King Henry the Sixth. Duke of Gloster, 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, eldest son of Richard, late Earl of Cambridge; afterwards Duke of York. Earl of Warwick. Earl of Salisbury. Earl of Suffolk. Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March. Sir John Fastolfe. Sir William Lucy. Sir William Glansdale Sir Thomas Gargrave. An old Shepherd, father to Joan la Pucelle. Countess of Auvergne. Joan la Pucelle, commonly called Joan of Arc. Fiends appearing to La Pucelle, Lords, Warders of the Tower, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and several attendants both on the English and French. SCENE, partly in England, and partly in France. FIRST PART OF KING HENRY VI. ACT I. SCENE I. Westminster Abbey. Dead march. Corpse of King Henry the Fifth discovered, lying in state; attended on by the Dukes of BEDFORD, GLOSTER, and EXETER; the Earl of WARWICK, the Bishop of Winchester, Heralds, &c. 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, Glo. England ne'er had a king, until his time. His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams; Alluding to our antient stage-practice when a tragedy was to be acted. More dazzled and drove back his enemies, Than mid-day sun, fierce bent against their faces. What should I say? his deeds exceed all speech: He ne'er lift up his hand, but conquered. Exe. We mourn in black; Why mourn we not in blood? Henry is dead, and never shall revive: Upon a wooden coffin we attend; So dreadful will not be, as was his fight. The church's prayers made him so prosperous. Glo. The church! where is it? Had not churchmen pray'd, His thread of life had not so soon decay'd: None do you like but an effeminate prince, tector; And lookest to command the prince, and realm. 2 There was a notion long prevalent, that life might be taken away by metrical charms. |