^{2 note}Arch-bishop of Canterbury.
My lord, I'll tell you; that self bill is urg'd,
Which, in th' eleventh year o' th' last King's reign,
Was like, and had, indeed against us past,
But that the scambling and unquiet time
Did push it out of further question.

Ely.
But how, my lord, shall we resist it now?

Cant.
It must be thought on: if it pass against us,
We lose the better half of our possession:
For all the temporal lands, which men devout
By testament have given to the Church,
Would they strip from us; being valu'd thus,
As much as would maintain, to the King's honour,
Full fifteen Earls and fifteen hundred Knights,
Six thousand and two hundred good Esquires:
And to relief of lazars, and weak age
Of indigent faint souls, past corporal toil,
A hundred alms-houses, right well supply'd;
And to the coffers of the King, beside,
A thousand pounds by th' year. Thus runs the bill.

Ely.
This would drink deep.

Cant.
'Twould drink the cup and all.

Ely.
But what prevention?

Cant.
The King is full of grace and fair regard.

Ely.
And a true lover of the holy Church.

Cant.
The courses of his youth promis'd it not;
The breath no sooner left his father's body,
But that his wildness, mortify'd in him,
Seem'd to die too; yea, at that very moment,
&wlquo;Consideration, like an angel, came,
&wlquo;And whipt th' offending Adam out of him;
&wlquo;Leaving his Body as a Paradise,
&wlquo;T'invelope and contain celestial spirits.&wrquo;
Never was such a sudden scholar made:
Never came reformation in a flood
With such a heady current, scow'ring faults:
Nor ever Hydra-headed wilfulness
So soon did lose his seat, and all at once,
As in this King.

Ely.
We're blessed in the change.

Cant.
^{3 note}Hear him but reason in divinity,

And, all-admiring, with an inward wish
You would desire, the King were made a Prelate.
Hear him debate of common-wealth affairs,
You'd say, it hath been all in all his study.
List his discourse of war, and you shall hear
A fearful battle render'd you in musick.
Turn him to any cause of policy,
The Gordian knot of it he will unloose,
Familiar as his garter. When he speaks,
The air, a charter'd libertine, is still;
And the mute wonder lurketh in men's ears,
To steal his sweet and honied sentences:
So that the (a) ^note Act, and practic part of life,
Must be the mistress to this theorique.
Which is a wonder how his Grace should glean it,
Since his addiction was to courses vain;
His companies unletter'd, rude and shallow;
His hours fill'd up with riots, banquets, sports;
And never noted in him any study,
Any retirement, any sequestration
From open haunts and popularity.

Ely.
The Strawberry grows underneath the nettle,
And wholsom berries thrive, and ripen best,
Neighbour'd by fruit of baser quality:
And so the Prince obscur'd his contemplation
Under the veil of wildness; which, no doubt,
Grew like the summer grass, fastest by night,
Unseen, yet crescive in his faculty.

Cant.
It must be so; for miracles are ceas'd:
And therefore we must needs admit the means,
How things are perfected.

Ely.
But, my good lord,
How now for mitigation of this bill,
Urg'd by the Commons? doth his Majesty
Incline to it, or no?

Cant.
He seems indifferent;
Or rather swaying more upon our part,
Than cherishing th' exhibiters against us.
For I have made an offer to his Majesty,
Upon our spiritual Convocation;
And in regard of causes now in hand,
Which I have open'd to his Grace at large,
As touching France, to give a greater Sum,
Than ever at one time the Clergy yet
Did to his predecessors part withal.

Ely.
How did this offer seem receiv'd, my lord?

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,
And, generally, to the Crown of France,
Deriv'd from Edward his great grandfather.

Ely.
What was th' impediment, that broke this off?

Cant.
The French Ambassador upon that instant
Crav'd audience; and the hour, I think, is come
To give him hearing. Is it four o' clock?

Ely.
It is.

Cant.
Then go we in to know his embassie:
Which I could with a ready guess declare,
Before the Frenchman speaks a word of it.

Ely.
I'll wait upon you, and I long to hear it. [Exeunt.

