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  • Title: The Famous Victories of Henry the Fifth (Quarto, 1598)
  • Editors: Karen Sawyer Marsalek, Mathew Martin
  • 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
    Editors: Karen Sawyer Marsalek, Mathew Martin
    Peer Reviewed

    The Famous Victories of Henry the Fifth (Quarto, 1598)

    The famous victories
    The Earle of Huntington, I wil haue beside the army,
    That they may come fresh vpon them.
    And I my selfe with the Duke of Bedford,
    1280The Duke of Clarence and the Duke of Gloster,
    Wil be in the midst of the battell.
    Furthermore, I wil that my Lord of Willowby,
    And the Earle of Northumberland,
    With their troupes of horsmen, be cõtinually running like
    1285Wings on both sides of the army:
    My Lord of Northumberland, on the left wing.
    Then I wil, that euery archer prouide him a stake of
    A tree, and sharpe it at both endes,
    And at the first encounter of the horsemen,
    1290To pitch their stakes downe into the ground before them,
    That they may gore themselues upon them,
    And then to recoyle backe, and shoote wholly altogither,
    And so discomfit them.
    Oxf. And it please your Maiestie,
    1295I wil take that in charge, if your grace be therwith cõtent.
    Hen. With all my heart, my good Lord of Oxford:
    And go and prouide quickly.
    Oxf. I thanke your highnesse.
    Exit.
    1300Hen.5. Well my Lords, our battels are ordeined,
    And the French making of bonfires, and at their bankets,
    But let them looke, for I mean to set vpon them.
    The Trumpet soundes.
    Soft, heres comes some other French message.
    1305Enters Herauld.
    Herald. King of England, my Lord high Constable,
    And other of my Lords, considering the poore estate of thee
    And thy poore Countrey men,
    Sends me to know what thou wilt giue for thy ransome?
    1310Perhaps thou maist agree better cheape now,
    Then when thou art conquered.
    Hen. 5.