Henry VI, Part I

A History

William Shakespeare

• Publisher: HarperPerennial Classics
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN: 9781443443333
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Shakespeare Drama
• Index: Literature

Spanning approximately fifty years beginning with the coronation of the king upon the death of Henry V and concluding with the fall of the House of Lancaster, William Shakespeare's Henry VI trilogy reveals the king's struggles under the pressures of prolonged wars with his foreign territories in France and Ireland, and the civil war that threatens his reign.

Henry VI, Part I opens with a monarchy in chaos following the unexpected death of Henry V. There is little faith that the as-yet uncrowned Henry VI will be able to control the worsening situation in France as the French Dauphin rebels, and Joan of Arc takes command of his army. While England battles to hold on to its French territories, the petty quarrel between Richard Plantagenet and the Duke of Somerset has gained momentum and threatens Henry's tenuous hold on power.

Known as "The Bard of Avon," William Shakespeare is arguably the greatest English-language writer known. Enormously popular during his life, Shakespeare's works continue to resonate more than three centuries after his death, as has his influence on theatre and literature. Shakespeare's innovative use of character, language, and experimentation with romance as tragedy served as a foundation for later playwrights and dramatists, and some of his most famous lines of dialogue have become part of everyday speech.

HarperPerennialClassics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.

HENRY VI, PART I

William Shakespeare

CONTENTS

Dramatis Personae

Act One

Act Two

Act Three

Act Four

Act Five

About the Author

About the Series

Copyright

About the Publisher

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 of Somerset, afterwards Duke

RICHARD PLANTAGENET

son of Richard late Earl of Cambridge, afterwards Duke of York

EARL OF WARWICK

EARL OF SALISBURY

EARL OF SUFFOLK

LORD TALBOT

afterwards Earl of Shrewsbury

JOHN TALBOT

his son

EDMUND MORTIMER

Earl of March

SIR JOHN FASTOLFE

SIR WILLIAM LUCY

SIR WILLIAM GLANSDALE

SIR THOMAS GARGRAVE

Mayor of London

WOODVILLE

Lieutenant of the Tower

VERNON

of the White Rose or York faction

BASSET

of the Red Rose or Lancaster faction

A Lawyer

Gaolers to Mortimer

CHARLES

Dauphin, and afterwards King of France

REIGNIER

Duke of Anjou, and titular King of Naples

DUKE OF BURGUNDY

DUKE OF ALENÇON

BASTARD OF ORLEANS

Governor of Paris

Master-Gunner of Orleans and his Son

General of the French Forces in Bordeaux

A French Sergeant

A Porter

An old Shepherd, father to Joan la Pucelle

MARGARET

daughter to Reigmer, afterwards married to King Henry

COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE

JOAN LA PUCELLE

commonly called Joan of Arc

Lords, Warders of the Tower, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, English and French

Attendants

Fiends appearing to La Pucelle

THE SCENE: ENGLAND AND FRANCE.

ACT ONE

SCENE I. Westminster Abbey.

Dead March. Enter the funeral of King Henry the Fifth, attended on by the DUKE OF BEDFORD, Regent of France, the DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, Protector, the DUKE OF EXETER, the EARL OF WARWICK, the BISHOP OF WINCHESTER.

BEDFORD Hung be the heavens with black, yield day to night! Comets, importing change of times and states,

Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky

And with them scourge the bad revolting stars

[5]

That have consented unto Henry’s death!

King Henry the Fifth, too famous to live long!

England ne’er lost a king of so much worth.

GLOUCESTER England ne’er had a king until his time.

Virtue he had, deserving to command;

[10]

His brandish’d sword did blind men with his beams;

His arms spread wider than a dragon’s wings;

His sparkling eyes, replete with wrathful fire,

More dazzled and drove back his enemies

Than mid-day sun fierce bent against their faces.

[15]

What should I say? His deeds exceed all speech:

He ne’er lift up his hand but conquered.

EXETER We mourn in black; why mourn we not in blood?

Henry is dead and never shall revive.

Upon a wooden coffin we attend;

[20]

And death’s dishonourable victory

We with our stately pre...

Table of contents

• Contents
• Henry VI, Part I
• Dramatis Personae
• Act One
• Act Two
• Act Three
• Act Four
• Act Five
• About the Author
• About the Series
• Copyright
• About the Publisher