"King Henry VI, Part 1" is the first of Shakespeare's plays, by anyone's reckoning, to date. It, and the two remaining pieces of this three-part history, were penned from 1590 to 1592. It is not one of the more often performed plays, by virtue of the fact that it is so long, and that it is a history. Those who are intimidated by Shakespeare in general are even more intimidated by the histories, "King Henry V" being a notable exception.

Act I

Henry VI begins after the funeral of Henry V. Exeter, the Earl of Warwick, wonders why there have been no revenge plots against the French for Henry's death.

The Bishop of Winchester opines that Henry fought for God and offers the admiration that judgment day could not have been as fearsome as the sight of noble Henry in his armor. This comment provokes Gloucester, a duke and England's as well as the king's protector, to accuse the Church of Henry's death. They, he believes, favored the prince over his father.

"Had not churchmen pray'd
His thread of life had not so soon decay'd."

The duke of Bedford, and Regent of France, calls upon Henry's ghost to protect England.

Enter a messenger who brings news of a revolt in France and the lands that have been lost. He says that arguments over the cost of war are keeping battles from being properly fought. A second messenger arrives to announce that the Dauphin, the Crown Prince of France, is at the head of the rebellion.

Still another brings word that Talbot, an English lord and champion in the wars, has been defeated. This is due, in part, to the desertion of a man named Falstofe who ran from battle, and took the expected re-enforcements with him. Talbot has been wounded and taken prisoner with some other nobles.

Bedford announces that he will lead an army to France to take the crown back from the Dauphin. Gloucester states that he is going to inspect the armory and then is going to have Henry VI crowned king. Exeter means to go to Eltham, where Henry is, and protect him until the coronation. And the Bishop reveals his plan to kidnap Henry entirely.

In Orleans, in France, we meet the Dauphin. Charles comments that favor has shifted to the French. Reignier, the King of Naples and duke of Anjou, encourages another attack. Charles agree, and they fight. As is sometimes the case, there is no other stage direction other than 'they fight'. Modern productions often put this action on stage.

The result is the same, seen or not; the french flee the field. Shakespeare wrote for the common man, and as such, paints the french in a rather unflattering light. Though they have been defeated, they praise the spirit of the English army. He continues this admiration in the face of defeat throughout the majority of the play.

As they are leaving, the Bastard of Orleans arrives with Joan la Pucelle, or Joan of Arc, in tow. Charles attempts to trick her, having Reignier pose as the Dauphin, but Joan is not fooled at all. She tells Charles about her vision, and his place within it. Charles, astonished, challenges her to single combat. If she wins, he will give in. She, of course, wins. Charles falls instantly in love:

"Impatiently I burn with thy desire;
My heart and hands at once thou hast subdued."

Gloucester arrives at the Tower of London. He is refused admittance, and his lieutenant reveals that the Cardinal has ordered that he, specifically, be kept outside. When the Bishop arrives, words are exchanged, and he provokes Gloucester's men into a fight with his own. The mayor of London arrives with a Herald to break up the fight. The bishop again accuses Gloucester, saying that he intends to usurp Henry's throne, and another fight begins.

This fight is broken up by the reading of a royal decree that prohibits fighting. Gloucester and the bishop part ways but the threat of a future fight is made.

A French gunner and his son discuss the battle for Orleans and the fact that the English appear to be winning. The English have a secret vantage point on the city and make their plans there. The gunner has been watching, and leaves his son to continue the watching now, with instructions to call him if the English reappear.

As they leave, Salisbury and Talbot both arrive. Talbot relates the story of his ransom and release, his treatment in French custody. As he speaks, the boy without his father, returns and sees Salisbury and his men at the vantage point, continuing their plans. He takes position, takes aim, and shoots, fatally wounding both Salisbury and one of his men.

Thunder and lightning herald a messenger with news of Joan la Pucelle. Talbot vows to fight for and avenge Salisbury, and they go to the fight.

There is a great deal of fighting throughout the remainder of the play. Talbot fights the Dauphin, and chases him off. Joan then fights a number of the English, and chases them off. Talbot returns to announce that the French are winning, and the English fleeing. Joan finds him, and the two of them fight. Joan bests him, but spares his life, preferring instead to fight for Orleans. In the end, the French win the day and Talbot retreats in disgrace and shame.

Act II

Talbot leads a party of English back into Orleans to take advantage of the celebrations' aftermath. They plan to scale the walls of the city. As for Joan, she is characterized as a witch and agent of hell. Talbot believes that they will prevail against her because they have God on their side, and thus they climb the wall.

The French arrive, drawn out by shouts and the sound of fighting. Charles accuses Joan of treachery, then accuses Alencon of being lax in his duty of protecting France. Joan stops the finger pointing by encouraging the French back to battle, and is aided by the arrival of an English soldier calling Talbot's name. This is another example of Shakespeare's written opinion of French cowardice. Talbot vows to build a tomb for Salisbury's sake, and Bedford points out that it is believed that Charles and Joan fled the city to save their lives. A messenger arrives looking for Talbot, and relates that the Countess of Auvergne wants to meet him, as he is the legend who beat the French. He agrees to go alone to the messenger, but makes some plans with his men.

In Auvergne, Talbot is mocked by the Countess. He attempts to leave again, and her plot is revealed: she means to keep him a prisoner to make him pay for the French lives he has taken and the damage he's done to the country. He, however, was prepared, and reveals the soldiers he's brought with him for insurance. Rather than punishing her, he asks that she feed he and his men, to which she agrees.

In scene four, the matter of the War of the Roses begins with a dispute in London's temple garden. The Earl of Somerset speaks for Lancaster, and opposes Richard Plantagenet, who speaks for York. In the dispute, they choose to have the witnesses choose sides by plucking either a red rose or a white rose, respectively. As the argument escalates to name-calling and accusations of the treachery of Richard's father, now executed, the lines are clearly drawn. The roses will become symbols of the two warring factions.

A note: Interestingly, in Pennsylvania today, this war is still reflected in the rival cities of Lancaster, the red rose city, and York, whose symbol is the white rose.

Richard then visits his uncle, Edmund Mortimer, in the Tower of London. Mortimer is aged and dying, but there is time for one last visit. Richard asks for an explanation of what happened to Mortimer and to his father, the Earl of Cambridge. Mortimer explains that he was imprisoned and Richard's father executed for attempts to put Mortimer on the English throne, in the absence of a direct heir. Mortimer's story related, he dies in Richard's arms, and Richard vows to go to Parliament and reclaim his heritage.