So worthless peasants bargain for their wives,
As market-men for oxen, sheep, or horse.
Marriage is a matter of more worth
Than to be dealt in by attorneyship;
Not whom we will, but whom his grace affects,
Must be companion of his nuptial bed:
And therefore, lords, since he affects her most,
It most of all these reasons bindeth us,
In our opinions she should be preferr❜d.
For what is wedlock forced but a hell,
An age of discord and continual strife?
Whereas the contrary bringeth bliss,
And is a pattern of celestial peace.

Whom should we match with Henry, being a king,
But Margaret, that is daughter to a king?
Her peerless feature, joined with her birth,
Approves her fit for none but for a king:
Her valiant courage and undaunted spirit,—
More than in women commonly is seen,-
Will answer our hope in issue of a king;
For Henry, son unto a conqueror,
Is likely to beget more conquerors,
If with a lady of so high resolve

As is fair Margaret he be link'd in love.

Then yield, my lords; and here conclude with me
That Margaret shall be queen, and none but she.

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
With any passion of inflaming love,
I cannot tell; but this I am assur'd,
I feel such sharp dissension in my breast,
Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear,
As I am sick with working of my thoughts.

Take therefore shipping; post, my lord, to France;
Agree to any covenants; and procure
That Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come
To cross the seas to England, and be crown'd
King Henry's faithful and anointed queen:
For your expenses and sufficient charge,
Among the people gather up a tenth.
Be gone, I say; for, till you do return,
I rest perplexed with a thousand cares.—
And you, good uncle, banish all offence:
If you do censure me by what you were,
Not what you are, I know it will excuse

This sudden execution of my will.

And so, conduct me where, from company,

I may revolve and ruminate my grief.

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.

SECOND PART OF

KING HENRY VI.

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,

of the KING's party.

of the York faction.

YOUNG CLIFFORD, his Son,

DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM,

LORD CLIFFORD,

LORD SCALES, Governor of the Tower.

LORD SAY.

SIR HUMPHREY STAFFORD.

WILLIAM STAFFORD, his Brother.

SIR JOHN STANLEY.

A Sea Captain, Master, and Master's Mate, and WALTER

WHITMORE.

Two Gentlemen, Prisoners with SUFFOLK.

VAUX.

A Herald.

HUME and SOUTHWELL, two Priests.

BOLINGBROKE, a Conjurer.

A Spirit raised by him.

THOMAS HORNER, an Armourer. PETER, his Man.

Clerk of Chatham.

Mayor of Saint Alban's.

SIMPCOX, an Impostor.

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 Beadle, Sheriff, and Officers; Citizens, Prentices, Falconers, Guards, Soldiers, Messengers, &c.

SCENE,-Dispersedly in various parts of ENGLAND.

SECOND PART OF

KING HENRY V I.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-LONDON. A Room of State in the Castle.

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, 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, Bretagne, 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
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,—