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Act III, Scene 1

London. The Parliament-house.

[Flourish. Enter KING HENRY VI, EXETER, GLOUCESTER,] [p]WARWICK, SOMERSET, and SUFFOLK; the BISHOP OF [p]WINCHESTER, RICHARD PLANTAGENET, and others. [p]GLOUCESTER offers to put up a bill; BISHOP OF [p]WINCHESTER snatches it, and tears it]

• Winchester. Comest thou with deep premeditated lines,
  With written pamphlets studiously devised,
  Humphrey of Gloucester? If thou canst accuse,
  Or aught intend'st to lay unto my charge,
  Do it without invention, suddenly; 1225
  As I with sudden and extemporal speech
  Purpose to answer what thou canst object.

• Duke of Gloucester. Presumptuous priest! this place commands my patience,
  Or thou shouldst find thou hast dishonour'd me.
  Think not, although in writing I preferr'd 1230
  The manner of thy vile outrageous crimes,
  That therefore I have forged, or am not able
  Verbatim to rehearse the method of my pen:
  No, prelate; such is thy audacious wickedness,
  Thy lewd, pestiferous and dissentious pranks, 1235
  As very infants prattle of thy pride.
  Thou art a most pernicious usurer,
  Forward by nature, enemy to peace;
  Lascivious, wanton, more than well beseems
  A man of thy profession and degree; 1240
  And for thy treachery, what's more manifest?
  In that thou laid'st a trap to take my life,
  As well at London bridge as at the Tower.
  Beside, I fear me, if thy thoughts were sifted,
  The king, thy sovereign, is not quite exempt 1245
  From envious malice of thy swelling heart.

• Winchester. Gloucester, I do defy thee. Lords, vouchsafe
  To give me hearing what I shall reply.
  If I were covetous, ambitious or perverse,
  As he will have me, how am I so poor? 1250
  Or how haps it I seek not to advance
  Or raise myself, but keep my wonted calling?
  And for dissension, who preferreth peace
  More than I do?—except I be provoked.
  No, my good lords, it is not that offends; 1255
  It is not that that hath incensed the duke:
  It is, because no one should sway but he;
  No one but he should be about the king;
  And that engenders thunder in his breast
  And makes him roar these accusations forth. 1260
  But he shall know I am as good—

• Duke of Gloucester. As good!
  Thou bastard of my grandfather!

• Winchester. Ay, lordly sir; for what are you, I pray,
  But one imperious in another's throne? 1265

• Duke of Gloucester. Am I not protector, saucy priest?

• Winchester. And am not I a prelate of the church?

• Duke of Gloucester. Yes, as an outlaw in a castle keeps
  And useth it to patronage his theft.

• Winchester. Unreverent Gloster! 1270

• Duke of Gloucester. Thou art reverent
  Touching thy spiritual function, not thy life.

• Winchester. Rome shall remedy this.

• Earl of Warwick. Roam thither, then.

• Duke/Earl of Somerset. My lord, it were your duty to forbear. 1275

• Earl of Warwick. Ay, see the bishop be not overborne.

• Duke/Earl of Somerset. Methinks my lord should be religious
  And know the office that belongs to such.

• Earl of Warwick. Methinks his lordship should be humbler;
  it fitteth not a prelate so to plead. 1280

• Duke/Earl of Somerset. Yes, when his holy state is touch'd so near.

• Earl of Warwick. State holy or unhallow'd, what of that?
  Is not his grace protector to the king?

• Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). [Aside] Plantagenet, I see, must hold his tongue, 1285
  Lest it be said 'Speak, sirrah, when you should;
  Must your bold verdict enter talk with lords?'
  Else would I have a fling at Winchester.

• Henry VI. Uncles of Gloucester and of Winchester,
  The special watchmen of our English weal, 1290
  I would prevail, if prayers might prevail,
  To join your hearts in love and amity.
  O, what a scandal is it to our crown,
  That two such noble peers as ye should jar!
  Believe me, lords, my tender years can tell 1295
  Civil dissension is a viperous worm
  That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth.
  [A noise within, 'Down with the tawny-coats!']
  What tumult's this?

• Earl of Warwick. An uproar, I dare warrant, 1300
  Begun through malice of the bishop's men.

