Of thy Nativity; I would the Milk

Thy Mother gave thee, when thou fuck'dft her Breaft,
Had been a little Ratsbane for thy fake:

Or elfe, when thou didft keep thy Lambs afield,
I wish fome ravenous Wolf had eaten thee.
Doft thou deny thy Father, curfed Drab?
O burn her, burn her, hanging is too good.
Tork. Take her away, for the hath liv❜d too long,
To fill the World with vitious qualities.

[Exit.

Pucel. First, let me tell you whom you have condemn'd, Not me, begotten of a Shepherd Swain, But iffued from the Progeny of Kings, Virtuous and Holy, chofen from above, By infpiration of Celestial Grace, To work exceeding Miracles on Earth. I never had to do with wicked Spirits. But you that are polluted with your Lufts, Stain'd with the guiltlefs Blood of Innocents, Corrupt and tainted with a thousand Vices, Because you want the grace that others have, You judge it ftreight a thing impoffible To compafs Wonders, but by help of Devils. No, mifconceived Joan of Arc hath been A Virgin from her tender Infancy, Chafte, and immaculate in very thought, Whofe Maiden-blood thus rigorously effus'd, Will cry for Vengeance at the Gates of Heav'n. York. Ay, ay; away with her to Execution. War. And heark ye, Sirs; because he is a Maid, Spare for no Faggots, let there be enow: Place Barrels of Pitch upon the fatal ftake, That fo her torture may be shortned.

Pucel. Will nothing turn your unrelenting Hearts?
Then Joan difcover thine infirmity,

That warranteth by Law, to be thy privilege.
I am with Child, ye bloody Homicides:

Murther not then the Fruit within my Womb,

Although ye hale me to a violent Death.

Plan. Now Heav'n forfend! the holy Maid with Child? War. The greatest Miracle that e'er you wrought:

Is all your strict precifeness come to this?

Yorks

Tork. She and the Dauphin have been juggling, I did imagine what would be her refuge.

War. Well, go to, we will have no Bastards live, Efpecially fince Charles muft Father it.

Pucel. You are deceiv'd, my Child is none of his, It was Alenfon that enjoy'd my Love.

York. Alenfon, that notorious Matchevile! It dies, and if it had a thousand Lives.

Pucel. O give me leave, I have deluded you;
'Twas neither Charles, nor yet the Duke I nam'd,
But Reignier King of Naples that prevail'd.

War. A married Man! that's most intolerable.
York, Why here's a Girl; I think he knows not well
(There were fo many) whom she may accuse.
War. It's fign fhe had been liberal and free.
Tork. And yet forfooth fhe is a Virgin pure:
Strumpet, thy words condemn thy Brat, and thee.
Ufe no intreaty, for it is in vain.

Pucel. Then lead me hence; with whom I leave my curfe.

May never glorious Sun reflex his Beams

Upon the Country where you make abode;

But darkness, and the gloomy fhade of death

Inviron you, 'till Mifchief and Defpair

Drive you to break your Necks, or hang your felves. [Exit.

Enter Cardinal.

York. Break thou in pieces, and consume to Ashes,
Thou foul accurfed Minifter of Hell.

Car. Lord Regent, I do greet your Excellence
With Letters of Commiffion from the King.
For know, my Lords, the States of Chriftendom,
Mov'd with remorfe of these outrageous broils,
Have earnestly implor'd a general Peace,
Betwixt our Nation and th'afpiring French;
And here at hand, the Dauphin and his Train
Approacheth, to confer about fome matters.
Tork. Is all our travel turn'd to this Effect?
After the flaughter of fo many Peers,
So many Captains, Gentlemen, and Soldiers,
That in this quarrel have been overthrown,
And fold their Bodies for their Countries Benefit,
Shall we at laft conclude effeminate Peace?

Have we not loft most part of all the Town,
By Treafon, Falfhood, and by Treachery,
Our great Progenitors had conquered?
Oh Warwick, Warwick, I forefee with grief
The utter lofs of all the Realm of France.

War. Be patient, Tork; if we conclude a Peace,
It fhall be with such strict and fevere Covenants,
As little fhall the Frenchmen gain thereby.

Enter Charles, Alenson, Bastard, and Reignier.
Char. Since, Lords of England, it is thus agreed,
That peaceful Truce fhall be proclaim'd in France,
We come to be informed by your felves,
What the Conditions of that League muft be.
Tork. Speak, Winchester; for boiling Choler chokes
The hollow paffage of my poifon'd Voice,
By fight of thefe our baleful Enemies.

