Upon our spiritual convocation; And in regard of causes now in hand, Which I have open'd to his grace at large, Did to his predecessors part withal. Ely. How did this offer seem receiv'd, my lord? Of his true titles to some certain dukedoms; Ely. What was the impediment that broke this off? Cant. The French ambassador, upon that instant, Crav'd audience: and the hour, I think, is come, To give him hearing: Is it four o'clock ? Ely. It is. Cant. Then go we in, to know his embassy; Which I could, with a ready guess, declare, Before the Frenchman speak a word of it. 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, WESTMORELAND, and Attendants, K. Hen. Where is my gracious lord of Canterbury? Exe. Not here in presence. 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, Before we hear him, of some things of weight, That task our thoughts, concerning us and France. Enter the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Bishop of Ely. Cant. God, and his angels, guard your sacred throne, And make you long become it! K. Hen. Sure, we thank you. My learned lord, we pray you to proceed; And justly and religiously unfold, Why the law Salique, that they have in France, And God forbid, my dear and faithful lord, With opening titles miscreate, whose right Of what your reverence shall incite us to: 9 Spurious. 'Gainst him, whose wrongs give edge unto the swords That make such waste in brief mortality. Under this conjuration, speak, my lord: And we will hear, note, and believe in heart, That what you speak is in your conscience wash'd As pure as sin with baptism. Cant. Then hear me, gracious sovereign, and you peers, That owe your lives, your faith, and services, To make against your highness' claim to France, No woman shall succeed in Salique land: Which Salique land the French unjustly gloze,' 1 Explain. Until four hundred one and twenty years Eight hundred five. Besides, their writers say, Of Blithild, which was daughter to king Clothair, To Lewis the emperor, and Lewis the son Was lineal of the lady Ermengare, Daughter to Charles the foresaid duke of Lorain: By the which marriage, the line of Charles the great So that, as clear as is the summer's sun, 2 Make showy or specious. 3 Derived his title. King Lewis his satisfaction, all appear To hold in right and title of the female: K. Hen. May I, with right and conscience, make this claim? Cant. The sin upon my head, dread sovereign! For in the book of Numbers is it writ,— When the son dies, let the inheritance Descend unto the daughter. Gracious lord, Stand for your own; unwind your bloody flag-; Look back unto your mighty ancestors: Go, my dread lord, to your great grandsire's tomb, From whom you claim; invoke his warlike spirit, And your great uncle's, Edward the black prince; Who on the French ground play'd a tragedy, Making defeat on the full power of France; Whiles his most mighty father on a hill Stood smiling; to behold his lion's whelp Forage in blood of French nobility.5 O noble English, that could entertain With half their forces the full pride of France; Ely. Awake remembrance of these valiant dead, 4 Lay open. |