The Life Of Henry The Fifth By William Shakespeare

Scanner’s Notes: What this is and isn’t. This was taken from a copy of Shakespeare’s first folio and it is as close as I can come in ASCII to the printed text. The elongated S’s have been changed to small s’s and the conjoined ae have been changed to ae. I have left the spelling, punctuation, capitalization as close as possible to the printed text. I have corrected some spelling mistakes (I have put together a spelling dictionary devised from the spellings of the Geneva Bible and Shakespeare’s First Folio and have unified spellings according to this template), typo’s and expanded abbreviations as I have come across them. Everything within brackets [] is what I have added. So if you don’t like that you can delete everything within the brackets if you want a purer Shakespeare. Another thing that you should be aware of is that there are textual differences between various copies of the first folio. So there may be differences (other than what I have mentioned above) between this and other first folio editions. This is due to the printer’s habit of setting the type and running off a number of copies and then proofing the printed copy and correcting the type and then continuing the printing run. The proof run wasn’t thrown away but incorporated into the printed copies. This is just the way it is. The text I have used was a composite of more than 30 different First Folio editions’ best pages. If you find any scanning errors, out and out typos, punctuation errors, or if you disagree with my spelling choices please feel free to email me those errors. I wish to make this the best etext possible. My email address for right now are haradda@aol.com and davidr@inconnect.com. I hope that you enjoy this. David Reed The Life of Henry the Fift Enter Prologue. O For a Muse of Fire, that would ascend The brightest Heauen of Inuention:A Kingdome for a Stage, Princes to Act, And Monarchs to behold the swelling Scene. Then should the Warlike Harry, like himselfe, Assume the Port of Mars, and at his heeles (Leasht in, like Hounds) should Famine, Sword, and Fire Crouch for employment. But pardon, Gentles all: The flat vnraysed Spirits, that hath dar’d, On this vnworthy Scaffold, to bring forth So great an Obiect. Can this Cock-Pit hold The vastie fields of France? Or may we cramme Within this Woodden O, the very CaskesThat did affright the Ayre at Agincourt? O pardon: since a crooked Figure mayAttest in little place a Million,And let vs, Cyphers to this great Accompt, On your imaginarie Forces worke.Suppose within the Girdle of these Walls Are now confin’d two mightie Monarchies, Whose high, vp-reared, and abutting Fronts, The perillous narrow Ocean parts asunder. Peece out our imperfections with your thoughts: Into a thousand parts diuide one Man,And make imaginarie Puissance.Thinke when we talke of Horses, that you see them Printing their prowd Hoofes i’th’ receiuing Earth: For ’tis your thoughts that now must deck our Kings, Carry them here and there: Iumping o’re Times; Turning th’ accomplishment of many yeeres Into an Howre-glasse: for the which supplie, Admit me Chorus to this Historie;Who Prologue-like, your humble patience pray, Gently to heare, kindly to iudge our Play. Enter. Actus Primus. Scoena Prima. Enter the two Bishops of Canterbury and Ely. Bish.Cant. My Lord, Ile tell you, that selfe Bill is vrg’d, Which in th’ eleue[n]th yere of y last Kings reign Was like, and had indeed against vs past, But that the scambling and vnquiet timeDid push it out of farther question Bish.Ely. But how my Lord shall we resist it now? Bish.Cant. It must be thought on: if it passe against vs, We loose the better halfe of our Possession: For all the Temporall Lands, which men deuout By Testament haue giuen to the Church,Would they strip from vs; being valu’d thus, As much as would maintaine, to the Kings honor, Full fifteene Earles, and fifteene hundred Knights, Six thousand and two hundred good Esquires: And to reliefe of Lazars, and weake ageOf indigent faint Soules, past corporall toyle, A hundred Almes-houses, right well supply’d: And to the Coffers of the King beside,A thousand pounds by th’ yeere. Thus runs the Bill Bish.Ely. This would drinke deepe Bish.Cant. ‘Twould drinke the Cup and all Bish.Ely. But what preuention? Bish.Cant. The King is full of grace, and faire regard Bish.Ely. And a true louer of the holy Church Bish.Cant. The courses of his youth promis’d it not. The breath no sooner left his Fathers body, But that his wildnesse, mortify’d in him, Seem’d to dye too: yea, at that very moment, Consideration like an Angell came,And whipt th’ offending Adam out of him; Leauing his body as a Paradise,T’ inuelop and containe Celestiall Spirits. Neuer was such a sodaine Scholler made:Neuer came Reformation in a Flood,With such a heady currance scowring faults: Nor neuer Hidra-headed WilfulnesseSo soone did loose his Seat; and all at once; As in this King Bish.Ely. We are blessed in the Change Bish.Cant. Heare him but reason in Diuinitie; And all-admiring, with an inward wishYou would desire the King were made a Prelate: Heare him debate of Common-wealth Affaires; You would say, it hath been all in all his study: List his discourse of Warre; and you shall heare A fearefull Battaile rendred you in Musique. Turne him to any Cause of Pollicy,The Gordian Knot of it he will vnloose, Familiar as his Garter: that when he speakes, The Ayre, a Charter’d Libertine, is still, And the mute Wonder lurketh in mens eares, To steale his sweet and honyed Sentences: So that the Art and Practique part of Life, Must be the Mistresse to this Theorique. Which is a wonder how his Grace should gleane it, Since his addiction was to Courses vaine, His Companies vnletter’d, rude, and shallow, His Houres fill’d vp with Ryots, Banquets, Sports; And neuer noted in him any studie,Any retyrement, any sequestration,From open Haunts and Popularitie B.Ely. The Strawberry growes vnderneath the Nettle, And holesome Berryes thriue and ripen best, Neighbour’d by Fruit of baser qualitie:And so the Prince obscur’d his Contemplation Vnder the Veyle of Wildnesse, which (no doubt) Grew like the Summer Grasse, fastest by Night, Vnseene, yet cressiue in his facultie B.Cant. It must be so; for Miracles are ceast: And therefore we must needes admit the meanes, How things are perfected B.Ely. But my good Lord:How now for mittigation of this Bill, Vrg’d by the Commons? doth his MaiestieIncline to it, or no? B.Cant. He seemes indifferent:Or rather swaying more vpon our part, Then cherishing th’ exhibiters against vs: For I haue made an offer to his Maiestie, Vpon our Spirituall Conuocation,And in regard of Causes now in hand, Which I haue open’d to his Grace at large, As touching France, to giue a greater Summe, Then euer at one time the Clergie yetDid to his Predecessors part withall B.Ely. How did this offer seeme receiu’d, my Lord? B.Cant. With good acceptance of his Maiestie: Saue that there was not time enough to heare, As I perceiu’d his Grace would faine haue done, The seueralls and vnhidden passagesOf his true Titles to some certaine Dukedomes, And generally, to the Crowne and Seat of France, Deriu’d from Edward, his great Grandfather B.Ely. What was th’ impediment that broke this off? B.Cant. The French Embassador vpon that instant Crau’d audience; and the howre I thinke is come, To giue him hearing: Is it foure a Clock? B.Ely. It is B.Cant. Then goe we in, to know his Embassie: Which I could with a ready guesse declare, Before the Frenchman speake a word of it B.Ely. Ile wait vpon you, and I long to heare it. Exeunt. Enter the King, Humfrey, Bedford, Clarence, Warwick, Westmerland, andExeter. King. Where is my gracious Lord of Canterbury? Exeter. Not here in presence King. Send for him, good Vnckle Westm. Shall we call in th’ Ambassador, my Liege? King. Not yet, my Cousin: we would be resolu’d, Before we heare him, of some things of weight, That taske our thoughts, concerning vs and France. Enter two Bishops. B.Cant. God and his Angels guard your sacred Throne, And make you long become it King. Sure we thanke you.My learned Lord, we pray you to proceed, And iustly and religiously vnfold,Why the Law Salike, that they haue in France, Or should or should not barre vs in our Clayme: And God forbid, my deare and faithfull Lord, That you should fashion, wrest, or bow your reading, Or nicely charge your vnderstanding Soule, With opening Titles miscreate, whose right Sutes not in natiue colours with the truth: For God doth know, how many now in health, Shall drop their blood, in approbationOf what your reuerence shall incite vs to. Therefore take heed how you impawne our Person, How you awake our sleeping Sword of Warre; We charge you in the Name of God take heed: For neuer two such Kingdomes did contend, Without much fall of blood, whose guiltlesse drops Are euery one, a Woe, a sore Complaint,‘Gainst him, whose wrongs giues edge vnto the Swords, That makes such waste in briefe mortalitie. Vnder this Coniuration, speake my Lord:For we will heare, note, and beleeue