to give a greater sum Than ever at one time the clergy yet Ely. How did this offer seem receiv'd, my Cant. With good acceptance of his Majesty; Save, that there was not time enough to hear (As, I perceiv'd, his Grace would fain have done,) The severals, and unhidden passages, Of his true titles to some certain dukedoms; this off? Cant. The French ambassador, instant, upon that Crav'd audience: and the hour, I think, is come, To give him hearing: Is't four o'clock? Ely. It is Cant. Then we go in, to know his embassy ; Which I could, with a ready guess, declare, Before the Frenchman speak a word of it. Ely, I'll wait upon you; and I long to hear it, [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. A Room of State in the same, Enter King HENRY, GLOSTER, BEDFORD, EXETER, WARWICK, WESTMORELAND, and Attendants. K. Hen. Where is my gracious Lord of Canterbury? Exe. Not here in presence. K. Hen. Send for him, good uncle. West. Shall we call in the ambassador, my Liege ? K. Hen. Not yet, my cousin; we would be resolv'd, Before we hear him, of some things of weight, That task our thoughts, concerning us and France. Enter the Archbishop of CANTERBURY, and Bishop of ELY. Cant. God, and his angels, guard your sacred throne, And make you long become it! K. Hen. Sure, we thank you, My learned Lord, we pray you to proceed; Why the law Salique, that they have in France, Or nicely charge your understanding soul Of what your Reverence shall incite us to: Are every one a woe, a sore complaint, 'Gainst him, whose wrongs give edge unto the swords That make such waste in brief mortality. Cant. Then hear me, gracious Sovereign, and you Peers, That owe your lives, your faith, and services, To this imperial throne; There is no bar To make against your Highness' claim to France, But this, which they produce from Pharamond, In terram Salicam mulieres nè succedant, No woman shall succeed in Salique land: Which Salique Land the French unjustly gloze, To be the realm of France, and Pharamond The founder of this law and female bar, Yet their own authors faithfully affirm, That the land Salique lies in Germany, Between the floods of Sala and of Elbe: Where Charles the great, having subdued the Saxons, There left behind and settled certain French; Subdued the Saxons, and did seat the French Eight hundred five. Besides, their writers say, Did, as heir general, being descended Of Blithild, which was daughter to King Clothair, Convey'd himself as heir to the Lady Lingare, Who was the sole heir to the usurper Capet, Daughter to Charles the foresaid Duke of Lorain: By the which marriage, the line of Charles the great Was re-united to the crown of France. male; And rather choose to hide them in a net, Than amply to imbare their crooked titles Cant. The sin upon my head, dread Sovereign! For in the book of Numbers is it writ, When the son dies, let the inheritance Descend unto the daughter. Gracious Lord, Stand for your own; unwind your bloody flag; Look back unto your mighty ancestors: Go, my dread Lord, to your great grandsire's From whom you And your great spirit, uncle's, Edward the black Who on the French ground play'd a tragedy, With half their forces the full pride of France; All out of work, and cold for action! Ely. Awake remembrance of these valiant dead, And with your puissant arm renew their feats: Exe. Your brother Kings and Monarchs of the earth |