Salisbury and Pembroke, enraged at the death of Arthur, whom they suppose murdered by Hubert, fly to join the Dauphin; and, on their way, discover the body of the prince, who has leaped from the walls where he is confined, and is killed by the fall. They still believe him murdered, and vow to revenge his death. John, in the meantime, resigns his crown into the hands of Pandulph; who, in consideration of his submission, again places it on his brows, and undertakes to persuade the Dauphin to withdraw; but the Dauphin refusing, a battle is fought, in which neither army gains much advantage; and the English lords, learning from a wounded French nobleman that the Dauphin means to sacrifice them on his return, again seek King John, who has betaken himself to Swinstead Abbey, where he is poisoned by a monk. Faulconbridge, who has lost the greater part of his forces in his march through the marshes, finds him in his last moments; learns that the Dauphin, in consequence of the loss of his reinforcements on the Goodwin Sands, has retreated. The king dies; and young Prince Henry is declared king. MORAL. Shakspeare has well depicted, in the fickleness of Philip and the submission of John, the power superstition holds over the minds even of kings; and, in the fate of the latter, the length to which it will go to accomplish any purpose, however base or unlawful. Nor do those who dread a rival, or whose authority sits but lightly on them, want an example in the jealousy of John towards Prince Arthur, and the readiness with which men become villains, in the acquiescence of Hubert, at the nod of a prince; and the design of the Dauphin upon the English lords shows traitors how lightly they are valued by those to whom they may attach themselves. King Richard the Second. DR. JOHNSON did not deem this tragedy deserving that meed of praise which he has bestowed upon others by Shakspeare; observing, "It is not finished at last with that happy force of some others of his tragedies; nor can it be said much to affect the passions, or enlarge the understanding. It was extracted from the Chronicle of Holinshed,' in which many passages may be found which Shakspeare has, with very little alteration, transplanted into his scenes; particularly a speech of the Bishop of Carlisle." But he adds, "his extracts were made by choice or idleness, rather than necessity." Malone disbelieved the idea that Shakspeare merely revised this play. "The history of the piece comprises (says Theobald) little more than two years, ending with the murder of Richard at Pomfret Castle, A.D. 1400." According to Steevens, it was entered at Stationers' Hall, by Andrew Wise, August 29th, A.D. 1597; and Malone imagined it to have been written the same year. THE PLOT. The scene opens in the palace at London; where, in the king's presence. Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford, accuses Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, of treason, and participation in the death of his uncle, the Duke of Gloster, which being heard, the King in vain entreats them to be friends, and he appoints a day for them to fight in single combat. They meet in the lists, and, when about to engage, the King commands them to desist, banishes Norfolk for life, and Hereford for six years. Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, grieved at the banishment of his son, Hereford, retires to his palace, and, being suddenly indisposed, sends for the King, who, with his Queen and some of his favourites, deigns to visit his dying couch. Having admonished Richard of his folly, he is carried into another room, and expires. The King seizes on his lands and other property, to assist him in carrying on his wars in Ireland, to which country he departs, leaving his uncle, the Duke of York, Regent. Bolingbroke, under pretence of claiming his title and lands, unlawfully seized by Richard, suddenly lands in England with forces, and is joined by the Earl of Northumberland, his son, Percy, Lord Willoughby Ross, Fitzwater, and others. The Duke of York, unable to resist their progress, joins them; the King, deserted by all his forces, takes shelter in Berkley Castle, where Bolingbroke and others, having already beheaded several of Richard's favourites, go to seek a parley. The King finally departs with them for London, where he is received with great indignity, but Bolingbroke is greeted with acclamations. The King resigns his crown to Bolingbroke, who sends him to be confined in Pomfret Castle, where he is murdered by Exton, who causes the body, in a coffin, to be conveyed into the presence of the new king at the