I Henry VI

Thomas Nashe writes in Pierce Penniless (1592) '...it would have joyed brave Talbot, the terror of the French, to think that after he had lain two hundred years in his tomb he should triumph again on the stage, and have his bones new embalmed with the tears of ten thousand spectators at least at several times, who in that tragedian that represents his person imagine they behold him fresh bleeding'.

...ten thousand spectators at least at several times...

!!!!

Background

Henry V of England (1386-1422) has just died, having inflicted a severe defeat on the French forces at Agincourt in 1415. By the Treaty of Troyes, negotiated with the French in 1420, he was recognised as Regent of France, and his successors were recognised as legitimate heirs to the throne of France. His subsequent marriage to Cathérine de Valois, daughter of the French King Charles VI, whose rule was weakened by his repeated bouts of madness, produced a son, the Henry VI who is the subject of this play. He was just nine months old at the death of his father.

Sources

Shakespeare's main source for the history of Henry VI is Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles (1587) , supplemented where necessary with information from Edward Hall's The Union of the two noble and illustre families of Lancastre and York (1547).

Synopsis

ACT I:

The play begins with a scene at the funeral of Henry V. The English lords, the Duke of Gloucester (the Protector of the young Henry VI, ie the lord who wields the power of the King during his minority) and Henry Beaufort, the Bishop of Winchester (a descendant of King Edward III with a claim to the throne himself) are shown disputing among other lords present at the funeral. A messenger arrives bringing news of the loss of several French towns, explaining that : 'amongst the (English) soldiers it is mutterèd / That here you maintain several factions, / And whilst a field should be dispatched and fought, / You are disputing of your generals.' Further messengers arrive, one of whom announces that the English force at Orléans is threatened, another that the Lord Talbot (scourge of the French, and England's premier champion) has been taken prisoner.

In front of the town of Orléans: Charles (the Dauphin, later King of France), Reignier (Duke of Anjou) and the Duke d'Alençon discuss the change of fortunes in the war, and resolve to chase the English from the field, but their plan misfires. After a skirmish, Alençon complains of the English soldiery : 'Lean raw-boned rascals! Who would e'er suppose / They had such courage and audacity.' Jean Dunois, the Bastard of Orléans, arrives with Joan la Pucelle (Jeanne d'Arc) who convinces Charles, the Dauphin, of her credentials as prophetess, and she encourages everyone to try once more their assault on the English forces with the words: 'Assigned am I to be the English scourge, / This night the siege assuredly I'll raise.'

In front of the Tower of London, the Duke of Gloucester(the Protector) and the Bishop of Winchester dispute access to the young King, their men fight, the Lord Mayor of London tries to intercede to restore order. Finally Gloucester retires, and Winchester is left on stage mouthing 'Abominable Gloucester, guard thy head, / For I intend to have it 'ere long.'

In front of the town of Orléans, the Earl of Salisbury talks with Lord Talbot, who has been ransomed. Salisbury is hit, and dies, Talbot continues to rally his troops against the French, but he cannot withstand the new French assault, led by Joan la Pucelle.

The Dauphin, Reignier, d'Alençon and La Pucelle appear on the battlements celebrating their victory.

ACT II:

In front of the town of Orléans: Talbot, Bedford (the governor of France) and the Duke of Burgundy (an ally of the English) attack once again and suprise the French in their beds. A rout follows in which the French nobles and la Pucelle are shown fleeing in their underwear. Talbot receives an invitation to visit the Countess of Auvergne in her castle, an invitation which he accepts, having first whispered secret instructions to one of his captains. The Countess first denigrates Talbot's physical appearance, then announces that he is her prisoner. Talbot, however, has provided for his own rescue by his men with the secret instructions he has given to his captain. He generously pardons her mistake, and suggests that he now 'tastes of your wine and see what cates you have'. 'Cates' being delicacies.

A garden: Richard Plantagenet, in front of assembled lords, asks them to judge in the case of his claim to be re-instated as Duke of York. The Duke of Somerset opposes him, asking 'Was not thy father, Richard, Earl of Cambridge, / For treason executed in our late king's days? / And by his treason stand'st thou not attainted, / Corrupted, and exempt from ancient gentry?' Richard replies, 'My father was attachèd, not attainted, / Condemn'd to die for treason, but no traitor.' The assembled lords each take sides, plucking a red or white rose depending on whether they support Richard or Somerset. The scene ends with Richard prophesying : 'I dare say / This quarrel will drink blood another day.'

Edmund Mortimer (a composite figure of two Edmund Mortimers, who has, according to Shakespeare, spent many years in prison) is dying. In an interview with his nephew, Richard Plantagenet, he explains the cause of his own imprisonment and the execution of Richard's father. 'Henry the Fourth, grandfather to this king, / Depos'd his nephew Richard, Edward's son, / The first-begotten and the lawful heir / Of Edward king, the third of that descent.' Mortimer believed that he had a better claim to the throne than Henry IV, and rebelled, but was defeated. Richard's father, also Richard, was executed on this occasion for treason, effectively forfeiting his estates and disinheriting his heirs. Richard vows to restore his fortunes against those who harbour 'ambition of the meaner sort' , proposing to 'haste ... to the parliament / Either to be restorèd to my blood, / Or make mine ill th'advantage of my good.'

