1591 - Henry VI Part 2 - "Could I come near your beauty with my nails, I'd set my ten commandments in your face..."

1591 - Henry VI Part 2 Act One - "Could I come near your beauty with my nails, I'd set my ten commandments in your face."

To add to his early success, Shakespeare had written a history play, a smaller part of a potential sequence of plays. History plays were becoming popular after England and Queen Elizabeth's defeat of the great Spanish Armada in 1588. England seem to revel in and become proud of its own history and its war exploits. In 1591, with the plague abating and the theatres were open again, it seems that longer entertainments of a more serious nature were again fashionable, popular and profitable. While also working on The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare was probably pouring over Edward Hall’s The Union of the Two Noble and Illustre Families of Lancaster and York and Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles. 

Holinshed’s Chronicles was a source that Shakespeare used for much of his life and he even uses parts of this text verbatim for his history plays. He probably was first introduced to the bookstalls surrounding and attached to St Paul’s Cathedral in 1590 but in early 1591, he probably had enough money to purchase a number of texts and pamphlets including his beloved Holinshed’s Chronicles. He probably also discovered that around the bookstalls were watering holes and inns that were great places to meet other writers and intellectuals and pick up ideas and the latest gossip. It is undoubtedly here that he met Christopher Marlowe for the first time early in 1591.

Shakespeare knew that certain types of history plays were popular but tricky to pull off since any element of political undertone might be seen as libelous by the authorities. He would have carefully crafted the ideas from Holinshed and for the summer season had the history play which was to become known as Henry VI Part 2. Shakespeare may have even got £4 for this play and an advance of another £4 for the promise of two sequels. Henry VI Part 2 is a play of the political machinations which inevitably lead up to the War of the Roses and it focuses on the damage caused by nobles fighting and bickering amongst themselves. The play had everything Elizabethan audiences wanted intrigue, strong characters, the rise of a man of royal blood and the play ends with the first battle of the War of Roses. It was a success and Shakespeare’s name as a playwright was finally on the map. So by 1590, with a number of plays to his name and still acting during the season, William Shakespeare was now a player and a playwright making £22 a year (£11,000 a year in today's money).

Henry VI Part 2 Act One - "Could I come near your beauty with my nails, I'd set my ten commandments in your face."

The play starts with a spark when King Henry VI entering his court with the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Somerset, the Duke of Buckingham, and Cardinal Beaufort. From another door enters the Duke of York, Suffolk, the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick, and Margaret. Suffolk bows before the king, relating how he captured Margaret during the French wars and negotiated for her to become Henry's wife. He presents Margaret to the king. Henry welcomes her. Margaret greets him, saying her only desire is for him to love her. Henry rejoices in her and orders the lords to welcome her.

An article of a peace treaty with the French is presented by Suffolk. Gloucester reads it aloud, growing faint at the passages about the lands of Anjou and Maine being returned to the French in exchange for Margaret's hand. Henry is pleased and so promotes Suffolk to the rank of duke. Henry thanks all his lords and departs with Suffolk and Margaret to prepare her coronation.

It is brought up by Gloucester that Henry's father, King Henry V, and then all the lords present in court, had fought so hard with the French to win the very lands that Henry is about to give back to the French. Gloucester thinks the marriage between Margaret and Henry is a fatal pairing, undoing the achievements of English-held France and erasing the names of all those who fought to hold those lands from memory. Beaufort says Gloucester speaks too soon, for the English still hold the rest of France. Yet Salisbury and Warwick agree that Anjou and Maine are the keys to Normandy, and their loss to the French forebodes the fall of remaining English lands there. York bemoans the marriage, too, saying that English kings always received a large dowry through their weddings, but in this case Henry gives away lands and receives nothing.

Beaufort tells Gloucester that he is too hasty in his criticism, and Gloucester explodes, saying Beaufort dislikes him, not his words. As he leaves, he tells the lords to remember that he prophesized the imminent fall of France. After he leaves, Beaufort speaks against Gloucester, reminding the lords that Gloucester is the Protector of the throne until Henry is old enough to rule, and, therefore, he is the heir apparent to the throne should Henry die. He urges the lords not to be bewitched by Gloucester, even though the common people like him, for he is a dangerous force in the kingdom and surely wants to become king. Buckingham agrees that Gloucester's job is done and Henry is now old enough to rule; he suggests that he, Beaufort, and Suffolk join together to remove him from office. Beaufort departs, and Somerset advises Buckingham against helping Beaufort to topple Gloucester, for Beaufort surely wants to become Protector in Gloucester's place. Buckingham suggests he or Somerset would be the next Protector, and both depart.

