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Prelate
In medieval England, the term “regent” denoted a leader who rules in place of a monarch, either because the monarch was sick or physically absent. In Henry VI Part 1, first the Duke of Bedford and then Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York act as the Regents of France (meaning that they were charged with ruling over France while Henry VI focused his energy on governing England). Historically, however, by the time Plantagenet was appointed regent of France, the position had shrunk in importance, and Plantagenet was denied much of the autonomy that his predecessor Bedford had enjoyed.
Regent Quotes in Henry VI Part 1
The Henry VI Part 1 quotes below are all either spoken by Regent or refer to Regent. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Act 1, Scene 1
Quotes
MESSENGER: All the whole army stood agazed on him:
His soldiers spying his undaunted spirit
A Talbot! a Talbot! cried out amain
And rush’d into the bowels of the battle.
Here had the conquest fully been seal’d up,
If Sir John Fastolf had not play’d the coward:
He, being in the vaward, placed behind
With purpose to relieve and follow them,
Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke.
Hence grew the general wreck and massacre;
Enclosed were they with their enemies:
A base Walloon, to win the Dauphin’s grace,
Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back,
Whom all France with their chief assembled strength
Durst not presume to look once in the face.
BEDFORD: Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself,
For living idly here in pomp and ease,
Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid,
Unto his dastard foemen is betray’d.
Related Characters:
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Explanation and Analysis:
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