Chapter 6

Puc. Oh giue me leaue, I haue deluded you, 'Twas neyther Charles, nor yet the Duke I nam'd, But Reignier King of Naples that preuayl'd

War. A married man, that's most intollerable

Yor. Why here's a Gyrle: I think she knowes not wel (There were so many) whom she may accuse

War. It's signe she hath beene liberall and free

Yor. And yet forsooth she is a Virgin pure. Strumpet, thy words condemne thy Brat, and thee. Vse no intreaty, for it is in vaine

Pu. Then lead me hence: with whom I leaue my curse. May neuer glorious Sunne reflex his beames Vpon the Countrey where you make abode: But darknesse, and the gloomy shade of death Inuiron you, till Mischeefe and Dispaire, Driue you to break your necks, or hang your selues.

Exit

Enter Cardinall.

Yorke. Breake thou in peeces, and consume to ashes, Thou fowle accursed minister of Hell

Car. Lord Regent, I do greete your Excellence With Letters of Commission from the King. For know my Lords, the States of Christendome, Mou'd with remorse of these out-ragious broyles, Haue earnestly implor'd a generall peace, Betwixt our Nation, and the aspyring French; And heere at hand, the Dolphin and his Traine Approacheth, to conferre about some matter

Yorke. Is all our trauell turn'd to this effect, After the slaughter of so many Peeres, So many Captaines, Gentlemen, and Soldiers, That in this quarrell haue beene ouerthrowne, And sold their bodyes for their Countryes benefit, Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace? Haue we not lost most part of all the Townes, By Treason, Falshood, and by Treacherie, Our great Progenitors had conquered: Oh Warwicke, Warwicke, I foresee with greefe The vtter losse of all the Realme of France

War. Be patient Yorke, if we conclude a Peace It shall be with such strict and seuere Couenants, As little shall the Frenchmen gaine thereby. Enter Charles, Alanson, Bastard, Reignier.

Char. Since Lords of England, it is thus agreed, That peacefull truce shall be proclaim'd in France, We come to be informed by your selues, What the conditions of that league must be

Yorke. Speake Winchester, for boyling choller chokes The hollow passage of my poyson'd voyce, By sight of these our balefull enemies

Win. Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus: That in regard King Henry giues consent, Of meere compassion, and of lenity, To ease your Countrie of distressefull Warre, And suffer you to breath in fruitfull peace, You shall become true Liegemen to his Crowne. And Charles, vpon condition thou wilt sweare To pay him tribute, and submit thy selfe, Thou shalt be plac'd as Viceroy vnder him, And still enioy thy Regall dignity

Alan. Must he be then as shadow of himselfe? Adorne his Temples with a Coronet, And yet in substance and authority, Retaine but priuiledge of a priuate man? This proffer is absurd, and reasonlesse

Char. 'Tis knowne already that I am possest With more then halfe the Gallian Territories, And therein reuerenc'd for their lawfull King. Shall I for lucre of the rest vn-vanquisht, Detract so much from that prerogatiue, As to be call'd but Viceroy of the whole? No Lord Ambassador, Ile rather keepe That which I haue, than coueting for more Be cast from possibility of all

Yorke. Insulting Charles, hast thou by secret meanes Vs'd intercession to obtaine a league, And now the matter growes to compremize, Stand'st thou aloofe vpon Comparison. Either accept the Title thou vsurp'st, Of benefit proceeding from our King, And not of any challenge of Desert, Or we will plague thee with incessant Warres

Reig. My Lord, you do not well in obstinacy, To cauill in the course of this Contract: If once it be neglected, ten to one We shall not finde like opportunity

Alan. To say the truth, it is your policie, To saue your Subiects from such massacre And ruthlesse slaughters as are dayly seene By our proceeding in Hostility, And therefore take this compact of a Truce, Although you breake it, when your pleasure serues

War. How sayst thou Charles? Shall our Condition stand? Char. It Shall: Onely reseru'd, you claime no interest In any of our Townes of Garrison

Yor. Then sweare Allegeance to his Maiesty, As thou art Knight, neuer to disobey, Nor be Rebellious to the Crowne of England, Thou nor thy Nobles, to the Crowne of England. So, now dismisse your Army when ye please: Hang vp your Ensignes, let your Drummes be still, For heere we entertaine a solemne peace.

Exeunt.

Actus Quintus.

Enter Suffolke in conference with the King, Glocester, and Exeter.

