Henry VI Part 3 abbreviated

Synopsis


At the end of Henry VI Part 2, the duke of York (Richard Plantagenet) and the duke of Somerset, the principals in the War of the Roses, and their followers had endured a major engagement at St. Alban’s, the only battle in the War of the Roses. Somerset had been killed by York’s son Richard, the duke of Gloucester, and Old Clifford had been killed by the duke of York. The father-son team (the duke of York and the duke of Gloucester) were leaders of the white-rose-forces opposing King Henry VI. The king, queen and Young Clifford understandably in fear fled St. Albans for London. York and two of his sons, Edward and Richard, along with Salisbury and Warwick had decided to pursue the king, queen and Lord Clifford as they fled to London, York saying “What say Lord Warwick? Shall we after them?” Warwick responds to York, saying “After them! Nay, before them, if we can.”

Henry VI Part 3 opens at the Parliament House in London with Warwick saying “I wonder how the king escaped our hands.” Young Clifford is now Lord Clifford. York’s son Richard, the duke of Gloucester, had been born with a deformed back and is occasionally referred to as Crookback Richard. This other father-son team (Salisbury and Warwick) are Nevilles through John of Gaunt’s Beaufort line, their Lancaster connection. These two had chosen mid-way through Part 2 to support York, he having convinced them that he was the rightful heir to the crown. Warwick, known as the Kingmaker, and Richard Plantagenet’s son, Richard, have major roles in this period of English history.

Meanwhile, in the Parliament House, Richard Plantagenet boldly steps up on the platform and sits on the king’s throne. The “bashful” king enters and puts up but a modest fuss. Warwick plays hard ball, causing the king to wilt, the king saying “Shall I stand and thou sit in my throne?” York responds, “It must and shall be so - content thyself.” The king concedes the crown to York’s heirs, conditioned on his holding the crown until he dies, disappointing his wife and crushing his son, the young Edward, Prince of Wales. (Wife to Husband, Act 1, Scene 1) Queen Margaret forcefully tells the king that she will seek a divorce, will take their son with her and will lead the “northern lords” to fight against the York rebels. The king’s disillusioned key allies, Westmorland, Northumberland and Lord Clifford, exit, Lord Clifford being Westmorland’s grand nephew.

Meanwhile Queen Margaret assembles a twenty thousand man army, no small task, doing just what she said she was going to do. Separately, York, with the help of two of his uncles, Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, all being aware of Margaret’s plans, assemble an army of their own, but a smaller one, five thousand men. The duke of York’s sons, Richard and Edward, seem to spend their time trying to figure a way to get the crown from Henry VI. Richard says to his father “The crown of England, father, which is yours.” York replies, “Mine, boy? Not till King Henry be dead. I took an oath that he should quietly reign.” Edward responds “But for a kingdom any oath may be broken.” The five of them (the Plantagenets and the Mortimers) are confident that their five thousand troops are every bit the match for a twenty thousand man army led by a woman. They’re wrong. The battle begins. Lord Clifford practically stumbles upon the seventeen year old Edmund, the earl of Rutland, York’s second son, and kills him. Later, the queen, Lord Clifford and Northumberland enter and capture Richard Plantagenet, the duke of York. Clifford and the queen both cruelly mock him. York verbally lashes out at the queen. (Anger, Act 1, Scene 4) As Northumberland tries to draw peace and compassion and civility to the situation, Clifford and the queen viciously and fatally stab Richard Plantagenet, Plantagenet’s death being a major moment in this period of English history.

