sellors, who acquiesce in the loss of conquests of a bolder monarch; and a powerful confederacy of nobles lends aid to the claimant of the throne by the elder line, who certainly possesses many qualities that are more worthy of power, though as usual in history they can only command power through violence and fraud, that bring on a NemeIsis behind them. The crown that came to the line of Lancaster, through the dissolute misgovernment of Richard II falls from it again through the misgovernment of the factitious piety of an enervate devotee.-LLOYD, Critical Essays. KING HENRY the Sixth HUMPHREY, Duke of Gloucester [Gloster], his uncle CARDINAL BEAUFORT, Bishop of Winchester, great-uncle to the King RICHARD PLANtagenet, Duke of York EDWARD and RICHARD, his sons DUKE OF SOMERSET DUKE OF SUFFOLK DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM LORD CLIFFORD Young CLIFFord, his son EARL OF SALISBURY EARL OF WARWICK LORD SCALES LORD SAY SIR HUMPHREY STAFFORD, and WILLIAM Stafford, his brother SIR JOHN STANLEY VAUX MATTHEW GOFFE A Sea-captain, Master, and Master's-Mate, and WALTER WHITMORE Two Gentlemen, prisoners with Suffolk JOHN HUME and JOHN SOUTHWELL, priests BOLINGBROKE, a conjurer THOMAS HORNER, an armorer. PETER, his man Clerk of Chatham. Mayor of Saint Alban's GEORGE BEVIS, JOHN HOLLAND, DICK the butcher, SMITH the weaver, MICHAEL, &c., followers of Cade Two Murderers MARGARET, Queen to King Henry Wife to Simpcox Lords, Ladies, and Attendants, Petitioners, Aldermen, a Herald, a Beadle, Sheriff, and Officers, Citizens, 'Prentices, Falconers, Guards, Soldiers, Messengers, &c. A Spirit SCENE: England SYNOPSIS By J. ELLIS BURDICK ACT I When Margaret of Anjou is brought to England to marry Henry VI, the Duke of Gloucester, lord-protector of England, is dismayed to learn that she has brought no dowry. He expresses his disappointment to the other nobles, who, instead of supporting him, plot to use his dissatisfaction in turning the king against him. His wife, Eleanor, is ambitious of being England's queen and hints to Gloucester that if he only would he could seize the crown for himself. The Duke of Suffolk knows of this desire of the Duchess and makes his first attack on Gloucester through his wife. Queen Margaret, anxious to be queen in reality as well as in name, allies herself with Suffolk against Gloucester. The Duchess of Gloucester is persuaded to consult sorcerers regarding the future, and then she and the conjurers are arrested. ACT II The Duke of York convinces the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury that he is the rightful heir to the crown. The Duchess of Gloucester is sentenced to banishment, Gloucester is deposed from his office of protector, and summoned to appear before the Parliament. ACT III Gloucester goes to the Parliament, and, in spite of lack of evidence, is arrested and imprisoned for high treason. While the nobles are planning Gloucester's death, a messenger brings news of an uprising in Ireland. The Duke of York is sent there to restore order and he rejoices at the opportunity thus given him for raising an army. Before he leaves England, he arranges with a Kentish laborer, Jack Cade by name, to incite a rebellion at home. Under Suffolk's direction Gloucester is murdered in his prison; the common people, hearing of it, storm the palace, demanding Suffolk's death or banishment. Henry orders Suffolk to leave England's territories within three days on pain of death. ACT IV Suffolk is slain at sea by pirates. Jack Cade wins several small battles, seizes London Bridge, and enters London, but is finally defeated by the royal forces. He flees, but a price is set on his head and he is soon killed. In the meanwhile York returns to England at the head of his army, proclaiming that his intentions are only to remove from office the Duke of Somerset. ACT V Henry meets York between Dartford and Blackheath, but the interview ends in open rebellion upon York's part. A battle takes place at Saint Albans, ending in a victory for the Duke of York. The king flees to London and the victors, York and Warwick, resolve to follow. |