The first of Shakespeare’s history plays, "Henry VI, Part 1" is a gore-spattered prelude to his War of the Roses tetralogy, which ends with the early masterpiece "Richard III." England has a new, oblivious king who makes Tommen Baratheon look competent and is barely holding his kingdom together in the face of a war against the French armies of the demonic and wily Joan of Arc. Meanwhile, petty discord among the English aristocracy brings more drama than divorce proceedings in the House of Windsor. Intro Music: Jon Sayles, "The Witches' Dance" (composed by anonymous). Outro Music: Jon Sayles, “Saltarello” (composed by anonymous). Illustrative excerpt from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," dir. Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones (1975).