The severals, and unhidden passages, Of his true titles to some certain dukedoms; Ely. What was the impediment that broke this off? Ely. It is. 90 95 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, K. Hen. Where is my gracious Lord of Canterbury? 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, 5 Before we hear him, of some things of weight, Enter ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY and BISHOP OF ELY. Sure, we thank you. K. Hen. Why the law Salique, that they have in France, 10 That you should fashion, wrest, or bow your reading, 15 Or nicely charge your understanding soul 'Gainst him whose wrongs give edge unto the swords For we will hear, note, and believe in heart, Cant. Then hear me, gracious sovereign-and you peers, That owe yourselves, your lives, and services, To this imperial throne.-There is no bar To make against your highness' claim to France, Between the floods of Sala and of Elbe : Where Charles the Great, having subdued the Saxons, There left behind and settled certain French; 50 Should be inheritrix in Salique land; Who died within the year of our redemption Four hundred twenty-six ; and Charles the Great Eight hundred five. Besides, their writers say, Of Blithild, which was daughter to King Clothair, Daughter to Charlemain, who was the son Of Charles the Great. Also King Lewis the Tenth, By the which marriage, the line of Charles the Great 85 So that, as clear as is the summer's sun, King Pepin's title, and Hugh Capet's claim, To hold in right and title of the female ; Howbeit they would hold up this Salique law, Than amply to imbar their crooked titles K. Hen. May I, with right and conscience, make this claim? For in the book of Numbers is it writ— When the man dies, let the inheritance O noble English, that could entertain 90 35 95 100 105 110 With half their forces the full pride of France; All out of work, and cold for action! 115 Ely. Awake remembrance of these valiant dead, And with your puissant arm renew their feats: 120 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 rouse yourself, As did the former lions of your blood. 125 West. They know your grace hath cause, and means, and might: So hath your highness; never king of England Had nobles richer, and more loyal subjects; Whose hearts have left their bodies here in England, And lie pavilion'd in the fields of France. 130 Cant. O, let their bodies follow, my dear liege, With blood, and sword, and fire, to win your right: Will raise your highness such a mighty sum, As never did the clergy at one time 135 Bring in to any of your ancestors. K. Hen. We must not only arm to invade the French, But lay down our proportions to defend Against the Scot, who will make road upon us With all advantages. 140 Cant. They of those marches, gracious sovereign, Shall be a wall sufficient to defend Our inland from the pilfering borderers. K. Hen. We do not mean the coursing snatchers only, But fear the main intendment of the Scot, 145 Who hath been still a giddy neighbour to us; But that the Scot on his unfurnish'd kingdom 150 Girding with grievous siege castles and towns; That England, being empty of defence, Hath shook and trembled at the ill neighbourhood. 155 Cant. She hath been then more fear'd than harm'd, my liege : For hear her but exampled by herself— When all her chivalry hath been in France, And she a mourning widow of her nobles, |