| ACT V SCENE I | London. The palace. | |
| [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 | 5 |
| 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. | 10 |
| 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 | 15 |
| 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. | 20 |
| 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: | 25 |
| 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 | 30 |
| 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. | 35 |
| 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, | 40 |
| 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, | 45 |
| 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 | 50 |
| 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,
| 55 |
| 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, | 60 |
| Or sack this country with a mutiny. |
| [Exeunt] |
The Essential Student History Quiz (with answers and illustrations)