King Merry the Sixth.

L'ernon, of the white rose, or York faction. Duke Gloster, uncle to the king, and protector. Basset, cthe red rose, or Lancaster faction. Duke of Bedford, uncle to che king and regent Charles, dauphin, and afterwards king of France. of France.

Reignier, duke of Anjou, and lilular king of Napli. Thomas Beaufort, diske of Exeter, great uncle to Duke of Burgundy.

Duke of Alençon. the king.

Governor of Paris.

Bastard of Orleans. Henry Beaufort, great uncle to the king, bishop of Master-gunner of Orleans, and his son. Winchester, ad yerwards cardinal.

General of the French forces in Bourdeaur. John Beaufort, earl of Somerset ; afterwards duke. A French Sergeant. A Porter. Richard Plantagenet, eldest son of Richard, late An old shepherd, father to Joan la Pucelle.

e.url of Cambridge; afterwards duke of York. Earl of Warwick. Earl of Salisbury.

Margaret, daughter to Reignier; afterwards ar Earl of Suffolk.

ried to King Henry. Countess of Auvergne. Lord Talbot, afterwards ecri of Shrewsbury.

Joan la Pucelle, commonly called Joan of Arc. John Talbot, his son.

Fiends appearing to La Pucelle, lords, warders Edmund Mortimer, earl of March. Mortimer's keeper and a lawyer.

of the Tower, heralds, officers, soldiers, mes Sir John Fastolfe. Sir William Lucy.

sengers, and several attendants, both on the Sir William Glansdale. Sir Thomas Gargrave.

English and French. Mayor of London. Woodville, lieut. of the Tower. / Scene, partly in England, and partly in France.

ACT I.

That plotted thus our glory's overthrow?

Or shall we think the subtle-witted French SCENE I.-Westminster Abbey. Dead march. Conjurers and sorcerers, that, afraid of him,

Corpse of King Henry the Fifth discovered, By magic verses? have contriv'd his end ?
lying in state; attended on by the Dukes of Win. He was a king blessed of the King of langs.
Bedford, Gloster, and Exeter; the earl of War- Unto the French the dreadful judmment-day
wick, the Bishop of Winchester, Heralds, &c. So dreadful will not be, as was his sight.

The battles of the Lord of hosts he fought:
Bedford.

The church's prayers made him so prosperous.

Glo. The church! where is it? Had not church HUNG be the heavens with black,' yield day to men pray'd, night!

His thread of life had not so soon decay'd: Comets, importing change of times and states, Nome do you like but an effeminate prince, Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky;

Whom, like a school-boy, you may over-awe. And with them scourge the bad revolting stars, Win. Gloster, whate'er we like, thou art pra That have consented unto Henry's death!

tector; Henry the Fifth, too famous to live long!

And lookest to command the prince and realm. England ne'er lost a king of so much worth. Thy wife is proud; she holdeth thee in awe,

Glo. England ne'er had a king, until his time. More than God, or religious churchmen, may. Virtue he had, deserving to command :

Glo. Name not religion, for thou lov'st the flesh;
His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams; And ne'er throughout the year to church thou goʻst,
His aris spread wider than a dragon's wings; Except it be to pray against thy foes.
His sparkling eyes, replete with wrathful fire, Bed. Ceasc, cease these jars, and rest your minda
More dazzled and drove back his enemies,

in peace!
Than mid-day sun, fierce bent against their faces. Let's to the allar:-Heralds, wait on us:-
What should I say? his deeds exceed all specch: Instead of gold, we'll offer up our arms;
He ne'er lift up his hand, but conquered.

Since arms avail not, now that Henry's dead.. Ece. We mourn in black; Why mourn we not Posterity, a wait for wretched years, in blood ?

When at their mothers' moist eyes babes shall suck, Henry is dead, and never shall revive:

Our isle be made a nourish of salt tears, Cpon a wooden coffin we attend;

And none but women left to wail the dead. And death's dishonourable victory

Henry the Fifth! thy ghost I invocate; We with our stately presence glorisy,

Prosper this realm, keep it from civil broils ! Like captives bound to a triumphant car. Combat with adverse planets in the heavens! What! shall we curse the planets of mishap,

(2) There was a notion long prevalent, that lisa (1) Alluding to our ancient stage-practice when might be taken away by metrical charms. i tragedy was to be acted.

(3) Nurse was

anciently so spelt.

VOL. I.

а

4
FIRST PART OF KING HENRY VI.

A far more glorious star thy soul will make, No leisure had he to enrank his men ni
Than Julius Cæsar, or bright-

He wanted pikes to set before his archers;
Enler a Messenger.

Instead whereof, sharp stahes, pluck'd out of hedges,

They pitched in the ground confusedly, Mess. My honourable lords, health to you all!

