Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: Anonymous
Peer Reviewed

Famous Victories of Henry V (Modern)

[Scene 9] [Video Sc.9]
Enter the Thief [Cutbert Cutter].
Cutbert Cutter
Ah God, I am now much like to a bird 770which hath escaped out of the cage, for so soon as my Lord Chief Justice heard that the old king was dead, he was glad to let me go, for fear of my lord the young prince. But here comes some of his companions. 775I will see an I can get anything of them, for old acquaintance.
Enter Knights [Tom, Jockey, and Ned] ranging.
Tom
Gog's wounds, the king is dead!
Jockey
Dead! Then Gog's blood, we shall be all kings!
780Ned
Gog's wounds, I shall be lord chief justice of England.
Tom
[To Cutbert Cutter] Why, how are you broken out of prison?
Ned
Gog's wounds, how the villain stinks!
Jockey
Why, what will become of thee now? 785Fie upon him, how the rascal stinks.
Cutbert Cutter
Marry, I will go and serve my master again.
Tom
Gog's blood, dost think that he will have any such scabbed knave as thou art? What, man, he is a king now.
Hold thee, here's a couple of angels for thee, 790and get thee gone, for the king will not be long before he come this way. And hereafter I will tell the king of thee.
Exit Thief [Cutbert Cutter].
Jockey
Oh, how it did me good to see the king 795when he was crowned! Methought his seat was like the figure of heaven and his person like unto a god.
But who would have thought that the king would have changed his countenance so?
800Jockey
Did you not see with what grace he sent his embassage into France to tell the French king that Harry of England hath sent for the crown and Harry of England will have it?
But 'twas but a little to make the people believe 805that he was sorry for his father's death.
The trumpet sounds.
Gog's wounds, the king comes. Let's all stand aside.
Enter the King [Henry V] with the Archbishop [of Canterbury], and 810the Lord of Oxford.
Jockey
How do you, my lord?
How now, Harry? Tut, my lord, put away these dumps. You are a king, and all the realm is yours. 815What, man, do you not remember the old sayings? You know I must be lord chief justice of England. Trust me, my lord, methinks you are very much changed, and 'tis but with a little sorrowing to make folks believe the death of your father grieves you, 820and 'tis nothing so.
Henry V
I prithee, Ned, mend thy manners and be more modester in thy terms, for my unfeigned grief is not to be ruled by thy flattering and dissembling talk. Thou say'st I am changed. 825So I am indeed, and so must thou be, and that quickly, or else I must cause thee to be changed.
Jockey
Gog's wounds! How like you this? Zounds, 'tis not so sweet as music.
I trust we have not offended your grace no way.
830Henry V
Ah, Tom, your former life grieves me and makes me to abandon and abolish your company forever, and therefore not upon pain of death to approach my presence by ten miles' space. Then, if I hear well of you, it may be I will do somewhat for you; 835otherwise, look for no more favor at my hands than at any other man's. And therefore be gone. We have other matters to talk on.
Exeunt Knights [Tom, Ned, and Jockey].
Now, my good lord archbishop of Canterbury, 840what say you to our embassage into France?
Canterbury
Your right to the French crown of France came by your great-grandmother Isabel, wife to King Edward the Third and sister to Charles the French king. 845Now, if the French king deny it, as likely enough he will, then must you take your sword in hand and conquer the right. Let the usurped Frenchman know
, although your predecessors have let it pass, you will not, 850for your countrymen are willing with purse and men to aid you. Then, my good lord, as it hath been always known that Scotland hath been in league with France by a sort of pensions which yearly come from thence, 855I think it therefore best to conquer Scotland, and then I think that you may go more easily into France. And this is all that I can say, my good lord.
Henry V
I thank you, my good lord archbishop of Canterbury. What say you, my good lord of Oxford?
860Oxford
An please your majesty, I agree to my lord archbishop, saving in this: he that will Scotland win must first with France begin, according to the old saying. Therefore, my good lord, I think it best first to invade France, 865for in conquering Scotland you conquer but one; an conquer France and conquer both.
Enter Lord of Exeter.
Exeter
An please your majesty, my lord ambassador is come out of France.
870Henry V
Now trust me, my lord, he was the last man that we talked of. I am glad that he is come to resolve us of our answer. Commit him to our presence.
Enter Duke of York.
