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Burgundy and thee！ I vow'd； base knight； when I did meet thee next To
tear the Garter from thy craven's leg； ＇Plucking it off＇ Which I have done；
because unworthily Thou wast installed in that high degree。 Pardon me；
princely Henry； and the rest： This dastard； at the battle of Patay； When but
in all I was six thousand strong； And that the French were almost ten to
one； Before we met or that a stroke was given； Like to a trusty squire did
run away； In which assault we lost twelve hundred men； Myself and divers
gentlemen beside Were there surpris'd and taken prisoners。 Then judge；
great lords； if I have done amiss； Or whether that such cowards ought to
wear This ornament of knighthood…yea or no。 GLOUCESTER。 To say the
truth； this fact was infamous And ill beseeming any common man； Much
more a knight； a captain； and a leader。 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；
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if I were worthy to be judge； Be quite degraded； like a hedge…born swain
That doth presume to boast of gentle blood。 KING HENRY。 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。 ＇Viewing the superscription＇ What
means his Grace； that he hath chang'd 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； Mov'd 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 HENRY。 What！ Doth my uncle Burgundy revolt？
GLOUCESTER。 He doth； my lord； and is become your foe。 KING
HENRY。 Is that the worst this letter doth contain？ GLOUCESTER。 It is
the worst； and all； my lord； he writes。 KING HENRY。 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 HENRY。 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 HENRY。 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
HENRY。 What is that wrong whereof you both complain？ First let me
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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 Argu'd 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 provok'd 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 HENRY。 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 asham'd 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 HENRY。 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 provok'd To wilful
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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 forgo 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 any one 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； Alencon； and that
traitorous rout。 Flourish。 Exeunt all but YORK； WARWICK； EXETER；
VERNON WARWICK。 My Lord of York； I promise you； the King Prettily；
methought； did play the orator。 YORK。 And so he did； but yet I like it not；
In that he wears the badge of