Salisbury comments on the pride and ambition of the departed lords. He had always known Gloucester to be an honorable man, yet he has seen Beaufort behaving in a manner unbefitting his station. Speaking to York and Warwick, Salisbury suggests that they band together for the public good, to try to suppress the pride of Suffolk and Beaufort and the ambition of Somerset and Buckingham, and save Gloucester. They agree, and York is left along on the stage.

York speaks of his own claims to the throne. He is angered that the king has given away Anjou and Maine, when they were not his own lands to give. York can do nothing as yet but to fret about his lost lands, which seems a pity to him since he had high hopes for France. Someday he will claim his birthright, he declares, and until then, he will ally himself with Salisbury and Warwick until the right moment arrives. He tries to stay calm while others mess up his kingdom, for soon the house of York will topple the reign of the Lancasters.

Gloucester and his wife, Eleanor, the Duchess, talk. She asks why he is so gloomy. Does he dream of Henry's throne, she asks. Gloucester tells her to banish such ambitious thoughts, explaining his bad mood comes from his unsettling dreams. He saw his staff, the badge of his office, broken in two, and impaled on the end of each half were the heads of Somerset and Suffolk. The Duchess, too, has had dreams; she saw herself in Westminster Abbey, about to be crowned as queen, with Henry and Margaret at her feet. Gloucester, astonished, chides her, reminding her that she is the second woman in the realm, behind only Margaret. He demands that she must not hatch any treachery that will bring harm to him.

A messenger enters, asking Gloucester to join the king at Saint Albans, where the lords are hunting. He leaves. The Duchess considers how, if she were a man, she would much more easily remove the stumbling blocks between her and the throne. But, being a woman, she must play a role. She calls in Sir John Hume and asks him if he has spoken with the witch and conjurer to ask them to advise her about the future. Hume says they have promised to raise a spirit to answer all the questions. She gives him money to complete the deal and she leaves. Hume remains, pondering that the Duchess has given him gold to hire a witch, while Beaufort and Suffolk have also given him gold to help undermine the Duchess and urge her to dabble in the occult. He's playing both sides, he realizes, and he will bring about the fall of Gloucester through the ruin of the Duchess.

Several petitioners, including Peter, enter the palace, searching for Gloucester, whom they believe to be a good man who can help them. Suffolk and Margaret enter; one petitioner believes Suffolk is Gloucester, but another insists it is Suffolk. Suffolk asks what the petitioners want. One petitioner offers up his complaints. Realizing they are addressed to Gloucester, Margaret eagerly reads the papers. The second petitioner's complaint is against Suffolk, but nothing interests Suffolk until he hears Peter's complaint against his master, Thomas Horner, who Peter claims has said the Duke of York is the rightful heir to the crown. Suffolk pays attention to Peter and sends him off to make his complaint formally. Meanwhile, Margaret rips up the other petitioner's papers.

Margaret asks Suffolk if court details are normally dealt with by Gloucester instead of Henry; as the queen, must she be subject to the rulings of a mere duke? She tells Suffolk that she thought Henry would resemble Suffolk in bravery and seductiveness, but Henry is weak and more concerned with prayer and his religious life. Suffolk tells her to be patient; just as he was the cause of her becoming queen, so he will make things work out for her in England. The two discuss all their enemies, from Beaufort and Gloucester to Somerset, Buckingham, and York, and finally Salisbury and Warwick. Plus, says Margaret, there is the Duchess to worry about; Margaret can't stand the Duchess's haughty manner, behaving as if she is the highest lady in the land. Suffolk says he has set a trap for her already. And while they don't like Beaufort, they must side with him until Gloucester has come to disgrace. And as for York, Peter's complaint may help bring him down. So little by little, they will weed out their enemies.