SCENE II. Opens to the Presence. Enter King Henry, Gloucester, Bedford, Clarence, Warwick, Westmorland, and Exeter.

K. Henry.
Where is my gracious lord of Canterbury?

Exe.
Not here in presence.

K. Henry.
Send for him, good uncle.

West.
^{4 note}Shall we call in th' ambassador, my Liege?

K. Henry.
Not yet, my cousin; we would be resolv'd,
Before we hear him, of some things of weight,
^{5 note}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. Henry.
Sure, we thank you.
My learned lord, we pray you to proceed;
And justly and religiously unfold,
Why the law Salike, that they have in France,
Or should, or should not, bar us in our claim.
And, God forbid, my dear and faithful lord,
That you should fashion, wrest, or bow your reading;
Or nicely charge your understanding soul
With opening titles miscreate, whose right
Sutes not in native colours with the truth.
For, God doth know, how many now in health
Shall drop their blood, in approbation
Of what your reverence shall incite us to.
Therefore take heed, ^{6 note}how you impawn our person;

How you awake our sleeping sword of war:
We charge you in the name of God, take heed.
For never two such kingdoms did contend
Without much fall of blood; whose guiltless drops
Are every one a woe, a sore complaint,
'Gainst him, whose wrong gives edge unto the swords,
That make such waste in brief mortality.
Under this conjuration, speak, my lord;
For we will hear, note, and believe in heart,
That what you speak is in your conscience washt,
As pure as sin with baptism.

Cant.
Then hear me, gracious Sovereign, and you Peers,
That owe your lives, your faith, and services,
To this imperial throne. ^{7 note}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 Salike land:
Which Salike 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 Salike lies in Germany,
Between the floods of Sala and of Elve:
Where Charles the great, having subdu'd the Saxons,
There left behind and settled certain French:
Who, holding in disdain the German women,
For some dishonest manners of their life,
Establisht then this law; to wit, no female
Should be inheritrix in Salike land:
Which Salike, as I said, 'twixt Elve and Sala,

Is at this day in Germany call'd Meisen.
Thus doth it well appear, the Salike law
Was not devised for the realm of France;
Nor did the French possess the Salike land,
Until four hundred one and twenty years
After defunction of King Pharamond,
(Idly suppos'd, the founder of this law;)
Who died within the year of our redemption
Four hundred twenty six; and Charles the great,
Subdu'd the Saxons, and did seat the French
Beyond the river Sala in the year
Eight hundred five. Besides, their writers say,
King Pepin, which deposed Childerick,
Did as heir general (being descended
Of Blithild, which was daughter to King Clothair)
Make claim and title to the Crown of France.
Hugh Capet also, who usurp'd the Crown
Of Charles the Duke of Lorain, sole heir male
Of the true line and stock of Charles the great,
^{8 note}To fine his title with some shews of truth,
(Though, in pure truth, it was corrupt and naught)
Convey'd himself as heir to th' lady Lingare,
Daughter to Charlemain, who was the son
To Lewis th' Emperor, which was the son
Of Charles the great. Also King ^{9 note}Lewis the ninth,
Who was sole heir to the usurper Capet,
Could not keep quiet in his conscience,
Wearing the Crown of France, 'till satisfy'd
That fair Queen Isabel, his grandmother,
Was lineal of the lady Ermengere,
Daughter to Charles the foresaid Duke of Lorain:
By the which match the line of Charles the great
Was re-united to the Crown of France.
So that, as clear as is the summer's sun,

King Pepin's title, and Hugh Capet's claim,
^{1 note}King Lewis his Possession, all appear
To hold in right and title of the female.
So do the Kings of France until this day:
Howbeit they would hold up this Salike law,
To bar your Highness claiming from the female;
And rather chuse to hide them in a net,
^{2 note}Than amply to imbare their crooked titles,
Usurpt from you and your progenitors.

