Have you perused the letters from the Pope,

The Emperor, and the Earl of Armagnac?

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.

How doth your Grace affect their motion?

Well, my good lord, and as the only means

To stop effusion of our Christian blood

And stablish quietness on every side.

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.

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.

Marriage, uncle! Alas, my years are young!

And fitter is my study and my books

Than wanton dalliance with a paramour.

Yet call th’ ambassadors; 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.

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.”

My Lords Ambassadors, your several suits

Have been consider’d and debated on.

Your purpose is both good and reasonable;

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.

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.

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.

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.

I will attend upon your lordship’s leisure.

[_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.