![stay? Now beat them hence. Why do you let them Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array. Out, tawny coats!-out, scarlet|| hypocrite! Here a great Tumult. In the midst of it, Enter the MAYOR of London, and Officers. May. Fie, lords! that you, being supreme magistrates, Thus contumeliously should break the peace! Glo. Peace, mayor; thou know'st little of my wrongs: [king, Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use. Win. Here's Gloster too, a foe to citizens; One that still motions war, and never peace, O'ercharging your free purses with large fines; That seeks to overthrow religion, Because he is protector of the realm; And would have armour here out of the Tower, To crown himself king, and suppress the prince. Glo. I will not answer thee with words, but blows. [Here they skirmish again. May. Nought rests for me, in this tumultuous strife, But to make open proclamation:Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou canst. Off. All manner of men, assembled here in arms this day, against God's peace and the king's, we charge and command you, in his highness' name, to repair to your several dwelling-places; and not to wear, handle, or use, any sword, weapon, or dagger, henceforward, upon pain of death. Glo. Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law: But we shall meet, and break our minds at large. Win. Gloster, we'll meet; to thy dear cost, be sure: Thy heart-blood I will have, for this day's work. Alluding to his shaven crown. + Traitor. ↑ Sift. M. Gun. Sirrah, thou know'st how Orleans is besieg'd; And how the English have the suburbs won. Son. Father, I know; and oft have shot at them, Howe'er, unfortunate, I miss'd my aim. M. Gun. But now thou shalt not. Be thou rul'd by me: Chief master-gunner am I of this town; Wont, through a secret gate of iron bars If thou spy'st any, run and bring me word; [Exit. Son. Father, I warrant you; take you no care; I'll never trouble you, if I may spy them. Sal. Talbot, my life, my joy, again return'd! Tal. The duke of Bedford had a prisoner, Called the brave lord Ponton de Santrailles; For him I was exchang'd and ransomed. But with a baser man of arms by far, [me: Once, in contempt, they would have barter'd Which I, disdaining, scorn'd; and craved death Rather than I would be so pil'd esteemed. In fine, redeem'd I was as I desir'd. [heart! But, O! the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my If I now had him brought into my power. Whom with my bare fists I would execute, Sul. Yet tell'st thou not, how thou wert entertain'd. Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious taunts. In open market-place produc'd they me, * That is, for peace-officers armed with clubs or stayes |