| Henry VI Part I |
| In
this extract from Henry VI Part 1, Act 1, Scene
1, the Duke of Bedford discusses the capture of
Lord Talbot and Thomas Scales at the Siege of
Orléans and the matter of a ransom. |
Bedford:
Is Talbot slain? Then I will slay myself,
For living idly here in pomp and ease,
Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid,
Unto his dastard foemen is betray'd.Messenger:
O no, he lives; but is took prisoner,
And Lord Scales with him, and Lord Hungerford:
Most of the rest slaughter'd or took likewise.
Bedford:
His ransom there is none but I shall pay:
I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne:
His crown shall be the ransom of my friend;
Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours.
Farewell, my masters; to my task will I;
Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make
To keep our great Saint George's feast withal:
Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take,
Whose bloody deeds shall make an Europe quake.
|
| Henry VI Part II |
| This
extract from Henry VI Part 2 is the entire Act 4,
Scene 5, set in the Tower of London, which Thomas
Scales had seized in opposition to Jack Cade,
leader of the Kent Rebellion. |
| Enter
Scales upon the Tower, walking. Then enter two or
three citizens below. Scales:
How now! Is Jack Cade slain?
First Citizen:
No, my lord, nor likely to be slain; for they
have
won the bridge, killing all those that withstand
them:
the Lord Mayor craves aid of your honour from
the Tower, to defend the city from the rebels.
Scales:
Such aid as I can spare you shall command;
But I am troubled here with them myself;
The rebels have assay'd to win the Tower.
But get you to Smithfield, and gather head,
And thither I will send you Matthew Goffe;
Fight for your king, your country and your lives;
And so, farewell, for I must hence again.
|
|
 |
| William Shakespeare |
| |
| Henry VI Part III |
| In
this extract from Henry VI Part 3, Act 4, Scene
1, Edward IV’s brothers George Duke of
Clarence and Richard Duke of Gloucester complain
to Edward about his bestowal of Elizabeth Scales
on the Queen's brother Anthony Woodville instead
of one of them, Lord Hastings already having got
hitched presumably. |
Hastings:
'Tis better using France than trusting France.
Let us be back'd with God, and with the seas
Which he hath giv'n for fence impregnable,
And with their helps only defend ourselves;
In them and in ourselves our safety lies.Clarence:
For this one speech Lord Hastings well deserves
To have the heir of the Lord Hungerford.
King Edward:
Ay, what of that? It was my will and grant;
And for this once my will shall stand for law.
Gloucester:
And yet, methinks, your grace hath not done well
To give the heir and daughter of Lord Scales
Unto the brother of your loving bride.
She better would have fitted me or Clarence;
But in your bride you bury brotherhood.
|
|
