| [Sennet. Enter KING HENRY VI, GLOUCESTER, and EXETER] | |
| KING HENRY VI | Have you perused the letters from the pope, The emperor and the Earl of Armagnac? |
| GLOUCESTER | I have, my lord: and their intent is this: They humbly sue unto your excellence To have a godly peace concluded of Between the realms of England and of France. |
| KING HENRY VI | How doth your grace affect their motion? |
| GLOUCESTER | Well, my good lord; and as the only means To stop effusion of our Christian blood And 'stablish quietness on every side. |
| KING HENRY VI | Ay, 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. |
| GLOUCESTER | Beside, my lord, the sooner to effect And surer bind this knot of amity, The Earl of Armagnac, near knit to Charles, A man of great authority in France, Proffers his only daughter to your grace In marriage, with a large and sumptuous dowry. |
| KING HENRY VI | Marriage, uncle! alas, my years are young! And fitter is my study and my books Than wanton dalliance with a paramour. Yet call the ambassador; and, as you please, So let them have their answers every one: I shall be well content with any choice Tends to God's glory and my country's weal. |
| [Enter CARDINAL OF WINCHESTER in Cardinal's habit, a Legate and two Ambassadors] |
|
| EXETER | 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.' |
| KING HENRY VI | My lords ambassadors, your several suits Have been consider'd and debated on. 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. |
| GLOUCESTER | 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. |
| KING HENRY VI | 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; where inshipp'd Commit them to the fortune of the sea. |
| [Exeunt all but CARDINAL OF WINCHESTER and Legate] | |
| CARDINAL OF WINCHESTER |
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. |
| Legate | I will attend upon your lordship's leisure. |
| CARDINAL OF WINCHESTER |
[Aside] Now Winchester will not submit, I trow, Or be inferior to the proudest peer. Humphrey of Gloucester, 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. |
| [Exeunt] |