William Shakespeare
3 HENRY VI, or, THE CONTENTION BETWIXT THE TWO FAMOUS HOUSES OF YORK AND LANCASTER, PART TWO
circa 1590–pre 23 June 1592
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
ARCHBISHOP of YORK
A "ghost character." When Warwick and his allies capture Edward, Warwick tells Somerset to convey the erstwhile king to the Archbishop of York, Warwick's brother. Later, Elizabeth and Edward refer to him as the Bishop of York.
BONA, LADY
Lady Bona is the sister of the French queen. Warwick travels to France seeking to broker a marriage between King Edward IV and Lady Bona, and the French king agrees to it if she consents. Earlier reports of Edward's merits and Warwick's account of Edward's love for Lady Bona convince her, and she expresses her desire to be Edward's queen. When letters arrive reporting that Edward has already married Lady Grey, Warwick withdraws his support of the Yorkist cause, and the French king becomes Edward's enemy. With France's assistance, Margaret and Warwick return to England with an army bent on returning Henry to the throne. As a token of his loyalty, Warwick offers to let Margaret's son Edward, Prince of Wales marry his daughter.
BOURBON
A French Admiral. A non-speaking part, Bourbon appears in the French King's palace during the conference between Margaret and Lewis XI. He witnesses the offer from Warwick that Lady Bona should marry Edward. The insulted French king orders Lord Bourbon to take the French army to England.
CLIFFORD
There are two Cliffords in the play.
A "ghost character," Lord Clifford is described in the opening moments of the play, bravely dying, sword in hand, at St. Albans–cut down by common soldiers. He was Thomas de Clifford, eighth Baron of Westmoreland, and grandson of Hotspur by his mother. He is the Clifford of 2 Henry VI.
The Lord Clifford who appears onstage in 3 Henry VI is the son of the Lord Clifford who fought on King Henry's side in 2 Henry VI. Like his father, the Clifford of 3 Henry VI defends Henry's right to the throne. In fulfillment of his vow to avenge his father's death on the Duke of York and his progeny, Clifford slays York's youngest son Rutland. Clifford dies defending the Lancastrian cause, delivering a speech of some thirty lines after being mortally wounded. When Edward Plantagenet, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and Warwick find the body, Warwick suggests that "measure for measure must be answerèd" and so they should take York's head down from the gates of York and replace it with Clifford's. Historically, he was John de Clifford, ninth Baron of Westmoreland.
EDMUND, EARL of RUTLAND
Rutland is the son of Richard, Duke of York. Before he is slain by Lord Clifford to avenge the death of Clifford's father, Rutland begs for his life, but to no avail.
EDWARD IV
Edward, Earl of March and later King Edward IV, is the son of Richard, Duke of York - not to be confused with Edward, Prince of Wales, who also appears in this play. After his father is slain by Queen Margaret and Clifford, Edward becomes the Yorkist claimant to the throne. Backed by an army 30,000 strong, he confronts King Henry to demand the crown. When his forces are victorious, Edward's first onstage act as king is an attempt to coerce the widow Lady Grey into sharing his bed. When his blunt persuasions fail, he proposes marriage. The political consequences of the union are dire, including the enmity of France and of Warwick, who had been sent to France to broker a marriage between Edward and the French queen's sister, Lady Bona. Edward's brothers also oppose the marriage, not least because the new queen's relatives receive many of the advantages which Edward should have given to his own family members and supporters.
EDWARD, EARL of MARCH [EDWARD IV]
Edward, Earl of March and later King Edward IV, is the son of Richard, Duke of York–not to be confused with Edward, the Lancastrian Prince of Wales, who also appears in this play. After his father is slain by Queen Margaret and Clifford, Edward becomes the Yorkist claimant to the throne. Backed by an army 30,000 strong, he confronts King Henry to demand the crown. When his forces are victorious, Edward's first onstage act as king is an attempt to coerce the widow Lady Grey into sharing his bed. When his blunt persuasions fail, he proposes marriage. The political consequences of the union are dire, including the enmity of France and of Warwick, who had been sent to France to broker a marriage between Edward and the French queen's sister, Lady Bona. Edward's brothers also oppose the marriage, not least because the new queen's relatives receive many of the advantages which Edward should have given to his own family members and supporters. See also "EDWARD IV."
EDWARD, PRINCE of WALES
When King Henry agrees to make the Duke of York, Richard Plantagenet, his heir, Edward, Henry's son, is determined to defend his own claim to the throne. With the support of his mother Queen Margaret and an alliance of northern nobles, Edward pursues the Duke of York. Later, when the Lancastrian forces capture Edward, he remains proud and insulting, so much so that Edward, Richard Duke of Gloucester, and the George Duke of Clarence each take a turn stabbing him.
