KING

Uncles of Gloucester, and of Winchester, The special Watchmen of our English Weal, I would prevail, if Prayers might prevail, To join your hearts in love and amity, O, what a Scandal is it to our Crown, That two such Noble Peers as you should jar? Believe me, Lords, my tender years can tell, Civil dissension is a viperous Worm, That gnaws the Bowels of the Commonwealth. What tumult's this? We charge you, on allegiance to our self, To hold your slaughtering hands, and keep the Peace: pray Uncle Gloucester mitigate this strife. O, how this discord does afflict my Soul. Can you, my Lord of Winchester, behold My sighs and tears, and will not once relent? Who should be pitiful, if you be not? Or who should study to prefer a Peace, If holy Churchmen take delight in broils? Fie Uncle Beauford, I have herd you preach, That Malice was a great and grievous sin: And will not you maintain the thing you teach? But prove a chief offendor in the same. O loving Uncle, kind Duke of Gloucester, How joyful am I made by this Contract. Away my Master's, trouble us no more, But join in friendship, as your Lords have done. And those occasions, Uncle, were of force: Therefore my loving Lords, our pleasure is, That Richard be restored to his Blood. If Richard will be true, not that all alone, But all the whole Inheritance I give, That does belong unto the House of York, From whence you spring, by Lineal Descent. Stoop then, and set your Knee against my Foot, And in reguerdon of that duty done, I gyrt thee with the valiant Sword of York: Rise Richard, Like a true Plantagenet, And rise created Princely Duke of York. When Gloucester says the word, King Henry goes, For friendly counsel cuts off many Foes. Is this the Lord Talbot, Uncle Gloucester, That hath so long been resident in France? Welcome brave Captain, and victorious Lord. When I was young (as yet I am not old) I do remember how my Father said, A stouter Champion never handled Sword. Long since we were resolved of your truth, Your faithful service, and your toil in War: Yet never have you tasted our Reward, Or been reguerdoned with so much as Thanks, Because till now, we never saw your face. Therefore stand up, and for these good deserts, We here create you Earl of Shrewsbury, And in our Coronation take your place. What? does my Uncle Burgundy revolt? Is that the worst this Letter does contain? Why then Lord Talbot there shall talk with him, And give him chastisement for this abuse. How say you (my Lord) are you not content? Then gather strength, and march unto him straight: Let him perceive how ill we brook his Treason, And what offence it is to flout his Friends. Be patient Lords, and give them leave to speak. Say Gentlemen, what makes you thus exclaim, And wherefore crave you Combat? Or with whom? What is that wrong, whereof you both complain First let me know, and then I'll answer you. Good Lord, what madness rules in brain sick men, When for so slight and frivolous a cause, Such factious aemulations shall arise? Good Cousin's both of York and Somerset, Quiet your selves (I pray) and be at peace. Come hither you that would be Combatants: Henceforth I charge you, as you love our favour, Quite to forget this Quarrel, and the cause. And you my Lords: Remember where we are, In France, amongst a fickle wavering Nation: If they perceive dissension in our looks, And that within our selves we disagree; How will their grudging stomachs be provoked To wilful Disobedience, and Rebel? Beside, What infamy will there arise, When Foreign Princes shall be certified, That for a toy, a thing of no regard, King Henries Peers, and chief Nobility, Destroyed themselves, and lost the Realm of France? O think upon the Conquest of my Father, My tender years, and let us not forgo That for a trifle, that was bought with blood. Let me be Vmper in this doubtful strife: I see no reason if I wear this Rose, That any one should therefore be suspicious I more incline to Somerset, than York: Both are my kinsmen, and I love them both. As well they may upbrayed me with my Crown, Because (forsooth) the King of Scots is Crowned. But your discretions better can persuade, Then I am able to instruct or teach: And therefore, as we hither came in peace, So let us still continue peace, and love. Cousin of York, we institute your Grace To be our Regent in these parts of France: And good my Lord of Somerset, unite Your Troops of horsemen, with his Bans of foot, And Like true Subjects, sons of your Progenitors, Go cheerfully together, and digest Your angry Choler on your Enemies. Our Self, my Lord Protector, and the rest, After some respite, will return to Calais; From thence to England, where I hope ere long To be presented by your Victories, With Charles, Alanson, and that Traitorous rout. Have you perused the Letters from the Pope, The Emperor, and the Earl of Arminack? How does your Grace affect their motion? I 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. Marriage Uncle? Alas my years are young: And fitter is my study, and my Books, Than wanton dalliance with a Paramour. Yet call the Ambassadors, and as you please, So let them have their answers every one: I shall be well content with any choice Tends to Gods glory, and my Countries weal. My Lords Ambassadors, your several suits Have been considered 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. 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, wherein shipped Commit them to the fortune of the sea. Your wondrous rare description (noble Earl) Of beauteous Margaret hath astonished me: Her virtues graced with external gifts, Do breed Loves settled passion in my heart, And Like as rigour of tempestuous gusts Provokes the mightiest Hulk against the tide, So am I driven by breath of her Renown, Either to suffer Shipwreck, or arrive Where I may have fruition of her Love. And otherwise, will Henry never presume: Therefore my Lord Protector, give consent, That Margaret may be England's Royal Queen. Whither it be through force of your report, My Noble Lord of Suffolk: Or for that My tender youth was never yet attaint With any passion of inflaming Jove, I cannot tell: but this I am assured, I feel such sharp dissension in my breast, Such fierce alarms both of Hope and Fear, As I am sick with working of my thoughts. Take therefore shipping, post my Lord to France, Agree to any covenants, and procure That Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come To cross the Seas to England, and be crowned. King Henries faithful and anointed Queen. For your expenses and sufficient charge, Among the people gather up a tenth. Be gone I say, for till you do return, I rest perplexed with a thousand Cares. And you (good Uncle) banish all offence: If you do censure me, by what you were, Not what you are, I know it will excuse This sudden execution of my will. And so conduct me, where from company, I may revolve and ruminate my grief. Stain to thy Countrymen, thou hearest thy doom: Be packing therefore, thou that was't a knight: Henceforth we banish thee on pain of death. And now Lord Protector, view the Letter Sent from our Uncle Duke of Burgundy.