First Part of King Henry VI.

KING HENRY THE SIXTH.

Persons Represented.

DUKE OF GLOSTER, Uncle to the King, and Pro-
tector.

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
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.
JOHN TALBOT, his Son.

EDWARD MORTIMER, Earl of March.

Mortimer's Keeper, and a Lawyer.
SIR JOHN FASTOLFE

SIR WILLIAM LUCY.

SIR WILLIAM GLANSDALE.
SIR THOMAS GARGRAVE,

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 First.

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,
Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky;
And with them scourge the bad revolting stars,
That have consented unto Henry's death!
Henry the Fifth, too famous to live long!
England ne'er lost a king of so much worth.

Glo. England ne'er had a king until his time.
Virtue he had, deserving to command: [beams;
His brandish'd sword did blind men with his
His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings;
His sparkling eyes replete with wrathful fire,
More dazzled and drove back his enemies,
Than mid-day sun, fierce bent against their faces.
What should I say? his deeds exceed all speech,
He ne'er lift up his hand, but conquered.

E. We mourn in black; Why mourn we not in
Henry is dead, and never shall revive; [blood?
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,
Or shall we think the subtle-witted French
That plotted thus our glory's overthrow?
Conjurers and sorcerers, that, afraid of him,
By magick verses have contrived his end?

Win. He was a king bless'd of the King of kings
Unto the French, the dreadful judgment day
So dreadful will not be, as was his sight.
The battles of the Lord of Hosts he fought:
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:
None do you like but an effeininate prince,
Whom like a schoolboy, you may overawe.

Win. Gloster, whate'er we like, thou art pro

tector;

And lookest to command the prince, and realm.
Thy wife is proud; she holdeth thee in awe,
More than religion or than churchmen may.

Glo. Name not religion, for thou lov'st the flesh,
And ne'er throughout the year to church thou
Except it be to pray against thy foes. Igo'st
Bed, Cease, cease, these jars, and rest your

minds in peace! Let's to the altar-Heralds, wait on usInstead of gold, we'll offer up our arms; charms.

Puc. Christ's mother helps me, else I were
too weak.
[help me :
Char. Whoe'er helps thee, 'tis thou that must
My heart and hands thou hast at once subdu'd.
Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so,
Let me thy servant, and not sovereign, be;
"Tis the French dauphin sueth to thee thus.
Puc. I must not yield to any rites of love,
For my profession's sacred from above:
When I have chased all thy foes from hence,
Then will I think upon a recompence. [thrall.
Char. Meantime, look gracious on thy prostrate
Reig. My lord, methinks, is very long in talk.
Alen. He may mean more than we poor men
do know.

R. My lord, where are you? what devise you on?
Shall we give over Orleans, or no?

Puc. Why, no, I say, distrustful recreants!
Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard.
Char. What she says, I'll confirm; we'll fight
it out.

Puc. Assign'd am I to be the English scourge.
This night the siege assuredly I'll raise:
Expect saint Martin's summer1 halcyon days,
Since I have entered into these wars,
Glory is like a circle in the water,
Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself,
Till, by broad spreading, it disperse to nought.
With Henry's death, the English circle ends;
Dispersed are the glories it included.
Now am I like that proud insulting ship,
Which Cæsar and his fortune bare at once.
Char. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove?
Thou with an eagle art inspired then.
Helen, the mother of great Constantine,
Nor yet saint Philip's daughters, 2 were like thee.
Bright star of Venus, fall'n down on the earth,
How may I reverently worship thee?

Alen. Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege.
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:

Noprophetwill I trust if she prove false.[Exeunt.

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.3 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.

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? what traitors have we here?

Glo. Lieutenant, is it you, whose voice I hear? Open the gates; here's Gloster, that would enter. Wood. [Within.] Have patience, noble duke;

I may not open;

The Cardinal of Winchester forbids:
From him I have express commandment,
That thou, nor none of thine, shall be let in.

Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore
Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate, [me:
Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could
brook?

Thou art no friend to Heaven, or to the king:
Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly.

1 Serv. Open the gates unto the lord protector: Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not quickly.

Enter Winchester, attended by a Train of
Servants in tawny coats.

Win. How now, ambitious Humphrey? what
means this?
[shut out!
Gl. Piel'd1 priest, dost thou command me to be
Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor,2
And not protector of the king or realm.

Glo. Stand back: thou manifest conspirator; Thou that contriv'dst to murder our dead lord: I'll canvass 3 thee in thy broad cardinal's hat, If thou proceed in this thy insolence.

[foot.

This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,
Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a
To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.

Thy scarlet robes, as a child's bearing cloth
G. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back:
I'll use, to carry thee out of this place.

W.Do what thou dar'st;I beard thee to thyface.
G.What? am I dar'd, and bearded to my face?-
Draw, men, for all this privileged place.
Blue-coats to tawny coats. Priest, beware
your beard;

[Gloster and his men attack the Bishop.
I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly:
In spite of pope or dignities of church,
Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat;
Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down.

W.Gloster, thou'lt answer this before the pope.
Glo. Winchester goose, I cry-a rope! a rope!
Now beat them hence, Why do you let them
stay?-

Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array. -
Here a great Tumult. In the midst of it, enter
Out, tawny coats!-out, scarlet hypocrite!
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: