King Henry VI, Part II Play
King Henry VI, Part Two, continues the story
of King Henry VI's troubled reign. Having been introduced
to Margaret of Anjou, Henry, the King decides to reward
Suffolk by making the earl a Duke. Gloucester is far
from happy about this, complaining that Margaret has
no dowry and that Henry gave back Anjou and Maine to
France unnecessarily,fearing young Henry is overturning
all the good his father did in conquering France. Winchester
(a rival to Gloucester) of course, naturally disagrees.
Buckingham, Somerset and the Cardinal (Winchester) decide
to remove Gloucester's influence on the King. Suffolk,
having designs on controlling Henry himself, sees Gloucester's
role as protector of the King as an obstacle and puts
into motion a plan to discredit Gloucester who may be
the only man left who still has Henry's welfare at heart.
York (Richard Plantagenet), his son Warwick and Salisbury
decide to support King Henry VI.
Gloucester's wife Eleanor known as Nell, has designs
on becoming Queen one day, Gloucester discourages this
but the Cardinal (Winchester) and Suffolk encourage
this to make Gloucester vulnerable. Even Queen Margaret
is aware of Nell's ambition. York and Buckingham catch
Gloucester's wife Nell engaging in witchcraft (remember
in Henry VI, Part One, Joan of Arc was burnt at the
stake for this). Gloucester challenges the Cardinal
to a duel at St Albans. Gloucester, learning of his
wife's witchcraft, disowns her. Even worse, thanks to
the late Edmund Mortimer's words in the Tower of London,
The Duke of York (Richard Plantagenet) becomes ever
more convinced that he should be King through the House
of York (Henry is King through the House of Lancaster),
gaining Warwick's and Salisbury's support..
Gloucester manages to get off the charges placed against
him by his enemies, but King Henry still decrees that
Gloucester face trial. France is lost, King Henry running
off in despair whilst Gloucester now in prison, darkly
predicts King Henry's downfall... Meanwhile, the Irish
revolt... The Cardinal sends the Duke of York to quell
this, meeting Jack Cade, a henchman whom he enlists
to raise an Irish army. Richard hopes this will allows
him to defeat Henry and become King of England once
he returns from quelling the Irish rebellion. Back in
England, Gloucester is killed in his sleep, King Henry
banishing the blamed Suffolk under intense public pressure.
Even Queen Margaret tries to overturn this; she is secretly
having an affair with Suffolk... The Cardinal passes
away. Suffolk, however does not live long; whilst heading
for France, pirates kill him for making King Henry a
joke, murdering Gloucester and losing Anjou and Maine.
Meanwhile, back in Ireland, Cade having raised an army,
decides to be King, marching on London. King Henry retreats.
The rebellion ends when Buckingham and Clifford, facing
Cade with their own army, cunningly offer the rebels
pardons should they desert Cade. Cade flees only to
beheaded five days later whilst looking for food in
a garden... Richard Plantagenet (Duke Of York), now
returns home to England intent on capturing Somerset,
promising to disband his army only if King Henry
arrests Somerset, his bitter rival (King Henry VI, Part
One). Whilst King Henry agrees, Margaret sets Somerset
free, leaving Richard no choice but to declare his intention
to be King and to fight King Henry. In the battle that
follows (St Albans), Somerset is killed by Richard III,
son of York. York kills Clifford ,Clifford's son vowing
revenge. The York faction pursue King Henry and Queen
Margaret....
Contents
Dramatis
Personæ
Act I
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV
Act II
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV
Act III
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III
Act IV
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V, Scene
VI, Scene VII, Scene
VIII, Scene IX, Scene
X
Act V
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III
|