By fight of these our baleful enemies.

Win. Charles and the reft, it is enacted thus:
That in regard King Henry gives confent,
Of mere compaffion and of lenity,

To ease your country of diftressful war,
And fuffer 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 thy felf,
Thou shalt be plac'd as viceroy under him,
And ftill enjoy thy regal dignity..

Alan. Muft he be then a fhadow of himself;
Adorn his temples with a coronet,

And yet in fubftance and authority
Retain but privilege of a private man? -
This proffer is abfurd and realonless.

Char: 'Tis known already that I am poffefs'd.

Of more than half the Gallian territories,
And therein rev'renc'd for their lawful king.
Shall I, for lucre of the reft un-vanquifh'd,
Detract fo much from that prerogative,
As to be call'd but Viceroy of the whole?
No, Lord Ambassador, I'll rather keep-
That which I have, than, coveting for more,
Becaft from poflibility of all.

York. Infulting Charles, haft thou by fecret means Us'd interceflion to obtain a league;

And now the matter grows to compromife,
Stand'st thou aloof upon comparison?

Either accept the title thou ufurp'ft,

*

Of benefit proceeding from our King,

And not of any challenge of desert,

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 shall not find like opportunity.

Alan. To fay the truth, it is your policy

To fave your fubjects from fuch malfacre

Benefit is here a term of law. Be content to live

as the beneficiary of our king. Johnson.

And ruthless flaughters, as are daily seen
By our proceeding in hoftility.

And therefore take this compact of a truce, Although you break it when your pleasure ferves. [Afide to the Dauphin.

War. How fay'ft thou, Charles? fhall our condition ftand?

Char. It fhall:

Only referv'd, you claim no interest

In any of our towns of garrifon.

York. Then fwear allegiance to his Majefty:
As thou art Knight, never to disobey,

Nor be rebellious to the crown of England,
Thou, nor thy nobles, to the crown of England.

[Charles and the rest give tokens of fealty. -So now difmifs your ariny when you please; Hang up your enfigns, let your drums be ftill, For here we entertain a folemn peace. [Exeunt.

Enter Suffolk, in conference with King Henry Gloucester, and Exeter.

K. Henry. Your wondrous rare description, noble
Earl,

Of beauteous Margret, hath aftonich'd me;
Her virtues, graced with external gifts,
Do breed love's fettled pallions in my heart.
And, like as rigour of tempeftuous gufts
Provokes the mightieft hulk against the tide,
So am I driv'n 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 to her worthy praile.
The chief perfections of that lovely dame,
Had I fufficient skill to utter them,
Would make a volume of inticing lines,
Able to ravish any dull conceit.

And, which is more, the is not fo divine,.

So full replete with choice of all delights,
But with as humble lowlinefs of mind
She is content to be at your command,
Command, I mean, of virtuous chafte intent,
To love and honour Henry as her lord.

K. Henry. And otherwife will Henry ne'er prefume.

Therefore, my Lord Protector, give confent

That Margret may be England's royal Queen.
Glou. So fhould I give confent to flatter fin.
You know, my Lord, your Highness is betroth'.
Unto another lady of esteem.

How fhall we then difpenfe 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 vow'd
To try his ftrength, forfaketh yet the lifts,
By reafon of his adversary's odds.

A poor Earl's daughter is unequal odds;

And therefore may be broke without offence. Glou. Why, what, I pray, is Margret 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 Jerufalem; And of fuch great authority in France, That his alliance will confirm our peace, And keep the Frenchmen in allegiance.

Glou. And fo the Earl of Armagnac may do, Because he is near kinfman unto Charles.

Exet. Befide, his wealth doth warrant lib'ral dow'r,

While Reignier fooner will receive than give.

Suf. A dow'r, my Lords! Disgrace not fo your

King,

That he should be fo abject, bafe 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 peasants bargain for their wives,
As market-men for oxen, theep or horfe.

"

But marriage is a matter of more worth,
Than to be dealt in by attorney (hip:

Not whom we will, but whom his Grace affects,
Must be companion of his nuptial bed.
And therefore, Lords, fince he affects her moft,
It most of all these reasons bindeth us,
In our opinions fhe fhould 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 fhould we match with Henry, being a king,
But Margret 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 spirit,
More than in woman commonly is seen,
Answer our hope in issue 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 Marg'ret, he be link'd in love.

Then yield, my Lords, and here conclude with me,
That Margret fhall be Queen, and none but she.
K. Henry. 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 paffion of inflaming love,
I cannot tell; but this I am affur'd,
I feel fuch fharp diffention in my breaft,
Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear,
As I am fick with workings of my thoughts.
Take therefore fhipping; poft, my Lord, to France;
Agree to any covenants; and procure

That Lady Margret do vouchfafe 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 am perplexed with a thousand cares.

And you, good uncle, banish ali 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 condu& me, where, from company,
I may revolve and ruminate my grief. [Exit.
Glou. Ay, grief, I fear me, both at first and laft.
[Exit Gloucefter.
Suf. Thus Suffolk hath prevail'd, and thus he

goes,

As did the youthful Paris once to Greece:
We hope to find the like event in love;
But profper better than the Trojan did.
Margret fhall now be Queen, and rule the King;
But I will rule both her, the King, and realm. [Exit.