instant he is pardoning the Duke of Albemarle and the Bishop of Carlisle of an intended conspiracy against his life, and receiving news of the execution of the rest of the conspirators. He denounces Exton for his forwardness, and makes a vow to go to the Holy Land, to expiate his share in the deed. First Part of King Benry the Fourth. In his commentary on The First and Second two which afforded so much delight." AccordParts of Henry the Fourth, Dr. Johnson has ob-ing to Theobald, the history embraces a period served, "No two plays are more read than of about ten months, beginning with the defeat these; and, perhaps, no author ever produced of the Scots, A.D. 1402, and ending with Hot spur's death, A.D. 1403. Johnson observes, The First Part was entered at Stationers' Hall, Feb. 25th, A.D. 1597, by A. Wise; and again by M. Woolff, Jan. 9th, A.D. 1598." Malone believes it to have been written A.D. 1597. THE PLOT, The play opens in the palace of London, where news is brought King Henry, who is about to depart for the Holy Land, of various disturbances at home, and Hotspur's defeat of the Scots, which induces him to delay his departure. Hotspur is said to refuse to deliver up his prisoners, and is cited before the King to answer the charge; he denies it; but in recompense desires of the king the ransom of Mortimer, Earl of March, who has been defeated and taken by Owen Glendower: the king refuses the boon, denounces Mortimer as a traitor, and commands Hotspur to send his prisoners, or look to the consequences. Hotspur, incensed, joins with Worcester, Northumberland, and other nobles, to depose the king. In the mean time, Prince Henry shares the debaucheries of Falstaff, with whom and others he joins in a plot to rob some pilgrims on their way to Canterbury, and some traders on their road to London, which is accomplished by Falstaff, Gadshill, Bardolph, and Peto, who are again robbed by Prince Henry and Poins, disguised, of their ill-gotten treasure, and all retreat to the Boar's Head, where Falstaff gives an exaggerated and humorous account of the adventure. In the midst of this revel, a nobleman arrives from court, to request the presence of the prince, and communicates the rebellion of Hotspur and other nobles. In the mean time, Hotspur and the rest of the conspiring nobles met at the house of the Arch deacon of Bangor, where they, imagining themselves already conquerors, parcel out the kingdom. As the king is repreving his son Henry, and the prince promising amendment, Sir Walter Blunt brings news that the rebels have made fearful head at Shrewsbury; which, when the king hears, he appoints his nobles and forces to meet at Bridgenorth. Prince Henry joins his revellers at the Boar's Head, mimicking the fife with his truncheon, and finds Falstaff at high words with mine hostess. The prince despatches letters to Prince John, his brother, Lord Westmoreland, appoints a time to meet Falstaff, and departs. The scene then lies in the rebel camp, where Hotspur receives news of his father's sickness and the king's approach with a powerful army. Whilst the rebel nobles dispute the propriety of engaging without delay, Sir Walter Blunt demands a parley with them, and offers the king's pardon. Worcester and Vernon visit the royal camp, and the king again sends pardon, on submission, to Hotspur, Douglas, and their friends. Worcester conceals the king's bidding, and urges Hotspur to battle: they engage, and many nobles are slain on both sides; Prince Henry bears himself nobly, puts Douglas to flight, encounters Hotspur, and slays him. Falstaff claims the honour of his death, and bears the body to the prince, who laughs at his presumption. A retreat is sounded, the rebels are defeated, and amongst the prisoners are Worcester, Vernon, and Douglas. The two former are ordered for death, the latter is pardoned, and the whole closes with the division of their forces,-Prince John and Westmoreland to meet Northumberland and his men; and Prince Henry and the king to stay the progress of Glendower and Mortimer, Second Part of King Benry the Fourth. THE operations which furnish the matter of carousing. In the midst of this frolic, the this part, or separate piece, take up a period of prince learns that the king is returned to nine years, recounting, at the commencement, Westminster: Falstaff is summoned to court; the fall of Hotspur, and ending with the death and a humorous muster follows at Justice Shalof Henry the Fourth, and the coronation of low's. The rebel lords assemble their forces Henry V. Malone supposes it to have been in a forest in Yorkshire, where a parley is held