Come, my lords and fellows of arms, 1256what company is there of the Frenchmen?

An it please your majesty, 1258our captains have numbered them, 1259and, so near as they can judge, 1260they are about threescore thousand horsemen 1261and forty thousand footmen.

They threescore thousand, 1263and we but two thousand. 1264They forty thousand footmen, 1265and we twelve thousand. 1266They are a hundred thousand, 1267and we fourteen thousand: ten to one. 1268My lords and loving countrymen, 1269though we be few and they many, 1270fear not. Your quarrel is good, and God will defend you. 1271Pluck up your hearts, for this day we shall either have 1272a valiant victory or an honorable death. 1273Now, my lords, I will that my uncle the duke of York 1274have the vanguard in the battle. 1275The earl of Derby, the earl of Oxford, 1276the earl of Kent, the earl of Nottingham, 1277the earl of Huntington, I will have beside the army, 1278that they may come fresh upon them. 1279And I myself with the duke of Bedford, 1280the duke of Clarence, and the duke of Gloucester 1281will be in the midst of the battle. 1282Furthermore, I will that my lord of Willoughby 1283and the earl of Northumberland 1284with their troops of horsemen be continually running like 1285wings on both sides of the army, 1286my lord of Northumberland on the left wing. 1287Then I will that every archer provide him a stake of 1288a tree and sharp it at both ends 1289and, at the first encounter of the horsemen, 1290to pitch their stakes down into the ground before them, 1291that they may gore themselves upon them, 1292and then to recoil back and shoot wholly altogether 1293and so discomfit them.

An it please your majesty, 1295I will take that in charge, if your grace be therewith content.

With all my heart, my good lord of Oxford, 1297and go and provide quickly.

I thank your highness.

Well, my lords, our battles are ordained, 1301and the French making of bonfires and at their banquets. 1302But let them look, for I mean to set upon them. 1303

14.81304Soft, here comes some other French message.

King of England, my lord high constable 1307and other of my lords, considering the poor estate of thee 1308and thy poor countrymen, 1309send me to know what thou wilt give for thy ransom. 1310Perhaps thou mayst agree better cheap now 1311than when thou art conquered.

Why, then belike your high constable 1313sends to know what I will give for my ransom? 1314Now, trust me, herald, not so much as a tun of tennis balls. 1315No, not so much as one poor tennis ball. 1316Rather shall my body lie dead in the field to feed crows 1317than ever England shall pay one penny ransom 1318for my body.

A kingly resolution.

No, herald, 'tis a kingly resolution 1321and the resolution of a king. 1322Here, take this for thy pains. 1323

14.131324But stay, my lords. What time is it?

Prime, my lord.

Then is it good time, no doubt, 1327for all England prayeth for us. 1328What, my lords, methinks you look cheerfully upon me? 1329Why, then, with one voice and like true English hearts, 1330with me throw up your caps and for England 1331cry "Saint George!" -- and God and Saint George help us!