OBSERVATIONS. THIS and The Third Part of King Henry VI. contain that troublefome period of this prince's reign which took in the whole contention betwixt the houfes of York and Lancaster: and under that title were these two plays first acted and publifhed. The prefent fcene opens with king Henry's marriage, which was in the twenty-third year of his reign [A. D. 1445]: and clofes with the first battle fought at St. Albans, and won by the York faction, in the thirty-third year of his reign [A. D. 1455]: fo that it comprizes the history and tranfactions of ten years. THEOBALD. This play was altered by Crowne, and acted in the year 1681. STEEVENS. In a note prefixed to the preceding play, I have briefly stated my opinion concerning the drama now before us, and that which follows it; to which the original editors of Shakspeare's works in folio have given the titles of The Second and Third Parts of King Henry VI. The Contention of the two famous houfes of York and Lancaster in two 'parts, was published in quarto, in 1600; and the first part was entered on the Stationers' books, (as Mr. Steevens has obferved,) March 12, 1593-4. On these two plays, which I believe to have been written by fome preceding author, before the year 1590, Shakspeare formed, as I conceive, this and the following drama; altering, retrenching, or amplifying, as he thought proper. It is only neceffary to apprize the reader of the method observed in the printing of thefe plays. All the lines printed in the ufual manner, are found in the original quarto plays (or at least with fuch minute variations as are not worth noticing); and thofe, I conceive, Shakspeare adopted as he found them. The lines to which fingle inverted commas are prefixed, were, if my hypothefis be well founded, retouched, and greatly improved by him; and thofe with two were his own original production; the embroidery with which he ornamented the coarse stuff that had been awkwardly made up for the stage by fome of his contemporaries. The speeches which he new modelled, he improved, fometimes by amplification, and fometimes by retrenchment. 7 These Thefe two pieces, I imagine, were produced in their present form in 1591. Dr. Johnson obferves very juftly, that these two parts were not written without a dependance on the firft. Undoubtedly not; the old play of K. Henry VI. (or, as it is now called, The first part,) certainly had been exhibited before these were written in any form. But it does not follow from this conceffion, either that The Contention of the two houses, &c. in two parts, was written by the author of the former play, or that Shakspeare was the author of these two pieces as they originally appeared. MALONE. King HENRY the Sixth : HUMPHREY, Duke of Glofter, bis uncle. Cardinal BEAUFORT, Bishop of Winchester, great uncle to the king. RICHARD PLANTAGENET, Duke of York: Duke of SOMERSET, Duke of SUFFOLK, Duke of BUCKINGHAM, Lord CLIFFORD, Young CLIFFORD, his fon, Earl of SALISBURY, Earl of WARWICK, Lord SCALES, Governour of the Tower. Lord SAY. A Sea-captain, Master, and Mafter's Mate, and WALTER Two Gentlemen, prifoners with Suffolk. A Herald. VAUX. HUME and SOUTHWELL, two priests. BOLINGBROKE, a Conjurer. A spirit raised by him. THOMAS HORNER, an Armourer. PETER, his man. Clerk of Chatham. Mayor of Saint Alban's. SIMPCOX, an Impoftor. JACK CADE, a Rebel: Two Murderers. GEORGE, JOHN, DICK, SMITH, the Weaver, MICHAEL, &c. his followers. ALEXANDER IDEN, a Kentish Gentleman. MARGARET, Queen to King Henry. ELEANOR, Duchess of Gloiter. MARGERY JOURDAIN, a Witch. Wife to Simpcox. Lords, Ladies, and Attendants; Petitioners, Aldermen, a Beadle, Sheriff, and Officers; Citizens, Prentices, Falconers, Guards, Soldiers, Meffengers, &c. SCENE, difperfedly in various parts of England. KING HENRY VI. SECOND PART. ACT I. SCENE I. London. A Room of state in the Palace. Flourish of trumpets: then bauthoys. Enter, on one fide, 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. A Suffolk. S by your high imperial majefty I had in charge at my depart for France, Το 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,— I have perform'd my task, and was espous'd : And humbly now upon my bended knee, In fight of England and her lordly peers, To your moft gracious hands, that are the substance B 1 Of that great shadow I did reprefent; The happiest gift that ever marquefs gave, K. Hen. Suffolk, arife.-Welcome, queen Margaret : I can express no kinder fign of love, Than this kind kifs.-O Lord, that lends me life, Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness! "If fympathy of love unite our thoughts. 2. 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; • K. Hen. Her fight did ravish: but her grace in speech, 'Her words y-clad with wifdom's majesty, Makes me, from wondering, fall to weeping joys; Such is the fulness of my heart's content. Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love. All. Long live queen Margaret, England's happiness! 2. Mar. We thank you all. [Flourish. Suf. My lord protector, fo it please your grace, Here are the articles of contracted peace, Between our fovereign and the French king Charles, Glo. [reads.] Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king, Charles, and William de la Poole, marquefs of Suffolk, ambaffador for Henry king of England, that the Jaid Henry fhall efpoufe the lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier king of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerufalem; and crown her king of Eng land, |