If thou wilt condefcend to be my—
Mar. What ?
Suf. His love.
Mar. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife.
Suf. No, gentle madam; I unworthy am
To woo fo fair a dame to be his wife,
And have no portion in the choice myself.
How fay you, madam; are you so content?
Mar. An if my father pleafe, I am content.
Suf. Then call our captains, and our colours,
forth:
And, madam, at your father's caftle walls
We'll crave a parley to confer with him.
Sound. Enter Regnier on the Walls.
Suf. See, Reignier, fee, thy daughter prifoner.
Reig. To whom?
Reig. Suffolk, what remedy?
I am a foldier; and unapt to weep,
Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.
Suf. Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord:
Confent, (and, for thy honour, give confent)
Thy daughter fhall be wedded to my king;
Whom I with pain have woo'd and won thereto;
And this her eafy-held imprifonment
Hath gain'd thy daughter princely liberty.
Reig. Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?
Suf. Fair Margaret knows,
That Suffolk doth not flatter, face or feign.
Reg. Upon thy princely warrant, I defcend,
To give thee aufwer of thy juft demand.
om the walls.
Suf. And here I will expect thy coming.
Trumpets found. Enter Reignier, below.
Reig. Welcome, brave earl, into our territories;
Command in Anjou what your honour pleases.
Saf. Thanks, Reignier, happy for fo fweet a
child,
Fit to be made companion with a king:
What answer makes your grace unto my fuit?
Reig. Since thou doft deign to woo her little
To be the princely bride of fuch a lord; [worth,
Upon condition I may quietly
Enjoy mine own, the countries Maine and Anjou,
Free from oppretion, or the ftroke of war,
My daughter fhall be Henry's, if he please.
Suf. That is her ranfom, I deliver her ;
And those two countries, I will undertake,
Your grace fhall well and quietly enjoy.
Reig. And I again,-in Henry's royal name,
As deputy unto that gracious king,-
Give thee her hand, for fign of plighted faith.
Saf. Reignier of France, 1 give thee kingly
2 i. c. wild or uncultivated.
Reig. I do embrace thee, as I would embrace The Chriftian prince, king Henry, were he here. Mar. Farewel, my lord! Good wishes, praife,
Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret. [She is going.
Suf. Farewel, fweet madam! But hark you,
Margaret;
No princely commendations to my king?
Mar. Such commendations as become a maid,
A virgin, and his fervant, fay to him. [rected.
Suf. Words fweetly plac'd, and modeftly di-
But, madam, I must trouble you again,--
No loving token to his majesty ?
[heart,
Mar. Yes, my good lord; a pure unspotted
Never yet taint with love, I fend the king.
Suf. And this withal.
[Kiffes ber
Mar. That for thyfelf;-I will not fo prefume,
To fend fuch peevish tokens to a king.
[Exeunt Reignier and Margaret.
Suf. O, wert thou for myfelf!-But, Suffolk,
Thou may'st not wander in that labyrinth; [ftay,
There Minotaurs and ugly treafons lurk.
Solicit Henry with her wond'rous praise:
Bethink thee on her virtues that furmount,
Mad 2, natural graces that extinguish art;
Repeat their femblance often on the feas,
That, when thou com'ft to kneel at Henry's feet,
Thou may'ft bereave him of his wits with wonder.
[Exits
Camp of the Duke of York in Anjou.
Enter York, Warwick, a Shepherd, and Pucelle.
York. Bring forth that forcerefs, condemn'd to
Shep. Ah, Joan! this kills thy father's heart out-
Have I fought every country far and near,
And now it is my chance to find thee out,
Muft I behold thy timeless 3 cruel death?
Ah, Joan, fweet daughter Joan, I'll die with thee
Pucel. Decrepit mifer 4 bate ignoble wretch!
I am defcended of a gentler blood!
Thou art no father, nor no friend of mine.
Shep. Out, out!My lords, an please you,
'tis not fo;
I did beget her, all the parish knows;
Her mother liveth yet, can teftify
She was the firft-fruit of my batchelorship.
War. Graceless! wilt thou deny thy parentage?