ELIZABETH GREY, LADY
When Elizabeth, Lady Grey's husband is killed fighting on the Yorkist side, she visits the newly crowned King Edward IV to seek the return of their confiscated lands. She leaves the meeting with more than she had sought, withstanding Edward's sexual advances but finally agreeing to his proposal of marriage. The union is potentially disastrous for Edward, since he has already sent Warwick to seek the French king's consent to a marriage between Edward and the French queen's sister, Lady Bona. After Warwick captures Edward and arranges his imprisonment, Elizabeth reveals that she is pregnant. Later she gives birth to a son. See also "QUEEN ELIZABETH."
EXETER
In the opening scene of the play, the Duke of Exeter listens to the debate between King Henry and his Yorkist opponents, and he is persuaded to support the Duke of York's claim to the throne.
FATHER who has killed his SON
During the civil war which pits Henry's supporters against York's, Shakespeare brings onstage a father who has killed his son and a son who has killed his father to dramatize how divisive the war is.
GAMEKEEPERS
The fugitive Henry is captured by two gamekeepers, who proclaim their loyalty to whichever king is in power.
GEORGE PLANTAGENET, DUKE of CLARENCE
George, afterwards Duke of Clarence, is the son of Richard, Duke of York. After George's brother Edward Plantagenet has been crowned king and has married Lady Grey, Clarence complains that the new queen's relatives are usurping the benefits that should have accrued to Edward's brothers. When Clarence learns of Warwick's defection from the Yorkist cause, he decides to ally himself with Warwick against Edward. In return, Warwick promises that Clarence shall marry his daughter. When Henry is freed from prison thanks to Warwick and Clarence's efforts, he abdicates power to them. Later, Clarence once again defends his brother's claim to the throne.
HASTINGS
When the newly crowned Edward is beset from all sides with criticism of his decision to marry Lady Grey even at the risk of French resentment, Lord Hastings wins Edward's gratitude by agreeing with Edward that French support is not worth seeking. Later, Hastings is in Edward's tent when Warwick's forces raid it and capture the king, but Hastings is allowed to escape.
HENRY VI
King of England. Faced with the Duke of York's challenge, Henry expresses his determination to protect his right to the crown at all costs, even though his asides admit doubt about the validity of his claim. Eventually, Henry agrees that if he is allowed to remain king during his lifetime, York will be heir to the throne. Henry's remaining supporters, including Clifford, Westmoreland, and Northumberland, are appalled by the lack of honour and valor evident in Henry's capitulation. Queen Margaret, too, sees Henry's deal with York as an unmanly deed, and vows to defend her son Edward, Prince of Wales's right to inherit his father's crown. The fugitive Henry is captured by two gamekeepers, who proclaim their loyalty to whichever king is in power. When Henry is freed from prison thanks to Warwick and Clarence's efforts, he abdicates power to them. Later, Henry is recaptured and imprisoned in the Tower of London, where Richard, Duke of Gloucester, murders him.
HUNTSMAN
When the captive Edward is allowed to hunt guarded only by a huntsman, Richard of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and Sir William Stanley contrive to free him.
LOUIS or LEWIS XI
The French king. When Edward assumes the throne, he sends Warwick to France as an ambassador to broker a marriage between Edward and the French queen's sister Lady Bona. At the same time, Margaret journeys to the French court, seeking support for the Lancastrian cause. When news arrives that Edward has married Lady Grey, the French king becomes Edward's enemy and Margaret's ally.
LIEUTENANT of the TOWER
When Henry is restored to power, the lieutenant of the tower begs his pardon for keeping him imprisoned.
MARGARET, QUEEN
Queen
Margaret is the wife of King Henry and mother of Edward, Prince of Wales. When Henry negotiates an entente with the Duke of York, by which Henry will remain king during his lifetime succeeded by York, Margaret vows to defend her son's right to inherit the throne from his father. At the helm of an army of northern nobles, Margaret captures Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and torments him before ordering his death. In his response to her, York enumerates the female virtues and basic human qualities which she lacks, characterizing her among other things as a 'tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide.' After Lord Clifford avenges his father by stabbing York, Margaret takes her turn, recommending that York's severed head be hung on the gates of York. Margaret journeys to France seeking French support, and her cause is assisted when Edward insults the French king by marrying Lady Grey while Warwick is in France negotiating Edward's marriage to the French queen's sister Lady Bona. Later, Margaret fights on Henry's side at the helm of a French contingent, but she is captured by Edward's forces. When Margaret is ransomed and sent back to France, the Yorkists believe that they have seen the last of her, but in Richard III she will return to curse them.
