KING HENRY. Have you perus'd 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. 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. 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. 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.

  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. 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 resolv'd

    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. [To AMBASSADOR] 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 WINCHESTER and the LEGATE

  WINCHESTER. Stay, my Lord Legate; you shall first receive

    The sum of money which I promised

    Should be delivered to his Holiness

    For clothing me in these grave ornaments.

  LEGATE. I will attend upon your lordship's leisure.

  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