THE FIRST PART OF KING HENRY

THE SIXTH.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

JOAN LA PUCELLE, commonly called Joan of
Arc.

Lords, Warders of the Tower, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and Attendants.

Fiends appearing to Joan la Pucelle.

SCENE.-Partly in England, and partly in France.

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Win. Gloucester, whate'er we like, thou art | Except some petty towns of no import : protector,

The Dauphin Charles is crowned king in Rheims; And lookest to command the prince and realm. The Bastard of Orleans with him is join'd; Thy wife is proud; she holdeth thee in awe, Reignier, Duke of Anjou, doth take bis part ; More than God or religious churchmen may. 40 The Duke of Alençon flieth to his side. Glou. Name not religion, for thou lov'st the Exe. The Dauphin crowned king! all fly to him! flesh,

0! whither shall we fly from this reproach ? And ne'er throughout the year to church thou Glou. We will not fly, but to our enemies' go'st

thr. ats. Except it be to pray against thy foes.

Bedford, thou be slack, I'll fight it out. Bed. Cease, cease these jar and rest your Bed. Gloucester, why doubt'st thou of my minds in peace!

forwardness? Let's to the altar: heralds, wait on us.

An army have I muster'd in my thoughts, Instead of gold we'll offer up our arms, Wherewith already France is overrun. Since arms avail not now that Henry's dead.

Enter a third Messenger. Posterity, await for wretched years, When at their mothers' moist eyes babes shall Third Mess. My gracious lords, to add to your suck,

laments, Our isle be made a marish of salt tears, 50 Wherewith you now bedew King Henry's hearse, And none but women left to wail the dead. I must inform you of a dismal fight Henry the Fifth! thy ghost I invocate:

Betwixt the stout Lord Talbot and the French. Prosper this realm, keep it from civil broils ! Win. What! wherein Talbot overcame? is 't so? Combat with adverse planets in the heavens! Third Mess. O, no! wherein Lord Talbot was A far more glorious star thy soul will make

o'erthrown: Than Julius Cæsar or bright

The circumstance I'll tell you more at large. Enter a Messenger.

The tenth of August last this dreadful lord, 110

Retiring from the siege of Orleans, Mess. My honourable lords, health to you all! Having full scarce six thousand in his troop, Sad tidings bring I to you out of France, By three-and-twenty thousand of the French Of loss, of slaughter, and discomfiture:

Was round encompassed and set upon. Guienne, Champagne, Rheims, Orleans,

No leisure had he to enrank his men; Paris, Gnysors, Poictiers, all are quite lost. He wanted pikes to set before his archers ; Bed. What say'st thou, man, before dead Instead whereof sharp stakes pluck'd out of Henry's corse?

hedges Speak softly, or the loss of those great towns They pitched in the ground confusedly, Will make him burst his lead and rise from To keep the horsemen off from breaking in. death.

More than three hours the fight continued ; Glou. Is Paris lost? is Roan yielded up? Where valiant Talbot above human thought If Henry were recall’d to life again

Enacted wonders with his sword and lance. These news would cause him once more yield Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand

the ghost. Ere. How were they lost? what treachery Here, there, and every where, enrag'd he flew. was us'd ?

The French exclaim'd the devil was in arms; Mess. No treachery ; but want of men and All the whole army stood agazed on him. money.

His soldiers, spying his undaunted spirit, Amongst the soldiers this is muttered,

A Talbot! a Talbot I cried out amain, That here you maintain several factions ;

And rush'd into the bowels of the battle. And, whilst a field should be dispatch'd and Here had the conquest fully been seald up, fought,

If Sir John Fastolfe had not play'd the coward. You are disputing of your generals.

He, being in the vaward, plac'd behind One would have lingering wars with little cost; With purpose to relieve and follow them, Another would fly swift, but wanteth wings ; Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke. A third man thinks, without expense at all, Hence grew the general wreck and massacre : Es guileful fair words peace may be obtain'd. Enclosed were they with their enemies. Awake, awake, English nobility!

A base Walloon, to win the Dauphin's grace, Let not sloth dim your honours new begot : Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back ; Cropp'd are the flower-de-luces in your arms; 80 Whom all France, with their chief assembled Of England's coat one half is cut away.

strength, Exe. Were our tears wanting to this funeral Durst not presume to look once in the face. 140 These tidings would call forth their flowing tides. Bed. Is Talbot slain ? then I will slay myself,

Bed. Me they concern. Regent I am of France. For living idly here in pomp and ease Give me my steeled coat : I'll fight for France. Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid, A vay with these disgraceful wailing robes ! Unto his dastard foemen is betray’d. Wounds will I lend the French instead of eyes, Third Mers. O, no! he lives; but istook prisoner, To weep their intermissive miseries.