MAYOR of COVENTRY
A non-speaking role. He is seen with Warwick as the latter awaits reinforcements.
MAYOR of YORK
When Edward's forces attempt to enter the gates of York, the mayor proclaims his city's allegiance to Henry and prevents their entry. Edward reminds the mayor that he is Duke of York, entitled to enter the city regardless of the mayor's views about who should be king. The mayor is convinced, and opens the gates.
MESSENGERS
Several Messengers figure in the play.
A messenger announces that the northern nobles, led by Queen Margaret, have arrived at Sandal Castle in pursuit of the Duke of York.
Another messenger informs the Duke of York's sons that Lord Clifford and Queen Margaret have killed their father.
At the moment when York's sons vow not to give up in the face of their father's death and Warwick's defeat at Saint Albans, a messenger sent by the Duke of Norfolk arrives to ask how the Yorkist forces should respond to Queen Margaret's imminent attack.
Later, as Henry's son Edward, Prince of Wales is vowing to fight to the death for his right to the crown, a messenger announces that the Yorkist forces, led by Warwick, are marching toward them.
An apprehensive messenger seeks King Edward's special permission to utter the disdainful words he has borne from France in response to news of Edward's impolitic marriage to Lady Grey.
MONTAGUE, MARQUESS of
The Marquess of Montague, brother of Richard Plantagenet Duke of York, is a loyal supporter of his brother and then his nephew Edward's claim to the throne.
MONTGOMERY, SIR JOHN
Sir John Montgomery supports Edward's claim to the throne.
NOBLEMAN
A nobleman brings the message to King Edward that King Henry has been captured.
NORFOLK
A Yorkist who appears only briefly. At the moment when the Duke of York's sons vow not to give up in the face of their father's death and Warwick's defeat at Saint Albans, a messenger sent by the Duke of Norfolk arrives to ask how the Yorkist forces should respond to Queen Margaret's imminent attack. Historically, this was Thomas Mowbray, first Duke of Norfolk.
NORTHUMBERLAND
There are two Northumberlands in the play.
A "ghost character," Lord Northumberland is described in the opening moments of the play, bravely dying, sword in hand, at St. Albans–cut down by common soldiers.
The Earl of Northumberland, Lord Northumberland's son, is among the northern nobles who oppose the Duke of York's claim to the throne and defend Edward, Prince of Wales's right to inherit it from his father, King Henry. He captures Edward of York at Wakefield and dies during the battle of Towton. Historically, he was Henry Percy, grandson to Hotspur and third earl of Northumberland.
OXFORD
In France, the Earl of Oxford opposes Warwick's argument that Edward is the legitimate king, and defends the Lancastrian lineage. When Edward's escape is reported, Somerset and Oxford agree that Richmond should be sent to Brittany, out of harm's way. Later, Oxford is captured by Edward's forces. Historically, the was John de Vere, thirteen Earl of Oxford.
PEMBROKE
King Edward commands Pembroke and Stafford to raise troops to defend his beleaguered throne from an alliance that includes Margaret, Warwick, and the French king. Historically, he was William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke.
POST
A post sent from France rebukes Edward for marrying Lady Grey while Warwick was negotiating a match for him with the French queen's sister Lady Bona. The French king and queen, Lady Bona, and Warwick each sends an individual rebuke, conveyed reluctantly by the post.
QUEEN ELIZABETH
When Lady Grey's husband is killed fighting on the Yorkist side, she visits the newly crowned King Edward to seek the return of their confiscated lands. She leaves the meeting with more than she had sought, withstanding Edward's sexual advances but finally agreeing to his proposal of marriage, thus becoming Queen Elizabeth. The union is potentially disastrous for Edward, since he has already sent Warwick to seek the French king's consent to a marriage between Edward and the French queen's sister, Lady Bona. After Warwick captures Edward and arranges his imprisonment, Elizabeth reveals that she is pregnant. Later she gives birth to a son.
RICHARD PLANTAGENET, DUKE of GLOUCESTER
Richard, afterwards Duke of Gloucester, is the son of Richard, Duke of York. After King Henry and York have agreed that York will inherit the throne on the condition that Henry may remain king during his lifetime, Richard of Gloucester persuades his father to claim the throne straight away. After York's death the Yorkist forces succeed in placing Richard of Gloucester's brother Edward on the throne, and when Edward proposes marriage to Lady Grey Richard's ambition is revealed. As will become clear in Richard III, Richard will stop at nothing to become king. His soliloquy in III.ii of 3 Henry VI prefigures his more famous speeches in Richard III, emphasizing that his sense of his own physical deformity shapes his decision to become a villain. He assists his brothers in the brutal death of Edward, Prince of Wales. Later, when Edward's forces vanquish the Lancastrians, Richard visits the imprisoned King Henry IV and murders him.
