So am I driv'n by breath of her renown,
Either to fuffer fhipwreck, 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 praife:
The chief perfections of that lovely dame
(Had I fufficient skill to utter them)
Would make a volume of enticing lines,
Able to ravifh any dull conceit.

And which is more, fhe is not fo divine,
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 Mag'ret may be England's Royal Queen.
Glou. So fhould I give confent to flatter fin.
You know, my Lord, your Highnefs is betroth'd
Unto another Lady of efteem.

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 adversary's odds,

A poor Earl's daughter is unequal odds,

And therefore may be broke without offence.

Glou. Why, what, I pray, is Margret 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.

Glou. And fo the Earl of Armagnac may do,

Because

Because he is near kinfman 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 so your King, That he should 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 Horfe.
But marriage is a matter of more worth,
Than to be dealt in by attorneyfship:

Not whom we will, but whom his Grace affects,
Muft be companion of his nuptial bed.

And therefore, Lords, fince he affects her moft,
It moft of all thefe reafons bindeth us,
In our opinions fhe fhould be preferr'd;
For what is wedlock forced, but a hell,
An age of difcord and continual ftrife?
Whereas the contrary bringeth forth blifs,
And is a pattern of celeftial peace.
Whom should we match with Henry being a King,
But Margret, 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 fpirit,
More than in woman commonly is feen,
Answer our hope in iffue of a King:
For Henry, fon unto a conqueror,
Is likely to beget more conquerors,
If with a Lady of fo high refolve

As is fair Margret, he be link'd in love.

Then yield, my Lords, and here conclude with me,

That Margret fhall be Queen, and none but she.

K. Henry. 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 paffion of inflaming love,

I cannot tell; but this I am affur'd,

I feel fuch fharp diffention in my breast,
Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear,
As I am fick with working of my thoughts.
Take therefore shipping; poft, my Lord, to France,
Agree to any covenants, and procure

That Lady Margʼret do vouchsafe to come
To cross the feas to England, and be crown'd
King Henry's faithful and anointed Queen.,
For your expences and fufficient charge,
Among the people gather up a tenth.
Be gone, I fay; for 'till you do return,
I am perplexed with a thoufand cares.
And you, good uncle, banish all offence:
If you do cenfure me by what you were,
Not what you are, I know it will excufe
This fudden execution of my will.
And fo conduct me where from company
I may revolve and ruminate my grief.
Glou. Ay, grief I fear me, both at firft and laft.

[Exit.

[Exeunt Gloucefter 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 profper better than the Trojan did: Margret fhall now be Queen, and rule the King: But I will rule both her, the King, and realm.

[Exit.

KING Henry VI.

Humphry Duke of Gloucefter, Uncle to the King.

Cardinal Beaufort, Bp. of Winchefter, Brother to King Henry IV. natural Son to John of Gaunt.

Duke of York, pretending to the Crown.

Duke of Buckingham,

Duke of Somerfet,

Duke of Suffolk.

Earl of Salisbury,

Earl of Warwick,

}

Of the King's Party.

Of the York Faction.

Lord Clifford, of the King's Party.

Lord Say.

Lord Scales, Governor of the Tower.
Sir John Stanley.

Sir Humphry Stafford.

Young Stafford, his Brother.

Alexander Iden, a Kentish Gentleman.

Young Clifford, Son to the Lord Clifford.

Edward Plantagenet, Sons to the Duke of York.

Richard Plantagenet,

Vaux, A Sea Captain, and Walter Whitmore ---- Pirates.
Hume and Southwel,
two Priefts.

Bolingbrook, an Aftrologer.

A Spirit attending on Jordan the Witch.

Thomas Horner, an Armorer.

Peter, his Man.

Mayor of St. Albans.

Simpcox, an Impoftor.

Jack Cade, Bevis, Michael, John Holland, Dick the Butcher, Smith the Weaver, and feveral others ----- Rebels.

Margaret, Queen to King Henry VI, fecretly in Love with the Duke of Suffolk.

Dame Eleanor, Wife to the Duke of Gloucester.

Mother Jordan, a Witch employ'd by the Dutchess of Gloucefter. Wife to Simpcox.

Petitioners, Aldermen, a Bedel, Sheriff and Officers, Citizens, with Faulconers, Guards, Meffengers, and other Attendants.

The SCENE is laid very difperfedly in feveral Parts of England.

The