in heart, That what you speake, is in your Conscience washt, As pure as sinne with Baptisme B.Can. Then heare me gracious Soueraign, & you Peers, That owe your selues, your liues, and seruices, To this Imperiall Throne. There is no barre To make against your Highnesse Clayme to France, But this which they produce from Pharamond, In terram Salicam Mulieres ne succedant, No Woman shall succeed in Salike Land:Which Salike Land, the French vniustly gloze To be the Realme of France, and Pharamond The founder of this Law, and Female Barre. Yet their owne Authors faithfully affirme, That the Land Salike is in Germanie,Betweene the Flouds of Sala and of Elue: Where Charles the Great hauing subdu’d the Saxons, There left behind and settled certaine French: Who holding in disdaine the German Women, For some dishonest manners of their life, Establisht then this Law; to wit, No Female Should be Inheritrix in Salike Land:Which Salike (as I said) ‘twixt Elue and Sala, Is at this day in Germanie, call’d Meisen. Then doth it well appeare, the Salike Law Was not deuised for the Realme of France: Nor did the French possesse the Salike Land, Vntill foure hundred one and twentie yeeres After defunction of King Pharamond,Idly suppos’d the founder of this Law, Who died within the yeere of our Redemption, Foure hundred twentie six: and Charles the Great Subdu’d the Saxons, and did seat the French Beyond the Riuer Sala, in the yeereEight hundred fiue. Besides, their Writers say, King Pepin, which deposed Childerike,Did as Heire Generall, being descended Of Blithild, which was Daughter to King Clothair, Make Clayme and Title to the Crowne of France. Hugh Capet also, who vsurpt the CrowneOf Charles the Duke of Loraine, sole Heire male Of the true Line and Stock of Charles the Great: To find his Title with some shewes of truth, Though in pure truth it was corrupt and naught, Conuey’d himselfe as th’ Heire to th’ Lady Lingare, Daughter to Charlemaine, who was the Sonne To Lewes the Emperour, and Lewes the Sonne Of Charles the Great: also King Lewes the Tenth, Who was sole Heire to the Vsurper Capet, Could not keepe quiet in his conscience, Wearing the Crowne of France, ’till satisfied, That faire Queene Isabel, his Grandmother, Was Lineall of the Lady Ermengare,Daughter to Charles the foresaid Duke of Loraine: By the which Marriage, the Lyne of Charles the Great Was re-vnited to the Crowne of France.So, that as cleare as is the Summers Sunne, King Pepins Title, and Hugh Capets Clayme, King Lewes his satisfaction, all appeare To hold in Right and Title of the Female: So doe the Kings of France vnto this day. Howbeit, they would hold vp this Salique Law, To barre your Highnesse clayming from the Female, And rather chuse to hide them in a Net,Then amply to imbarre their crooked Titles, Vsurpt from you and your Progenitors King. May I with right and conscience make this claim? Bish.Cant. The sinne vpon my head, dread Soueraigne: For in the Booke of Numbers is it writ,When the man dyes, let the Inheritance Descend vnto the Daughter. Gracious Lord, Stand for your owne, vnwind your bloody Flagge, Looke back into your mightie Ancestors:Goe my dread Lord, to your great Grandsires Tombe, From whom you clayme; inuoke his Warlike Spirit, And your Great Vnckles, Edward the Black Prince, Who on the French ground play’d a Tragedie, Making defeat on the full Power of France: Whiles his most mightie Father on a Hill Stood smiling, to behold his Lyons Whelpe Forrage in blood of French Nobilitie.O Noble English, that could entertaine With halfe their Forces, the full pride of France, And let another halfe stand laughing by, All out of worke, and cold for action Bish. Awake remembrance of these valiant dead, And with your puissant Arme renew their Feats; You are their Heire, you sit vpon their Throne: The Blood and Courage that renowned them, Runs in your Veines: and my thrice-puissant Liege Is in the very May-Morne of his Youth,Ripe for Exploits and mightie Enterprises Exe. Your Brother Kings and Monarchs of the Earth Doe all expect, that you should rowse your selfe, As did the former Lyons of your Blood West. They know your Grace hath cause, and means, and might; So hath your Highnesse: neuer King of England Had Nobles richer, and more loyall Subiects, Whose hearts haue left their bodyes here in England, And lye pauillion’d in the fields of France Bish.Can. O let their bodyes follow my deare Liege With Bloods, and Sword and Fire, to win your Right: In ayde whereof, we of the SpiritualtieWill rayse your Highnesse such a mightie Summe, As neuer did the Clergie at one timeBring in to any of your Ancestors King. We must not onely arme t’ inuade the French, But lay downe our proportions, to defend Against the Scot, who will make roade vpon vs, With all aduantages Bish.Can. They of those Marches, gracious Soueraign, Shall be a Wall sufficient to defendOur in-land from the pilfering Borderers King. We do not meane the coursing snatchers onely, But feare the maine intendment of the Scot, Who hath been still a giddy neighbour to vs: For you shall reade, that my great Grandfather Neuer went with his forces into France,But that the Scot, on his vnfurnisht Kingdome, Came pouring like the Tyde into a breach, With ample and brim fulnesse of his force, Galling the gleaned Land with hot Assayes, Girding with grieuous siege, Castles and Townes: That England being emptie of defence,Hath shooke and trembled at th’ ill neighbourhood B.Can. She hath bin the[n] more fear’d the[n] harm’d, my Liege: For heare her but exampl’d by her selfe, When all her Cheualrie hath been in France, And shee a mourning Widdow of her Nobles, Shee hath her selfe not onely well defended, But taken and impounded as a Stray,The King of Scots: whom shee did send to France, To fill King Edwards fame with prisoner Kings, And make their Chronicle as rich with prayse, As is the Owse and bottome of the SeaWith sunken Wrack, and sum-lesse Treasuries Bish.Ely. But there’s a saying very old and true, If that you will France win, then with Scotland first begin. For once the Eagle (England) being in prey, To her vnguarded Nest, the Weazell (Scot) Comes sneaking, and so sucks her Princely Egges, Playing the Mouse in absence of the Cat, To tame and hauocke more then she can eate Exet. It followes then, the Cat must stay at home, Yet that is but a crush’d necessity,Since we haue lockes to safegard necessaries, And pretty traps to catch the petty theeues. While that the Armed hand doth fight abroad, Th’ aduised head defends it selfe at home: For Gouernment, though high, and low, and lower, Put into parts, doth keepe in one consent, Congreeing in a full and natural close,Like Musicke Cant. Therefore doth heauen diuideThe state of man in diuers functions, Setting endeuour in continual motion:To which is fixed as an ayme or butt, Obedience: for so worke the Hony Bees,Creatures that by a rule in Nature teach The Act of Order to a peopled Kingdome.They haue a King, and Officers of sorts, Where some like Magistrates correct at home: Others, like Merchants venter Trade abroad: Others, like Souldiers armed in their stings, Make boote vpon the Summers Veluet buddes: Which pillage, they with merry march bring home To the Tent-royal of their Emperor:Who busied in his Maiesties surueyes The singing Masons building roofes of Gold, The ciuil Citizens kneading vp the hony; The poore Mechanicke Porters, crowding in Their heauy burthens at his narrow gate: The sad-ey’d Iustice with his surly humme, Deliuering ore to Executors paleThe lazie yawning Drone: I this inferre, That many things hauing full referenceTo one consent, may worke contrariously, As many Arrowes loosed seuerall wayesCome to one marke: as many wayes meet in one towne, As many fresh streames meet in one salt sea; As many Lynes close in the Dials center: So may a thousand actions once a foote,And in one purpose, and be all well borne Without defeat. Therefore to France, my Liege, Diuide your happy England into foure,Whereof, take you one quarter into France, And you withall shall make all Gallia shake. If we with thrice such powers left at home, Cannot defend our owne doores from the dogge, Let vs be worried, and our Nation loseThe name of hardinesse and policie King. Call in the Messengers sent from the Dolphin. Now are we well resolu’d, and by Gods helpe And yours, the noble sinewes of our power, France being ours, wee’l bend it to our Awe, Or breake it all to peeces. Or there wee’l sit, (Ruling in large and ample Emperie,Ore France, and all her (almost) Kingly Dukedomes) Or lay these bones in an vnworthy Vrne,Tomblesse, with no remembrance ouer them: Either our History shall with full mouth Speake freely of our Acts, or else our graue Like Turkish mute, shall haue a tonguelesse mouth, Not worshipt with a waxen Epitaph.Enter Ambassadors of France. Now are we well prepar’d to know the pleasure Of our faire Cosin Dolphin: for we heare, Your greeting is from him, not from the King Amb. May’t please your Maiestie to giue vs leaue Freely to render what we haue in charge: Or shall we sparingly shew