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For never two such kingdoms did contend Without much fall of blood；
whose guiltless drops Are every one a woe； a sore complaint； 'Gainst him
whose wrongs gives edge unto the swords That makes such waste in brief
mortality。 Under this conjuration speak； my lord； For we will hear； note；
and believe in heart； That what you speak is in your conscience wash'd As
pure as sin with baptism。 CANTERBURY。 Then hear me； gracious
sovereign； and you peers； That owe yourselves； your lives； and services；
To this imperial throne。 There is no bar To make against your Highness'
claim to France But this； which they produce from Pharamond： 'In terram
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Salicam mulieres ne succedant'… 'No woman shall succeed in Salique land'；
Which Salique land the French unjustly gloze To be the realm of France；
and Pharamond The founder of this law and female bar。 Yet their own
authors faithfully affirm That the land Salique is in Germany； Between the
floods of Sala and of Elbe； Where Charles the Great； having subdu'd the
Saxons； There left behind and settled certain French； Who； holding in
disdain the German women For some dishonest manners of their life；
Establish'd then this law： to wit； no female Should be inheritrix in Salique
land； Which Salique； as I said； 'twixt Elbe and Sala； Is at this day in
Germany call'd Meisen。 Then doth it well appear the Salique law Was not
devised for the realm of France； Nor did the French possess the Salique
land Until four hundred one and twenty years After defunction of King
Pharamond； Idly suppos'd the founder of this law； Who died within the
year of our redemption Four hundred twenty…six； and Charles the Great
Subdu'd the Saxons； and did seat the French Beyond the river Sala； in the
year Eight hundred five。 Besides； their writers say； King Pepin； which
deposed Childeric； Did； as heir general； being descended Of Blithild；
which was daughter to King Clothair； Make claim and title to the crown of
France。 Hugh Capet also； who usurp'd the crown Of Charles the Duke of
Lorraine； sole heir male Of the true line and stock of Charles the Great； To
find his title with some shows of truth… Though in pure truth it was corrupt
and naught… Convey'd himself as th' heir to th' Lady Lingare； Daughter to
Charlemain； who was the son To Lewis the Emperor； and Lewis the son
Of Charles the Great。 Also King Lewis the Tenth； Who was sole heir to the
usurper Capet； Could not keep quiet in his conscience； Wearing the crown
of France； till satisfied That fair Queen Isabel； his grandmother； Was lineal
of the Lady Ermengare； Daughter to Charles the foresaid Duke of Lorraine；
By the which marriage the line of Charles the Great Was re…united to the
Crown of France。 So that； as clear as is the summer's sun； King Pepin's
title； and Hugh Capet's claim； King Lewis his satisfaction； all appear To
hold in right and tide of the female； So do the kings of France unto this
day； Howbeit they would hold up this Salique law To bar your Highness
claiming from the female； And rather choose to hide them in a net Than
amply to imbar their crooked tides Usurp'd from you and your progenitors。
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KING HENRY THE FIFTH
KING HENRY。 May I with right and conscience make this claim？
CANTERBURY。 The sin upon my head； dread sovereign！ For in the book
of Numbers is it writ； When the man dies； let the inheritance Descend unto
the daughter。 Gracious lord； Stand for your own； unwind your bloody flag；
Look back into 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 fun 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。 O noble English； that could entertain
With half their forces the full pride of France； And let another half stand
laughing by； 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。 EXETER。 Your brother kings and monarchs of the earth Do all
expect that you should rouse yourself； As did the former lions of your
blood。 WESTMORELAND。 They know your Grace hath cause and means
and might… So hath your Highness； never King of England Had nobles
richer and more loyal subjects； Whose hearts have left their bodies here in
England And lie pavilion'd in the fields of France。 CANTERBURY。 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。 KING HENRY。 We must not only arm t' invade the French；
But lay down our proportions to defend Against the Scot； who will make
road upon us With all advantages。 CANTERBURY。 They of those marches；
gracious sovereign； Shall be a wall sufficient to defend Our inland from
the pilfering borderers。 KING HENRY。 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； For you shall read that my great…grandfather
Never went with his forces into France But that the Scot on his unfurnish'd
kingdom Came pouring； like the tide into a breach； With ample and brim
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KING HENRY THE FIFTH
fulness of his force； Galling the gleaned land with hot assays； Girdling
with grievous siege castles and towns； That England； being empty of
defence； Hath shook and trembled at th' ill neighbourhood。
CANTERBURY。 She hath been then more fear'd than harm'd； my liege；
For hear her but exampled by herself： When all her chivalry hath been in
France； And she a mourning widow of her nobles； She hath herself not
only well defended But taken and impounded as a stray The King of Scots；
whom she did send to France； To fill King Edward's fame with prisoner
kings； And make her chronicle as rich with praise As is the ooze and
bottom of the sea With sunken wreck and sumless treasuries。
WESTMORELAND。 But there's a saying； very old and true：
'If that you will France win； Then with Scotland first begin。' For once
the eagle England being in prey； To her unguarded nest the weasel Scot
Comes sneaking； and so sucks her princely eggs； Playing the mouse in
absence of the cat； To tear and havoc more than she can eat。 EXETER。 It
follows； then； the cat must stay at home； Yet that is but a crush'd necessity；
Since we have locks to safeguard necessaries And pretty traps to catch the
petty thieves。 While that the armed hand doth fight abroad； Th' advised
head defends itself at home； For government； though high； and low； and
lower； Put into parts； doth keep in one consent； Congreeing in a full and
natural close； Like music。 CANTERBURY。 Therefore doth heaven divide
The state of man in divers functions； Setting endeavour in continual
motion； To which is fixed as an aim or but Obedience； for so work the
honey bees； Creatures that by a rule in nature teach The act of order to a
peopled kingdom。 They have a king； and officers of sorts； Where some
like magistrates correct at home； Others like merchants venture trade
abroad； Others like soldiers； armed in their stings； Make boot upon the
summer's velvet buds； Which pillage they with merry march bring home
To the tent…royal of their emperor； Who； busied in his majesty； surveys
The singing masons building roofs of gold； The civil citizens kneading up
the honey； The po