K. Henry.
May I with right and conscience make this claim?

Cant.
The sin upon my head, dread Sovereign!
For in the book of Numbers it is writ,
^{3 note}When the son dies, let the inheritance
Descend unto the daughter. Gracious lord,
Stand for your own, unwind your bloody flag:
Look back into your mighty ancestors;
Go, my dread lord, to your great grandsire's tomb,
From whom you claim; invoke his warlike spirit,
And your great uncle Edward the black Prince;
Who on the French ground play'd a Tragedy,
Making defeat on the full pow'r of France;
While his most mighty Father, on a hill,
Stood smiling, to behold his Lion's whelp
Forage in blood of French Nobility.
O noble English, that could entertain
With half their forces the full pow'r of France;
And let another half stand laughing by,
All out of work, ^{4 note}and cold for action!

Ely.
Awake remembrance of these valiant dead,
And with your puissant arm renew their feats!
You are their heir, you sit upon their throne;
The blood and courage, that renowned them,
Runs in your veins; and my thrice puissant Liege
Is in the very May-morn of his youth,
Ripe for exploits and mighty enterprises.

Exe.
Your brother Kings and Monarchs of the earth
Do all expect that you should rouze your self;
As did the former Lions of your blood.

West.
^{5 note}

Cant.
In aid whereof, we of the Spiritualty
Will raise your Highness such a mighty sum,
As never did the Clergy at one time
Bring in to any of your ancestors.

K. Henry.
We must not only arm t'invade the French,
But lay down our proportions to defend
Against the Scot, who will make road upon us
With all advantages.

Cant.
They of those Marches, gracious Sovereign,
Shall be a wall sufficient to defend
Our Inland from the pilfering borderers.

K. Henry.
We do not mean the coursing snatchers only,
But fear the main intendment of the Scot,
Who hath been still a giddy neighbour to us:
For, you shall read, that my great grandfather
^{7 note}

Cant.
She hath been then more fear'd than harm'd, my Liege;
^{8 note}

As is the ouzy bottom of the Sea
With sunken wreck and sumless treasuries.

^{1 note}Exe.
But there's a saying very old and true,
^{2 note}If that you will France win, then with Scotland first begin.
For once the Eagle England being in prey,
To her unguarded nest the Weazel, Scot,
Comes sneaking, and so sucks her princely eggs;
Playing the Mouse in absence of the Cat,
To (a) ^note taint, and havock, more than she can eat.

Ely.
It follows then, the Cat must stay at home,
^{3 note}

Cant.
Therefore heaven doth divide
The state of man in divers functions,

Setting endeavour in continual motion:
To which is fixed, as an aim or butt,
Obedience; for so work the honey Bees;
^{4 note}

To one consent, may work contrariously:
As many arrows, loosed several ways,
Come to one mark: as many ways meet in one town;
As many fresh streams meet in one salt sea;
As many lines close in the dial's center;
^{7 note}So may a thousand actions, 't once a-foot,
End in one purpose, and be all well borne
Without defeat. Therefore to France, my Liege.
Divide your happy England into four,
Whereof take you one quarter into France;
And you withal shall make all Gallia shake:
If we, with thrice such powers left at home,
Cannot defend our own doors from the dog,
Let us be worried; and our Nation lose
The name of hardiness and policy.

K. Henry.
Call in the messengers, sent from the Dauphin.
Now are we well resolv'd; and by God's help
And yours, the noble sinews of our power,
France being ours, we'll bend it to our awe,
Or break it all to pieces. There we'll sit,
Ruling in large and ample empery,
O'er France, and all her almost kingly Dukedoms;
Or lay these bones in an unworthy urn,
Tombless, with no remembrance over them.
Either our History shall with full mouth
Speak freely of our acts; or else our grave,
Like Turkish mute, shall have a tongueless mouth;
Not worshipt with a waxen epitaph.

SCENE III. Enter Ambassadors of France.

Now are we well prepar'd to know the pleasure
Of our fair cousin Dauphin; for we hear,
Your greeting is from him, not from the King.

Amb.
May't please your Majesty to give us leave
Freely to render what we have in charge:
Or shall we sparingly shew you far off
The Dauphin's meaning, and our embassie?

K. Henry.
We are no tyrant, but a christian King,
^{8 note}Unto whose grace our passion is as subject,
As are our wretches fetter'd in our prisons:
Therefore, with frank and with uncurbed plainness,
Tell us the Dauphin's mind.

