*THIRD PART OF KING HENRY VI.] The action of this play (which was at firft printed under this title, The true Tragedy of Richard Duke of York, and the good King Henry the Sixth; or, The Second Part of the Contention of York and Lancaster) opens juft after the firft battle at Saint Albans, [May 23, 1455,] wherein the York faction carried the day; and clofes with the murder of king Henry VI. and the birth of prince Edward, afterwards king Edward V. [November 4 1471,] So that this hiftory takes in the space of full fixteen years. THEOBALD.

I have never seen the quarto copy of the Second part of THE WHOLE CONTENTION, &c. printed by Valentine Simmes for Tho mas Millington, 1600; but the copy printed by W. W. for Tho mas Millington, 1600, is now before me; and it is not precifely the fame with that defcribed by Mr. Pope aud Mr. Theobald, nor does the undated edition (printed in fact, in 1619) correfpond with their defcription. The title of the piece printed in 1600, by W. W. is as follows: The true Tragedie of Richarde Duke of Yorke, and the death of good King Henrie the Sixt: With the whole contention between the two houfes Lancaster and Yorke: as it was fundry times acted by the Right Honourable the Earle of Pembrooke his Servants. Printed at London by W. W. for Thomas Millington, and are to be fold at his Shoppe under St. Peter's Church in Cornewall, 1600." On this piece Shakspeare, as I conceive, in 1591 formed the drama before us. See Vol. XIV. p. 172, and the Effay at the end of this play. MALOne. The prefent hiftorical drama was altered by Crowne, and brought on the ftage in the year 1680, under the title of The Miferics of Civil War. Surely the works of Shakspeare could have been little, read at that period; for Crowne, in his prologue, declares the play to be entirely his own compofition:

"For by his feeble skill 'tis built alone,

"The divine Shakspeare did not lay one flone."

whereas the very firft fcene is that of Jack Cade copied almoft verbatim from the fecond part of K. Henry VI. and feveral others from this third part, with as little variation. STEEVENS.

King Henry the Sixth :

Edward, Prince of Wales, his fon.
Lewis XI. King of France.

Duke of Somerfet. Duke of Exeter.)

Earl of Oxford. Earl of Northum-Lords on King berland. Earl of Weftmoreland. (Henry's fide.

Lord Clifford.

Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York.

Edward, Earl of March, afterwards King'

Edward IV.

Edmund, Earl of Rutland,

George, afterwards Duke of Clarence,
Richard, afterwards Duke of Glocefter,

Duke of Norfolk,

Marquis of Montague,

his fons.

Earl of Warwick,

Earl of Pembroke,

Lord Haflings,

of the Duke of York's party.

Lord Stafford,

Sir

Sir Hugh Mortimer,

uncles to the Duke of York. Henry, Earl of Richmond, a Youth.

Lord Rivers, brother to Lady Grey. Sir William Stanley. Sir John Montgomery. Sir John Somerville. Tutor to Rutland. Mayor of York. Lieutenant of the Tower. A Nobleman, Two Keepers. A Huntfman. A fon that has killed his father. A father that has killed his fon.

Queen Margaret.

Lady Grey, afterwards queen to Edward IV.
Bona, fifter to the French queen.

Soldiers, and other Attendants on King Henry and
King Edward, Mffengers, Watchmen, &c.

SCENE, during part of the third act, in France; during all the reft of the play, in England.