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1807.

11.07

T. Gillet, Wild Court, and J. BRETTELL, Marshall Strect, Printers.

OF

KING

HENRY VI.

PERSONS REPRESEN T E D. •

King II ENRY the Sirth.

BASSET, of the Red Rose, or Lancuster Fuction. Duke of GLOSTER, Uncle to the King, and Protector.

CHARLES, Dauphin, und afterwards King of Duke of BEDFORD, Uncle to the King, und Re France. gent of France.

REIGNIER, Duke of Anjou, and Titular King Curdinal BEAUFORT, Bishop of Winchester, and of Naples. Great Uncle to the King.

Duke of BURGUNDY. Duke of ExETER.

Duke of ALENÇON. Duke of SOMERSET.

Bastard of ORLEANS. Furl of WARWICK.

Goterror of Paris. Earl of SALISBURY.

Master-Gunner of ORLEANS, Boy, his son. Earl of SUFFOLK.

An Old Shepherd, Futher to Joan la Pucelle. Lord TALBOT. Young TALBOT, his son.

MARGARET, daughter to Reignier, and afterRICHARD PLANTAGENET, afterwards Duke of wurds Queen to King Henry. York.

Countess of AUVERGNE. MORTIMER, Earl of March.

Joan LA PUCELLE, commonly called Joan ng Sir John F ASTOLFE Woodville, Lieutenant Arc; a Maid pretending to be inspird from

of the Tower. Lord Mayor of London. Sir Heuven, and setting up for the Championess THOMAS GARGRAVE. Șir WiLLIAM GLANS of France. DALE. Sir WILLIAM Lucy.

Fiends, attending her. PERNON, of the l'hite Rose, or York Faction. Lords, Captains, Soldiers, Alessengers, and several Attendunts both on the English and Frenck.

The SCEVE is partly in England, and partly in France.

Bed. HUNG

A C T I.
S CE N E I.

Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky;

And with them scourge the bad revolting stars, Westminster Abbey.

That have consented unto Henry's death! Dead March. Enter the funeral of King Henry the Henry the fifth, too famous to live long!

Fijih, altended on by the Duke of Bedford, Re- 5 England ne'er lost a king of so inuch worth. gent of France; the Duke of Gloster, Protector; Glo. England ne'er had a king, until his time. the Duke of Exeter, and the Eurl of Wurwick ; Virtue he had, deserving to command: the Bishop of Winchester, und ihe Duke of So His brandish’sword did blind men with his beams; merset, &c.

His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings; UNG be the heavens with black, 10 His sparkling eyes, replete with wrathfulfire, yield day to night!

More dazzled and drove back his enemies, Comets, importing change of times and states, Than mid-day sun, fierce bent against their faces.

Mr. Theobald observes, that, “the historical transactions contained in this play, take in the coinpass of above thirty years. I must observe, however, that our author, in the three parts of Henry VI. has not been very precise to the date and disposition of his facts; but shuffled thein, backwards and forwards, out of time. For instance; the lord Talbot is kill'd at the end of the fourth act of this play, who in reality did not fall till the 13th of July 1453; and The Second Part of Henry VI. opens with the marriage of the king, which was solemniz'd'eight years before Talbot's death, in the year 1445. Again, in the second part, dame Eleanor Cobham is introduced to insult queen Margaret; though her penance and banishment for sorcery happened three years before that princess came over to England. I could point out many other transgressions against history, as far as the order of tiine is concerned. Indeed, though there are several master-strokes in these three play', which incontestably betray the workmanship of Shakspeare; yet I am almost doubtful whether they were entirely of his writing. And unless they were wrote by hin very early, I should rather imagine them to have been brought to him as a director of the stage; and so have received some finishing beautics at his hand. An accurate observer will easily see, the diction of them is more obsolete, and the numbers inore mean and prosaical, than in the generality of his genuine compositions."

5

1.

What should I say? his deeds exceed all speech: Among the soldiers this is muttered,
He ne'er lift up his hand but conquered.

That here you maintain several factions ;
Exe. We mourn in black; Wliy mourn we not And, whilsť a field should be dispatch'd and fought,
in blood?

You are disputing of your generals.
Henry is dead, and never shall revive: 5 One would have ling'ring wars witla little cost;
Upon a wooden coffin we attend;

Another would fly swift, but wanteth wings;
AI death's dishonourable victory

A third man thinks, without expence at all, We with our stately presence glorify,

By guileful fair words peace may be obtain'd.
Like captives bound to a triomphant car.

