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; and closes with the first battle fought at St. Alban's, and won by the York faction, in the thirty-third year of his reign: so that it comprises the history and transactions of ten years.

THEOBALD.

A ij

King HENRY the Sixth.

MEN.

HUMPHREY, Duke of GLOSTER, Uncle to the King.
Cardinal BEAUFORT, Bishop of Winchester.

Duke of YORK, pretending to the Crown.

Duke of BUCKINGHAM,

Duke of SOMERSET,

Duke of SUFFOLK,

Earl of SALISBURY,

Earl of WARWICK,

of the King's Party.

of the York Faction.

Lord CLIFFORD, of the King's Party.

Lord SAY.

Lord SCALES, Governor of the Tower.

Sir HUMPHREY STAFFORD.

Young STAFFORD, bis Brother.

ALEXANDER IDEN, a Kentish Gentleman.

Young CLIFFORD, Son to Lord Clifford.

EDWARD PLANTAGENET,

RICHARD PLANTAGENET,

Sons to the Duke of York.

VAUX, a Sea Captain, and WALTER WHITMORE, Pirates.

A Herald. HUME and SOUTHWEL, two Priests.

BOLINGBROKE, an Aftrologer.

A Spirit, attending on JORDAN the Witch.

THOMAS HORNER, an Armourer. PETER, his Man.
Clerk of Chatham. Mayor of Saint Alban's.

SIMPCOX, an Impoftor.

JACK CADE, BEVIS, MICHAEL, JOHN HOLLAND, DICK the Butcher, SMITH the Weaver, and several others, Rebels.

WOMEN.

MARGARET, Queen to King Henry VI.

Dame ELEANOR, Wife to the Duke of Gloster.

Mother JORDAN, a Witch.

Wife to Simpcox.

Petitioners, Aldermen, a Beadle, Sheriff, and Officers, Citizens, with Faulconers, Guards, Messengers, and other Attendants.

The SCENE is laid very dispersedly in several Parts of England.

SECOND PART OF

HENRY VI.

.

ACT I. SCENE I.

The Palace. Flourish of Trumpets: then Hautboys. Enter King HENRY, Duke HUMPHREY, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and BEAUFORT, on the one Side; the Queen, SUFFOLK, YORK, SOMERSET, and BUCKINGHAM, on the other.

A s

Suffolk.

s by your high imperial majesty

I had in charge at my depart for France,
As procurator to your excellence,

To marry princess Margaret for your grace;
So, in the famous ancient city, Tours-
In presence of the kings of France and Sicil,

The dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretaigne, Alen.

çon,

A iij

Seven

Seven earls, twelve barons, twenty reverend bishops

I have perform'd my task, and was espous'd:
And humbly now upon my bended knee,

In sight of England and her lordly peers,
Deliver up my title in the queen

To your most gracious hand, that are the substance
Of that great shadow I did represent;

The happiest gift that ever marquess gave,

The fairest queen that ever king receiv'd.

10

K. Henry. Suffolk, arise.-Welcome, queen Mar garet:

I can express no kinder sign of love,

Than this kind kiss.-O Lord, that lends me life,
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!
For thou hast given me, in this beauteous face,
A world of earthly blessings to my soul,

If sympathy of love unite our thoughts.

20

Q. Mar. Great king of England, and my gracious

lord;

The mutual conference that my mind hath, had→
By day, by night; waking, and in my dreams;
In courtly company, or at my beads-

With you mine alder-liefest sovereign,
Makes me the bolder to salute my king

With ruder terms; such as my wit affords,
And over-joy of heart doth minister.

K. Henry. Her sight did ravish; but her grace in

speech,

Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty,

Makes me, from wondering, fall to weeping joys;

Such

Such is the fulness of my heart's content.

Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love. All. Long live queen Margaret, England's happiness!

Q. Mar. We thank you all.

[Flourish.

40

Suf. My lord protector, so it please your grace, Here are the articles of contracted peace, Between our sovereign and the French king Charles, For eighteen months concluded by consent.

Glo. reads.] Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king Charles, and William de la Poole, marquess of Suffolk, embassador for Henry king of England-that the said Henry shall espouse the lady Margaret, daughter to Reignier king of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerusalem; and crown her queen of England, ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing.

49

Item, That the dutchies of Anjou and of Maine, shall be released and delivered to the king her fa

K. Henry. Uncle, how now?

Glo. Pardon me, gracious lord;

Some sudden qualm hath struck me to the heart, And dimm'd mine eyes, that I can read no further. K. Henry. Uncle of Winchester, I pray, read on. Win. Item, It is further agreed between them-that the dutchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered to the king her father; and she sent over of the king of England's own proper cost and charges, without having any dowry.

61

K. Henry. They please us well.-Lord marquess,

kneel down;

We