Glo. So should I giue consent to flatter sinne, You know (my Lord) your Highnesse is betroath"d Vnto another Lady of esteeme, How shall we then dispense with that contract, And not deface your Honor with reproach?
Suf. As doth a Ruler with vnlawfull Oathes, Or one that at a Triumph, hauing vow"d To try his strength, forsaketh yet the Listes By reason of his Aduersaries oddes.
A poore Earles daughter is vnequall oddes, And therefore may be broke without offence
Gloucester. Why what (I pray) is Margaret more then that?
Her Father is no better than an Earle, Although in glorious t.i.tles he excell
Suf. Yes my Lord, her Father is a King, The King of Naples, and Ierusalem, And of such great Authoritie in France, As his alliance will confirme our peace, And keepe the Frenchmen in Allegeance
Glo. And so the Earle of Arminacke may doe, Because he is neere Kinsman vnto Charles
Exet. Beside, his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower, Where Reignier sooner will receyue, than giue
Suf. A Dowre my Lords? Disgrace not so your King, That he should be so abiect, base, and poore, To choose for wealth, and not for perfect Loue.
Henry is able to enrich his Queene, And not to seeke a Queene to make him rich, So worthlesse Pezants bargaine for their Wiues, As Market men for Oxen, Sheepe, or Horse.
Marriage is a matter of more worth, Then to be dealt in by Atturney-ship: Not whom we will, but whom his Grace affects, Must be companion of his Nuptiall bed.
And therefore Lords, since he affects her most, Most of all these reasons bindeth vs, In our opinions she should be preferr"d.
For what is wedlocke forced? but a h.e.l.l, An Age of discord and continuall strife, Whereas the contrarie bringeth blisse, And is a patterne of Celestiall peace.
Whom should we match with Henry being a King, But Margaret, that is daughter to a King: Her peerelesse feature, ioyned with her birth, Approues her fit for none, but for a King.
Her valiant courage, and vndaunted spirit, (More then in women commonly is seene) Will answer our hope in issue of a King.
For Henry, sonne vnto a Conqueror, Is likely to beget more Conquerors, If with a Lady of so high resolue, (As is faire Margaret) he be link"d in loue.
Then yeeld my Lords, and heere conclude with mee, That Margaret shall be Queene, and none but shee
King. Whether it be through force of your report, My n.o.ble Lord of Suffolke: Or for that My tender youth was neuer yet attaint With any pa.s.sion of inflaming Loue, I cannot tell: but this I am a.s.sur"d, I feele such sharpe dissention in my breast, Such fierce alarums both of Hope and Feare, As I am sicke with working of my thoughts.
Take therefore shipping, poste my Lord to France, Agree to any couenants, and procure That Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come To crosse the Seas to England, and be crown"d King Henries faithfull and annointed Queene.
For your expences and sufficient charge, Among the people gather vp a tenth.
Be gone I say, for till you do returne, I rest perplexed with a thousand Cares.
And you (good Vnckle) banish all offence: If you do censure me, by what you were, Not what you are, I know it will excuse This sodaine execution of my will.
And so conduct me, where from company, I may reuolue and ruminate my greefe.
Enter.
Glo. I greefe I feare me, both at first and last.
Exit Glocester.
Suf. Thus Suffolke hath preuail"d, and thus he goes As did the youthfull Paris once to Greece, With hope to finde the like euent in loue, But prosper better than the Troian did: Margaret shall now be Queene, and rule the King: But I will rule both her, the King, and Realme.
Exit
FINIS. The first Part of Henry the Sixt.
The second Part of Henry the Sixt
with the death of the Good Duke Hvmfrey
Actus Primus. Scoena Prima.
Flourish of Trumpets: Then Hoboyes.
Enter King, Duke Humfrey, Salisbury, Warwicke, and Beauford on the one side. The Queene, Suffolke, Yorke, Somerset, and Buckingham, on the other.
