Henry VI, Part 1: Act 5, Scene 1

history

London. The palace.

Scene Summary

Henry VI meets with his counsellors and receives the terms of a proposed peace with France. Winchester reveals the plan: Henry will marry Margaret of Anjou, the daughter of René, a king in name only (he claims the thrones of Naples, Jerusalem, and Sicily but holds none of them in practice). Winchester supports the match; Gloucester is sceptical about its terms.

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