THE THIRD PART OF

KING HENRY THE SIXTH

KING HENRY THE SIXTH.

EDWARD, Prince of Wales, his Son.

LEWIS THE ELEVENTH, King of France.
DUKE OF SOMERSET,

DUKE OF EXETER,

EARL OF OXFORD,

EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND, on King Henry's side.

EARL OF WESTMORELAND,

LORD CLIFFORD,

RICHARD PLANTAGENET, Duke of York.
EDWARD, Earl of March, afterwards
King Edward the Fourth,

EDMUND, Earl of Rutland,

GEORGE, afterwards Duke of Clarence,
RICHARD, afterwards Duke of Gloucester,)
DUKE OF NORFOLK,

MARQUESS OF MONTAGUE,

his Sons.

QUEEN MARGARET.

LADY GREY, afterwards Queen to Edward the Fourth. BONA, Sister to the French Queen.

Soldiers, and other Attendants on King Henry and King Edward, Messengers, Watchmen, etc.

SCENE

During part of the Third Act, in France; during the rest of the Play, in England.

THE THIRD PART OF

KING HENRY THE SIXTH

ACT I

SCENE I.-London. The Parliament House.

Drums.

Some Soldiers of YORK's party break in. Then enter the Duke of YORK, EDWARD, RICHARD, NORFOLK, MONTAGUE, WARWICK, and Others, with white roses in their hats.

War. I wonder how the king escap'd our hands.
York. While we pursu'd the horsemen of the north,
He slily stole away and left his men :
Whereat the great Lord of Northumberland,
Whose war-like ears could never brook retreat,
Cheer'd up the drooping army; and himself,
Lord Clifford, and Lord Stafford, all abreast,
Charg'd our main battle's front, and breaking in
Were by the swords of common soldiers slain.
Edw. Lord Stafford's father, Duke of Buckingham,
Is either slain or wounded dangerously;

I cleft his beaver with a downright blow :
That this is true, father, behold his blood.

Showing his bloody sword. Mont. To YORK, showing his. And, brother, here's the Earl of Wiltshire's blood,

Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd.

Rich. Speak thou for me, and tell them what I did.

Throwing down the Duke of SOMERSET's head.

York. Richard hath best deserv'd of all my sons. But is your grace dead, my Lord of Somerset ?

Norf. Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt !

Rich. Thus do I hope to shake King Henry's head. War. And so do I. Victorious Prince of York, Before I see thee seated in that throne

Which now the house of Lancaster usurps,

I vow by heaven these eyes shall never close.

This is the palace of the fearful king,

And this the regal seat: possess it, York;

For this is thine and not King Henry's heirs'.

York. Assist me then, sweet Warwick, and I will;

For hither we have broken in by force.

Norf. We'll all assist you; he that flies shall die. York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk. Stay by me, my

lords;

And, soldiers, stay and lodge by me this night.

War. And when the king comes, offer him no

violence,

Unless he seek to thrust you out perforce.

The Soldiers retire.

York. The queen this day here holds her parliament, But little thinks we shall be of her council :

By words or blows here let us win our right.

Rich. Arm'd as we are, let's stay within this house.

War. The bloody parliament shall this be call'd, Unless Plantagenet, Duke of York, be king, And bashful Henry depos'd, whose cowardice Hath made us by-words to our enemies.

York. Then leave me not, my lords; be resolute;

I mean to take possession of my right.

War. Neither the king, nor he that loves him best, The proudest he that holds up Lancaster, Dares stir a wing if Warwick shake his bells.

I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares.

Resolve thee, Richard: claim the English crown. WARWICK leads YORK to the throne, who

seats himself.

Flourish. Enter King HENRY, CLIFFORD, North

UMBERLAND, WESTMORELAND,

Others, with red roses in their hats.

EXETER, and

K. Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits, Even in the chair of state! belike he means,

Back'd by the power of Warwick, that false peer,

To aspire unto the crown and reign as king.

Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father,

And thine, Lord Clifford; and you both have vow'd revenge

On him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends. North. If I be not, heavens be reveng❜d on me! Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in steel. West. What shall we suffer this? let's pluck him down:

My heart for anger burns; I cannot brook it.

K. Hen. Be patient, gentle Earl of Westmoreland. Clif. Patience is for poltroons, such as he : He durst not sit there had your father liv'd. My gracious lord, here in the parliament Let us assail the family of York.

North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin : be it so. K. Hen. Ah! know you not the city favours them, And they have troops of soldiers at their beck?

Exe. But when the duke is slain they 'll quickly fly. K. Hen. Far be the thought of this from Henry's heart,

To make a shambles of the parliament-house!
Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words, and threats,
Shall be the war that Henry means to use.

They advance to the DUKE. Thou factious Duke of York, descend my throne,