Edward III

what’s this Edward but a belly-god,
A tender and lascivious wantonness,
That th’ other day was almost dead for love?
And what, I pray you, is his goodly guard?
Such as, but scant them of their chines of beef
And take away their downy feather-beds,
And, presently, they are as resty-stiff
As ’twere a many over-ridden jades.
Then, Frenchmen, scorn that such should be your lords,
And rather bind ye them in captive bands. Frenchmen Vive le Roy! God save King John of France! King John

Now on this plain of Cressy spread yourselves⁠—
And, Edward, when thou dar’st, begin the fight. Exeunt King John, Charles, Philip, Lorraine, Bohemia, and Forces.

King Edward

We presently will meet thee, John of France:⁠—
And, English lords, let us resolve to-day
Either to clear us of that scandalous crime
Or be entombed in our innocence.⁠—
And, Ned, because this battle is the first
That ever yet thou fought’st in pitched field,
As ancient custom is of Martialists,
To dub thee with the type of chivalry,
In solemn manner we will give thee arms:⁠—
Come, therefore, heralds, orderly bring forth
A strong attirement for the prince my son.⁠—

Flourish. Enter four Heralds, bringing a coat-armour, a helmet, a lance, and a shield: first Herald delivers the armour to King Edward, who puts it on his Son.

Edward Plantagenet, in the name of God,
As with this armour I impale thy breast,
So be thy noble unrelenting heart
Wall’d in with flint of matchless fortitude
That never base affections enter there;
Fight and be valiant, conquer where thou com’st!⁠—
Now follow, lords, and do him honour too.

Derby

Receiving the helmet from the second Herald.

Edward Plantagenet, Prince of Wales,
As I do set this helmet on thy head,
Wherewith the chamber of thy brain is fenc’d,
So may thy temples, with Bellona’s hand,
Be still adorn’d with laurel victory;
Fight and be valiant, conquer where thou com’st!

Audley

Receiving the lance from the third Herald.

Edward Plantagenet, Prince of Wales,
Receive this lance into thy manly hand;
Use it in fashion of a brazen pen
To draw forth bloody stratagems in France
And print thy valiant deeds in honour’s book;
Fight and be valiant, conquer where thou com’st!

Artois

Receiving the shield from the fourth Herald.

Edward Plantagenet, Prince of Wales,
Hold, take this target, wear it on thy arm;
And may the view thereof, like Perseus’ shield,
Astonish and transform thy gazing foes
To senseless images of meagre death;
Fight and be valiant, conquer where thou com’st!

King Edward

Now wants there nought but knighthood; which deferr’d
We leave till thou hast won it in the field.

Prince Edward

My gracious father, and ye forward peers,
This honour, you have done me, animates
And cheers my green yet-scarce-appearing strength
With comfortable good-presaging signs,
No otherwise than did old Jacob’s words
When as he breath’d his blessings on his sons.
These hallow’d gifts of yours when I profane,
Or use them not to glory of my God,
To patronage the fatherless and poor,
Or for the benefit of England’s peace,
Be numb my joints! wax feeble both mine arms!
Wither my heart! that, like a sapless tree,
I may remain the map of infamy.

King Edward

Then thus our steeled battles shall be rang’d;⁠—
The leading of the vaward, Ned, is thine;
To dignify whose lusty spirit the more,
We temper it with Audley’s gravity;
That, courage and experience join’d in one,
Your manage may be second unto none:
For the main battles, I will guide myself;
And, Derby, in the rearward march behind.
That orderly dispos’d and set in ’ray,
Let us to horse; and God grant us the day! Exeunt.

Scene IV

The Same.

	Alarums, as of a battle joined. Enter a many Frenchmen flying; Prince, and English, pursuing; and exeunt: then enter King John and Lorraine.
King John	O Lorraine, say, what mean our men to fly? Our number is far greater than our foes.
Lorraine	The garrison of Genoa’s, my lord, That came from Paris, weary with their march, Grudging to be so4 suddenly employ’d, No sooner in the fore-front took their place, But, straight retiring, so dismay’d the rest As likewise they betook themselves to flight; In which, for haste to make a safe escape, More in the clust’ring throng are press’d to death, Than by the enemy, a thousand-fold.
King John	O hapless fortune! Let us yet assay If we can counsel some of them to stay. Exeunt.

Scene V5

The Same.

	Enter King Edward and Audley.
King Edward	Lord Audley, whiles our son is in the chase, Withdraw your powers unto this little hill, And here a season let us breathe ourselves.
Audley	I will, my lord. Exit. Retreat.
King Edward	Just-dooming Heaven, whose secret providence To our gross judgement is inscrutable, How are we bound to praise thy wondrous works, That hast this day giv’n way unto the right And made the wicked stumble at themselves!
	Enter Artois, hastily.
Artois	Rescue, King Edward! rescue for thy son!
King Edward	Rescue, Artois? what, is he prisoner? Or by violence fell beside his horse?
Artois	Neither, my lord; but narrowly beset With turning Frenchmen whom he did pursue, As ’tis impossible that he should scape Except your highness presently descend.
King Edward	Tut, let him fight; we gave him arms to-day, And he is labouring for a knighthood, man.
	Enter Derby, hastily.
Derby	The prince, my lord, the prince! O, succour him; He’s close encompass’d with a world of odds!
King Edward	Then will he win a world of honour too If he by valour can redeem him thence: If not, what remedy? we have more sons Than one, to comfort our declining age.
	Enter Audley, hastily.
	Renowned Edward, give me leave, I pray, To lead my soldiers where I may relieve Your grace’s son, in danger to be slain. The snares of French, like emmets on a bank, Muster about him; whilest he, lion-like, Entangled in the net of their assaults, Franticly rends and bites the woven toil: But all in vain, he cannot free himself.
King Edward	Audley, content; I will not have a man, On pain of death, sent forth to succour him: This is the day ordain’d by destiny To season his courage with those grievous thoughts, That, if he breathe out Nestor’s years on earth, Will make him savour still of this exploit.
Derby	Ah, but