FIRST PART OF

KING HENRY VI.

LEANS.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
KING HENRY THE Sixtu.

BASSET, of the Red Rose, or Lancaster Faction.
DUKE OF GLOSTER, Uncle to the KING, and Protector.
Duke of Bedford, Uncle to the KING, and Regent of

CHARLES, Dauphin, and afterwards King, of France.
France.

REIGNIER, Duke of Anjou, anul titular King of Naples. THOMAS BEAUFORT, Duke of Exeter, Great Uncle to

DUKES OF BURGUNDY and ALENÇON. BASTARD OF ORthe King HENRY BEAUFORT, Great Uncle to the KING; Bishop of

Governor of Paris. Master-Gunner of Orleans, and his Winchester, and afterwards Cardinal.

Son. JOHN BEAUFORT, Earl of Somerset, afterwards Duke.

General of the French Forces in Bourdeaux,
RICHARD PLANTAGENET, Eldest Son of Richard, late d French Sorgeant. A Porter. An old Shepherd,
Earl of Cambridge: afterwards Duke of York.

Father to JOAN LA PUCELLE.
EARLS OF WARWICK, SALISBURY, and SUFFOLK.
LORD TALBOT, afterwards Earl of Shrewsbury.
JOHN Talbot, his Son.

MARGARET, Daughter to ReiGNIER; afterwards mar. EDMUND MORTIMER, Earl of March.

ried to KING HENRY. MORTIMER's Keepers, and a Lawyer.

COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE.
Sir JOHN FASTOLFE. SIR WILLIAM Lucy. Sir Wil- JOAN LA PUCELLE, commonly called Joan oj Arc.

LIAM GLANSDALE. SIR THOMAS GARGRAVE. WOODVILLE, Lieutenant of the Tower, Mayor of Lon- Fiends appearing to La Pucelle, Lords, Warders of the don.

Tower, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and seVERNON, of the White Kose, or York Faction.

veral Attendants both on the English and French. SCENE, ---Partly in ENGLAND, and partly in FRANCE,

ACT I.

That plotted thus our glory's overthrow?

Or shall we think the subtle-witted French
SCENE I.-Westminster Abbey.

Conjurors and sorcerers, that, afraid of him,

By magic verses have contriv'd his end? Dead March. The Corpse of King Henry the Fifth is discovered, lying in state; attended on by the Dukes OF

Win. He was a king, bless'd of the King of kings. BEDFORD, GLOSTER, and EXETER; thé EARL OF WAR- Unto the French the dreadfu' judgment-day WICK, the BISHOP OF WINCHESTER, Heralds, &-c.

So dreadful will not be, as was his sight. Bed. Hung be the heavens with black, yield day The battles of the Lord of hosts he fought: to night!

The church's prayers made him so prosperous. Comets, importing change of times and states,

Glo. The church! where is it? Had not churchBrandish your crystal tresses in the sky,

men pray'd, And with them scourge the bad revolting stars, His thread of life had not so soon decay'd: That have consented unto Henry's death!

None do you like but an effeminate prince, King Henry the fifth, too famous to live long! Whom, like a school-boy, you may over-awe. England ne'er lost a king of so much worth.

Win. Gloster, whate'er we like, thou art proGio. England ne'er had a king until his time.

tector, Virtue he had, deserving to command:

And lookest to command the prince, and realm. His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams; Thy wife is proud; she holdeth thee in awe, His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings; More than God or religious churchmen may. His sparkling eyes, replete with wrathsul fire,

Glo. Name not religion, for thou lov’st the flesh; More dazzled and drove back his enemies

And ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'st, Than mid-day sun fierce bent against their faces. Except it be to pray against thy foes. What should I say? his deeds exceed all speech: Bed. Cease, cease these jars, and rest your minds He ne'er lift up his hand, but conquered.

in peace! Exe. We mourn in black: why mourn we not in Let's to the altar :-Heralds, wait on us :blood?

Instead of gold, we'll offer up our arms; Henry is dead, and never shall revive:

Since arms avail not, now that Henry's dead. Upon a wooden coffin we attend;

Posterity, await for wretched years, And death's dishonourable victory

When at their mothers' moist eyes babes shall suck, We with our stately presence glorify,

Our isle be made a nourish of salt tears, Like captives bound to a triumphant car.

And none but women left to wail the dead.What, shall we curse the planets of mishap,

Henry the fifth! thy ghost I invocate;

Prosper this realm, keep it from civil broils ! The circumstance I'll tell you more at large.
Combat with adverse planets in the heavens! The tenth of August last, this dreadful lord,
A far more glorious star thy soul will make,

Retiring from the siege of Orleans,
Than Julius Cæsar, or bright-

Having full scarce six thousand in his troop,

By three-and-twenty thousand of the French
Enter a Messenger.