you farre off The Dolphins meaning, and our Embassie King. We are no Tyrant, but a Christian King, Vnto whose grace our passion is as subiect As is our wretches fettred in our prisons, Therefore with franke and with vncurbed plainnesse, Tell vs the Dolphins minde Amb. Thus than in few:Your Highnesse lately sending into France, Did claime some certaine Dukedomes, in the right Of your great Predecessor, King Edward the third. In answer of which claime, the Prince our Master Sayes, that you sauour too much of your youth, And bids you be aduis’d: There’s nought in France, That can be with a nimble Galliard wonne: You cannot reuell into Dukedomes there.He therefore sends you meeter for your spirit This Tun of Treasure; and in lieu of this, Desires you let the dukedomes that you claime Heare no more of you. This the Dolphin speakes King. What Treasure Vncle? Exe. Tennis balles, my Liege Kin. We are glad the Dolphin is so pleasant with vs, His Present, and your paines we thanke you for: When we haue matcht our Rackets to these Balles, We will in France (by Gods grace) play a set, Shall strike his fathers Crowne into the hazard. Tell him, he hath made a match with such a Wrangler, That all the Courts of France will be disturb’d With Chaces. And we vnderstand him well, How he comes o’re vs with our wilder dayes, Not measuring what vse we made of them.We neuer valew’d this poore seate of England, And therefore liuing hence, did giue our selfe To barbarous license: As ’tis euer common, That men are merriest, when they are from home. But tell the Dolphin, I will keepe my State, Be like a King, and shew my sayle of Greatnesse, When I do rowse me in my Throne of France. For that I haue layd by my Maiestie,And plodded like a man for working dayes: But I will rise there with so full a glorie, That I will dazle all the eyes of France, Yea strike the Dolphin blinde to looke on vs, And tell the pleasant Prince, this Mocke of his Hath turn’d his balles to Gun-stones, and his soule Shall stand sore charged, for the wastefull vengeance That shall flye with them: for many a thousand widows Shall this his Mocke, mocke out of their deer husbands; Mocke mothers from their sonnes, mock Castles downe: And some are yet vngotten and vnborne,That shal haue cause to curse the Dolphins scorne. But this lyes all within the wil of God, To whom I do appeale, and in whose nameTel you the Dolphin, I am comming on, To venge me as I may, and to put forthMy rightfull hand in a wel-hallow’d cause. So get you hence in peace: And tell the Dolphin, His Iest will sauour but of shallow wit, When thousands weepe more then did laugh at it. Conuey them with safe conduct. Fare you well. Exeunt. Ambassadors. Exe. This was a merry Message King. We hope to make the Sender blush at it: Therefore, my Lords, omit no happy howre, That may giue furth’rance to our Expedition: For we haue now no thought in vs but France, Saue those to God, that runne before our businesse. Therefore let our proportions for these Warres Be soone collected, and all things thought vpon, That may with reasonable swiftnesse adde More Feathers to our Wings: for God before, Wee’le chide this Dolphin at his fathers doore. Therefore let euery man now taske his thought, That this faire Action may on foot be brought. Exeunt. Flourish. Enter Chorus. Now all the Youth of England are on fire, And silken Dalliance in the Wardrobe lyes: Now thriue the Armorers, and Honors thought Reignes solely in the breast of euery man. They sell the Pasture now, to buy the Horse; Following the Mirror of all Christian Kings, With winged heeles, as English Mercuries. For now sits Expectation in the Ayre,And hides a Sword, from Hilts vnto the Point, With Crownes Imperiall, Crownes and Coronets, Promis’d to Harry, and his followers.The French aduis’d by good intelligence Of this most dreadfull preparation,Shake in their feare, and with pale Pollicy Seeke to diuert the English purposes.O England: Modell to thy inward Greatnesse, Like little Body with a mightie Heart:What mightst thou do, that honour would thee do, Were all thy children kinde and naturall: But see, thy fault France hath in thee found out, A nest of hollow bosomes, which he filles With treacherous Crownes, and three corrupted men: One, Richard Earle of Cambridge, and the second Henry Lord Scroope of Masham, and the third Sir Thomas Grey Knight of Northumberland, Haue for the Gilt of France (O guilt indeed) Confirm’d Conspiracy with fearefull France, And by their hands, this grace of Kings must dye. If Hell and Treason hold their promises, Ere he take ship for France; and in Southampton. Linger your patience on, and wee’l digest Th’ abuse of distance; force a play:The summe is payde, the Traitors are agreed, The King is set from London, and the Scene Is now transported (Gentles) to Southampton, There is the Play-house now, there must you sit, And thence to France shall we conuey you safe, And bring you backe: Charming the narrow seas To giue you gentle Passe: for if we may, Wee’l not offend one stomacke with our Play. But till the King come forth, and not till then, Vnto Southampton do we shift our Scene. Exit Enter Corporall Nym, and Lieutenant Bardolfe. Bar. Well met Corporall Nym Nym. Good morrow Lieutenant Bardolfe Bar. What, are Ancient Pistoll and you friends yet? Nym. For my part, I care not: I say little: but when time shall serue, there shall be smiles, but that shall be as it may. I dare not fight, but I will winke and holde out mine yron: it is a simple one, but what though? It will toste Cheese, and it will endure cold, as another mans sword will: and there’s an end Bar. I will bestow a breakfast to make you friendes, and wee’l bee all three sworne brothers to France: Let’t be so good Corporall Nym Nym. Faith, I will liue so long as I may, that’s the certaine of it: and when I cannot liue any longer, I will doe as I may: That is my rest, that is the rendeuous of it Bar. It is certaine Corporall, that he is marryed to Nell Quickly, and certainly she did you wrong, for you were troth-plight to her Nym. I cannot tell, Things must be as they may: men may sleepe, and they may haue their throats about them at that time, and some say, kniues haue edges: It must be as it may, though patience be a tyred name, yet shee will plodde, there must be Conclusions, well, I cannot tell.Enter Pistoll, & Quickly. Bar. Heere comes Ancient Pistoll and his wife: good Corporall be patient heere. How now mine Hoaste Pistoll? Pist. Base Tyke, cal’st thou mee Hoste, now by this hand I sweare I scorne the terme: nor shall my Nel keep Lodgers Host. No by my troth, not long: For we cannot lodge and board a dozen or fourteene Gentlewomen that liue honestly by the pricke of their Needles, but it will bee thought we keepe a Bawdy-house straight. O welliday Lady, if he be not hewne now, we shall see wilful adultery and murther committed Bar. Good Lieutenant, good Corporal offer nothing heere Nym. Pish Pist. Pish for thee, Island dogge: thou prickeard cur of Island Host. Good Corporall Nym shew thy valor, and put vp your sword Nym. Will you shogge off? I would haue you solus Pist. Solus, egregious dog? O Viper vile; The solus in thy most meruailous face, the solus in thy teeth, and in thy throate, and in thy hatefull Lungs, yea in thy Maw perdy; and which is worse, within thy nastie mouth. I do retort the solus in thy bowels, for I can take, and Pistols cocke is vp, and flashing fire will follow Nym. I am not Barbason, you cannot coniure mee: I haue an humor to knocke you indifferently well: If you grow fowle with me Pistoll, I will scoure you with my Rapier, as I may, in fayre tearmes. If you would walke off, I would pricke your guts a little in good tearmes, as I may, and that’s the humor of it Pist. O Braggard vile, and damned furious wight, The Graue doth gape, and doting death is neere, Therefore exhale Bar. Heare me, heare me what I say: Hee that strikes the first stroake, Ile run him vp to the hilts, as I am a soldier Pist. An oath of mickle might, and fury shall abate. Giue me thy fist, thy fore-foote to me giue: Thy spirites are most tall Nym. I will cut thy throate one time or other in faire termes, that is the humor of it Pistoll. Couple a gorge, that is the word. I defie thee againe. O hound of Creet, think’st thou my spouse to get? No, to the spittle goe, and from the Poudring tub of infamy, fetch forth the Lazar Kite of Cressids kinde, Doll Teare-sheete, she by name, and her espouse. I haue, and I will hold the Quondam Quickely for the onely shee: and Pauca, there’s enough to go to.Enter the Boy. Boy. Mine Hoast Pistoll, you must come to my Mayster, and your Hostesse: He is very sicke, & would to bed. Good Bardolfe, put thy face betweene his sheets, and do the Office of a Warming-pan: Faith, he’s very ill Bard. Away you Rogue Host. By my troth he’l yeeld the Crow a pudding one of these dayes: the King has kild his heart. Good Husband come home presently. Exit Bar. Come, shall I make you two friends. Wee must to France together: why the diuel should we keep kniues to cut one anothers throats? Pist. Let