The severals, and unhidden passages, 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 work 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? Ere. 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 re solv'd, Before we hear him, of some things of weight, 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, Of what your reverence shall incite us to: '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, • Spurious. In terram Salicam mulieres nè succedant, Where Charles the great, having subdued the Saxons, Which Salique, as I said, 'twixt Elbe and Sala, Eight hundred five. Besides, their writers say, Of Blithild, which was daughter to king Clothair, • Explain. + Make showy or specious. Derived his title. Daughter to Charlemain, who was the son Of Charles the great. Also king Lewis the tenth, Daughter to Charles the foresaid duke of Lorain : So that, as clear as is the summer's sun, 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, Go, my dread lord, to your great grandsire's tomb, * Lay open. VOL. IV. † At the battle of Cressy. T With half their forces the full pride of France; All out of work, and cold for action! Ely. Awake remembrance of these valiant dead, And with your puissant arm renew their feats: You are their heir, you sit upon their throne; The blood and courage, that renowned them, Runs in your veins; and my thrice-puissant liege Is in the very May-morn of his youth, Ripe for exploits and mighty enterprises. Ere. Your brother kings and monarchs of the earth Do all expect that you should rouse yourself, As did the former lions of your blood. West. They know, your grace hath cause, and means, and might; So hath your highness; never king of England Cant. O, let their bodies follow, my dear liege, With blood, and sword, and fire, to win your right: In aid whereof, we of the spiritualty Will raise your highness such a mighty sum, As never did the clergy at one time 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 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, Who hath been still a giddy neighbour to us; The borders of England and Scotland. + General disposition. |