Sources Henry VI, Part 2

title page 1550 edition of edward hall s union of 2 noble , illustre families of lancaster , york.

shakespeare s primary source 2 henry vi edward hall s union of 2 noble , illustre families of lancaster , york (1548). drew upon second edition of raphael holinshed s chronicles (1587). although holinshed s treatment of wars of roses derived in large part hall s work, point of reproducing large portions of verbatim, there enough differences between hall , holinshed establish shakespeare must have consulted both of them.

for example, marked contrast between henry , margaret, recurring theme in play, comes hall, presents henry saint-like victim of circumstances, , margaret cunning , manipulative egotist. shakespeare must have used hall establish york s claim throne (outlined in 2.2), corresponding section in holinshed adds generation york s lineage. however, meeting between buckingham , york before battle of st albans (dramatised in 5.1) found in holinshed.

only holinshed contains information peasants revolt of 1381, shakespeare used scenes of cade s rebellion throughout act 4 (for example, details such having people killed because read, , promises of setting state no money). presentation of henry s reaction rebellion differs in hall , holinshed. in hall, henry pardons surrenders , lets them return home unpunished, , how shakespeare presents in play. in holinshed, contrast, henry convenes court , has several of leaders executed (as did in reality). historical parallel found in holinshed henry presented unstable, on brink of madness, not in hall, presents gentle ineffective king (again, shakespeare follows hall here).

lord saye , sele brought before jack cade 4th july 1450 charles lucy (1884)

shakespeare s largest departure hall , holinshed in conflation of cade rebellion, york s return ireland , battle of st albans 1 continuous sequence. both hall , holinshed present these events covering four-year period (as did in reality), in play presented 1 leading directly, , immediately, other. how events depicted in robert fabyan s new chronicles of england , france (1516), suggesting may have been source.

another definite source shakespeare richard grafton s chronicle @ large (1569). holinshed, grafton reproduces large passages of unedited material hall, sections exclusive grafton, showing shakespeare must have consulted him. false miracle example (dramatised in 2.1) found in grafton, not in hall or holinshed (although similar scene outlined in john foxe s acts , monuments, book of martyrs (1563), shakespeare may have been familiar).