[A noise again, 'Stones! stones!' Enter Mayor]

• Lord Mayor of London. O, my good lords, and virtuous Henry,
  Pity the city of London, pity us!
  The bishop and the Duke of Gloucester's men, 1305
  Forbidden late to carry any weapon,
  Have fill'd their pockets full of pebble stones
  And banding themselves in contrary parts
  Do pelt so fast at one another's pate
  That many have their giddy brains knock'd out: 1310
  Our windows are broke down in every street
  And we for fear compell'd to shut our shops.

[Enter Serving-men, in skirmish, with bloody pates]

• Henry VI. We charge you, on allegiance to ourself,
  To hold your slaughtering hands and keep the peace. 1315
  Pray, uncle Gloucester, mitigate this strife.

• First Serving-Man. Nay, if we be forbidden stones,
  We'll fall to it with our teeth.

• Second Serving-Man. Do what ye dare, we are as resolute.

[Skirmish again]

• Duke of Gloucester. You of my household, leave this peevish broil
  And set this unaccustom'd fight aside.

• Third Serving-Man. My lord, we know your grace to be a man
  Just and upright; and, for your royal birth,
  Inferior to none but to his majesty: 1325
  And ere that we will suffer such a prince,
  So kind a father of the commonweal,
  To be disgraced by an inkhorn mate,
  We and our wives and children all will fight
  And have our bodies slaughtered by thy foes. 1330

• First Serving-Man. Ay, and the very parings of our nails
  Shall pitch a field when we are dead.

[Begin again]

• Duke of Gloucester. Stay, stay, I say!
  And if you love me, as you say you do, 1335
  Let me persuade you to forbear awhile.

• Henry VI. O, how this discord doth afflict my soul!
  Can you, my Lord of Winchester, behold
  My sighs and tears and will not once relent?
  Who should be pitiful, if you be not? 1340
  Or who should study to prefer a peace.
  If holy churchmen take delight in broils?

• Earl of Warwick. Yield, my lord protector; yield, Winchester;
  Except you mean with obstinate repulse
  To slay your sovereign and destroy the realm. 1345
  You see what mischief and what murder too
  Hath been enacted through your enmity;
  Then be at peace except ye thirst for blood.

• Winchester. He shall submit, or I will never yield.

• Duke of Gloucester. Compassion on the king commands me stoop; 1350
  Or I would see his heart out, ere the priest
  Should ever get that privilege of me.

• Earl of Warwick. Behold, my Lord of Winchester, the duke
  Hath banish'd moody discontented fury,
  As by his smoothed brows it doth appear: 1355
  Why look you still so stern and tragical?

• Duke of Gloucester. Here, Winchester, I offer thee my hand.

• Henry VI. Fie, uncle Beaufort! I have heard you preach
  That malice was a great and grievous sin;
  And will not you maintain the thing you teach, 1360
  But prove a chief offender in the same?

• Earl of Warwick. Sweet king! the bishop hath a kindly gird.
  For shame, my lord of Winchester, relent!
  What, shall a child instruct you what to do?

• Winchester. Well, Duke of Gloucester, I will yield to thee; 1365
  Love for thy love and hand for hand I give.

• Duke of Gloucester. [Aside] Ay, but, I fear me, with a hollow heart.—
  See here, my friends and loving countrymen,
  This token serveth for a flag of truce
  Betwixt ourselves and all our followers: 1370
  So help me God, as I dissemble not!

• Winchester. [Aside] So help me God, as I intend it not!

• Henry VI. O, loving uncle, kind Duke of Gloucester,
  How joyful am I made by this contract!
  Away, my masters! trouble us no more; 1375
  But join in friendship, as your lords have done.

• First Serving-Man. Content: I'll to the surgeon's.

• Second Serving-Man. And so will I.

• Third Serving-Man. And I will see what physic the tavern affords.

[Exeunt Serving-men, Mayor, &c]

• Earl of Warwick. Accept this scroll, most gracious sovereign,
  Which in the right of Richard Plantagenet
  We do exhibit to your majesty.

• Duke of Gloucester. Well urged, my Lord of Warwick: or sweet prince,
  And if your grace mark every circumstance, 1385
  You have great reason to do Richard right;
  Especially for those occasions
  At Eltham Place I told your majesty.

• Henry VI. And those occasions, uncle, were of force:
  Therefore, my loving lords, our pleasure is 1390
  That Richard be restored to his blood.

• Earl of Warwick. Let Richard be restored to his blood;
  So shall his father's wrongs be recompensed.

• Winchester. As will the rest, so willeth Winchester.

