With hope to find the like event in love, [Exit. Of this play there is no copy earlier than that of the folio in 1623, though the two succeeding parts are extant in two editions in quarto. That the second and third parts were published without the first, may be admitted as no weak proof that the copies were surreptitiously obtained, and that the printers of that time gave the public those plays, not such as the author designed, but such as they could get them. That this play was written before the two others is indubitably collected from the series of events; that it was written and played before Henry the Fifth is apparent; because, in the epilogue there is mention made of this play, and not of the other parts: "Henry the sixth in swaddling bands crown'd king, That they lost France, and made his England bleed: France is lost in this play. The two following contain, as the old title imports, the contention of the houses of York and Lancaster. The second and third parts of Henry VI. were printed in 1600. When Henry V. was written, we know not, but it was printed likewise in 1600, and therefore before the publication of the first and second parts. The first part of Henry VI. had been often shown on the stage, and would certainly have appeared in its place, had the author been the publisher. JOHNSON. C. Whittingham, Printer, Chiswick. King Henry VI. Humphrey, Duke of Gloster, his Uncle. Cardinal Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, great Uncle to the king. Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York. Edward and Richard, his Sons. Duke of Somerset, Duke of Suffolk, Duke of Buckingham, Lord Clifford, Young Clifford, his Son, Earl of Salisbury, Earl of Warwick, of the King's Party. of the York Faction. Lord Scales, Governor of the Tower. Lord Say. A Sea Captain, Master, and Master's Mate, and Walter Two Gentlemen, Prisoners with Suffolk. Hume and Southwell, two Priests. Bolingbroke, a Conjurer. A Spirit raised by him. Jack Cade, a Rebel. George, John, Dick, Smith, the Weaver, Michael, &c. his Followers. Alexander Iden, a Kentish Gentleman. Margaret, Queen to King Henry. Eleanor, Duchess of Gloster. Margery Jourdain, a Witch. Wife to Simpcox. Lords, Ladies, and Attendants; Petitioners, Aldermen, a Beadle, Sheriff, and Officers; Citizens, Prentices, Falconers, Guards, Soldiers, Messengers, &c. SCENE, dispersedly in various Parts of England. SCENE I. LONDON, A Room of State in the Palace. Flourish of Trumpets: then Hautboys. Enter, on one side, KING HENRY DUKE of GLOSTER, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and CARDINAL BEAUFORT; on the other, QUEEN MARGARET, led in by SUFFOLK; YORK, SOMERSET, BUCKINGHAM, and others, following. Suff. As by your high imperial majesty I had in charge at my depart for France, To marry princess Margaret for your grace; In presence of the kings of France and Sicil, The dukes of Orleans, Calabar, Bretaigne, and Alençon, Seven earls, twelve barons, twenty reverend bishops,- I have perform'd my task, and was espous'd: And humbly now upon my bended knee, To your most gracious hands, that are the substance queen Margaret : I can express no kinder sign of love, If sympathy of love unite our thoughts. Q. Mar. Great king of England, and my gracious lord; The mutual conference that my mind hath hadBy day, by night; waking, and in my dreams; In courtly company, or at my beads,With you mine alder-liefest sovereign, Makes me the bolder to salute my king With ruder terms; such as my wit affords, And over-joy of heart doth minister. 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; Glo. [Reads] Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king, Charles, and William de la Poole, mar quis 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? |