And here at hand the Dauphin, and his train,
Approacheth to confer about some matter. 101
York. Is all our travail turn'd to this effect?
After the slaughter of so many peers,
So many captains, gentlemen, and soldiers, 104
That in this quarrel have been overthrown,
And sold their bodies for their country's benefit,
Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace?
Have we not lost most part of all the towns, 108
By treason, falsehood, and by treachery,
Our great progenitors had conquered?
O! Warwick, Warwick! I foresee with grief
The utter loss of all the realm of France.
War. Be patient, York: if we conclude a
peace,

112

It shall be with such strict and severe covenants As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby.

Enter CHARLES, attended; ALENÇON, the BASTARD OF ORLEANS, REIGNIER, and Others. Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed,

116

That peaceful truce shall be proclaim'd in France,
We come to be informed by yourselves
What the conditions of that league must be.
York. Speak, Winchester; for boiling choler
chokes

The hollow passage of my poison'd voice,
By sight of these our baleful enemies.

120

Car. Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus: That, in regard King Henry gives consent, 124 Of mere compassion and of lenity, To ease your country of distressful war, And suffer you to breathe in fruitful peace, You shall become true liegemen to his crown: And, Charles, upon condition thou wilt swear To pay him tribute, and submit thyself, Thou shalt be plac'd as viceroy under him, And still enjoy thy regal dignity. Alen. Must he be then, as shadow of himself? Adorn his temples with a coronet, And yet, in substance and authority, Retain but privilege of a private man? This proffer is absurd and reasonless.

132

136

Char. 'Tis known already that I am possess'd With more than half the Gallian territories, And therein reverenc'd for their lawful king: 140 Shall I, for lucre of the rest unvanquish'd, Detract so much from that prerogative As to be call'd but viceroy of the whole? No, lord ambassador; I'll rather keep That which I have than, coveting for more, Be cast from possibility of all.

144

York. Insulting Charles! hast thou by secret

means

Us'd intercession to obtain a league,
And now the matter grows to compromise,

SCENE V.-London. A Room in the Palace. Enter KING HENRY, in conference with SUFFOLK; GLOUCESTER and EXETER following. K. Hen. Your wondrous rare description, noble earl,

Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me:
Her virtues, graced with external gifts
Do breed love's settled passions in my heart: 4
And like as rigour of tempestuous gusts
Provokes the mightiest hulk against the tide,
So am I driven by breath of her renown
Either to suffer shipwrack, or arrive
Where I may have fruition of her love.

Suf. Tush! my good lord, this superficial tale

148

K. Hen. And otherwise will Henry ne'er pre

sume.

Therefore, my Lord Protector, give consent That Margaret may be England's royal queen. Glo. So should I give consent to flatter sin. 25 You know, my lord, your highness is betroth'd Unto another lady of esteem;

32

How shall we then dispense with that contract,
And not deface your honour with reproach? 29
Suf. As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths;
Or one that, at a triumph having vow'd
To try his strength, forsaketh yet the lists
By reason of his adversary's odds.
A poor earl's daughter is unequal odds,
And therefore may be broke without offence.
Glo. Why, what, I pray, is Margaret more
than that?

Her father is no better than an earl,
Although in glorious titles he excel.

36

That he should be so abject, base, and poor, To choose for wealth and not for perfect love. Henry is able to enrich his queen,

52

56

And not to seek a queen to make him rich:
So worthless peasants bargain for their wives,
As market-men for oxen, sheep, or horse.
Marriage is a matter of more worth
Than to be dealt in by attorneyship:
Not whom we will, but whom his Grace affects,
Must be companion of his nuptial bed;
And therefore, lords, since he affects her most
It most of all these reasons bindeth us,
In our opinions she should be preferr❜d.
For what is wedlock forced, but a hell,
An age of discord and continual strife?
Whereas the contrary bringeth bliss,
And is a pattern of celestial peace.
Whom should we match with Henry, being a
king,

60

64

I feel such sharp dissension in my breast,
Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear,
As I am sick with working of my thoughts.
Take, therefore, shipping; post, my lord, to
France;

88

92

96

Agree to any covenants, and procure
That Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come
To cross the seas to England and be crown'd
King Henry's faithful and anointed queen:
For your expenses and sufficient charge,
Among the people gather up a tenth.
Be gone, I say; for till you do return
I rest perplexed with a thousand cares.
And you, good uncle, banish all offence:
If you do censure me by what you were,
Not what you are, I know it will excuse
This sudden execution of my will.
And so, conduct me, where, from company 100
I may revolve and ruminate my grief. [Exit.
Glo. Ay, grief, I fear me, both at first and
last. [Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EXETER.
Suf. Thus Suffolk hath prevail'd; and thus
he goes,

104

As did the youthful Paris once to Greece;
With hope to find the like event in love,
But prosper better than the Trojan did.
Margaret shall now be queen, and rule the

king;

But I will rule both her, the king, and realm. 108 [Exit.