floods ore-swell, and fiends for food howle on Nym. You’l pay me the eight shillings I won of you at Betting? Pist. Base is the Slaue that payes Nym. That now I wil haue: that’s the humor of it Pist. As manhood shal compound: push home. Draw Bard. By this sword, hee that makes the first thrust, Ile kill him: By this sword, I wil Pi. Sword is an Oath, & Oaths must haue their course Bar. Coporall Nym, & thou wilt be friends be frends, and thou wilt not, why then be enemies with me to: prethee put vp Pist. A Noble shalt thou haue, and present pay, and Liquor likewise will I giue to thee, and friendshippe shall combyne, and brotherhood. Ile liue by Nymme, & Nymme shall liue by me, is not this iust? For I shal Sutler be vnto the Campe, and profits will accrue. Giue mee thy hand Nym. I shall haue my Noble? Pist. In cash, most iustly payd Nym. Well, then that the humor of’t. Enter Hostesse. Host. As euer you come of women, come in quickly to sir Iohn: A poore heart, hee is so shak’d of a burning quotidian Tertian, that it is most lamentable to behold. Sweet men, come to him Nym. The King hath run bad humors on the Knight, that’s the euen of it Pist. Nym, thou hast spoke the right, his heart is fracted and corroborate Nym. The King is a good King, but it must bee as it may: he passes some humors, and carreeres Pist. Let vs condole the Knight, for (Lambekins) we will liue.Enter Exeter, Bedford, & Westmerland. Bed. Fore God his Grace is bold to trust these traitors Exe. They shall be apprehended by and by West. How smooth and euen they do bear themselues, As if allegeance in their bosomes sateCrowned with faith, and constant loyalty Bed. The King hath note of all that they intend, By interception, which they dreame not of Exe. Nay, but the man that was his bedfellow, Whom he hath dull’d and cloy’d with gracious fauours; That he should for a forraigne purse, so sell His Soueraignes life to death and treachery. Sound Trumpets. Enter the King, Scroope, Cambridge, and Gray. King. Now sits the winde faire, and we will aboord. My Lord of Cambridge, and my kinde Lord of Masham, And you my gentle Knight, giue me your thoughts: Thinke you not that the powres we beare with vs Will cut their passage through the force of France? Doing the execution, and the acte,For which we haue in head assembled them Scro. No doubt my Liege, if each man do his best King. I doubt not that, since we are well perswaded We carry not a heart with vs from hence, That growes not in a faire consent with ours: Nor leaue not one behinde, that doth not wish Successe and Conquest to attend on vs Cam. Neuer was Monarch better fear’d and lou’d, Then is your Maiesty; there’s not I thinke a subiect That sits in heart-greefe and vneasinesse Vnder the sweet shade of your gouernment Kni. True: those that were your Fathers enemies, Haue steep’d their gauls in hony, and do serue you With hearts create of duty, and of zeale King. We therefore haue great cause of thankfulnes, And shall forget the office of our handSooner then quittance of desert and merit, According to the weight and worthinesse Scro. So seruice shall with steeled sinewes toyle, And labour shall refresh it selfe with hope To do your Grace incessant seruices King. We Iudge no lesse. Vnkle of Exeter, Inlarge the man committed yesterday,That rayl’d against our person: We consider It was excesse of Wine that set him on,And on his more aduice, We pardon him Scro. That’s mercy, but too much security: Let him be punish’d Soueraigne, least example Breed (by his sufferance) more of such a kind King. O let vs yet be mercifull Cam. So may your Highnesse, and yet punish too Grey. Sir, you shew great mercy if you giue him life, After the taste of much correction King. Alas, your too much loue and care of me, Are heauy Orisons ‘gainst this poore wretch: If little faults proceeding on distemper, Shall not be wink’d at, how shall we stretch our eye When capitall crimes, chew’d, swallow’d, and digested, Appeare before vs? Wee’l yet inlarge that man, Though Cambridge, Scroope, and Gray, in their deere care And tender preseruation of our personWold haue him punish’d. And now to our French causes, Who are the late Commissioners? Cam. I one my Lord,Your Highnesse bad me aske for it to day Scro. So did you me my Liege Gray. And I my Royall Soueraigne King. Then Richard Earle of Cambridge, there is yours: There yours Lord Scroope of Masham, and Sir Knight: Gray of Northumberland, this same is yours: Reade them, and know I know your worthinesse. My Lord of Westmerland, and Vnkle Exeter, We will aboord to night. Why how now Gentlemen? What see you in those papers, that you loose So much complexion? Looke ye how they change: Their cheekes are paper. Why, what reade you there, That haue so cowarded and chac’d your blood Out of apparance Cam. I do confesse my fault,And do submit me to your Highnesse mercy Gray. Scro. To which we all appeale King. The mercy that was quicke in vs but late, By your owne counsaile is supprest and kill’d: You must not dare (for shame) to talke of mercy, For your owne reasons turne into your bosomes, As dogs vpon their maisters, worrying you: See you my Princes, and my Noble Peeres, These English monsters: My Lord of Cambridge heere, You know how apt our loue was, to accord To furnish with all appertinentsBelonging to his Honour; and this man, Hath for a few light Crownes, lightly conspir’d And sworne vnto the practises of FranceTo kill vs heere in Hampton. To the which, This Knight no lesse for bounty bound to Vs Then Cambridge is, hath likewise sworne. But O, What shall I say to thee Lord Scroope, thou cruell, Ingratefull, sauage, and inhumane Creature? Thou that didst beare the key of all my counsailes, That knew’st the very bottome of my soule, That (almost) might’st haue coyn’d me into Golde, Would’st thou haue practis’d on me, for thy vse? May it be possible, that forraigne hyerCould out of thee extract one sparke of euill That might annoy my finger? ‘Tis so strange, That though the truth of it stands off as grosse As black and white, my eye will scarsely see it. Treason, and murther, euer kept together, As two yoake diuels sworne to eythers purpose, Working so grossely in an naturall cause, That admiration did not hoope at them.But thou (gainst all proportion) didst bring in Wonder to waite on treason, and on murther: And whatsoeuer cunning fiend it wasThat wrought vpon thee so preposterously, Hath got the voyce in hell for excellence: And other diuels that suggest by treasons, Do botch and bungle vp damnation,With patches, colours, and with formes being fetcht From glist’ring semblances of piety:But he that temper’d thee, bad thee stand vp, Gaue thee no instance why thou shouldst do treason, Vnlesse to dub thee with the name of Traitor. If that same Daemon that hath gull’d thee thus, Should with his Lyon-gate walke the whole world, He might returne to vastie Tartar backe, And tell the Legions, I can neuer winA soule so easie as that Englishmans. Oh, how hast thou with iealousie infected The sweetnesse of affiance? Shew men dutifull, Why so didst thou: seeme they graue and learned? Why so didst thou. Come they of Noble Family? Why so didst thou. Seeme they religious? Why so didst thou. Or are they spare in diet, Free from grosse passion, or of mirth, or anger, Constant in spirit, not sweruing with the blood, Garnish’d and deck’d in modest complement, Not working with the eye, without the eare, And but in purged iudgement trusting neither, Such and so finely boulted didst thou seeme: And thus thy fall hath left a kinde of blot, To make thee full fraught man, and best indued With some suspition, I will weepe for thee. For this reuolt of thine, me thinkes is like Another fall of Man. Their faults are open, Arrest them to the answer of the Law,And God acquit them of their practises Exe. I arrest thee of High Treason, by the name of Richard Earle of Cambridge.I arrest thee of High Treason, by the name of Thomas Lord Scroope of Marsham.I arrest thee of High Treason, by the name of Thomas Grey, Knight of Northumberland Scro. Our purposes, God iustly hath discouer’d, And I repent my fault more then my death, Which I beseech your Highnesse to forgiue, Although my body pay the price of it Cam. For me, the Gold of France did not seduce, Although I did admit it as a motiue,The sooner to effect what I intended: But God be thanked for preuention,Which in sufferance heartily will reioyce, Beseeching God, and you, to pardon mee Gray. Neuer did faithfull subiect more reioyce At the discouery of most dangerous Treason, Then I do at this houre ioy ore my selfe, Preuented from a damned enterprize;My fault, but not my body, pardon Soueraigne King. God quit you in his mercy: Hear your sentence You haue conspir’d against Our Royall person, Ioyn’d with an enemy proclaim’d, and from his Coffers, Receyu’d the Golden Earnest of Our death: Wherein you would haue sold your King to slaughter, His Princes, and his Peeres to seruitude, His Subiects to oppression, and contempt, And his whole Kingdome into desolation:Touching our person, seeke we no