Master Lieutenant, now that God and friends
Have shaken Edward from the regal seat
And turned my captive state to liberty,
My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys,
At our enlargement what are thy due fees?
Master Lieutenant, now that God and friends Have shaken Edward from the regal seat And turned my captive state to liberty, My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys, At our enlargement what are your due fees?
Master Lieutenant, now that God and friends Have shaken Edward from the regal seat And turned my captive state to liberty, My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys, At our enlargement what are your due fees?
war blood death everything is chaos
The Lieutenant of the Tower speaks in deferential, measured formality — a man used to being on the wrong end of whoever holds power this week.
Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns;
But if an humble prayer may prevail,
I then crave pardon of your Majesty.
Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns; But if an humble prayer may prevail, I then crave pardon of your Majesty.
Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns; But if an humble prayer may prevail, I then crave pardon of your Majesty.
yeah brutal
For what, lieutenant? For well using me?
Nay, be thou sure I’ll well requite thy kindness,
For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure;
Ay, such a pleasure as incaged birds
Conceive when, after many moody thoughts,
At last by notes of household harmony
They quite forget their loss of liberty.
But, Warwick, after God thou sett’st me free,
And chiefly therefore I thank God and thee;
He was the author, thou the instrument.
Therefore, that I may conquer Fortune’s spite,
By living low where Fortune cannot hurt me,
And that the people of this blessed land
May not be punished with my thwarting stars,
Warwick, although my head still wear the crown,
I here resign my government to thee,
For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds.
For what, lieutenant? For well using me? no, be you sure I’ll well requite your kindness, For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure; Ay, such a pleasure as incaged birds Conceive when, after many moody thoughts, At last by notes of household harmony They quite forget their loss of liberty. But, Warwick, after God you sett’st me free, And chiefly therefore I thank God and you; He was the author, you the instrument. Therefore, that I may conquer Fortune’s spite, By living low where Fortune cannot hurt me, And that the people of this blessed land May not be punished with my thwarting stars, Warwick, although my head still wear the crown, I here resign my government to you, For you are fortunate in all your deeds.
For what, lieutenant? For well using me? no, be you sure I’ll well requite your kindness, For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure; Ay, such a pleasure as incaged birds Conceive when, after many moody thoughts, At last by notes of household harmony They quite forget their loss of liberty. But, Warwick, after God you sett’st me free, And chiefly therefore I thank God and you; He was the author, you the instrument. Therefore, that I may conquer Fortune’s spite, By living low where Fortune can't hurt me, And that the people of this blessed land May not be punished with my thwarting stars, Warwick, although my head still wear the crown, I here resign my government to you, For you are fortunate in all your deeds.
war blood death everything is chaos
Your Grace hath still been famed for virtuous,
And now may seem as wise as virtuous
By spying and avoiding Fortune’s malice,
For few men rightly temper with the stars;
Yet in this one thing let me blame your Grace,
For choosing me when Clarence is in place.
Your Grace has still been famed for virtuous, And now may seem as wise as virtuous By spying and avoiding Fortune’s malice, For few men rightly temper with the stars; Yet in this one thing let me blame your Grace, For choosing me when Clarence is in place.
Your Grace has still been famed for virtuous, And now may seem as wise as virtuous By spying and avoiding Fortune’s malice, For few men rightly temper with the stars; Yet in this one thing let me blame your Grace, For choosing me when Clarence is in place.
war blood death everything is chaos
No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,
To whom the heavens in thy nativity
Adjudged an olive branch and laurel crown,
As likely to be blest in peace and war;
And therefore I yield thee my free consent.
No, Warwick, you are worthy of the sway, To whom the heavens in your nativity Adjudged an olive branch and laurel crown, As likely to be blest in peace and war; And therefore I yield you my free consent.
No, Warwick, you are worthy of the sway, To whom the heavens in your nativity Adjudged an olive branch and laurel crown, As likely to be blest in peace and war; And therefore I yield you my free consent.
war blood death everything is chaos
And I choose Clarence only for Protector.
