[Scene 10]
10.11739Enter King Edward and Derby, with soldiers. Since they refuse our proffered league, my lord,
10.31741And will not ope their gates and let us in,
10.41742We will entrench ourselves on every side
10.51743That neither victuals nor supply of men
10.61744May come to succor this accursèd town;
10.71745Famine shall combat where our swords are stopped.
The promised aid that made them stand aloof
10.101748Is now retired and gone another way;
10.111749It will repent them of their stubborn will. --
10.121750But what are these poor ragged slaves, my lord?
Ask what they are; it seems they come from
1752Calais.
You wretched patterns of despair and woe,
10.151754What are you, living men or gliding ghosts,
10.161755Crept from your graves to walk upon the earth?
No ghosts, my lord, but men that breathe a life
10.181757Far worse than is the quiet sleep of death.
10.201759That long have been diseasèd, sick and lame,
10.211760And now because we are not fit to serve,
10.221761The captain of the town hath thrust us forth
10.231762That so expense of victuals may be saved.
A charitable deed no doubt, and worthy praise!
10.251764But how do you imagine then to speed?
10.271766We can no less but put ye to the sword,
10.281767Since when we proffered truce, it was refused.
And if your grace no otherwise vouchsafe,
10.301769As welcome death is unto us as life.
Poor silly men, much wronged and more distressed.
10.321771Go, Derby, go, and see they be relieved;
10.331772Command that victuals be appointed them
10.341773And give to every one five crowns a-piece.
10.35[Exeunt Derby and Frenchmen.] 10.361774The lion scorns to touch the yielding prey,
10.371775And Edward's sword must fresh itself in such
10.381776As wilful stubbornness hath made perverse.
10.401778Lord Percy, welcome. What's the news in England?
The Queen, my lord, comes here to your grace,
10.421780And from her highness and the lord vicegerent
10.431781I bring this happy tidings of success:
10.441782David of Scotland, lately up in arms,
10.451783Thinking belike he soonest should prevail,
10.461784Your highness being absent from the realm,
10.471785Is by the fruitful service of your peers --
10.481786And painful travail of the Queen herself
10.491787That, big with child, was every day in arms --
10.501788Vanquished, subdued, and taken prisoner.
Thanks, Percy, for thy news with all my heart.
10.521790What was he took him prisoner in the field?
A squire, my lord; John Copland is his name,
10.551793Denies to make surrender of his prize
10.571795Whereat the Queen is grievously displeased.
Well then we'll have a pursuivant dispatched
10.591797To summon Copland hither out of hand,
10.601798And with him he shall bring his prisoner king.
The Queen's, my lord, herself by this at sea,
10.621800And purposeth as soon as wind will serve
10.631801To land at Calais, and to visit you.
She shall be welcome, and to wait her coming
10.651803I'll pitch my tent near to the sandy shore.
The burgesses of Calais, mighty king,
10.691807To yield the town and castle to your hands,
10.701808Upon condition it will please your grace
10.711809To grant them benefit of life and goods.
They will so? Then belike they may command,
10.731811Dispose, elect, and govern as they list.
10.741812No, sirrah, tell them since they did refuse
10.751813Our princely clemency at first proclaimed,
10.761814They shall not have it now although they would.
10.771815I will accept of naught but fire and sword,
10.781816Except, within these two days, six of them
10.791817That are the wealthiest merchants in the town
10.801818Come naked all but for their linen shirts,
10.811819With each a halter hanged about his neck,
10.821820And prostrate yield themselves upon their knees
10.831821To be afflicted, hanged, or what I please.
10.841822And so you may inform their masterships.
10.85Exeunt [all but the Captain]. Why, this it is to trust a broken staff.
10.871824Had we not been persuaded John our king
10.881825Would with his army have relieved the town,
10.901827But now 'tis past that no man can recall,
10.911828And better some do go to wrack than all.