Was round encompassed and set upon.
Mess. My honourable lords, health to you all!

No leisure had he to enrank his men; Sad tidings bring I to you out of France,

He wanted pikes to set before his archers; Of loss, of slaughter, and discomfiture:

Instead whereof, sharp stakes, pluck'd out of hedges, Guienne, Champaigne, Rheims, Orleans,

They pitched in the ground confusedly, Paris, Guysors, Poictiers, are all quite lost.

To keep the horsemen off from breaking in. Bed. What say'st thou, man, before dead Henry's More than three hours the figlit continued ; corse?

Where valiant Talbot, above human thought,
Speak softly; or the loss of those great towns

Enacted wonders with his sword and lance:
Will make him burst his lead, and rise from death. Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand him;
Glo. Is Paris lost? is Rouen yielded up?

Here, there, and every where, enrag'd he slew :
If Henry were recall’d to life again,

The French exclaim'd, the devil was in arms; These news would cause him once more yield the All the whole army stood agaz'd on him: ghost.

His soldiers, spying his undaunted spirit, Exe. How were they lost? what treachery was

A Talbot! A Talbot! cried out amain, us'd?

And rush'd into the bowels of the battle. Mess. No treachery; but want of men and money.

Here had the conquest fully been seal'd up, Among the soldiers this is muttered,

If sir John Fastolse had not play'd the coward: That here you maintain several factions;

He, being in the vaward, (plac'd behind, And, whilst a field should be despatch'd and fought, With purpose to relieve and follow them,) You are disputing of your generals:

Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke. One would have lingering wars, with little cost;

Hence grew the general wreck and massacre; Another would fly swist, but wanteth wings;

Enclosed were they with their enemies : A third man thinks, without expense at all,

A base Walloon, to win the Dauphin's grace, By guileful fair words peace may be obtain'd.

Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back; Awake, awake, English nobility!

Whom all France, with their chief assembled Let not sloth dim your honours, new-begot:

strength,
Cropp'd are the flower-de-luces in your arms; Durst not presume to look once in the face.
Of England's coat one half is cut away.

Bed. Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself,
Exe. Were our tears wanting to this funeral, For living idly here in pomp and ease,
These tidings would call for her flowing tides. Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid,
Bed. Me they concern ; regent I am of France.

Unto his dastard foemen is betray'd.
Give me my steelèd coat! I'll fight for France. 3 Mess. O no, he lives; but is took prisoner,
Away with these disgraceful wailing robes !

And lord Scales with him, and lord Hungerford:
Wounds will I lend the French, instead of eyes, Most of the rest slaughter'd, or took, likewise.
To weep their intermissive miseries.

Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay:

I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne;
Enter a second Messenger.

His crown shall be the ransom of my friend :
2 Mess. Lords, view these letters, full of bad mis- Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours. -
chance.

Farewell, my masters; to my task will I; France is revolted from the English quite,

Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make, Except some petty towns of no import :

To keep our great Saint George's feast withal: The Dauphin, Charles, is crowned king in Rheims; Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take, The bastard of Orleans with him is join'd;

Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake. Reignier, duke of Anjou, doth take his part;

3 Mess. So you had need; for Orleans is besieg'd; The duke of Alençon flieth to his side.

The English army is grown weak and faint:
Exe. The Dauphin crowned king! ali fly to him! The earl of Salisbury craveth supply,
0, whither shall we fly from this reproach?

And hardly keeps his men from mutiny,
Glo. We will not fly, but to our enemies' throats :- Since they, so few, watch such a multitude.
Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out.

Exe. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry
Bed. Gloster, why doubt'st thou of my forward-

sworn, ness?

Either to quell the Dauphin utterly, An army have I muster'd in my thoughts,

Or bring him in obedience to your yoke.
Wherewith already France is over-run.

Bed. I do remember it; and here take my leave,
To go about my preparation.

[Exit.
Enter a third Messenger.

Gio. I'll to the Tower, with all the haste I can, 3 Mess. My gracious lords,

to add to your

To view th' artillery and munition; laments,

And then I will proclaim young Henry king. [Exit. Wherewith you now bedew king Henry's hearse,

Exe. To Eltham will Í, where the young king is,
I must inform you of a dismal fight

Being ordain'd his special governor;
Betwixt the stout lord Talbot and the French. And for his safety there I'll best devise. [Exit.

Win. What! wherein Talbot overcame? is 't so? Win. Each hath his place and function to attend:
3 Mess. O, no; wherein lord Talbot was o'er- I am left out; for me nothing remains.
thrown:

But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office:

others.

The king from Eltham I intend to steal,

Be not dismay'd, for succour is at hand: And sit at chiefest stern of public weal. [Erit. A holy maid hither with me I bring,

Which, by a vision sent to her from heaven,

Ordainèd is to raise this tedious siege. SCENE II.-FRANCE. Before ORLEANS.

