Henry VI, Part I

epub:type="z3998:persona">Talbot

When first this order was ordain’d, my lords,

Knights of the garter were of noble birth,

Valiant and virtuous, full of haughty courage,

Such as were grown to credit by the wars;

Not fearing death, nor shrinking for distress,

But always resolute in most extremes.

He then that is not furnish’d in this sort

Doth but usurp the sacred name of knight,

Profaning this most honourable order,

And should, if I were worthy to be judge,

Be quite degraded, like a hedge-born swain

That doth presume to boast of gentle blood.


King

Stain to thy countrymen, thou hear’st thy doom!

Be packing, therefore, thou that wast a knight:

Henceforth we banish thee, on pain of death. Exit Fastolfe.

And now, my lord protector, view the letter

Sent from our uncle Duke of Burgundy.



Gloucester

What means his grace, that he hath changed his style?

No more but, plain and bluntly, “To the king!”

Hath he forgot he is his sovereign?

Or doth this churlish superscription

Pretend some alteration in good will?

What’s here? Reads. “I have, upon especial cause,

Moved with compassion of my country’s wreck,

Together with the pitiful complaints

Of such as your oppression feeds upon,

Forsaken your pernicious faction

And join’d with Charles, the rightful King of France.”

O monstrous treachery! can this be so,

That in alliance, amity and oaths,

There should be found such false dissembling guile?



King
What! doth my uncle Burgundy revolt?


Gloucester
He doth, my lord, and is become your foe.


King
Is that the worst this letter doth contain?


Gloucester
It is the worst, and all, my lord, he writes.


King

Why, then, Lord Talbot there shall talk with him

And give him chastisement for this abuse.

How say you, my lord? are you not content?



Talbot

Content, my liege! yes, but that I am prevented,

I should have begg’d I might have been employ’d.



King

Then gather strength and march unto him straight:

Let him perceive how ill we brook his treason

And what offence it is to flout his friends.



Talbot

I go, my lord, in heart desiring still

You may behold confusion of your foes. Exit.




Enter Vernon and Basset.


Vernon
Grant me the combat, gracious sovereign.


Basset
And me, my lord, grant me the combat too.


York
This is my servant: hear him, noble prince.


Somerset
And this is mine: sweet Henry, favour him.


King

Be patient, lords; and give them leave to speak.

Say, gentlemen, what makes you thus exclaim?

And wherefore crave you combat? or with whom?



Vernon
With him, my lord; for he hath done me wrong.


Basset
And I with him; for he hath done me wrong.


King

What is that wrong whereof you both complain?

First let me know, and then I’ll answer you.



Basset

Crossing the sea from England into France,

This fellow here, with envious carping tongue,

Upbraided me about the rose I wear;

Saying, the sanguine colour of the leaves

Did represent my master’s blushing cheeks,

When stubbornly he did repugn the truth

About a certain question in the law

Argued betwixt the Duke of York and him;

With other vile and ignominious terms:

In confutation of which rude reproach

And in defence of my lord’s worthiness,

I crave the benefit of law of arms.



Vernon

And that is my petition, noble lord:

For though he seem with forged quaint conceit

To set a gloss upon his bold intent,

Yet know, my lord, I was provoked by him;

And he first took exceptions at this badge,

Pronouncing that the paleness of this flower

Bewray’d the faintness of my master’s heart.



York
Will not this malice, Somerset, be left?


Somerset

Your private grudge, my Lord of York, will out,

Though ne’er so cunningly you smother it.



King

Good Lord, what madness rules in brainsick men,

When for so slight and frivolous a cause

Such factious emulations shall arise!

Good cousins both, of York and Somerset,

Quiet yourselves, I pray, and be at peace.



York

Let this dissension first be tried by fight,

And then your highness shall command a peace.



Somerset

The quarrel toucheth none but us alone;

Betwixt ourselves let us decide it then.



York
There is my pledge; accept it, Somerset.


Vernon
Nay, let it rest where it began at first.


Basset
Confirm it so, mine honourable lord.


Gloucester

Confirm it so! Confounded be your strife!

And perish ye, with your audacious prate!

Presumptuous vassals, are you not ashamed

With this immodest clamorous outrage

To trouble and disturb the king and us?

And you, my lords, methinks you do not well

To bear with their perverse objections;

Much less to take occasion from their mouths

To raise a mutiny betwixt yourselves:

Let me persuade you take a better course.



Exeter
It grieves his highness: good my lords, be friends.


King

Come hither, you that would be combatants:

Henceforth I charge you, as you love our favour,

Quite to forget this quarrel and the cause.

And you, my lords, remember where we are;

In France, amongst a fickle wavering nation:

If they perceive dissension in our looks

And that within ourselves we disagree,

How will their grudging stomachs be provoked

To wilful disobedience, and rebel!

Beside, what infamy will there arise,

When foreign princes shall be certified

That for a toy, a thing of no regard,

King Henry’s peers and chief nobility

Destroy’d themselves, and lost the realm of France!

O, think upon the conquest of my father,

My tender years, and let us not forego

That for a trifle that was bought with blood!

Let me be umpire in this doubtful strife.

I see no reason, if I wear this rose, Putting on a red rose.

That anyone should therefore be suspicious

I more incline to Somerset than York:

Both are my kinsmen, and I love them both:

As well they may upbraid me with my crown,

Because, forsooth, the king of Scots is crown’d.

But your discretions better can persuade

Than I am able to instruct or teach:

And therefore, as we hither came in peace,

So let us still continue peace and love.

Cousin of York, we institute your grace

To be our regent in these parts of France:

And, good my Lord of Somerset, unite

Your troops of horsemen with his bands of foot;

And, like true subjects, sons of your progenitors,

Go cheerfully together and digest.

Your angry choler on your enemies.

Ourself, my lord protector and the rest

After some respite will return to Calais;

From thence to England; where I hope ere long

To be presented, by your victories,

With Charles, Alençon and that traitorous rout. Flourish. Exeunt all but York, Warwick, Exeter and