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Jack Cade
A powerful advisor to King Henry VI, the Duke of Somerset is a political rival of the Duke of York. York uses Somerset’s supposed treachery as an excuse to lead an army from Ireland (where York was supposed to put down an anti-English rebellion) back into England. Though York claims he is leading the army into England to protect Henry from Somerset, he soon enough declares himself the rightful king of England and starts a war to seize Henry’s throne.
Duke of Somerset Quotes in Henry VI Part 2
The Henry VI Part 2 quotes below are all either spoken by Duke of Somerset or refer to Duke of Somerset. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, Scene 1 Quotes
Salisbury:
Pride went before; Ambition follows him.
While these do labor for their own preferment,
Behooves it us to labor for the realm.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Duke of Somerset Character Timeline in Henry VI Part 2
The timeline below shows where the character Duke of Somerset appears in Henry VI Part 2. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1, Scene 1
...Warwick, and Cardinal Beaufort meet Queen Margaret, Suffolk, the Duke of York, the Duke of Somerset, and Buckingham. Suffolk announces that, as King Henry commanded, he conducted the marriage-by-proxy of Margaret...
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...adulthood, they should end Gloucester’s protectorship. Beaufort goes to speak with Suffolk about it. Afterward, Somerset warns Buckingham that if Gloucester falls from power, “haughty” Cardinal Beaufort will try to replace...
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Salisbury tells Warwick and York that they should be concerned for England, unlike the self-interested Somerset and Buckingham. He argues that Gloucester is a virtuous aristocrat, whereas Cardinal Beaufort is arrogant...
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Act 1, Scene 2
...a nightmare where his Protector’s staff was snapped in two, possibly by Cardinal Beaufort, and Somerset and Suffolk’s decapitated heads were displayed on the two pieces.
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Act 1, Scene 3
Trumpets play as King Henry, Gloucester, the Duchess, Cardinal Beaufort, Buckingham, Salisbury, Somerset sporting a red rose, York sporting a white rose, and Warwick sporting a white rose....
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When Salisbury asks why Somerset should be regent, Margaret snaps that Henry wants him to be. Gloucester says Henry is...
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...produce Suffolk’s arguments against him: he won’t “flatter” Suffolk. And, if he’s appointed instead of Somerset, Somerset will try to delay him in England until the Dauphin has taken France back....
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...Horner criticized his work. King Henry asks advice from Gloucester, who suggests that Henry make Somerset regent of France and that Peter and Horner engage in trial by combat. Somerset thanks...
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Act 1, Scene 4
...Bolingbroke asks about Suffolk, the spirit says he’ll die “[b]y water.” When Bolingbroke asks about Somerset, the spirit says he should avoid “castles.” Bolingbroke banishes the spirit.
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Act 3, Scene 1
Somerset arrives. When King Henry asks the news from France, Somerset declares that England has lost...
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...that Ireland is rebelling, begs the lords to send help, and leaves. York suggests that Somerset should become regent of Ireland, given how well he did in France. York and Somerset...
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Act 3, Scene 2
...to his house for payment. After they leave, King Henry, Queen Margaret, Cardinal Beaufort, and Somerset enter. Henry orders Gloucester summoned to trial. Suffolk volunteers to fetch Gloucester. He returns quickly,...
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Act 4, Scene 9
As trumpets play, King Henry, Queen Margaret, and Somerset walk onto a terrace. Henry laments how little he enjoys being king. Having been crowned...
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...Ireland with many Irish soldiers, declaring his intention to save King Henry from the “traitor” Somerset. Henry bemoans that York has started to threaten his government as soon as Cade’s threat...
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Act 5, Scene 1
York tells Buckingham that he’s bringing the army to save King Henry from “seditious” Somerset. Buckingham replies that York is assuming too much authority but also that Henry has already...
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...peace, Henry asks about York’s soldiers. York claims he brought them to get rid of Somerset and put down Cade’s rebellion, though he recently learned of Cade’s defeat. Iden walks up...
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Queen Margaret arrives, accompanied by Somerset, who sports a red rose. Quietly, King Henry asks Buckingham to tell Margaret to hide...
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Act 5, Scene 2
Somerset (with a red rose) and York’s son Richard (with a white rose) enter fighting. Richard...
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