Only later do Edward and Richard learn that their father was killed by Clifford and by the queen. Having lost their brother Rutland, Lord Clifford having killed him, Edward and Richard and George are now the remaining Plantagenet brothers. The three of them are also referred to as the York brothers and are key players in the play. On a relative basis, the Duke of York, the father, was considered one of the good guys. Warwick, at this point still a Plantagenet supporter, enters and reports that the troops put together by the Plantagenet brothers’ father have fled, exposing many of their leaders to capture and death. With Warwick’s counsel and support the three brothers regroup. Warwick takes charge. (Disclosure, Act 2, Scene 1) He names Edward the Duke of York, Richard the Duke of Gloucester and George the Duke of Clarence. Meanwhile, Lord Clifford tries to encourage Henry VI to be tougher, saying “To whom do lions cast their gentle looks?” The modest king says simply “I’ll leave my son my virtuous deeds behind.” (Pleading, Act 2, Scene 2)

Warwick and the Plantagenet brothers enter the outskirts of the city of York. They challenge the king, queen and Clifford. The two groups of adversaries exit separately. Clifford advises the king to go his own independent way and let the queen lead the troops. Prince Edward and the queen enter and suggest the king flee to Scotland. He agrees, but before leaving he appoints his son a knight. The king exits, lamenting the civil war, soon finding himself alone in the fields near York. (Capitulation, Act 2, Scene 5) A soldier enters and realizes that he has killed his father; another soldier enters and realizes that he has killed his son. These are heavy times for the king. Lord Clifford, seriously injured, enters alone and dies. (Resignation, Act 2, Scene 6)

Later, Henry VI, having been “exiled” to Scotland, is “captured” by two gamekeepers as he walks randomly through the countryside in northern England. (Resignation, Act 3, Scene 1) He is taken to prison. Separately, a little raucously, Edward, now the duke of York, woos the recently widowed Elizabeth Lady Grey. A little later, alone on the stage, Richard legitimately solicits our sympathy, lamenting his physical disadvantages when it comes to wooing and winning women. (Ruthlessness, Act 3, Scene 2)

Meanwhile in France, England’s Queen Margaret, her son Prince Edward, Warwick and the earl of Oxford are received by King Louis, France’s king, and his sister-in-law, the Lady Bonne of Savoy. Significantly, Edward has sent Warwick to France as his ambassador, assigned to propose to Lady Bonne on his behalf, suggesting she become his wife and queen, if of course she and France’s king agree. Warwick makes the proposal and Lady Bonne and the French king accept it. Queen Margaret and Oxford strongly disagree with the prospective marriage, but the persuasive Warwick wins the moment. Somewhere in here, Edward, the oldest of the Plantagenet brothers, takes the position that he is King Edward IV, a little presumptively, King Henry being alive, but there you go. A messenger enters, and through a series of letters lets the principals know that Edward has married the Lady Grey, creating an awkward moment. (Revenge, Act 3, Scene 3) An infuriated Warwick, legitimately feeling betrayed, turns his allegiance back to Henry VI. This turn of events is, of course, welcomed by Queen Margaret and her son Prince Edward. An upset and embarrassed King Louis offers Warwick military support. To reinforce his new position, Warwick offers his older daughter as the young Prince Edward’s future wife, quickly accepted by Queen Margaret and her son.

Meanwhile back in England, sensing that Edward’s hasty marriage to the Lady Grey will anger Warwick and France’s king, George, the Duke of Clarence, decides to join Warwick; Richard decides his most direct route to the crown is to continue to show support for his brother Edward. (Observation, Act 4, Scene 2) Warwick and his allied French troops enter England. Clarence then joins him; Warwick is most appreciative, offering his younger daughter in marriage to Clarence. Separately, Warwick captures Edward Plantagenet and has him taken to London’s Tower, to be watched over by the Archbishop of York, Warwick’s brother. Edward escapes, assisted by his brother Richard. Lady Grey reports that she is pregnant. Meanwhile, a lieutenant helps King Henry escape prison. Henry VI soon joins Warwick and Clarence, and they protect him. (Capitulation, Act 4, Scene 7) Shakespeare shows through Warwick and Clarence how strong-willed and confident men can show exceptional kindness and acceptance to a very detached-from-reality person, in this case Henry VI. Separately, Edward, Richard and Hastings arrive at the city of York where Edward is re-energized and recommits his efforts to legitimately take the crown from Henry VI. Warwick dispatches his aides to round up soldiers to fight the self-proclaimed King Edward IV and his army. They plan to meet at Coventry. Warwick, however, has Henry remain in London, where he is soon captured by two of the Plantagenet brothers, Richard and Edward, and taken to the Tower. (Confidence, Act 4, Scene 10)

