King Henry VI, Part III

Defeat and Civil War

King Henry VI, Part 3 opens with Henry and his queen on the run after losing the First Battle of St. Albans. York goes to London and sits himself upon the throne. King Henry then negotiates a truce with York that leaves Henry on the throne, but disinherits his own son and will transfer the crown to the Yorks upon his death. Angered by this, Henry's wife Margaret abandons him and declares war on York.

Whose hand is that the forest bear doth lick? Not his that spoils her young before her face. Who scapes the lurking serpent's mortal sting? Not he that sets his foot upon her back.