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York. Now heaven forefend! the holy maid

with child?

War. The greatest miracle that ere ye 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.

Puc. You are deceived; my child is none of his:

It was Alençon that enjoyed my love.

York. Alençon; that notorious Machiavel! It dies an if it had a thousand lives.

Puc. O give me leave; I have deluded you: 'T was neither Charles nor yet the duke I named, But Reignier, King of Naples, that prevailed. 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 she 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 I leave my curse.

May never glorious sun reflex his beams
Upon the country where you make abode :
But darkness and the gloomy shade of death
Environ you, till mischief and despair
Drive you to break your necks or hang your-
selves!

[Exit guarded.

York. Break thou in pieces and consume to ashes,

Thou foul accurséd 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, Moved with remorse of these outrageous broils, Have earnestly implored a general peace Betwixt our nation and the aspiring French: And here at hand the Dauphin and his train Approacheth, to confer about some matter.

York. Is all our travail turned 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 peace? Have we not lost most part of all the towns, By treason, falsehood, and by treachery,

Our great progenitors had conqueréd?—
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,

It shall be with such strict and severe covenants,

As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby.

Enter CHARLES, attended; ALENcon, Bastard, REIGNIER, and others.

Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed That peaceful truce shall be proclaimed 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 poisoned voice,
By sight of these our baleful enemies.

Win. 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 placed 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.

Char. "Tis known already that I am possessed With more than half the Gallian territories, And therein reverenced for their lawful king: Shall I, for lucre of the rest unvanquished, Detract so much from that prerogative As to be called 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

means

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 contract:
If once it be neglected, ten to one
We shall not find like opportunity.

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Is but a preface of her worthy praise:
The chief perfections of that lovely dame
(Had I sufficient 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

sume.

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 betrothed Unto another lady of esteem:

How shall 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 vowed
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.
Suf. 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.

Suf. A dower, my lords! disgrace not so your

King,

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,

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 preferred.
For what is wedlock forcéd 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 a

king,

But Margaret, that is daughter to a king?
Her peerless feature, joinéd 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),
Will 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
As is fair Margaret he be linked 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 assured,
I feel such sharp dissention 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 crowned
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

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