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As procurator to your excellence,

To marry Princess Margaret for your grace,

So, in the famous ancient city, Tours,

5

In presence of the Kings of France and Sicil,

The Dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretagne, and Alençon,

Seven earls, twelve barons, and twenty reverend bishops,

I have performed my task, and was espoused:
And humbly now upon my bended knee,

In sight of England and her lordly peers,
Deliver up my title in the queen

To your most gracious hands, that are the substance
Of that great shadow I did represent;

ΙΟ

The happiest gift that ever marquess gave,

15

The fairest queen that ever king received.

King. Suffolk, arise. Welcome, Queen Margaret :
I can express no kinder sign of love

Than this kind kiss. O Lord! that lends me life,
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness;
For thou hast given me in this beauteous face
A world of earthly blessings to my soul,

If sympathy of love unite our thoughts.

Queen. Great King of England and my gracious lord,

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20

13. To

3. to] for Q I. 5. famous ancient [auncient famous Q 1. 8. twenty] then the Q I. 9. have performed] did performe Q 1. 10. humbly now upon] now, most humbly on Q1. knee] knees Q 1. II. lordly] royall Q 1. your most gracious hands] Vnto your gratious excellence QI. 16. received] possest Q 1. 17-19. Queen Margaret . . kind kiss] Queene Margaret to English Henries Court, The greatest shew of kindnesse yet we can bestow, Is this kinde kisse Q 1. 19. O... life] 20. Oh gracious God of heaven Q 1. 21. For . face] 22. For in this beautious face thou hast bestow de Q I. 22. earthly ..soul] 23. pleasures to my perplexed soule Q 1. 23. If sympathy thoughts] omitted Q 1. 24-31. Great King doth minister] 24-29, Th' excessive love I beare unto your grace, Forbids me to be lavish of my tongue. James the Fourth (xiii. 212): "And 13, 14. substance shadow] See since thy griefe exceeds in my depart, I note at 1 Henry VI. v. iv. 133-135. And leave my Dorithea." He has it several at Merry Wives of Windsor, II. ii. 216, times again in the same play. New 217 (Arden edition, p. 95). Eng. Dict. quotes from Spenser's Faerie Queene. See again 3 Henry VI. IV. i. 92; Two Gentlemen of Verona, v. iv. 96. Not uncommon and usually as here. 3. procurator] substitute, procurer for another. Only here in Shakespeare. From the Chroniclers.

11. lordly] Occurs only in 1 and 2 Henry VI. and Lucrece. See note at Part I. III. i. 43. "Lordly peers" occurs a second time in Q at line 36 below. One of the most noticeable points in the remodelling of the old play is the regular reduction of repetitions. See note at "proud prelate," line 140. Greene uses it more than once.

15, 16. The happiest ... The fairest] See Introduction to Part I. A Spenserian construction. Compare the lines beginning "A braver ... A gentler" in Part I. III. ii. 134, 135.

20. replete with] See Part I. 1. i. 11 and 1. vi. 15 (notes).

22. A world of] See Part I. 11. ii. 48 and iv. iv. 25 (notes). Compare (Peele's) Jack Straw (Hazlitt's Dodsley, v. 399): "a mean to shed a world of blood."

24. lavish of my tongue] Omitted here, but in Q is noted elsewhere. An older expression than "lavish tongue."

The mutual conference that my mind hath had

25

By day, by night, waking, and in my dreams,
In courtly company, or at my beads,

With you mine alderliefest sovereign,
Makes me the bolder to salute my king
With ruder terms, such as my wit affords,

30

And over joy of heart doth minister.

King. Her sight did ravish, but her grace in speech,
Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty,

Makes me from wondering fall to weeping joys;
Such is the fulness of my heart's content.

35

Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love.

All [kneeling]. Long live Queen Margaret, England's happiness! Queen. We thank you all.

[Flourish.

Suf. My lord protector, so it please your grace,
Here are the articles of contracted peace
Between our sovereign and the French King Charles,
For eighteen months concluded by consent.

40

Glou. "Imprimis, It is agreed between the French King Charles and William de la Pole, Marquess of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry King of England, that the said 45 Henry shall espouse the Lady Margaret, daughter unto

Least I should speake more than beseemes a woman; Let this suffice, my blisse is in your liking, And nothing can make poore Margaret miserable, Vnlesse the frowne of mightie Englands King Q 1. 32-36. Her sight. . .. my love] Her lookes did wound, but now her speech doth pierce, Lovely Queene Margaret sit down by my side: And vnckle Gloster, and you Lordly Peeres, With one voice welcome my beloued Queene Q I.. 38. [Flourish] Sound trumpets (after We thank you all 35) Q I. 40. of contracted 37. confirmde of Q ̄`1. .. consent] 39. Till terme of eighteene months be full expirde. espouse] 42, 43. shal wed and espouse Q 1. 46. unto] to Q I.

28. alderliefest] dearest of all. Not again in Shakespeare. Greene has "mine aldertruest love" in James the Fourth (Grosart, xiii. 322). "Alderliefest" occurs several times in Chaucer, from "alder," the old genitive plural of "all." See New Eng. Dict. in v. All, D 3. It was in use down to 1600. Not in Q. 31. over joy] greater, higher joy. "Over" is an adjective here. "Lavish of my tongue," in Q (25), is noted on at "lavish tongue," Part I. II. v. 47. In the same speech "Let this suffice" (27) is a Shakespearian expression. See Winter's Tale, 1. ii. 235; 2 Henry IV. III. ii. 178. It is in Greene's Orlando Furioso several times. Not in Q.

33. y-clad] an archaism, at this time; the old past participle with ge. It was

42. For 46. shall

latest used perhaps in "yclept," as in
Love's Labour's Lost, I. i. 242 (ycleped)
and v. ii. 602 (ycliped); "y-ravished'
and "y-slaked" are in Pericles. Greene
has "yblent" (viii. 122). Spenser em-
ploys it very commonly. Not in Q.
"This

34. weeping joys] Malone says: weeping joy, of which there is no trace in the original play, Shakespeare was extremely fond of; having introduced it in Much Ado About Nothing, King Richard II., Macbeth and King Lear."

43. Imprimis] in the first place. See again Two Gentlemen of Verona, III. i. 274, 302, and Taming of the Shrew, IV. i. 68, IV. iii. 135. In Marlowe's Jew of Malta (1590) and Greene's Looking Glasse for London (ante 1592) in trivial

use.

Reignier King of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerusalem, and
crown her Queen of England ere the thirtieth of May
next ensuing. Item, that the duchy of Anjou and
the county of Maine shall be released and delivered 50
to the king her father ".
[Lets the paper fall.

King. Uncle, how now!

Glou.

Pardon me, gracious lord;

Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart And dimmed mine eyes, that I can read no further. King. Uncle of Winchester, I pray, read on. Car. "Item, It is further agreed between them, that the duchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered over to the king her father, and she sent over of the King of England's own proper cost and charges, without having any dowry." King. They please us well. Lord marquess, kneel down: We here create thee the first Duke of Suffolk,

55

60

47. Raynard... Sicilia] 44. Regnier... Cyssels Q 1. 48. thirtieth of May next ensuing] 45. 30 of the next month QI. 49. Item, that] 46. Item. It is further agreed betweene them that Q 1. "Q" will be omitted in future; collations not otherwise referenced will belong to Q 1. 50. delivered) 47. delivered over. 51. Lets the paper fall] 48. Duke Humphrey lets it fall Q; omitted Ff. 52. Uncle . . . lord] 50, 51. How now vnkle, whats the matter that you stay so sodenly. Humph. Pardon, my lord. 53. some... heart] 50. a sodain qualme came over my heart. 54. And dimmed. further] 51. which dimmes .. more. 55. King. Uncle. read on] 52. Vncle 57. Maine] 54. of Mayne. 60. without having any dowry] 56. 61-68. They please. . .] prose in Q 1. 62. the] 58.

reade on. without dowry. omitted Q.

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53. sudden qualm] "Qualm is in Love's Labour's Lost, v. ii. 279 (see note, Arden edition) and in Much Ado About Nothing. "Sudden qualm" is in Greene's James the Fourth (xiii. 297):

:

"Woes me, for him I moane: Helpe now helpe a suddaine qualme Assayles my heart"

(circa 1590-1591). Kyd used this in Soliman and Perseda, 11. i. 49-50; and (probably) in Arden of Feversham, v. i. 308.

57. released] surrendered, given up. An old use.

59. own proper cost and charges] An old expression generally used in connection with large expenses involved in state affairs. Not dealt with in New Eng. Dict. although this passage is cited

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under " Charge." Upon their own proper costs and charges" is a translation of suis & eorum propriis sumptibus & expensis in Letters Patents granted to the Cabots by Henry VII., 1495 (Hakluyt edition, 1810-1812, pp. 25-26, vol. iii.), 1600. Compare Peele, Old Wives Tale (Dyce, 452, a): "I'll bestow one peal of Jack at mine own proper costs and charges." And in Nashe, Unfortunate Traveller (Grosart, v. 70), 1594. See below, 1. 132.

62. create thee the first Duke of Suffolk] This occurred the year afterwards (1445, The XXIIIJ Yere): "This Marques thus gotten up into fortunes trone, not content with his degree, by the meanes of the Queene was shortly erected to the estate and degree of a Duke, & ruled the King at his pleasure" (Grafton, p. 627). He had been raised from Earl to Marquis before sailing to France for the conveyance of the Queen. In the same year (1445), Grafton says (p. 626): “It was openly

And girt thee with the sword. Cousin of York,
We here discharge your grace from being regent
I' the parts of France, till term of eighteen months
Be full expired. Thanks, uncle Winchester,
Gloucester, York, Buckingham, Somerset,
Salisbury, and Warwick;

We thank you all for this great favour done,
In entertainment to my princely queen.
Come, let us in, and with all speed provide
To see her coronation be performed.

65

70

[Exeunt King, Queen, and Suffolk. Glou. Brave peers of England, pillars of the state, To you Duke Humphrey must unload his grief, Your grief, the common grief of all the land. What did my brother Henry spend his youth, His valour, coin, and people, in the wars? Did he so often lodge in open field,

In winter's cold, and summer's parching heat,

63. girt] Q, Ff; gird, Cambridge. ham] 62. and Buckingham.

75

67. Bucking

65. I' the] Ff; in the Q. 72. Exeunt. 165. Exet . . . and Duke Humphrey staies all the rest. Exit... Manet the rest. F 1. 73. Glou.] 67.

Humphrey (and throughout).

74. unload] 68. unfold. 75. Your ... land] omitted Q. 76. spend his youth] 69. toyle himselfe. 77-80. His valour . . inheritance] 70. And waste his subjects for to conquere France?

knowen, that the French king was redie in all thinges to make open warre, if no peace. ... were agreed. For which consideracion, money was graunted, men were appoynted, and a great armie gathered together, and the Duke of Sommerset was appoynted Regent of Normandie, and the Duke of Yorke thereof discharged" (Hall, p. 206). See line 64.

63. girt] See Part I. III. i. 171 and

note.

46

'My colours I advance, And girt me with my sword, and shake my lance"

(Peele, Descensus Astrææ (Dyce, 542, b), 1591). And see pp. 549, a, and 557, b, for other examples. Compare "rents," Part III. III. ii. 175. In Greene and Spenser.

65, 66. term... full expired] Compare Peele, Sir Clyomon (506, b): "Now are the ten days full expir'd wherein,"

etc.

73. pillars of the state] Similarly in Locrine, v. i.:

"Now who is left to helpless Albion, That as a pillar might uphold our state,

That might strike terror to our daring foes?"

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78. lodge in field] Compare Love's Labour's Lost, 11. i. 85: "He rather means to lodge you in the field." "Lodge" in the sense of "lie" is a favourite verb with Shakespeare. A common Biblical sense. It occurs commonly in the Chroniclers, as in Grafton's military operations of Edward the III.: lodged on the sandes" (363); "lodged in the fieldes" (370).

78. open field] Not elsewhere in Shakespeare. Compare Peele, Old Wives Tale (452, b): "Away with him into the open fields." See quotation from Locrine at " burgonet," v. i.

204.

79. In winter's cold... parching heat] Compare Lucrece, 1145: "That knows not parching heat nor freezing cold"; "Sun's parching heat" occurs in Part I. 1. ii. 77. Compare this speech and the succeeding ones by York and Warwick with those by York and Warwick to the same purpose in the last scene but one of Part I. They are less developed here in the Quarto. This may imply that the Quarto is by the

To conquer France, his true inheritance?
And did my brother Bedford toil his wits,
To keep by policy what Henry got?
Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham,
Brave York, Salisbury, and victorious Warwick,
Received deep scars in France and Normandy?
Or hath mine uncle Beaufort and myself,
With all the learned council of the realm,

80

85

Studied so long, sat in the council-house

Early and late, debating to and fro

How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe ?

90

And hath his highness in his infancy

Crowned in Paris, in despite of foes?

And shall these labours and these honours die?

95

Shall Henry's conquest, Bedford's vigilance,
Your deeds of war and all our counsel die?
O peers of England! shameful is this league,
Fatal this marriage, cancelling your fame,
Blotting your names from books of memory,
Razing the characters of your renown,

82. To

83-85. Have you

...

got?] Nor

81. And .. toil his wits] 71. And ... spend his time. 72. To keepe in awe that stout vnruly Realme? mandy] omitted Q. 86-95. Or hath mine uncle Beaufort all our counsel die ?] 73-75. And have not I and mine vncle Bewford here, Done all we could to keepe that lande in peace? And is all our labours then spent in vaine. 96IOI. O peers. had never been] 79-81. Ah lords, fatall is this marriage canselling our states, Reversing Monuments

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...

as none had nere bene done

88. council-house] Occurs again, Richard III. III. v. 38. Not in Q. 89. to and fro] See Part I. II. i. 69; and below, Iv. viii. 57; and King Lear, III. i. II. Not in Q in either passage in this play. In Kyd, Spanish Tragedie; Golding's Ovid; Spenser, Faerie Queene, etc.

...

97. cancelling fame] Often so used in Shakespeare: "cancel all grudge" (Two Gentlemen of Verona, v. iv. 143); "cancell'd love" (Romeo and Juliet, III. iii. 98); "cancelled woe" (Sonnet 30).

98. Blotting books] Compare To blot old books and Lucrece, 948: alter their contents."

98. books of memory] This expression is in Part I. II. iv. 101. Not in Q. Peele uses it similarly, but later. Compare Marlowe, Tamburlaine, Part II. m. i.:—

"all the world should blot his dignities

Out of the book of base-born

infamies."

99. Razing . . . renown] Compare

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