Suf. Say gentle Princesse, would you not supposeYour bondage happy, to be made a Queene?Mar. To be a Queene in bondage, is more vile,Than is a slaue, in base seruility:For Princes should be free
Suf. And so shall you,If happy Englands Royall King be free
Mar. Why what concernes his freedome vnto mee?Suf. Ile vndertake to make thee Henries Queene,To put a Golden Scepter in thy hand,And set a precious Crowne vpon thy head,If thou wilt condiscend to be my-Mar. What?Suf. His loue
Mar. I am vnworthy to be Henries wife
Suf. No gentle Madam, I vnworthy amTo woe so faire a Dame to be his wife,And haue no portion in the choice my selfe.How say you Madam, are ye so content?Mar. And if my Father please, I am content
Suf. Then call our Captaines and our Colours forth,And Madam, at your Fathers Castle walles,Wee'l craue a parley, to conferre with him.
Sound. Enter Reignier on the Walles.
See Reignier see, thy daughter prisoner
Reig. To whom?Suf. To me
Reig. Suffolke, what remedy?I am a Souldier, and vnapt to weepe,Or to exclaime on Fortunes ficklenesse
Suf. Yes, there is remedy enough my Lord,Consent, and for thy Honor giue consent,Thy daughter shall be wedded to my King,Whom I with paine haue wooed and wonne thereto:And this her easie held imprisonment,Hath gain'd thy daughter Princely libertie
Reig. Speakes Suffolke as he thinkes?Suf. Faire Margaret knowes,That Suffolke doth not flatter, face, or faine
Reig. Vpon thy Princely warrant, I descend,To giue thee answer of thy iust demand
Suf. And heere I will expect thy comming.
Trumpets sound. Enter Reignier.
Reig. Welcome braue Earle into our Territories,Command in Aniou what your Honor pleases
Suf. Thankes Reignier, happy for so sweet a Childe,Fit to be made companion with a King:What answer makes your Grace vnto my suite?Reig. Since thou dost daigne to woe her little worth,To be the Princely Bride of such a Lord:Vpon condition I may quietlyEnioy mine owne, the Country Maine and Aniou,Free from oppression, or the stroke of Warre,My daughter shall be Henries, if he please
Suf. That is her ransome, I deliuer her,And those two Counties I will vndertakeYour Grace shall well and quietly enioy
Reig. And I againe in Henries Royall name,As Deputy vnto that gracious King,Giue thee her hand for signe of plighted faith
Suf. Reignier of France, I giue thee Kingly thankes,Because this is in Trafficke of a King.And yet me thinkes I could be well contentTo be mine owne Atturney in this case.Ile ouer then to England with this newes.And make this marriage to be solemniz'd:So farewell Reignier, set this Diamond safeIn Golden Pallaces as it becomes
Reig. I do embrace thee, as I would embraceThe Christian Prince King Henrie were he heere
Mar. Farewell my Lord, good wishes, praise, & praiers,Shall Suffolke euer haue of Margaret.
Shee is going.
Suf. Farwell sweet Madam: but hearke you Margaret,No Princely commendations to my King?Mar. Such commendations as becomes a Maide,A Virgin, and his Seruant, say to him
Suf. Words sweetly plac'd, and modestie directed,But Madame, I must trouble you againe,No louing Token to his Maiestie?Mar. Yes, my good Lord, a pure vnspotted heart,Neuer yet taint with loue, I send the King
Suf. And this withall.
Kisse her.
Mar. That for thy selfe, I will not so presume,To send such peeuish tokens to a King
Suf. Oh wert thou for my selfe: but Suffolke stay,Thou mayest not wander in that Labyrinth,There Minotaurs and vgly Treasons lurke,Solicite Henry with her wonderous praise.Bethinke thee on her Vertues that surmount,Mad naturall Graces that extinguish Art,Repeate their semblance often on the Seas,That when thou com'st to kneele at Henries feete,Thou mayest bereaue him of his wits with wonder.
Exit
Enter Yorke, Warwicke, Shepheard, Pucell.
