THE SECOND PART OF KING HENRY THE SIXTH. PRELIMINARY NOTICE. "THE Second Part of Henry the Sixt, with the death of the Good Duke Hvmfrey," was first printed in its complete form, in the folio of 1623. In the brief notice prefixed to the foregoing drama, we have ventured an opinion that the two plays, or one play divided into two parts, called "The First Part of the Contention," &c.* and "The True Tragedie," &c., afterwards published by Pavier, under the title of "The Whole Contention," &c.,‡ were not, as Malone has laboured to prove, the production of a preceding writer, but were Shakespeare's first sketches (surreptitiously and inaccurately printed) of what he subsequently re-wrote, and entitled "The Second and Third Parts of Henry VI." In expressing this opinion, we must not be understood to go the extreme length of ascribing the whole of these two pieces to Shakespeare. Much in them unquestionably belongs to another and a very different hand; but the greater portion, especially in "The First Part of the Contention," appears to our judgment far beyond the reach of any other writer of the age. Such, too, we are pleased to find, is the view entertained by Mr. Halliwell. In his Introduction to the excellent reprint of these two dramas for the Shakespeare Society, in 1843, after a careful revision of the evidence in opposition to the claims of Shakespeare to their author "The First part of the Contention betwixt the two famous Houses of Yorke and Lancaster, with the death of the good Duke Humphrey: And the banishment and death of the Duke of Suffolke, and the Tragicall end of the proud Cardinall of Winchester, with the notable Rebellion of Iacke Cade: And the Duke of Yorke's first claime ento the Crowne. London, Printed by Thomas Creed, for Thomas Millington, and are to be sold at his shop vnder Saint Peters Church in Cornwall. 1594." "The True Tragedie of Richard Duke of Yorke, and the death of good King Henrie the Sixt, with the whole contention betweene the two Houses Lancaster and Yorke, as it was sundrie times acted by the Right Honourable the Earle of Pembrooke his seruants. Printed at London by P. S., for Thomas Millington, and are to be sold at his shoppe under Saint Peters Church in Cornwal. 1595.” "The Whole Contention betweene the two Famous Houses, Lancaster and Yorke. With the Tragicall ends of the good Duke Humfrey, Richard Duke of Yorke, and King Henrie the sixt. Diuided into two Parts: And newly corrected and enlarged. Written by William Shakespeare, Gent. Printed at London, for T. P." ship, this judicious authority well observes :-"There are so many passages in the two plays now reprinted, that seem almost beyond the power of any of Shakespeare's predecessors or contemporaries, perhaps even not excepting Marlowe, that, as one method of explaining away the difficulties which attend a belief in Malone's theory, my conjecture that when these plays were printed in 1594 and 1595, they included the first additions which Shakespeare made to the originals, does not seem improbable, borne out, as it is, by an examination of the early editions. If I am so far correct, we have yet to discover the originals of the two parts of the Contention,' as well as that of 1 Henry VI.” Lords, Ladies, and Attendants; Petitioners, Aldermen, a Herald, a Beadle, Sheriffs, and Officers; Citizens, Prentices, Falconers, Guards, Solliers, Messengers, §e. SCENE,-Dispersedly in various parts of England. ACT I. SCENE I.-London. A Room of State in the Palace. Flourish of Trumpets: then Hautboys. Enter, on one side, KING HENRY, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and CARDINAL BEAUFORT; on the other, QUEEN MARGARET, led in by SUFFOLK; YORK, SOMERSET, BUCKINGHAM, and others following. SUF. As by your high imperial majesty To marry princess Margaret for your grace; In presence of the kings of France and Sicil, The dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretaigne, and Alençon, Seven earls, twelve barons, and twenty reverend bishops, And humbly now upon my bended knee, In sight of England and her lordly peers, Deliver up my title in the queen To your most gracious hands, that are the substance The happiest gift that ever marquess gave, The fairest queen that ever king receiv'd. K. HEN. Suffolk, arise.-Welcome, queen Margaret : I can express no kinder sign of love, Than this kind kiss.-O Lord, that lends me life, Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness! For thou hast given me, in this beauteous face, A world of earthly blessings to my soul, If sympathy of love unite our thoughts. Q. MAR. Great king of England, and my gracious lord ;The mutual conference that my mind hath had, By day, by night; waking, and in my dreams, In courtly company, or at my beads,-a K. HEN. Her sight did ravish; but her grace in speech, Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty, Makes me, from wondering, fall to weeping, joys; Or at my beads,-] See note (c), p. 4, Vol. I. Alder-liefest-1 All-dearest; dearest of all; a Saxon compound found in many of our early writers, from Chaucer to Shakespeare. Such is the fulness of my heart's content.- ALL. Long live queen Margaret, England's happiness! SUF. My lord protector, so it please your grace, Between our sovereign and the French king Charles, [Flourish. GLO. [Reads.] Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king, Charles, and William de la Poole, marquess of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry king of England, that the said Henry shall espouse the lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier king of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerusalem; and crown her queen of England, ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing.-Item,-That the duchy of Anjou and the county of Maine shall be released and delivered to the king her father K. HEN. Uncle, how now! CAR. [Reads.] Item,—It is further agreed between them,-that the duchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered over to the king her father; and she sent over of the king of England's own proper cost and charges, without having any dowry. K. HEN. They please us well.-Lord marquess, kneel down; We thank you all for this great favour done, [Exeunt KING, QUEEN, and SUFFOLK. GLO. Brave peers of England, pillars of the state, In winter's cold and summer's parching heat, Receiv'd deep scars in France and Normandy? How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe? Been a crown'd in Paris, in despite of foes? And shall these labours and these honours die? CAR. Nephew, what means this passionate discourse, This peroration with such circumstance? For France, 't is ours; and we will keep it still. But now it is impossible we should: Suffolk, the new-made duke that rules the roast, SAL. Now, by the death of Him that died for all, YORK. For Suffolk's duke, may he be suffocate, Been crown'd in Paris,-] The old text reads "Crowned in Paris," &c Capell added "Been," as did also Mr. Collier's annotator. |