written A.D. 1598; and, according to Johnson, it was entered at Stationers' Hall, Aug. 23, A.D. 1600. THE PLOT. with Lord Westmoreland. The archbishop gives him a paper, containing the conditions of their surrender; and Westmoreland, having submitted it to Prince John, proposes a parley with him and the archbishop, which is acceded The scene commences at Warkworth, where to. They meet in the forest; the articles are the Earl of Northumberland learns the defeat guaranteed by the prince; and an officer is of his party, the death of his son, Hotspur, and despatched to dismiss the rebel army; which the rising of the Archbishop of York in his being done, the archbishop and the rebel lords favour. The rebel lords meet to consult in the are arrested as traitors. The prince, hearing palace of the archbishop, and determine on the king is sick, stays the slaughter of the attacking the king. In the interim, Falstaff retreating rebels, sends the traitors to York carries on his old intrigues at the Boar's Head, for execution, and departs for London. The has a humorous dialogue with the chief justice, king, in the presence of his lords and the an escape from the fangs of the law, and is young princes, declares his determination to about to celebrate a reconciliatory supper with set out for Palestine. At the instant, Westmine hostess, the plaintiff, when Prince Henry moreland arrives with news of the submission arrives, and resolves to pass a joke upon his and execution of the rebels, and Harcourt with fat knight. The prince and Poins enter the intelligence of the overthrow of Northumber room, disguised as drawers, when Falstaff is land and his power by the sheriff of Yorkshire. The king sickens, is carried into another room, and his crown laid on his pillow. Prince Henry arrives, and, learning the king's indisposition, seeks his room, takes up the crown, and puts it on his head; the king awakes, nisses the crown, accuses his son Henry of haste to possess it, who, with tears, excuses himself; and the king, having pardoned and advised him, commands his attendants to bear him to another room, where he expires. The prince, now Henry the Fifth, to the astonishment of all, discards his old companions, retains and confers honour on the chief justice who had once committed him to prison for contumacy; and Falstaff, who has flattered himself with being the king's confidant, finds himself, with others of his companions, doing penance in the Fleet Prison, till he and they shall have mended their ways. King Benry the Fifth. DR. JOHNSON, in enumerating the merits of this play, says, "It has many scenes of high dignity, and many of easy merriment. The character of the king is well supported, though he has neither the vivacity of Hal nor the grandeur of Henry. The humour of Pistol is very happily continued his character has, perhaps, been the model of all the bullies that have appeared on the English stage." According to Theobald, it commences the first and ends the eighth year of Henry's reign; and Pope, on the authority of a passage in the chorus to act five, concludes it was written in the reign of Elizabeth, when the Earl of Essex commanded the troops in Ireland. Steevens and Malone agree that a play on this subject existed before Shakspeare's, which the latter says was entered on the Stationers' book A. D. 1594, and of which he saw an edition printed A.D. 1598; and he adds, Shakspeare's appears to have been written A.D. 1599. THE PLOT. The scene commences in an antechamber of the king's palace, with a dialogue between the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely, from whence they are summoned to the royal presence to declare their opinion how far | the Salique law stands between him and the throne of France, to which, on his mother's side, he lays claim. They justify him; and, sending for the French ambassadors, he learns that the dauphin treats his claims but lightly, and he dismisses them with an assurance that he will speedily invade France. The king having summoned a council at Southampton, accuses Lord Scroop, the Earl of Cambridge, and Sir Thomas Grey, of having received gold from the court of France to assassinate him; which the conspirators confess, are committed for execution, and the king and his lords prepare for the intended expedition. In the in terim, Falstaff, whose companions have entered the royal army, falls sick and dies. At this juncture, the King of France calls a council, and instructs the dauphin and his nobles to prepare for the defence of France; the necessity of which the dauphin treats but lightly. Lord Exeter arrives as ambassador