On historical inaccuracies or contradictions no stress is to be laid. I am surprised that Malone, who has detected so many mistakes, should think it improbable that Shakspeare should in such matters be inconsistent with himself. As to the poet's carelessness, I do not think that Dr. Johnson overrates it.

I am afraid that the defects of the play must necessarily affect my commentary; and I really cannot find one good passage to relieve the unavoidable dulness of minute criticism.

Since, however, these plays are included in all editions of Shakspeare's works, and are read with the rest, by the youth of England, and I presume of Germany, it is equally my business to examine them, whether he wrote them or not. And let it not be supposed that I decide the question when I speak of the author as Shakspeare.

The First Part of Henry the Sixth opens with the corpse of Henry the Fifth lying in state in Westminster Abbey, surrounded by the Dukes of Bedford, Gloucester, and Exeter; the Earl of Warwick,* and the Bishop of Winchester, well known as Cardinal Beaufort,t and The Duke of Somerset, accordin

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* The dramatis personæ contains only one Earl of Warwick; but this Warwick is the Beauchamp of the former where he plays; whereas he who takes a more prominent part presently is the successor, Neville, who became earl in 1439. 4 † It can hardly be necessary to say that Henry Beaufort

X who is only mentioned in the does not speak, nor is in.

stage

direction,

any way referred to,

Henry died in France on the 31st of August, 1422; and was buried in Westminster Abbey, with great pomp; and, doubtless, amidst the lamentations of his nobles and people. But Shakspeare would have done much better had he versified the panegyric of Holinshed, instead of giving such lines as these:

"Gloucester. England ne'er had a king until his time. Virtue he had, deserving to command;

His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams;
His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings;
His sparkling eyes, replete with wrathful fire,
More dazzled and drove back his enemies,

Than mid-day sun, fierce bent against their faces.” How much better is this:

"This Henry was a king, of life without spot; a prince whom all men loved, and of none disdained; a captain against whom fortune never frowned, nor mischance once spurned; whose people, him so severe a justicer, both loved and obeyed; and so humane withal, that he left no offence unpunished, nor friendship unrewarded; a terror to rebels, and suppresser of sedition, his virtues notable, his qualities most praiseworthy.

"In strength and nimbleness of body, from his

was one of the sons of John of Gaunt, by Catharine Swinford, legitimated (except as to the crown) by Act of parliament. Thomas, Duke of Exeter, was another; they were great uncles to the king.

youth, few to him comparable; for in wrestling, leaping, and running, no man well able to compare. In casting of great iron bars and heavy stones, he excelled commonly all men, never shrinking at cold, nor slothful for heat, and when he most laboured, his head commonly uncovered; no more weary of harness than a light cloak: very valiantly abiding at needs both hunger and thirst; so manful of mind, as never seen to winch at a wound, or to smart at the pain, nor to turn his nose from evil savours, nor to close his eyes from smoke or dust; no man more moderate in eating or drinking, with diet not delicate, but rather more meet for men of war, than for princes or tender stomachs.

"Every honest person was permitted to come to him sitting at meal, where either secretly or openly to declare his mind. High and weighty causes as well between men of war and others he would gladly hear, and either determined them himself, or else for end committed them to others. He slept very little, but that very soundly, insomuch that when his soldiers sung at nights, or minstrels played, he then slept fastest. Of courage invincible, of purpose immutable; so wise-hardy always, as fear was banished from him : at every alarum, he first in armour and foremost in ordering. In time of war, such was his providence, bounty, and hap, as he had true intelligence, not only what his enemies did, but what they said and intended; of his devices and purposes, few before the thing was at the point to be done should be made privy.

"He had such knowledge in ordering and guiding an army, with such a gift to encourage his people, that the Frenchmen had constant opinion he could never be vanquished in battle. Such wit, such prudence, and such policy withal, that he never enterprised anything before he had fully debated and forecast all the main chances that might happen; which done, with all diligence and courage he set his purpose forward. What policy he had in finding present remedies for sudden mischiefs, and what engines in serving himself and his people in sharp distresses, were it not that by his acts they did plainly appear, hard were it by words to make them credible. Wantonness of lies and thirst of avarice had he quite quenched in him; virtues, indeed, in such an estate of sovereignty, youth, and power, as very rare, so right commendable in the highest degree. So staid of mind and countenance besides, that never jolly or triumphant for victory, nor sad or damp for loss or misfortune, bountifulness and liberality no man more free, gentle and frank in bestowing rewards to all persons, according to their deserts; for his saying was, that he never desired money to keep, but to give and spend.

For

Although this story properly serves not for theme of praise or dispraise, yet what in brevity may well be remembered in truth would not be forgotten by sloth, were it but only to remain as a spectacle for magnanimity to have always in eye, and to have encouragement to nobles in honourable enterprises. Known

it be therefore, of person and form was this prince rightly representing his heroical effects; of stature and proportion tall and manly; rather lean than gross ; somewhat long-necked, and black-haired; of countenance amiable; eloquent and grave was his speech, and of great grace and power to persuade; for conclusion, a majesty was he, that both lived and died a pattern in prince-hood, a load-star in honour, and mirror of magnificence. The more highly exalted in his life, the more deeply lamented at his death, and famous to the world alway."*

This is taken from "Maister Hall," but his authority is not stated. Monstrelet, in much less detail, and more moderation, gives a similar character; as does also the contemporary Walsingham. None of these writers say any thing more unfavourable of Henry than that he was 66 a severe justicer;" and as it is not alleged that his judgments were unjust, this is not a very heavy charge.

In this first scene we have a commencement of the bickerings between Gloucester and Cardinal Beaufort, which occupy so much of the play. The Cardinal ascribes Henry's success to the prayers of the church which he favoured; Gloucester maligns both the church and the Cardinal, who rejoins :

"Cardinal. Whate'er we are, thou art protector; And lookest to command the prince and realm.

and altered,