Warwick arrives at Coventry and mans the walls. King Edward with his brother Richard soon arrive. The two sets of foes verbally spar. Warwick’s allies, Montague, Somerset and Clarence arrive. Richard quietly and convincingly talks with his brother Clarence. (Deference, Act 5, Scene 1) Clarence shifts his support back to his brother Edward. The three Plantagenet brothers reunite. Warwick challenges Edward to meet and fight at Barnet. Edward agrees. Later, near Barnet, Warwick enters, seriously wounded. As he was dying, Warwick, a hero in his time, says, “What was pomp, rule and reign is now but dust. And, live we how we can, yet die we must.” (Acceptance, Act 5, Scene 2)

King Edward and his forces win the battle. Near Tewkesbury, Queen Margaret, Prince Edward, Somerset and Oxford are brought forward as captives. Oxford is sent to prison. Somerset is executed. Somerset was the son of the Somerset who, back in Henry VI Part 1 with Richard Plantagenet, had initiated the War of the Roses. All three Plantagenet brothers stab the young Prince Edward to death; Shakespeare drawing the prince as a most eloquent and talented young man. (Resignation, Act 5, Scene 6) Queen Margaret is escorted away. Richard leaves for London to visit Henry VI in the Tower. King Henry stands up to Richard, mocking him. Richard kills him. (Ruthlessness, Act 5, Scene 6) Earlier one might have had some sympathy for Richard and his physical defects, but no longer. Sinisterly ambitious, Richard sets his brothers as his next targets. The play ends with King Edward IV and Queen Elizabeth, the Lady Grey, celebrating the birth of their child, the new Prince Edward.


Principal Characters


Clifford.
Lord Clifford in Part 3 is the Young Clifford of Part 2. He spends his brief time in the play avenging the death of his father who died at the hands of York in Part 2. He is a descendant of Lionel, Edward III’s third son. He is ruthlessly loyal to the queen, killing York’s young son Rutland, and later, along with the queen, kills the defenseless York. He dies alone in the civil war midway through the play.

Edward.
Edward is Edward Plantagenet, York’s oldest son, known early as the Earl of March. In Act 2, following the death of his father at the hands of Clifford and the queen, Warwick names Edward the Duke of York, a big title, in honor of his great grandfather. This Edward is later King Edward IV.

Edward III.
King Edward III died in1399, and has no role in this play, of course, but his legacy lives on, believe us. He had eight sons, and three of them left descendents who played key roles in Shakespeare’s version of fifteenth century England. Edward III’s surname was Plantagenet; so all these descendents are Plantagenets. Some use the surname, where others use their family title. Edward III’s third son was Lionel, the Duke of Clarence. His fourth son was John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster. His fifth son was Edmund of Langley, the Duke of York. The titles Clarence, Lancaster and York are huge in this series of histories.

Elizabeth Lady Grey.
Lady Grey is a recent widow who cleverly goes along as Edward aggressively and rakishly pursues her. They quickly marry; she becoming England’s Queen Elizabeth. The play ends with the birth of her son, the latest Prince Edward.

George.
George is George Plantagenet, Richard Plantagenet’s (the Duke of York) third son. George is generally known as the Duke of Clarence, or Clarence. The title, Duke of Clarence, represents a big title, having been the title of Edward III’s third son, Lionel. George (or Clarence) shifts his support to Warwick at the time his brother abruptly marries the Lady Grey. However later he shifts his allegiance back to his brother, figuring his family tie to the house of York is where his allegiance should be.

Hastings.
William Hastings is one of two brothers-in-law to both Warwick and Montague. He remains loyal to the young Plantagenet brothers throughout.

Henry, Earl of Richmond.
Richmond is Henry Tudor, the son of Margaret Beaufort (John of Gaunt’s only daughter, a daughter in his second marriage, the Beaufort line) and Edmund Tudor. Richmond is introduced briefly in Act 4, Scene 7. He marries Elizabeth, King Edward IV’s only daughter. He is the future King Henry VII, known as the first Tudor king. The War of the Roses ended during his time, he being a descendent of Edward III’s fourth son and his wife, a descendent of Edward III’s third and fifth sons.