And Lord Scales with him, and Lord Hungerford:

Most of the rest slaughter'd or took likewise. Enter another Messenger.

Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay: Second Mess. Lords, view these letters full of I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne; bad mischance.

His crown shall be the ransom of my friend ; 150 France is revolted from the English quite, 90 Four of their lords I 'll change for one of ours.

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him ;

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sworn,

Either to quell the Dauphin utterly,
Or bring him in obedience to your yoke.

Bed. I do remember it; and here take my leave,
To go about my preparation.

Exit.

Glou. I'll to the Tower with all the haste I can,
To view the artillery and munition;
And then I will proclaim young Henry king. Exit.
Exe. To Eltham will I, where the young king is,
Being ordain'd his special governor;
And for his safety there I'll best devise. Exit.
Win. Each hath his place and function to
attend :

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I am left out; for me nothing remains.
But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office.
The king from Eltham I intend to steal,
And sit at chiefest stern of public weal. Exeunt.

SCENE II.-France. Before Orleans. Flourish. Enter CHARLES, with his Forces; ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and Others.

Faintly besiege us one hour in a month.

Alen. They want their porridge and their fat bull-beeves:

Either they must be dieted like mules
And have their provender tied to their mouths,
Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice.
Reig. Let's raise the siege: why live we idly

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here?

Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear:
Remaineth none but mad-brain'd Salisbury,
And he may well in fretting spend his gall;
Nor men nor money hath he to make war.

Cha. Sound, sound alarum! we will rush on
them.

Now for the honour of the forlorn French!
Him I forgive my death that killeth me
When he sees me go back one foot or fly.

Cha. Mars his true moving, even as in the The spirit of deep prophecy she hath,

heavens

Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome;

So in the earth, to this day is not known. What's past and what's to come she can descry.
Late did he shine upon the English side; Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words,
Now we are victors; upon us he smiles.
For they are certain and unfallible.
What towns of any moment but we have?
Cha. Go, call her in.
Exit Bastard.
At pleasure here we lie near Orleans;
But first, to try her skill,
Otherwhiles the famish'd English, like pale Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place:
ghosts,
Question her proudly; let thy looks be stern:
By this means shall we sound what skill she
hath.
Retires.
Re-enter the Bastard of ORLEANS, with JOAN LA
PUCELLE and Others.

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Exeunt.
Re-

Alarums. Excursions; afterwards a retreat.
enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and

Others.

Cha. Who ever saw the like? what men have I! Dogs! cowards! dastards! I would ne'er have fled

But that they left me 'midst my enemies.
Reig. Salisbury is a desperate homicide;

He fighteth as one weary of his life:
The other lords, like lions wanting food,
Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.

Alen. Froissart, a countryman of ours, records,
England all Olivers and Rowlands bred
During the time Edward the Third did reign.
More truly now may this be verified;
For none but Samsons and Goliases
It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!
Lean raw-bon'd rascals! who would e'er suppose
They had such courage and audacity?

Cha. Let's leave this town; for they are hare-
brain'd slaves,

And hunger will enforce them to be more eager :
Of old I know them; rather with their teeth a
The walls they'll tear down than forsake the siege.

Reig. I think, by some odd gimmals or device
Their arms are set like clocks, still to strike on;
Else ne'er could they hold out so as they do.
By my consent, we 'll e'en let them alone.
Alen. Be it so.

Enter the Bastard of ORLEANS.

Bast. Where's the Prince Dauphin? I have news for him.

Cha. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us.
Bast. Methinks your looks are sad, your cheer
appall'd:

Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence!
Be not dismay'd, for succour is at hand:
A holy maid hither with me I bring,
Which by a vision sent to her from heaven
Ordained is to raise this tedious siege,
And drive the English forth the bounds of France.

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Reig. Fair maid, is 't thou wilt do these wondrous feats ?

Joan. Reignier, is 't thou that thinkest to beguile me?

Where is the Dauphin?

Come, come from

behind;

I know thee well, though never seen before.
Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me:
In private will I talk with thee apart.

Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile.
Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first dash.
Joan. Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's
daughter,

My wit untrain'd in any kind of art.
To shine on my contemptible estate:
Heaven and our Lady gracious hath it pleas'd
Lo whilst I waited on my tender lambs,
And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeks,
God's mother deigned to appear to me,
And in a vision full of majesty
Will'd me to leave my base vocation
And free my country from calamity :

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overcomes.

