Henry VI Part 2 Act 4, Scene 4 Summary

Read the full text of Henry VI Part 2 Act 4 Scene 4 with a side-by-side translation HERE.


  • Back in London, it's a terrible, no good, very bad day for Margaret and Henry. Margaret holds Suffolk's head and wishes she could hug his body. Ew.
  • Meanwhile, Henry reads Cade's demands about his rebellion. Even though they're together, Margaret and Henry are worlds apart, dealing with separate problems.
  • Henry tells Lord Saye that Cade wants his head. Saye responds that Henry should take Cade's head. Good comeback, dude.
  • Margaret claims that if Suffolk were alive, he'd know how to put an end to the rebels.
  • Then a messenger enters with the news that Cade is claiming to be Mortimer. Hearing this, Buckingham thinks it's a good idea to get the heck out of London. He suggests that Henry go to Killingworth, where he won't be in danger.
  • Saye wants to go with Henry, but he thinks that might put the king's life at risk, so he stays.
  • Another messenger enters to say that Cade is at London Bridge, and the only thing falling down is Henry's control over the city. More and more citizens are joining Cade and his army.
  • "Let's get going then," Buckingham says.
  • "We might as well, since all hope is lost," Margaret says.
  • And they're off.
  • Saye is now alone in London, but he's not worried, because he's innocent.
  • Where have we heard that before? Oh, yeah: from Gloucester, right before he was murdered.