Henry enters with York and Somerset, followed by Gloucester, the Duchess, Buckingham, Salisbury and Warwick, and Beaufort. York and Somerset disagree over who should become regent of France, while Henry says he doesn't care who gets the job. The other lords join in, suggesting their preferred candidate. Gloucester says the king should decide, but Margaret demands to know Gloucester's role now that Henry is of age. He reminds her that he is the protector but willingly would resign if she wishes. Suffolk, Beaufort, Buckingham, and Margaret accuse Gloucester of making a mess of the kingdom. Gloucester, insulted, leaves. Then, Margaret drops her fan and asks the Duchess to pick it up, punching her in the ear when she leans down. The Duchess is enraged, promising revenge, and storms out. Gloucester returns, calmed, and urges the king to make York the regent of France. York says he would be a bad candidate for regent, for Somerset's delay in providing him with men and equipment would delay him until France fell to the king of France.

Horner and Peter enter. Suffolk explains that Peter accuses Horner of saying York was the rightful heir to the throne. Horner denies such accusations, but Peter repeats them. York asks for justice in treatment of these villains. Horner suggests Peter's accusations come from anger at Horner correcting Peter's work. Gloucester recommends that Somerset become the regent of France, as the case brings suspicions against York. And he recommends that Horner and Peter settle their differences in armed single combat. Henry agrees and Horner is satisfied, but Peter is hysterical; he doesn't know how to fight and worries he will die. The two men are taken to prison to await their battle.

Meanwhile, at Gloucester's house, a Witch and Bolingbroke, a conjurer, arrive with Hume. They discuss the Duchess and suggest that she watch their work from above, with Hume. The Duchess enters above and greets them. They begin their ceremony with Bolingbroke's incantations. A spirit appears and says that he will answer their questions. Bolingbroke reads from a list of questions, asking first what will become of Henry. The spirit responds: "The Duke yet lives that Henry shall depose, / But him outlive, and die a violent death" (I.iv.29-30). Bolingbroke asks about the fate of Suffolk, who the spirit says will die at sea. The spirit says Somerset should avoid castles. Then, the spirit sinks into the ground, with thunder crashing.

Soldiers enter with York and Buckingham and York orders the arrest of the conjurers. Finding the written questions, Buckingham orders the Duchess' arrest. All are led away, and Buckingham and York read Bolingbroke's questions. Buckingham asks he if he go to tell the King of the arrest of the Duchess.

Henry VI Part 2 Act 2 - "How irksome is this music to my heart!"

If, as some suggest, this play is the first to be based on contemporary English history (of Shakespeare’s time), then it is even more bold how it shows the political intrigue and subtle swings of power. I doubt that we would be so brave as to show the ins and outs of Australian politics or Obama’s office in the U.S. and certainly the present day Russian and British cabinets have not been dramatized with such a subtle political palette. Gloucester in this act may be a popular among the people but he still calls a spade a spade and a charlatan a charlatan as he he sees through a commoner’s, Simpcox's, scheme. Meanwhile, moving at the pace of ‘Homeland’, York's explains  his claims to the throne based on Richard II being dispossessed. In Shakespeare's time, there was a belief that the ongoing French wars and the English civil wars all stemmed from the murder of the rightful king, Richard II. Perhaps Act 2 of this play is almost challenging Elizabeth I’s right to the thrown or critically showing what happens when you let the wolves feast uncontrolled. Certainly, at this point, an audience wants Henry VI to take some control and show some leadership. He also seems to discard the very people who could protect him. I can think of a long list of politicians who have followed this path. Shakespeare certainly knows how to capture the pace and characters of a political drama.

Henry VI Part 2 Acts Three, Four and Five - "Here on knee I beg mortality, Rather than life preserved with infamy."

York’s plan seems to be working. Jack Cade’s “rebellion” becomes a class rebellion. Dick the butcher cleverly suggests, “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” This is like 'Les Miserable’, the Bolshevik Revolution and the Arab Spring uprisings all in one. All seems lost but Cade’s forces relent and Cade escapes only to be killed anyway. The short scenes are reminiscent of the lead up to and battle scenes of Act 5 of ‘Macbeth’ without the focus and dramatic development of that later great play. York returns and eventually has to openly declare his hand. Old Clifford and Somerset are killed and Young Clifford pledges to kill Richard the “infant of the house of York". 

Henry VI is shown to be weak again and doesn’t know whether to stay and fight or go. Queen Margaret steps in again and Henry VI, Queen Margaret and Young Clifford, having lost at St. Albans, quickly head for London. Shakespeare has learnt the virtue of having a strong female on the battlefield. Oh, if only he had written a Saint Joan play.

The action ends with York, his son Richard and others planning to get to London before the king and stop the royals before they enter London. A cliffhanger ending which pleads for a sequel.