Her aid she promis'd and assur'd success; Dispersed are the glories it included.
In complete glory she reveal'd herself ;

Now am I like that proud insulting ship
And, whereas I was black and swart before, Which Cæsar and his fortune bare at once.
With those clear rays which she infus'd on me, Cha. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove ? 140
That beauty am I bless'd with which you see. Thou with an eagle art inspired then.
Ask me what question thou canst possible Helen, the mother of great Constantine,
And I will answer unpremeditated :

Nor yet Saint Philip's daughters were like thee. My courage try by combat, if thou dar’st, Bright star of Venus, fall'n down on the earth, And thou shalt find that I exceed my sex. How may I reverently worship thee enough? Resolve on this, thou shalt be fortunate

Alen. Leave off delays and let us raise the siege. If thon receive me for thy war-like mate.

Reig. Woman, do what thou canst to save Cha. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high our honours; terms.

Drive them from Orleans and be immortaliz'd. Only this proof I'll of thy valour make,

Cha. Presently we'll try. Come, let's away In single combat thou shalt buckle with me,

about it: And if thou vanquishest, thy words are true ; No prophet will I trust if she prove false. Otherwise I renounce all confidence.

Exeunt. Joun. I am prepar'd : here is my keen-edg'd sword,

SCENE III.- London. Before the Tower. Deck'd with five flower-de-luces on each side ; The which at Touraine, in Saint Katharine's

Enter', at the gates, the Duke of GLOUCESTER, churchyard,

with his Serringmen, in blue coats. Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth. Glou. I am come to survey the Tower this day; Cha. Then come, o God's name; I fear no Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance. woman.

Where be these warders that they wait not here? Joan. And while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a man. Open the gates! 'Tis Gloucester that calls. Here they fight, and JOAN LA PUCELLE First Ward, Within. Who's there that knocks

so imperiously? Cha. Stay, stay thy hands! thou art an Amazon, First Serv. It is the noble Duke of Gloucester. And fightest with the sword of Deborah.

Second Ward. Within. Whoe'er he be, you Joan. Christ's mother helps me, else I were

may not be let in. too weak.

First Serv. Villains, answer you so the lord Cha. Whoe'er helps thee, 'tis thou that must protector? help me.

First Ward. Within. The Lord protect him! Impatiently I burn with thy desire ;

so we answer him : My heart and hands thou hast at once subdued. We do no otherwise than we are will’d. Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so,

Glou. Who willed you? or whose will stands Let me thy servant and not sovereign be:

but mine? "Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus. There's none protector of the realm but I.

Joan. I must not yield to any rites of love, Break up the gates, I'll be your warrantize. For my profession's sacred from above: Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms ? When I have chased all thy foes from hence, GLOUCESTER'S Men rush at the lower gates, Then will I think upon a recompense.

and WOODVILE the Lieutena it speaks Cha. Meantime look gracious on thy prostrate

within. thrall.

Wood. What noise is this? what traitors lave Reig. My lord, methinks, is very long in talk. we here? Alen. Doubtless he shrives this woman to her Glou. Lieutenant, is it you whose voice I hear? smock;

Open the gates! here's Gloucester that would Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech. enter. Reig. Shall we disturb him, since he keeps Wood. Have patience, noble duke ; I

may no mean?

not open ; Alen. He may mean more than we poor men The Cardinal of Winchester forbids: do know:

From him I have express commandement These women are shrewd tempters with their That thou nor none of thine shall be let in. tongues.

Glou. Faint-hearted Woodvile, prizest him Reig. My lord, where are you? what devise

'fore me? you on?

Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate, Shall we give over Orleans, or no ?

Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could Joan. Why, no, I say: distrustful recreants ! brook? Fight till the last gasp ; I will be your guard. Thou art no friend to God or to the king : Cha. What she says I'll confirm : we'll fight Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly. it ont.

First Serv. Open the gates unto the lord proJoan. Assign'd am I to be the English scourge. tector, This night the siege assuredly I 'll raise : 130 Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not Expect Saint Martin's summer, halcyon days, quickly. Since I have entered into these wars. Glory is like a circle in the water,

Enter WINCHESTER, attended by Serringmen in Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself

tawny coats. Till by broad spreading it disperse to nought. Win. How now, ambitious Humphrey | what With Henry's death the English circle ends;

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the pope.

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Glou. Peel'd priest, dost thou command me to | Thy heart-blood I will have for this day's work. be shut out?