To keep the horseinen off from breaking in. Sad tidings bring I to you out of France,

More than three hours the fight continued ; of loss, of slaughter, and discomfiture:

Where valiant Talbol, above human thought, Guienne, Champaigne, Rheinis, Orleans,

Enacted wonders with his sword and lance. Paris, Guysors, Poictiers, are all quite lost. Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand hon Bed. What say'st thou man, before derd Henry's Here, there, and every where, enrag'd he slew: corse ?

The French exclaim'd, The devil was in arms ·
Speak softly: or the loss of those great towns All the whole army stood agaz'd on him :
"Vill make him burst his lead, and risc from death.

His soldiers, spying his undaunted spirit,
Glo. Is Paris lost ? is Rouen yielded up? A Talbot ! á Talbot! cried out amain,
If Henry were recalled to life again,

And rush'd into the bowels of the battle. These news would cause him once more yield the Here had the conquest fully been seald up, ghost.

If sir John Fastolfe had not play'd the coward; Exe. How were they lost? what treachery was He being in the vaward (plac'd behind, us'd ?

With purpose to relieve and follow them,) Mess. No treachery; but want of men and money. Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke. Among the soldiers this is muttered.

Hence grew the general wreck and massacre;
That here you maintain several factions;

Enclosed were they with their enemies :
And, whilst a field should be despatch'd and fought, A base Walloon, to win the dauphin's grace,
You are disputing of your generals.

Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back;
One would have ling'ring wars, with little cost; Whoin all France, with their chief assemblea
Another would fly swift, but wanteth wings;

strength,
A third man thinks, without expense at all, Durst not presume to look once in the face.
By guilesul fair words peace may be obtain'd. Bed. Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself,
Awake, awake, English nobility!

For living idly here, in pomp and ease,
Let not sloth dim your honours, new-begot: Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid,
Cropp'd are the flower-de-luces in your arms; Unto his dastard foe-men is betray'd.
of England's coat one hall is cut away.

3 Mess. O no, he lives; but is took prisonei, Exe. Were our tears wanting to this funeral, And lord Scales with him, and lord Hungerford. These tidings would call forth her flowing tides.' Most of the rest slaughter d, or took, likewise.

Bed. Me they concern; regent I am of France :- Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay:
Give me my steeled coat, I'll fight for France.- I'll hale the dauphin headlong from his thronc,
Away with these disgraceful wailing robes! His crown shall be the ransom of my friend;
Wounds I will lend the French, instead of eyes, Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours.-
To weep their intermissive miseries.?

Farewell, my masters; to my task will I ;
Enter another Messenger.

Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make, 2 Mess. Lords, view these letters, full of bad To keep our great Saint George's feast withal: mischance,

Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take, France is revolted from the English quite;

Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake Except some petty towns of no import :

3 Mess. So you had need; for Orleans is besieg'd; The dauphin Charles is crowned king in Rheims;

The English army is grown weak and saint: The bastard of Orleans with him is join'd ;

The earl of Salisbury craveth supply, Reigneir, duke of Anjou, doth take his part;

And hardly keeps his men from mutiny, The duke of Alençon sielh to his side.

Since thev, so few, watch such a multitude. Ere. The dauphin crowned king! all fly to him !

Exe. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry O, whither shall we fly from this reproach?

sworn; 'Glo. We will not ný, but to our enemies' throats :lor

bring him in obedience to your roke.

Either to quell the dauphin utterly,
Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out.
Bed. Gloster, why doubt'st thou of my forward- To go about my preparation.

Bei. I do remember it; and here take leave, ness?

(Exit. An arıny have I muster'd in my thoughts,

Glo. I'll 10 the Tower, with all the haste I can,

To view the artillery and munition : Wherewith already France is over-run.

And then I will proclaim young Henry king.. (Er. Enter a third Messenger,

Exe. To Eltham will l, where the young king is, 3 Mess. My gracious lords,–10 add to your Being ordaind his special governor; laments,

And for his safety there I'll best devise. (Exil. Where with you now bedew king Henry's hearse, Win. Each haih his place and function to aiieni: I must inform you of a dismal fight,

I am les out out; for me nothing remains.
Betwixt the stout lord Talbot and the French, But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office;

Win. What! wherein Talbot overcame ? is't so? The king from Eltham I intend to send,
3 Mess. O no; wherein lord Talbot was o'er- And sit at chiefest stern of publick weal.
thrown:

(Eril. Scene closes. The circumstance I'll tell you more at large. SCENE II.-France. Before Orlcans. Enler The tenth of August last, this dreadful lord, Charles, with his forces; Alençon, Reigneir, Retiring from the siege of Orleans,

and others. Having full scarce six thousand in his trop, Char. Mars his truc moving, even as in the By three and twenty thousand of the French

heavens, Was round encompassed and set upon:

(2) i. e. Their miseries which have had oniya (1) Her, į e. England's.

