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Where is my gracious Lord of Canterbury?
Where is my gracious Lord of Canterbury?
Not here in presence.
Not here in front of us.
Send for him, good uncle.
Have him brought here, good uncle.
Shall we call in the ambassador, my liege?
Should we call in the ambassador, my lord?
Not yet, my cousin: we would be resolved, Before we hear him, of some things of weight That task our thoughts, concerning us and France.
Not yet, my cousin: we want to be certain, Before we hear him, about some important matters That are troubling us, regarding us and France.
God and his angels guard your sacred throne And make you long become it!
God and his angels protect your sacred throne And help you to keep it for a long time!
Sure, we thank you. My learned lord, we pray you to proceed And justly and religiously unfold Why the law Salique that they have in France Or should, or should not, bar us in our claim: And God forbid, my dear and faithful lord, That you should fashion, wrest, or bow your reading, Or nicely charge your understanding soul With opening titles miscreate, whose right Suits not in native colours with the truth; For God doth know how many now in health Shall drop their blood in approbation Of what your reverence shall incite us to. Therefore take heed how you impawn our person, How you awake our sleeping sword of war: We charge you, in the name of God, take heed; 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 wrong gives edge unto the swords That make 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.
Of course, we thank you. My learned lord, we ask you to continue And fairly and truthfully explain Why the Salic law they have in France Should or should not prevent us from claiming it: And God forbid, my dear and loyal lord, That you should twist, manipulate, or misinterpret your reading, Or subtly force your understanding to fit False arguments that do not align with the truth; For God knows how many will shed their blood In approval of what you encourage us to do. So take care how you involve us, How you stir up our dormant sword of war: We warn you, in the name of God, be careful; For no two kingdoms have ever fought Without much bloodshed; every drop of blood Is a tragedy, a painful regret Against the one whose wrongs fuel the swords That cause such destruction in such brief lives. With this warning, speak, my lord; For we will listen, note, and believe in our hearts That what you say is as clean as sin washed away Through baptism.
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 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 subdued 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 that 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 supposed the founder of this law; Who died within the year of our redemption Four hundred twenty-six; and Charles the Great Subdued 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 usurped 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, ’Through, in pure truth, it was corrupt and naught, Convey’d himself as heir to the 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 title 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 titles Usurp’d from you and your progenitors.
Then listen to me, gracious king, and you lords, Who owe your lives and service To this imperial throne. There is no obstacle To your highness’ claim to France Except this, which they bring up from Pharamond, ’In terram Salicam mulieres ne succedant:’ ’No woman shall inherit in Salique land:’ Which Salique land the French wrongly claim To be the realm of France, and Pharamond As the founder of this law and female ban. Yet their own scholars clearly state That the Salique land is in Germany, Between the rivers Sala and Elbe; Where Charlemagne, after defeating the Saxons, Left behind and settled some French people; Who, looking down on German women For some disgraceful behavior, Established this law: that no woman Should inherit in Salique land: Which Salique, as I said, between Elbe and Sala, Is still called Meisen in Germany. Therefore, it is clear that the Salique law Was not made for the kingdom of France: Nor did the French own Salique land Until four hundred and twenty-one years After the death of King Pharamond, Who is wrongly believed to be the founder of this law; He died in the year of our Lord Four hundred twenty-six; and Charlemagne Defeated the Saxons and settled the French Beyond the river Sala, in the year Eight hundred five. Besides, their historians say, King Pepin, who deposed Childeric, Did, as the general heir, claim The crown of France through Blithild, daughter of King Clothair, Who was a rightful heir to the French throne. Hugh Capet also, who took the crown From Charles, Duke of Lorraine, the last true male heir Of the family of Charlemagne, Attempted to justify his claim with some truth, But, in reality, his claim was false and unjust, And he represented himself as heir to Lady Lingare, The daughter of Charlemagne, who was the son Of Louis the emperor, and Louis the son Of Charles the Great. Also King Louis the Tenth, Who was the only heir to the usurper Capet, Could not rest easy in his conscience, Wearing the crown of France, until he was sure That the fair Queen Isabel, his grandmother, Was a direct descendant of Lady Ermengarde, Daughter of Charles, the aforementioned Duke of Lorraine: Through this marriage, the line of Charles the Great Was reunited with the crown of France. So, as clear as the summer sun. King Pepin’s title and Hugh Capet’s claim, King Louis’s satisfaction, all show To be based on the female line: So do the kings of France to this day; However, they want to uphold the Salic law To prevent your highness from claiming through the female, And would rather hide these claims in a net Than openly admit their crooked titles Usurped from you and your ancestors.
May I with right and conscience make this claim?
