We here create you Earl of Shrewsbury; And in our coronation take your place. [Flourish. Exeunt all but VERNON and BASSET. Ver. Now, sir, to you, that were so hot at sea, Disgracing of these colours 3 that I wear In honour of my noble Lord of York, Darest thou maintain the former words thou spakest? dare patronage The envious barking of your saucy tongue Ver. Sirrah, thy lord I honour as he is. [Strikes him. 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. 8 That is, the badge of a rose. [Exeunt. 4 By the ancient law, fighting in the King's palace or before the King's judges was punished with death. And still malicious striking in the King's palace, whereby blood is drawn, is punishable by perpetual imprisonment, and fine at the King's pleasure, and also with loss of the offender's right hand. ACT IV. SCENE I. Paris. A Room of State in the Palace. Enter King HENRY, GLOSTER, EXETER, YORK, SUFFOLK, SOMERSET, WINCHESTER, WARWICK, TALBOT, the Governor of Paris, and others. Glo. Lord Bishop, set the crown upon his head. Win. God save King Henry, of that name the sixth ! [Governor kneels. 1 That you elect no other king but him; [Exeunt Governor and his Train. 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 th' Duke of Burgundy. [Presenting it. 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,· Which I have done, because unworthily Thou wast installed in that high degree. — [Plucks it off. 1 Pretend and pretence were often used in the sense of intend or purpose. See vol. i. page 196, note 4. 2 The crowning of King Henry at Paris took place December 17, 1431. Pardon me, princely Henry, and the rest : When but in all I was six thousand strong, Glo. To say the truth, this fact was infamous, Much more a knight, a captain, and a leader. Tal. When first this order was ordain'd, my lords, And should if I were worthy to be judge Be quite degraded, like a hedge-born swain 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. And now, my Lord Protector, view the letter [Exit FASTOLFE. 3 Most extremes is greatest extremities. More and most were often used for greater and greatest. Sent from our uncle Duke of Burgundy. Glo. What means his Grace, that he hath changed his style? [Viewing the superscription. No more but, plain and bluntly, To the King? Hath he forgot he is his sovereign? Or doth this churlish superscription What's here? [Reads.] I have, upon especial cause,— Of such as your oppression feeds upon, Forsaken your pernicious faction, And join'd with Charles, the rightful King of France. That in alliance, amity, and oaths, There should be found such false dissembling guile? My lord, how say you? are you not content? Tal. Content, my liege! yes, but that I'm prevented,4 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. Ver. Grant me the combat, gracious sovereign! 4 Prevented in its old sense of anticipated or forestalled. [Exit. 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. 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. Bas. And I with him; for he hath done me wrong. King. What is that wrong whereof you both complain? First let me know, and then I'll answer you. Bas. Crossing the sea from England into France, Ver. And that is my petition, noble lord: Yet know, my lord, I was provoked by him; York. Will not this malice, Somerset, be left? 5 Repugn for resist or fight against, like the Latin repugno. |