SCENE V.-London. A Room in the Palace. Enter KING HENRY, in conference with SUFFOLK; GLOSTER and K. Hen. Your wondrous rare description, noble earl, Do breed love's settled passions in my heart: Suf. Tush, my good lord,—this superficial tale K. Hen. My lord protector, give consent, How shall we, then, dispense with that contract, Suf. As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths; Or one that, at a triumph having vow'd A poor earl's daughter is unequal odds, And therefore may be broke without offence. Glo. Why, what, I pray, is Margaret 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 Jerusalem; Glo. And so the earl of Armagnac may do, Exe. Beside, his wealth doth warrant liberal dower; Where Reignier sooner will receive, than give. Suf. A dower, my lords! disgrace not so your king, That he should be so abject, base, and poor, To choose for wealth, and not for perfect love. And not to seek a queen to make him rich: Not whom we will, but whom his grace affects, Whom should we match with Henry, being a king, Then yield, my lords; and here conclude with me K. Hen. Whether it be through force of your report, My noble lord of Suffolk, or for that My tender youth was never yet attaint I feel such sharp dissension in my breast, Take, therefore, shipping; post, my lord, to France; Not what you are, I know it will excuse And so, conduct me where, from company, Glo. Ay, grief, I fear me, both at first and last. [Exit. [Exeunt GLOSTER and EXETER. Suf. Thus Suffolk hath prevail'd; and thus he goes, As did the youthful Paris once to Greece, With hope to find the like event in love, But prosper better than the Trojan did. Margaret shall now be queen, and rule the king; But I will rule both her, the king, and realm. [Exit. THE HISTORY OF KING HENRY VI. PART IL THE Second Part of Henry VI. appears to be an enlargement and improvement of an older play written by the author, in the earlier period of his dramatic career. That play was printed under the title of "The first part of the Contention betwixt the two famous houses of Yorke and Lancaster, with the death of the goode Duke Humphrey: And the banishment and death of the Duke of Suffolke, and the Tragicall end of the proud Cardinal of Winchester, with the notable Rebellion of Jack Cade: And the Duke of Yorke's first claim unto the Crowne." This enumeration of the leading transactions of the Play are all strictly in accordance with historical facts, and the chief personages in the action are marked with strong and distinct accuracy in the delineation. About ten years are comprised in the action of the play. It opens with the marriage of Henry and Margaret, 1445, and closes with the first battle fought at St. Albans, and won by the York faction, in 1455. PERSONS REPRESENTED. KING HENRY THE SIXTH. HUMPHREY, DUKE OF GLOSTER, his Uncle. CARDINAL BEAUFORT, Bishop of Winchester Great Uncle to the KING. RICHARD PLANTAGENET, Duke of York. EDWARD and RICHARD, his Sons. DUKE OF SOMERSET, DUKE OF SUFFolk, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM, LORD CLIFFORD, EARL OF SALISBURY, Of the KING's Party. Of the York Faction. YOUNG CLIFFORD, his Son, EARL OF WARWICK, LORD SCALES, Governor of the Tower. LORD SAY, Sir HUMPHREY STAFFORD, and WILLIAM STAFFORD, his Brother. Sir JOHN STANLEY. WALTER WHITMORE. A Sea-captain, Master, and Master's Mate. BOLINGBROKE, a Conjurer. A Spirit raised by him. SIMPCOX, an Impostor. Two Murderers. JACK CADE, a Rebel. GEORGE, JOHN, DICK, SMITH, the Weaver, MICHAEL, &c., CADE's Followers. ALEXANDER IDEN, a Kentish Gentleman. MARGARET, Queen to KING HENRY. ELEANOR, DUCHESS OF GLOSTER. MARGERY JOURDAIN, a Witch. Wife to SIMPCOX. Lords, Ladies, and Attendants; Herald; Petitioners, Aldermen, a Beadle, Sheriff, and Officers; Citizens, Prentices, Falconers, Guards, Soldiers, Messengers, &c. SCENE,-In various Parts of ENGLAND. ACT I. SCENE I.-London. A Room of State in the Palace. Flourish of Trumpets: then Hautboys. Enter, on one side, KING HENRY, DUKE OF GLOSTER, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and CARDINAL BEAUFORT; on the other, QUEEN MARGARet, led in by SUFFOLK; YORK, SOMERSET, BUCKINGHAM, and others, following. Suf. As by your high imperial majesty I had in charge at my depart from France, As procurator to your excellence, To marry princess Margaret for your grace; So, in the famous ancient city, Tours, In presence of the kings of France and Sicil, The dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretaigne, and Alençon, Seven earls, twelve barons, and twenty reverend bishops, I have perform'd my task, and was espous'd: And humbly now, upon my bended knee, In sight of England and her lordly peers, Deliver up my title in the queen To your most gracious hands, that are the substance The happiest gift that ever marquess gave, The fairest queen that ever king receiv'd. K. Hen. Suffolk, arise.-Welcome, queen Margaret: I can express no kinder sign of love, Than this kind kiss.-O Lord, that lends me life, |