Henry V – Act 4 Scene 8

WILLIAMS

I warrant it is to knight you, captain.

I’m sure it is to grant your knighthood, captain.

FLUELLEN

God's will and his pleasure, captain, I beseech you

At God’s will and pleasure, captain, I urge you

now, come apace to the king: there is more good toward

to come quickly to the king: there is more good fortune

you peradventure than is in your knowledge to dream of.

coming your way than you could ever dream of.

WILLIAMS

Sir, know you this glove?

Sir, do you recognise this glove?

FLUELLEN

Know the glove! I know the glove is glove.

Recognise the glove! I know this glove is a glove.

WILLIAMS

I know this; and thus I challenge it.

Well, I recognise it, hence I’m challenging you to a fight.

FLUELLEN

'Sblood! An arrant traitor as any is in the

By God’s blood! This man’s a traitor more than anyone

universal world, or in France, or in England!

in the entire world, or in France, or in England!

GOWER

How now, sir! You villain!

What are you doing, you villain!

WILLIAMS

Do you think I'll be forsworn?

Do you think I’d break an oath?

FLUELLEN

Stand away, Captain Gower; I will give treason his

Stand aside, Captain Gower; I’ll respond to this treasonous

payment into ploughs, I warrant you.

action with blows in return, I promise you.

WILLIAMS

I am no traitor.

I’m not a traitor.

FLUELLEN

That's a lie in thy throat. I charge you in his

You are speaking a lie. I order you in the

majesty's name, apprehend him: he's a friend of the

name of the king, arrest him: he’s a friend of the

Duke Alencon's.

Duke of Alencon.

WARWICK

How now, how now! What's the matter?

Hang on, hang on! What’s going on here?

FLUELLEN

My Lord of Warwick, here is – praised be God for it! –

My Lord Warwick, here is – praise to God we’ve discovered it! –

a most contagious treason come to light, look

evidence of a most infectious treason, you

you, as you shall desire in a summer's day. Here is

see, as clear as a summer’s day. Here is

his majesty.

the king.

KING HENRY V

How now! What's the matter?

Now then! What’s the matter?

FLUELLEN

My liege, here is a villain and a traitor, that,

My lord, here is a villain and traitor, who,

look your grace, has struck the glove which your

you see my lord, has reacted in anger at the glove which your

majesty is take out of the helmet of Alencon.

majesty has taken out of Alencon’s helmet.

WILLIAMS

My liege, this was my glove; here is the fellow of

My lord, this was my glove; and here’s the corresponding

it; and he that I gave it to in change promised to

glove I swapped with; and the man I gave it to promised to

wear it in his cap: I promised to strike him, if he

wear it in his cap. I promised to hit him, if he

did: I met this man with my glove in his cap, and I

did: I met this man with my glove in his cap, and I

have been as good as my word.

have been true to my word.

FLUELLEN

Your majesty hear now, saving your majesty's

Your majesty, let me tell you, in defence of your majesty’s

manhood, what an arrant, rascally, beggarly, lousy

integrity, what a blatant rascal, beggar and lousy

knave it is: I hope your majesty is pear me

rogue this man is. I hope your majesty will bear

testimony and witness, and will avouchment, that

testimony for me, and will agree, that

this is the glove of Alencon, that your majesty is

this is the glove of Alencon that your majesty

give me; in your conscience, now?

gave me. Do you agree?

KING HENRY V

Give me thy glove, soldier: look, here is the

Give me your glove, soldier: look, here is the

fellow of it.

other one of the pair.

'Twas I, indeed, thou promised'st to strike;

For it was me you promised you would hit;

And thou hast given me most bitter terms.

And you described me in appalling words.

FLUELLEN

An please your majesty, let his neck answer for it,

If it pleases your majesty, let’s hang him by the neck for this,

if there is any martial law in the world.

if there are any court-martial laws in the world.

KING HENRY V

How canst thou make me satisfaction?

What can you say to satisfy me, soldier?

WILLIAMS

All offences, my lord, come from the heart: never

My lord, all offences come from the heart, but

came any from mine that might offend your majesty.

my offences never meant to offend your majesty.

KING HENRY V

It was ourself thou didst abuse.

It was me you offended.

WILLIAMS

Your majesty came not like yourself: you appeared to

Your majesty wasn’t dressed like you are now: you seemed

me but as a common man; witness the night, your

to be a common man to me. Recall that night, what you

garments, your lowliness; and what your highness

were wearing, your common appearance; and

suffered under that shape, I beseech you take it for

the offence you suffered like that, I beg that you take it

your own fault and not mine: for had you been as I

as your fault, not mine. For had you been the person I

took you for, I made no offence; therefore, I

thought you were, I would have caused no offence; therefore, I

beseech your highness, pardon me.

beg your highness to forgive me.

KING HENRY V

Here, uncle Exeter, fill this glove with crowns,

Here, Exeter, fill up this glove with gold coins,

And give it to this fellow. Keep it, fellow;

And give it to this man. You keep it, mate;

And wear it for an honour in thy cap

And wear it as a token in your cap

Till I do challenge it. Give him the crowns:

Until I challenge you again. Give him coins:

And, captain, you must needs be friends with him.

And, captain, you must now be friends with him.

FLUELLEN

By this day and this light, the fellow has mettle

In the light of day, this brave man has

enough in his belly. Hold, there is twelve pence

fire in his belly. So, here is twelve pence

for you; and I pray you to serve Got, and keep you

for you; and I pray that you serve God, and keep out

out of prawls, and prabbles' and quarrels, and

of brawls and squabbles and quarrels and

dissensions, and, I warrant you, it is the better for you.

disagreements, and I assure you, you’ll be better for it.

