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  • Title: The Famous Victories of Henry the Fifth (Quarto, 1598)
  • Editors: Karen Sawyer Marsalek, Mathew Martin
  • Coordinating editor: Janelle Jenstad

  • Copyright Queen's Men Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Anonymous
    Editors: Karen Sawyer Marsalek, Mathew Martin
    Peer Reviewed

    The Famous Victories of Henry the Fifth (Quarto, 1598)

    1060Enter the King, Prince Dolphin, and Lord
    high Constable of France.
    King. Now my Lord high Constable,
    What say you to our Embassage into England?
    Const. And it please your Maiestie, I can say nothing,
    1065Until my Lords Embassadors be come home,
    But yet me thinkes your grace hath done well,
    To get your men in so good a readinesse
    E For
    The famous victories
    For feare of the worst.
    King. I my Lord we haue some in a readinesse,
    1070But if the King of England make against vs,
    We must haue thrice so many moe.
    Dolphin. Tut my Lord, although the King of England
    Be yoong and wilde headed, yet neuer thinke he will be so
    Unwise to make battell against the mightie King of
    1075France.
    King. Oh my sonne, although the King of England be
    Yoong and wilde headed, yet neuer thinke but he is rulde
    By his wise Councellors.
    Enter Archbishop of Burges.
    1080Archb. God saue the life of my soueraign lord the king.
    King. Now my good Lord Archbishop of Burges,
    What newes from our brother the English King?
    Archb. And please your Maiestie,
    He is so far from your expectation,
    1085That nothing wil serue him but the Crowne
    And kingdome it selfe, besides, he bad me haste quickly,
    Least he be there before me, and so far as I heare,
    He hath kept promise, for they say, he is alreadie landed
    At Kidcocks in Normandie, vpon the Riuer of Sene,
    1090And laid his siege to the Garrison Towne of Harflew.
    King. You haue made great haste in the meane time,
    Haue you not?
    Dolphin. I pray you my Lord, how did the King of
    England take my presents?
    1095Archb. Truly my Lord, in verie ill part,
    For these your balles of leather,
    He will tosse you balles of brasse and yron:
    Trust me my Lord, I was verie affraide of him,
    He is such a hautie and high minded Prince,
    1100He is as fierce as a Lyon.
    Con. Tush, we wil make him as tame as a Lambe,
    I warrant you.
    Enters
    of Henry the fifth.
    Enters a Messenger.
    Messen. God saue the mightie King of France
    1105 King. Now Messenger, what newes?
    Messen. And it please your Maiestie,
    I come from your poore distressed Towne of Harflew,
    Which is so beset on euery side,
    If your Maiestie do not send present aide,
    1110The Towne will be yeelded to the English King.
    King. Come my Lords, come, shall we stand still
    Till our Country be spoyled vnder our noses?
    My Lords, let the Normanes, Brabants, Pickardies,
    And Danes, be sent for with all speede,
    1115And you my Lord high Constable, I make Generall
    Ouer all my whole Armie.
    Monsieur le Colle, Maister of the Boas,
    Signior Deuens, and all the rest, at your appointment.
    Dolp. I trust your Maiestie wil bestow,
    1120Some part of the battell on me,
    I hope not to present any otherwise then well.
    King. I tell thee my sonne,
    Although I should get the victory, and thou lose thy life,
    I should thinke my selfe quite conquered,
    1125And the English men to haue the victorie.
    Dol Why my Lord and father,
    I would haue the pettie king of England to know,
    That I dare encounter him in any ground of the world.
    King. I know well my sonne,
    1130But at this time I will haue it thus:
    Therefore come away.
    Exeunt omnes.