Suffolke. As by your high Imperiall Maiesty, I had in charge at my depart for France, As Procurator to your Excellence, To marry Princes Margaret for your Grace; So in the Famous Ancient City, Toures, In presence of the Kings of France, and Sicill, The Dukes of Orleance, Calaber, Britaigne, and Alanson, Seuen Earles, twelue Barons, & twenty reuerend Bishops I haue perform"d my Taske, and was espous"d, And humbly now vpon my bended knee, In sight of England, and her Lordly Peeres, Deliuer vp my t.i.tle in the Queene To your most gracious hands, that are the Substance Of that great Shadow I did represent: The happiest Gift, that euer Marquesse gaue, The Fairest Queene, that euer King receiu"d
King. Suffolke arise. Welcome Queene Margaret, I can expresse no kinder signe of Loue Then this kinde kisse: O Lord, that lends me life, Lend me a heart repleate with thankfulnesse: For thou hast giuen me in this beauteous Face A world of earthly blessings to my soule, If Simpathy of Loue vnite our thoughts
Queen. Great King of England, & my gracious Lord, The mutuall conference that my minde hath had, By day, by night; waking, and in my dreames, In Courtly company, or at my Beades, With you mine Alder liefest Soueraigne, Makes me the bolder to salute my King, With ruder termes, such as my wit affoords, And ouer ioy of heart doth minister
King. Her sight did rauish, but her grace in Speech, Her words yclad with wisedomes Maiesty, Makes me from Wondring, fall to Weeping ioyes, Such is the Fulnesse of my hearts content.
Lords, with one cheerefull voice, Welcome my Loue
All kneel. Long liue Qu[eene]. Margaret, Englands happines
Queene. We thanke you all.
Florish
Suf. My Lord Protector, so it please your Grace, Heere are the Articles of contracted peace, Betweene our Soueraigne, and the French King Charles, For eighteene moneths concluded by consent
Glo. Reads. Inprimis, It is agreed betweene the French K[ing].
Charles, and William de la Pole Marquesse of Suffolke, Amba.s.sador for Henry King of England, That the said Henry shal espouse the Lady Margaret, daughter vnto Reignier King of Naples, Sicillia, and Ierusalem, and Crowne her Queene of England, ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing.
Item, That the Dutchy of Aniou, and the County of Main, shall be released and deliuered to the King her father
King. Vnkle, how now?
Glo. Pardon me gracious Lord, Some sodaine qualme hath strucke me at the heart, And dim"d mine eyes, that I can reade no further
King. Vnckle of Winchester, I pray read on
Win. Item, It is further agreed betweene them, That the Dutchesse of Aniou and Maine, shall be released and deliuered ouer to the King her Father, and shee sent ouer of the King of Englands owne proper Cost and Charges, without hauing any Dowry
King. They please vs well. Lord Marques kneel down, We heere create thee the first Duke of Suffolke, And girt thee with the Sword. Cosin of Yorke, We heere discharge your Grace from being Regent I"th parts of France, till terme of eighteene Moneths Be full expyr"d. Thankes Vncle Winchester, Gloster, Yorke, Buckingham, Somerset, Salisburie, and Warwicke.
We thanke you all for this great fauour done, In entertainment to my Princely Queene.
Come, let vs in, and with all speede prouide To see her Coronation be perform"d.
Exit King, Queene, and Suffolke.
Manet the rest.
Glo. Braue Peeres of England, Pillars of the State, To you Duke Humfrey must vnload his greefe: Your greefe, the common greefe of all the Land.
What? did my brother Henry spend his youth, His valour, coine, and people in the warres?
Did he so often lodge in open field: In Winters cold, and Summers parching heate, To conquer France, his true inheritance?
And did my brother Bedford toyle his wits, To keepe by policy what Henrie got: Haue you your selues, Somerset, Buckingham, Braue Yorke, Salisbury, and victorious Warwicke, Receiud deepe scarres in France and Normandie: Or hath mine Vnckle Beauford, and my selfe, With all the Learned Counsell of the Realme, Studied so long, sat in the Councell house, Early and late, debating too and fro How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe, And hath his Highnesse in his infancie, Crowned in Paris in despight of foes, And shall these Labours, and these Honours dye?
Shall Henries Conquest, Bedfords vigilance, Your Deeds of Warre, and all our Counsell dye?
O Peeres of England, shamefull is this League, Fatall this Marriage, cancelling your Fame, Blotting your names from Bookes of memory, Racing the Charracters of your Renowne, Defacing Monuments of Conquer"d France, Vndoing all as all had neuer bin
Car. Nephew, what meanes this pa.s.sionate discourse?
This preroration with such circ.u.mstance: For France, "tis ours; and we will keepe it still