KING Henry VI. Humphry Duke of Gloucester, Cardinal Beauford, Bp. of Winchefter, Uncles to the King. Duke of York, pretending to the Crown. Duke of Buckingham, Duke of Somerfet, Duke of Suffolk, of Of the King's Party. Earl of Salisbury, Of the York Faction. Lord Clifford, of the King's Party. Lord Scales, Governor of the Tower. Young Stafford, his Brother. Alexander Iden, a Kentish Gentleman. Young Clifford, Son to the Lord Clifford. Edward Plantagenet, 2 Sons to the Duke of York. Vaux, A Sea Captain, and Walter Whitmore-Pirates. A Herald. Hume and Southwel, 2 Priests. Bolingbrook, an Aftrologer. A Spirit, attending on Jordan the Witch. Thomas Horner, an Armourer. Peter, bis Man. Clerk of Chatham. Mayor of St. Albans. Simpcox, an Impoftor. Jack Cade, Bevis, Michael, John Holland, Dick the Butcher, Smith the Weaver, and feveral others, Rebels. Margaret, Queen to King Henry VI. fecretly in Love with the Duke of Suffolk. Dame Eleanor, Wife to the Duke of Gloucester. Mother Jordan, a Witch employ'd by the Dutchess of Glou cefter. Wife to Simpcox. Petitioners, Aldermen, a Beadle, Sheriff and Officers, Citizens, with Faulconers, Guards, Meffengers, and other Attendants. The SCENE is laid very difperfedly in feveral Parts of England. The SECOND PART of (1) King HENRY VI A C T I. SCENE, the Palace. Flourish of trumpets: then, hautboys. Enter King Henry, Duke Humphry, Salisbury, Warwick, and Beauford on the one fide: The Queen, Suffolk, York, Somerfet, and Buckingham on the other. A SUFFOLK. S by your high imperial Majefty, I had in charge at my depart for France, To marry Princess Margret for your Grace; The (1) The fecond Part of K. Henry VI.] This and the third part of K. Henry VI. contain that troublesom Period of this Prince's Reign, which took in the whole Contention betwixt the two Houses of York and Lancaf The Dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretaigne, Alanfon, [Prefenting the Queen to the King, To your most gracious hand; that are the fubftance The happieft gift that ever Marquifs gave, The fairest Queen that ever King receiv'd. K. Henry. Suffolk, arife. Welcome, Queen Margaret; I can exprefs no kinder fign of love, Than this kind kifs. O Lord, that lend'ft me life, For thou haft giv'n me, in this beauteous face, If fympathy of love unite our thoughts. [lord, Q. Mar. Great King of England, and my gracious With you mine alder-liefeft Sovereign; And over-joy of heart doth minifter. K. Henry. Her fight did ravish, but her grace in speech, Her words y-clad with wifdom's majesty, Make me from wondring fall to weeping joys, Such is the fulness of my heart's content. Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love. ter: And under that Title were thefe Two Plays firft acted and publish'd. The prefent Scene opens with K. Henry's Marriage, which was in the 23d Year of his Reign; and clofes with the firft Battle fought at St. Albans, and won by the York Faction, in the 33d Year of his Reign. So that it comprizes the History and Transactions of 10 Years. There are befides, as I have above hinted, fome intermediate Incidents crowded in; which tranfgrefs upon the Order of Time. For Eleanor Dutchess of Gloucester's Conviction and Banishment for Sorcery, (which are here introduc'd) happen'd in the 20th Year of K. Henry VI. in the 3d Year before his Marriage with Queen Margaret. All All kneel. Long live Queen Margret, England's hap piness! Q. Mar. We thank you all. [Flourish. Suff. My lord Protector, fo it please your Grace, Here are the Articles of contracted Peace, Between our Soveraign and the French King Charles, Glo. reads.] Imprimis, It is agreed between the French King, Charles, and William de-la Pole Marquifs of Suffolk, ambasador for Henry King of England, that the faid Henry fhall efpoufe the lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier King of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerufalem, and crown her Queen of England, ere the thirtieth of May next enfuing. (2). Item. That the Dutchy of Anjou, and the County of Maine, fhall be releafed and delivered to the King her father. K. Henry. Uncle, how now? [Lets fall the paper. Some fudden qualm hath ftruck me to the heart, Win. Item, That the Dutchies of Anjou and Maine ball be releafed 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. K. Henry. They pleafe us well. Lord Marquifs, kneel you down'; We here create thee the first Duke of Suffolk, (2) Ere the thirteenth of May next enfuing.] This is an Error only of our modern Impreffions. I have fet the Text right from the joint Authoxities of the first old Quarto, the first and fecond Folio's, and the Chroniles both of Hall and Hollingshead. We We thank you for all this great favour done, [Exeunt King, Queen, and Suffolk. Manent the reft. Glo. Brave Peers of England, pillars of the State, In winter's cold, and fummer's parching heat, Have you your felves, Somerset, Buckingham, How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe, (3) Or hath mine Uncle Bedford-] Here again the Indolence of our modern Editors is very fignal; for within fix Lines Gloucefter is made to call Bedford both his Brother and Uncle. I have the Warrant of the older Books for reftoring the true Reading here. Car. |