Play of the Month: Henry VI, Part 3

I just finished studying my nineteenth Shakespeare play, Henry VI, Part 3, the third work of the Henry VI trilogy, which is believed to have been written in 1591 and set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England. Spurred on by Warwick and his sons, Richard and Edward, to assert his right to rule, the Duke of York negotiates to keep the throne he has seized from Henry VI. Clashes between Henry’s forces and the Duke of York’s backers result in the Duke and his son Rutland’s deaths. The Duke’s son Edward is primed to take the throne, but Edward’s controversial marriage to Lady Grey turns Warwick, an old friend, into a new enemy. 

Henry VI, Part 1 deals with the loss of England's French territories and the political machinations leading up to the Wars of the Roses, followed by Henry VI, Part 2 that focuses on the King's inability to quell the bickering of his nobles, and the inevitability of armed conflict. Henry VI, Part 3, however, deals primarily with the horrors of that conflict, with the once stable nation thrown into chaos and barbarism as families break down and moral codes are subverted in the pursuit of revenge and power. The play has more battle scenes (four on stage, one reported) than any other of Shakespeare's plays, and also features one of the longest soliloquies in all of Shakespeare's plays. It was the success of this play, alongside its two prequels as the Henry VI trilogy, that firmly established Shakespeare's reputation as a playwright.

As usual, I gained interesting insights into medieval English history and culture through the play, apart from enjoying its fascinating stories and plot development. The first thing I learned was about Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, 6th Earl of Salisbury (22 November 1428 – 14 April 1471), who was the wealthiest and most powerful English peer of his age, with political connections that went beyond the country's borders. One of the leaders in the Wars of the Roses, originally on the Yorkist side but later switching to the Lancastrian side, he was instrumental in the deposition of two kings (Henry VI and Edward IV), which led to his epithet of "Kingmaker".

The second thing that intrigued me was the story behind "the Sun in Splendour", a medieval badge of the House of York, featuring a golden sun with a human face surrounded by alternating straight and wavy rays. It was famously adopted by King Edward IV after an omen of three suns (sundogs) at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross in 1461, symbolizing divine favour and becoming central to the Wars of the Roses, often combined with the White Rose of York as the "Rose en Soleil".

I also learned about the Battle of Tewkesbury, which took place on Saturday 4 May 1471. It was one of the most decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses in England, in which King Edward IV and his forces loyal to the House of York completely defeated those of the rival House of Lancaster. The Lancastrian heir to the throne, Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales, and many prominent Lancastrian nobles were killed during the battle or executed. The Lancastrian king, Henry VI, who was a prisoner in the Tower of London, died shortly after the battle (perhaps murdered, as narrated in the play). The event restored political stability to England until the death of Edward IV in 1483.

Another custom was not totally new to me, but I fully understood it only after going through the play: breeching (boys), an important rite of passage in the life of a boy and often celebrated with a small party. Small boys wore gowns or dresses, the same as girls did, for good reason: toilet training. Once they had reached the age (anywhere between two and eight) when they could easily undo the rather complicated fastenings of many early modern breeches and trousers, the rite would be performed (changing to breeches and trousers instead of gowns or dresses).

Finally, I was fascinated by Edward IV's fleeing to Flanders, departing from Lynn, a North Sea port in Norfolk, which was vital to England in the Middle Ages just as Liverpool was during the Industrial Revolution. Sea trade with Europe was dominated by the Hanseatic League of ports; the transatlantic trade and the rise of England's western ports began only in the 17th century. Lynn retains two former Hanseatic warehouses: Hanse House of 1475 and Marriott's Warehouse, in use between the 15th and 17th centuries and the only remaining buildings of the Hanseatic League in England. 

Here are some of the passages and soliloquies that impressed me most, presented in modern English translation.

Act 1, Scene 1

EARL OF WARWICK:

Why do you sigh, my lord?

KING HENRY VI:

Not for myself, Lord Warwick, but for my son. I have unnaturally disinherited him. But it is what it is. I here bequeath the crown to you and to your heirs forever. Under this condition: that you swear to me here to stop this civil war and to honor me as your king while I live. And that you promise not to attempt to overthrow me and rule yourself, either by committing treason or declaring open war against me. 

DUKE OF YORK:

I will gladly take this oath and keep it. 

EARL OF WARWICK:

Long live King Henry! Embrace him, Plantagenet. 

KING HENRY VI:

And long live you and these eager sons of yours!