Ishori intermission.

So in the earth, to his day is not known:

Char. Go, call her in: (Exit Bus.ard.] But, firal, Late did he shine upon the English side;

to try her skill, Now we are victors, upon us he smiles.

Reignier, stand thou as dauphin in my place : What towns of any moment, but we have? Question her proudly, let thy looks be stern :At pleasure here we lie, near Orleans;

By this means shall we sound what skill she hath. Otherwhiles, the famish'd English, like pale ghosts,

(Retires. Faintly besiege us one hour in a month. Alen. They want their porridge, and their fat Enter La Pucelle, Bastard of Orleans and others. bull-beeves;

Reig. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these wond'rous Either they must be dieted like mules,

feats? And have their provender tied to their mouths, Puc Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile Or piteous they will look like drowned mice.

me? Reig. Let's raise the siege; Why live we idly Where is the dauphin?-come, come from behind; here?

I know thee well, though never seen before. Talbot is taken, whom we wont to sear:

Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me: Remaineth none but mad-brain'd Salisbury; In private will I talk with thee apart: And he may well in fretting spend his gall, Stand back, you lords, and give us leave a while. Nor men, nor money, hath he to make war.

Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first dash Char, Sound, sound alarum; we will rush on Puc. Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherda them.

daughter, Now for the honour of the forlorn French:- My wit untrain'd in any kind of art. Him I forgive my death, that killeth me,

Heaven, and our Lady gracious, hath it pleas'd When he sees me go back one foot, or fly. (Exe. To shine on my contemptible estate: Alerums; excursions ; afterwards a retreat... Re- And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeken

Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs, enter Charles, Alençon, Reignier, and others.

God's mother deigned to appear to me;
Char. Whoever saw the like? what men have I ?- And, in a vision full of majesty,
Dogs! cowards! dastards! I would ne'er have fled, Willd me to leave my base vocation,
But that they left me 'midst my enemies.

And free my country from calamity:
Reig. Salisbury is a desperate homicide ; Her aid she promised, and assured success:
He fighteth as one weary of his life.

In complete glory she reveald herself ;
The other lords, like lions wanting food,

And, whereas I was black and swart before, Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.'

With those clear rays which she infus'd on me, Alen. Froissard, a countryman of ours, records, That beauty am I bless'd with, which you see. England all Olivers and Rowlands bred,

Ask me what question thou canst possible,
During the time Edward the third did reign. And I will answer unpremeditated :
More truly now may this be verified ;

My courage try by combat, if thou dar'st,
For none but Samsons and Goliases,

And thou shall find that I exceed my sex. It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!

Resolve on this :5 Thou shalt be fortunate, Lean raw-bon'd rascals! who would e'er suppose I thou receive me for thy warlike mate. They had such courage and audacity ?

Char. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hair

terms; brain'd slaves,

Only this proof'P'll of thy valour make, And hunger will enforce them to be more eager: In single combat thou shalt buckle with me; Or old I know them; rather with their teeth And, if thou vanquishest, thy words are true; The walls they'll tear down, than forsake the siege. Otherwise, I renounce all confidence. Reig. I think, by some odd gimmals or device, Puc. I am prepar'd: here is my keen-edg’dsword, Their arms are set, like clocks, still to strike on; Deck'd with five flower-de-luces on each side; Else ne'er could they hold out so, as they do. The which at Touraine, in Saint Katharine's By my consent, we'll e'en let them alone.

church-yard, Alen. Be it so.

Out of a deal of old iron I chose forth.

Char. Then come o'God's name, I fear nowoman. Enter the Bastard of Orleans,

Puc. And, while I live, I'll ne'er ny from a man. Bast. Where's the prince dauphin? I have news

[They fight. for him.

Char. Stay, stay thy hands; thou art an amazon, Char. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us. And fightest with the sword of Deborah. Bast. Methinks your looks are sad, your cheer Puc. Christ's mother helps me, else I were too appall’d;

weak. Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence ? Char. Whoe'er helps thee, 'tis thou that means Be not dismay'd, for succour is at hand:

help me: A holy maid hither with me I bring,

Impatiently I burn with thy desire ;
Which, by a vision sent to her from heaven, My heart and hands thou hast at once subdu'd
Ordained is to raise this tedious siege,

Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so,
And drive the English forth the bounds of France. Let me thy servant, and not sovereign, be ;
The spirit of deep prophecy she hath,

'Tis the French dauphin sueth to thee thus. Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome:

Puc. I must not yield to any rites of love, What's past, and what's to come, she can descry. For my profession's sacred from above: Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words, When I have chased all thy foes from hence, For they are certain and unfallible.

Then will I think upon a recompense. (1) i.e. The prey for which they are hungry, (3) This was not in former times a term of me

(2) A gimmal is a piece of jointed work, where proach. one piece moves within another; here it is taken (4) Countenance. at large for an engine.