And I choose Clarence only for Protector.
And I choose Clarence only for Protector.
hm
Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands.
Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts,
That no dissension hinder government.
I make you both Protectors of this land,
While I myself will lead a private life
And in devotion spend my latter days,
To sin’s rebuke and my Creator’s praise.
Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands. Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts, That no dissension hinder government. I make you both Protectors of this land, While I myself will lead a private life And in devotion spend my latter days, To sin’s rebuke and my Creator’s praise.
Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands. Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts, That no dissension hinder government. I make you both Protectors of this land, While I myself will lead a private life And in devotion spend my latter days, To sin’s rebuke and my Creator’s praise.
war blood death everything is chaos
What answers Clarence to his sovereign’s will?
What answers Clarence to his sovereign’s will?
What answers Clarence to his sovereign’s will?
hm
That he consents, if Warwick yield consent,
For on thy fortune I repose myself.
That he consents, if Warwick yield consent, For on your fortune I repose myself.
That he consents, if Warwick yield consent, For on your fortune I repose myself.
hm
Why, then, though loath, yet I must be content.
We’ll yoke together, like a double shadow
To Henry’s body, and supply his place;
I mean, in bearing weight of government,
While he enjoys the honour and his ease.
And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful
Forthwith that Edward be pronounced a traitor
And all his lands and goods be confiscate.
Why, then, though loath, yet I must be content. We’ll yoke together, like a double shadow To Henry’s body, and supply his place; I mean, in bearing weight of government, While he enjoys the honour and his ease. And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful Forthwith that Edward be pronounced a traitor And all his lands and goods be confiscate.
Why, then, though loath, yet I must be content. We’ll yoke together, like a double shadow To Henry’s body, and supply his place; I mean, in bearing weight of government, While he enjoys the honour and his ease. And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful Forthwith that Edward be pronounced a traitor And all his lands and goods be confiscate.
war blood death everything is chaos
What else? And that succession be determined.
What else? And that succession be determined.
What else? And that succession be determined.
hm
The brief appearance of young Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, in this scene is one of Shakespeare's most carefully calibrated dramatic gestures. Historically, Richmond was about thirteen or fourteen years old in 1470 when the Lancastrian restoration briefly happened. Shakespeare gives him no lines — just a presence, and Henry's hand on his head. For audiences in the 1590s watching this scene, the identity of 'England's hope' was no mystery: this is the grandfather of the queen (or her father's father's rival, depending on your politics). The prophecy 'must help you more than you are hurt by me' is Shakespeare delivering Tudor legitimacy in Henry VI's voice. It's propaganda, beautifully staged — but it's also genuinely moving because Henry is so clearly unsuited to power and so clearly right about this boy.
Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.
Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.
Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.
hm
But with the first of all your chief affairs
Let me entreat—for I command no more—
That Margaret your Queen and my son Edward
Be sent for to return from France with speed;
For till I see them here, by doubtful fear
My joy of liberty is half eclipsed.
But with the first of all your chief affairs Let me entreat—for I command no more— That Margaret your Queen and my son Edward Be sent for to return from France with speed; For till I see them here, by doubtful fear My joy of liberty is half eclipsed.
But with the first of all your chief affairs Let me entreat—for I command no more— That Margaret your Queen and my son Edward Be sent for to return from France with speed; For till I see them here, by doubtful fear My joy of liberty is half eclipsed.
war blood death everything is chaos
It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.
It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.
It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.
hm
My Lord of Somerset, what youth is that
Of whom you seem to have so tender care?
My Lord of Somerset, what youth is that Of whom you seem to have so tender care?
My Lord of Somerset, what youth is that Of whom you seem to have so tender care?
hm
My liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond.
My liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond.
My liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond.
hm
Come hither, England’s hope. If secret powers
Come hither, England’s hope. If secret powers
Come hither, England’s hope. If secret powers
hm
Henry's voluntary resignation of government to Warwick and Clarence is his most politically honest act in all three parts of Henry VI. He has been king since childhood (he was crowned at nine months old, historically), and he has never been equipped for the role. What's remarkable about this speech is that Henry doesn't resign in bitterness or defeat — he resigns with apparent relief. 'I here resign my government to thee' is delivered as a gift. He genuinely thinks Warwick will do better, and he's probably right.
Shakespeare uses this moment to pose the play's deepest question: what makes a legitimate king? Henry has the genealogy, the title, the anointing, the crown — and not a single other qualification. Warwick has the ability, the network, the military skill. Edward has the charisma and the ruthlessness. None of them has everything. The Wars of the Roses, Shakespeare suggests, are not just a dynastic quarrel — they're a constitutional crisis about what kingship actually requires.
What news, my friend?
What news, my friend?
What news, my friend?
hm
That Edward is escaped from your brother
And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.
That Edward is escaped from your brother And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.
That Edward is escaped from your brother And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.
he got away we had him and he just left
Unsavoury news! But how made he escape?
Unsavoury news! But how made he escape?
Unsavoury news! But how made he escape?
how did that even happen
He was conveyed by Richard, Duke of Gloucester
And the Lord Hastings, who attended him
In secret ambush on the forest side
And from the Bishop’s huntsmen rescued him,
For hunting was his daily exercise.
He was conveyed by Richard, Duke of Gloucester And the Lord Hastings, who attended him In secret ambush on the forest side And from the Bishop’s huntsmen rescued him, For hunting was his daily exercise.
He was conveyed by Richard, Duke of Gloucester And the Lord Hastings, who attended him In secret ambush on the forest side And from the Bishop’s huntsmen rescued him, For hunting was his daily exercise.
war blood death everything is chaos
My brother was too careless of his charge.
But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide
A salve for any sore that may betide.
My brother was too careless of his charge. But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide A salve for any sore that may betide.
My brother was too careless of his charge. But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide A salve for any sore that may betide.
they charged at us
My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward’s,
For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help,
And we shall have more wars before ’t be long.
As Henry’s late presaging prophecy
Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond,
So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts
What may befall him, to his harm and ours.
Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst,
Forthwith we’ll send him hence to Brittany
Till storms be past of civil enmity.
My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward’s, For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help, And we shall have more wars before ’t be long. As Henry’s late presaging prophecy Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond, So does my heart misgive me, in these conflicts What may befall him, to his harm and ours. Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst, Forthwith we’ll send him hence to Brittany Till storms be past of civil enmity.
My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward’s, For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help, And we shall have more wars before ’t be long. As Henry’s late presaging prophecy Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond, So does my heart misgive me, in these conflicts What may befall him, to his harm and ours. Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst, Forthwith we’ll send him hence to Brittany Till storms be past of civil enmity.
war blood death everything is chaos
Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown,
’Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down.
Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown, ’Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down.
Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown, ’Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down.
hm
It shall be so. He shall to Brittany.
Come therefore, let’s about it speedily.
It shall be so. He shall to Brittany. Come therefore, let’s about it speedily.
It shall be so. He shall to Brittany. Come therefore, let’s about it speedily.
hm
The Reckoning
Henry's restoration is the play's most melancholy triumph. He gets his crown back and immediately gives away all the power that goes with it — recognizing, with characteristic honesty, that Warwick and Clarence are more capable of governing than he is. Then he spots a young boy in the corner and lays his hand on his head with a prophecy. The news that Edward has escaped ends the scene before Henry can enjoy his freedom for even a moment.
If this happened today…
A founder is reinstalled as CEO after a proxy fight. He immediately calls a board meeting and announces he's making his two activist investors co-COOs because, frankly, they're better at the operational stuff. Then, in the hallway, he notices an intern from the Richmond family — barely eighteen — and says something to a colleague that gets written up later: 'That kid is going to run this whole industry someday.' The meeting ends early because someone walks in with news that the previous CEO just landed at Heathrow.