I shall be well content with any choice,

Tends to God's glory, and my country's weal.

Enter a LEGATE, and two AMBASSADORS, with WINCHESTER, in a Cardinal's habit.

Exe. What! is my lord of Winchester install'd,
And call'd unto a cardinal's degree!

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.

K. Hen. My lords ambassadors, your several suits
Have been consider'd and debated on.

Your purpose is both good and reasonable:
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.

Glo. 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.

K. Hen. In argument and proof of which contract,

Bear her this jewel [To the AMB.], 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.

[Exeunt KING HENRY and Train; GLOSTER, EXETER, and AMBASSADORS.

Win. 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.

Leg. I will attend upon your lordship's leisure.

Win. Now, Winchester will not submit, I trow,
Or be inferior to the proudest peer.

Humphrey of Gloster, 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,
Or sack this country with a mutiny.

SCENE II.-France. Plains in Anjou.

[Exeunt.

Enter CHARLES, Burgundy, ALENÇON, LA PUCELLE, and

Forces marching.

Char. These news, my lords, may cheer our drooping spirits: "Tis said, the stout Parisians do revolt,

And turn again unto the warlike French.

Alen. Then march to Paris, royal Charles of France,

And keep not back your powers in dalliance.

Puc. Peace be amongst them, if they turn to us;
Else, ruin combat with their palaces!

Enter a MESSENGER.

Mess. Success unto our valiant general,

And happiness to his accomplices!

Char. What tidings send our scouts ? I pr'ythee, speak.
Mess. The English army, that divided was

Into two parts, is now conjoin'd in one;

And means to give you battle presently.

Char. Somewhat too sudden, sirs, the warning is;
But we will presently provide for them.

Bur. I trust, the ghost of Talbot is not there;
Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear.

Puc. Of all base passions, fear is most accursed :-
Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine;
Let Henry fret, and all the world repine.

Char. Then on, my lords; And France be fortunate! [Exeunt;

SCENE III.-The same. Before Angiers.

Alarums: Excursions. Enter LA PUCELLE.

Puc. The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly.—

Now help, ye charming spells, and periapts;*
And ye choice spirits that admonish me,
And give me signs of future accidents!
You speedy helpers, that are substitutes
Under the lordly monarch of the north,t
Appear, and aid me in this enterprize!

Enter Fiends.

This speedy quick appearance argues proof
Of your accustom'd diligence to me.

Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull'd

Out of the powerful regions under earth,

Help me this once, that France may get the field.

[Thunder.

[They walk about, and speak not.

O, hold me not with silence over-long!
Where I was wont to feed you with my blood,
I'll lop a member off, and give it you,
In earnest of a further benefit;
So you do condescend to help me now.

[They hang their heads.

No hope to have redress ?-My body shall
Pay recompense, if you will grant my suit.

[They shake their heads.

Cannot my body, nor blood-sacrifice,
Entreat you to your wonted furtherance ?

Charms sewed up and worn about the neck.
↑ Zimimar, king-devil of the northern.

Then take my soul; my body, soul, and all,
Before that England give the French the foil.
See! they forsake me. Now the time is come,
That France must vail* her lofty-plumed crest,
And let her head fall into England's lap.
My ancient incantations are too weak,
And hell too strong for me to buckle with:
Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the dust.

[They depart.

Alarums. Enter French and English, fighting. LA PUCELLE and YORK fight hand to hand. LA PUCELLE is taken. The French fly.

York. Damsel of France, I think, I have you fast:
Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms,
And try if they can gain your liberty.-

A goodly prize, fit for the devil's grace!

See, how the ugly witch doth bend her brows,
As if, with Circe, she would change my shape.

Puc. Changed to a worser shape thou canst not be.
York. O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man;
No shape but his can please your dainty eye.

Puc. A plaguing mischief light on Charles, and thee! And may you both be suddenly surprised

By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!

York. Fell, banning+ hag! enchantress, hold thy tongue.
Puc. I pr'ythee, give me leave to curse a while.
York. Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the stake.

[Exeunt,

Alarums. Enter SUFFOLK, leading in LADY MARGARET.

Suff. Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner. [Gazes on her. O fairest beauty, do not fear, nor fly;

For I will touch thee but with reverent hands,

And lay them gently on thy tender side.

I kiss these fingers [Kissing her hand] for eternal peace;

Who art thou? say, that I may honour thee.

