Henry VI Part II In 500 Words
The English king has married the French princess Margaret of Anjou. However, Margaret is the protégée of the Duke of Suffolk, who she is in love with. Suffolk discovered this when he captured Margaret and encouraged the king to marry her so he could influence the king without anyone knowing. However, the problem is Henry's uncle, the very popular Duke of Gloucester, Lord Protector and one of Henry's most trusted advisors. Unfortunately for Gloucester, his wife wants the throne and she is encouraged by Suffolk to dabble in necromancy. She does so, summoning Asmath, and demanding it tells her the future. But Asmath's prophecies are vague and she is interrupted, arrested and banished before it is done. So Suffolk conspires with the Duke of Somerset and Cardinal Beaufort to accuse Gloucester of treason. Gloucester is imprisoned, but before he is executed Suffolk sends two assassins to kill him. Meanwhile, Richard Duke of York reveals that he has a claim to the throne to his fellow nobles, the earls of Salisbury and Warwick, who swear allegiance to him over the king.
Suffolk is banished for his role in Gloucester's death, whilst Cardinal Beaufort catches a fever and dies whilst cursing God. Margaret is horrified by Suffolk's banishment, and vows his return. However, Suffolk is caught and killed by pirates as he leaves England, and his head sent back to Margaret. France is lost to the French. York is appointed head of an army told to end a rebellion in Ireland, but first he gets a commoner called Jack Cade to start a rebellion in London to see if he should make an open attack on Henry. Jack's army is at first successful, and Jack becomes Mayor of London, but Lord Clifford, a supporter of Henry convinces the army to stand down. Jack escapes and is killed by the Kentish gentleman Alexander Iden when he climbs into Iden's garden looking for food.
York returns to England, the army dedicated to his cause, claiming he wishes to protect King Henry from the supposedly deceitful Somerset, promising to disband his forces if Somerset is arrested and charged with treason. The Duke of Buckingham vows that Somerset is already imprisoned in the Tower of London, but when Somerset enters with Margaret, York accuses Buckingham of treason and announces his claim to the throne, supported by his sons, Edward and Richard. The English noblemen begin to choose sides, some choosing Richard's Yorkists, some choosing the King's Lancastrians. The battle of St Albans is fought with Richard killing Somerset, and York killing Clifford. These two victories ensure temporary victory for the Yorkists. Margaret persuades Henry to flee and return to London, and they are joined by Clifford's son Young Clifford, who vows revenge on the Yorkists for his father's death. The play ends with York, Edward, Richard, Warwick and Somerset setting out to seek Henry, Margaret and Young Clifford.