Yet, call the ambassadors; and, as you please,
So let them have their answers every one:

I shall be well content with any choice,
Tends to God's glory, and my country's weal.

Enter a Legate, and Two Ambassadors, with WINCHESTER, in a Cardinal's Habit.

Exe. What! is my lord of Winchester install'd, And call'd unto a cardinal's degree 3!

Then, I perceive, that will be verified,
Henry the Fifth did sometime prophesy,-
If once he come to be a cardinal,

He'll make his cap co-equal with the crown.

K. Hen. My lords ambassadors, your several suits Have been consider'd and debated on.

Your purpose is both good and reasonable :
And, therefore, are we certainly resolv'd
To draw conditions of a friendly peace;
Which, by my lord of Winchester, we mean
Shall be transported presently to France.
Glo. And for the proffer of my lord your master,-
I have inform'd his highness so at large,
As-liking of the lady's virtuous gifts,
Her beauty, and the value of her dower,-
He doth intend she shall be England's queen.

K. Hen. In argument and proof of which contráct, Bear her this jewel, [To the Amb.] pledge of my affection.

And so, my lord protector, see them guarded,

3 The poet has here forgot himself. In the first act Gloster says:

'I'll canvass thee in thy broad cardinal's hat.' And it is strange that Exeter should not know of his advancement. It appears that he would imply that Winchester obtained his hat only just before his present entry. He in fact obtained it in the fifth year of Henry's reign.

And safely brought to Dover; where, inshipp'd, Commit them to the fortune of the sea.

[Exeunt KING HENRY and Train; GLOSTER, EXETER, and Ambassadors.

Win. Stay, my lord legate; you shall first receive The sum of money, which I promised

Should be deliver'd to his holiness

For clothing me in these grave ornaments.

Leg. I will attend upon your lordship's leisure. Win. Now, Winchester will not submit, I trow, Or be inferior to the proudest peer.

Humphrey of Gloster, thou shalt well perceive,
That, neither in birth, or for authority,
The bishop will be overborne by thee:
I'll either make thee stoop, and bend thy knee,
Or sack this country with a mutiny.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. France. Plains in Anjou.

Enter CHARLES, BURGUNDY, ALENÇON, LA PUCELLE, and Forces, marching.

Char. These news, my lords, may cheer our drooping spirits:

"Tis said, the stout Parisians do revolt, And turn again unto the warlike French.

Alen. Then march to Paris,royal Charles of France, And keep not back your powers in dalliance.

Puc. Peace be amongst them, if they turn to us; Else, ruin combat with their palaces!

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. Success unto our valiant general,

And happiness to his accomplices!

Char. What tidings send our scouts? I pr'ythee speak.

Mess. The English army, that divided was Into two parts, is now conjoin'd in one;

And means to give you

battle presently.

Char. Somewhat too sudden, sirs, the warning is; But we will presently provide for them.

Bur. I trust, the ghost of Talbot is not there; Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear.

Puc. Of all base passions, fear is most accurs'd:Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine; Let Henry fret, and all the world repine.

Char. Then on, my lords; And France be fortu

nate!

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. The same. Before Angiers.

Alarums: Excursions. Enter LA PUCelle.

Puc. The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly.

Now help, ye charming spells, and periapts 1;
And ye choice spirits that admonish me,
And give me signs of future accidents! [Thunder.
You speedy helpers, that are substitutes
Under the lordly monarch of the north 2,
Appear, and aid me in this enterprise !

1 Periapts were certain written charms worn about the person as preservatives from disease and danger. Of these the first chapter of St. John's Gospel was deemed the most efficacious. See Scot's Discovery of Witchcraft, 1584, p. 230, &c. The following story is related in Wits, Fits, and Fancies, 1595:- A cardinal seeing a priest carrying a cudgel under his gown, reprimanded him. His excuse was, that he only carried it to defend himself against the dogs of the town. Wherefore, I pray you, replied the cardinal, serves St. John's Gospel? Alas, my lord, said the priest, these curs understand no Latin.'

2 The monarch of the north was Zimimar, one of the four principal devils invoked by witches. The north was supposed to be the particular habitation of bad spirits. Milton assembles the rebel angels in the north.

Enter Fiends.

This speedy quick appearance argues proof
Of your accustom'd diligence to me.
Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull'd
Out of the powerful regions 3 under earth,
Help me this once, that France may get the field.
[They walk about, and speak not.
O, hold me not with silence over-long!
Where I was wont to feed you with
I'll lop a member off, and give it you,
In earnest of a further benefit;

So

my blood,

you do condescend to help me now.

[They hang their heads.

No hope to have redress?-My body shall
Pay recompense, if you will grant my suit.

[They shake their heads.

Cannot my body, nor blood-sacrifice,
Entreat
you to your
wonted furtherance?
Then take my soul; my body, soul, and all,
Before that England give the French the foil.
[They depart.
See! they forsake me. Now the time is come,
That France must vail5 her lofty-plumed crest,
And let her head fall into England's lap.
My ancient incantations are too weak,

And hell too strong for me to buckle with:
Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the dust. [Exit.

3 Warburton thought that we should read legions here, the same mistake having occurred before in this play.

4 Where for whereas, a common substitution in old writers; whereas is also sometimes used for where.

'Where now you're both a father and a son.'

Pericles.

5 To vail is to lower. See note on Merchant of Venice, Act i.

Sc. 1.

Alarums. Enter French and English, fighting. La PUCELLE and YORK fight hand to hand. La PUCELLE is taken. The French fly.

-

York. Damsel of France, I think I have you
Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms,
And try if they can gain your liberty.-
A goodly prize, fit for the devil's grace!
See, how the ugly witch doth bend her brows,
As if, with Circe, she would change my shape.

fast:

Puc. Chang'd to a worser shape thou canst not be.
York. O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man ;
No shape but his can please your dainty eye.
Puc. A plaguing mischief light on Charles, and
thee!

And may ye both be suddenly surpris'd
By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!

York. Fell, banning hag! enchantress, hold thy tongue.

Puc. I pr'ythee, give me leave to curse a while. York. Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the [Exeunt.

stake.

Alarums. Enter SUFFOLK, leading in LADY

MARGARET.

Suf. Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner.

O fairest beauty, do not fear, nor fly;

[Gazes on her.

For I will touch thee but with reverent hands,
And lay them gently on thy tender side.

6 To ban is to curse. Thus in the Jew of Malta, 1633:'I ban their souls to everlasting pain.'

So in Hamlet:

'With Hecat's ban thrice blasted."