Yor. Bring forth that Sorceresse condemn'd to burne
Shep. Ah Ione, this kils thy Fathers heart out-right,Haue I sought euery Country farre and neere,And now it is my chance to finde thee out,Must I behold thy timelesse cruell death:Ah Ione, sweet daughter Ione, Ile die with thee
Pucel. Decrepit Miser, base ignoble Wretch,I am am descended of a gentler blood.Thou art no Father, nor no Friend of mine
Shep. Out, out: My Lords, and please you, 'tis not soI did beget her, all the Parish knowes:Her Mother liueth yet, can testifieShe was the first fruite of my Bach'ler-ship
War. Gracelesse, wilt thou deny thy Parentage?Yorke. This argues what her kinde of life hath beene,Wicked and vile, and so her death concludes
Shep. Fye Ione, that thou wilt be so obstacle:God knowes, thou art a collop of my flesh,And for thy sake haue I shed many a teare:Deny me not, I prythee, gentle Ione
Pucell. Pezant auant. You haue suborn'd this manOf purpose, to obscure my Noble birth
Shep. 'Tis true, I gaue a Noble to the Priest,The morne that I was wedded to her mother.Kneele downe and take my blessing, good my Gyrle.Wilt thou not stoope? Now cursed be the timeOf thy natiuitie: I would the MilkeThy mother gaue thee when thou suck'st her brest,Had bin a little Rats-bane for thy sake.Or else, when thou didst keepe my Lambes a-field,I wish some rauenous Wolfe had eaten thee.Doest thou deny thy Father, cursed Drab?O burne her, burne her, hanging is too good.Enter.
Yorke. Take her away, for she hath liu'd too long,To fill the world with vicious qualities
Puc. First let me tell you whom you haue condemn'd;Not me, begotten of a Shepheard Swaine,But issued from the Progeny of Kings.Vertuous and Holy, chosen from aboue,By inspiration of Celestiall Grace,To worke exceeding myracles on earth.I neuer had to do with wicked Spirits.But you that are polluted with your lustes,Stain'd with the guiltlesse blood of Innocents,Corrupt and tainted with a thousand Vices:Because you want the grace that others haue,You iudge it straight a thing impossibleTo compasse Wonders, but by helpe of diuels.No misconceyued, Ione of Aire hath beeneA Virgin from her tender infancie,Chaste, and immaculate in very thought,Whose Maiden-blood thus rigorously effus'd,Will cry for Vengeance, at the Gates of Heauen
Yorke. I, I: away with her to execution
War. And hearke ye sirs: because she is a Maide,Spare for no Faggots, let there be enow:Place barrelles of pitch vpon the fatall stake,That so her torture may be shortned
Puc. Will nothing turne your vnrelenting hearts?Then Ione discouer thine infirmity,That warranteth by Law, to be thy priuiledge.I am with childe ye bloody Homicides:Murther not then the Fruite within my Wombe,Although ye hale me to a violent death
Yor. Now heauen forfend, the holy Maid with child?War. The greatest miracle that ere ye wrought.Is all your strict precisenesse come to this?Yorke. She and the Dolphin haue bin iugling,I did imagine what would be her refuge
War. Well go too, we'll haue no Bastards liue,Especially since Charles must Father it
Puc. You are deceyu'd, my childe is none of his,It was Alanson that inioy'd my loue
Yorke. Alanson that notorious Macheuile?It dyes, and if it had a thousand liues
Puc. Oh giue me leaue, I haue deluded you,'Twas neyther Charles, nor yet the Duke I nam'd,But Reignier King of Naples that preuayl'd
War. A married man, that's most intollerable
Yor. Why here's a Gyrle: I think she knowes not wel(There were so many) whom she may accuse
War. It's signe she hath beene liberall and free
Yor. And yet forsooth she is a Virgin pure.Strumpet, thy words condemne thy Brat, and thee.Vse no intreaty, for it is in vaine
Pu. Then lead me hence: with whom I leaue my curse.May neuer glorious Sunne reflex his beamesVpon the Countrey where you make abode:But darknesse, and the gloomy shade of deathInuiron you, till Mischeefe and Dispaire,Driue you to break your necks, or hang your selues.