May. I'll call for clubs if you will not away. Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor, This cardinal's more haughty than the devil. And not protector, of the king or realm.

Glou. Mayor, farewell : thou dost but what Glou. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator, thou may'st. Thou that contriv'dst to murder our dead lord ; Win. Abominable Gloucester! guard thy head; Thou that giv'st whores indulgences to sin: For I intend to have it ere long. I'll canvass thee in thy broad cardinal's hat,

Exeunt severally, GLOUCESTER and WIN. If thou proceed in this thy insolence.

CHESTER, with their Servingmen. Win. Nay, stand thou back; I will not budge May. See the coast clear'd, and then we will a foot:

depart. This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,

Good God! these nobles should such stomachs To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.

bear; Glou. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee I myself fight not once in forty year. Eceunt.

back : Thy scarlet robes as a child's bearing-cloth

SCENE IV.-France. Before Orleans. I'll use to carry thee out of this place. Win. Do what thou dar'st; I beard thee to Enter, on the walls, the Master-Gunner and his Boy. thy face.

M. Gun. Sirrah, thou know'st how Orleans is Glou. What! am I dar'd and bearded to my face? besieg'd, Draw, men, for all this privileged place; And how the English have the suburbs won. Blue coats to tawny coats. Priest, beware your Boy. Father, I know; and oft have shot at beard ;

them, GLOUCESTER anil his Men attack the Cardinal. Howe'er unfortunate I miss'd my aim. I mean to tug it and to cuff you soundly.

M. Gun. But now thou shalt not. Be thou Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat,

rul'd by me: In spite of pope or dignities of church ; 59 Chief master-gunner am I of this town; Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down. Something I must do to procure me grace. Win. Gloucester, thou 'lt answer this before The prince's espials have informed me

How the English, in the suburbs close intrench'd Glou. Winchester goose! I cry, a ropel a rope! Wont through a secret grate of iron bars Now beat them hence; why do yon let them stay? | In yonder tower to overpeer the city, Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array. And thence discover how with most advantage Out, tawny coats! out, scarlet hypocrite! They may vex us with shot or with assault. Here GLOUCESTER's Men beat out the Cardinals A piece of orduance 'gainst it I have plac'd ;

To intercept this inconvenience, Men, and enter in the hurly-burly the Mayor of And fully even these three days have I watch'd London and his Officers.

If I could see them. Now, boy, do thou watch, May. Fie, lords! that you, being supreme For I can stay no longer. magistrates,

If thou spy'st any, run and bring me word; 19 Thus contumeliously should break the peace ! And thou shalt find me at the governor's. Erit. Glou. Peace, mayor! thou know'st little of my Boy. Father, I warrant you; take you no care; wrongs.

I'll never trouble you if I may spy them. Erit. Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king, Enter, on the turrets, the Lords SALISBURY and Hath here distraind the Tower to his use. Win. Here's Gloucester, a foe to citizens ;

TALBOT; Sir WILLIAM GLANSDALE, Sir One that still motions war and never peace,

THOMAS GARGRAVE, and Others. O'ercharging your free purses with large fines, Sal. Talbot, my life, my joy! again return'd! That seeks to overthrow religion

How wert thou handled being prisoner, Because he is protector of the realm,

Or by what means gott'st thou to be releasid, And would have armour here out of the Tower, Discourse, I prithee, on this turret's top. To crown himself king and suppress the prince. Tal. The Duke of Bedford had a prisoner Glou. I will not answer thee with words, but Called the brave Lord Ponton de Santrailles ; blows.

Here they skirmish again. For him I was exchang'd and ransomed. May. Nought rests for me in this tumultuous But with a baser man of arms by far strife

Once in contempt they would have barter'd me: But to make open proclamation.

Which I disdaining scorn'd, and craved death Come, officer ; as loud as e'er thou canst, Rather than I would be so vile-esteem'd. Cry.

In fine, redeem'd I was as I desir'd. Off. All manner of men, assembled here in arms

But, O! the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my this day against God's peace and the king's, we

heart : charge and command you, in his highness' name, to

Whom with my bare fists I would execute repair to your seri ral dwelling-places ; and not to

If I now had him brought into my power. wear, handle, or use any sword, weapon, or dagger,

Sal. Yet tell'st thou not how thou wert enterhenceforvarıl, upon pain of death.

tain'd.

Tal. With scoffs and scorns and contumelious Glou. Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law; But we shall meet and break our minds at large. In open market-place produc'd they me, I'in. Gloucester, we will meet; to thy cost, To be a public spectacle to all : be sure:

Here, said they, is the terror of the French,

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taunts.