• Henry VI. If Richard will be true, not that alone 1395
  But all the whole inheritance I give
  That doth belong unto the house of York,
  From whence you spring by lineal descent.

• Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). Thy humble servant vows obedience 1400
  And humble service till the point of death.

• Henry VI. Stoop then and set your knee against my foot;
  And, in reguerdon of that duty done,
  I gird thee with the valiant sword of York:
  Rise Richard, like a true Plantagenet, 1405
  And rise created princely Duke of York.

• Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). And so thrive Richard as thy foes may fall!
  And as my duty springs, so perish they
  That grudge one thought against your majesty! 1410

• All. Welcome, high prince, the mighty Duke of York!

• Duke/Earl of Somerset. [Aside] Perish, base prince, ignoble Duke of York!

• Duke of Gloucester. Now will it best avail your majesty
  To cross the seas and to be crown'd in France:
  The presence of a king engenders love 1415
  Amongst his subjects and his loyal friends,
  As it disanimates his enemies.

• Henry VI. When Gloucester says the word, King Henry goes;
  For friendly counsel cuts off many foes.

• Duke of Gloucester. Your ships already are in readiness. 1420

[Sennet. Flourish. Exeunt all but EXETER]

• Duke of Exeter. Ay, we may march in England or in France,
  Not seeing what is likely to ensue.
  This late dissension grown betwixt the peers
  Burns under feigned ashes of forged love 1425
  And will at last break out into a flame:
  As fester'd members rot but by degree,
  Till bones and flesh and sinews fall away,
  So will this base and envious discord breed.
  And now I fear that fatal prophecy 1430
  Which in the time of Henry named the Fifth
  Was in the mouth of every sucking babe;
  That Henry born at Monmouth should win all
  And Henry born at Windsor lose all:
  Which is so plain that Exeter doth wish 1435
  His days may finish ere that hapless time.

[Exit]

Act III, Scene 2

France. Before Rouen.

[Enter JOAN LA PUCELLE disguised, with four Soldiers] [p]with sacks upon their backs]

• Joan la Pucelle. These are the city gates, the gates of Rouen, 1440
  Through which our policy must make a breach:
  Take heed, be wary how you place your words;
  Talk like the vulgar sort of market men
  That come to gather money for their corn.
  If we have entrance, as I hope we shall, 1445
  And that we find the slothful watch but weak,
  I'll by a sign give notice to our friends,
  That Charles the Dauphin may encounter them.

• First Soldier. Our sacks shall be a mean to sack the city,
  And we be lords and rulers over Rouen; 1450
  Therefore we'll knock.

[Knocks]

• Watch. [Within] Qui est la?

• Joan la Pucelle. Paysans, pauvres gens de France;
  Poor market folks that come to sell their corn. 1455

• Watch. Enter, go in; the market bell is rung.

• Joan la Pucelle. Now, Rouen, I'll shake thy bulwarks to the ground.
  [Exeunt]
  [Enter CHARLES, the BASTARD OF ORLEANS, ALENCON,]
  REIGNIER, and forces] 1460

• Charles, King of France. Saint Denis bless this happy stratagem!
  And once again we'll sleep secure in Rouen.

• Bastard of Orleans. Here enter'd Pucelle and her practisants;
  Now she is there, how will she specify
  Where is the best and safest passage in? 1465

• Reignier. By thrusting out a torch from yonder tower;
  Which, once discern'd, shows that her meaning is,
  No way to that, for weakness, which she enter'd.
  [Enter JOAN LA PUCELLE on the top, thrusting out a]
  torch burning] 1470

• Joan la Pucelle. Behold, this is the happy wedding torch
  That joineth Rouen unto her countrymen,
  But burning fatal to the Talbotites!

[Exit]

• Bastard of Orleans. See, noble Charles, the beacon of our friend; 1475
  The burning torch in yonder turret stands.

• Charles, King of France. Now shine it like a comet of revenge,
  A prophet to the fall of all our foes!

• Reignier. Defer no time, delays have dangerous ends;
  Enter, and cry 'The Dauphin!' presently, 1480
  And then do execution on the watch.

