The SECOND PART of (1) King HENRY VI A C T I. SCENE, the Palace. Flourish of trumpets: then, hautboys. Enter King Henry, Duke Humphry, Salisbury, Warwick, and Beauford on the one fide: The Queen, Suffolk, Yorky Somerfet, and Buckingham on the other. A SUFFOLK. S by your high imperial Majefty, I had in charge at my depart for France, To marry Princess Margret for your grace; So (1) The second part of K. Henry VI.] This and the third part of K. Henry VI. contain that troublefome period of this Prince's reign, which took in the whole contention betwixt the two houfes of Tork and Lancaster: And under that title were thefe two plays first acted and publish'd. The prefent fcene opens with K. Henry's marriage, which was in the 23d year of his reign; and clofes with the first battle fought at St, Albans, and won by the York faction, in the 33d year of his reign. So that it comprizes the hiftory and tranfactions of ten years. There are befides, as I have above hinted, fome intermediate incidents crouded in; which tranfgrefs upon the order of So in the famous ancient city, Tours, In prefence of the Kings of France and Sicil, In fight of England and her lordly Peers, [Prefenting the Queen to the King. To your most gracious hand; that are the fubftance Of that great fhadow I did represent: The happieft gift that ever Marquifs gave, K. Henry. Suffolk, arife. Welcome, Queen Margaret I can exprefs no kinder fign of love, Than this kind kifs. O Lord, that lend'st me life, For thou haft giv'n me, in this beauteous face, If fympathy of love unite our thoughts. Q.Mar. Great King of England, and my gracious Lord, The mutual conf'rence that my mod hath had, By day, by night, waking, and in my dreams, In courtly company or at my beads, With mine alder-liefeft Sovereign; you Makes me the bolder to falute my King With ruder terms; fuch as my wit affords, K. Henry. Her fight did ravish, but her grace in fpeech, Her words y-clad with wifdom's majesty, Make me from wond'ring fall to weeping joys, Such is the fulness of my heart's content. Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love. All kneel. Long live Queen Margret, England's hap piness! Q. Mar. We thank you all. [Flourish. time. For Eleanor Dutchefs of Gloucester's conviction and banishment for forcery, (which are here introduc'd) happen'd in the 20th year of K. Henry VI. in the 3d year before his marriage with Queen Margaret. Suff Suff My Lord Protector, fo it please your Grace, Here are the articles of contracted peace, Between our Sovereign and the French King Charles, For eighteen months concluded by confent, Glo. reads.] Imprimis, It is agreed between the French King, Charles, and William de-la Pole Marquis of Suffolk, Ambaffador for Henry King of England, that the faid Henry fhall efpoufe the Lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier King of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerufalem, and crown her Queen of England, ere the thirtieth of May next enfuing. (2) Item. That the dutchy of Anjou, and the county of Maine, fhall be released and delivered to the King her father. [Lets fall the papr. K. Henry. Uncle, how now? Glo. Pardon me, gracious Lord; Some fudden qualm hath ftruck me to the heart, Win. Item, That the dutchies of Anjou and Maine fball be releafed and delivered to the King her father, and fhe fent over of the King of England's own proper coft and charges, without having any dowry. K.. Henry. They pleafe us well. Lord Marquifs, kneel you down; We here create thee the firft Duke of Suffolk, We thank you for all this great favour done, In entertainment to my princely Queen. (2) Ere the thirteenth of May next ensuing.] This is an error only of our modern impreffions. I have fet the text right from the joint authorities of the firft old quarto, the first and fecond folio's, and the chronicles both of Hall and Holing fhead. A 41 Το To fee her coronation be perform❜d. [Exeunt King, Queen, and Suffolk. Manent the reft. Glo. Brave Peers of England, pillars of the ftate, In winter's cold, and fummer's parching heat, Have you yourfelves, Somerfet, Buckingham, How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe, And fhall these labours and thefe honours die? Car. Nephew, what means this paffionate difcourfe? This peroration with fuch circumftances? For France, 'tis ours; and we will keep it ftill. (3) Or bath mine uncle Bedford---] Here again the indolence of our modern editors is very fignal; for within fix lines Gloucefter is made to call Bedford both his brother and uncle. I have the warrant of the older books for restoring the true reading here. Glo Glo. Ay, uncle, we will keep it if we can ; Suffolk the new made Duke that rules the roaft, Sal. Now, by the death of him who dy'd for all, York. For Suffolk's Duke, may he be fuffocate, She should have ftaid in France, and ftarv'd in France, Car. My Lord of Glo'fter, now ye grow too hot :" Glo. My Lord of Winchester, I know your mind. : We shall begin our ancient bickerings. Lordings, farewel; and fay, when I am gone, Car, So, there goes our Protector in a rage: A 5 [Exit. 'Tiss |