Henry VI, Part II · Chapter
Scene IX explained
King Henry VI, having just received news of Jack Cade's defeat and the submission of his followers, pardons the rebels.
What happens
King Henry VI, having just received news of Jack Cade's defeat and the submission of his followers, pardons the rebels. However, his relief is short-lived as a messenger arrives to report that the Duke of York has returned from Ireland with a powerful army, demanding the removal of the Duke of Somerset. Henry, feeling trapped between Cade and York, orders Somerset to be imprisoned to appease York and sends Buckingham to negotiate.
Themes in this chapter
Kingship and Leadership
Henry VI laments the burdens of kingship and his inability to command contentment, highlighting his weakness as a ruler.
Class Conflict and Rebellion
The aftermath of Cade's rebellion shows the king pardoning the common rebels, while the threat from York represents a noble-led uprising.
Betrayal and Duplicity
York's claim that his arms are only to remove Somerset is a pretext, masking his true ambition for the throne.
Characters to notice
- King Henry VI
Expresses his discontent with kingship and longs to be a subject; pardons the rebels; orders Somerset to the Tower to appease York.
- Queen Margaret
Present with the king during the scene.
- Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset
Accompanies the king and queen; is ordered to the Tower by Henry and willingly yields himself.
- Duke of Buckingham
Brings news of Cade's defeat; is sent by Henry to meet York and negotiate.
- Lord Clifford
Enters with Buckingham and reports that Cade has fled and his forces have yielded.
- Richard, Duke of York
Mentioned as having returned from Ireland with an army, demanding Somerset's removal.
- Jack Cade
Reported to have fled; his rebellion is effectively over.
Key passages
“Was ever king that joy’d an earthly throne, And could command no more content than I?”
Has there ever been a king who took pleasure in his throne but could find no more satisfaction than I do?
Henry expresses his deep dissatisfaction with royal life.
“Thus stands my state, ’twixt Cade and York distress’d; Like to a ship that, having ’scaped a tempest, Is straightway calm’d and boarded with a pirate”
My situation is caught between Cade and York, like a ship that survives a storm only to be attacked by a pirate immediately after.
Henry compares his political troubles to a ship's peril at sea.
“In any case, be not too rough in terms; For he is fierce and cannot brook hard language.”
Whatever you do, do not speak harshly to him, because he is fierce and cannot tolerate insulting words.
Henry advises Buckingham to use gentle language when negotiating with York.