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, E. 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. EDMUND MORTIMER, Earl of March. Mortimer's Keeper, and a Lawyer. SIR JOHN FASTOLFE. SIR WILLIAM LUCY. SIRTHOMAS GARGRAVE. Mayor of London. WOODVILLE, Lieut.of the Tower. MARGARET, daughter to Reignier; afterwards married to King Henry. COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE. JOAN LA PUCELLE, commonly called Joan of Arc. 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 THE 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, Glo. England ne'er had a king until his time. His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams; 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. Exe. We mourn in black; Why mourn we not in blood? Henry is dead, and never shall revive: 2 Win. He was a king bless'd of the King of kings. The battles of the Lord of hosts he fought: The church's prayers made him so prosperous. Glo. None do you like but an effeminate prince, Whom, like a school-boy, you may over-awe. Win. Gloster, whate'er we like, thou art pro tector; And lookest to command the prince, and realm. Glo. Name not religion, for thou lov'st the flesh, And ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'st, Except it be to pray against thy foes. Bed. Cease, cease these jars, and rest your minds in peace! Let's to the altar: Heralds, wait on us : Instead of gold, we'll offer up our arms; When at their mothers' moist eyes babes shall suck; 2 There was a notion long prevalent, that life might be taken away by metrical charms. Our isle be made a nourish3 of salt tears, Enter a Messenger. Mess. My honourable lords, health to you all! Speak softly; or the loss of those great towns If Henry were recall'd to life again, These news would cause him once more yield the ghost. Exe. How were they lost? what treachery was us'd? Mess. No treachery; but want of men and money. Among the soldiers this is muttered, That here you maintain several factions; And, whilst a field should be despatch'd and fought, One would have ling'ring wars with little cost; Let not sloth dim your honours, new-begot: VOL. VI. › Nurse was anciently so spelt. C |