SUFFOLK

Within the Temple Hall we were too loud, The Garden here is more convenient. Faith I have been a Trant in the Law, And never yet could frame my will to it, And therefore frame the Law unto my will. I pluck this read Rose, with young Somerset, And say withal, I think he held the right. Turn not thy scorns this way, Plantagenet. I'll turn my partly thereof into thy throat. Go forward, and be choked with thy ambition: And so farewell, until I meet thee next. Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner. O Fairest Beauty, do not fear, nor fly: For I will touch thee but with reverend hands, I kiss these fingers for eternal peace, And lay them gently on thy tender side. Who art thou, say? that I may honour thee. And Earl I am, and Suffolk am I called. Be not offended Nature's miracle, Thou art allotted to be taken by me: So does the Swan her downy Signets save, Keeping them prisoner underneath his wings: Yet if this servile usage once offend, Go, and be free again, as Suffolks friend. O slay: 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 woe her, yet I dare not speak: I'll call for Pen and Ink, and write my mind: Fie De la Pole, disable not thy self: Hast not a Tongue? Is she not here? Wilt thou be daunted at a Woman's sighed? I: Beauty's Princely Majesty is such, 'Confounds the tongue, and makes the senses rough. How canst thou tell she will deny thy suit, Before thou make a trial of her love? She's beautiful; and therefore to be Wooed: She is a Woman; therefore to be Won. Found man, remember that thou hast a wife, Then how can Margaret be thy Paramour? There all is marred: there lies a cooling carded. And yet a dispensation may be had. I'll win this Lady Margaret. For whom? Why for my King: Tush, that's a wooden thing. 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 Main, yet is he poor, And our Nobility will scorn the match. It shall be so, disdain they never so much: Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield. Madam, I have a secret to reveal. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say. Sweet Madam, give me hearing in a cause. Lady, wherefore talk you so? Say gentle Princess, would you not suppose Your bondage happy, to be made a Queen? And so shall you. If happy England Royal King be free. I'll undertake to make thee Henries Queen, To put a Golden Sceptre in thy hand, And set a precious Crown upon thy head, If thou wilt condescend to be my— His love. No gentle Madam, I unworthy am To woe so fair a Dame to be his wife, And have no portion in the choice my self. How say you Madam, are you so content? 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. See Reignier see, thy daughter prisoner. To me. 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 wooed and won thereto: And this her easy held imprisonment, Hath gained thy daughter Princely liberty. Fair Margaret knows, That Suffolk does not flatter, face, or feign. And here I will expect thy coming. Thanks Reignier, happy for so sweet a Child, Fit to be made companion with a King: What answer makes your Grace unto my suit? That is her ransom, I deliver her, And those two Counties I will undertake Your Grace shall well and quietly enjoy. Reignier of France, I give thee Kingly thanks, Because this is in Traffic of a King. And yet me thinks I could be well content To be mine own Attorney in this case. I'll over then to England with this news. And make this marriage to be solemnized: So farewell Reignier, set this Diamond safe In Golden Palaces as it becomes. Farewell sweet Madam: but hark you Margaret, No Princely commendations to my King? Words sweetly placed, and modesty directed, But Madame, I must trouble you again, No loving Token to his Majesty? And this withal. O Wertenberg thou for my self: but Suffolk stay, Thou mayest not wander in that Labyrinth, There Minotaurs and ugly Treasons lurk, Solicit Henry with her wondrous praise. Bethink thee on her Virtues that surmount, Mad natural Graces that extinguish Art, Repeat their semblance often on the Seas, That when thou comest to kneel at Henries feet, Thou mayest bereave him of his wits with wonder. Tush my good Lord, this superficial tale, Is but a preface of her worthy praise: The chief perfections of that lovely Dame, (Had I sufficient skill to utter them) Would make a volume of enticing 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 lowliness of mind, She is content to be at your command: Command I mean, of Virtuous chaste intents, To Love, and Honour Henry as her Lord. As does a Ruler with unlawful Oaths, Or one that at a Triumph, having vowed To try his strength, forsaketh yet the Lists By reason of his Adversaries odds. A poor Earls daughter is unequal odds, And therefore may be bro e without offence. Yes my Lord, her Father is a King, The King of Naples, and Jerusalem, And of such great Authority in France, As his alliance will confirm our peace, And keep the Frenchmen in Allegiance. A Dowry my Lords? Disgrace not so your King, That he should be so abject, base, and poor, To choose for wealth, and not for perfect Love. Henry is able to enrich his Queen, And not to seek a Queen to make him rich, So worthless Peasants bargain for their Wives, As Market men for Oxen, Sheep, or Horse. Marriage is a matter of more worth, Then to be dealt in by Atturney-ship: Not whom we will, but whom his Grace affects, Must be companion of his Nuptial bed. And therefore Lords, since he affects her most, Most of all these reasons binds us, In our opinions she should be preferred, For what is wedloeke forced? but a Hell, And Age of discord and continual strife. Whereas the contrary brings bliss, And is a pattern of Celestial peace. Whom should we match with Henry being a King, But Margaret, that is daughter to a King: Her peerless feature, joined with her birth, Approves her fit for none, but for a King. Her valiant courage, and undaunted spirit, (More then in women commonly is seen) Will answer our hope in issue of a King. For Henry, son unto a Conqueror, Is likely to beget more Conquerors, If with a Lady of so high resolve, (As is fair Margaret ) he be linked in love. Then yield my Lords, and here conclude with me, That Margaret shall be Queen, and none but she. Thus Suffolk hath prevailed, and thus he goes As did the youthful Paris once to Greece, With hope to find the Like event in love, But prosper better than the Trojan did: Margaret shall now be Queen, and rule the King: But I will rule both her, the King, and Realm.