The Second Part of King Henry the Sixth by William Shakespeare is the second in a series of four historical plays often referred to as "The First Tetralogy". The play deals with the reign of Henry the Sixth and the tetralogy as a whole depicts the War of the Roses.
Henry the Sixth Part Two commences with Suffolk presenting Margaret to King Henry. Margaret is daughter to the French Lord Rene and King Henry, having been impressed by Suffolk's description of her beauty, plans to marry her even though she is not wealthy or of high birth. Suffolk has wooed Margaret on behalf of Henry and plans to use her to control the king.
Henry's lords had hoped that he would choose a match designed to ease the relations between France and England and are disappointed at the young King's willful rejection of a more politically prudent choice.
Gloucester reads the terms of the recent peace treaty drawn up with France and is disturbed when it is understood that Anjou and Maine must be returned to Margaret's father in exchange for his consent to her marriage. The return of these lands worries Gloucester since they were originally won by Henry the Fifth. This sacrifice revives fears about the prophecy that Henry the Fifth would win all and Henry the Sixth would lose all.
Old rivalries are renewed between various lords over this new source of division. Some of the lords dislike Gloucester's influence over King Henry and the Cardinal, known in the previous play as Winchester, encourages this bad feeling against Gloucester even though he is not popular himself.
Warwick and Salisbury speak about their fears for the Kingdom, they wish to rival the actions of Suffolk and Beaufort (the Cardinal). York, known in the last play as Richard Plantagenet, is angered at Henry's decision to relinquish the French lands and believes that he himself has a strong claim on the English throne. Unable to assert this claim immediately York sides with Salisbury and Warwick in the aim of suppressing Suffolk and the Cardinal.
Gloucester's ambitious wife, Eleanor, has a dream in which she is crowned Queen of England. Gloucester is Uncle to Henry and therefore second in line to the throne. Gloucester himself has dreamt of the staff which is his badge office in court being broken.
Eleanor enlists the help of Hume to hire a witch who can use supernatural powers to tell her about the future of Henry's reign. The Cardinal is secretly bribing Hume to encourage Eleanor to dabble in the occult. Since involvement with the occult was illegal at this time the Cardinal intends to bring about Eleanor's downfall and weaken Gloucester in the process.
Gloucester is popular with the common people but Margaret and Suffolk play upon the doubts and jealousies of the lords to attack and criticize him. Margaret also pretends to mistake Eleanor for a serving woman and strikes her. Henry tries to smooth over the situation but Eleanor warns Henry that Margaret will control him.
Eleanor meets with necromancers who raise a spirit and question it about the fate of the King, Gloucester and Suffolk. The spirit reveals some snippets of information including a prophecy of Gloucester's murder.
The ceremony is discovered and Eleanor is arrested for her crime which is a great embarrassment for Gloucester. Eleanor is made to walk in disgrace through the streets of London before being banished and Gloucester is asked to resign his post as Protector. Eleanor warns her husband abut the plots which the Cardinal, Suffolk, Margaret and York are all meshing around him. Gloucester insists that since he is innocent and loyal he will come to no harm.
York explains to Salisbury and Warwick why he feels he has a right to the crown and the two men recognize the legitimacy of the claim.
Somerset brings word that England has lost possession of all territories once held in France. The scheming lords blame this loss on Gloucester and attempt to have him arrested for treason. Henry believes Gloucester to be innocent and the lords foresee that the King's protection and Gloucester's popularity among the people will likely prevail in exonerating him. As the lords discuss this problem a messenger arrives and announces that there has been rebellion in Ireland. York is selected to tackle the problem and given an army to use for the purpose.
With this military force York feels that he has all he needs to attempt a claim upon the throne of England. York plans that John Cade will come forward, state that he is of the house of York and cause violent unrest in England whilst asserting a claim to the throne. York intends to assess the public response to this claim and if it is favorable he will swoop in with his army, push back rebellion and claim the title which Cade has cleared the way for.
Gloucester is found dead and Henry is devastated at the news. The common people believe Gloucester has been murdered and say that if Suffolk is not executed or banished they will capture and kill him. Henry banishes Suffolk.
Margaret and Suffolk reveal their passionate feelings for each other. Suffolk wishes to stay and risk the consequences rather than be parted from Margaret but she insists that he should leave and she will contact him when she can.
Beaufort dies, madly raving and plagued by pain which is seen as a sign of an evil life. Suffolk is captured by pirates at sea and beheaded.
Cade wins strong support in England, promising the common people that he will favor laborers rather than the rich or educated. Stafford and his brother attempt to defeat Cade and his men but they are both killed and their army is defeated.
Henry decides to leave London when he hears of Cade's approaching assault. Henry notices, to his consternation, that Margaret's attention is fixed upon the decapitated head of the deceased Suffolk.
Buckingham and Clifford confront Cade's army and remind them of their loyalty to Henry. The commoners are offered pardon if they desert Cade which they promptly do. Cade runs off into the woods and eventually steals food from a garden. He fights with the owner and is killed.
York's army marches on London but now that Cade's force is dissolved he has no ready excuse for his actions. York claims that he considers Somerset to be a traitor and that he is come to force justice upon him.
Buckingham enters and informs York that Somerset has been imprisoned. York agrees to stand down his aggressive actions and disperses his army. Margaret arrives with Somerset and York loses his self control upon seeing that his enemy is not in fact in the tower. York accuses Henry of being a weak and ineffectual ruler, announces his wish to be king and is immediately accused of treason.
York is supported by his sons Edward and Richard and the Lords Salisbury and Warwick. Due to the size of the supporting force for York Henry concedes that the only recourse is combat and this results in the Battle of St. Albans. In battle Richard, later Richard the Third, kills Somerset and York kills Clifford.
York's side gains the upper hand and Margaret persuades Henry to flee into London. The play ends as York's forces pursue Henry.