[Alarum. Exeunt]

[An alarum. Enter TALBOT in an excursion]

• Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. France, thou shalt rue this treason with thy tears,
  If Talbot but survive thy treachery. 1485
  Pucelle, that witch, that damned sorceress,
  Hath wrought this hellish mischief unawares,
  That hardly we escaped the pride of France.
  [Exit]
  [An alarum: excursions. BEDFORD, brought in sick] 1490
  in a chair. Enter TALBOT and BURGUNDY without:
  within JOAN LA PUCELLE, CHARLES, BASTARD OF ORLEANS,
  ALENCON, and REIGNIER, on the walls]

• Joan la Pucelle. Good morrow, gallants! want ye corn for bread?
  I think the Duke of Burgundy will fast 1495
  Before he'll buy again at such a rate:
  'Twas full of darnel; do you like the taste?

• Duke of Burgundy. Scoff on, vile fiend and shameless courtezan!
  I trust ere long to choke thee with thine own
  And make thee curse the harvest of that corn. 1500

• Charles, King of France. Your grace may starve perhaps before that time.

• Duke of Bedford. O, let no words, but deeds, revenge this treason!

• Joan la Pucelle. What will you do, good grey-beard? break a lance,
  And run a tilt at death within a chair?

• Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Foul fiend of France, and hag of all despite, 1505
  Encompass'd with thy lustful paramours!
  Becomes it thee to taunt his valiant age
  And twit with cowardice a man half dead?
  Damsel, I'll have a bout with you again,
  Or else let Talbot perish with this shame. 1510

• Joan la Pucelle. Are ye so hot, sir? yet, Pucelle, hold thy peace;
  If Talbot do but thunder, rain will follow.
  [The English whisper together in council]
  God speed the parliament! who shall be the speaker?

• Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Dare ye come forth and meet us in the field? 1515

• Joan la Pucelle. Belike your lordship takes us then for fools,
  To try if that our own be ours or no.

• Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. I speak not to that railing Hecate,
  But unto thee, Alencon, and the rest;
  Will ye, like soldiers, come and fight it out? 1520

• Duke of Alencon. Signior, no.

• Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Signior, hang! base muleters of France!
  Like peasant foot-boys do they keep the walls
  And dare not take up arms like gentlemen.

• Joan la Pucelle. Away, captains! let's get us from the walls; 1525
  For Talbot means no goodness by his looks.
  God be wi' you, my lord! we came but to tell you
  That we are here.

[Exeunt from the walls]

• Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. And there will we be too, ere it be long, 1530
  Or else reproach be Talbot's greatest fame!
  Vow, Burgundy, by honour of thy house,
  Prick'd on by public wrongs sustain'd in France,
  Either to get the town again or die:
  And I, as sure as English Henry lives 1535
  And as his father here was conqueror,
  As sure as in this late-betrayed town
  Great Coeur-de-lion's heart was buried,
  So sure I swear to get the town or die.

• Duke of Burgundy. My vows are equal partners with thy vows. 1540

• Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. But, ere we go, regard this dying prince,
  The valiant Duke of Bedford. Come, my lord,
  We will bestow you in some better place,
  Fitter for sickness and for crazy age.

• Duke of Bedford. Lord Talbot, do not so dishonour me: 1545
  Here will I sit before the walls of Rouen
  And will be partner of your weal or woe.

• Duke of Burgundy. Courageous Bedford, let us now persuade you.

• Duke of Bedford. Not to be gone from hence; for once I read
  That stout Pendragon in his litter sick 1550
  Came to the field and vanquished his foes:
  Methinks I should revive the soldiers' hearts,
  Because I ever found them as myself.

• Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Undaunted spirit in a dying breast!
  Then be it so: heavens keep old Bedford safe! 1555
  And now no more ado, brave Burgundy,
  But gather we our forces out of hand
  And set upon our boasting enemy.
  [Exeunt all but BEDFORD and Attendants]
  [An alarum: excursions. Enter FASTOLFE and] 1560
  a Captain]

• Captain. Whither away, Sir John Fastolfe, in such haste?

• Sir John Fastolfe. Whither away! to save myself by flight:
  We are like to have the overthrow again.

• Captain. What! will you fly, and leave Lord Talbot? 1565

• Sir John Fastolfe. Ay,
  All the Talbots in the world, to save my life!

[Exit]

• Captain. Cowardly knight! ill fortune follow thee!
  [Exit] 1570
  [Retreat: excursions. JOAN LA PUCELLE, ALENCON,]
  and CHARLES fly]

• Duke of Bedford. Now, quiet soul, depart when heaven please,
  For I have seen our enemies' overthrow.
  What is the trust or strength of foolish man? 1575
  They that of late were daring with their scoffs
  Are glad and fain by flight to save themselves.