from England, and claims for his master the crown and empire of France. Henry lands,invests Harfleur, and, after a short resistance, it surrenders; the Earl of Exeter is made governor, and the king, with the rest of his forces, retire towards Calais. On the way, the king is overtaken by Montjoy, a herald, who gives defiance to Henry in the name of the French monarch, which Henry retorts. The French, encamped near Agincourt, anxiously look for morning, in order to attack the English, whom they reckon already conquered. The English are encamped at Agincourt, more confident in their valour than their numbers. King Henry wanders through his camp disguised, learns the private opinions of his men, and exchanges gages with one of his soldiers. The English are first in the field; Henry addresses his nobles: at the end of his speech, Lord Salisbury acquaints him that the enemy are ready to charge; a French herald again parleys with Henry, who sends him back with a bold defiance; the battle commences, and the English finally drive the French from the field with great slaughter, who desire Henry to permit them to bury their friends, who amounted to ten thousand; whilst the English loss is reckoned at less than a hundred. The king commands thanks to be offered to God for the victory, and proposes to return to England; but first a parley is held, in the palace of the King of France, between the two monarchs. The King of France complies with the demands of Henry; the first of which is Kate, the princess, with whom Henry is enamoured: and all ends in friendship and peace. First Part of King Benry the Sixth. Or these three plays (says Dr. Johnson) I think the second the best. The truth is, that they have not sufficient variety of action; for the incidents are too often of the same kind; yet many of the characters are well discriminated. According to Theobald, the historical transactions contained in this play take in a period of about three years. We know not when it was written, but Dr. Johnson and Malone both assert it to have been printed A.D. 1600. THE PLOT. The scene opens in Westminster Abbey ; where, in the midst of an eulogium over the corpse of King Henry V., from the Dukes of tions are preferred by Winchester and Gloster; but a truce is for a while made, and the council ends, after having restored Plantagenet to his rights, by declaring him Duke of York. By the advice of Gloster, Henry goes to France to be crowned. Here Rouen is entered, by an artifice, by Joan La Pucelle and her forces, but is again expelled by Talbot, and the brave Duke of Bedford dies. Talbot is created Earl of Shrewsbury, and sent to chastise the Duke of Burgundy, who has revolted to the French. The dissensions of York and Somerset again break out before the king any offence to York, he assumes the badge of Somerset, appoints the former Regent of France, and unites Somerset's troop of horse to the Duke's foot. Talbot, being hemmed in on all sides, before Bordeaux, sends in vain for aid to the Duke of York, who is prevented merset in bringing up his cavalry. Talbot and his son are both slain; but the Duke of York routs the French before Angiers, and, having taken La Pucelle prisoner, he comat the recommendation of the Pope, is concluded between France and England-France swearing allegiance to King Henry. The play ends with Henry's consenting to be united to Margaret of Anjou, contrary to the advice of Gloster, who proposed the daughter of the Earl of Armagnac as suitable to be Queen of England. This counter action is brought about by the intriguing Earl of Suffolk, who thinking, as Margaret would rule the king, so he himself might rule "both her, the Pedford, Gloster, Bishop of Winchester, and other nobles, news is brought that the French bave revolted; Charles, the Danphin, is crowned king, aided by the bastard of Orleans, Reignier, Duke of Anjou, and the Duke of Alençon; and that Lord Talbot was wounded and made prisoner; but that the English still protracted the siege of Orleans, under the Earl of Salisbury. The scene changes to France, where Talbot is exchanged; but the French, led on by Joan La Pucelle (afterwards called the Maid of Orleans), who pretended to have been moved thereto by a supernatural command, defeat the English, and Salisbury-but he pacifies them; and, without meaning is slain. The town, however, is sacked by the English forces under Talbot, Bedford, and Burgundy. Meanwhile, the animosity existing between the Duke of Gloster, Protector of England, and the Bishop of Winchester is heightened by the latter refusing the duke admission to the Tower, who attacks