Awake, awake, English nobility;
What? 'shall we curse the planets of mishap, 10 Let not sloth dim your honours, new-begot:
That plotted thus our glory's overthrow? Cropp'd are the tower-de-luces in your arms;
Or shall we think the subtle-witted French of England's coat one half is cut away.
Conjurers and sorcerers, that, afraid of him, Ere. Were our tears wanting to this funeral,
By magic verses have contriv'd his end:

These tidings would call forth their powing tides.
Win. He was a king blest of the King of Kings. 15 Bed. Methey concern; regent I am of France:-
Unto the French the dreaciful judgment-day Give me my steeled coat, I'll fight for France.-
So dreadful will not be, as was his sight.

Away with these disgraceful wailing robes !
The battles of the Lord of Blosts he tought: Wounds I will lend the French instead of eyes,
The church's prayers made him so prosperous. To weep their intermissive? miseries.
Glo. The church ! where is it? Had not church-20 Enter to them another Messenger.
men pray'd,

2 Mess. Lorus, view these letters, full of bad Ilis thread of lite had not so soon decay’d:

mischance.
None do you like but an effeminate prince,

France is revolted from the English quite;
Whom, like a school-boy, you may over-awe. Except some petty towns of no import :
Win. Gloster, whatc'er we like, thou art pro-|-5 The Dauphin Charles is crowned hing in Rheims;
tector ;

The bastard of Orleans with him is join'd ;
And lookest to command the prince, and realm. Reignier, duke of Anjou, duth take his part:
Thy wife is proudi; she holdeih thee in awe, The duke of Alençon flieth to his side. [Erit.
More than God, or religious church-men, may. Ere. The Dauphin crowned king! all ily to

Glo. Namenot religion, for thou lov'st the flesh:300, whither shall we fly from this reproach? [him!
And ne'erthroughout the year tochurch thou go'st, Glo.We will notfly butto ourenemies'throats:-
Except it be to pray against thy foes.

Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out.
Bed. Cease, cease these jars, and rest your minds Bed. Gloster, why doubt'st thou of my for-
in peace!

wardness?
Let's to the altar:-Heralds, wait on us: 135 An army have I muster'd in my thoughts,
Instead of gold, we'll offe,' up our arms ;

Wherewith already France is over-run.
Since arms avaik not, now that Henry's dead.-

Enter a third Messenger:
Posterity, await for wretched years,

3 Mess. My gracious lords,--tv add to your laWhen aitheir mothers' moisteyes babes shall suck:

ments,
Our isle be made a nourish' of salt tears, 40 Wherewith you now bedew king Henry's hearse,–
And none but women left to wail the dead. - I must inform you of a dismial tight,
Henry the fifth! thy ghost I invocate;

Betwixt the stout lord Talbot and the French.
Prosper this realmı, keep it from civil broils !

Win. What! wherein Talbot overcame? is't so? Combat with adverse planets in the heavens! 3 Mess. 0, no; wherein lord Talbot was o'erA far more glorious star thy soul will make, 145

thrown: Than Julius Cæsar, or bright

The circumstance I'll tell you more at large.
Enter a Messenger.

The tenth of August last, this dreadful lord,
Mess. My honourable lords, health to you all !! Retiring from the siege of Orleans,
Sad tidings bring I to you out of France,

Having full scarce' six thousand in his troop,
Of loss, of slaughter, and disconfiture: 50 By three and twenty thousand of the French
Guienne, Champaigne, Rheinis, Orleans, Was round encompassed and set upon:
Paris, Guisors. Poi tiers, are all quite lost. No leisure had he to enravk his men;
Bed. What say'st thou, man, before dead Hen He wanted pikes to set before his archers;
ry's corse?

Instead whereof, sharpstakes,pluck'dout of hedges,
Speak softly; or tbe loss of those great towns |55 They pitched in the ground confusedly,
Will make him burst his lead, and rise from death. To keep the horsemen off from breaking in.
Glo. Is Paris lost? Is Roan yielded up?

More than three hours the fight continued;
If Henry were recall’d to life again,

[ghost.

Where valiant Talbot, above human thought,
These news would cause him once more yield the Enacted wonders with his sword and lance.
Exe. How were they lost? what treachery was 60 Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand bim;
us'd?

[money: Here, there, and everywhere, enrag'd he tiew: Mess. No treachery; but want of men and The French exclaim'd, The devil was in arms;

Nourish here signifies a nurse. 'i. e. their miseries which have had only a short interinission from Henry the Fifthi's death to my coming arnongst them, .i. e. scarcely.

AN

1

3

All the whole army stood agaz'd on him: So in the earth, to this day is not known:
His

soldiers, spying his undaunted spirit, Late, did he shine upon the English side;
A Talbot! a Talbot! cried out amain,

Now we are victors, upon us he smiles.
And rush'd into the bowels of the battle.