[BEDFORD dies, and is carried in by two in his chair]

[An alarum. Re-enter TALBOT, BURGUNDY, and the rest]

• Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Lost, and recover'd in a day again! 1580
  This is a double honour, Burgundy:
  Yet heavens have glory for this victory!

• Duke of Burgundy. Warlike and martial Talbot, Burgundy
  Enshrines thee in his heart and there erects
  Thy noble deeds as valour's monuments. 1585

• Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Thanks, gentle duke. But where is Pucelle now?
  I think her old familiar is asleep:
  Now where's the Bastard's braves, and Charles his gleeks?
  What, all amort? Rouen hangs her head for grief
  That such a valiant company are fled. 1590
  Now will we take some order in the town,
  Placing therein some expert officers,
  And then depart to Paris to the king,
  For there young Henry with his nobles lie.

• Duke of Burgundy. What wills Lord Talbot pleaseth Burgundy. 1595

• Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. But yet, before we go, let's not forget
  The noble Duke of Bedford late deceased,
  But see his exequies fulfill'd in Rouen:
  A braver soldier never couched lance,
  A gentler heart did never sway in court; 1600
  But kings and mightiest potentates must die,
  For that's the end of human misery.

[Exeunt]

Act III, Scene 3

The plains near Rouen.

[Enter CHARLES, the BASTARD OF ORLEANS, ALENCON, JOAN] [p]LA PUCELLE, and forces]

• Joan la Pucelle. Dismay not, princes, at this accident,
  Nor grieve that Rouen is so recovered:
  Care is no cure, but rather corrosive,
  For things that are not to be remedied.
  Let frantic Talbot triumph for a while 1610
  And like a peacock sweep along his tail;
  We'll pull his plumes and take away his train,
  If Dauphin and the rest will be but ruled.

• Charles, King of France. We have been guided by thee hitherto,
  And of thy cunning had no diffidence: 1615
  One sudden foil shall never breed distrust.

• Bastard of Orleans. Search out thy wit for secret policies,
  And we will make thee famous through the world.

• Duke of Alencon. We'll set thy statue in some holy place,
  And have thee reverenced like a blessed saint: 1620
  Employ thee then, sweet virgin, for our good.

• Joan la Pucelle. Then thus it must be; this doth Joan devise:
  By fair persuasions mix'd with sugar'd words
  We will entice the Duke of Burgundy
  To leave the Talbot and to follow us. 1625

• Charles, King of France. Ay, marry, sweeting, if we could do that,
  France were no place for Henry's warriors;
  Nor should that nation boast it so with us,
  But be extirped from our provinces.

• Duke of Alencon. For ever should they be expulsed from France 1630
  And not have title of an earldom here.

• Joan la Pucelle. Your honours shall perceive how I will work
  To bring this matter to the wished end.
  [Drum sounds afar off]
  Hark! by the sound of drum you may perceive 1635
  Their powers are marching unto Paris-ward.
  [Here sound an English march. Enter, and pass over]
  at a distance, TALBOT and his forces]
  There goes the Talbot, with his colours spread,
  And all the troops of English after him. 1640
  [French march. Enter BURGUNDY and forces]
  Now in the rearward comes the duke and his:
  Fortune in favour makes him lag behind.
  Summon a parley; we will talk with him.

[Trumpets sound a parley]

• Charles, King of France. A parley with the Duke of Burgundy!

• Duke of Burgundy. Who craves a parley with the Burgundy?

• Joan la Pucelle. The princely Charles of France, thy countryman.

• Duke of Burgundy. What say'st thou, Charles? for I am marching hence.

• Charles, King of France. Speak, Pucelle, and enchant him with thy words. 1650

• Joan la Pucelle. Brave Burgundy, undoubted hope of France!
  Stay, let thy humble handmaid speak to thee.

• Duke of Burgundy. Speak on; but be not over-tedious.

• Joan la Pucelle. Look on thy country, look on fertile France,
  And see the cities and the towns defaced 1655
  By wasting ruin of the cruel foe.
  As looks the mother on her lowly babe
  When death doth close his tender dying eyes,
  See, see the pining malady of France;
  Behold the wounds, the most unnatural wounds, 1660
  Which thou thyself hast given her woful breast.
  O, turn thy edged sword another way;
  Strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that help.
  One drop of blood drawn from thy country's bosom
  Should grieve thee more than streams of foreign gore: 1665
  Return thee therefore with a flood of tears,
  And wash away thy country's stained spots.

