Shakespeare Portal

Act 5, Scene 1

London. The palace.

  1. [Sennet. Enter King, Gloucester, and Exeter.]
  2. King Henry VI
  3. 2147 Have you perused the letters from the pope,
  4. 2148 The emperor, and the Earl of Armagnac?
  5. Duke of Gloucester
  6. 2149 I have, my lord: and their intent is this:
  7. 2150 They humbly sue unto your excellence
  8. 2151 To have a godly peace concluded of
  9. 2152 Between the realms of England and of France.
  10. King Henry VI
  11. 2153 How doth your grace affect their motion?
  12. Duke of Gloucester
  13. 2154 Well, my good lord; and as the only means
  14. 2155 To stop effusion of our Christian blood
  15. 2156 And stablish quietness on every side.
  16. King Henry VI
  17. 2157 Aye, marry, uncle; for I always thought
  18. 2158 It was both impious and unnatural
  19. 2159 That such immanity and bloody strife
  20. 2160 Should reign among professors of one faith.
  21. Duke of Gloucester
  22. 2161 Beside, my lord, the sooner to effect
  23. 2162 And surer bind this knot of amity,
  24. 2163 The Earl of Armagnac, near knit to Charles,
  25. 2164 A man of great authority in France,
  26. 2165 Proffers his only daughter to your grace
  27. 2166 In marriage, with a large and sumptuous dowry.
  28. King Henry VI
  29. 2167 Marriage, uncle! alas, my years are young!
  30. 2168 And fitter is my study and my books
  31. 2169 Than wanton dalliance with a paramour.
  32. 2170 Yet call the ambassadors; and, as you please,
  33. 2171 So let them have their answers every one:
  34. 2172 I shall be well content with any choice
  35. 2173 Tends to God's glory and my country's weal.
  36. [Enter Winchester in Cardinal's habit, a Legate and two Ambassadors.]
  37. Duke of Exeter
  38. 2174 What! is my Lord of Winchester install'd
  39. 2175 And call'd unto a cardinal's degree?
  40. 2176 Then I perceive that will be verified
  41. 2177 Henry the Fifth did sometime prophesy,
  42. 2178 'If once he come to be a cardinal,
  43. 2179 He'll make his cap co-equal with the crown.'
  44. King Henry VI
  45. 2180 My lords ambassadors, your several suits
  46. 2181 Have been consider'd and debated on.
  47. 2182 Your purpose is both good and reasonable;
  48. 2183 And therefore are we certainly resolved
  49. 2184 To draw conditions of a friendly peace;
  50. 2185 Which by my Lord of Winchester we mean
  51. 2186 Shall be transported presently to France.
  52. Duke of Gloucester
  53. 2187 And for the proffer of my lord your master,
  54. 2188 I have inform'd his highness so at large,
  55. 2189 As liking of the lady's virtuous gifts,
  56. 2190 Her beauty and the value of her dower,
  57. 2191 He doth intend she shall be England's Queen.
  58. King Henry VI
  59. 2192 In argument and proof of which contract,
  60. 2193 Bear her this jewel, pledge of my affection.
  61. 2194 And so, my lord protector, see them guarded
  62. 2195 And safely brought to Dover; where inshipp'd,
  63. 2196 Commit them to the fortune of the sea.
  64. [Exeunt all but Winchester and Legate.]
  65. Bishop of Winchester
  66. 2197 Stay my lord legate: you shall first receive
  67. 2198 The sum of money which I promised
  68. 2199 Should be deliver'd to his holiness
  69. 2200 For clothing me in these grave ornaments.
  70. Papal Legate
  71. 2201 I will attend upon your lordship's leisure.
  72. [Aside]
  73. Bishop of Winchester
  74. 2202 Now Winchester will not submit, I trow,
  75. 2203 Or be inferior to the proudest peer.
  76. 2204 Humphrey of Gloucester, thou shalt well perceive
  77. 2205 That neither in birth or for authority,
  78. 2206 The bishop will be overborne by thee:
  79. 2207 I 'll either make thee stoop and bend thy knee,
  80. 2208 Or sack this country with a mutiny.
  81. [Exeunt.]