First to my God and next unto your grace.

[Kneels.

King. Is this the Lord Talbot, uncle Glou

cester,

That hath so long been resident in France?

Glou. Yes, if it please your majesty, my liege.

King. Welcome, brave captain and victorious lord!

When I was young, as yet I am not old,
I do remember how my father said
A stouter champion never handled sword.
Long since we were resolved of your truth,
Your faithful service and your toil in war;
Yet never have you tasted our reward,
Or been reguerdon'd with so much as thanks,
Because till now we never saw your face:
Therefore, stand up; and, for these good deserts,
We here create you Earl of Shrewsbury;
And in our coronation take your place.

[Sennet. Flourish. Exeunt all but Vernon

and Basset.

Ver. Now, sir, to you, that were so hot at

sea,

Disgracing of these colours that I wear

In honour of my noble Lord of York:

Darest thou maintain the former words thou

spakest?

Bas. Yes, sir; as well as you dare patronage The envious barking of your saucy tongue Against my lord the Duke of Somerset.

Ver. Sirrah, thy lord I honour as he is.

Bas. Why, what is he? as good a man as York.

18. I do remember, etc. Henry was a child of nine months at his father's death.

20. resolved, assured.
23. reguerdon'd, rewarded.
32. patronage, make good.

20

30

Ver. Hark ye; not so: in witness, take ye

that.

[Strikes him.

Bas. Villain, thou know'st the law of arms is such

That whoso draws a sword, 'tis present death,

Or else this blow should broach thy dearest blood.

But I'll unto his majesty, and crave

I may have liberty to venge this wrong;

When thou shalt see I'll meet thee to thy cost. Ver. Well, miscreant, I'll be there as soon

as you;

And, after, meet you sooner than you would.

[Exeunt.

40

ACT IV.

SCENE I. Paris. A hall of state.

Enter the KING, GLOUCESTER, BISHOP OF WINCHESTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, SOMERSET, WARWICK, TALBOT, EXETER, the Governor of Paris, and others.

Glou. Lord bishop, set the crown upon his head.

Win. God save King Henry, of that name the sixth !

Glou. Now, governor of Paris, take your oath,
That you elect no other king but him;
Esteem none friends but such as are his friends,
And none your foes but such as shall pretend

39. That whoso draws a sword; i.e. in the precincts of the royal

court.

Malicious practices against his state:

This shall ye do, so help you righteous God!

Enter SIR JOHN FASTOLFE.

Fast. My gracious sovereign, as I rode from
Calais,

To haste unto your coronation,

A letter was deliver'd to my hands,

Writ to your grace from the Duke of Burgundy. Tal. Shame to the Duke of Burgundy and thee!

I vow'd, base knight, when I did meet thee next,
To tear the garter from thy craven's leg,

[Plucking it off.

Which I have done, because unworthily
Thou wast installed in that high degree.
Pardon me, princely Henry, and the rest :
This dastard, at the battle of Patay,
When but in all I was six thousand strong
And that the French were almost ten to one,
Before we met or that a stroke was given,
Like to a trusty squire did run away :

In which assault we lost twelve hundred men;
Myself and divers gentlemen beside
Were there surprised and taken prisoners.
Then judge, great lords, if I have done amiss;
Or whether that such cowards ought to wear
This ornament of knighthood, yea or no.

Glou. To say the truth, this fact was infamous

And ill beseeming any common man,

Much more a knight, a captain and a leader.

Tal. When first this order was ordain'd, my lords,

Knights of the garter were of noble birth,

ΤΟ

20

30

30. fact, deed.

Valiant and virtuous, full of haughty courage,
Such as were grown to credit by the wars;
Not fearing death, nor shrinking for distress,
But always resolute in most extremes.
He then that is not furnish'd in this sort
Doth but usurp the sacred name of knight,
Profaning this most honourable order,
And should, if I were worthy to be judge,
Be quite degraded, like a hedge-born swain
That doth presume to boast of gentle blood.
King. Stain to thy countrymen, thou hear'st
thy doom!

Be packing, therefore, thou that wast a knight:
Henceforth we banish thee, on pain of death.
[Exit Fastolfe.
And now, my lord protector, view the letter
Sent from our uncle Duke of Burgundy.
Glou. What means his grace, that he hath
changed his style?

No more but, plain and bluntly, 'To the king!'
Hath he forgot he is his sovereign?
Or doth this churlish superscription
Pretend some alteration in good will?

What's here? [Reads] 'I have, upon especial

cause,

Moved with compassion of my country's wreck,
Together with the pitiful complaints

Of such as your oppression feeds upon,

Forsaken your pernicious faction

And join'd with Charles, the rightful King of France.'

O monstrous treachery! can this be so,

That in alliance, amity and oaths,

There should be found such false dissembling

guile?

38. most, utmost.

54. Pretend, indicate.

40

50

60

King. What! doth my uncle Burgundy revolt?

Glou. He doth, my lord, and is become your foe.

King. Is that the worst this letter doth contain ?

Glou. It is the worst, and all, my lord, he writes.

King. Why, then, Lord Talbot there shall talk with him

And give him chastisement for this abuse.

How say you, my lord? are you not content?

Tal. Content, my liege! yes, but that I am prevented,

I should have begg'd I might have been employ'd.

King. Then gather strength and march unto him straight:

Let him perceive how ill we brook his treason
And what offence it is to flout his friends.

Tal. I go, my lord, in heart desiring still
You may behold confusion of your foes.

Enter VERNON and BASSET.

[Exit.

Ver. Grant me the combat, gracious sovereign. Bas. And me, my lord, grant me the combat

too.

York. This is my servant: hear him, noble prince.

Som. And this is mine: sweet Henry, favour him.

King. Be patient, lords; and give them leave to speak..

71. prevented, anticipated.

78. combat, i.e. the right of single combat, for which, in

the precincts of the court, the king's permission had to be obtained.