And drive the English forth the bounds of France. Enter CHARLES, with his forces; ALENCON, REIGNIER, and

The spirit of deep prophecy she hath,

Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome: Char. Mars his true moving, even as in the What's past and what's to come she can descry. heavens,

Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words,

For they are certain and unfallible.
So in the earth, to this day is not known:
Late did he shine upon the English side;

Char. Go, call her in. [Exit BASTARD.] But Now we are victors, upon us he smiles.

first, to try her skill, What towns of any moment but we have?

Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place: At pleasure here we lie, near Orleans;

Question her proudly; let thy looks be stern: Otherwhiles, the famish'd English, like pale ghosts. By this means shall we sound what skill she hath.

[Retires. Faintly besiege us one hour in a month. Alen. They want their porridge, and their fat

Re-enter the BASTARD OF ORLEANS, with LA PUCELLE. bull-beeves: Either they must be dieted like mules,

Reig. Fair maid, is 't thou wilt do these wond'rous

feats? And have their provender tied to their mouths, Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice.

Puc. Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile me? Reig. Let's raise the siege: why live we idly here?

Where is the Dauphin?—Come, come from behind; Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear:

I know thee well, though never seen before. Remaineth none but mad-brain'd Salisbury;

Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me:

In private will I talk with thee apart.-
And he may well in fretting spend his gall,
Nor men, nor money, hath he to make war.

Stand back, you lords, and give us leave a while. Char. Sound, sound alarum! we will rush on

Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first dash. them.

Fuc. Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's daughNow for the honour of the forlorn French!

My wit untrain'd in any kind of art.

[ter, Him I forgive my death, that killeth me,

Heaven and our Lady gracious hath it pleas'd When he sees me go back one foot, or fly.

To shine on my contemptible estate: (Exeuni.

Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs,

And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeks,
Alarums; Excursions: afterwards a Retreat. Re-enter God's mother deigned to appear to me,
CHARLES, ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and others.

And, in a vision full of majesty,
Char. Who ever saw the like? what men have Will'd me to leave my base vocation,
I!-

And free my country from calamity:
Dogs! cowards! dastards!—I would ne'er have fled, Her aid she promis'd, and assur'd success :
But that they left me 'midst my enemies.

In complete glory she reveal'd herself;
Reig. Salisbury is a desperate homicide;

And, whereas I was black and swart before, He fighteth as one weary of his life.

With those clear rays which she infus'd on me, The other lords, like lions wanting food,

That beauty am I bless'd with, which you may see. Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.

Ask me what question thou canst possible, Alen. Froissart, a countryman of ours, records, And I will answer unpremeditated: England all Olivers and Rowlands bred,

My courage try by combat, if thou dar'st, During the time Edward the third did reign.

And thou shalt find that I exceed my sex. More truly now may this be verified ;

Resolve on this,-thou shalt be fortunate, For none but Samsons, and Goliasses,

If thou receive me for thy warlike mate. It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!

Char. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high Lean raw-bon'd rascals! who would e'er suppose

terms: They had such courage and audacity?

Only this proof I 'll of thy valour make, Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hare. In single combat thou shalt buckle with me; brain'd slaves,

And if thou vanquishest, thy words are true;
And hunger will enforce them to be more eager: Otherwise, I renounce all confidence.
Of old I know them; rather with their teeth

Puc. I am prepar'd: here is my keen-edg'd sword, The walls they'll tear down, than forsake the siege.

Deck'd with five flower-de-luces on each side; Reig. I think, by some odd gimmals, or device, The which at Touraine, in Saint Katharine's churchTheir arms are set like clocks, still to strike on;

yard, Else ne'er could they hold out so as they do. Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth. By my consent, we'll e'en let them alone.

Char. Then come, o' God's name; I fear no wo. Alen. Be it so.

Puc. And, while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a man. Enter the BASTARD OF ORLEANS.

[They fight. Bast. Where 's the prince Dauphin? I have news Char. Stay, stay thy hands! thou art an Amazon, for him.

And fightest with the sword of Deborah. Char, Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us. Puc. Christ's mother helps me, else I were too Bast. Methinks your looks are sad, your cheer

weak. appalld:

Char. Whoe'er helps thee, 'tis thou that must Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence?

help me:

man.

death.”

sure:

Thus contumeliously should break the peace!

Son. Father, I warrant you; take you no care; Glo. Peace, mayor! thou know'st little of my I'll never trouble you, if I may spy them. wrongs:

Enter, in an upper chamber of a tower, the LORDS Salis. Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king,

BURY and TALBOT; SIR WILLIAM GLANSDALE, SIR THOMAS
Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use.

