That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion,
And made the forest tremble when they rdar'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 might st repossess the crown in peace;
And of our labours thou shalt reap the gain.
Glo. I'll blast his harvest, if your head were
lay'd;

t

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

Work thou the way,

back:

and thou shalt execute,

[Aside. K. Edw. Clarence, and Gloster, love my lo

ז'

vely Queen;

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.

K. Edw. Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy brother thanks.

Glo. And, that I love the tree from whence thou sprang'st,

Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit: say the truth, so Judas kiss'd his

Το

Master

all, hail! when as he

Aside.

K. Edw. 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.

K. Edw. Away with her, and waft her hence to France.

And now what rests, but that we spend the time

With stately triumphs, mirthful comick shows, Such as befit the pleasures of the court?

Sound, drums and trumpets!

annoy!

farewell, sour

[Exeunt:

For here, I hope, begins our lasting joy.

SELECTION

OF THE

MOST IMPORTANT NOTES

EXTRACTED

FROM

THE BEST COMMENTATORS

TO THE PLAYS

OF

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

VOLUME XI.

NOTES TO

KING HENRY VI. PART II.

**This and The Third Part of King Henry VI, contain that troublesome period of this Prince's reign which took in the whole contention betwixt the houses of York and Lancaster: and under that title were these two plays first acted and published. The present scene opens with King Henry's' marriage, which was in the twenty-third year of his reign [A. D. 1445] and closes with the first battle fought at St. Albans, and won by the York faction, in the thirty-third year of his reign [A. D. 1455] so that it comprizes the history and transactions of ten years. THEOBALD.

the

This play was altered by Crowne, and acted in year 1681. STEEVENS.

In a note prefixed to the preceding play, I have briefly stated my opinion concerning the drama now before us, and that which follows it; to which the original editors of Shakspeare's works in folio have given the titles of The Second and Third Parts of King Henry VI.

The Contention of the two famous houses of Yorke and Lancaster in two parts, was published in quarto, in 1600; and the first part was entered on the S. tioner's hooks, (as Mr. Steevens has obVOL. XI.

17