DRAMATIS PERSON.E. 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. Young CLIFFORD, his son. EARL OF SALISBURY. EARL OF WARWICK. LORD SCALES, governor of the Tower. LORD SAY. SIR HUMPHREY STAFFORD, and WILLIAM STAFFORD, his brother. A Sea-captain, Master, and Master's-Mate, and WALTER WHITMORE. VAUX. HUME and SOUTHWELL, two priests. BOLINGBROKE, a conjurer. THOMAS HORNER, an armorer. PETER, his man. Clerk of Chatham. Mayor of Saint Alban's. SIMPCOX, an imposter. Two Murderers. JACK CADE, a rebel. GEORGE, JOHN, DICK, SMITH the weaver, MICHAEL, &c., his 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, Petitioners, Aldermen, a Herald, a Beadle, Sheriff, and Officers, Citizens, Prentices, Falconers, Guards, Soldiers, Messengers, &c. A Spirit. SCENE-In various parts of England. THE SECOND PART OF KING HENRY VI. 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 for France, 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, Bretagne, and Alençon,(1) 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 Of that great shadow I did represent; 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, Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness! For thou hast given me, in this beauteous face, A world of earthly blessings to my soul, If sympathy of love unite our thoughts. Q. Mar. Great King of England, and my gracious lord,— The mutual conference that my mind hath had, By day, by night, waking and in my dreams, In courtly company or at my beads, K. Hen. Her sight did ravish; but her grace in speech, Makes me from wondering fall to weeping joys; Such is the fulness of my heart's content. Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love. All [kneeling]. Long live Queen Margaret, England's happiness! Q. Mar. We thank you all. Suff. My lord protector, so it please your grace, Here are the articles of contracted peace [Flourish. Between our sovereign and the French king Charles, Glo. [reads] "Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king Charles, and William de la Poole, Marquess of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry King of England,-that the said Henry shall espouse the Lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier King of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerusalem; and crown her Queen of England ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing. Item, (2) that the duchy of Anjou and the county of Maine shall be released and delivered to the king her father" K. Hen. Uncle, how now! And dimm'd mine eyes, that I can read no further. Car. [reads] "Item, It is further agreed between them, that the duchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered over to the king her father; and she sent over of the King of England's own proper cost and charges, without having any dowry." K. Hen. They please us well.-Lord marquess, kneel down": We here create thee the first Duke of Suffolk, D And girt thee with the sword. Cousin of York, Salisbury, and Warwick; We thank you all for this great favour done, [Exeunt King, Queen, and Suffolk. In winter's cold and summer's parching heat, Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham, Early and late, debating to and fro How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe? Been (3) crown'd in Paris, in despite of foes? And shall these labours and these honours die? Blotting your names from books of memory, Car. Nephew, what means this passionate discourse, This peroration with such circumstance? For France, 'tis ours; and we will keep it still. Glo, Ay, uncle, we will keep it, if we can; But now it is impossible we should: Suffolk, the new-made duke that rules the roast, Sal. Now, by the death of Him that died for all, War. For grief that they are past recovery: York. For Suffolk's duke, may he be suffocate, Glo. A proper jest, and never heard before, For costs and charges in transporting her! She should have stay'd in France, and starv'd in France, Before Car. My Lord of Gloster, now ye grow too hot: It was the pleasure of my lord the king. |