ACT III:

The English court: Gloucester and Winchester continue their quarrel, now in front of the infant King Henry VI, who asks them to compose their differences, observing that 'Civil dissension is a viperous worm / That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth.' They feign agreement. Henry next restores Richard Plantagenet to his estates and creates him Duke of York, then leaves for France to be crowned King of France. Exeter, left alone on stage, bewails : 'This late dissension grown betwixt the peers / Burns under feignèd ashes of forged love / And will at last break out into a flame.'

In front of the gates of Rouen: La Pucelle is seen gaining entry to the town by a deception. Charles the Dauphin, Alençon, Reignier and the Bastard of Orléans arrive and take the town with the aid of La Pucelle. Talbot is shown fleeing. La Pucelle mocks him from the battlements. Talbot reprimands them that they 'dare not take up arms like gentlemen', and resolves to attack again along with the Duke of Burgundy. Charles the Dauphin, Alençon, the Bastard and La Pucelle are seen fleeing. Talbot leaves for Paris, where the King is.

La Pucelle encourages Charles the Dauphin not to be discouraged by the setback, and lays a plot to convince the Duke of Burgundy to change sides. They summon the Duke, who is following Talbot to Paris, to a parley. He arrives and La Pucelle addresses him : 'Look on thy country, look on fertile France, / And see the cities and towns defaced, / By wasting ruin of the cruel foe.' He observes : 'Either she has bewitched me with her words, / Or nature makes me suddenly relent', and changes sides, to which La Pucelle remarks : 'Done like a Frenchman - (aside) turn and turn again'.

Paris: the English court assembled receives Talbot. The King creates him Earl of Shrewsbury, and he is invited to join in the coronation celebrations. Vernon (for York, white rose) and Basset (for Lancaster, red rose) are shown arguing and sporting their roses, intent on fighting to settle things between them.

ACT IV:

Paris : The King is crowned, and the Governor of Paris takes his oath. Sir John Falstaff arrives with a letter from the Duke of Burgundy, and is called out by Talbot that he is a coward who ran away from the enemy. Falstaff is banished. The Duke of Burgundy's letter is read revealing his treachery, and Talbot is sent to chastise him. Vernon and Bassett arrive, pursuing their quarrel, and request the King to intervene. He hears their quarrel and comments : 'Good Lord, what madness reigns in brainsick men, / When for so slight and frivolous a cause, / Such fractious emulations shall arise!' He then makes the Duke of York governor of France, and sets Somerset under him, encouraging Somerset to 'unite your troops of horsemen with his bands of foot'. Exeter is left on stage presaging 'ruin and confusion'.

Before Bordeaux: Talbot challenges the defenders of Bordeaux to surrender, but they return defiance. The scene ends with Talbot shouting : 'God and Saint George, Talbot and England's right, / Prosper our colors in this dangerous fight!'

The Duke of York is shown receiving a messenger (Sir William Lucy) who requests he send aid to Talbot who is 'hemmed about with grim destruction'. York fails to act, blaming the fact that Somerset has not sent his horse to aid in the conflict. Sir William goes to see Somerset, who claims 'This expedition was by York and Talbot / Too rashly plotted..' and also fails to act.

Talbot tries to persuade his son John to flee, but he refuses, and dies on the field of battle together with his father.

The French celebrate their victory, meaning to march on Paris.

ACT V:

London : Gloucester informs the King of peace proposals emanating from the Pope and the Emperor, and a proposal of marriage to the Earl of Armagnac's daughter to cement the peace. The King affirms himself '... well content with any choice / Tends to God's glory and my country's weal'. Winchester arrives in Cardinal's robes intoning : 'Now Winchester will not submit, I trow, / Or be inferior to the proudest peer', and threatening Gloucester that 'I'll either make thee stoop and bend thy knee, / Or sack this country with a mutiny'. By 'mutiny' he means a civil war.

France : The French forces march towards Paris, but are intercepted by the combined forces of the English and made to flee. La Pucelle is captured. Suffolk enters with Margaret, the daughter of Reignier, whom he has captured and intends for Henry's bride. He comments : 'She's beautiful, and therefore to be wooed / She is a woman, therefore to be won', but it is clear that he desires her for himself, not for the King. Suffolk vows to 'Solicit Henry with her wondrous praise, / Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount, / And natural graces that extinguish art: / Repeat their semblance often on the seas; / That, when thou com'st to kneel at Henry's feet, / Thou mayest bereave him of his wits with wonder'.

York and Warwick question La Pucelle. She rejects the entreaties of her father, a shepherd, denying his paternity and claiming descent from 'kings, virtuous and holy'. She claims she is a virgin, then that she is pregnant, by Charles, by Alençon then by Reignier. They ridicule her claims and send her off to be burned. Winchester arrives in Cardinal's robes, and signals the approach of the French who wish to negotiate a peace. York lays down harsh conditions, which Reignier and Alençcon urge King Charles to accept: '.... take this compact of a truce, / Although you break it when your pleasure serves'. King Charles and his nobles pledge obedience to King Henry.

Suffolk presents the case for marrying Margaret to the King, who accepts his argument. Gloucester objects that the monarch is already betrothed to another, but Suffolk persists. The King, still a mere boy, complains : 'I feel such sharp dissension in my breast, / Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear, / As I am sick with working of my thoughts'.

Suffolk is left alone on stage to express himself thus : 'Margaret shall now be Queen and rule the King; / But I will rule both her, the King, and realm'.

So ends I Henry VI.