Montague.
Montague is the Marquis of Montague. He is John Neville, Warwick’s brother. He and Warwick are both descendents of Joan Beaufort, Gaunt’s daughter. Their sister is Catherine, wife of Oxford, one of King Henry VI’s most ardent supporters. As you’ll see, the Nevilles are everywhere.

Mortimers.
Sir Hugh and Sir John Mortimer are York’s uncles, his mother’s brothers, Lionel’s great-grandsons. Lionel was Edward III’s third son, the order in which the sons were born being a major issue. The Mortimer brothers are killed in the major battle of the civil war early in the play when the queen and her band of northern lords fight the Yorks and their white rose supporters.

Norfolk.
Norfolk is the Duke of Norfolk. He is John Mowbray. He married Ralph and Joan Neville’s second daughter, Catherine, Joan being John of Gaunt’s only daughter. He is Warwick’s great-uncle, consistently loyal to the Yorks.

Oxford.
Oxford is the Earl of Oxford, Warwick and Montague’s brother-in-law, married to their sister. He enters the play late in Act three and is very loyal to Henry VI. He is in Paris with Warwick, Queen Margaret, France’s King Louis and the Lady Bonne when they hear that Edward has married the Lady Grey. Late in the play, Oxford is captured by the York faction and sent to prison.

Prince Edward.
This Prince Edward is King Henry’s and Queen Margaret’s young son. Shakespeare has him display the courage and boldness of his grandfather, Henry V. He is stabbed to death late in the play by all three Plantagenet brothers. At the very end of the play, King Edward and his Queen Elizabeth have a son, who becomes the latest Prince Edward.

Richard Neville.
Richard Neville is better known as Warwick, the Earl of Warwick. His father is Salisbury, one of the earls of Salisbury. Warwick’s father was also a Richard Neville. Salisbury is not in this play. Warwick’s mother was Alice and Alice was the daughter of Ralph and Joan Neville, Joan being the daughter of Catherine Swynford and John of Gaunt, Edward III’s fourth son. To make it more confusing in terms of lineage and issue, Warwick marries Anne de Beauchamp, the great granddaughter of York, Edward III’s fifth son. Shakespeare has the Nevilles playing major roles throughout this fifteenth century, Ralph Neville having married Gaunt’s daughter. The omnipresence of the Nevilles is a reason we think a Neville someplace helped Shakespeare shape these plays. He and his father (Salisbury) had switched their allegiance to York midway through Part 2, but then late in this play he turns his support to King Henry VI. He is “The Kingmaker.”

Richard Plantagenet.
Plantagenet or York, as he was often called, was Richard Duke of York. His lineage on both his father’s and mother’s side is important. His father was Richard, Earl of Cambridge, a son of Edmund Langley, Duke of York, the fifth son of King Edward III. York’s father was hanged by Henry V as a traitor. His mother was Anna, daughter of Roger Mortimer, the son of Philippa and Edmund Mortimer, Philippa being the daughter of Lionel, the third son of Edward III. York is captured in the major early battle and then stabbed to death by Clifford and the Queen. Earlier in that major battle, Clifford had stabbed and killed Rutland, York’s second son.

Rutland.
Rutland is Edmund Plantagenet, the Earl of Rutland, Richard Plantagenet’s second son. At age seventeen, Rutland is stabbed to death in Act 1 by Lord Clifford. His role in the play is minor, but his murder was significant.

Somerset.
Somerset is an Edmund Beaufort, the Fourth Duke of Somerset, the son of the Second Duke of Somerset, an original principal in the War of the Roses. The older Somerset was killed by York’s son Richard late in Part 2. This Somerset enters the play in Act 4. He is very much the red-rose supporter of the Lancastrians. Late in the play, Somerset, along with Oxford, is captured by the Yorks, and then executed.

 A portrait of William Shakespeare