• Duke of Burgundy. Either she hath bewitch'd me with her words,
  Or nature makes me suddenly relent.

• Joan la Pucelle. Besides, all French and France exclaims on thee, 1670
  Doubting thy birth and lawful progeny.
  Who joint'st thou with but with a lordly nation
  That will not trust thee but for profit's sake?
  When Talbot hath set footing once in France
  And fashion'd thee that instrument of ill, 1675
  Who then but English Henry will be lord
  And thou be thrust out like a fugitive?
  Call we to mind, and mark but this for proof,
  Was not the Duke of Orleans thy foe?
  And was he not in England prisoner? 1680
  But when they heard he was thine enemy,
  They set him free without his ransom paid,
  In spite of Burgundy and all his friends.
  See, then, thou fight'st against thy countrymen
  And joint'st with them will be thy slaughtermen. 1685
  Come, come, return; return, thou wandering lord:
  Charles and the rest will take thee in their arms.

• Duke of Burgundy. I am vanquished; these haughty words of hers
  Have batter'd me like roaring cannon-shot,
  And made me almost yield upon my knees. 1690
  Forgive me, country, and sweet countrymen,
  And, lords, accept this hearty kind embrace:
  My forces and my power of men are yours:
  So farewell, Talbot; I'll no longer trust thee.

• Joan la Pucelle. [Aside] Done like a Frenchman: turn, and turn again! 1695

• Charles, King of France. Welcome, brave duke! thy friendship makes us fresh.

• Bastard of Orleans. And doth beget new courage in our breasts.

• Duke of Alencon. Pucelle hath bravely play'd her part in this,
  And doth deserve a coronet of gold.

• Charles, King of France. Now let us on, my lords, and join our powers, 1700
  And seek how we may prejudice the foe.

[Exeunt]

Act III, Scene 4

Paris. The palace.

[Enter KING HENRY VI, GLOUCESTER, BISHOP OF] [p]WINCHESTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, SOMERSET, WARWICK, [p]EXETER, VERNON. BASSET, and others. To them [p]with his Soldiers, TALBOT]

• Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. My gracious prince, and honourable peers,
  Hearing of your arrival in this realm,
  I have awhile given truce unto my wars,
  To do my duty to my sovereign: 1710
  In sign, whereof, this arm, that hath reclaim'd
  To your obedience fifty fortresses,
  Twelve cities and seven walled towns of strength,
  Beside five hundred prisoners of esteem,
  Lets fall his sword before your highness' feet, 1715
  And with submissive loyalty of heart
  Ascribes the glory of his conquest got
  First to my God and next unto your grace.

[Kneels]

• Henry VI. Is this the Lord Talbot, uncle Gloucester, 1720
  That hath so long been resident in France?

• Duke of Gloucester. Yes, if it please your majesty, my liege.

• Henry VI. Welcome, brave captain and victorious lord!
  When I was young, as yet I am not old,
  I do remember how my father said 1725
  A stouter champion never handled sword.
  Long since we were resolved of your truth,
  Your faithful service and your toil in war;
  Yet never have you tasted our reward,
  Or been reguerdon'd with so much as thanks, 1730
  Because till now we never saw your face:
  Therefore, stand up; and, for these good deserts,
  We here create you Earl of Shrewsbury;
  And in our coronation take your place.

[Sennet. Flourish. Exeunt all but VERNON and BASSET]

• Vernon. Now, sir, to you, that were so hot at sea,
  Disgracing of these colours that I wear
  In honour of my noble Lord of York:
  Darest thou maintain the former words thou spakest?

• Basset. Yes, sir; as well as you dare patronage 1740
  The envious barking of your saucy tongue
  Against my lord the Duke of Somerset.

• Vernon. Sirrah, thy lord I honour as he is.

• Basset. Why, what is he? as good a man as York.

• Vernon. Hark ye; not so: in witness, take ye that. 1745

[Strikes him]

• Basset. Villain, thou know'st the law of arms is such
  That whoso draws a sword, 'tis present death,
  Or else this blow should broach thy dearest blood.
  But I'll unto his majesty, and crave 1750
  I may have liberty to venge this wrong;
  When thou shalt see I'll meet thee to thy cost.

• Vernon. Well, miscreant, I'll be there as soon as you;
  And, after, meet you sooner than you would.

[Exeunt]