Be firmly persuaded of it.

me?

on?

Char. Mean time, look gracious on thy prostratel Glo. Lieutenant, is it you, wnose voice I hear: thrall.

Open the gates; here's Gloster, that would enter.
Reig. My lord, methinks, is very long in talk. Wood. I Within.) Have patience, noble duke :
Alen. Doubtless he shrives this woman to her I may not open :
smock;

The cardinal of Winchester forbids :
Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech. From him I have express commandment,
Reig. Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no That thou, nor none of thine, shall be let in.
mean?

Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore Alen. He may mean more than we poor men do know:

Arrogant Winchester ? that haughty prelate, These women are shrewd tempters with their Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could tongues.

brook? Reig. My lord, where are you? what devise you Thou art no friend to God, or to the king:

Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly. Shall we give over Orleans, or no?

1 Serr. Open the gates unto the lord protector; Puc. Why, no, I say, distrustful recreants! Or we'll burst them open, is that you come noi Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard.

quickly. Char. What she says, I'll confirm; we'll fight Enter Winchester, attended by a train of servants.

it out. Puc. Assign'd am I to be the English scourge.

in tawny-coats. This night the siege assuredly I'll raise :

Win. How now, ambitious Humphrey ? what Expect Saint Martin's summer,' halcyon days,

means this? Since I have entered into these wars,

Glo. Piel'd priest,' dost thou command me to be Glory is like a circle in the water,

shut out? Which never ceaset'n to enlarge itself,

Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor, Till, by broad spreading, it disperse to nought. And not protector of the king or realm. With Henry's death, the English circle ends; Glo. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator, Dispersed are the glories it included.

Thou that contrir'dst to murder our dead lord; Now am I like that proud insulting ship,

Thou, that giv'st whores indulgences to sin : Which Cæsar and his fortune bare at once. I'll canvass' thee in thy broad cardinal's hat,

Char. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove? If thou proceed in this thy insolence. Though with an eagle art inspired then.

Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a Helen, the mother of great Constantine,

foot;
Nor yet Saint Philip's daughters, 2 were like thee. This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,
Bright star of Venus, fall’n down on the earth, To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.
How may I reverently worship thee enough?

Glo. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back:
Alen. Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege. Thy scarlet robes, as a child's bearing-cloth,
Reig. Woman, do what thou canst to save our I'll use to carry thee out of this place.
honours;

Win. Do what thou dar’st; I beard thee to thy Drive them from Orleans, and be immortaliz'd.

face. Char. Presently we'll try :-Come, let's away Glo. What? am I dar'd, and bearded to my about it:

face? No prophet will I trust, if she prove false. (Exe. Draw, men, for all this privileged place; SCENE III.-London. Hill before the Tower.

Blue-coats to tawny-coats. Priest, beware you

beard ; Enter, at the gates, the Duke of Gloster, with

(Gloster and his men attack the bishop his serving-men in blue coats.

I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly: Glo. I am come to survey the Tower this day; Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat; Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance." In spite of pope or dignities of church, Where be ihese warders, that they wait not here? Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down. Open the gates; Gloster'it is that calls.

Win. Gloster, thou'lt answer this before the pope

(Servants knock. Glo. Winchester goose, I cry--a rope ! a rope !1 Ward. (Within.) Who is there that knocks so Now beat them hence, why do you let them stay ?imperiously?

Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array:Serv. It is the noble duke of Gloster.

Out, tawney-coats !--out, scarlet hypocrite! 2 Ward. Within.) Whoe'er he be, you may Here a great tumult. In the midst of it, enten

not be let in. | Sero. Answer you so the lord protector, villaina? the Mayor of London, and officers. 1 Ward. (Within.) The Lord protect him! so May. Fie, lords that you, being supreme ma we answer him :

gistrates, We do no otherwise than we are willid.

Thus contumeliously should break the peace ! Glo. Who willed you ? or whose will stands but

Glo. Peace, mayor ; thou knowest little of my mine? There's none protector of the realm, but J.

Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king Break up: the gates, I'll be your warrantize :

Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use. Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms ?

Win. Here's Gloster too, a soc to citizens : Servants rush at the Touer gates. Enter, to the one that still motions war, and never peace, gales, Woodville, the lieutenant.

O'ercharging your free purses with large fines; Wood." (Within.) What noise is this? what trai- That seeks to overthrow religion. tors have we here?

(3) Theft.

(4) Break open. (1) Expect prosperity aller misfortune.

(5) Alluding to his shaven crown. (6) Traitor (2) Meaning the four daughtere o? Pliilir, men- (7) Sin.

(8) A strumpel. lioned in Acts xxi, 9.

(9) An allusion to the bishop's habit.

wrongs: