KING HENRY THE SIXTH
HUMPHREY – Duke of Gloster, his uncle
CARDINAL BEAUFORT – Bishop of Winchester, great-uncle to the KING
RICHARD PLANTAGENET – Duke of York
EDWARD, RICHARD – his sons
DUKE OF SOMERSET, DUKE OF SUFFOLK, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM, LORD CLIFFORD, YOUNG CLIFFORD – of the KING’S party
EARL OF SALISBURY, EARL OF WARWICK – of the York faction
LORD SCALES – governor of the Tower
LORD SAY
SIR HUMPHREY STAFFORD
WILLIAM STAFFORD – his brother
SIR JOHN STANLEY
A sea captain, master, master’s mate, WALTER WHITMORE
Two gentlemen – prisoners with SUFFOLK
VAUX
A herald
HUME, SOUTHWELL – two priests
BOLINGBROKE – a conjuror
A spirit raised by him
THOMAS HORNER – an armourer
PETER – his man
Clerk of Chatham
Mayor of St Alban’s
SIMPCOX – an impostor
Two murderers
JACK CADE – a rebel
GEORGE, JOHN, DICK, SMITH (the weaver), MICHAEL – his followers
ALEXANDER IDEN – a Kentish gentleman
MARGARET – Queen to KING HENRY
ELEANOR – Duchess of Gloster
MARGERY JOURDAIN – a witch
Wife to SIMPCOX
Lords, ladies, and attendants
Petitioners, aldermen, a beadle, sheriff, and officers
Citizens, prentices, falconers, guards, soldiers, and messengers
PLAY
Dispersedly in various parts of England.
ACT I
Scene i: London. A room of state in the castle.
Scene ii: London. A room in the Duke of Gloster’s house.
Scene iii: London. A room in the palace.
Scene iv: The same. The Duke of Gloster’s garden.
ACT II
Scene i: Saint Albans.
Scene ii: London. The Duke of York’s garden.
Scene iii: A hall of justice.
Scene iv: A street.
ACT III
Scene i: The abbey at Bury St. Edmund’s.
Scene ii: Bury St. Edmund’s. A room of state.
Scene iii: A bedchamber.
ACT IV
Scene i: The cost of Kent.
Scene ii: Blackheath.
Scene iii: Another part of Blackheath.
Scene iv: London. The palace.
Scene v: London. The Tower.
Scene vi: London. Cannon Street.
Scene vii: London. Smithfield.
Scene viii: Southwark.
Scene ix: Kenilworth Castle.
Scene x: Kent. Iden’s garden.
ACT V
Scene i: Fields between Dartford and Blackheath.
Scene ii: St. Albans.
Scene iii: Fields near St. Albans.
Act V: Scene i
DUKE OF YORK: From Ireland thus comes York to claim his right,
And pluck the crown from feeble Henry’s head:
Ring, bells, aloud; burn, bonfires, clear and bright,
To entertain great England’s lawful king.
Ah! sanctus majestas, who would not buy thee dear?
Let them obey that know not how to rule;
This hand was made to handle nought but gold.
I cannot give due action to my words,
Except a sword or scepter balance it:
A scepter shall it have, have I a soul,
On which I’ll toss the flower-de-luce of France.