875York
God save the life of my sovereign lord the king.
Henry V
Now, my good lord the duke of York, what news from our brother the French king?
York
An please your majesty, I delivered him my embassage, 880whereof I took some deliberation. But for the answer, he hath sent my lord ambassador of Bruges, the duke of Burgundy, Monsieur le Cole, with two hundred and fifty horsemen, to bring the embassage.
885Henry V
Commit my lord archbishop of Bruges into our presence.
Enter Archbishop of Bruges.
Now, my lord archbishop of Bruges, we do learn by our lord ambassador 890that you have our message to do from our brother the French king. Here, my good lord, according to our accustomed order, we give you free liberty and licence to speak with good audience.
895Bruges
God save the mighty king of England. My lord and master, the most Christian king, Charles the Sixth, the great and mighty king of France, as a most noble and Christian king, not minding to shed innocent blood, is rather content 900to yield somewhat to your unreasonable demands, that if fifty thousand crowns a year with his daughter, the said Lady Katherine, in marriage, and some crowns which he may well spare, not hurting of his kingdom, 905he is content to yield so far to your unreasonable desire.
Henry V
Why, then, belike your lord and master thinks to puff me up with fifty thousand crowns a year. No, tell thy lord and master that all the crowns in France shall not serve me, 910except the crown and kingdom itself -- and perchance hereafter I will have his daughter.
Bruges
An it please your majesty, my lord Prince Dauphin greets you well 915with this present.
He delivereth a tun of tennis balls.
Henry V
What, a gilded tun? I pray you, my lord of York, look what is in it.
York
An please your grace, 920here is a carpet and a tun of tennis balls.
Henry V
A tun of tennis balls? I pray you, good my lord archbishop, what might the meaning thereof be?
Bruges
An it please you, my lord, 925a messenger, you know, ought to keep close his message, and specially an ambassador.
Henry V
But I know that you may declare your message to a king. The law of arms allows no less.
Bruges
My lord, hearing of your wildness before your 930father's death, sent you this, my good lord, meaning that you are more fitter for a tennis court than a field and more fitter for a carpet than the camp.
Henry V
My lord Prince Dauphin is very pleasant with me. But tell him that instead of balls of leather 935we will toss him balls of brass and iron, yea, such balls as never were tossed in France. The proudest tennis court shall rue it; ay, and thou, prince of Bruges, shall rue it. Therefore get thee hence and tell him thy message quickly, 940lest I be there before thee. Away, priest, be gone.
Bruges
I beseech your grace to deliver me your safe conduct under your broad seal manual.
Henry V
Priest of Bruges, know that the hand and seal of a king, and his word is all one, 945and instead of my hand and seal I will bring him my hand and sword. And tell thy lord and master that I, Harry of England, said it and I, Harry of England, will perform it. My lord of York, deliver him our safe conduct 950under our broad seal manual.
Exeunt Archbishop [of Bruges], and the Duke of York.
Now, my lords, to arms, to arms, for I vow by heaven and earth that the proudest Frenchman in all France shall rue the time that ever 955these tennis balls were sent into England. [To Exeter] My lord, I will that there be provided a great navy of ships with all speed at Southampton, for there I mean to ship my men, for I would be there before him, if it were possible. 960Therefore come -- but stay, I had almost forgot the chiefest thing of all, with chafing with this French ambassador. Call in my Lord Chief Justice of England.
Enter Lord Chief Justice of England.
965Exeter
Here is the king, my lord.
Lord Chief Justice
God preserve your majesty.
Henry V
Why, how now, my lord, what is the matter?
Lord Chief Justice
I would it were unknown to your majesty.
Henry V
Why, what ails you?
970Lord Chief Justice
Your majesty knoweth my grief well.
Henry V
Oh, my lord, you remember you sent me to the Fleet, did you not?
Lord Chief Justice
I trust your grace have forgotten that.
Henry V
Ay, truly my lord, and for revengement 975I have chosen you to be my protector over my realm until it shall please God to give me speedy return out of France.
Lord Chief Justice
An if it please your majesty, I am far unworthy of so high a dignity.
980Henry V
Tut, my lord, you are not unworthy, because I think you worthy. For you that would not spare me, I think, will not spare another. It must needs be so, and, therefore, come, 985let us be gone and get our men in a readiness.
Exeunt omnes.