made some slight alterations, and written a few lines

in it.

The events contained in this dramatic history commence with the funeral of Henry V. in 1422, and conclude with the earl of Suffolk being sent to France for Margaret of Anjou, at the close of 1443. The author however has not been very precise to the date and disposition of his facts, since Lord Talbot is killed at the end of the fourth act of this play, who did not really fall till July 13th, 1453.

ARGUMENT.

The sceptre is no sooner transferred from the hands of the conqueror of France to the feeble grasp of his son, then an infant, than the favorable opportunity is seised by the French, who are enabled, by the courage and energy of a young woman named Joan of Arc, to recover their former possessions, and to swear allegiance to their native monarch. In the mean time, the violent feuds of the dukes of York and Somerset, whose parties are distinguished by white and red roses, lay the foundation of that civil war which was ere long to deluge the whole kingdom with blood. The brave Talbot and his son, together with a small band of faithful followers, are overpowered at Bourdeaux by the united forces of the enemy, and sacrificed to the private jealousy of these hostile nobles, who neglect to send him the necessary reinforcements. The intrepid Joan is at length taken prisoner by the duke of York, and cruelly condemned to the stake; while King Henry is induced, by the artful suggestions of the earl of Suffolk, to solicit the hand of Margaret, daughter of the duke of Anjou a treaty of alliance is speedily concluded with the father, and the earl despatched to accompany the princess to England.

6

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

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, earl 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.

JOHN TALBOT, his son.

EDMUND MORTIMER, earl of March.

MORTIMER'S KEEPER, and a LAWYER.

SIR JOHN FASTOLFE. SIR WILLIAM LUCY.

SIR WILLIAM GLANSDALE. SIR THOMAS GARGRAVE.

MAYOR OF LONDON. WOODVILLE, lieutenant of the Tower.

VERNON, of the white rose, or York faction.

BASSET, of the red rose, or Lancaster faction.

CHARLES, Dauphin, and afterwards king of France.

REIGNIER, duke of Anjou, and titular king of Naples.
DUKE OF BURGUNDY. DUKE OF ALENÇON.
GOVERNOR OF PARIS. BASTARD OF ORLEANS.
MASTER GUNNER OF ORLEANS, and his SoN.
GENERAL of the French forces in Bourdeaux.

A FRENCH SERGEANT. A PORTER.

AN OLD SHEPHERD, father to Joan la Pucelle.

MARGARET, daughter to Reignier; afterwards married to King Henry.

COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE.

JOAN LA PUCELLE, commonly called Joan of Arc.

Fiends appearing to La Pucelle, 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.

KING HENRY V I.

PART I.

ACT I.

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, EARL OF WARWICK, BISHOP OF WINCHESTER, Heralds, &c.

Bed. Hung be the heavens with black, yield day to night!

Comets, importing change of times and states,
Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky;
And with them scourge the bad revolting stars,
That have consented unto Henry's death!
King Henry the fifth, too famous to live long!
England ne'er lost a king of so much worth.

Glos. England ne'er had a king, until his time. Virtue he had, deserving to command.

His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams: His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings:

His sparkling eyes, replete with wrathful fire,
More dazzled and drove back his enemies,

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 :

Upon a wooden coffin we attend;
And Death's dishonorable victory
We with our stately presence glorify,
Like captives bound to a triumphant car.
What? shall we curse the planets of mishap,
That plotted thus our glory's overthrow?
Or shall we think the subtle-witted French
Conjurers and sorcerers, that, afraid of him,
By magic verses have contrived his end? 1
Win. He was a king bless'd of the King of kings.
Unto the French the dreadful judgment-day
So dreadful will not be, as was his sight.

The battles of the Lord of hosts he fought:

The church's prayers made him so prosperous.

Glos. The church! where is it? Had not church

men pray'd,

His thread of life had not so soon decay'd.
None do you like but an effeminate prince,
Whom, like a schoolboy, you may overawe.

1 There was a notion long prevalent that life might be destroyed by metrical charms.