OBSERVATIONS.

THE action of this play (which was at first 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 Laneafter) opens just after the first 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 history 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 Thomas Millington, 1600; but the copy printed by W. W. for Thomas Milling. ton, 1600, is now before me; and it is not precifely the fame with that defcribed by Mr. Pope and Mr. Theobald, nor does the undated edition (printed, in fact, in 1619) correspond with their description. 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 York: as it was fundry times acted by the Right Honour able the Earle of Pembrooke his Servants. Printed at London by W.W. for Thomas Millington, and are to be fold at his fhoppe under St. Peter's Church in Cornewall, 1600." On this piece Shakspeare, as I conceive, in 1591 formed the drama before us. MALONE.

The prefent hiftorical drama was altered by Crowne, and brought on the stage in the year 1680, under the title of The Mileries 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 first scene is that of Jack Cade copied almoft verbatim from the second 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, bis fon.
LEWIS XI. King of France.

Duke of SOMERSET. Duke of EXETER.
Earl of OXFORD. Earl of NORTHUM-
BERLAND. Earl of WESTMORELAND.
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 Glofter,
Duke of NORFOLK,

Marquis of MONTAGUE,

Earl of WARWICK,

bis fons.

>of the Duke of York's party.

Earl of PEMBROKE,

Lord HASTINGS,

Lord STAFFORD,

Sir JOHN MORTIMER,

Sir HUGH MORTIMER,

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 Huntsman. 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, Messengers, Watchmen, &c.

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

KING HENRY VI.

THIRD PART.

ACT I. SCENE I.

London. The Parliament-Houfe.

Drums. Some Soldiers of York's party break in. Then, Enter the Duke of YORK, EDWARD, RICHARD, NORFOLK, MONTAGUE, WARWICK, and Others, with white rofes in their hats.

Warwick.

I

Wonder how the king escap'd our hands.

York. While we purfu'd the horsemen of the north, He flily ftole away, and left his men : Whereat the great lord of Northumberland, Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat, 'Cheer'd up the drooping army; and himself, Lord Clifford, and lord Stafford, all a-breast, Charg'd our main battle's front, and, breaking in, Were by the fwords of common foldiers flain. Edw. Lord Stafford's father, duke of Buckingham, Is either flain, or wounded dangerous:

I cleft his beaver with a downright blow;

That this is true, father, behold his blood.

Mont. And, brother, here's the earl of Wiltshire's [To YORK, bowing his.

blood,

Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd.

Rich. Speak thou for me, and tell them what I did. [Throwing down the duke of SOMERSET's head, "York. Richard hath beft deferv'd of all my fons.What, is your grace dead, my lord of Somerset ?

Norf. Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt! Rich. Thus do I hope to fhake king Henry's head. War. And fo do I.-Victorious prince of York, Before I fee thee feated in that throne

Which now the houfe of Lancaster ufurps,

I vow by heaven, these eyes shall never close.
This is the palace of the fearful king,

And this the regal feat: poffefs it, York;
For this is thine, and not king Henry's heirs'.
York. Affift me then, fweet Warwick, and I will;
For hither we have broken in by force.

Norf. We'll all aflift you; he, that flies, shall die.
York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk,-Stay by me, my

lords;

And, foldiers, ftay, and lodge by me this night.
War. And, when the king comes, offer him no vio-

lence,

Unless he feek to thrust you out by force. [They retire. "York. The queen, this day, here holds her parlia

ment:

"But little thinks, we fhall be of her council:

"By words, or blows, here let us win our right.
Rich. Arm'd as we are, let's stay within this house.
War. The bloody parliament thall this be call'd,
Unless Plantagenet, duke of York, be king;
And bashful Henry depos'd, whofe cowardice
Hath made us by-words to our enemies.

• York.

York. Then leave me not, my lords; be refolute;
I mean to take poffeffion of my right.

War. Neither the king, nor he that loves him best,
The proudest he that holds up Lancaster,
Dares ftir a wing, if Warwick shake his bells.
'I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares :-
Refolve thee, Richard; claim the English crown.

[WARWICK leads YORK to the throne, who feats bimfelf.

Flourish. Enter King HENRY, CLIFFORD, NORTHUMBERLAND, WESTMORELAND, EXETER, and Others, with red roses in their hats.

K. Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel fits,
Even in the chair of ftate! belike, he means,
(Back'd by the power of Warwick, that falfe peer,)
To afpire unto the crown, and reign as king.

Earl of Northumberland, he flew thy father;

And thine, lord Clifford; and you both have vow'd revenge

On him, his fons, his favourites, and his friends.

North. If I be not, heavens, be reveng'd on me!
Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in steel.
Weft. What, fhall we fuffer this? let's pluck him down:
My heart for anger burns, I cannot brook it.
K. Hen. Be patient, gentle earl of Westmoreland.
Clif. Patience is for poltroons, and such as he :
He durft not fit there, had your father liv'd.
My gracious lord, here in the parliament
Let us affail the family of York.

North. Well haft thou spoken, coufin; be it so.
K. Hen. Ah, know you not, the city favours them,
And they have troops of foldiers at their beck?