Exit
Enter Cardinall.
Yorke. Breake thou in peeces, and consume to ashes,Thou fowle accursed minister of Hell
Car. Lord Regent, I do greete your ExcellenceWith Letters of Commission from the King.For know my Lords, the States of Christendome,Mou'd with remorse of these out-ragious broyles,Haue earnestly implor'd a generall peace,Betwixt our Nation, and the aspyring French;And heere at hand, the Dolphin and his TraineApproacheth, to conferre about some matter
Yorke. Is all our trauell turn'd to this effect,After the slaughter of so many Peeres,So many Captaines, Gentlemen, and Soldiers,That in this quarrell haue beene ouerthrowne,And sold their bodyes for their Countryes benefit,Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace?Haue we not lost most part of all the Townes,By Treason, Falshood, and by Treacherie,Our great Progenitors had conquered:Oh Warwicke, Warwicke, I foresee with greefeThe vtter losse of all the Realme of France
War. Be patient Yorke, if we conclude a PeaceIt shall be with such strict and seuere Couenants,As little shall the Frenchmen gaine thereby.Enter Charles, Alanson, Bastard, Reignier.
Char. Since Lords of England, it is thus agreed,That peacefull truce shall be proclaim'd in France,We come to be informed by your selues,What the conditions of that league must be
Yorke. Speake Winchester, for boyling choller chokesThe hollow passage of my poyson'd voyce,By sight of these our balefull enemies
Win. Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus:That in regard King Henry giues consent,Of meere compassion, and of lenity,To ease your Countrie of distressefull Warre,And suffer you to breath in fruitfull peace,You shall become true Liegemen to his Crowne.And Charles, vpon condition thou wilt sweareTo pay him tribute, and submit thy selfe,Thou shalt be plac'd as Viceroy vnder him,And still enioy thy Regall dignity
Alan. Must he be then as shadow of himselfe?Adorne his Temples with a Coronet,And yet in substance and authority,Retaine but priuiledge of a priuate man?This proffer is absurd, and reasonlesse
Char. 'Tis knowne already that I am possestWith more then halfe the Gallian Territories,And therein reuerenc'd for their lawfull King.Shall I for lucre of the rest vn-vanquisht,Detract so much from that prerogatiue,As to be call'd but Viceroy of the whole?No Lord Ambassador, Ile rather keepeThat which I haue, than coueting for moreBe cast from possibility of all
Yorke. Insulting Charles, hast thou by secret meanesVs'd intercession to obtaine a league,And now the matter growes to compremize,Stand'st thou aloofe vpon Comparison.Either accept the Title thou vsurp'st,Of benefit proceeding from our King,And not of any challenge of Desert,Or we will plague thee with incessant Warres
Reig. My Lord, you do not well in obstinacy,To cauill in the course of this Contract:If once it be neglected, ten to oneWe shall not finde like opportunity
Alan. To say the truth, it is your policie,To saue your Subiects from such massacreAnd ruthlesse slaughters as are dayly seeneBy our proceeding in Hostility,And therefore take this compact of a Truce,Although you breake it, when your pleasure serues
War. How sayst thou Charles?Shall our Condition stand?Char. It Shall:Onely reseru'd, you claime no interestIn any of our Townes of Garrison
Yor. Then sweare Allegeance to his Maiesty,As thou art Knight, neuer to disobey,Nor be Rebellious to the Crowne of England,Thou nor thy Nobles, to the Crowne of England.So, now dismisse your Army when ye please:Hang vp your Ensignes, let your Drummes be still,For heere we entertaine a solemne peace.
Exeunt.
Actus Quintus.
Enter Suffolke in conference with the King, Glocester, and Exeter.