SCENE I.-London. A Room of State in the Palace. Flourish of Trumpets: then hautboys. Enter, on one side, KING HENRY, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and CARDINAL BEAUFORT; on the other, QUEEN MARGARET, led in by SUFFOLK; YORK, SOMERSET, BUCKINGHAM, and Others, following.

Suf. As by your high imperial majesty I had in charge at my depart for France, As procurator to your excellence, To marry Princess Margaret for your Grace; 4 So, in the famous ancient city, Tours, In presence of the Kings of France and Sicil, The Dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Britaine, and Alençon,

Seven earls, twelve barons, and twenty reverend bishops,

I have perform'd my task, and was espous'd:

8

BOLINGBROKE, a Conjurer.
A Spirit raised by him.
THOMAS HORNER, an Armourer.
PETER, his Man.
Clerk of Chatham.
Mayor of St. Alban's.
SIMPCOX, an Impostor.

Two Murderers.

JACK CADE, a Rebel.

GEORGE BEVIS, JOHN HOLLAND, DICK the Butcher, SMITH the Weaver, MICHAEL,

&c., Followers of Cade.

ALEXANDER IDEN, a Kentish Gentleman.

MARGARET, Queen to King Henry. ELEANOR, Duchess of Gloucester. MARGERY JOURDAIN, a Witch. Wife to Simpcox.

Lords, Ladies, and Attendants; Herald, Petitioners, Aldermen, a Beadle, Sheriff, and Officers; Citizens, Prentices, Falconers, Guards, Soldiers, Messengers, &c.

parts of England.

12

And humbly now upon my bended knee,
In sight of England and her lordly peers,
Deliver up my title in the queen
To your most gracious hands, that are the sub-
stance
Of that great shadow I did represent;
The happiest gift that ever marquess gave,
The fairest queen that ever king receiv'd.

16

K. Hen. Suffolk, arise. Welcome, Queen Margaret:

I can express no kinder sign of love
Than this kind kiss. O Lord! that lends me
life,

Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!
For thou hast given me in this beauteous face
A world of earthly blessings to my soul,
If sympathy of love unite our thoughts.

20

In courtly company, or at my beads,
With you, mine alderliefest sovereign,
Makes me the bolder to salute my king
With ruder terms, such as my wit affords,
And over-joy of heart doth minister.

K. Hen. Her sight did ravish, but her grace in speech,

32

Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty, Makes me from wondering fall to weeping joys; Such is the fulness of my heart's content. Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love. 36 All. Long live Queen Margaret, England's happiness!

Q. Mar. We thank you all.

[Flourish. Suf. My Lord Protector, so it please your Grace,

40

Here are the articles of contracted peace Between our sovereign and the French King Charles,

For eighteen months concluded by consent.

Glo. Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king, Charles, and William De la Pole, Marquess of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry King of England, that the said Henry shall espouse the Lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier King of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerusalem, and crown her Queen of England ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing. Item, That the duchy of Anjou and the county of Maine shall be released and delivered to the king her father.[Lets the paper fall.

K. Hen. Uncle, how now! Glo. Pardon me, gracious lord; Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart And dimm'd mine eyes, that I can read no further.

56 K. Hen. Uncle of Winchester, I pray, read on. Car. Item, It is further agreed between them, that the duchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered over to the king her father; and she sent over of the King of England's own proper cost and charges, with out having any dowry.

K. Hen. They please us well. Lord marquess, kneel down:

64

We here create thee the first Duke of Suffolk, And girt thee with the sword. Cousin of York, We here discharge your Grace from being regent

I' the parts of France, till term of eighteen months

Be full expir'd. Thanks, uncle Winchester,
Gloucester, York, Buckingham, Somerset,
Salisbury, and Warwick;

68

In winter's cold, and summer's parching heat,
To conquer France, his true inheritance?
And did my brother Bedford toil his wits,
84
To keep by policy what Henry got?
Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham,
Brave York, Salisbury, and victorious Warwick,
Receiv'd deep scars in France and Normandy?
Or hath mine uncle Beaufort and myself,
With all the learned council of the realm,
Studied so long, sat in the council-house
Early and late, debating to and fro
How France and Frenchmen might be kept in
awe?

89

92

In entertainment to my princely que ›n.