York. This argues what her kind of life hath been;
Wicked and vile; and fo her death concludes.
Shep. Fie, Joan! that thou wilt be so obstacle S Į
God knows, thou art a collop of my flesh;
And for thy fake have I fhed many a tear:
Deny me not, I pr'ythee, gentle Joan. [this man
Pusel. Pealant, avaunt!-You have fuborn'd
Of purpose to obfcure my noble birth.
Shep. 'Tis true, I gave a noble to the priest,
The morn that I was wedded to her mother.--
Kneel down and take my blefling, good my girl.
Wilt thou not stoop? Now curfed be the time
3 i. e. untimely. 4 Mifer has no relation to avarice in this paffage, but fimply means a miferable creature. 5 A vulgar corruption of obflimate,
Of thy nativity! I would, the milk
Thy mother gave thee, when thou fuck'eft her
Had been a little ratibane for thy fake!
[breaft, May never glorious fun reflex his beams
Upon the country where you make abode !
But darknefs, and the gloomy fhade of death
Environ you; 'till mischief, and despair,
Drive you to break your necks, or hang yourfelves!
[Exit guarded.
Or elfe, when thou didft keep my lambs a-field, 1 with fome ravenous wolf had eaten thee! Doft thou deny thy father, curied drab?
O, burn her, burn her; hanging is too good. [Exit.
Yok. Take her away; for the hath liv'd too
To fill the world with vicicus qualities. [long,
Pucel. First, let me tell you whom you have
condemn'd:
Not me begotten of a fhepherd fwain,
But ifiued from the progeny of kings;
Virtuous, and holy; chofen from above,
By inspiration of celeftial grace,
To work exceeding miracles on earth.
I never had to do with wicked spirits:
But you, that are polluted with your lufts,
Stain'd with the guiltlefs blood of innocents,
Corrupt and tainted with a thousand vices,--
Because you want the grace that others have,
You judge it ftraight a thing impotlible
To compafs wonders, but by help of devils.
No, monceived! Joan of Arc hath been
A virgin from her tender infancy,
Chafte and immaculate in very thought;
Whofe maiden blood, thus rigorously effus'd,
Will cry for vengeance at the gates of heaven.
York. Ay, ay;-away with her to execution.
War. And hark ye, firs; because the is a maid,
Spare for no faggots, let there be enough:
Place barrels of pitch upon the fatal stake,
That fo her torture may be fhorten'd.
York. Break thou in pieces, and confume to Thou foul accurfed minifter of hell! Lathes,
Enter Cardinal Beaufort, &c.
Car. Lord regent, I do greet your excellence With letters of commiflion from the king. For know, my lords, the ftates of Chriftendom, Mov'd with remorse at these outrageous broils, Have earneftly implor'd a general peace Betwixt our nation and the afpiring French; And fee at hand the Dauphin, and his train, Approacheth, to confer about fome matters.
York. Is all our travel turn'd to this effect? After the flaughter of fo many peers, So many captains, gentlemen, and foldiers, That in this quarrel have been overthrown, And fold their bodies for their country's benefit, Shall we at laft conclude cffeminate peace › Have we not loft most part of all the towns, By treason, falfhood, and by treachery, Our great progenitors had conquered ?— Oh, Warwick, Warwick! 1 forcice with grief The utter lofs of all the realm of France.
War. Be patient, York; if we conclude a peace, It fhall be with fuch strict and severe covenants, As little fhall the Frenchmen gain thereby.
Enter Charles, Alencon, Baftard, and Reignier. Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed,
Pucel.Will nothing turn your unrelenting hearts?-- That peaceful truce shall be proclaim'd in France,
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York. Now heaven forefend! the holy maid with War. The greatett miracle that e'er ye wrought: Is all your ftrict precifencf come to this?
York. She and the Dauphin have been juggling: I did imagine what would be her refuge. [live; War. Well, go to; we will have no batards Efpecially fince Charles nuft father it.
Pucel. You are deceiv'd; my child is none of his; It was Alencon that enjoy'd my love.
Yerk. Alencon! that notorious Machiavel; It dies, an if it had a thousand lives.