WILLIAMS

I will none of your money.

I won’t take any of your money.

FLUELLEN

It is with a good will; I can tell you, it will

I offer it in good faith; I tell you it’s enough

serve you to mend your shoes: come, wherefore should

to mend your shoes. Come on, why are

you be so pashful? Your shoes is not so good: 'tis

you being so bashful? Your shoes aren’t in good shape. It’s

a good silling, I warrant you, or I will change it.

a real shilling, I assure you; if not, I will change it.

KING HENRY V

Now, herald, are the dead numbered?

Now, herald, have you counted up the dead?

HERALD

Here is the number of the slaughtered French.

Here is how many Frenchmen have been killed.

KING HENRY V

What prisoners of good sort are taken, uncle?

What noble prisoners have we captured, uncle?

EXETER

Charles Duke of Orleans, nephew to the king;

Charles, Duke of Orleans, nephew to the king;

John Duke of Bourbon, and Lord Bouciqualt:

John Duke of Bourbon, and Lord Bouciqualt.

Of other lords and barons, knights and squires,

Of all the other noblemen and lords,

Full fifteen hundred, besides common men.

Some fifteen hundred, not including plebs.

KING HENRY V

This note doth tell me of ten thousand French

This note suggests ten thousand Frenchmen lay

That in the field lie slain: of princes, in this number,

Slain in the battlefield: of which, the princes

And nobles bearing banners, there lie dead

And standard-bearing noblemen who’ve died

One hundred twenty six: added to these,

Are one hundred and twenty-six. As well,

Of knights, esquires, and gallant gentlemen,

The knights, esquires, and gallant gentlemen

Eight thousand and four hundred; of the which,

Come to eight thousand, four hundred; of which,

Five hundred were but yesterday dubbed knights:

Five hundred only yesterday were knighted.

So that, in these ten thousand they have lost,

So, of ten thousand Frenchmen who have died,

There are but sixteen hundred mercenaries;

There are just sixteen hundred hired soldiers;

The rest are princes, barons, lords, knights, squires,

The rest are princes, barons, lords, knights, squires,

And gentlemen of blood and quality.

And well-respected men of noble blood.

The names of those their nobles that lie dead:

The names of all their noblemen who’ve died:

Charles Delabreth, high constable of France;

Charles Delabreth, high constable of France;

Jaques of Chatillon, admiral of France;

Jaques of Chatillon, admiral of France;

The master of the cross-bows, Lord Rambures;

The master of the crossbows, Lord Rambures;

Great Master of France, the brave Sir Guichard Dolphin,

Great Master of France, the brave Sir Guichard Dolphin,

John Duke of Alencon, Anthony Duke of Brabant,

John Duke of Alencon, Anthony Duke of Brabant,

The brother of the Duke of Burgundy,

The brother of the Duke of Burgundy,

And Edward Duke of Bar: of lusty earls,

And Edward Duke of Bar. Of valiant earls,

Grandpre and Roussi, Fauconberg and Foix,

Grandpre and Roussi, Fauconberg and Foix,

Beaumont and Marle, Vaudemont and Lestrale.

Beaumont and Marle, Vaudemont and Lestrale.

Here was a royal fellowship of death!

That makes a royal band-of-brothers slaughtered!

Where is the number of our English dead?

What are the numbers for our English dead?

[HERALD SHEWS HIM ANOTHER PAPER]

Edward the Duke of York, the Earl of Suffolk,

Edward, Duke of York, the Earl of Suffolk,

Sir Richard Ketly, Davy Gam, esquire:

Sir Richard Ketly, Davy Gam, esquire.

None else of name; and of all other men

No other nobleman; and of the others,

But five and twenty. O God, thy arm was here;

Just twenty-five. Oh God, you did this work;

And not to us, but to thy arm alone,

It wasn’t us, but you alone who did this,

Ascribe we all! When, without stratagem,

We all agree! When, without trickery,

But in plain shock and even play of battle,

But in a battle balanced on both sides,

Was ever known so great and little loss

Was ever such a large and little loss known

On one part and on the other? Take it, God,

From one side to the other? Take it, God,

For it is none but thine!

Because this victory’s yours alone.

EXETER

'Tis wonderful!

That’s joyful!

KING HENRY V

Come, go we in procession to the village.

Come, we’ll go in procession to the village.

And be it death proclaimed through our host

And state our soldiers will be put to death

To boast of this or take the praise from God

If they boast of it, or take praise from God

Which is his only.

Who did this for us.

FLUELLEN

Is it not lawful, an please your majesty, to tell

Is it not allowed, if it pleases your majesty, to state

how many is killed?

how many have been killed?

KING HENRY V

Yes, captain; but with this acknowledgement,

Yes, captain, but when do we so state

That God fought for us.

That God fought for us.

FLUELLEN

Yes, my conscience, he did us great good.

Yes, I know he did great things for us.

KING HENRY V

Do we all holy rites;

Now let’s perform the holy rites;

Let there be sung 'Non nobis' and 'Te Deum;'

Ensure we sing ‘Non nobis’ and ‘Te Deum;’

The dead with charity enclosed in clay:

And bury those who died with dignity.

And then to Calais; and to England then:

Then on to Calais, where we’ll England see;

Where ne'er from France arrived more happy men.

No men have come from France with so much glee.