What towns of any moment, but we have?
Here had the conquest fully been seal'd up, 5 At pleasure here we lie, near Orleans;
If Sir John Fastolfe had not play'd the coward: Otherwhiles, thefamish'd English, like pale ghosts,
He being in the vaward' (plac'd behind, Faintly besiege us one hour in a inonth.
With purpose to relieve and follow them)

Alen. They want their porridge, and their fat
Cowardly tied, not having struck one stroke.

bull-bceves:
Hence grew the general wreck and massacre; 10 Either they must be dieted, like mules,
Enclosed were they with their enemies: And have their provender ty'd to their mouths,
A base Walloon, to win the Dauphin's grace, Or piteous they will look like drowned mice.
Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back; Reig. Let's raise the siege;Whyliveweidlyhere?
WhomallFrance, withherchiefassembledstrength, Talbot is taken, whom we woni to fear:
Durst not presume to look once in the face. 15 Remaineth none, but mad-brain'd Salisbury;

Bed. Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself, And he may well in fretting spend his gall,
For living idly here, in pomp and case, Nor men, nor money, hath he to make war.
Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid,

Char. Sound, sound alarum; we will rusli on
Unto his dastard foc-men is betray'd.

them.
3 Mess. O no, he lives; but is took prisoner, 20 Now for the honour of the forlorn French:-
And lord Scales with him, and lord Hungerford: Him I forgive my death, that killeth me,
blost of the rest slaughter’d, or took, likewise. When hescesmego back one foot, ortly.[Exeunt.

Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay: [Here alarum, they are beaten back by the
I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne, English, with great loss.
His crown shall be the ransom of my friend; 1251 Re-enter Charles, Alençon, and Reignier.
Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours.-

Chur. Who ever saw the like? what men have
Farewell, my masters; to my task will);

I

[fled,
Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make, Dogs! cowards! dastards !--I would ne'er have
To keep our great Saint George's feast withal: But that they left me 'midst my enemies.
Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take, 301 Reig. Salisbury is a desperate homicide;
Whose bloodydeeds shall make all Europe quake. He fighteth as one weary of his life.

3M1ess. So you had need; for Orleans is besieg'u; The other lords, like lions wanting food,
The English army is grown weak and faint: Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.
The eart of Salisbury craveth supply:

Alen. Froisard, a countryman of ours, records,
And hardly keeps his men from mutiny, 13. England all Olivers and Rowlands 2 bred,
Since they, so few, watch such a multitude. During the time Edward the third did reign.
Exe. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry More truly now may this be verified;
sworn;

For none but Sampsons, and Goliasses,
Either to quell the Dauphin utterly,

It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!
Or bring him in obedience to your yoke.

40 Lean raw-bon’drascals! who would e'er suppose
Bed. I do remember it; and here take leave, They had such courage and audacity?
To go about my preparation.

[Exit. Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hairGlo . I'll to the Tower with all the haste 1 can,

brain'd slaves, To view the artillery and munition;

And hunger will enforce them to be more eager: And then I will proclaimyoung Henry king: [ Exit

. 45 Of old I know them; rather with their teeth Exe. To Eltham wills, wherethe young kingis, The walls they'lltear down, than forsakethesiege. Being ordain'd his special governor;

Reig. I think, by some odd giminals 3 or device,
And for his safety there I'll best advise. [Exit. Their arms are set, like clocks, still to strike on;

Win. Each hath his place and function to attend : Else they could ne'er hold out so, as they do.
I am left out; for me nothing remains. 50|By my consent, we'lle'en let them alone,
But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office;

Alen. Be it so.
The king from Eltham I intend to send,

Enter the Bastard of Orleans.
And sit at chiefest stern of public weal. [Exit. Bast. Where's the Prince Dauphin? I have
SCENE II.

news for him.
Before Orleans in France.

1551 Dau. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us. Enter Charles, Alençon, and Reignier, marching Bast. Methinks, your looks are sad, yourcheart with a Drum and Soldiers.

appallid; Char. Mars his true moving, even as in the Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence? heavens,

Be not dismay'd, for succour is at hand: ... e. the back part of the can or front, 2 These were two of the most famous in the list of, Charlemagne's twelve peers; and their exploits are render’dsoridiculously and equally extravagant by the old romancers, that from thence arose that saying amongst our pain and sensible ancestors, of giving on: a Rowland for his Oliver, to signify the matching one incredible lye with another; or, as in the modern acceptation of the proverb, to give a personas good a one as he brings. 3 A gimmal is a piece of jointed work, where one piece moves within another, whence it is taken at large for an engine. It is now vulgarly called a gimcrack. 4 Chear is countenance, appearance.

A holy

Nn