Mar. Margaret my name; and daughter to a king,

The king of Naples, whosoe'er thou art.

Suff. An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call'd,

Be not offended, nature's miracle,

Thou art allotted to be ta'en by me:

So doth the swan her downy cygnets save,
Keeping them prisoners underneath her wings.
Yet, if this servile usage once offend,
Go, and be free again as Suffolk's friend.

[She turns away as going.

O, stay!-I have no power to let her pass;
My hand would free her, but my heart says-no.
As plays the sun upon the glassy streams,

Twinkling another counterfeited beam,
So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes.
Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak:
I'll call for pen and ink, and write my mind:
Fie, De la Poole! disable not thyself:*

Hast not a tongue? is she not here thy prisoner ?
Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight?
Ay; beauty's princely majesty is such,

Confounds the tongue, and makes the senses rough.
Mar. Say, earl of Suffolk,-if thy name be so,-

What ransom must I pay before I pass?

For, I perceive, I am thy prisoner.

Suff. How canst thou tell, she will deny thy suit,

Before thou make a trial of her love?

[Aside.

Mar. Why speak'st thou not? what ransom must I pay?

Suff. She's beautiful; and therefore to be woo'd:

She is a woman; therefore to be won.

[Aside.

Mar. Wilt thou accept of ransom, yea, or no?

Suff Fond man! remember, that thou hast a wife;

Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?

[Aside.

Mar. I were best leave him, for he will not hear.
Suff. There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card.
Mar. He talks at random; sure, the man is mad.
Suff. And yet a dispensation may be had.
Mar. And yet I would that you would answer me.
Suff. I'll win this lady Margaret. For whom?
Why, for my king: Tush! that's a wooden thing.t
Mar. He talks of wood: It is some carpenter.
Suff. Yet so my fancy may be satisfied,
And peace established between these realms.
But there remains a scruple in that too:
For though her father be the king of Naples,
Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet is he poor,
And our nobility will scorn the match.

[Aside.

Mar. Hear ye, captain? Are you not at leisure?

Suff. It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much:

Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.—

Madam, I have a secret to reveal.

Mar. What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a knight,

And will not any way dishonour me.

[Aside.

Suff. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.

Mar. Perhaps, I shall be rescued by the French;

And then I need not crave his courtesy.

[Aside.

Suff. Sweet madam, give me hearing in a cause

Mar. Tush! women have been captivate ere now.

[Aside.

Suff. Lady, wherefore talk you so?

Mar. I cry you mercy, 'tis but quid for quo.
Suff Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose
Your bondage happy, to be made a queen?

Mar. To be a queen in bondage, is more vile Than is a slave in base servility;

For princes should be free.

Suff. And so shall you,

If happy England's royal king be free.

Mar. Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?
Suff. I'll undertake to make thee Henry's queen;
To put a golden sceptre in thy hand,
And set a precious crown upon thy head,
If thou wilt condescend to be my-
Mar. What?
Suff. His love.

Mar. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife.
Suff. No, gentle madam; I unworthy am
To woo so fair a dame to be his wife,
And have no portion in the choice myself.
How say you, madam; are you so content?

Mar. An if my father please, I am content.

Suff. Then call our captains, and our colours forth:

And, madam, at your father's castle walls

We'll crave a parley, to confer with him. [Troops come forward.

A Parley sounded. Enter REIGNIER, on the walls.

Suff. See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner.

Reig. To whom?

Suff. To me.

Reig. Suffolk, what remedy?

I am a soldier; and unapt to weep,

Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.

Suff. Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord:
Consent (and for thy honour give consent),
Thy daughter shall be wedded to my king;
Whom I with pain have woo'd and won thereto;
And this her easy-held imprisonment
Hath gain'd thy daughter princely liberty.
Reig. Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?
Suff Fair Margaret knows,

That Suffolk doth not flatter, face, or feign.
Reig. Upon thy princely warrant, I descend,
To give thee answer of thy just demand.
Suff. And here I will expect thy coming.

[Exit, from the walls.

Trumpets sounded. Enter REIGNIER, below.
Reig. Welcome, brave earl, into our territories;
Command in Anjou what your honour pleases.
Suff. Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child,
Fit to be made companion with a king:

What answer makes your grace unto my suit?
Reig. Since thou dost deign to woo her little worth,
incely bride of such a lord;

non condion I may quietly

joy mine cm, the county Maine, and Anjou,

*Play the hypocrite.