Pucel. O, give me leave, I have deluded you; 'Twas neither Charles, nor yet the duke I nam'd, But Reignier, king of Naples, that prevail'd. Har. A manied man! that's moit intolerable. Tork. Why, here's a girl! I think he knows not well,
There were to many, whom he may accufe.
War. It' fign, the hath been Fberal and free.
York. And, yet, forlooth, the is avirgin pure.-
Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat, and thee:
Lie ro intresty, for it is in vain."
my curte:
Pach. Then lead me lance; -with whom leave
We come to be informed by yourselves
What the conditions of that league must be.
York. Speak, Winchefter; for boiling choler choaks
The hollow patlage of my poison'd voice,
By fight of these our baleful enemies.
I in. Charles, and the reft, it is enacted thus:
That-in regard king Henry gives confent,
Of meer compailion, and of lenity,
To eafe your country of diftressful war,
And furler 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 thyself,
Thou shalt be plac'd as viceroy under him,
And ftill enjoy thy regal dignity.
Alen. Muft he be then as thadow of himself,
Adorn his temples with a coronet 2;
And yet, in substance and authority,
Retain but privilege of a private man?
This proffer is abfurd and reasonless.
Char. 'Tis known, already that I am poffefs'd
Of more than half the Gallian territories,
And therein reverenc'd for their lawful king:
Shall I, for lucre of the rest unvanquish'd,
Detract fo much from that prerogative,
As to be call'd but viceroy of the whole?
No, lord embassador; I'll rather keep
Bateful had anciently the fame meaning as bantful.
2 Coronet is here used for a crown.
That which I have, than, coveting for more,
Be catt from poflibility of all.
(means
York. Infulting Charles! haft thou by fecret
Ued interceflion to obtain a league ;
And, now the matter grows to compromife,
Stand'ft thou aloof upon companion?
Either accept the title thou ufurp'ft,
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 courfe of this contract:
If once it be neglected, ten to one,
We fhall not find like opportunity.
den. To fay the truth, it is your policy,
To fave your subjects from fuch mailacre,
And ruthless flaughters, as are daily feen
By our proceeding in hoftility:
And therefore take this compact of a truce,
Although you break it when your pleasure ferves.
[ifid, to the Dauphin.
War. How fay'ft thou, Charles? fhall our con-
dition ftand?
Char. It fhall:
Only referv'd, you claim no interest
In 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.—
[Charles and thewift give tokens of fealty.
So, now difmifs your army when ye pleafe;
Hang up your enfigns, let your drums be still,
For here we entertain a folemn peace.
SCENE VI.
Enter Suffolk, in conference with King Henry;
Gloftor, and Exeter.
K. Henry. And otherwife will Henry ne'er pre-
Therefore, my lord protector, give confent,
That Margaret may be England's royal queen.
Gb. So thould I give confent to flatter fin.
You know, my lord, your highness is betroth'ʼn
Unto another lady of efteem;
How fhall we then difpenfe with that contract,
And not deface your honour with reproach?
Sf. As dot a ruler with unlawful oaths;
Or one, that, at a triumph 2 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.
G. Why, what, I pray, is Margaret more than
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,
As his alliance will confirm our peace,
And keep the Frenchmen in allegiance.
Gh. And fo the earl of Armagnac may do,
Because he is near kinfman unto Charles.
Exe. Befide, his wealth doth warrant liberal
dower;
While Reignier fooner will receive than give.
Suf. A dower, my lords! difgrace not fo your
king,
That he fhould be fo abject, base, 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 peafants bargain for their wives,
As market-men for oxen, theep, or horse.
But marriage is a matter of more worth,
Than to be dealt in by attorneyfhip 3;
Not whom we will, but whom his grace affects,
Muft be companion of his nuptial bed:
And therefore, lords, fince he affects her moft,
K. Henry. Your wondrous rare defcription, It molt of all thefe reafons bindeth us,
Of beauteous Margaret hath aftonifh'd me:
Her virtues, graced with external gifts,
Do breed love's fettled palions in my heart:
And like as rigour of tempeftuous gufts
Provokes the mightieft hulk against the tide ;
So am I driven, by breath of her renown,
Either to fuffer fhipwreck, or arrive
Where I may have fruition of her love.
