I have a while giv'n truce unto my wars,
To do my duty to my Sovereign.

In fign whereof, this arm, that hath reclaim'd
To your obedience fifty fortreffes,

Twelve cities, and fev'n walled towns of ftrength,
Befide five hundred prifoners of esteem;
Lets fall the fword before your Highness' feet :
And with fubmiffive loyalty of heart
Afcribes the glory of his Conqueft got,

First to my God, and next unto your Grace.
K. Henry. Is this the fam'd Lord Talbot, uncle Glofter,
That hath fo long been refident in France?

Glou. Yes, if it please your Majefty, my Liege.
K. Henry, Welcome, brave Captain, and victorious
Lord.

When I was young, as yet I am not old,
I do remember how my father faid,
A ftouter champion never handled fword.
Long fince we were refolved of your truth,
Your faithful fervice and your toil in war;
Yet never have you tafted your reward,
Or been reguerdon'd with fo much as thanks,
Becaufe 'till now we never faw your face;
Therefore stand up, and, for thefe good deferts,
We here create you Earl of Shrewsbury,
And in our Coronation take your place.

Manent Vernon and Baffet.

[Exeunt.

Ver. Now, Sir, to you that were so hot at sea, Difgracing of thefe colours that I wear

In honour of my noble Lord of York;

Dar'ft thou maintain the former words thou spak'ft?
Baf. Yes, Sir, as well as you dare patronage

The envious barking of your faucy tongue
Against my Lord, the Duke of Somerfet.
Ver. Sirrah, thy Lord I honour as he is.
Baf. Why, what is he? as good a man as York.
Nn 3

Ver.

Ver. Hark ye; not fo: in witnefs, take you that. [Strikes bim. Baf. Villain, thou know'it, the law of arms is fuch, That, whofo draws a fword, 'tis prefent deaths; Or elfe this blow fhould broach thy dearest blood. 1 But I'll unto his Majesty, and crave is a A I may have liberty to venge this wrong;

When thou shalt fee, I'll meet thee to thy o

coft. Ver. Well, mifcreant, I'll be there as foon as you;, i And, after, meet you fooner than you would. [Exeunt.

IV. SCENE

A C T IV.
ACT

PARI S. L

I.

i

Enter King Henry, Gloucester, Winchester, York, Suffolk, Somerfet, Warwick, Talbot, Exeter, and Governor of Paris.

L

GLOUCESTER.

ORD Bishop, fet the Crown upon his head. Win. God fave King Henry, of that name the Sixth! Glou. Now, Governor of Paris, take your oath, That you elect no other King but him; Efteem none friends, but fuch as are his friends; And none your foes, but fuch as fhall pretend Malicious practices against his ftate.

This fhall ye do, fo help you righteous God!

5 That, whofo draws a fword, 'tis prefent dearb;] ShakeSpeare wrote,

draws a fword i'th' pre-
fence 't's death;
in the Court, or in the pre-

fence Chamber. WARBURTON.

This reading cannot be right, because, as Mr. Edwards obferved, it cannot be pronounced. -fuch as fhall pretend.] To pretend is to defign, to intend.

6

Enter

Enter Faftolfe.

Faft. My gracious Sovereign, as I rode from Calais, To hafte unto your Coronation;

word 2162

A letter was deliver'd to my hands, Cam &
Writ to your Grace from th' 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 leg,
Which I have done; because unworthily
Thou waft inftalled in that high degree..
Pardon, my Princely Henry, and the reft;
This daftard, at the battle of Poitiers,

When but in all I was fix thousand ftrong,
And that the French were almoft ten to one,
Before we met, or that a ftroke was given,
Like to a trusty 'fquire, did run away.
In which affault we loft twelve hundred men
Myself and divers gentlemen befide
Were there furpriz'd, and taken prisoners.
Then judge, great Lords, if I have done amifs;
Or whether that fuch cowards ought to wear
This ornament of knighthood, yea or no?

Glou. To fay the truth, this fact was infamous, And ill befeeming 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; Valiant and virtuous, full of haughty courage 7; Such as were grown to Credit by the wars; Not fearing death, nor fhrinking for distress, But always refolute in moft extremes. He then, that is not furnish'd in this fort, Doth but ufurp the facred name of Knight, Profaning this most honourable Order;

7

fenfe for high.

N

haughty courage ;] Haughty is here in its original

And fhould, if I were worthy to be judge,

dw bn A Be quite degraded, like a hedge-born swaing I JET That doth prefume to boaft of gentle blood, vam poY yem K. Henry. Stain to thy countrymen! thou hear'st

thy doom;

Be packing therefore, thou that waft a Knight;
Henceforth we banish thee on pain of death. [Exit Faft.
And now, my Lord Protector, view the letter
Sent from our uncle Duke of Burgundy.

Glou. What means his Grace, that he hath chang'd his file?

No more but plain and bluntly, To the King. [Reading. Hath he forgot, he is his Sovereign?

Or doth this churlish fuperfcription

Portend fome alteration in good will? mob
What's here? I have upon especial caufe,ten [Reads.
Mov'd with compaffion of my country's wreck, W
Together with the pitiful complaints

Of fuch as your oppreffion feeds upon,

Forfaken your pernicious faction,

And join'd with Charles, the rightful King of France.
O monstrous treachery! can this be fo?
That in alliance, amity, and oaths,

There fhould be found fuch falfe diffembling guile ?
K. Henry. What! doth my uncle Burgundy revolt?
Glou He doth, my Lord, and is become your foe,
K. Henry. Is that the worst this letter doth contain?
Glou. It is the worst, and all, my Lord, he writes.
K. Henry. Why then, Lord Talbot there fhall talk
with him,

And give him chaftifement for this abufe.
My Lord, how fay you, are you not content?
Tal. Content, my Liege? yes: but that I'm pre-
vented,

I fhould have begg'd I might have been employ'd.
K. Henry. Then gather ftrength, and march unto
him ftrait:

Let him perceive how ill we brook his treason,

And

And what offence it is to flout his friends.biom
Tal. I gōis my Lord, in heart defiring ftill
ftillin
You may behold confufion of your foes. [Exit Talbot.

Awod boda nyingi ya of

II.

idgin SCENE IL

Enter Vernon and Baffet.

Ver. Grant me the combat, grad

3 ต won b.4.

t, gracious Sovereign.

Baf. And me, my Lord; grant me the combat too. York. This is my fervant; hear him, noble Prince. Som. And this is mine; fweet Henry, favour him. K. Henry. Be patient, Lords, and give them leave to fpeak.

-Say, gentlemen, what makes you thus exclaim? And wherefore crave you combat? or with whom? Ver. With him, my Lord, for he hath done me

wrong.

Baf. And I with him, for he hath done me wrong. K. Henry. What is the wrong whereon you both complain?

First let me know, and then I'll anfwer you.

Baf. Croffing the fea from England into France,
This fellow here, with envious, carping tongue,
Upbraided me about the rofe I wear;

Saying, the fanguine colour of the leaves
Did reprefent my mafter's blufhing cheeks
When ftubbornly he did repugn the truth
About a certain queftion in the law,
Argu'd betwixt the Duke of York and him
With other vile and ignominious terms.
In confutation of which rude reproach,
And in defence of my Lord's worthiness,
I crave the benefit of law of arms.

Ver. And that is my petition, noble Lord For though he seem with forged quaint conceit To fet a glofs upon his bold intent,

Yet, know, my, Lord, I was provok'd by him;

And