King HENRY the Sixth. Duke of GLOSTER, uncle to the King, and Protector. Duke of BEDFORD, uncle to the King, and Regent of France. THOMAS BEAUFORT, Duke of Exeter, great Uncle to the King. HENRY BEAUFORT, great Uncle to the King, Bishop of Winchester, and afterwards Cardinal. JOHN BEAUFORT, Earl of Somerset; afterwards, RICHARD PLANTAGENET, eldest son of Richard late Lord TALBOT, afterwards Earl of Shrewsbury: JOHN TALBOT, his son. EDMUND MORTIMER, Earl of March. MORTIMER'S Keeper, and a Lawyer. Sir JOHN FASTOLFE. Sir WILLIAM LUCY. Sir WILLIAM GLANSDALE. GRAVE. Sir THOMAS GAR Mayor of London. WOODVILLE, Lieutenant of the VERNON, of the White Rose, or York faction. CHARLES, Dauphin, afterwards King of France. Governor of PARIS. Duke of BURGUNDY. Duke of ALENÇON. An old Shepherd, father to Joan la Pucelle. MARGARET, daughter to REIGNIER; afterwards married to King Henry. Countess of AUVERGNE. JOAN LA PUCELLE, commonly called, Joan of Arc. 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. FIRST PART OF KING HENRY VI. 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. Bedford. HUNG be the heavens with black, yield day to night! Comets, importing change of times and states, Glo. England ne'er had a king, until his time. Virtue he had, deserving to command: His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams; More dazzled and drove back his enemies, Than mid-day sun, fierce bent against their faces. Exe. We mourn in black; Why mourn we not in blood? Henry is dead, and never shall revive : Win. He was a king bless'd of the King of kings. The church's prayers made him so prosperous. Glo. The church! where is it? Had not church men pray'd, His thread of life had not so soon decay'd: Win. Gloster, whate'er we like, thou art protector; |