DUKE OF YORK:

Now York and Lancaster have made peace. 

Act 1, Scene 4

DUKE OF YORK:

Not even hungry cannibals would have touched Rutland's face or stained it with blood. But you are ten times more inhuman and more relentless than the tigers of Hyrcania. See, ruthless queen, here are the tears of an unfortunate father. With these tears, I wash away the blood from this napkin that you dipped in the blood of my sweet son. You can keep the napkin and go boast of my murder. And if you tell the tragic story right, I swear that the listeners will cry. Yes, even my enemies will cry heavily and they'll say, "Oh, it was a terrible act!" Here, take the crown, and, with the crown also take my curse. I want you to have as much comfort as your too cruel hand is now giving me! Unmerciful Clifford, take me away from this world! My soul will go to heaven and my blood will be on your hands! 

EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND:

Even if he were the murderer of all my family, I would cry with him, seeing how his soul is gripped by sorrow. 

QUEEN MARGARET: 

What, are you on the verge of tears, my Lord Northumberland? Just think about the wrong he did to all of us, and that will quickly dry your dripping tears. 

Act 2, Scene 1

KING EDWARD IV:

Lord Warwick, I will lean on your shoulder and when you fail in your mission—God forbid!—Edward will also fall, heaven forbid!

EARL OF WARWICK: 

You are no longer Earl of March but Duke of York! Next stop: the throne of England. You shall be named the King of England in every part of the country that we pass. And anyone who won't throw up his hat in joy shall lose his head for that mistake. King Edward, brave Richard, Montague, let's not stay here for much longer, only dreaming of glory. Let's sound the trumpets, and carry out our mission.

KING EDWARD IV; 

Then sound the drums! God and Saint George support us!

Act 2, Scene5

(Alarum. Enter a Son who has killed his father, dragging in the dead body)

SON:

There's nothing good about events that nobody profits from. This man, whom I killed in a hand to hand fight may have some gold coins on his body. I'll take them gladly from him now, but I may lose both my life and these coins to another man before the end of the night just as this man lost them to me. But who is this? Oh, God! It is the face of my father, whom I have killed in this fight, unaware of who he was. Oh, these are sad times when such things can happen! I came from London because the king called us to battle. My father, since he is one of the Earl of Warwick's men, came to fight for York, commanded to do so by his master. And I, who was given my life from his hands, have now taken life from him by my hands. Pardon me, God, I didn't know what I was doing! And forgive me, father, because I didn't know it was you! My tears will wash away these bloody stains and I will speak no more words until my tears have fully flowed.

(Enter a Father who has killed his son, bringing in the body)

FATHER:

You that have fought me so bravely, give me your gold now, if you have any gold. I have earned it with those hundred times I hit you. But let me see: is this the face of our enemy? Ah, no, no, no, it's my only son! Ah, boy, if there is any life left in you, open your eyes! Look, look, at these rain showers that fall, blown by the windy tempest inside my heart, on to your wounds, wounds that poison my eye and break my heart! Oh, God, take pity on these miserable times! The deadly fight daily causes these violent actions that are so cruel, so bloody, so wrongful, so rebellious, and so unnatural! Oh, boy, your father brought you into this world too soon and has taken you out of it too late! 

Act 3, Scene 1

KING HENRY VI: 

My queen and son have gone to France for help. I hear that the great, powerful Warwick has also gone there to ask if the French king's sister-in-law will be Edward's wife. If this news is true, your efforts are in vain, poor queen and son, because Warwick is a persuasive speaker and Lewis is a king who is too easily won by well-spoken words. But, then, in the same way, Margaret might convince him too, since she's a woman who can be much pitied. Her sighs will make an assault on his chest, her tears will pierce into his marble heart. The tiger in her will act gentle while she bewails her situation, and even Emperor Nero would be moved to hear and see her laments and her salty tears. Yes, but she's come to beg and Warwick's going to make an offer. She, one on side, comes begging for aid for Henry. Warwick, on the other side, comes asking for a wife for Edward. She weeps and says her Henry's been deposed. He smiles and says his Edward is made king. She, the poor woman, says she can't speak anymore because of her grief while Warwick announces his title, glosses over the conflict, presents very strong arguments, and finally wins the king from her, with a promise of his sister in marriage. Besides the marriage, he'll get anything he needs to strengthen and support King Edward's power. Oh, Margaret, that's how it will be. And you, poor soul, will then be abandoned, as miserable leaving as when you came! 

