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Three Dukes of Somerset, threefold renown'd

For hardy and undoubted champions;

Two Cliffords, as the father and the son;

And two Northumberlands- two braver men

Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's sound;

With them the two brave bears, Warwick and Montague,

That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion

And made the forest tremble when they roar'd.

Thus have we swept suspicion from our seat

And made our footstool of security.

Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy.

Young Ned, for thee thine uncles and myself

Have in our armours watch'd the winter's night,

Went all afoot in summer's scalding heat,

That thou might'st repossess the crown in peace;

And of our labours thou shalt reap the gain.

GLOUCESTER.

[Aside] I'll blast his harvest if your head were laid;

For yet I am not look'd on in the world.

This shoulder was ordain'd so thick to heave;

And heave it shall some weight or break my back.

Work thou the way- and that shall execute.

KING EDWARD.

Clarence and Gloucester, love my lovely queen;

And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both.

CLARENCE.

The duty that I owe unto your Majesty

I seal upon the lips of this sweet babe.

KING EDWARD.

Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy brother, thanks.

GLOUCESTER.

And that I love the tree from whence thou sprang'st,

Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit.

[Aside] To say the truth, so Judas kiss'd his master

And cried 'All hail!' when as he meant all harm.

KING EDWARD.

Now am I seated as my soul delights,

Having my country's peace and brothers' loves.

CLARENCE.

What will your Grace have done with Margaret?

Reignier, her father, to the King of France

Hath pawn'd the Sicils and Jerusalem,

And hither have they sent it for her ransom.

KING EDWARD.

Away with her, and waft her hence to France.

And now what rests but that we spend the time

With stately triumphs, mirthful comic shows,

Such as befits the pleasure of the court?

Sound drums and trumpets. Farewell, sour annoy!

For here, I hope, begins our lasting joy. Exeunt

HENRY VI, PART 1

This play deals with the loss of England's French territories and the political machinations leading up to the Wars of the Roses, as the English political system is torn apart by personal squabbles and petty jealousy, and serves as a prequel to the two previous plays. Henry VI, Part 1 is regarded by some as the weakest play in Shakespeare's oeuvre and there is evidence to suggest he collaborated with other dramatists while writing this play.

Shakespeare's main source text for this play is available via this link.

The Grafton Portrait - the inscription on the painting identifies the sitter as a 24-year-old man painted in 1588. Many experts claim this portrait represents Shakespeare as a young man.

CONTENTS

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

ACT FIRST

SCENE I

SCENE II.

SCENE III.

SCENE IV. Orleans.

SCENE V. The same.

SCENE VI. The Same.

ACT SECOND

SCENE I. Before Orleans.

SCENE II. Orleans. Within the town.

SCENE III. Auvergne. The Countess's castle.

SCENE IV. London. The Temple-garden.

SCENE V. The Tower of London.

ACT THIRD

SCENE I. London. The Parliament-house.

SCENE II. France. Before Rouen.

SCENE III. The plains near Rouen.

SCENE IV. Paris. The palace.

ACT FOURTH

SCENE I. Paris. A hall of state.

SCENE II. Before Bordeaux.

SCENE III. Plains in Gascony.

SCENE IV. Other plains in Gascony.

SCENE V. The English camp near Bordeaux.

SCENE VI. A field of battle.

SCENE VII. Another part of the field.

ACT FIFTH

SCENE I. London. The palace.

SCENE II. France. Plains in Anjou.

SCENE III. Before Angiers.

SCENE IV. Camp of the Duke of York in Anjou.

SCENE V. London. The royal palace.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

KING HENRY the Sixth

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, uncle to the King, and Protector

DUKE OF BEDFORD, uncle to the King, and Regent of France

THOMAS BEAUFORT, Duke of Exeter, great-uncle to the King

HENRY BEAUFORT, great-uncle to the King, Bishop of Winchester,

and afterwards Cardinal

JOHN BEAUFORT, Earl, afterwards Duke, of