Place pitchy barrels on the fatal stake,

That fo her torture may be shortened.

Pucel. Will nothing turn your unrelenting hearts?
Then Joan discover thine infirmity,

That warranteth by law to be thy privilege.
I am with child, ye bloody homicides:
Murther not then the fruit within my womb,
Although ye hale me to a violent death:

York. Now heav'n forefend! the holy maid with child?
War. The greatest miracle that ere you wrought:
Is all your ftrict precifenefs come to this?

York. She and the Dauphin have been juggling fure, I did imagine what would be her refuge.

War. Well go to, we will have no bastards live, Efpecially fince Charles must father it.

Pucel. You are deceiv'd, my child is none of his,
It was Alanfon that enjoy'd my love.

York. It dies, and if it had a thousand lives.
Pucel. O give me leave, I have deluded you;
"Twas neither Charles, nor yet the Duke I nam'd,
But Reignier King of Naples that prevail'd.

War. A married man! that's most intolerable.
York. Why here's a girl; I think she knows not well
(There were fo many) whom the may accufe.
War. It's fign fhe had been liberal and free.
York. And yet forfooth fhe is a virgin pure.
Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat and thee.
Ufe no intreaty, for it is in vain.

Pucel. Then lead me hence; with whom I leave my curfe.

May never glorious fun reflex his beams

Upon the country

where you make abode ;

But darkness and the gloomy fhade of death

Inviron you, till mischief and despair

Drive you to break your necks, or hang your felves. [Exit. Tork. Break thou in pieces, and confume to ashes,

Thou foul accursed minister of hell.

SCENE

* York. Alanson! that notorious Machiavel! It dies

SCENE VII.

Enter Cardinal of Winchester.

Car. Lord Regent, I do greet your excellence
With letters of commiffion from the King.
For know, my lords, the ftates of Christendom,
Moy'd with remorse of these outrageous broils,
Have earnestly implor'd a gen'ral peace
Betwixt our nation and th' afpiring French
And fee at hand the Dauphin and his train
Approaching to confer about fome matters.

York. Is all our travel turn'd to this effect?
After the flaughter of fo many peers,
So many captains, gentlemen and foldiers,
That in this quarrel have been overthrown,
And fold their bodies for their country's benefit,
Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace?
Have we not loft most part of all the towns,
By treason, falfhood, and by treachery,
Our great progenitors had conquered?
Oh Warwick, Warwick, I forefee with grief
The utter lofs of all the realm of France.

War. Be patient, York; if we conclude a peace,
It shall be with such strict and fevere covenants
As little fhall the Frenchmen gain thereby.

Enter Charles, Alanson, Bastard and Reignier.

Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed,
That peaceful truce fhall be proclaim'd in France ;
We come to be informed by your selves,
What the conditions of that league must be.
York. Speak, Winchefter; for boiling choler chokes
The hollow paffage of my poifon'd voice,
By fight of these our baleful enemies.

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

Το

To ease your country of diftrefsful war,
And fuffer you to breathe in fruitful peace ;
You fhall become true liegemen to his crown.
And Charles, upon condition thou wilt swear
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 reasonless.

Char. 'Tis known already that I am poffeft
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 ambaffador, I'll rather keep
That which I have, than coveting for more
Be caft from poffibility of all.

York. Infulting Charles, haft thou by secret means Us'd interceffion to obtain a league,

And now the matter grows to compromise,
Stand'st thou aloof upon comparifon.?
Either accept the title thou ufurp❜st,
Of benefit proceeding from our King,
And not of any challenge of defert,
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 fhall not find like opportunity.

Alan. To fay the truth, it is your policy
To fave your fubjects from fuch maffacre
And ruthlefs flaughters, as are daily feen
By our proceeding in hoftility.

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

War.

War. How fay't thou, Charles? fhall our condition

ftand?

Char. It fhall:

Only referv'd you claim no interest

In any of our towns of garrison.

York. Then fwear allegiance to his Majefty,
As thou are Knight, never to difobey
Nor be rebellious to the crown of England:
Thou, nor thy nobles, to the crown of England.
So now dismiss your army when you please:
Hang up your enfigns, let you drums be ftill,
For here we entertain a folemn peace.

[Exeunt

SCENE VIII.

Changes to England.

Enter Suffolk in conference with King Henry, Gloucefter

K. Henry.

and Exeter.

OUR wond'rous rare defcription, noble Earl,

YOUR

Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me:
Her virtues graced with external gifts,
Do breed love's fettled paffions in my heart.
And like as rigour of tempeftuous gufts
Provokes the mightiest hulk against the tide,
So am I driv'n by breath of her renown,
Either to fuffer fhipwrack, or arrive
Where I may have fruition of her love.
Suf. Tufh, my good lord, this fuperficial tale
Is but a preface to her worthy praise :
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, fhe is not fo divine,

So

So full repleat 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 intents,
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.
Glow. So fhould I give confent to flatter fin..
You know, my lord, your highness is betroth'd
Unto another lady of esteem.

How fhall we then difpenfe with the 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 adverfary's odds.

A poor Earl's daughter is unequal odds,

And therefore may be broke without offence.

Glou. Why what I pray is Marg’ret more than that ? Her father is no better than an Earl,.

Although in glorious titles he excell.

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.

Glow. And.fo. the Earl of Armagnac may do,

Because he is near kinsman unto Charles.

Exe. Befide his wealth doth warrant lib'ral dow'r, While Reignier fooner will receive than give.

Suf. A dow'r, my lords! difgrace not fo your King,. That he fhould 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, Sheep or Horse..
But marriage is a matter of more worth,
Than to be dealt in by attorny ship ::

Not