Act 3, Scene 3, 

EARL OF WARWICK: 

I came as an ambassador from Edward, but I return as his sworn and deadly enemy. He told me to take care of his marriage, but he'll have war instead. Didn't he have someone other than me to make into a laughingstock? Well, then no one but me will turn his joke into sorrow. I was the most effective in raising him up to get the crown and I'll be the most effective in bringing him down again. I don't particularly feel bad for Henry's misery, but I must seek revenge for Edward's mockery of me. 

Act 4, Scene 1

DUKE OF CLARENCE:

[To himself] Probably the older daughter. I will have the younger one. 

[To KING EDWARD IV]

Now, I say goodbye, my kingly brother. And hold on to your throne because I will go to Warwick's other daughter. Even though I don't have a kingdom, I may not out to be less important than you, at least based on who we both marry. Whoever supports me and Warwick, come with me. 

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER: 

[To himself] I won't be going with you. My thoughts are focused on something else entirely. I don't stay here for because I love Edward but because I want the crown. 

KING EDWARD IV:

Clarence and Somerset have both gone to Warwick! But I am prepared for the worst that can happen and moving quickly is necessary in this extreme situation. Pembroke and Stafford, go and gather men in my name, and prepare for war. They have already landed or they will be landing soon. I will follow you straight away myself.

Act 4, Scene 5

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER:

Now, Lord Hastings and Sir William Stanley, stop wondering why I brought you here, into the densest part of the hunting woods. Here's the situation: you know that our king, my brother, is a prisoner to the archbishop here. At his hands, he has been treated well and has been given quite a lot of freedom. And, only accompanied by weak guards, he often comes hunting this way to entertain himself. I have told him secretly that if he came this way right about now, under the pretext of his usual hunting, he would find his friends here with horses and men that will rescue him from his prison.

HUNTSMAN:

This way, my lord. The prey is over this way.

KING EDWARD IV: 

No, this way, man. Can you see where the huntsmen stand? Now, brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings and everyone else, are you hiding yourself like this so you can steal the bishop's deer?

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER: 

Brother, the time and circumstance presses us to do this quickly. Your horse is here, ready at the corner of the grounds.

KING EDWARD IV:

But where shall we go from here?

LORD HASTINGS: 

To Lynn, my lord, and then take a ship to Flanders from there.

Act 5, Scene  4

KING EDWARD IV: 

My brave followers! Here's this army like a thorny wood. By the help of God, and the help all of your strength, men, we will cut these men down on the field like trees in a forest before the night is over. I don't need to add any more fuel to your fire, because I know that you're burning to tear these men down. Give the signal to fight, and go for it, lords!

QUEEN MARGARET: 

Lords, knights, and gentlemen, my tears will contradict whatever I would say. You see, my tears drip down my cheek with every word I speak. Therefore, I'll say nothing else but this: Henry, your king, is our enemy's prisoner, his throne has been usurped, his country has been made a slaughter-house, his people have been killed, his laws have been suspended, and his money has been spent. And over there is the wolf behind it all. You fight on the side of justice. Then, in God's name, lords, be brave and give the signal to fight.

Act 5, Cene 6:

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER: 

So, will the blood of the Lancaster who wanted to be king sink in the ground? I thought it would have ascended. Look how my sword drips blood like tears for the poor king's death! Oh, I hope we'll always drip tears of blood from the bodies of those who want to destroy our house! If there is any life left in you, go down, down to hell, and say that I sent you there.

(Stabs him again)

Yes, I sent you there, I, that have neither pity, love nor fear. Yes, it's true what Henry said about me. I have often heard my mother say that I came into the world with my feet first. Don't you think I had a good reason to hurry and aim to ruin those that usurped our right to the throne? The midwife was amazed and the women cried, "Oh Jesus, bless us! He was born with teeth!" And so I was, which basically meant that I would snarl and bite and act like a dog. Then, since God in heaven has shaped my body in such way, let hell make my mind deformed to match my body. There is no one like me. I am like no one else. And this word, "love," which wise old men call divine, can be found in men who are like one another but not in me. I am myself alone. Clarence, be careful. You're between me and the crown. But I will arrange a dark day for you. I will spread so many rumors and omens all over the world that Edward will be afraid for his life. And then to get rid of his fear of you, I'll kill you, Clarence. King Henry and the prince his son are now gone. Clarence, you're next, and then the rest. I consider myself worth nothing until I am king. Henry, I'll throw your body in another room and celebrate this day of your death.