Amb.
Thus then, in few.
Your Highness, lately sending into France,
Did claim some certain Dukedoms in the right
Of your great predecessor, Edward the third.
In answer of which claim, the Prince our master
Says, that you favour too much of your youth;
And bids you be advis'd: there's nought in France,
That can be with a nimble galliard won;
You cannot revel into Dukedoms there:
He therefore sends you (meeter for your spirit)
This tun of treasure; and in lieu of this,
Desires you, let the Dukedoms, that you claim,
Hear no more of you. This the Dauphin speaks.

K. Henry.
What treasure, uncle?

Exe.
Tennis-balls, my Liege.

K. Henry.
We're glad, the Dauphin is so pleasant with us.
His present, and your pains, we thank you for.
When we have match'd our rackets to these balls,
We will in France, by God's grace, play a set,
Shall strike his father's Crown into the hazard.

Tell him, h'ath made a match with such a wrangler,
That all the Courts of France will be disturb'd
With chaces. And we understand him well,
How he comes o'er us with our wilder days;
Not measuring, what use we made of them.
We never valu'd this poor seat of England,
^{9 note}And therefore, living hence, did give our self
To barb'rous licence; as 'tis ever common,
That men are merriest, when they are from home.
But tell the Dauphin, I will keep my State,
Be like a King, and shew my sail of Greatness;
When I do rowze me in my throne of France.
For that I have laid by my Majesty,
And plodded like a man for working days;
But I will rise there with so full a glory,
That I will dazzle all the eyes of France;
Yea, strike the Dauphin blind to look on us.
And tell the pleasant Prince, this mock of his
Hath turn'd his balls to gun-stones; and his soul
Shall stand sore charged for the wasteful vengeance
That shall fly with them: many thousand widows,
Shall this his Mock mock out of their dear husbands;
Mock mothers from their sons, mock castles down:
And some are yet ungotten and unborn,
That shall have cause to curse the Dauphin's scorn.
But this lies all within the will of God,
To whom I do appeal; and in whose name,
Tell you the Dauphin, I am coming on
To venge me as I may; and to put forth
My rightful hand in a well-hallow'd cause.
So get you hence in peace; and tell the Dauphin,
His jest will savour but of shallow wit,
When thousands weep, more than did laugh at it.

Convey them with safe conduct. Fare ye well. [Exeunt Ambassadors.

Exe.
This was a merry message.

K. Henry.
We hope to make the sender blush at it:
Therefore, my lords, omit no happy hour,
That may give furth'rance to our expedition;
For we have now no thoughts in us but France,
Save those to God, that run before our business.
Therefore, let our proportions for these wars
Be soon collected, and all things thought upon,
That may with reasonable swiftness add
More feathers to our wings: for, God before,
We'll chide this Dauphin at his father's door.
Therefore let every man now task his thought,
That this fair action may on foot be brought. [Exeunt. 1 ^noteSCENE IV.

Before Quickly's House in Eastcheap. Enter Corporal Nim, and Lieutenant Bardolph.

Bardolph.

Well met, Corporal Nim.

Nim.

Good-morrow, Lieutenant Bardolph.

Bard.

What, are Ancient Pistol and you friends yet?

Nim.

For my part, I care not: I say little; but when time shall serve, there shall be. [^{2 note}smiles] But that

shall be as it may. I dare not fight, but I will wink and hold out mine iron; it is a simple one; but what though? it will toast cheese, and it will endure cold as another man's sword will; and there's an end.

Bard.

I will bestow a breakfast to make you friends, and we'll be all three sworn brothers to France: let it be so, good corporal Nim.

Nim.

Faith, I will live so long as I may, that's the certain of it; and when I cannot live any longer, I will do as I may; that is my rest, that is the rendezvous of it.

Bard.

It is certain, corporal, that he is married to Nel Quickly; and certainly she did you wrong, for you were troth-plight to her.

Nim.

I cannot tell, things must be as they may; men may sleep, and they may have their throats about them at that time; and some say, knives have edges: it must be as it may; tho' patience be a tir'd (a) ^note Dame, yet she will plod; there must be conclusions; well, I cannot tell,—