That warranteth by law to be thy privilege.—
I ain with child, ye bloody homicides:
Murder not then the fruit within my womb,
Although we hale me to a violent death.
Y; .leaven foresend! the holy maid with
child?
War. The greatestmiracle thate'erye wrought:
Is all your strict preciseness come to this?
York. She and the dauphin have been juggling:
I did imagine what would be her refuge.
War. Well, go to; we will have no bastards live;
Especially since Charles must father it. .
}. ou are deceiv'd; my child is none of his;
It was Alençon, that enjoy'd my love.
York. Alençon that notorious Machiavel!
It dies, an if it had a thousand lives.
. O, give me leave, I have deluded you;
'Twas neither Charles, nor yet the duke I nam'd,
But Reignier, king of Napo. that prevail'd,
War. A married man! that's most intolerable.
York. Why, here's a girl! I think, she knows
not well,
There were so many, whom she may accuse.
War. It's sign, % hath been liberal and free.
York. And, yet, forsooth, she is a virgin pure!—
Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat, and thee:
Use no entreaty, for it is in vain.
Puc. Then lead me hence;—with whom Ileave
my curse:
May never glorious sun reflex his beams
pon the country where you make abode!
But darkness and the gloomy shade of death
Environ you; till mischief, and despair,
Drive you to break yournecks, or hang yourselves!
[Erit, guarded.
York. Breakthouin pieces, and consume toashes,
Thou foul accursed minister of hell!

Enter Cardinal Beaufort, attended.

Car. Lord regent, I do greet your excellence With letters of commission from the king. For know, my lords, the states of Christendom, Mov'd with remorse of these outrageous broils, Have earnestly implor’d a general peace Betwixt our nation and the aspiring French; And here at hand the dauphin, ...i his train, Approacheth, to confer about some matter.

ork. Is all our travail turn'd to this effect?

After the slaughter of so many peers,
So many captains, gentlemen, and soldiers,
That in this quarrel have been overthrown,
And sold their bodies for their country's benefit,
Shall we at last conclude effeminate e?
Have we not lost most part of all the towns,
By treason, falsehood, and by treachery,
Qur great progenitors had conquered?—
O, Woo I foresee with grief,
The utter loss of all the realm of France.

War. Be patient, York: if we conclude a peace, It shall be with such strict and severe covenants, As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby.

Enter Charles, attended; Alençon, Bastard, Reignier, and others.

Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed, 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. . Winchester; for boiling choler chokes

The hollow passage of my poison'd voice,

(1) Compassion. (2) Baneful. (3) Coronet is here used for crown.

By sight of these our baleful? enemies.
in. Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus,
That—in regard king Henry gives consent,
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.
...Allen. Must he be ào, 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.
Char. 'Tis known already, that I am possess'd
With more than half the Gallian territories,
And therein reverenc'd for their lawful king:
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.
York. Insulting Charles! hast thou by secret
naeans
Used intercession to obtain a league;
And, now the matter grows to compromise,
Stand'st thou aloof upon comparison?
Either accept the title thou usurp'st,
Of benefit proceeding from our king,
And not of any challenge of desert,
Or we will plague thee with incessant wars.
Reig. My lord, you do not well in obstinacy
To cavil in the course of this contráct:
If once it be neglected, ten to one,
We shall not find like opportunity.
.Alen. To say the ... it is your policy,
To save your subjects from such massacre,
And ruthless slaughters, as are daily seen
By our proceeding in hostility:
And therefore take this compact of a truce,
Although you break it when your pleasure serves.
Joside to Charles.
War. How say'st thou, Charles? shall our
condition stand?
Char. It shall:
Only reserv’d, you claim no interest
In any of our towns of garrison.
York. Then swear allegiance to his majesty;
As thou art knight, never to disobey,
Nor be rebellious to the crown of England,
Thou, northy nobles, to the crown of England—
[Charles, and the rest, give tokens of fealty.
So, now dismiss your army when you please;
Hang up your ensigns, let i. drums be still,
For here we entertain a solemn peace. Ereunt.

SCENTE P.-London. A room in f.e palace. Enter King Henry, in conference with Suffolk; Gloster and Exeter following.

