SCENE I. London.

A room of state in the Palace.

Flourish of trumpets: then hautboys. Enter on one side KING HENRY, HUMPHREY DUKE OF GLOSTER, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and CARDINAL BEAUFORT; on the other, QUEEN MARGARET, led in by SUFFOLK, YORK, SOMERSET, and BUCKINGHAM, and others following.

Suf. As from your high imperial majesty I had in charge at my depart for France, As procurator1 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, Bretagne, 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,

1 Procurator, substitute, proxy.

10

40

Here are the articles of contracted peace Between our sovereign and the French king Charles,

For eighteen months concluded by consent.

Glo. [reads] "Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king Charles, and William de la Pole, 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 ensuSing. Item, that the duchy of Anjou and the county of Maine shall be released and delivered to the king her father"-[Lets the paper fall.

King. Uncle, how now! Glo. Pardon me, gracious lord; Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart

54

I' the parts of France, till term of eighteen months

Be full expir'd.-Thanks, uncle Winchester, [Gloster, York, Buckingham, Somerset, Salisbury, and Warwick; ]

We thank you all for this great favour done, In entertainment to my princely queen. Come, let us in; and with all speed provide To see her coronation be perform❜d.

70

[Exeunt King, Queen, and Suffolk. Glo. Brave peers of England, pillars of the state,

To you Duke Humphrey must unload his grief,

Your grief, the common grief of all the land.
What! did my brother Henry spend his youth,
His valour, coin, and people, in the wars?
[Did he so often lodge in open field,
In winter's cold and summer's parching heat,
To conquer France, his true inheritance?]
And did my brother Bedford toil his wits,
To keep by policy what Henry got?
Have you yourselves, [Somerset, Bucking-
ham,

Brave York, Salisbury, and victorious Warwick,]

Receiv'd deep scars in France and Normandy? [Or hath mine uncle Beaufort and myself, With all the learned council of the realm, Studied so long, sat in the council-house Early and late, debating to and fro2 How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe?

90

>

'Tis not my speeches that you do mislike, 140 But 't is my presence that doth trouble ye. [Rancour will out: proud prelate, in thy face I see thy fury: if I longer stay, We shall begin our ancient bickerings.---] Lordings farewell; and say, when I am gone, I prophesied France will be lost ere long. [Exit.

151

Car. So, there goes our protector in a rage. "T is known to you he is mine enemy; Nay, more, an enemy unto you all; And no great friend, I fear me, to the king. [Consider, lords, he is the next of blood, And heir apparent to the English crown: Had Henry got an empire by his marriage, And all the wealthy kingdoms of the west, There's reason he should be displeas'd at it. ]{ Look to it, lords; let not his smoothing" words Bewitch your hearts; be wise and circum

"Jesu maintain your royal excellence!" With "God preserve the good Duke Humphrey !"]

I fear me, lords, for all this flattering gloss," He will be found a dangerous protector.

Buck. Why should he, then, protect our sovereign,

He being of age to govern of himself?—
Cousin of Somerset, join you with me,
And all together, with the Duke of Suffolk,
We'll quickly hoise Duke Humphrey from
his seat.

Car. This weighty business will not brook delay;

I'll to the Duke of Suffolk presently.

170

[Exit.

Behoves it us to labour for the realm.
[I never saw but Humphrey Duke of Gloster
Did bear him like a noble gentleman.
Oft have I seen the haughty cardinal--
More like a soldier than a man o' the church,
As stout and proud as he were lord of all---
Swear like a ruffian, and demean3 himself
Unlike the ruler of a commonweal.-
Warwick, my son, the comfort of my age, 190
Thy deeds, thy plainness, and thy housekeep-
ing,+

Hath won the greatest favour of the commons,
Excepting none but good Duke Humphrey:-
And, brother York, thy acts in Ireland,
In bringing them to civil discipline;
Thy late exploits done in the heart of France,
When thou wert regent for our sovereign,
Have made thee fear'd and honour'd of the
people: -]

200

Join we together, for the public good,
In what we can, to bridle and suppress
The pride of Suffolk and the cardinal,
With Somerset's and Buckingham's ambition;
And, as we may, cherish Duke Humphrey's
deeds,

While they do tend the profit of the land. War. So God help Warwick, as he loves the land,

And common profit of his country!

York. [Aside] And so says York, for he hath greatest cause.

Sal. Then let's away, and look unto the main.5

War. Unto the main! O father, Maine is lost;

That Maine which by main force Warwick did win,

210

6 Tickle, ticklish.

Concluded on, finally arranged, settled. 'Tis thine; he is addressing himself here.

• While as- while.

Silly, poor; used as a term of pity, not of contempt 11 The prince's heart of Calydon, i.e. the heart of the prince of Calydon.

Enter GLOSTER and his wife ELEANOR.

Duch. [Why droops my lord, like overripen'd corn,

Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load?] Why doth the great Duke Humphrey knit his brows,

As frowning at the favours of the world?
Why are thine eyes fix'd to the sullen earth,
Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?
What seest thou there? King Henry's diadem,
Enchas'd with all the honours of the world?
If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,
Until thy head be circled with the same.
[Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious
gold:-

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What, is 't too short? I'll lengthen it with mine;
And, having both together heav'd it up,
We'll both together lift our heads to heaven,
And never more abase our sight so low
As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground.]

1 Humour, disposition.

2 Fall'n at jars, fallen into a quarrel.

3 Force perforce by very force.

VOL. II.