the pre-succouring him, through the tardiness of Solate, with the aid of his servants. Now, also, begins the contention between the Earl of Somerset and Richard Plantagenet, the former choosing a red rose, and the latter a white rose, to distinguish his party. Somerset hav-mands her to be burnt as a witch. A peace, ing upbraided his adversary, Plantagenet, with the death of his father, the Earl of Cambridge, the accused inquires of Mortimer, his uncle, then confined in the Tower, concerning it, and learns that the Earl was beheaded in consequence of having tried to place him (Mortimer, the rightful heir) on the throne, during the reign of King Henry V. This, Mortimer gives as the cause of his confinement, who dies directly after concluding his narrative. Whilst the king and his nobles are assembled in Parliament, mutual accusa-king, and realm." Second Part of King Benry the Sixth. ACCORDING to Theobald, this and the third part contain that troublesome period of King Henry's reign-the contention between the houses of York and Lancaster. The present scene opens with Henry's marriage, which was the twenty-third year of his reign, A. D. 1445; and closes with the first battle, fought at St. Alban's, won by the York faction, A.D. 1455; so that it comprises the history and transactions of ten years. Steevens says" This play was altered by Crowne, and acted in the year 1681." Malone adds-"These two pieces, I imagine, were produced in their present form in 1591." THE PLOT. The scene opens in London, with the marriage of King Henry to Margaret of Anjou. Gloucester (displeased at the articles of peace concluded between France and England, by which it is stipulated that Maine and Anjou should be given up to Reignier, the father of Margaret), rails at the machinations of the earl who had negociated them, now created Duke of Suffolk. The Bishop of Winchester, with others, conspire against the protector; and the queen, urged on by Suffolk, is anxious that there should be none. The Duke of York, being now discharged from his regency | in France, is brought into suspicion by a man coming before the king, and asserting that he had heard his master declare Richard, Duke of York, was rightful heir to the throne. This, however, is but slightly noticed; but it causes Somerset to be elected regent in his stead. Eleanor, wife of the Duke of Gloster, whose ambition seemed to have the imperial dignity in view, is condemned to penance for practices against the state, by dealing with witches, &c.; and, urged by the queen and her party, Henry demands of Gloucester his staff, the ensign of his authority, as protector. During the king's stay at Bury, news is brought by Somerset that all the interest of England is lost in France: upon hearing which, his enemies catch at the opportunity to accuse Gloucester of treason, in taking bribes from the French, and keeping back the soldiers' pay, by which France was lost. He is arrested; but the king favours him, and, his adversaries not being able to condemn him by mere accusation, the Duke of Suffolk causes him to be murdered in his bed. The king, indignant at such violence, and impelled by the desires of the people, made known by the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury, pronounces a sentence of banishment against Suffolk, who, purposing to go to France, is taken in the Downs by pirates, killed, and his head sent to Queen Margaret. Soon after, Cardinal Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, dies in great agony, from a sense of his crimes. At this time, Ireland rebels, and the Duke of York is sent with forces to subdue them; by which means he is enabled to assert his right to the throne of England; for, having made known his intentions to the Earls Salisbury and Warwick, he returns unexpectedly with a puissant army. During this time, a Kentish rebel, named Jack Cade, pretending that he is Lord Mortimer, and descended from the Duke of Clarence, assembles a numerous host of rustics, &c.; and, having defeated and slain Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother, he marches to London, committing all kinds of ravages defeats the king's forces, and causes Lord Say and Sir James Cromer, his son-inlaw, to be beheaded; but the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Clifford assuring them of the king's pardon, Cade's multitude deserts him, and he flies into Kent, where he is slain by a man named Iden, who is knighted for the service done by his sovereign. On Buckingham demanding of York, in the king's name, what his views are, he disguises his real intentions by asserting that he merely