THE THIRD PART OF WITH THE DEATH OF THE First printed in Quartos, 1595, 1600, 1619 The First Folio, 1623, gives a text widely differing from the Quartos INTRODUCTION ARGUMENT OF THE PLAY HE THIRD PART OF HENRY THE SIXT' "THE THIRD PART ONErrative of his reign com the two preceding parts. The Wars of the Roses continue, with Earl Warwick, the ‹ King-maker,' in the foreground. In Act I the Duke of York reaches London and claims the throne. Henry VI parleys with him, and agrees to devolve the succession upon him. Queen Margaret thereupon musters an army in her son's behalf, and York is defeated and slain. York's sons, Edward and Richard, are joined by Warwick (Act II), muster another army, engage the queen's forces, and rout them. Edward claims the throne as Edward IV. In Act III Warwick seeks a French marital alliance for the new king, but his plans are overturned by Edward's sudden espousal of Lady Grey. Warwick is thus humiliated in his embassy, and in revenge he effects peace with Queen Margaret, who is also in France seeking aid. The two are promised French allies. Warwick hastens home (Act IV), surprises Edward, takes the crown from his head, and bestows it again upon Henry, who has been confined to the Tower. Edward escapes from Warwick and again dethrones Henry. In Act V the forces of Edward and Warwick engage near Barnet, and the King-maker' is defeated and slain. Queen Margaret's army is also overcome at Tewkesbury; and Edward's crown seems secure when Henry VI is assassinated by Richard, the second son of York. SOURCES 6 In the Introduction to the First Part of Henry VI,' the sources and authorship of the Second and Third Parts were also considered. DURATION OF THE ACTION The historic period covers sixteen years, from May 23, 1455, the battle of St. Albans, to May 22, 1471, the public obsequies of Henry VI. The stage time is about twenty days, with intervals indicating a year. DATE OF COMPOSITION In the preliminary study of the First Part it has been seen that Robert Greene charged Shakespeare with plagiarism in connection with the early play, The True Tragedie,' on which the Third Part rests. This charge was made in December, 1592, which would indicate a month in the early part of that year, or in 1591, as the date of the Third Part's production. As to textual evidence, the play's close relation to Richard III' indicates that it belongs to the same general period of authorship. Beyond this conjectures are not safe, owing to the disturbed condition of the text. EARLY EDITIONS The play first appeared in a Quarto of 1595, with different text and title: The True Tragedie of Richard Duke of Yorke, and the death of good King Henrie the Sixt, with the whole contention betweene the two Houses Lancaster and Yorke, as it was sundrie times acted by the Right Honourable the Earle of Pembrooke his servants. Printed at London by P. S. for Thomas Millington, and are to be sold at his shoppe under Saint Peters Church in Cornwal, 1595.' A Second Quarto, a reprint of the First, came out in 1600. In 1619 this text of The True Tragedie' was printed in a Third Quarto, in conjunction with the Quarto of The Contention '-afterward Part Second of Henry VI.' The whole was ascribed to Shakespeare by the printer. The title-page ran: 6 6 The Whole Contention betweene the two Famous Houses, Lancaster and Yorke. With the Tragicall ends of the good Duke Humfrey, Richard Duke of Yorke, and King Henrie the Sixt. Divided into two Parts: and newly corrected and enlarged. Written by William Shakespeare, Gent. Printed at London, for T. P.’ The First Folio, 1623, version of The Third Part of Henry the Sixt' differs materially from its prototype, The True Tragedie.' About one third of the lines are new, one third old, and the remaining third revised. The Third Part occupies twenty-six pages in the Folio, under histories, from page 147 to page 172, inclusive, with two misprints in paging. It is divided into acts and scenes, but lacks the Dramatis Personæ, which was supplied by Rowe. |