K. Hen. Your wond'rous 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:
And like as rigour in tempestuous gusts
Provokes the mightiest hulk against the tide;
So am I driven, by breath of her renown,
Either to suffer shipwreck, or arrive

t (4) ‘Be content to live as the beneficiary of our king.’

Where I may have fruition of her love.
Suff. Tush! my good lord! this superficial tale
Is but a preface of her worthy praise:
The chief perfections of that lovely dame
(Had I o: skill to utter them,)
Would make a volume of enticing lines,
Able to ravish any dull conceit.
And, which is more, she is not so divine,
So full replete with choice of all delights,
But, with as humble lowliness of mind,
She is content to be at your command;
Command, I mean, of virtuous chaste intents,
To love and honour Henry as her lord.
K. Hen. And otherwise will Henry ne'er pre-

surne. Therefore, my lord protector, give consent, That Margaret may be England's royal queen.

Glo. So should I give consent to flatter sin.
You know, my lord, your highness is betroth'd
Unto another lady of esteem;
How shall we then dispense with that contráct,
And not deface your honour with reproach?

Suff. As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths;
Or one, that, at a triumphl 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. Wola, I pray, is Margaret more than

at:

Her father is no better than an earl,
Although in glorious titles he excel.
Suff. Yes, my good lord, her father is a king,
The king of Naples, and Jerusalem;
And of such great authority in France,
As his alliance will confirm our peace,
And keep the Frenchmen in allegiance.
Glo. And so the earl of Armagnac may do,
Because he is near kinsman unto Charles.
Exe. Beside, his wealth doth warrant liberal
dower;
While Reignier sooner will receive, than give.
Suff. A dower, my lords! disgrace not so your

king,

That he i. be so abject, base, and poor,
To choose 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 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;2
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 opinion she should be preferr'd.
For what is wedlock forced, but a hell,
An age of discord and continual strife?
Whereas the contrary bringeth forth bliss,
And is a pattern of celestial peace.
Whom should we match, with Henry, being aking,
But Margaret, 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 spirit

More than in women commonly is seen,)

fill answer our hope in issue of a king;

For Henry, son unto a conqueror,
Is likely to beget more conquerors,
If with a lady of so high resolve,

(1) A triumph then signified a public exhibition: sch as a mask, or revel.

As is fair Margaret, he be link'd in love.

Then yield, my lords; and here conclude with me

That Margaret shall be queen, and none but she. K. Hen. 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 passion of inflaming love,
I cannot tell; but this I am assur’d,
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;
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,
I may revolve and ruminate my grief. Eart.

Glo. Ay, grief, I fear me, both at first and last.

Ereunt Gloster and Exeter. Suff. Thus Suffolk hath prevail'd: and thus he

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 Twilirule both her, the king, and realm. (Ex.

Of this play there is no copy earlier than that of the folio in 1623, though the two succeeding parts are extant in two editions in quarto. That the second and third parts were published without the first, may be admitted as no weak proof that the copies were surreptitiously obtained, and that the printers of that time gave the public those plays, not such as the author ... but such as they could get them. That this play was written before the two others is indubitably collected from the series of events; that it was written and played before Henry the Fifth is apparent; because, in the epilogue there is mention made of this play, and not of the other parts:

“The mutual conference thatmy mind hathhadi-
“By day, by night; waking, and in my dreams;
“In courtly company, or at my beads,-
“With you mine alder-liefest2 soverei
‘Makes me the bolder to salute my ki
“With ruder terms; such as my wit ord,
“And overjoy of heart doth minister.
“K. Hen. Her sight did ravish: but her grace in

speech,

* Her wood 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.

all. Long live queen Margaret, England's hap

iness :

Q. Mar. We thank you all. [Flourish.

Suff. Mylord protector, so it please your grace, Here are the articles of contracted peace, Between oursovereign and the French king Charles, ‘For eighteen months concluded by consent.

Glo. #. Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king, rles, and William de la Poole, marquess of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry king of }...”. the said Henry shall espouse the lady.Margaret, daughter unto Reignier king of Maples, Sicilia, and Jerusalem; and crown

r queen of England, ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing.—Item,--That the duchy of Anjou and the county of JMaine, shall be released and delivered to the king her father—

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.