reuenge, But we our Kingdomes safety must so tender, Whose ruine you sought, that to her Lawes We do deliuer you. Get you therefore hence, (Poore miserable wretches) to your death: The taste whereof, God of his mercy giue You patience to indure, and true Repentance Of all your deare offences. Beare them hence. Enter. Now Lords for France: the enterprise whereof Shall be to you as vs, like glorious.We doubt not of a faire and luckie Warre, Since God so graciously hath brought to light This dangerous Treason, lurking in our way, To hinder our beginnings. We doubt not now, But euery Rubbe is smoothed on our way.Then forth, deare Countreymen: Let vs deliuer Our Puissance into the hand of God,Putting it straight in expedition.Chearely to Sea, the signes of Warre aduance, No King of England, if not King of France. Flourish. Enter Pistoll, Nim, Bardolph, Boy, and Hostesse. Hostesse. ‘Prythee honey sweet Husband, let me bring thee to Staines Pistoll. No: for my manly heart doth erne. Bardolph, be blythe: Nim, rowse thy vaunting Veines: Boy, brissle thy Courage vp: for Falstaffe hee is dead, and wee must erne therefore Bard. Would I were with him, wheresomere hee is, eyther in Heauen, or in Hell Hostesse. Nay sure, hee’s not in Hell: hee’s in Arthurs Bosome, if euer man went to Arthurs Bosome: a made a finer end, and went away and it had beene any Christome Childe: a parted eu’n iust betweene Twelue and One, eu’n at the turning o’th’ Tyde: for after I saw him fumble with the Sheets, and play with Flowers, and smile vpon his fingers end, I knew there was but one way: for his Nose was as sharpe as a Pen, and a Table of greene fields. How now Sir Iohn (quoth I?) what man? be a good cheare: so a cryed out, God, God, God, three or foure times: now I, to comfort him, bid him a should not thinke of God; I hop’d there was no neede to trouble himselfe with any such thoughts yet: so a bad me lay more Clothes on his feet: I put my hand into the Bed, and felt them, and they were as cold as any stone: then I felt to his knees, and so vp-peer’d, and vpward, and all was as cold as any stone Nim. They say he cryed out of Sack Hostesse. I, that a did Bard. And of Women Hostesse. Nay, that a did not Boy. Yes that a did, and said they were Deules incarnate Woman. A could neuer abide Carnation, ’twas a Colour he neuer lik’d Boy. A said once, the Deule would haue him about Women Hostesse. A did in some sort (indeed) handle Women: but then hee was rumatique, and talk’d of the Whore of Babylon Boy. Doe you not remember a saw a Flea sticke vpon Bardolphs Nose, and a said it was a blacke Soule burning in Hell Bard. Well, the fuell is gone that maintain’d that fire: that’s all the Riches I got in his seruice Nim. Shall wee shogg? the King will be gone from Southampton Pist. Come, let’s away. My Loue, giue me thy Lippes: Looke to my Chattels, and my Moueables: Let Sences rule: The world is, Pitch and pay: trust none: for Oathes are Strawes, mens Faiths are Wafer-Cakes, and hold-fast is the onely Dogge: My Ducke, therefore Caueto bee thy Counsailor. Goe, cleare thy Chrystalls. Yokefellowes in Armes, let vs to France, like Horseleeches my Boyes, to sucke, to sucke, the very blood to sucke Boy. And that’s but vnwholesome food, they say Pist. Touch her soft mouth, and march Bard. Farwell Hostesse Nim. I cannot kisse, that is the humor of it: but adieu Pist. Let Huswiferie appeare: keepe close, I thee command Hostesse. Farwell: adieu. Exeunt. Flourish. Enter the French King, the Dolphin, the Dukes of Berry and Britaine. King. Thus comes the English with full power vpon vs, And more then carefully it vs concernes, To answer Royally in our defences.Therefore the Dukes of Berry and of Britaine, Of Brabant and of Orleance, shall make forth, And you Prince Dolphin, with all swift dispatch To lyne and new repayre our Townes of Warre With men of courage, and with meanes defendant: For England his approaches makes as fierce, As Waters to the sucking of a Gulfe.It fits vs then to be as prouident, As feare may teach vs, out of late examples Left by the fatall and neglected English, Vpon our fields Dolphin. My most redoubted Father,It is most meet we arme vs ‘gainst the Foe: For Peace it selfe should not so dull a Kingdome, (Though War nor no knowne Quarrel were in question) But that Defences, Musters, Preparations, Should be maintain’d, assembled, and collected, As were a Warre in expectation.Therefore I say, ’tis meet we all goe forth, To view the sick and feeble parts of France: And let vs doe it with no shew of feare, No, with no more, then if we heard that England Were busied with a Whitson Morris-dance: For, my good Liege, shee is so idly King’d, Her Scepter so phantastically borne,By a vaine giddie shallow humorous Youth, That feare attends her not Const. O peace, Prince Dolphin,You are too much mistaken in this King: Question your Grace the late Embassadors, With what great State he heard their Embassie, How well supply’d with Noble Councellors, How modest in exception; and withall,How terrible in constant resolution: And you shall find, his Vanities fore-spent, Were but the out-side of the Roman Brutus, Couering Discretion with a Coat of Folly; As Gardeners doe with Ordure hide those Roots That shall first spring, and be most delicate Dolphin. Well, ’tis not so, my Lord High Constable. But though we thinke it so, it is no matter: In cases of defence, ’tis best to weighThe Enemie more mightie then he seemes, So the proportions of defence are fill’d: Which of a weake and niggardly proiection, Doth like a Miser spoyle his Coat, with scanting A little Cloth King. Thinke we King Harry strong:And Princes, looke you strongly arme to meet him. The Kindred of him hath beene flesht vpon vs: And he is bred out of that bloodie straine, That haunted vs in our familiar Pathes:Witnesse our too much memorable shame, When Cressy Battell fatally was strucke, And all our Princes captiu’d, by the hand Of that black Name, Edward, black Prince of Wales: Whiles that his Mountaine Sire, on Mountaine standing Vp in the Ayre, crown’d with the Golden Sunne, Saw his Heroicall Seed, and smil’d to see him Mangle the Worke of Nature, and defaceThe Patternes, that by God and by French Fathers Had twentie yeeres been made. This is a Stem Of that Victorious Stock: and let vs feare The Natiue mightinesse and fate of him.Enter a Messenger. Mess. Embassadors from Harry King of England, Doe craue admittance to your Maiestie King. Weele giue them present audience. Goe, and bring them.You see this Chase is hotly followed, friends Dolphin. Turne head, and stop pursuit: for coward Dogs Most spend their mouths, whe[n] what they seem to threaten Runs farre before them. Good my Soueraigne Take vp the English short, and let them know Of what a Monarchie you are the Head:Selfe-loue, my Liege, is not so vile a sinne, As selfe-neglecting.Enter Exeter. King. From our Brother of England? Exe. From him, and thus he greets your Maiestie: He wills you in the Name of God Almightie, That you deuest your selfe, and lay apart The borrowed Glories, that by gift of Heauen, By Law of Nature, and of Nations, longsTo him and to his Heires, namely, the Crowne, And all wide-stretched Honors, that pertaine By Custome, and the Ordinance of Times,Vnto the Crowne of France: that you may know ‘Tis no sinister, nor no awkward Clayme, Pickt from the worme-holes of long-vanisht dayes, Nor from the dust of old Obliuion rakt,He sends you this most memorable Lyne, In euery Branch truly demonstratiue;Willing you ouer-looke this Pedigree: And when you find him euenly deriu’dFrom his most fam’d, of famous Ancestors, Edward the third; he bids you then resigne Your Crowne and Kingdome, indirectly held From him, the Natiue and true Challenger King. Or else what followes? Exe. Bloody constraint: for if you hide the Crowne Euen in your hearts, there will he rake for it. Therefore in fierce Tempest is he comming, In Thunder and in Earth-quake, like a Ioue: That if requiring faile, he will compell. And bids you, in the Bowels of the Lord, Deliuer vp the Crowne, and to take mercie On the poore Soules, for whom this hungry Warre Opens his vastie Iawes: and on your head Turning the Widdowes Teares, the Orphans Cryes, The dead-mens Blood, the priuy Maidens Groanes, For Husbands, Fathers, and betrothed Louers, That shall be swallowed in this Controuersie. This is his Clayme, his Threatning, and my Message: Vnlesse the Dolphin be in presence here; To whom expressely I bring greeting to King. For vs, we will consider of this further: To morrow shall you beare our full intent Back to our Brother of England Dolph. For the Dolphin,I stand here for him: what to him from England? Exe. Scorne and defiance, sleight regard, contempt, And any thing that may not mis-becomeThe mightie Sender, doth he prize you at. Thus sayes my King: and if your Fathers Highnesse Doe not, in graunt of all demands at large, Sweeten the bitter Mock you sent his Maiestie; Hee’le call you to so hot an Answer of it, That Caues and Wombie Vaultages of France Shall chide your Trespas, and returne your Mock In