King. Your wondrous rare description (noble Earle) Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me: Her vertues graced with externall gifts, Do breed Loues setled passions in my heart, And like as rigour of tempestuous gustes Prouokes the mightiest Hulke against the tide, So am I driuen by breath of her Renowne, Either to suffer Shipwracke, or arriue Where I may haue fruition of her Loue

Suf. Tush my good Lord, this superficiall tale, Is but a preface of her worthy praise: The cheefe perfections of that louely Dame, (Had I sufficient skill to vtter them) Would make a volume of inticing lines, Able to rauish any dull conceit. And which is more, she is not so Diuine, So full repleate with choice of all delights, But with as humble lowlinesse of minde, She is content to be at your command: Command I meane, of Vertuous chaste intents, To Loue, and Honor Henry as her Lord

King. And otherwise, will Henry ne're presume: Therefore my Lord Protector, giue consent, That Marg'ret may be Englands Royall Queene

Glo. So should I giue consent to flatter sinne, You know (my Lord) your Highnesse is betroath'd Vnto another Lady of esteeme, How shall we then dispense with that contract, And not deface your Honor with reproach? Suf. As doth a Ruler with vnlawfull Oathes, Or one that at a Triumph, hauing vow'd To try his strength, forsaketh yet the Listes By reason of his Aduersaries oddes. A poore Earles daughter is vnequall oddes, And therefore may be broke without offence

Gloucester. Why what (I pray) is Margaret more then that? Her Father is no better than an Earle, Although in glorious Titles he excell

Suf. Yes my Lord, her Father is a King, The King of Naples, and Ierusalem, And of such great Authoritie in France, As his alliance will confirme our peace, And keepe the Frenchmen in Allegeance

Glo. And so the Earle of Arminacke may doe, Because he is neere Kinsman vnto Charles

Exet. Beside, his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower, Where Reignier sooner will receyue, than giue

Suf. A Dowre my Lords? Disgrace not so your King, That he should be so abiect, base, and poore, To choose for wealth, and not for perfect Loue. Henry is able to enrich his Queene, And not to seeke a Queene to make him rich, So worthlesse Pezants bargaine for their Wiues, As Market men for Oxen, Sheepe, or Horse. Marriage is a matter of more worth, Then to be dealt in by Atturney-ship: Not whom we will, but whom his Grace affects, Must be companion of his Nuptiall bed. And therefore Lords, since he affects her most, Most of all these reasons bindeth vs, In our opinions she should be preferr'd. For what is wedlocke forced? but a Hell, An Age of discord and continuall strife, Whereas the contrarie bringeth blisse, And is a patterne of Celestiall peace. Whom should we match with Henry being a King, But Margaret, that is daughter to a King: Her peerelesse feature, ioyned with her birth, Approues her fit for none, but for a King. Her valiant courage, and vndaunted spirit, (More then in women commonly is seene) Will answer our hope in issue of a King. For Henry, sonne vnto a Conqueror, Is likely to beget more Conquerors, If with a Lady of so high resolue, (As is faire Margaret) he be link'd in loue. Then yeeld my Lords, and heere conclude with mee, That Margaret shall be Queene, and none but shee

King. Whether it be through force of your report, My Noble Lord of Suffolke: Or for that My tender youth was neuer yet attaint With any passion of inflaming Loue, I cannot tell: but this I am assur'd, I feele such sharpe dissention in my breast, Such fierce alarums both of Hope and Feare, As I am sicke with working of my thoughts. Take therefore shipping, poste my Lord to France, Agree to any couenants, and procure That Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come To crosse the Seas to England, and be crown'd King Henries faithfull and annointed Queene. For your expences and sufficient charge, Among the people gather vp a tenth. Be gone I say, for till you do returne, I rest perplexed with a thousand Cares. And you (good Vnckle) banish all offence: If you do censure me, by what you were, Not what you are, I know it will excuse This sodaine execution of my will. And so conduct me, where from company, I may reuolue and ruminate my greefe. Enter.

Glo. I greefe I feare me, both at first and last.

Exit Glocester.

Suf. Thus Suffolke hath preuail'd, and thus he goes As did the youthfull Paris once to Greece, With hope to finde the like euent in loue, But prosper better than the Troian did: Margaret shall now be Queene, and rule the King: But I will rule both her, the King, and Realme.

Exit

FINIS.

Transcriber’s Notes:

• New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.