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About this text

  • Title: Famous Victories of Henry V (Modern)
  • Textual editor: Mathew Martin
  • Performance editor: Peter Cockett
  • Coordinating editor: Janelle Jenstad

  • Copyright Queen's Men Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Anonymous
    Peer Reviewed

    Famous Victories of Henry V (Modern)

    [Scene 4] [Video Sc.4]
    Enter Lord Chief Justice, Clerk of the Office, Jailor [with several Officers], 300John Cobbler, Derrick, and the Thief [Cutbert Cutter].
    Lord Chief Justice
    Jailor, bring the prisoner to the bar.
    Derrick
    Hear you, my lord, I pray you bring the bar to the prisoner.
    Lord Chief Justice
    Hold thy hand up at the bar.
    305Cutbert Cutter
    Here it is, my lord.
    Lord Chief Justice
    Clerk of the Office, read his indictment.
    Clerk
    What is thy name?
    Cutbert Cutter
    My name was known before I came here and shall be when I am gone, I warrant you.
    310Lord Chief Justice
    Ay, I think so, but we will know it better before thou go.
    Derrick
    Zounds, an you do but send to the next jail, we are sure to know his name, for this is not the first prison he hath been in, I'll warrant you.
    315Clerk
    What is thy name?
    Cutbert Cutter
    What need you to ask, an have it in writing?
    Clerk
    Is not thy name Cutbert Cutter?
    Cutbert Cutter
    What the devil need you ask, an know it so well?
    320Clerk
    Why then, Cutbert Cutter, I indict thee by the name of Cutbert Cutter for robbing a poor carrier the twentieth day of May last past, in the fourteenth year of the reign of our sovereign lord King Henry the Fourth, for setting upon a poor carrier upon Gad's Hill in Kent, and having 325beaten and wounded the said carrier, and taken his goods from him.
    Derrick
    Oh, masters, stay there. Nay, let's never belie the man, for he hath not beaten and wounded me also, but he hath beaten and wounded my pack and hath taken the 330great raze of ginger that bouncing Bess with the jolly buttocks should have had. That grieves me most.
    Lord Chief Justice
    Well, what sayest thou? Art thou guilty or not guilty?
    Cutbert Cutter
    Not guilty, my lord.
    335Lord Chief Justice
    By whom wilt thou be tried?
    Cutbert Cutter
    By my lord the young prince or by myself, whether you will.
    Enter the young Prince [Henry], with Ned and Tom.
    Prince Henry
    Come away, my lads. [To Cutbert Cutter] Gog's wounds, ye villain, 340what make you here? I must go about my business myself, and you must stand loitering here?
    Cutbert Cutter
    Why, my lord, they have bound me and will not let me go.
    Prince Henry
    Have they bound thee, villain? [To Lord Chief Justice] Why, how now, my 345lord?
    Lord Chief Justice
    I am glad to see your grace in good health.
    Prince Henry
    Why, my lord, this is my man. 'Tis marvel you knew him not long before this. I tell you, he is a man of his hands.
    350Cutbert Cutter
    Ay, Gog's wounds, that I am. Try me who dare!
    Lord Chief Justice
    Your grace shall find small credit by acknowledging him to be your man.
    Prince Henry
    Why, my lord, what hath he done?
    Lord Chief Justice
    An it please your majesty, he hath robbed a poor carrier.
    355Derrick
    Hear you, sir. Marry, it was one Derrick, Goodman Hobling's man of Kent.
    Prince Henry
    What, was't you, button-breech?-- Of my word, my lord, he did it but in jest.
    Derrick
    Hear you, sir. Is it your man's quality to rob folks 360in jest? In faith, he shall be hanged in earnest.
    Prince Henry
    Well, my lord, what do you mean to do with my man?
    Lord Chief Justice
    An't please your grace, the law must pass on him according to justice; then he must be executed.
    365Derrick
    Hear you, sir, I pray you. Is it your man's quality to rob folks in jest? In faith, he shall be hanged in jest.
    Henry V
    Well, my lord, what mean you to do with my man?
    Lord Chief Justice
    An't please your grace, the law must pass on him 370according to justice; then he must be executed.
    Prince Henry
    Why, then, belike you mean to hang my man?
    Lord Chief Justice
    I am sorry that it falls out so.
    Prince Henry
    Why, my lord, I pray ye, who am I?
    Lord Chief Justice
    An't please your grace, you are my lord the young 375prince, our king that shall be after the decease of our sovereign lord, King Henry the Fourth, whom God grant long to reign.
    Prince Henry
    You say true, my lord. And you will hang my man?
    380Lord Chief Justice
    An't like your grace, I must needs do justice.
    Prince Henry
    Tell me, my lord, shall I have my man?
    Lord Chief Justice
    I cannot, my lord.
    Prince Henry
    But will you not let him go?
    Lord Chief Justice
    I am sorry that his case is so ill.
    385Prince Henry
    Tush, case me no casings. Shall I have my man?
    Lord Chief Justice
    I cannot, nor I may not, my lord.
    Prince Henry
    Nay, and "I shall not," say, and then I am answered!
    Lord Chief Justice
    No.
    Prince Henry
    No? Then I will have him.
    390He giveth him a box on the ear.
    Gog's wounds, my lord, shall I cut off his head?
    [Ned draws his sword.]
    Prince Henry
    No, I charge you, draw not your swords, but get you hence-- provide a noise of musicians. Away, begone!
    395[Exeunt Ned and Tom.]
    Lord Chief Justice
    Well, my lord, I am content to take it at your hands.
    Prince Henry
    Nay, an you be not, you shall have more.
    Lord Chief Justice
    Why, I pray you, my lord, who am I?
    400Prince Henry
    You? Who knows not you? Why, man, you are Lord Chief Justice of England.
    Lord Chief Justice
    Your grace hath said truth. Therefore in striking me in this place you greatly abuse me, and not me only but also your father, whose lively person here in this place 405I do represent. And therefore, to teach you what prerogatives mean, I commit you to the Fleet until we have spoken with your father.
    Prince Henry
    Why, then, belike you mean to send me to the Fleet?
    410Lord Chief Justice
    Ay indeed, and therefore carry him away.
    [Exit] Prince Henry with the Officers.
    Lord Chief Justice
    Jailor, carry the prisoner to Newgate again until the next 'ssizes.
    Jailor
    At your commandment, my lord, it shall be done.
    [Exeunt Lord Chief Justice, Clerk of the Office, John Cobbler, Derrick, and Cutbert Cutter with Jailor]