KING Henry VI. Edward, Son to the King, and Prince of Wales. Duke of Somerset, Earl of Northumberland, Earl of Oxford, Earl of Exeter, Earl of Westmorland, Lord Clifford, Lords of King Henry's fide. Earl of Richmond, a Youth, afterwards King Henry VII. Richard, Duke of York. Edward, Eldeft Son to the Duke of York, afterwards King Edward IV. George Duke of Clarence, fecond Son to the Duke of York. Richard, Duke of Gloucester, third fon to the Duke of York, afterwards King Richard III. Edmund, Earl of Rutland, youngest Son to the Duke of York. Duke of Norfolk, Marquifs of Montague, Earl of Warwick, Earl of Pembroke, Lord Haftings, Lord Stafford, of the Duke of York's Party. Sir John Mortimer, Sir Hugh Mortimer, Uncles to the Duke of York, Sir William Stanly, afterwards Earl of Derby. Lord Rivers, Brother to the Lady Gray. Sir John Montgomery. Lieutenant of the Tower. Mayor of Coventry. Mayor and Aldermen of York. Somerville. Humphry and Sinklo, two Huntsmen. Lewis, King of France. Bourbon, Admiral of France. Queen Margaret, Bona, Sifter to the French King. Lady Gray, Widow of Sir John Gray, afterwards Queen to Edward IV. Soldiers and other Attendants on King Henry, and King Edward. In part of the Third Act, the SCENE is laid in France, during all the reft of the Play, in England. The The THIRD PART of (1) King HENRY VI ACT I. SCENE, London. Alarum: Enter Duke of York, Edward, Richard, Norfolk, Montague, Warwick, and Soldiers. WARWICK. Wonder, how the King escap'd our hands! I York. While we purfu'd the horsemen of the north, He flily ftole away and left his men: Whereat the great Lord of Northumberland, Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat, i (1) The Third Part of King Henry VI.] The action of this play (which was at firft printed under this title, The true Tragedy of Richard Duke of York, and the good King Henry VI: or, The Second Part of the Contention of York and Lancaster) opens just after the first battle at St. Albans, wherein the York faction carries the day; and clofes with the murder of King Henry VI, and the birth of Prince Edward, afterwards King Edward V. So that this history takes in the space of full 16 Years. The rancour of the contending factions, in this play, is painted too ftrongly to be agreeable: but the poet, in a great measure, goes on the authority of tradition and if the Noblemen appear more favage than can fuit with their dignity or our prefent notion of politeness; confiderable allowances must be made for the inveteracy, with which this civil war was carried on in all its viciffitudes. Chear'd up the drooping army; and himself, Edw. Lord Stafford's father, Duke of Buckingham, Is either flain or wounded dang'roufly. 1 cleft his beaver with a down-right blow: That this is true, father, behold his blood. Mont. And, brother, here's the Earl of Wiltshire's blood; Whom I encounter'd, as the battels 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 fons : Is his Grace dead, my Lord of Somerset? Norf. Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt ! Rich. Thus do I hope to fhake King Henry's head. War. And fo do I. Victorious Prince of Tork, Before I fee thee feated in that throne, Which now the houfe of Lancafier ufurps, Norf. We'll all affift you; he, that flies, fhall die. York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk; ftay by me, my Lords; And, foldiers, ftay and lodge by me this night. [They go up. War. And when the King comes, offer him no violence; Unless he feek to thurft you cut by force. York. The Queen this day here holds her Parliament, But little thinks, we fhall be of her council; By words or blows here let us win our right. Rich. Arm'd as we are, let's ftay within this houfe. War. The bloody parliament fhall this be call'd, Unless Plantagenet, Duke of York, be King; And bashful Henry depos'd; whofe cowardife Hath made us by-words to our enemies. York. Then leave me not; my Lords, be refolute; I mean to take poffeffion of my right. War. |