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About this text

  • Title: Henry V (Quarto 1, 1600)
  • Editor: James D. Mardock
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-409-7

    Copyright James D. Mardock. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: James D. Mardock
    Peer Reviewed

    Henry V (Quarto 1, 1600)

    The Chronicle Historie
    920Question your grace the late Embassador,
    With what regard he heard his Embassage,
    How well supplied with aged Counsellours,
    922.1And how his resolution andswered him,
    You then would say that Harry was not wilde.
    King. Well thinke we Harry strong:
    938.1And strongly arme vs to preuent the foe.
    Con. My Lord here is an Embassador
    From the King of England.
    Kin. Bid him come in.
    960You see this chase is hotly followed Lords.
    Dol. My gracious father, cut vp this English short,
    Selfe loue my Liege is not so vile a thing,
    As self neglecting.
    Enter Exeter.
    King. From our brother England?
    970Exe. From him, and thus he greets your Maiestie:
    He wils you in the name of God Almightie,
    That you deuest your selfe and lay apart
    That borrowed tytle, which by gift of heauen,
    Of lawe of nature, and of nations, longs
    975To him and to his heires, namely the crowne
    And all wide stretched titles that belongs
    Vnto the Crowne of France, that you may know
    Tis no sinister, nor no awkeward claime,
    980Pickt from the worm holes of old vanisht dayes,
    Nor from the dust of old obliuion rackte,
    He sends you these most memorable lynes,
    In euery branch truly demonstrated:
    Willing you ouerlooke this pedigree,
    985And when you finde him euenly deriued
    From his most famed and famous ancestors,
    Edward the third, he bids you then resigne
    Your crowne and kingdome, indirectly held
    From him, the natiue and true challenger.
    King.