Henry V

Jeshu, I am your majesty’s countryman, I care not who know it; I will confess it to all the ’orld: I need not be ashamed of your majesty, praised be God, so long as your majesty is an honest man. King Henry

God keep me so! Our heralds go with him:
Bring me just notice of the numbers dead
On both our parts. Call yonder fellow hither. Points to Williams. Exeunt Heralds with Montjoy.

Exeter Soldier, you must come to the king. King Henry Soldier, why wearest thou that glove in thy cap? Williams An’t please your majesty, ’tis the gage of one that I should fight withal, if he be alive. King Henry An Englishman? Williams An’t please your majesty, a rascal that swaggered with me last night; who, if alive and ever dare to challenge this glove, I have sworn to take him a box o’ th’ ear: or if I can see my glove in his cap, which he swore, as he was a soldier, he would wear if alive, I will strike it out soundly. King Henry What think you, Captain Fluellen? is it fit this soldier keep his oath? Fluellen He is a craven and a villain else, an’t please your majesty, in my conscience. King Henry It may be his enemy is a gentlemen of great sort, quite from the answer of his degree. Fluellen Though he be as good a gentleman as the devil is, as Lucifier and Belzebub himself, it is necessary, look your grace, that he keep his vow and his oath: if he be perjured, see you now, his reputation is as arrant a villain and a Jacksauce, as ever his black shoe trod upon God’s ground and his earth, in my conscience, la! King Henry Then keep thy vow, sirrah, when thou meetest the fellow. Williams So I will, my liege, as I live. King Henry Who servest thou under? Williams Under Captain Gower, my liege. Fluellen Gower is a good captain, and is good knowledge and literatured in the wars. King Henry Call him hither to me, soldier. Williams I will, my liege. Exit. King Henry Here, Fluellen; wear thou this favour for me and stick it in thy cap: when Alençon and myself were down together, I plucked this glove from his helm: if any man challenge this, he is a friend to Alençon, and an enemy to our person; if thou encounter any such, apprehend him, an thou dost me love. Fluellen Your grace doo’s me as great honours as can be desired in the hearts of his subjects: I would fain see the man, that has but two legs, that shall find himself aggriefed at this glove; that is all; but I would fain see it once, an please God of his grace that I might see. King Henry Knowest thou Gower? Fluellen He is my dear friend, an please you. King Henry Pray thee, go seek him, and bring him to my tent. Fluellen I will fetch him. Exit. King Henry

My Lord of Warwick, and my brother Gloucester,
Follow Fluellen closely at the heels:
The glove which I have given him for a favour
May haply purchase him a box o’ th’ ear;
It is the soldier’s; I by bargain should
Wear it myself. Follow, good cousin Warwick:
If that the soldier strike him, as I judge
By his blunt bearing he will keep his word,
Some sudden mischief may arise of it;
For I do know Fluellen valiant
And, touch’d with choler, hot as gunpowder,
And quickly will return an injury:
Follow, and see there be no harm between them.
Go you with me, uncle of Exeter. Exeunt.

Scene VIII

Before King Henry’s pavilion.

	Enter Gower and Williams.
Williams	I warrant it is to knight you, captain.
	Enter Fluellen.
Fluellen	God’s will and his pleasure, captain, I beseech you now, come apace to the King. There is more good toward you peradventure than is in your knowledge to dream of.
Williams	Sir, know you this glove?
Fluellen	Know the glove! I know the glove is a glove.
Williams	I know this; and thus I challenge it. Strikes him.
Fluellen	’Sblood! an arrant traitor as any is in the universal world, or in France, or in England!
Gower	How now, sir! you villain!
Williams	Do you think I’ll be forsworn?
Fluellen	Stand away, Captain Gower; I will give treason his payment into plows, I warrant you.
Williams	I am no traitor.
Fluellen	That’s a lie in thy throat. I charge you in his majesty’s name, apprehend him: he’s a friend of the Duke Alençon’s.
	Enter Warwick and Gloucester.
Warwick	How now, how now! what’s the matter?
Fluellen	My lord of Warwick, here is⁠—praised be God for it!⁠—a most contagious treason come to light, look you, as you shall desire in a summer’s day. Here is his majesty.
	Enter King Henry and Exeter.
King Henry	How now! what’s the matter?
Fluellen	My liege, here is a villain and a traitor, that, look your grace, has struck the glove which your majesty is take out of the helmet of Alençon.
Williams	My liege, this was my glove; here is the fellow of it; and he that I gave it to in change promised to wear it in his cap: I promised to strike him, if he did: I met this man with my glove in his cap, and I have been as good as my word.
Fluellen	Your majesty hear now, saving your majesty’s manhood, what an arrant, rascally, beggarly, lousy knave it is: I hope your majesty is pear me testimony and witness, and will avouchment, that this is the glove of Alençon, that your majesty is give me; in your conscience, now.
King Henry	Give me thy glove, soldier: look, here is the fellow of it. ’Twas I, indeed, thou promised’st to strike; And thou hast given me most bitter terms.
Fluellen	An it please your majesty, let his neck answer for it, if there is any martial law in the world.
King Henry	How canst thou make me satisfaction?
Williams	All offences, my lord, come from the heart: never came any from mine that might offend your majesty.
King Henry	It was ourself thou