second Accent of his Ordinance Dolph. Say: if my Father render faire returne, It is against my will: for I desireNothing but Oddes with England.To that end, as matching to his Youth and Vanitie, I did present him with the Paris-Balls Exe. Hee’le make your Paris Louer shake for it, Were it the Mistresse Court of mightie Europe: And be assur’d, you’le find a diff’rence, As we his Subiects haue in wonder found, Betweene the promise of his greener dayes, And these he masters now: now he weighes Time Euen to the vtmost Graine: that you shall reade In your owne Losses, if he stay in France King. To morrow shall you know our mind at full. Flourish. Exe. Dispatch vs with all speed, least that our King Come here himselfe to question our delay; For he is footed in this Land already King. You shalbe soone dispatcht, with faire conditions. A Night is but small breathe, and little pawse, To answer matters of this consequence. Exeunt. Actus Secundus. Flourish. Enter Chorus. Thus with imagin’d wing our swift Scene flyes, In motion of no lesse celeritie then that of Thought. Suppose, that you haue seeneThe well-appointed King at Douer Peer, Embarke his Royaltie: and his braue Fleet, With silken Streamers, the young Phebus fayning; Play with your Fancies: and in them behold, Vpon the Hempen Tackle, Ship-boyes climbing; Heare the shrill Whistle, which doth order giue To sounds confus’d: behold the threaden Sayles, Borne with th’ inuisible and creeping Wind, Draw the huge Bottomes through the furrowed Sea, Bresting the loftie Surge. O, doe but thinke You stand vpon the Riuage, and beholdA Citie on th’ inconstant Billowes dauncing: For so appeares this Fleet Maiesticall,Holding due course to Harflew. Follow, follow: Grapple your minds to sternage of this Nauie, And leaue your England as dead Mid-night, still, Guarded with Grandsires, Babyes, and old Women, Eyther past, or not arriu’d to pyth and puissance: For who is he, whose Chin is but enricht With one appearing Hayre, that will not follow These cull’d and choyse-drawne Caualiers to France? Worke, worke your Thoughts, and therein see a Siege: Behold the Ordenance on their Carriages, With fatall mouthes gaping on girded Harflew. Suppose th’ Embassador from the French comes back: Tells Harry, That the King doth offer him Katherine his Daughter, and with her to Dowrie, Some petty and vnprofitable Dukedomes.The offer likes not: and the nimble Gunner With Lynstock now the diuellish Cannon touches, Alarum, and Chambers goe off. And downe goes all before them. Still be kind, And eech out our performance with your mind. Enter. Enter the King, Exeter, Bedford, and Gloucester. Alarum: Scaling Laddersat Harflew. King. Once more vnto the Breach,Deare friends, once more;Or close the Wall vp with our English dead: In Peace, there’s nothing so becomes a man, As modest stillnesse, and humilitie:But when the blast of Warre blowes in our eares, Then imitate the action of the Tyger:Stiffen the sinewes, commune vp the blood, Disguise faire Nature with hard-fauour’d Rage: Then lend the Eye a terrible aspect:Let it pry through the portage of the Head, Like the Brasse Cannon: let the Brow o’rewhelme it, As fearefully, as doth a galled RockeO’re-hang and iutty his confounded Base, Swill’d with the wild and wastfull Ocean. Now set the Teeth, and stretch the Nosthrill wide, Hold hard the Breath, and bend vp euery Spirit To his full height. On, on, you Noblish English, Whose blood is fet from Fathers of Warre-proofe: Fathers, that like so many Alexanders,Haue in these parts from Morne till Euen fought, And sheath’d their Swords, for lack of argument. Dishonour not your Mothers: now attest,That those whom you call’d Fathers, did beget you. Be Coppy now to men of grosser blood,And teach them how to Warre. And you good Yeomen, Whose Lyms were made in England; shew vs here The mettell of your Pasture: let vs sweare, That you are worth your breeding: which I doubt not: For there is none of you so meane and base, That hath not Noble luster in your eyes. I see you stand like Grey-hounds in the slips, Straying vpon the Start. The Game’s afoot: Follow your Spirit; and vpon this Charge, Cry, God for Harry, England, and S[aint]. George. Alarum, and Chambers goe off. Enter Nim, Bardolph, Pistoll, and Boy. Bard. On, on, on, on, on, to the breach, to the breach Nim. ‘Pray thee Corporall stay, the Knocks are too hot: and for mine owne part, I haue not a Case of Liues: the humor of it is too hot, that is the very plaine-Song of it Pist. The plaine-Song is most iust: for humors doe abound: Knocks goe and come: Gods Vassals drop and dye: and Sword and Shield, in bloody Field, doth winne immortall fame Boy. Would I were in a Ale-house in London, I would giue all my fame for a Pot of Ale, and safetie Pist. And I: If wishes would preuayle with me, my purpose should not fayle with me; but thither would I high Boy. As duly, but not as truly, as Bird doth sing on bough.Enter Fluellen. Flu. Vp to the breach, you Dogges; auaunt you Cullions Pist. Be mercifull great Duke to men of Mould: abate thy Rage, abate thy manly Rage; abate thy Rage, great Duke. Good Bawcock bate thy Rage: vse lenitie sweet Chuck Nim. These be good humors: your Honor wins bad humors.Enter. Boy. As young as I am, I haue obseru’d these three Swashers: I am Boy to them all three, but all they three, though they would serue me, could not be Man to me; for indeed three such Antiques doe not amount to a man: for Bardolph, hee is white-liuer’d, and red-fac’d; by the meanes whereof, a faces it out, but fights not: for Pistoll, hee hath a killing Tongue, and a quiet Sword; by the meanes whereof, a breakes Words, and keepes whole Weapons: for Nim, hee hath heard, that men of few Words are the best men, and therefore hee scornes to say his Prayers, lest a should be thought a Coward: but his few bad Words are matcht with as few good Deeds; for a neuer broke any mans Head but his owne, and that was against a Post, when he was drunke. They will steale any thing, and call it Purchase. Bardolph stole a Lute-case, bore it twelue Leagues, and sold it for three halfepence. Nim and Bardolph are sworne Brothers in filching: and in Callice they stole a fire-shouell. I knew by that peece of Seruice, the men would carry Coales. They would haue me as familiar with mens Pockets, as their Gloues or their Hand-kerchers: which makes much against my Manhood, if I should take from anothers Pocket, to put into mine; for it is plaine pocketting vp of Wrongs. I must leaue them, and seeke some better Seruice: their Villany goes against my weake stomacke, and therefore I must cast it vp.Enter. Enter Gower. Gower. Captaine Fluellen, you must come presently to the Mynes; the Duke of Gloucester would speake with you Flu. To the Mynes? Tell you the Duke, it is not so good to come to the Mynes: for looke you, the Mynes is not according to the disciplines of the Warre; the concauities of it is not sufficient: for looke you, th’ athuersarie, you may discusse vnto the Duke, looke you, is digt himselfe foure yard vnder the Countermines: by Cheshu, I thinke a will plowe vp all, if there is not better directions Gower. The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the Order of the Siege is giuen, is altogether directed by an Irish man, a very valiant Gentleman yfaith Welch. It is Captaine Makmorrice, is it not? Gower. I thinke it be Welch. By Cheshu he is an Asse, as in the World, I will verifie as much in his Beard: he ha’s no more directions in the true disciplines of the Warres, looke you, of the Roman disciplines, then is a Puppy-dog.Enter Makmorrice, and Captaine Iamy. Gower. Here a comes, and the Scots Captaine, Captaine Iamy, with him Welch. Captaine Iamy is a maruellous falorous Gentleman, that is certain, and of great expedition and knowledge in th’ aunchiant Warres, vpon my particular knowledge of his directions: by Cheshu he will maintaine his Argument as well as any Militarie man in the World, in the disciplines of the Pristine Warres of the Romans Scot. I say gudday, Captaine Fluellen Welch. Godden to your Worship, good Captaine Iames Gower. How now Captaine Mackmorrice, haue you quit the Mynes? haue the Pioners giuen o’re? Irish. By Chrish Law tish ill done: the Worke ish giue ouer, the Trompet sound the Retreat. By my Hand I sweare, and my fathers Soule, the Worke ish ill done: it ish giue ouer: I would haue blowed vp the Towne, so Chrish saue me law, in an houre. O tish ill done, tish ill done: by my Hand tish ill done Welch. Captaine Mackmorrice, I beseech you now, will you voutsafe me, looke you, a few disputations with you, as partly touching or concerning the disciplines of the Warre, the Roman Warres, in the way of Argument, looke you, and friendly communication: partly to satisfie my Opinion, and partly for the satisfaction, looke you, of my Mind: as touching the direction of the Militarie discipline, that is the Point Scot. It sall be vary gud, gud feith, gud Captens bath, and I sall quit you with gud leue, as I may pick occasion: that sall I mary Irish. It is no time to discourse, so Chrish saue me: the day is hot, and the Weather, and the Warres, and the King, and the Dukes: it is no time to discourse, the Town is beseech’d: and the Trumpet call vs to the breech, and we talke, and be Chrish do nothing, tis shame for vs all: so God sa’me tis shame to stand still, it is shame by my hand: and there is Throats to be cut, and Workes to be done, and there ish nothing done, so Christ sa’me law Scot. By the Mes, ere theise eyes of mine take themselues to slomber, ayle de gud seruice, or Ile ligge i’th’ grund for it; ay, or goe to death: and Ile pay’t as valorously as I may, that sal I suerly do, that is the breff and the long: mary, I wad full faine heard some question tween you tway Welch. Captaine Mackmorrice, I thinke, looke you, vnder your correction, there is not many of your Nation Irish. Of my Nation? What ish my Nation? Ish a Villaine, and a Basterd, and a Knaue, and a Rascall. What ish my Nation? Who talkes of my Nation? Welch. Looke you, if you take the matter otherwise then is meant, Captaine Mackmorrice, peraduenture I shall thinke you doe not vse me with that affabilitie, as in discretion you ought to vse me, looke you, being as good a man as your selfe, both in the disciplines of Warre, and in the deriuation of my Birth, and in other particularities Irish. I doe not know you so good a man as my selfe: so Chrish saue me, I will cut off your Head Gower. Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other Scot. A, that’s a foule fault. A Parley. Gower. The Towne sounds a Parley Welch. Captaine Mackmorrice, when there is more better oportunitie to be required, looke you, I will be so bold as to tell you, I know the disciplines of Warre: and there is an end.Enter. Enter the King and all his Traine before the Gates. King. How yet resolues the Gouernour of the Towne? This is the latest Parle we will admit:Therefore to our best mercy giue your selues, Or like to men prowd of destruction,Defie vs to our worst: for as I am a Souldier, A Name that in my thoughts becomes me best; If I begin the batt’rie once againe,I will not leaue the halfe-atchieued Harflew, Till in her ashes she lye buryed.The Gates of Mercy shall be all shut vp, And the flesh’d Souldier, rough and hard of heart, In libertie of bloody hand, shall raunge With Conscience wide as Hell, mowing like Grasse Your fresh faire Virgins, and your flowring Infants. What is it then to me, if impious Warre, Arrayed in flames like to the Prince of Fiends, Doe with his smyrcht complexion all fell feats, Enlynckt to wast and desolation?What is’t to me, when you your selues are cause, If your pure Maydens fall into the handOf hot and forcing Violation?What Reyne can hold licentious Wickednesse, When downe the Hill he holds his fierce Carriere? We may as bootlesse spend our vaine Command Vpon th’ enraged Souldiers in their spoyle, As send Precepts to the Leuiathan, to come ashore. Therefore, you men of Harflew,Take pitty of your Towne and of your People, Whiles yet my Souldiers are in my Command, Whiles yet the coole and temperate Wind of Grace O’re-blowes the filthy and contagious Clouds Of heady Murther, Spoyle, and Villany.If not: why in a moment looke to see The blind and bloody Souldier, with foule hand Desire the Locks of your shrill-shriking Daughters: Your Fathers taken by the siluer Beards, And their most reuerend Heads dasht to the Walls: Your naked Infants spitted vpon Pykes,Whiles the mad Mothers, with their howles confus’d, Doe breake the Clouds; as did the Wiues of Iewry, At Herods bloody-hunting slaughter-men.What say you? Will you yeeld, and this auoyd? Or guiltie in defence, be thus destroy’d. Enter Gouernour. Gouer. Our expectation hath this day an end: The Dolphin, whom of Succours we entreated, Returnes vs, that his Powers are yet not ready, To rayse so great a Siege: Therefore great King, We yeeld our Towne and Liues to thy soft Mercy: Enter our Gates, dispose of vs and ours, For we no longer are defensible King. Open your Gates: Come Vnckle Exeter, Goe you and enter Harflew; there remaine, And fortifie it strongly ‘gainst the French: Vse mercy to them all for vs, deare Vnckle. The Winter comming on, and Sicknesse growing Vpon our Souldiers, we will retyre to Calis. To night in Harflew will we be your Guest, To morrow for the March are we addrest. Flourish, and enter the Towne. Enter Katherine and an old Gentlewoman. Kathe. Alice, tu as este en Angleterre, & tu bien parlas le Language Alice. En peu Madame Kath. Ie te prie m’ ensigniez, il faut que ie apprend a parlen: Comient appelle vous le main en Anglois? Alice. Le main il & appelle de Hand Kath. De Hand Alice. E le doyts Kat. Le doyts, ma foy Ie oublie, e doyt mays, ie me souemeray le doyts ie pense qu’ils ont appelle de fingres, ou de fingres Alice. Le main de Hand, le doyts le Fingres, ie pense que ie suis le bon escholier Kath. I’ay gaynie diux mots d’ Anglois vistement, coment appelle vous le ongles? Alice. Le ongles, les appellons de Nayles Kath. De Nayles escoute: dites moy, si ie parle bien: de Hand, de Fingres, e de Nayles Alice. C’est bien dict Madame, il & fort bon Anglois Kath. Dites moy l’ Anglois pour le bras Alice. De Arme, Madame Kath. E de coudee Alice. D’ Elbow Kath. D’ Elbow: Ie men fay le repiticio de touts les mots que vous maves, apprins des a present Alice. Il & trop difficile Madame, comme Ie pense Kath. Excuse moy Alice escoute, d’ Hand, de Fingre, de Nayles, d’ Arma, de Bilbow Alice. D’ Elbow, Madame Kath. O Seigneur Dieu, ie men oublie d’ Elbow, coment appelle vous le col Alice. De Nick, Madame Kath. De Nick, e le menton Alice. De Chin Kath. De Sin: le col de Nick, le menton de Sin Alice. Ouy. Sauf vostre honneur en verite vous pronouncies les mots ausi droict, que le Natifs d’ Angleterre Kath. Ie ne doute point d’ apprendre par de grace de Dieu, & en peu de temps Alice. N’ aue vos y desia oublie ce que ie vous a ensignie Kath. Nome ie recitera a vous promptement, d’ Hand, de Fingre, de Maylees Alice. De Nayles, Madame Kath. De Nayles, de Arme, de Ilbow Alice. Sans vostre honeus d’ Elbow Kath. Ainsi de ie d’ Elbow, de Nick, & de Sin: coment appelle vous les pied & de roba Alice. Le Foot Madame, & le Count Kath. Le Foot, & le Count: O Seignieur Dieu, il sont le mots de son mauvais corruptible grosse & impudique, & non pour le Dames de Honeur d’ vser: Ie ne voudray pronouncer ce mots deuant le Seigneurs de France, pour toute le monde, fo le Foot & le Count, neant moys, Ie recitera vn autrefoys ma lecon ensembe, d’ Hand, de Fingre, de Nayles, d’ Arme, d’ Elbow, de Nick, de Sin, de Foot, le Count Alice. Excellent, Madame Kath. C’est asses pour vne foyes, alons nous a diner. Enter. Enter the King of France, the Dolphin, the Constable of France, andothers. King. ‘Tis certaine he hath past the Riuer Some Const. And if he be not fought withall, my Lord, Let vs not liue in France: let vs quit all, And giue our Vineyards to a barbarous People Dolph. O Dieu viuant: Shall a few Sprayes of vs, The emptying of our Fathers Luxurie,Our Syens, put in wilde and sauage Stock, Spirt vp so suddenly into the Clouds,And ouer-looke their Grafters? Brit. Normans, but bastard Normans, Norman bastards: Mort du ma vie, if they march alongVnfought withall, but I will sell my Dukedome, To buy a slobbry and a durtie FarmeIn that nooke-shotten Ile of Albion Const. Dieu de Battailes, where haue they this mettell? Is not their Clymate foggy, raw, and dull? On whom, as in despight, the Sunne lookes pale, Killing their Fruit with frownes. Can sodden Water, A Drench for sur-reyn’d Iades, their Barly broth, Decoct their cold blood to such valiant heat? And shall our quick blood, spirited with Wine, Seeme frostie? O, for honor of our Land, Let vs not hang like roping IsycklesVpon our Houses Thatch, whiles a more frostie People Sweat drops of gallant Youth in our rich fields: Poore we call them, in their Natiue Lords Dolphin. By Faith and Honor,Our Madames mock at vs, and plainely say, Our Mettell is bred out, and they will giue Their bodyes to the Lust of English Youth, To new-store France with Bastard Warriors Brit. They bid vs to the English Dancing-Schooles, And teach Lauolta’s high, and swift Carranto’s, Saying, our Grace is onely in our Heeles, And that we are most loftie Run-awayes King. Where is Montioy the Herald? speed him hence, Let him greet England with our sharpe defiance. Vp Princes, and with spirit of Honor edged, More sharper then your Swords, high to the field: Charles Delabreth, High Constable of France, You Dukes of Orleance, Burbon, and of Berry, Alanson, Brabant, Bar, and Burgonie,Iaques Chattillion, Rambures, Vandemont, Beumont, Grand Pree, Roussi, and Faulconbridge, Loys, Lestrale, Bouciquall, and Charaloyes, High Dukes, great Princes, Barons, Lords, and Kings; For your great Seats, now quit you of great shames: Barre Harry England, that sweepes through our Land With Penons painted in the blood of Harflew: Rush on his Hoast, as doth the melted Snow Vpon the Valleyes, whose low Vassall Seat, The Alpes doth spit, and void his rhewme vpon. Goe downe vpon him, you haue Power enough, And in a Captiue