RICHARD PLANTAGENET, DUKE of YORK
In the previous Henry VI plays, Richard, Duke of York emerges as a serious rival to King Henry's claim to the English throne. In 3 Henry VI, York negotiates an agreement by which Henry will reign during his lifetime, while York will inherit the crown at his death. York's sons soon persuade him to seek the crown at once, but before he can pursue this course of action he is captured and slain by his opponents, led by Queen Margaret. After York is dead, Margaret orders his severed head placed on the gates of York.
RIVERS
Brother of Lady Grey. When his sister marries King Edward and thus becomes queen, Lord Rivers is among those who benefit.
SIR HUGH MORTIMER
Sir John Mortimer and Sir Hugh Mortimer, uncles of Richard, Duke of York, die defending him against the forces which Queen Margaret has assembled to defend her son Edward Prince of Wales's right to inherit the throne from Henry.
SIR JOHN MORTIMER
Sir John Mortimer and Sir Hugh Mortimer, uncles of Richard, Duke of York, die defending him against the forces which Queen Margaret has assembled to defend her son Edward, Prince of Wales's right to inherit the throne from Henry.
SIR JOHN SOMERVILLE
A Lancastrian. In Coventry, he reports to Warwick that Clarence and his troops are two hours away.
SIR WILLIAM STANLEY
When the captive Edward is allowed to hunt guarded only by a huntsman, Richard of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and Sir William Stanley contrive to free him.
SOLDIER
A soldier reads aloud Edward's proclamation reasserting his right to the crown.
SOMERSET
The Duke of Somerset supports Edward's claim to the throne, but after Edward's improvident decision to marry Lady Grey he follows Clarence and Warwick in rebelling against Edward. When Warwick and his allies capture Edward, Warwick tells Somerset to convey the erstwhile king to the Archbishop of York. Later, Somerset is captured by Edward's forces.
SON who has killed his FATHER
During the civil war which pits Henry's Lancastrian supporters against the Yorkists, Shakespeare brings onstage a father who has killed his son and a son who has killed his father to dramatize how divisive the war is.
STAFFORD
There are two Staffords in the play.
A "ghost character," a Lancastrian Lord Stafford is described in the opening moments of the play, bravely dying, sword in hand, at St. Albans–cut down by common soldiers.
King Edward commands Pembroke and the Yorkist Lord Humphrey Stafford to raise troops to defend his beleaguered throne from an alliance that includes Margaret, Warwick, and the French king. He is cousin to the Staffords murdered by Jack Cade and his rebels.
TUTOR
When Lord Clifford arrives to avenge his father's death by killing the Duke of York's youngest son, Rutland, Rutland's tutor attempts to persuade Clifford to be merciful. Neither the tutor's persuasions nor Rutland's pleas divert Clifford from his aim.
WARWICK the "KINGMAKER"
The Earl of Warwick speaks the last lines of 2 Henry VI and the opening lines of 3 Henry VI. Following his defeat at Saint Albans, Warwick journeys to Herefordshire to inform the Duke of York's sons that King Henry's Lancastrian forces have vanquished their side. After the Yorkists succeed in placing Edward on the throne, Warwick is sent to France as an ambassador to propose an alliance between England and France via a marriage between Edward and the French queen's sister, Lady Bona. When letters arrive reporting that Edward has married Lady Grey, Warwick withdraws his support of the Yorkist cause, and the French king becomes Edward's enemy. Later, after Edward's brother George Duke of Clarence has joined the anti-Yorkist forces, Warwick tells Edward that a man who does not know how to treat his ambassadors or his brothers, or how to promote his country's best interests, does not deserve to be king. When King Henry is freed from prison thanks to Warwick and Clarence's efforts, Henry abdicates power to them. Warwick dies defending Henry against the Yorkists.
WATCHMEN, THREE
Three watchmen guard King Henry's tent, but they cannot protect him from an attack led by Warwick.
WESTMORELAND
The Earl of Westmoreland supports King Henry against the Duke of York. Historically he was Ralph Neville, second Earl of Westmoreland, who did not side with either party during the Wars of the Roses.
YOUNG HENRY, EARL of RICHMOND
Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond is present when King Henry is freed from the Tower, and Henry blesses the young man, predicting that England's future happiness resides in him. When Edward's escape is reported, Somerset and Oxford agree that Richmond should be sent to Brittany, out of harm's way. King Henry's prediction comes true in Richard III, when Richmond conquers the tyrant Richard on Bosworth Field.