Henry VI Part 2 Justice and Judgment Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)

Quote #7

KING HENRY
What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted?
Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just,
And he but naked, though locked up in steel,
Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted. (3.2.240-243)

At this point, Henry doesn't seem to have any idea that his wife is a lying murderer. He's most concerned with the fact that Gloucester seems to have died unjustly. It's a revealing comment: Henry actually thinks that justice exists in his kingdom, as is. In reality, there's injustice going on all around.

Quote #8

KING HENRY
Go, take hence that traitor from our sight;
For his death we do perceive his guilt.
And God in justice hath revealed to us
The truth and innocence of this poor fellow,
Which he had thought to have murdered
   wrongfully. (3.3.102-107)

Everyone is surprised when Peter busts it out and wins the swordfight against Horner. He had no training and no skills, so Henry figures that this must be a sign that God had judged Peter innocent (and that it has nothing to do with the fact that Horner was tanked). He stays out of it completely and lets God take the wheel.

Quote #9

SAYE
Justice with favor have I always done;
Prayers and tears have moved me; gifts could never.
When have I aught exacted at your hands
But to maintain the king, the realm, and you?
Large gifts have I bestowed on learnèd clerks,
Because my book preferred me to the king,
And seeing ignorance is the curse of God,
Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven,
Unless you be possessed with devilish spirits,
You cannot but forbear to murder me. (4.7.67-76)

Even though Cade and company are about to kill him, Lord Saye remains convinced that they cannot, and will not, simply because he's done nothing wrong. Hmm… where have we heard that before? Oh, yeah: from Gloucester, right before he was murdered. Saye believes in justice, but he dies, anyway.