Chariot, into RoanBring him our Prisoner Const. This becomes the Great.Sorry am I his numbers are so few,His Souldiers sick, and famisht in their March: For I am sure, when he shall see our Army, Hee’le drop his heart into the sinck of feare, And for atchieuement, offer vs his Ransome King. Therefore Lord Constable, hast on Montioy, And let him say to England, that we send, To know what willing Ransome he will giue. Prince Dolphin, you shall stay with vs in Roan Dolph. Not so, I doe beseech your Maiestie King. Be patient, for you shall remaine with vs. Now forth Lord Constable, and Princes all, And quickly bring vs word of Englands fall. Exeunt. Enter Captaines, English and Welch, Gower and Fluellen. Gower. How now Captaine Fluellen, come you from the Bridge? Flu. I assure you, there is very excellent Seruices committed at the Bridge Gower. Is the Duke of Exeter safe? Flu. The Duke of Exeter is as magnanimous as Agamemnon, and a man that I loue and honour with my soule, and my heart, and my dutie, and my liue, and my liuing, and my vttermost power. He is not, God be praysed and blessed, any hurt in the World, but keepes the Bridge most valiantly, with excellent discipline. There is an aunchient Lieutenant there at the Pridge, I thinke in my very conscience hee is as valiant a man as Marke Anthony, and hee is a man of no estimation in the World, but I did see him doe as gallant seruice Gower. What doe you call him? Flu. Hee is call’d aunchient Pistoll Gower. I know him not.Enter Pistoll. Flu. Here is the man Pist. Captaine, I thee beseech to doe me fauours: the Duke of Exeter doth loue thee well Flu. I, I prayse God, and I haue merited some loue at his hands Pist. Bardolph, a Souldier firme and sound of heart, and of buxome valour, hath by cruell Fate, and giddie Fortunes furious fickle Wheele, that Goddesse blind, that stands vpon the rolling restlesse Stone Flu. By your patience, aunchient Pistoll: Fortune is painted blinde, with a Muffler afore his eyes, to signifie to you, that Fortune is blinde; and shee is painted also with a Wheele, to signifie to you, which is the Morall of it, that shee is turning and inconstant, and mutabilitie, and variation: and her foot, looke you, is fixed vpon a Sphericall Stone, which rowles, and rowles, and rowles: in good truth, the Poet makes a most excellent description of it: Fortune is an excellent Morall Pist. Fortune is Bardolphs foe, and frownes on him: for he hath stolne a Pax, and hanged must a be: a damned death: let Gallowes gape for Dogge, let Man goe free, and let not Hempe his Wind-pipe suffocate: but Exeter hath giuen the doome of death, for Pax of little price. Therefore goe speake, the Duke will heare thy voyce; and let not Bardolphs vitall thred bee cut with edge of Penny-Cord, and vile reproach. Speake Captaine for his Life, and I will thee requite Flu. Aunchient Pistoll, I doe partly vnderstand your meaning Pist. Why then reioyce therefore Flu. Certainly Aunchient, it is not a thing to reioyce at: for if, looke you, he were my Brother, I would desire the Duke to vse his good pleasure, and put him to execution; for discipline ought to be vsed Pist. Dye, and be dam’d, and Figo for thy friendship Flu. It is well Pist. The Figge of Spaine.Enter. Flu. Very good Gower. Why, this is an arrant counterfeit Rascall, I remember him now: a Bawd, a Cut-purse Flu. Ile assure you, a vtt’red as praue words at the Pridge, as you shall see in a Summers day: but it is very well: what he ha’s spoke to me, that is well I warrant you, when time is serue Gower. Why ’tis a Gull, a Foole, a Rogue, that now and then goes to the Warres, to grace himselfe at his returne into London, vnder the forme of a Souldier: and such fellowes are perfit in the Great Commanders Names, and they will learne you by rote where Seruices were done; at such and such a Sconce, at such a Breach, at such a Conuoy: who came off brauely, who was shot, who disgrac’d, what termes the Enemy stood on: and this they conne perfitly in the phrase of Warre; which they tricke vp with new-tuned Oathes: and what a Beard of the Generalls Cut, and a horride Sute of the Campe, will doe among foming Bottles, and Ale-washt Wits, is wonderfull to be thought on: but you must learne to know such slanders of the age, or else you may be maruellously mistooke Flu. I tell you what, Captaine Gower: I doe perceiue hee is not the man that hee would gladly make shew to the World hee is: if I finde a hole in his Coat, I will tell him my minde: hearke you, the King is comming, and I must speake with him from the Pridge. Drum and Colours. Enter the King and his poore Souldiers. Flu. God plesse your Maiestie King. How now Fluellen, cam’st thou from the Bridge? Flu. I, so please your Maiestie: The Duke of Exeter ha’s very gallantly maintain’d the Pridge; the French is gone off, looke you, and there is gallant and most praue passages: marry, th’ athuersarie was haue possession of the Pridge, but he is enforced to retyre, and the Duke of Exeter is Master of the Pridge: I can tell your Maiestie, the Duke is a praue man King. What men haue you lost, Fluellen? Flu. The perdition of th’ athuersarie hath beene very great, reasonnable great: marry for my part, I thinke the Duke hath lost neuer a man, but one that is like to be executed for robbing a Church, one Bardolph, if your Maiestie know the man: his face is all bubukles and whelkes, and knobs, and flames a fire, and his lippes blowes at his nose, and it is like a coale of fire, sometimes plew, and sometimes red, but his nose is executed, and his fire’s out King. Wee would haue all such offendors so cut off: and we giue expresse charge, that in our Marches through the Countrey, there be nothing compell’d from the Villages; nothing taken, but pay’d for: none of the French vpbrayded or abused in disdainefull Language; for when Leuitie and Crueltie play for a Kingdome, the gentler Gamester is the soonest winner. Tucket. Enter Mountioy. Mountioy. You know me by my habit King. Well then, I know thee: what shall I know of thee? Mountioy. My Masters mind King. Vnfold it Mountioy. Thus sayes my King: Say thou to Harry of England, Though we seem’d dead, we did but sleepe: Aduantage is a better Souldier then rashnesse. Tell him, wee could haue rebuk’d him at Harflewe, but that wee thought not good to bruise an iniurie, till it were full ripe. Now wee speake vpon our Q. and our voyce is imperiall: England shall repent his folly, see his weakenesse, and admire our sufferance. Bid him therefore consider of his ransome, which must proportion the losses we haue borne, the subiects we haue lost, the disgrace we haue digested; which in weight to re-answer, his pettinesse would bow vnder. For our losses, his Exchequer is too poore; for th’ effusion of our bloud, the Muster of his Kingdome too faint a number; and for our disgrace, his owne person kneeling at our feet, but a weake and worthlesse satisfaction. To this adde defiance: and tell him for conclusion, he hath betrayed his followers, whose condemnation is pronounc’t: So farre my King and Master; so much my Office King. What is thy name? I know thy qualitie Mount. Mountioy King. Thou doo’st thy Office fairely. Turne thee backe, And tell thy King, I doe not seeke him now, But could be willing to march on to Callice, Without impeachment: for to say the sooth, Though ’tis no wisdome to confesse so much Vnto an enemie of Craft and Vantage,My people are with sicknesse much enfeebled, My numbers lessen’d: and those few I haue, Almost no better then so many French;Who when they were in health, I tell thee Herald, I thought, vpon one payre of English Legges Did march three Frenchmen. Yet forgiue me God, That I doe bragge thus; this your ayre of France Hath blowne that vice in me. I must repent: Goe therefore tell thy Master, heere I am; My Ransome, is this frayle and worthlesse Trunke; My Army, but a weake and sickly Guard:Yet God before, tell him we will come on, Though France himselfe, and such another Neighbor Stand in our way. There’s for thy labour Mountioy. Goe bid thy Master well aduise himselfe. If we may passe, we will: if we be hindred, We shall your tawnie ground with your red blood Discolour: and so Mountioy, fare you well. The summe of all our Answer is but this: We would not seeke a Battaile as we are, Nor as we are, we say we will not shun it: So tell your Master Mount. I shall deliuer so: Thankes to your Highnesse Glouc. I hope they will not come vpon vs now King. We are in Gods hand, Brother, not in theirs: March to the Bridge, it now drawes toward night, Beyond the Riuer wee’le encampe our selues, And on to morrow bid them march away. Exeunt. Enter the Constable of France, the Lord Ramburs, Orleance, Dolphin, withothers. Const. Tut, I haue the best Armour of the World: would it were day Orleance. You haue an excellent Armour: but let my Horse haue his due Const. It is the best Horse of Europe Orleance. Will it neuer be Morning? Dolph. My Lord of Orleance, and my Lord High Constable, you talke of Horse and Armour? Orleance. You are as well prouided of both, as any Prince in the World