intended to avenge him on Somerset, and suppress the rebel Cade; and, on being told that Somerset is in the Tower, he accompanies Buckingham to the king, when Somerset is led into his presence by Queen Margaret, and he arrests York as a traitor. Richard and Edward, the sons of York, rescue their father, being strengthened with the forces of the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick: they engage the king's army at St. Alban's, where Clifford is killed by the Duke of York, and Somerset by Richard Plantagenet; and the king and queen, with their remaining friends, fly to London, whither they are quickly followed by the victorious army. Third Part of King Benry the Sixth. ACCORDING to Malone, Shakspeare formed this play in 1591, (as he conceives) from The True Tragedie of Richarde, Duke of Yorke, and the Death of Good King Henrie the Sixt: with the whole Contention between the two Houses, Lancaster and Yorke as it was at sundry Times acted by the Right Honourable the Earle of Pembroke his Servants. Printed at London by W. W. for Thomas Millington, and are to be sold at his Shoppe, St. Peter's Church, in Cornewall, 1600. Theobald says, the action of this play (the third part of King Henry VI.) embraces a period of full sixteen years, commencing just after the battle of St. Alban's, May 23, 1455; and closes with the murder of King Henry VI. and the birth of Prince Edward, afterwards King Edward V., November 4, 1471. THE PLOT. | Edward creates Duke of Gloster, and George, Duke of Clarence, Henry being deposed, and Edward, now Duke of York, declared king. Margaret, with the Prince of Wales, flies to France, to seek aid from King Lewis, soon after which Lord Warwick arrives, and demands the French king's sister as the future queen of England. News, however, reaches him that Edward has married Lady Grey, which so exasperates Warwick and Lewis, that both join with Margaret in an attempt to dethrone Edward; and the Prince of Wales marries the daughter of Warwick. Somerset and the Duke of Clarence also join the queen; but Richard, Duke of Gloster, urged by a hope of gaining the crown, remains firm, with Edward, who prepares to meet his enemies, and encamps near Warwick, where he is, in the dead of night, unexpectedly made prisoner, and sent in cusThe scene opens in London, where the vic- tody of Somerset to the Archbishop of York, torious York, with his party, breaks into the Earl Warwick's brother. Richard, however, Parliament-house. The king arrives, and, after rescues him as he is hunting, and he crosses much contention, agrees to make York his heir, over to Burgundy, where obtaining succours, on condition he is allowed to reign in peace he lands in England, proceeds to London, and during the remainder of his days. Northum- taking Henry prisoner, who has, in the interim, berland, Clifford, and Westmoreland, disgusted been again crowned, he sends the unfortunate by the king's submission, retire; and Margaret, monarch to the Tower. He then marches torefusing to obey the condition, prepares a force to wards Coventry, where Warwick is expecting to pursue York, who has retired to his castle, where he joined by Clarence, and other lords whom coming upon him suddenly, the battle of Wake- he had dispatched to collect forces; the latter field is fought, and York defeated and barba- are faithful, but Clarence joins Edward. Both rously murdered by Margaret and Clifford; the armies meet at Barnet, where Warwick is latter having previously assassinated the Earl killed, with Montague his brother, and the of Rutland, York's favourite son. The two remnant of their army joins Margaret, who is other sons, Edward and Richard, escape to just arrived from France. Another battle is Herefordshire, where they are joined by War- then fought, at Tewksbury, where Margaret is wick and his forces, who, endeavouring to in-made prisoner, the prince, her son, slain; and tercept her, had been put to flight by the of her followers, Lord Oxford is sent prisoner queen's army. Joined, also, by the forces and to Picardy, and Somerset is beheaded. The their brother, then George, Duke of Burgundy, Duke of Gloster hastens to London before his Edward and Richard again rally, and offer battle brother, and murders Henry in the Tower. to Margaret, who is now joined by the Prince Edward, on his arrival, is greeted by his friends, of Wales and the king. Margaret's forces are and his queen presents him with an heir; and, routed in a dreadful battle which ensues, and having sent Margaret back to France, he is Clifford is slain by Richard, whom his brother again reinstated on the throne. |