Sources Henry VI, Part 1

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

shakespeare s primary source 1 henry vi edward hall s union of 2 noble , illustre families of lancaster , york (1548). also, of shakespeare s chronicle histories, raphael holinshed s chronicles of england, scotland , ireland (1577; 2nd edition 1587) consulted. holinshed based of wars of roses information in chronicles on hall s information in union of 2 noble , illustre families, point of reproducing large portions of verbatim. however, there enough differences between hall , holinshed establish shakespeare must have consulted both of them.

for example, shakespeare must have used hall scene gloucester attempting gain access tower, , woodville tells him order not admit came winchester. dismayed, gloucester refers winchester haughty prelate,/whom henry, our late sovereign, ne re brook (1.3.23–24). in hall there indication henry v had problem winchester. in holinshed, there nothing suggest disagreement or conflict between them. example of shakespeare s use of hall found when sir thomas gargrave injured artillery strike @ orléans (1.5). in play, dies immediately, , rest of scene focuses on death of more senior soldier salisbury. likewise, in hall, gargrave dies after attack. in holinshed, however, gargrave takes 2 days die (as did in reality). semi-comic scene french leaders forced flee orléans half-dressed (dramatised in 2.1) seems based on incident reported in hall. when discussing english retaking of le mans in 1428, hall writes, french, taken, amazed in of them, being not out of beds, got in shirts. incident involving gloucester , winchester unique hall. during debate in act 3, scene 1, gloucester accuses winchester of attempting have him assassinated on london bridge. hall mentions assassination attempt, explaining supposed have taken place @ southwark end of bridge in effort prevent gloucester joining henry v in eltham palace. in holinshed however, there no reference such incident. incident possibly taken hall found in act 3, scene 2, joan , french soldiers disguise peasants , sneak rouen. not historical event, , not recorded in either hall or holinshed. however, similar such incident recorded in hall, reports of capture of cornhill castle in cornhill-on-tweed english in 1441.

title page of second edition of holinshed s chronicles (1587).

on other hand, aspects of play unique holinshed. example, in opening scene, word arrives in england of rebellion in france, exeter says fellow peers, remember, lords, oaths henry sworn:/either quell dauphin utterly,/or bring him in obedience yoke (1.1.162–164). in holinshed reported on deathbed, henry v elicited vows bedford, gloucester , exeter never willingly surrender france, , never allow dauphin become king. piece of information unique holinshed seen when charles compares joan old testament prophetess deborah (1.2.105). according judges 4 , 5, deborah masterminded barak s surprise victory against canaanite army led sisera, had suppressed israelites on twenty years. no such comparison found in hall. piece of information unique holinshed occurs when master gunner mentions english have taken control of of suburbs of orléans (1.4.2). holinshed reports english captured several of suburbs on other side of loire, not found in hall.