K. Hen. Uncle of Winchester, I pray, read on.

Win. Item,--It is further agreed between them, —that the duchies of Anjou and JMaine 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, without having dowry.
K. Hen. They please us well.—Lord marquess,
kneel down;
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 in the parts of France,
Till term of eighteen months be full expir’d—
, uncle Winchester, Gloster, York, and
Buckingham,
Somerset, Salisbury, and Warwick;
We thank you all for this great favour done,
In entertainment to my princely queen.
Come, let us in; and with all speed provide
To see her coronation be perform'd.
[Exeunt King, Queen, and Suffolk.
Glo, Brave peers of England, pillars of the state,
“To you duke Humphrey must unload his grief,
* Your 5 ief, the common grief of all the land.
‘What! did my brother Henry spend his youth,
“His valour, coin, and people, in the wars?
‘Did he so often lodge in open field,
“In winter's cold, and summer's parching heat,
“To conquer France, his true inheritance?
“And did my brother Bedford toil his wits,
“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,

(1) I am the bolder to address you, having already familiarized you to my imaginaftion. (2) Beloved above all things.

‘Studied so long, sat in the council-house, ‘Early and late, debating to and fro ‘How France and Frenchmenmightbekeptin awe“And hath his highness in his infancy “Been crown'd in Paris, in despite of foes? “And shall these labours, and these honours, die? “Shall Henry's conquest, Bedford's vigilance, ‘Your deeds of war, and all our counsel, die “O peers of England, shameful is this league! ‘Fatal this marriage, cancelling your fame: “Blotting your names from books of memory : ‘Razing the characters of your renown; “Defacing monuments of conquered France; “Undoing all, as all had never been ‘Car. Nephew, what means this passionate dis course? “This peroration with such circumstance?” “For France, 'tis ours; and we will keep it still. * Glo. Ay, uncle, we will keep it, if we can; *But now it is impossible we should: Suffolk, the new-made duke that rules the roast, ‘Hath given the duchies of Anjou and Maine * Unto the poor king Reignier, whose large style *Agrees not with the leanness of his purse. *Sal. Now, by the death of him that died for all *These counties were the keys of Normandy:But wherefore weeps Warwick, my valiant son? ' War. For grief, that they are past recovery: “For, were there hope to conquer them again, ‘My sword should shed hot blood, mine eyes no tears. “Anjou and Maine! myself did win them both; “Those provinces these arms of mine did conquer: “And are the cities, that I got with wounds, “Deliver'd op again with peaceful words? “Mort Dieu ! * York. For Suffolk's duke—may he be suffocate, *That dims the honour of this warlike isle! * France should have torn and rent my very heart, * Before I would have yielded to this league. ‘I never read but England's kings have had ‘Large sums of gold, and dowries, with their “And "...si - his own And our king He ves away his own, “Tomatch with oo brings #. vantages. * Glo. A proper jest, and never heard before, * That Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth, * For costs and charges in transporting her! * She should have staid in France, and starv'd in France, * Before— * Car. Mylord of Gloster, now you grow too hot; * It was the pleasure of my lord the king. * Glo. Mylord of Winchester, I know your mind; ‘'Tis not my speeches that you do mislike, “But 'tis my presence that doth trouble you. ‘Rancour § out: Proud prelate, in thy face “I see thy fury: If I longer stay, “We shall begin our ancient bickerings.4– Lordings, farewell; and say, when I am I prophesied—France will be lost ere long. [Erit. Car. So, there goes our protector in a rage. 'Tis known to you, he is mine enemy: * Nay, more, an enemy unto you all; *And no great friend, I fear me, to the king. * Consider, lords, he is the next of blood, *And heir apparent to the English crown; * Had Henry got an empire by his marriage, *And all the wealthy kingdoms of the west, * There's reason he should be displeas'd at it.

(3) This speech crowded with so many circum stances of aggravation. (4) Skirmishings.

* Look to it, lords; let not his smoothing words

* Bewitch your hearts; be wise, and circumspect.

