To ease your country of diftrefsful war,
And fuffer you to breathe in fruitful peace;
You fhall become true liegemen to his crown.
And Charles, upon condition thou wilt fwear
To pay him tribute and fubmit thy felf,
Thou shalt be plac'd as Viceroy under him,
And still enjoy thy regal dignity.

Alan. Muft he be then a fhadow of himself?
Adorn his temples with a coronet,
And yet in fubftance and authority ok
Retain but privilege of a private man ? rohinat
This proffer is abfurd and reafonless. Ces lactal
Char. 'Tis known already that I am poffeft
Of more than half the Gallian territories,
And therein rev'renc'd for their lawful King."
Shall I for lucre of the reft un-vanquish'd,
Detract fo much from that prerogative,

As to be call'd but Viceroy of the whole et le)
No, lord ambaffador, I'll rather keep ros fiel in sw Hado
That which I have, than coveting for more:

Be caft from poffibility of all.

Tork. Infulting Charles, haft thou by fecret means

Us'd interceffion to obtain a league,

And now the matter grows to compromise,

Stand'ft thou aloof upon comparifon ?

Either accept the title thou ufurp'st,

Of benefit proceeding from our King, od dodieln
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 fay the truth, it is your policy

To fave your fubjects from fuch maffacre

And ruthlefs flaughters, as are daily feening welled side By our proceeding in hoftility. mo stadt to

And therefore take this compact of a truce,

Although you break it when your pleafure ferves. rad

[Afide to the Dauphin.

War.

War. How fay'ft thou, Charles? fhall our condition

ftand?

Char. It fhall:

Only referv'd you claim no interest nesm
In any of our towns of garrison.

York. Then fwear allegiance to his Majefty,
As thou are Knight, never to disobey
Nor be rebellious to the crown of England:
Thou, nor thy nobles, to the crown of England.
So now dismiss your army when you please :
Hang up your enfigns, let you drums be ftill,
For here we entertain a folemn peace.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

VIII.

Changes to England,

Enter Suffolk in conference with King Henry, Gloucester

K. Henry. You
YOUR

and Exeter.

YOUR wond'rous rare defcription, noble Earl,

my

Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me:
Her virtues graced with external gifts,
Do breed love's fettled paffions in heart.
And like as rigour of tempeftuous guits
Provokes the mightieft hulk against the tide,
So am I driv'n by breath of her renown,
Either to fuffer fhipwrack, 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 praife:
The chief perfections of that lovely dame
(Had I fufficient skill to utter them)
Would make a volume of inticing lines,
Able to ravish any dull conceit.

And which is more, fhe is not fo divine,

So

So full repleat 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 chafte intents,
To love and honour Henry as her lord,

K. Henry. And otherwife will Henry ne'er prefume :
Therefore, my lord protector, give consent
That Margret may be England's Royal Queen.
Glos. So fhould I give confent to flatter fin.
You know, my lord, your highness is betroth'd
Unto another lady of esteem.

How shall we then dispense with the 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 Marg’ret more than that? Her father is no better than an Earl,

Although in glorious titles he excell.

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 fo abject, bafe and poor,
To chufe for wealth, and not for perfect love.
Henry is able to enrich his Queen,

And not to feek a Queen to make him rich.
So worthless peasants 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 attornyfhip:

Not

Not whom we will, but whom his grace affects,
Must be companion of his nuptial bed.
And therefore, lords, fince he affects her moft,
It most of all thefe reafons bindeth us,
In our opinions she should be preferr'd;
For what is wedlock forced, but a hell,
An age of difcord and continual ftrife?
Whereas the contrary bringeth forth blifs,
And is a pattern of celestial peace.

Whom should me 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 feen,
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 fhe.

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 fuch fharp diffention in my breaft,
Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear,
As I am fick with working of my thoughts.
Take therefore fhipping; poft, my lord, to France,
Agree to any covenants, and procure
That lady Margret do vouchlafe 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:

If

If 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 first and laft. [Exit Gloucefter. Suf. Thus Suffolk hath prevail'd, and thus he goes, As did the youthful Paris once to Greece, With 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