GARGRAVE, and others.
Win. Here's Gloster too, a foe to citizens;

Sal. Talbot, my life, my joy, again return'd!
One that still motions war, and never peace,

Ilow wert thou handled, being prisoner?
O'ercharging your free purses with large fines; Or by what means got'st thou to be releas'd?
That seeks to overthrow religion,

Discourse, I prythee, on this turret's top.
Because he is protector of the realm;

Tal. The duke of Bedford had a prisoner,
And would have armour, here, out of the Tower, Called the brave Lord Ponton de Santrailles ;
To crown himself king, and suppress the prince. For him I was exchang'd and ransomèd.
Glo. I will not answer thee with words, but But with a baser man of arms by far,
blows.

[Here they skirmish again. Once, in contempt, they would have barter'd me: May. Naught rests for me, in this tumultuous

Which I, disdaining, scorn’d; and craved death, strise,

Rather than I would be so vile-esteem'd.
But to make open proclamation:-

In fine, redeem'd I was as I desir'd.
Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou canst.

But, O, the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my heart!
Off. [Reads. ]

Whom with my bare fists I would execute, “All manner of men, assembled here in arms this day, If I now had him brought into my power. against God's peace, and the king's, we charge and com

Sal. Yet tell'st thou not how thou wert entermand you, in his highness' name, to repair to your several dwelling-places; and not to wear, handle, or use, any

tain'd.
sword, weapon, or dagger, henceforward, upon pain of Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious

taunts.
Glo. Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law: In open market-place produc'd they me,
But we shall meet, and break our minds at large. To be a public spectacle to all:
Win. Gloster, we'll meet, to thy dear cost, be Here, said they, is the terror of the French,

The scare-crow that affrights our children so.
Thy heart-blood I will have for this day's work. Then broke I from the officers that led me,

Mlay. I'll call for clubs, if you will not away: And with my nails digg'd stones out of the ground,
This cardinal's more haughty than the devil. To hurl at the beholders of my shame:
Glo. Mayor, farewell: thou dost but what thou My grisly countenance made others fly;
mayst.

None durst come near for fear of sudden death.
Win. Abominable Gloster! guard thy head; In iron walls they deem'd me not secure;
For I intend to have it, ere long.

So great fear of my name 'mongst them was spread, [Exeunt, severally, GLOSTER and WIN- That they suppos'd I could rend bars of steel,

CHESTER, with their serving-men. Ind spurn in pieces posts of adamant:
May. See the coast clear'd, and then we will Wherefore a guard of chosen shot I had,
depart.-

That walk'd about me every minute-while;
Good God! these nobles should such stomachs And if I did but stir out of my bed,
bear!

Ready they were to shoot me to the heart.
I myself fight not once in forty year. [Excunt. Sal. I grieve to hear what torments you endur'd;

But we will be reveng'd sufficiently.
SCENE IV.-FRANCE. Before ORLEANS.

Now it is supper-time in Orleans:

Here, through this grate, I can count every one,
Enter, on the walls, the Master-Gunner and his Son. And view the Frenchmen how they fortify:
M. Gun. Sirrah, thou know'st how Orleans is Let us look in; the sight will much delight thee. —
besieg'd,

Sir Thomas Gargrave, and Sir William Glansdale,
And how the English have the suburbs won. Let me have your express opinions,

Son. Father, I know; and oft have shot at them, Where is best place to make our battery next.
Howe'er, unfortunate, I miss'd my aim.

Gar. I think, at the north gate; for there stand
M. Gun. But now thou shalt not. Be thou rul'd

lords. by me:

Glan. And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge. Chief master-gunner am I of this town;

Tal. For aught I see, this city must be famish'd,
Something I must do to procure me grace.

Or with light skirmishes enfeebled.
The prince's espials have informed me

[Shot from the town. SALISBURY and Sir How the English, in the suburbs close intrench'd,

Tho. GARGRAVE fall.
Wont, through a secret grate of iron bars

Sal. O Lord, have mercy on us, wretched sinners!
In yonder tower, to overpeer the city;

Gar. O Lord, have mercy on me, woful man!
And thence discover, how, with most advantage, Tal. What chance is this, that suddenly hath
They may vex us with shot, or with assault.

cross'd us?
To
intercept this inconvenience,

Speak, Salisbury; at least, if thou canst speak:
A piece of ordnance ’gainst it I have plac’d; How far'st thou, mirror of all martial men?
And even these three days have I watch’d, if I One of thy eyes, and thy cheek's side struck off!--
Could see them,

Accursèd tower! accursed fatal hand,
Now do thou watch, for I can stay no longer.

That hath contriv'd this woful tragedy!
If thou spy'st any, run and bring me word;

In thirteen battles Salisbury o'ercame;
And thou shalt find me at the governor's.

Henry the fifth he first train'd to the wars;
[Exit. Whilst any trump did sound, or drum struck up,