ON THE FABLE AND COMPOSITION OF THE SECOND PART OF HENRY VI. THIS and the The Third Part of King Henry VI. contain that troublesome period of this prince's reign which took in the whole contention betwixt the houses of York and Lancaster: and under that title were these two plays first acted and published. The prefent fcene opens with king Henry's marriage, which was in the twenty-third year of his reign; and closes with the first battle fought at St Alban's, and won by the York faction, in the thirty-third year of his reign: fo that it comprises the history and transactions of ten years. THEOBALD. King HENRY the Sixth. MEN. HUMPHREY, Duke of GLOSTER, Uncle to the King. Cardinal BEAUFORT, Bishop of Winchefter. Duke of YORK, pretending to the Crown. Duke of BUCKINGHAM, Duke of SOMERSET, Duke of SUFFOLK, Earl of SALISBURY, Earl of WARWICK, of the King's Party. of the York Faction. Lord CLIFFORD, of the King's Party. Lord SAY. Lord SCALES, Governor of the Tower. Sir HUMPHREY STAFFORD. Young STAFFORD, his Brother. ALEXANDER IDEN, a Kentish Gentleman. Young CLIFFORD, Son to Lord Clifford. EDWARD PLANTAGENET, RICHARD PLANTAGENET, Sons to the Duke of Yor VAUX, a Sea Captain, and WALTER WHITMORE Pirates. A Herald. HUME and SOUTHWEL, tu Priefts. BOLINGBROKE, an Aftrologer. A Spirit, attending on JORDAN the Witch. THOMAS HORNER, an Armourer. PETER, his Man. JACK CADE, BEVIS, MICHAEL, JOHN HOLLAND, DIC the Butcher, SMITH the Weaver, and several other. Rebels. WOMEN. MARGARET, Queen to King Henry VI. Dame ELEANOR, Wife to the Duke of Glofter. Petitioners, Aldermen, a Beadle, Sheriff, and Officers, Ci tizens, with Faulconers, Guards, Messengers, and othe Attendants The SCENE is laid very difperfedly in feveral Parts o England. |