York. Infulting Charles, haft thou by fecret means Us'd interceffion to obtain a League; And now the matter grows to compromife, Stand'ft thou aloof upon comparison? Either accept the title thou ufurp'st, Of benefit proceeding from our King, And not of any challenge of defert, Or we will plague thee with inceffant wars. Reig. My lord, you do not well in obftinacy To cavil in the course of this Contract: If once it be neglected, ten to one, We fhall not find like opportunity.
Alan. To say the truth, it is your policy.
To fave your Subjects from such massacre,
And ruthless flaughters, as are daily seen
By our proceeding in hoftility.
And therefore take this compact of a Truce,
Although you break it, when your pleasure ferves.
[Afide, to the Dauphin.
War. How fay'ft thou, Charles? fhall our Condition
Char. It fhall:
Only referv'd, you claim no intereft
any of our towns of garrison.
York. Then fwear allegiance to his Majefty. As thou art Knight, never to difobey,
Nor be rebellious to the Crown of England:
Thou, nor thy Nobles, to the Crown of England.
So now difmifs your army, when you please:
Hang up your enfigns, let your drums be ftill,
For here we entertain a folemn Peace.
SCENE VIII.
Changes to England.
Enter Suffolk, in Conference with King Henry; Glou
7OUR wondrous rare defcription, noble Earl,
Of beauteous Margaret hath aftonish'd me:
Her virtues, graced with external gifts,
Do breed love's fettled paffions in my heart.
And, like as rigour of tempetuous gufts
Provokes the mightieft hulk against the tide,
So am I driv'n by breath of her renown,
Either to fuffer shipwreck, or arrive
Where I may have fruition of her love.
Suf. Tufh, my good lord, this fuperficial tale
Is but a preface to her worthy praise :
The chief perfections of that lovely dame,
(Had I fufficient fkill to utter them.)
Would make a volume of inticing lines,
Able to ravish any dull conceit.
And, which is more, fhe is not so divine,
So full replete with choice of all delights,
But with as humble lowlinefs of mind
She is content to be at your command:
Command, I mean, of virtuous chalte intents,
To love and honour Henry as her lord.
K. Henry. And otherwife will Henry ne'er prefume:
Therefore, my lord Protector, give confent,
That Margret may be England's Royal Queen.
Glou. So fhould I give confent to flatter fin.
You know, my lord, your Highness is betroth'd
Unto another lady of efteem:
How fhall we then dispense with that Contract,
And not deface your honour with reproach?
Suf. As doth a Ruler with unlawful oaths;
Or one, that at a triumph having vow'd
To try his ftrength, forfaketh yet the Lifts
By reafon of his adverfary's odds.
A poor Earl's daughter is unequal odds,
And therefore may be broke without offence.
Glou. Why, what, I pray, is Margret more than
that?
Her father is no better than an Earl,
Although in glorious titles he excel.
Suf. Yes, my good lord, her father is a King,
The King of Naples and Jerufalem;
And of fuch great Authority in France,
That his Alliance will confirm our Peace;
And keep the Frenchmen in allegiance.
Glou. And fo the Earl of Armagnac may do,
Because he is near kinfman unto Charles.
Exe. Befide, his wealth doth warrant lib'ral Dow'r, While Reignier fooner will receive, than give.
Suf. A Dow'r, my lords! difgrace not fo your King,
That he fhould be so abject, base and poor,
To chufe for wealth, and not for perfect love.
Henry is able to enrich his Queen;
And not to seek a Queen, to make him rich.
So worthless peafants bargain for their wives,
As market-men for Oxen, Sheep or Horse.
But marriage is a matter of more worth,
Than to be dealt in by Attorneyship:
Not whom we will, but whom his Grace affects,
Muft be companion of his nuptial bed.
And therefore, lords, fince he affects her moft,
It moft of all thefe reafons bindeth us,
In our opinions fhe fhould be preferr'd;
For what is wedlock forced, but a hell,
An age of difcord and continual ftrife?
Whereas the contrary bringeth forth Bliss,
And is a pattern of celeftial Peace.
Whom should we match with Henry, being a King,
But Margret, that is daughter to a King?
Her peerless feature, joined with her birth,
Approves her fit for none, but for a King:
Her valiant courage, and undaunted fpirit,
(More than in woman commonly is seen,)
Answer our hope in Iffue of a King:
For Henry, fon unto a Conqueror,
Is likely to beget more Conquerors;
If with a lady of fo high refolve,
As is fair Margret, he be link'd in love.
Then yield, my lords, and here conclude with me, That Margret fhall be Queen, and none but she.
K. Henry. Whether it be through force of your report,
My noble lord of Suffolk; or for that
My tender youth was never yet attaint
With any paffion of inflaming love,
I cannot tell; but this I am affur'd,
I feel such sharp diffention in my breast,
Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear,
As I am fick with working of my thoughts.
Take therefore shipping; poft, my lord, to France;
Agree to any Covenants: and procure,
That lady Marg`ret do vouchsafe to come
To cross the feas to England; and be crown'd
King Henry's faithful and anointed Queen.
For your expences and fufficient charge,
Among the people gather up a tenth.
Be gone, I fay; for 'till you do return,
I am perplexed with a thousand cares.
And you, good Uncle, banish all offence:
you do cenfure me, by what you were,
Not what you are, I know, it will excufe
This fudden execution of my will.
And fo conduct me, where from company
I may revolve and ruminate my grief.
Exit. Glou. Ay; grief, I fear me, both at firft and laft. [Exit Gloucefter.
Suf. Thus Suffolk hath prevail'd, and thus he goes, As did the youthful Paris once to Greece, We hope to find the like event in love; But profper better than the Trojan did:
Marg ret fhall now be Queen, and rule the King: But I will rule both her, the King, and realm. [Exit.
The End of the Fifth Volume.
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