PRELIMINARY REMARKS.

This play was writ (as appears from a passage in the chorus to the fifth Act) at the time of the Earl of Essex's commanding the forces in Ireland in the reign of Queeh Elizabeth, and not till after Henry the Sixth had been played, as may be seen by the conclusion of this play. Pope.

The transactions comprised in this historical play commence about the latter end of the first, and terminate in the eighth year of this king's reign: when he married Katharine princess of France, and closed up the differences betwixt England and that crown. Theobald.

This play, in the quarto edition, 1608, is styled The Chronicle History of Henry, &c. which seems to have been the title anciently appropriated to all Shakspeare's historical dramas. So, in The Antipodes, a comedy, by R. Brome, 1638:

The players likewise, in the folio edition, 1623, rank these pieces under the title of Histories.

It is evident that a play on this subject had been performed before the year 1592. Nash, in Pierce Penniless his Supplication to the Devil, dated 1592, says: “&lblank; what a glorious thing it is to have Henry the Fift represented on the stage, leading the French king prisoner, and forcing both him and the Dolphin to sweare fealtie.”

Perhaps this is the same play as was thus entered in the books of the Stationers' company: “Tho. Strode] May 2, 1594. A booke entituled The famous Victories of Henry the Fift, containing the honorable Battle of Agincourt.” There are two more entries of a play of Henry V. viz. between 1596 and 1615, and one August 14th, 1600. I have two copies of it in my possession; one without date, (which seems much the elder of the two,) and another, (apparently printed from it,) dated 1617, though printed by Bernard Alsop, (who was printer of the other edition,) and sold by the same person, and at the same place. Alsop appears to have been a printer before the year 1600, and was afterwards one of the twenty appointed by decree of the Star-chamber to print for this kingdom. I believe, however, this piece to have been prior to that of Shakspeare, for several reasons. First, because it is highly probable that it is the very “displeasing play” alluded to in the epilogue to The Second Part of King Henry IV.—“for Oldcastle died a martyr.” Oldcastle is

the Falstaff of the piece, which is despicable, and full of ribaldry and impiety from the first scene to the last.—Secondly, because Shakspeare seems to have taken not a few hints from it; for it comprehends, in some measure, the story of the two parts of Henry IV. as well as of Henry V. and no ignorance, I think, could debase the gold of Shakspeare into such dross; though no chemistry but that of Shakspeare could exalt such base metal into gold.—When the Prince of Wales, in Henry IV. calls Falstaff “my old lad of the Castle,” it is probably but a sneering allusion to the deserved fate which this performance met with; for there is no proof that our poet was ever obliged to change the name of Oldcastle into that of Falstaff, though there is an absolute certainty that this piece must have been condemned by any audience before whom it was ever represented.—Lastly, because it appears (as Dr. Farmer has observed) from the Jests of the famous comedian, Tarlton, 4to. 1611, that he had been particularly celebrated in the part of the Clown* ^note, in Henry V. and though this character does not exist in our play, we find it in the other, which, for the reasons already enumerated, I suppose to have been prior to this.

This anonymous play of Henry V. is neither divided into Acts or scenes, is uncommonly short, and has all the appearance of having been imperfectly taken down during the representation. As much of it appears to have been omitted, we may suppose that the author did not think it convenient for his reputation to publish a more ample copy.

There is, indeed, a play called Sir John Oldcastle, published in 1600, with the name of William Shakspeare prefixed to it. The prologue being very short, I shall quote it, as it serves to prove that a former piece, in which the character of Oldcastle was introduced, had given great offence:

“To stop which scruple, let this breefe suffice:
“It is no pamper'd glutton we present,
“Nor aged councellour to youthful sinne;
“But one, whose vertue shone above the rest,
“A valiant martyr, and a vertuous peere;
“In whose true faith and loyalty exprest
“Unto his soveraigne, and his countries weale,
“We strive to pay that tribute of our love
“Your favours merit: let faire truth be grac'd,
“Since forg'd invention former time defac'd.” Steevens.

The piece to which Nash alludes is the old anonymous play of King Henry V. which had been exhibited before the year 1588. Tarlton, the comedian, who performed in it both the parts of the Chief Justice and the Clown, having died in that year. It was entered on the Stationers' books in 1594, and, I believe, printed in that year, though I have not met with a copy of that date. An edition of it, printed in 1598, is in my collection. See also the notes at the end of Henry IV. Part I. vol. xvi. p. 410.

The play before us appears to have been written in the middle of the year 1599. See An Attempt to ascertain the Order of Shakspeare's Plays, vol. ii.

The old King Henry V. may be found among Six old Plays on which Shakspeare founded, &c. printed by S. Leacroft, 1778. Malone.

Of this play there were three quarto editions in our author's lifetime, 1600, 1602, and 1608. In all of them the choruses are omitted, and the play commences with the fourth speech of the second scene. Boswell.

PERSONS REPRESENTED. King Henry the Fifth. Duke of Gloster [Duke of Gloucester], Brother to the King. Duke of Bedford, Brother to the King. Duke of Exeter, Uncle to the King. Duke of York, Cousin to the King. Earl of Salisbury, Earl of Wesmoreland, Earl of Warwick. Archbishop of Canterbury. Bishop of Ely. Earl of Cambridge, Conspirator against the King. Lord Scroop, Conspirator against the King. Sir Thomas Grey, Conspirator against the King. Sir Thomas Erpingham, Officer in King Henry's Army. Gower, Officer in King Henry's Army. Fluellen, Officer in King Henry's Army. Macmorris, Officer in King Henry's Army. Jamy, Officer in King Henry's Army. Bates, Soldier in the same. Court, Soldier in the same. Williams, Soldier in the same. Nym, formerly Servant to Falstaff, now Soldier in the same. Bardolph, formerly Servant to Falstaff, now Soldier in the same. Pistol, formerly Servant to Falstaff, now Soldier in the same. Boy, Servant to them. A Herald. Chorus. Charles the Sixth, King of France. Lewis, the Dauphin. Duke of Burgundy, Duke of Orleans, Duke of Bourbon. The Constable of France. Rambures, French Lord. Grandpree [Grandpre], French Lord. Governor of Harfleur. Montjoy, a French Herald. Ambassadors to the King of England. Isabel, Queen of France. Katharine, Daughter of Charles and Isabel. Alice, a Lady attending on the Princess Katharine. Quickly [Mrs. Quickly], Pistol's Wife, an Hostess. Lords, Ladies, Officers, French and English Soldiers, Messengers, and Attendants. [Messenger], [French Soldier] The SCENE, at the Beginning of the Play, lies in England; but afterwards, wholly in France.

KING HENRY V.

CHORUS. Enter Chorus.
O, for a muse of fire, that would ascend
The brightest heaven of invention^{1 note}

The flat unraised spirit^{4 note} that hath dar'd,
On this unworthy scaffold,to bring forth
So great an object: can this cockpit hold
The vasty fields of France? or may we cram
Within this wooden O^{5 note}

That did affright the air at Agincourt^{7 note}

?
O, pardon! since a crooked figure may
Attest, in little place, a million;
And let us, ciphers to this great accompt,
On your imaginary forces^{8 note} work:
Suppose, within the girdle of these walls
Are now confin'd two mighty monarchies,
Whose high upreared and abutting fronts
The perilous, narrow ocean parts asunder^{9 note}

Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts;
Into a thousand parts divide one man^{1 note},
And make imaginary puissance^{2 note}

Carry them here and there^{3 note}

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