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Henry VI, Part 1 - Act 5, scene 1
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Henry VI, Part 1 - Act 5, scene 1Act 5, scene 1
⌜Scene 1⌝
Synopsis:
Henry follows Gloucester’s advice to make peace with France and to agree to marry the daughter of the earl of Armagnac.
Sennet. Enter King, Gloucester, and Exeter,⌜with Attendants.⌝
KING HENRY, ⌜to Gloucester⌝
2148 Have you perused the letters from the Pope,
2149 The Emperor, and the Earl of Armagnac?
GLOUCESTER
2150 I have, my lord, and their intent is this:
2151 They humbly sue unto your Excellence
2152 5 To have a godly peace concluded of
2153 Between the realms of England and of France.
KING HENRY
2154 How doth your Grace affect their motion?
GLOUCESTER
2155 Well, my good lord, and as the only means
2156 To stop effusion of our Christian blood
2157 10 And stablish quietness on every side.
KING HENRY
2158 Ay, marry, uncle, for I always thought
2159 It was both impious and unnatural
2160 That such immanity and bloody strife
2161 Should reign among professors of one faith.
GLOUCESTER
2162 15 Besides, my lord, the sooner to effect
2163 And surer bind this knot of amity,
2164 The Earl of Armagnac, near knit to Charles,
2165 A man of great authority in France,
2166 Proffers his only daughter to your Grace
2167 20 In marriage, with a large and sumptuous dowry.
p.
191
KING HENRY 2168 Marriage, uncle? Alas, my years are young;
2169 And fitter is my study and my books
2170 Than wanton dalliance with a paramour.
2171 Yet call th’ Ambassadors and, as you please,
2172 25 So let them have their answers every one.
⌜An Attendant exits.⌝
2173 I shall be well content with any choice
2174 Tends to God’s glory and my country’s weal.
Enter Winchester, ⌜dressed in cardinal’s robes,⌝
and ⌜the Ambassador of Armagnac, a Papal Legate,
and another Ambassador.⌝
EXETER, ⌜aside⌝
2175 What, is my Lord of Winchester installed
2176 And called unto a cardinal’s degree?
2177 30 Then I perceive that will be verified
2178 Henry the Fifth did sometime prophesy:
2179 “If once he come to be a cardinal,
2180 He’ll make his cap coequal with the crown.”
KING HENRY
2181 My Lords Ambassadors, your several suits
2182 35 Have been considered and debated on;
2183 Your purpose is both good and reasonable,
2184 And therefore are we certainly resolved
2185 To draw conditions of a friendly peace,
2186 Which by my Lord of Winchester we mean
2187 40 Shall be transported presently to France.
GLOUCESTER, ⌜to the Ambassador of Armagnac⌝
2188 And for the proffer of my lord your master,
2189 I have informed his Highness so at large
2190 As, liking of the lady’s virtuous gifts,
2191 Her beauty, and the value of her dower,
2192 45 He doth intend she shall be England’s queen.
p.
193
KING HENRY, ⌜handing a jewel to the Ambassador⌝ 2193 In argument and proof of which contract,
2194 Bear her this jewel, pledge of my affection.—
2195 And so, my Lord Protector, see them guarded
2196 And safely brought to Dover, ⌜where, inshipped,⌝
2197 50 Commit them to the fortune of the sea.
⌜All except Winchester and Legate⌝ exit.
WINCHESTER
2198 Stay, my Lord Legate; you shall first receive
2199 The sum of money which I promisèd
2200 Should be delivered to his Holiness
2201 For clothing me in these grave ornaments.
LEGATE
2202 55 I will attend upon your Lordship’s leisure.⌜He exits.⌝
WINCHESTER
2203 Now Winchester will not submit, I trow,
2204 Or be inferior to the proudest peer.
2205 Humphrey of Gloucester, thou shalt well perceive
2206 That neither in birth or for authority
2207 60 The Bishop will be overborne by thee.
2208 I’ll either make thee stoop and bend thy knee,
2209 Or sack this country with a mutiny.
He exits.