witnessed the most painful effects from it in the unweighed expressions of young persons suddenly introduced into society; and therefore, I repeat, unless you are aware of anything in the text of Shakspeare that must be kept not only out of hearing, but, if possible, out of knowledge, 1 desire that the whole text may be placed unreservedly in my daughters' hands.”

I shall presume, then, that the persons into whose hands these my Readings fall, are in possession, or will in proper time be put in possession, of Shakspeare entire; and my apology for them is, that they are selected and adapted as exercises for the voice, (may I not add, for the heart and understanding also, and the formation of a healthy taste in poetry ?) to be used as auxiliary to, not in place of, the full, unmutilated text.-In this volume, the selections are only from the histories; but a second volume is in contemplation, with selections illustrative of character from the tragedies and comedies. 55, Connaught Terrace,

Hyde Park, 1839

CONTENT S.

Hints to the Audible Reader
General Proemium

Page xyii

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16

Section 1. English History illustrated by Readings from the

Chronicle Plays.
Introduction to the Readings from the Chronicle Plays

READINGS FROM KING JOHN.
The contending interests under which the reign of John com-
menced, represented by scenes imagined to occur before the
walls of Angiers (Angers), the capital of Anjou, in France

The desertion of Arthur's cause; the grief and anger of Constance; the interposition of Papal Power; the excommunication of John; and the services of King Philip engaged in favour of the Pope ; represented by scenes which are imagined to occur in King Philip's tent in sequence of the foregoing

The indignation of Philip and his son at the temporary successes of King John; the despair of Constance on the capture of Arthur; and the rising hopes of Lewis ; represented by scenes imagined to occur at the French Court.

John's instigation of his servants to murder Arthur; the pretence of his death; and other circumstances connected with that prince's history; represented by scenes imagined to take place at the court of King John, and in the castle where the prince was confined

The discontent of the Barons; the Report of Arthur's death ; contradiction of the report; news of the death of Eleanor ; of the invasion by the dauphin; and of the murder of Arthur ; indicated by scenes supposed to occur at the Court of King John

The death of King John, and the circumstances before and after it, indicated by a supposed scene at Swinstead Abbey, in Lincolnshire

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37 Page

CONNECTING MEMORANDA, INCLUDING THE INTERVALS OP HENRY

III. AND EDWARD I., II., AND III.

Scene—The Murder of Edward II.--Marlowe

41

42

44

49

56

READINGS FROM RICHARD II.

The Murder of Thomas Duke of Gloucester at the instigation

of the parties opposed to him at Court; the banishment of

Hereford and Norfolk; and the circumstances which led to it;

indicated by scenes supposed to occur at the Duke of Lan-

caster's palace; and at Coventry

The mortal sickness of John of Gaunt ; Richard's prodigality

and recklessness; his expedition to Ireland ; and the rising in

favour of Bolingbroke ; indicated by scenes supposed to occur

at Ely House ; and at the Royal Palace

The declension of Richard's fortune, his deposition and

death; the rise of Bolingbroke's affairs, and the accession of

the house of Lancaster, represented by scenes supposed to

occur in Gloucestershire, in Wales, and in London

READINGS FROM HENRY IV.; FIRST PART.

The battle of Holmedon (or Homeldon); the defection of

the Percies; and other events in the first three years of the

reign of Henry IV.; indicated by scenes supposed to take

place in the palace at London

The indiscretions of Henry Prince of Wales, indicated by

scenes supposed to occur at the Prince's abode in London ; at

Gad's Hill; and at the Boar's Head Tavern, in Eastcheap

The preparations for opposing the Percies; the march to the

North ; and the battle of Shrewsbury; indicated by scenes

supposed to occur in the presence chamber; at the Boar's

Head Tavern; at Hotspur's camp, on the road to Coventry ; at

the King's camp; and on the field of Shrewsbury

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82

99

READINGS FROM Henry IV.; SECOND PART.

The continuance of civil agitations subsequent to the battle

of Shrewsbury, indicated by scenes imagined to occur near the

opposite extremities of the kingdom,-at Warkworth, the castle

of the Percies in Northumberland,--and at the Royal Palace

in London

The levying of soldiers for opposing the insurrections in the

North; the character of Chief Justice Gascoyne : and the stra-

tagem by which the Archbishop of York and his immediate

associates were entrapped ; indicated by imaginary scenes in

the streets of London ; at the house of Justice Shallow, in

Gloucestershire ; and at Gaultree Forest, n Yorkshire

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124

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Page

The events of the latter years of Henry IV.; the reformation

of the Prince of Wales, and his accession to the throne ; indi-

cated by supposed scenes at the Royal Palace at Westminster;

at Justice Shallow's, in Gloucestershire ; and a public place

near Westminster Abbey.

145

READINGS FROM HENRY V.

The growing disposition of the Commons to appropriate for

civil uses the temporalities of the Church; the preparations to

invade France; the detection of the conspiracy against the

king; and other facts of the first two years of the reign of

Henry V.; indicated by scenes supposed to occur at the

palace in London, and at Southampton

159

The invasion of France ; and the battle of Agincourt; indi-

cated by the Chorus; and by scenes supposed at Harfleur; in

the English camp in Picardy ; and on the plains of Agincourt. 169

CONNECTING MEMORANDA

186

.

READINGS FROM HENRY VI. ; Second Part.

The factions and animosities which disturbed the English

Court previously to the breaking out of the civil wars in the

reign of Henry VI.; the mild, indecisive character of Henry,

under which the factions acquired virulence and strength; the

murder of Gloster; and the death of Beaufort; indicated by

scenes supposed to occur in the Palace at London ; at St.

Edmondsbury; and in the house of Cardinal Beaufort

Jack Cade's rebellion, and the dawning of the times of civil

war between the two houses ; indicated by scenes supposed to

occur at Blackheath; in the streets of London; and at Kenil.

worth.

SUPPLEMENTARY MEMORANDA

187

200

210

READINGS FROM HENRY VI. ; THIRD PART.

Effects of the battle of Wakefield; the cruelty of the par-

tisans of both houses in contrast with the meek, unrevengeful,

and conscientious Henry; the continuation of the contests

to the battle of Towton inclusive; and the passing of the

sceptre to the house of York; indicated by scenes supposed to

occur near Mortimer's Cross, Hertfordshire; before the city of

York; and in the fields between Towton and Saxton, in

Yorkshire

The characters of Edward, George, and Richard, surviving

sons of the Duke of York, as among the causes of the various

fortune of the English crown, from the first assumption of it

by Edward, to the death of Henry VI.; indicated by scenes

211