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Henry V, Modern text based on the Quarto

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: James D. Mardock
Not Peer Reviewed
2711.1

[Scene 17]

Enter Gower, Flewellen, and the [Second] Soldier.
Flewellen Captain Gower, in the name of Jesu, come to his majesty. There is more good toward you than you can dream of.
27202 Soldier Do you hear you, sir? Do you know this glove?
Flewellen I know the glove is a glove.
2 Soldier Sir, I know this, and thus I challenge it.
He strikes him.
Flewellen God's ploot, and his! Captain Gower, stand away. I'll give treason his due presently.
Enter the King, Warwick, Clarence, and Exeter.
2735King Henry How now, what is the matter?
Flewellen An it shall please your majesty, here is the notablest piece of treason come to light as you shall desire to see in a summer's day. Here is a rascal -- beggarly rascal -- is strike the glove which your majesty took out of the helmet of Alençon, and your majesty will bear me witness, and testimony, and avouchments, that this is the glove.
27452 Soldier An it please your majesty, that was my glove. He that I gave it to in the night promised me to wear it in his hat; I promised to strike him if he did. I met that gentleman with my glove in his hat, and I think I have been as good as my word.
2750Flewellen Your majesty hears, under your majesty's manhood, what a beggarly lousy knave it is.
King Henry Let me see thy glove. Look you, this is the fellow of it. It was I indeed you promised to strike, and thou hast given me most bitter words. How canst thou make us amends?
2760Flewellen Let his neck answer it, if there be any marshal's law in the worell.
2 Soldier My liege, all offences come from the heart. Never came any from mine to offend your 2765majesty. You appeared to me as a common man -- witness the night, your garments, your lowliness -- and whatsoever 2770you received under that habit, I beseech your majesty impute it to your own fault and not mine, for yourself came not like yourself. Had you been as you seemed, I had made no offence. Therefore I beseech your grace to pardon me.
King Henry Uncle, fill the glove with crowns, 2775and give it to the soldier. Wear it, fellow, as an honor in thy cap, till I do challenge it. Give him the crowns. Come, Captain Flewellen, I must needs have you friends.
Flewellen By Jesus, the fellow hath 2780mettle enough in his belly. -- Hark you, soldier, there is a shilling for you, and keep yourself out of brawls, and brabbles, and dissentions, and look you, it shall be the better for you.
2 Soldier I'll none of your money sir, not I.
2785Flewellen Why, 'tis a good shilling, man. Why should you be queamish? Your shoes are not so good; it will serve you to mend your shoes.
[Enter herald, with paper for King Henry.]
King Henry [To Exeter] What men of sort are taken, uncle?
2795Exeter Charles, Duke of Orléans, nephew to the king;
John, Duke of Bourbon, and Lord Boucicaut.
Of other lords and barons, knights and squires,
Full fifteen hundred, besides common men.
King Henry This note doth tell me of ten thousand French
2800That in the field lie slain.
Of nobles bearing banners in the field:
Charles d'Albret, High Constable of France,
Jacques of Châtillon, Admiral of France,
The Master of the Crossbows, 2815John Duke Alençon,
Lord Rambures, High Master of France,
The brave Sir Guichard Dauphin. Of noble chevaliers,
Granpré, and Roucy, Fauquembergues and Foix,
Gerard and Verton, Vaudémont and Lestrelles.
2820Here was a royal fellowship of death. --
Where is the number of our English dead?
[Takes a paper]
Edward the Duke of York, the Earl of Suffolk,
Sir Richard Kyghley, Davey Gam, Esquire,
And of all other 2825but five-and-twenty.
O God, thy arm was here, and unto thee alone ascribe we praise. When, without stratagem and in even shock of battle, 2830was ever heard so great and little loss on one part and another? Take it, God, for it is only thine.
Exeter 'Tis wonderful.
King Henry Come, let us go on procession through the camp.
2835Let it be death proclaimed to any man
To boast hereof, or take the praise from God
Which is his due.
Flewellen Is it lawful, an it please your majesty, to tell how many is killed?
2840King Henry Yes, Flewellen, but with this acknowledgement: that God fought for us.
Flewellen Yes, in my conscience, he did us great good.
King Henry Let there be sung Non nobis and Te Deum.
2845The dead with charity interred in clay,
We'll then to Calais, and to England then,
Where ne'er from France arrived more happier men.
Exeunt omnes.