Suf. Tuth, my good lord! this fuperficial tale
Is but a preface of her worthy praise :
The chief perfections of that lovely dame
(Had I fufficient fkill to utter them)
Would make a volume of enticing lines,
Able to ravifh any dull conceit.
And, which is more, the is not fo divine,
So full replete with choice of all delights,
But, with as humbie lowlinefs of mind,
She is content to be at your command;
Command, I mean, of virtuous chafte intents,
In our opinions fhe thould 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 celeftial peace.
Whom should we match with Henry, being a king,
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 fpirit,
(More than in woman commonly is feen) will
Aufwer our hope in itfue 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 Margaret, he be link'd in love.
Then yield, my lords; and here conclude with me,
That Margaret fhall be queen, and none but the.
K. Henry. Whether it be through force of your
My noble lord of Suffolk; or for that [report,
1 Benefit is here a term of law. Be content to live as the beneficiary of our king. 2 That is, at the fports by which a triumph is celebrated. 3 i. e. by the difcretional agency of anothce.
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 breast,
Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear,
As I am fick 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 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 reft perplexed with a thousand cares.--
And you, good uncle, banish all offence :
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,
may revolve and ruminate my grief 2. [Exit.
Glo. Ay, grief, I fear me, both at first and last.
[Exeunt Glofter and Exeter.
Suf. Thus Suffolk hath prevail'd: and thus he
As did the youthful Paris once to Greece; [goes,
With hope to find the like event in love,
But profper better than the Trojan did.
Margaret fhall now be queen, and rule the king:
But I will rule both her, the king, and realm.
[Exit.
judge. 2 Grief in this line is taken generally for pain or uneafinefs; in the line that follows, fpecially for forrow.
VAUX, a Sea Captain, and WALTER WHIT-
MORE, Pirates.
A Herald. HUME and SOUTHWELL, W
Pricfts.
BOLINGBROKE, an Aftrologer.
A Spirit, attending on Jordan the Witch.
THOMAS HORNER, an Armourer. PETER, bis
Man.
Clerk of Chatham. Mayor of Saint Albans.
SIMPCOX, an Impoftor.
JACK CADE, BEVIS, MICHAEL, JOHN HOL-
LAND, DICK the Butcher, SMITH the Weaver,
and feveral others, Rebels.
MARGARET, Queen to King Henry VI.
Dame ELEANOR, Wife to the Duke of Glofter.
Mother JORDAN, a Witch.
Petitioners, Aldermen, a Beadle, Sheriff, and Officers, Citizens, with Faulconers, Guards, Messengers
The SCENE is laid very difperfedly in feveral Parts of England.
In fight of England and her lordly peers,
Deliver up my title in the queen
To your moft gracious hand, that are the substance
Of that great fhadow I did represent ;
The happieft gift that ever marquefs gave,
The faireft queen that ever king receiv'd.
K. Hen. Suffolk, arife.-Welcome, queen Mar-
garet:
I can exprefs no kinder fign of love,
Than this kind kifs-O Lord, that lends me life,
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!
For thou haft given me, in this beauteous face,
A world of earthly bleflings to my foul,
If fympathy of love unite our thoughts.
2. Mar. Great king of England, and my gra-
cious lord;
The mutual conference that my mind hath had-
By day, by night; waking, and in my dreams;
1 This and the Third Part (which were firft written under the title of The Contention of York and Lancafter, printed in 1600, and afterwards greatly improved by the author) contain that troublefom period of this prince's reign which took in the whole contention betwixt the houfes of York and Lancatter; and under that title were these two play's firft acted and published. The prefent feene opens with king Henry's marriage, which was in the twenty-third year of his reign; and clofes with the fir battle fought at St. Albans, and won by the York faction, in the thirty-third year of his reigu: fo that it comprizes the hiftory and tranfactions of ten years. It is apparent that this play begins where the former ends, and continues the ieries of tranfactions of which it pre-fuppofes the First Part already known.
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