“What though the common people favour him,

“Calling him—Humphrey, h good duke of Gloster

“Clapping their hands, and crying with aloud voice
“Jesu maintain your royal excellence!
“With—God preserve the good duke Humphrey!
“I fear me, lords, for all this flattering gloss,
“He will be found a dangerous protector.
* Buck. Why should he then protect our sove-

lay; * I'll to oil. of Suffolk presently. Erit. “Som. Cousin of Buckingham, though Humphrey's pride, “And greatness of his place be grief to us, * Yet let us watch the haughty cardinal; * His insolence is more intolerable Than all the princes in the land beside; “If Gloster be displac'd, he'll be protector. Buck. Orthou, or I, Somerset, will be protector, * Despite duke Humphrey, or the cardinal. [Ereunt Buckingham and Somerset. Sal. Pride went before, ambition follows him. “While these do labour for their own preferment, “Behoves it us to labour for the realm. ‘I never saw but Humphrey duke of Gloster ‘Did bear him like a noble gentleman. “Oft have I seen the haughty cardinal— “More like a soldier, than a man o'the church, “As stout, and proud, as he were lord of all,— “Swear like a ruffian, and demean himself “ Unlike the ruler of a common-weal.— ‘Warwick, my son, the comfort of my age' “Thy deeds, thy plainness, and thy house-keeping, ‘Hath won the greatest favour of the commons, “Excepting none but good duke Humphrey— “And, brother York, thy acts in Ireland, ‘In bringing them to civil . “Thy late exploits, done in the heart of France, “When thouwert regent for our sovereign, “Have made thee fear'd, and honour'd, of the people:— ‘Join we together, for the public good; “In what we can to bridle and suppress “The pride of Suffolk, and the cardinal, “With Somerset's and Buckingham's ambition; “And, as wenay, cherish duke Humphrey's deeds, “While they do tend the profit of the land. * War. So God help Warwick, as he loves the

an • And common profit of his o * York. And so says York, for he hath greatest

cause. Sal. Then let's make haste away, and look unto the main. War. Unto the main' O father, Maine is lost; That Maine,which by main force Warwick did win, *And would have kept, so long as breath did last: Main chance, father, youmeant; but I meant Maine; Which I will win from France, or else be slain. [Exeunt Warwick and Salisbury. York. Anjou and Maine are given to the French; * Paris is lost; the state of Normandy *Stands on a ticklel point, now they are gone: * Suffolk concluded on the articles;

(1) For ticklish.

pillage, *And purchase friends, and give to courtezans, * Still revelling, like lords, i. be gone: * While as the silly owner of the * Weeps over them, and wrings his hapless hands, *And shakes his head, and trembling stands aloof, * While all is shar'd, and all is borne away; * Ready to starve, and dare not touch his own. * So York must sit, and fret, and bite his tongue, * While his own lands are bargain'd for, and sold. * Methinks, the realms of England, France, and " Ireland, * Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood, * As did the fatal brand Althea burn'd, * Unto the prince's heart of Calydon.2 Aniou and W. both given unto the French' à. news for me; for I had hope of France, Even as I have of fertile England's soil. A day will come, when York shall claim his own; And therefore I will take the Nevils' parts, And make a show of love to proud duke Humphrey, And, when I spy advantage, claim the crown, For that's the golden mark I seek to hit: Nor shall proud Lancaster usurp my right, Nor hold his sceptre in his childish fist, Nor wear the diadem upon his head, Whose church-like humours fit not for a crown. Then, York, be still a while, till time do serve: Watch thou, and wake, when others be asleep, To pry into the secrets of the state; Till Henry, surfeiting in joys of love, With his new bride, o Ejo, dear-bought queen, And Humphrey with the peers befall'n at jars: Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose, With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfum’d; And in my standard bear the arms of York, To grapple with the house of Lancaster; And, force perforce, I'll make him yield the crown, Whose bookish rule hath pull'd fair England down. [Exit.

SCE.N.E II.-The same. A room in the duke of Gloster's house. Enter Gloster and the Duchess.

Duch. Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd corn, Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load? * Why doth the great duke Humphrey knit his brows, *As frowning at the favours of the world? * Why are thine eyes fix’d to the sullen earth, * Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight? “What see'st thou there? king Henry's diadem, * Enchas'd with all the honours of the world? * If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face, * Until thy head be circled with the same. “Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold:— “What, is't too short? I'll lengthen it with mine: * And, having both together heav'd it up, * We'll both together lift our heads to heaven;

*And never more abase our sight so low, * As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground.

(2) Meleager; whose life was to continue only so long as a certain firebrand should last. His mother Althea having thrown it into the fire, he expired in torment.