King Henry VI, Part I

King Henry VI, Part I

ACT V SCENE I	London. The palace.
	Sennet. Enter KING HENRY VI, GLOUCESTER, and EXETER
KING HENRY VI	Have you perused the letters from the pope,
	The emperor and the Earl of Armagnac?
GLOUCESTER	I have, my lord: and their intent is this:
	They humbly sue unto your excellence	5
	To have a godly peace concluded of
	Between the realms of England and of France.
KING HENRY VI	How doth your grace affect their motion?
GLOUCESTER	Well, my good lord; and as the only means
	To stop effusion of our Christian blood	10
	And 'stablish quietness on every side.
KING HENRY VI	Ay, marry, uncle; for I always thought
	It was both impious and unnatural
	That such immanity and bloody strife
	Should reign among professors of one faith.	15
GLOUCESTER	Beside, my lord, the sooner to effect
	And surer bind this knot of amity,
	The Earl of Armagnac, near knit to Charles,
	A man of great authority in France,
	Proffers his only daughter to your grace	20
	In marriage, with a large and sumptuous dowry.
KING HENRY VI	Marriage, uncle! alas, my years are young!
	And fitter is my study and my books
	Than wanton dalliance with a paramour.
	Yet call the ambassador; and, as you please,	25
	So let them have their answers every one:
	I shall be well content with any choice
	Tends to God's glory and my country's weal.
	Enter CARDINAL OF WINCHESTER in Cardinal's habit,a Legate and two Ambassadors
EXETER	What! is my Lord of Winchester install'd,
	And call'd unto a cardinal's degree?	30
	Then I perceive that will be verified
	Henry the Fifth did sometime prophesy,
	'If once he come to be a cardinal,
	He'll make his cap co-equal with the crown.'
KING HENRY VI	My lords ambassadors, your several suits	35
	Have been consider'd and debated on.
	And therefore are we certainly resolved
	To draw conditions of a friendly peace;
	Which by my Lord of Winchester we mean
	Shall be transported presently to France.	40
GLOUCESTER	And for the proffer of my lord your master,
	I have inform'd his highness so at large
	As liking of the lady's virtuous gifts,
	Her beauty and the value of her dower,
	He doth intend she shall be England's queen.	45
KING HENRY VI	In argument and proof of which contract,
	Bear her this jewel, pledge of my affection.
	And so, my lord protector, see them guarded
	And safely brought to Dover; where inshipp'd
	Commit them to the fortune of the sea.	50
	Exeunt all but CARDINAL OF WINCHESTER and Legate
CARDINALOF WINCHESTER	Stay, my lord legate: you shall first receive
	The sum of money which I promised
	Should be deliver'd to his holiness
	For clothing me in these grave ornaments.
Legate	I will attend upon your lordship's leisure.	55
CARDINALOF WINCHESTER	Aside
	Or be inferior to the proudest peer.
	Humphrey of Gloucester, thou shalt well perceive
	That, neither in birth or for authority,
	The bishop will be overborne by thee:
	I'll either make thee stoop and bend thy knee,	60
	Or sack this country with a mutiny.
	Exeunt