Whereas the contrary bringeth forth 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 than 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 link'd in love.
Then yield, my lords; and here conclude with me,
That Margaret shall be queen, and none but she.
K. Hen. Whether 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 love,
I cannot tell; but this I am assur'd,
I feel such sharp dissension in my breast,
Such fierce alarums 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 crown'd
King Henry's faithful and anointed queen:
For your expences 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.
Glo. Ay, grief, I fear me, both at first and last.
[Exeunt Gloster and Exeter.
Suf. Thus Suffolk hath prevail'd: 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. [Exit.
HUMPHREY, duke of Gloster, his uncle.
Cardinal BEAUFORT, bishop of Winchester, great
uncle to the king.
RICHARD PLANTAGENET, duke of York:
EDWARD and RICHARD, his sons.
Lord CLIFFORD,
Young CLIFFORD, his son,
Earl of Salisbury,
Earl of Warwick,
Lord SCALES, governor of the Tower. Lord SAY. Sir HUMPHREY STAFFORD, and his Brother. Sir JOHN STANLEY.
A Sea-Captain, Master, and Master's Mate, and WALTER WHITMORE.
Two Gentlemen, prisoners with Suffolk.
HUME and SOUTHWELL, two priests.
BOLINGBROKE, a conjurer. A Spirit raised by him.
THOMAS HORNER, an armourer. PETER, his man.
Clerk of Chatham. Mayor of Saint Alban's..
SIMPCOX, an impostor. Two Murderers.
JACK CADE, a rebel:
GEORGE, JOHN, DICK, SMITH, the Weaver, MI-
CHAEL, &c. his followers.
ALEXANDER IDEN, a Kentish gentleman.
MARGARET, queen to king Henry.
ELEANOR, duchess of Gloster.
MARGERY JOURDAIN, a witch. Wife to Simpcox. Lords, Ladies, and Attendants; Petitioners, Aldermen, a Beadle, Sheriff, and Officers; Citizens, Prentices, Falconers, Guards, Soldiers, Messengers, &c.
Scene-dispersedly in various parts of England.
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