I

Because you want the grace, that others have,
You judge it ftraight a thing impoffible
To compass wonders, but by help of devils.
No, mifconceived Joan of Arc hath been.
A virgin from her tender infancy,s
Chafte and immaculate in very thought;
Whose maiden blood, thus rig'roully effus'd,
Will cry for vengeance at the gates of heav'n.
York. Ay, ay; away with her to execution.

War. And heark ye, Sirs; because she is a maid, Spare for no faggots, let there be enow:

Place pitchy barrels on the fatal stake,
That fo her torture may be shortened.

I

Pucel. Will nothing turn your unrelenting hearts? Then, Joan, difcover thine infirmity; That warranteth by law to be thy privilege. I am with child, ye bloody homicides: Murder not then the fruit within my womb, Although ye hale me to a violent death.

York. Now heav'n forefend! the holy maid with child!

War. The greatest miracle that ere you wrought: Is all your ftriâ precifenefs come to this?

York. She and the Dauphin have been juggling: I did imagine, what would be her refuge.

War. Well, go to; we will have no baftards live; Efpecially, fince Charles muft father it.

Pucel. You are deceiv'd, my child is none of his ; It was Alanfon that enjoy'd my love.

York. Alanfon! that notorious Machiavel!

It dies, an if it had a thousand lives.

Pucel. O, give me leave, I have deluded you; 'Twas neither Charles, nor yet the Duke I nam'd, But Reignier, King of Naples, that prevail'd.

War. A married man! that's moft intolerable. York. Why, here's a girl; I think, fhe knows not well,

(There were fo many) whom she may accufe.

War

War. It's fign, fhe hath been liberal and free. York. And yet forfooth, fhe is a virgin pure. Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat and thee: Ufe no entreaty, for it is in vain.

Pucel. Then lead me hence; with whom I leave my
May never glorious fun reflect his beams

Upon the country where you make abode !
But darkness and the gloomy fhade of death'
Inviron you, 'till mifchief and despair

[curfe.

Drive you to break your necks, or hang yourselves! [Exit guarded. York. Break thou in pieces, and confume to afhes,

Thou foul accurfed minifter of hell!

Car.

Enter Cardinal of Winchefter.

With letters of Commiflion from the King.
ORD Regent, I do greet your Excellence

For know, my lords, the ftates of Chriftendom,
Mov'd with remorfe of thefe outrageous, broils,
Have earneftly implor'd a gen'ral Peace
* Betwixt our nation and th' refpiring French;
And fee at hand the Dauphin, and his train,
Approaching to confer about some matters.

York. Is all our travel turn'd to this effect?
After the flaughter of fo many Peers,
So many Captains, gentlemen and foldiers,
That in this quarrel have been overthrown,
And fold their bodies for their country's benefit,
Shall we at laft conclude effeminate Peace?
Have we not loft most part of all the towns,
By treason, falfhood, and by treachery,
Our great progenitors had conquered?

*Betwixt our nation and th' aspiring French;] But would an Ambas fador, who came to perfuade Peace with France, use it as an Argument, that France was afpiring. Shakespear without doubt wrote.

-th' refpiring French.

i. e. who had but just got into Breath again, after having been al moft hunted down by the English.

Oh!

Oh, Warwick, Warwick! I forefee with grief
The utter lofs of all the realm of France.

War. Be patient, York; if we conclude a Peace, It shall be with fuch ftrict and fevere covenants, As little fhall the Frenchmen gain thereby.

Enter Charles, Alanfon, Baftard, and Reignier,
Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed,
That peaceful Truce fhall be proclaim'd in France;
We come to be informed by yourselves,
What the conditions of that league must be.
York. Speak, Winchefter; for boiling choler chokes.
The hollow paffage of my prifon'd voice,
By fight of thefe our baleful Enemies..

Win. Charles and the reft, it is enacted thus:
That in regard King Henry gives confent,
Of mere compaffion and of lenity,
To cafe your country of diftressful war,
And fuffer you to breathe in fruitful Peace;
You fhall become true liegemen to his Grown.
And Charles, upon condition thou wilt fwear
To pay him tribute and fubmit thyself,
Thou shalt be plac'd as Viceroy under him;
And ftill enjoy thy regal dignity.

Alan. Muft he be then a fhadow of himself?
Adorn his temples with a Coronet,
And yet in fubftance and authority
Retain but privilege of a private man?
This proffer is abfurd and reasonless.

Char. "Tis known, already that I am poffeft
Of more than half the Gallian Territories,
And therein rev'renc'd for their lawful King.
Shall I, for lucre of the rest un-vanquish'd,
Detract fo much from that prerogative,
As to be call'd but Viceroy of the whole?
No, lord Amballador, I'll rather keep
That which I have, than, coveting for more,
Be caft fiom poffibility of all.

S 3

York.

York. Infulting Charles, haft thou by fecret means
Us'd interceffion to obtain a League;
And now the matter grows to compromise,
Stand'ft thou aloof upon comparison?
Either accept the title thou ufurp'ft,
Of benefit proceeding from our King,
And not of any challenge of defert,
Or we will plague thee with inceffant wars.
Reig. My lord, you do not well in obftinacy
To cavil in the course of this Contract:
If once it be neglected, ten to one,
We shall not find like opportunity.

Alan. To fay the truth, it is your policy.
To fave your Subjects from fuch maffacre,
And ruthless flaughters, as are daily feen
By our proceeding in hoftility.

And therefore take this compact of a Truce,
Although you break it, when your pleasure ferves.
[Afide, to the Dauphin.

War. How fay'ft thou, Charles? fhall our Condition
Char. It fhall:

Only referv'd, you claim no interest

In

any of our towns of garrison.

[stand?

York. Then fwear allegiance to his Majefty.
As thou art Knight, never to disobey,
Nor be rebellious to the Crown of England:
Thou, nor thy Nobles, to the Crown of England.
So now difmifs your army, when you please:
Hang up your enfigns, let your drums be ftill,
For here we entertain a folemn Peace.

SCENE VIII.

Changes to England.

[Exeunt.

Enter Suffolk, in Conference with King Henry; Glou

cefter, and Exeter.

OUR wondrous rare defcription, no-
ble Earl,

K. Henry.

YOUR

Of

་

Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me:
Her virtues, graced with external gifts,
Do breed love's fettled paffions in my heart.
And, like as rigour of tempeftuous gufts
Provokes the mightieft hulk against the tide,
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 praise:
The chief perfections of that lovely dame,
(Had I fufficient skill to utter them,)
Would make a volume of inticing lines,
Able to ravish any dull conceit.

And, which is more, she is not so divine,
So full replete 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 Margret may be England's Royal Queen.

Glou. So fhould I give confent to flatter fin.
You know, my lord, your Highness is betroth'd
Unto another lady of efteem:

How fhall we then difpenfe with that 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 reason of his adverfary'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 excel..

Suf.