King. Your wondrous rare description (noble Earle)Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me:Her vertues graced with externall gifts,Do breed Loues setled passions in my heart,And like as rigour of tempestuous gustesProuokes the mightiest Hulke against the tide,So am I driuen by breath of her Renowne,Either to suffer Shipwracke, or arriueWhere I may haue fruition of her Loue
Suf. Tush my good Lord, this superficiall tale,Is but a preface of her worthy praise:The cheefe perfections of that louely Dame,(Had I sufficient skill to vtter them)Would make a volume of inticing lines,Able to rauish any dull conceit.And which is more, she is not so Diuine,So full repleate with choice of all delights,But with as humble lowlinesse of minde,She is content to be at your command:Command I meane, of Vertuous chaste intents,To Loue, and Honor Henry as her Lord
King. And otherwise, will Henry ne're presume:Therefore my Lord Protector, giue consent,That Marg'ret may be Englands Royall Queene
Glo. So should I giue consent to flatter sinne,You know (my Lord) your Highnesse is betroath'dVnto another Lady of esteeme,How shall we then dispense with that contract,And not deface your Honor with reproach?Suf. As doth a Ruler with vnlawfull Oathes,Or one that at a Triumph, hauing vow'dTo try his strength, forsaketh yet the ListesBy reason of his Aduersaries oddes.A poore Earles daughter is vnequall oddes,And therefore may be broke without offence
Gloucester. Why what (I pray) is Margaret morethen that?Her Father is no better than an Earle,Although in glorious Titles he excell
Suf. Yes my Lord, her Father is a King,The King of Naples, and Ierusalem,And of such great Authoritie in France,As his alliance will confirme our peace,And keepe the Frenchmen in Allegeance
Glo. And so the Earle of Arminacke may doe,Because he is neere Kinsman vnto Charles
Exet. Beside, his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower,Where Reignier sooner will receyue, than giue
Suf. A Dowre my Lords? Disgrace not so your King,That he should be so abiect, base, and poore,To choose for wealth, and not for perfect Loue.Henry is able to enrich his Queene,And not to seeke a Queene to make him rich,So worthlesse Pezants bargaine for their Wiues,As Market men for Oxen, Sheepe, or Horse.Marriage is a matter of more worth,Then to be dealt in by Atturney-ship:Not whom we will, but whom his Grace affects,Must be companion of his Nuptiall bed.And therefore Lords, since he affects her most,Most of all these reasons bindeth vs,In our opinions she should be preferr'd.For what is wedlocke forced? but a Hell,An Age of discord and continuall strife,Whereas the contrarie bringeth blisse,And is a patterne of Celestiall peace.Whom should we match with Henry being a King,But Margaret, that is daughter to a King:Her peerelesse feature, ioyned with her birth,Approues her fit for none, but for a King.Her valiant courage, and vndaunted spirit,(More then in women commonly is seene)Will answer our hope in issue of a King.For Henry, sonne vnto a Conqueror,Is likely to beget more Conquerors,If with a Lady of so high resolue,(As is faire Margaret) he be link'd in loue.Then yeeld my Lords, and heere conclude with mee,That Margaret shall be Queene, and none but shee
King. Whether it be through force of your report,My Noble Lord of Suffolke: Or for thatMy tender youth was neuer yet attaintWith any passion of inflaming Loue,I cannot tell: but this I am assur'd,I feele such sharpe dissention in my breast,Such fierce alarums both of Hope and Feare,As I am sicke with working of my thoughts.Take therefore shipping, poste my Lord to France,Agree to any couenants, and procureThat Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to comeTo crosse the Seas to England, and be crown'dKing Henries faithfull and annointed Queene.For your expences and sufficient charge,Among the people gather vp a tenth.Be gone I say, for till you do returne,I rest perplexed with a thousand Cares.And you (good Vnckle) banish all offence:If you do censure me, by what you were,Not what you are, I know it will excuseThis sodaine execution of my will.And so conduct me, where from company,I may reuolue and ruminate my greefe.Enter.
Glo. I greefe I feare me, both at first and last.
Exit Glocester.
Suf. Thus Suffolke hath preuail'd, and thus he goesAs did the youthfull Paris once to Greece,With hope to finde the like euent in loue,But prosper better than the Troian did:Margaret shall now be Queene, and rule the King:But I will rule both her, the King, and Realme.
Exit