Win. Charles, and the reft, it is enacted thus:
That in regard King Henry gives confent,
Of meer compaffion, and of lenity,
To eafe your Country of diftrefsful War,
And fuffer you to breath in fruitful Peace,
You fhall become true Liegemen to his Crown.
And Charles, upon condition thou wilt fwear
To pay him Tribute, and fubmit thy felf,
Thou shalt be plac'd as Viceroy under him,
And ftill enjoy thy regal Dignity.

Alen. Muft he be then a fhadow of himself?
Adorn his Temples with a Coronet,
And yet in Substance and Authority,
Retain but privilege of a private Man?
This Proffer is abfurd and reafonless.

Char. 'Tis known already, that I am poffeft
Of more than half the Gallian Territories,
And therein reverenced for their lawful King.
Shall I for lucre of the reft un-vanquish'd,
Detract fo much from that Prerogative,
As to be call'd but Viceroy of the whole?
No, Lord Ambaffador, I'll rather keep
That which I have, than coveting for more,
Be caft from poffibility of all.

York. Infulting Charles, haft thou by fecret means

Us'd interceffion to obtain a League,
And now the matter grows to compromife,
Stand'ft thou aloof upon Comparison?
Either accept the Title thou ufurp'st,
Of benefit proceeding from our King,
And not of any challenge of Defert,

Or we will plague thee with inceflant Wars.
Reig. My Lord, you do not well, in obftinacy
To cavil in the course of this Contract:
If once it be neglected, ten to one
We shall not find like opportunity.

Alen. To fay the truth, it is your policy,
To fave your Subjects from fuch maffacre
And ruthlefs flaughters as are daily feen
By our proceeding in Hoftility.

And therefore take this contract of a Truce,
Although you break it, when your pleasure ferves.

War. How fay'ft thou Charles?

Shall our Condition ftand?

Char. It fhall:

Only referv'd, you claim no interest

If any of our Towns of Garrison.

[Afide to the Dauphin.

York. Then fwear Allegiance to his Majesty,
As thou art Knight, never to disobey,

Nor be Rebellious to the Crown of England,
Thou nor thy Nobles, to the Crown of England.
So, now difmifs your Army when you please:
Hang up your Enfigns, let your Drums be ftill,
For here we entertain a folemn Peace.
[Exeunt.
Enter Suffolk in conference with King Henry, Gloucester
and Exeter.

K. Henry. Your wondrous rare defcription, noble Earl,
Of beauteous Margaret hath aftonish'd me:
Her Virtues graced with external Gifts,
Do breed Loves fettled Paffions in my Heart.
And like as rigour with tempeftuous Gufts
Provokes the mightieft Hulk against the tide,
So I am driven by breath of her Renown,
Either to fuffer Shipwrack, or arrive
Where I may have fruition of her Love.
Hh 4

Suf.

Suf. Tufh, my good Lord, this fuperficial Tale
Is but a Preface to her worthy Praife:
The chief Perfections of that lovely Dame,
Had I fufficient Skill to utter them,
Would make a Volume of inticing lines,
Able to ravish any dull conceit,

And which is more, fhe is not fo Divine,
So full repleat with choice of all Delights,
But with as humble lowlinefs of Mind,
She is content to be at your command:
Command, I mean, of virtuous chafte intents,
To love and honour Henry as her Lord.

K. Henry. And otherwife, will Henry ne'er prefume :
Therefore, my Lord Protector, give confent,
That Margaret may be England's Royal Queen.
Glo. So fhould I give confent to flatter Sin.
You know, my Lord, your Highness is betroth'd
Unto another Lady of efteem.

How fhall we then difpence with the Contra&,
And not deface your Honour with reproach?
Suf. As doth a Ruler with unlawful Oaths,
Or one that at a Triumph, having vow'd
To try his ftrength, forfaketh yet the Lifts
By reason of his Adverfary's odds.

A poor Earl's Daughter is unequal odds,
And therefore may be broke without offence.

Glo. Why, what, I pray, is Margaret more than that?

Her Father is no better than an Earl,

Although in glorious Titles he excel.

Suf. Yes, my good Lord, her Father is a King,
The King of Naples and Jerufalem,
And of fuch great Authority in France,
That his Alliance will confirm our Peace,
And keep the Frenchmen in Allegiance.
Glo. And fo the Earl of Armagnac may do,
Because he is near Kinfman unto Charles.

Exe. Befide, his wealth doth warrant liberal Dower, Where Reignier fooner will receive than give.

Suf. A Dower, my Lords! Difgrace not fo your King, That he fhould be fo abject, bafe, and poor,

To chufe for Wealth, and not for perfect Love.

Henry