SCENE IV. - Paris. A Room in the Palace. Enter King HENRY, GLOSTER, WINCHESTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, SOMERSET, WARWICK, EXETER, VERNON, BASSET, &c. To them TALBOT and some of his Officers. Hearing of your arrival in this realm, I have awhile given truce unto my wars, To do my duty to my sovereign: In sign whereof, this arm that hath reclaim'd Twelve cities, and seven walled towns of strength, First to my God, and next unto your Grace. King. Is this Lord Talbot, uncle Gloucester, [Kneeling. That hath so long been resident in France? Therefore stand up; and, for these good deserts, 1 Malone remarks that "Henry was but nine months old when his father died, and never saw him." 2 Resolved, again, for assured or convinced. See page 13, note 9. 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? Ver. Sirrah, thy lord I honour as he is. [Strikes him. Bas. Villain, thou know'st the law of arms is such, 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. That you elect no other king but him; This shall ye do, so help you righteous God! 2 [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 ! [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 : Glo. To say the truth, this fact was infamous, And ill beseeming any common man, Much more a knight, a captain, and a leader. Tal. When first this order was ordain'd, my lords, Knights of the Garter were of noble birth, Such as were grown to credit by the wars; Profaning this most honourable order, And should - if I were worthy to be judge — Be quite degraded, like a hedge-born swain That doth presume to boast of gentle blood. 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. 8 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. O monstrous treachery! can this be so, 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. |