Can I rightfully and with a clear conscience make this claim?
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 full 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!
The sin is on my head, great sovereign! For in the book of Numbers it is written, When a man dies, let the inheritance Pass to the daughter. Gracious lord, Stand for your own; raise your bloody flag; Look back at your mighty ancestors: Go, my great lord, to your great-grandfather’s tomb, From whom you claim; call on his warrior spirit, And your great-uncle, Edward the Black Prince, Who on French soil staged a tragedy, Defeating the full might of France, While his mighty father stood on a hill Smiling as he watched his lion’s cub Tear through the blood of French nobility. Oh, noble English, who could withstand With half their forces the full pride of France And let another half stand laughing by, All idle and cold for action!
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.
Wake the memory of these valiant dead And with your powerful arm renew their feats: You are their heir; you sit upon their throne; The blood and courage that made them famous Runs in your veins; and my great liege Is in the very spring of his youth, Ready for exploits and great endeavors.
Your brother kings and monarchs of the earth Do all expect that you should rouse yourself, As did the former lions of your blood.
Your fellow kings and monarchs of the world Expect you to rouse yourself, As the former lions of your blood did.
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.
They know your grace has the cause, the means, and the strength; So does your highness; no king of England Ever had nobles more loyal and richer subjects, Whose hearts have left their bodies here in England And rest now in the fields of France.
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.
Oh, let their bodies follow, my dear liege, With blood, sword, and fire to win your right; To help with this, we of the clergy Will raise your highness a mighty sum Like no clergy has ever raised for your ancestors.
We must not only arm to invade the French, But lay down our proportions to defend Against the Scot, who will make road upon us With all advantages.
We must not only prepare to invade the French, But also set aside resources to defend Against the Scots, who will attack us With all advantages.
They of those marches, gracious sovereign, Shall be a wall sufficient to defend Our inland from the pilfering borderers.
They on the borders, gracious sovereign, Shall form a strong defense To protect our land from the raiding borderers.
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 fulness of his force, Galling the gleaned land with hot assays, Girding with grievous siege castles and towns; That England, being empty of defence, Hath shook and trembled at the ill neighbourhood.
We do not fear just the petty thieves, But fear the main intention of the Scots, Who have always been an unpredictable neighbor; For you will read that my great-grandfather Never went into France with his forces Without the Scots, on their unprotected land, Pouring in like a flood, attacking With full force, ravaging the land with fierce assaults, Laying siege to castles and towns; That England, being unprotected, Trembled at the threat of this bad neighbor.
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 sunless treasuries.
She was more feared than harmed, my liege; For listen to her history: When all her knights were in France And she was a widow mourning her nobles, She not only defended herself well But took and captured as if a stray The King of Scots; whom she sent to France, To add to King Edward’s glory with captured kings, And make her history as full of praise As the sea’s bottom is full Of wrecked ships and hidden treasures.
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.
But there’s an old saying that’s still true, "If you want to win France, Then start by conquering Scotland:" Because once the English eagle is busy hunting, The unprotected nest is easy prey for the Scottish weasel, Who sneaks in and steals her royal eggs, Acting like a mouse when the cat is away, Destroying more than he can actually use.
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, The 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.
So, it follows that the cat must stay home: But that’s just an unfortunate necessity, Since we have locks to protect what’s important, And clever traps to catch the small thieves. While the armed hand fights abroad, The wise head defends itself at home; For government, whether high or low, Works in parts, but all in agreement, Coming together in a natural unity, Like music.
Therefore doth heaven divide The state of man in divers functions, Setting endeavour in continual motion; To which is fixed, as an aim or butt, 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 poor mechanic porters crowding in Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate, The sad-eyed justice, with his surly hum, Delivering o’er to executors pale The lazy yawning drone. I this infer, That many things, having full reference To one consent, may work contrariously: As many arrows, loosed several ways, Come to one mark; as many ways meet in one town; As many fresh streams meet in one salt sea; As many lines close in the dial’s centre; So may a thousand actions, once afoot. End in one purpose, and be all well borne Without defeat. Therefore to France, my liege. Divide your happy England into four; Whereof take you one quarter into France, And you withal shall make all Gallia shake. If we, with thrice such powers left at home, Cannot defend our own doors from the dog, Let us be worried and our nation lose The name of hardiness and policy.
That’s why heaven divides The roles of men into different functions, Keeping effort in constant motion; The goal of which is obedience: for this is how honeybees work, Creatures that, by nature’s rule, teach The lesson of order in a kingdom. They have a king and officials of various kinds; Some, like judges, maintain order at home, Others, like merchants, go out to trade, Others, like soldiers, armed with stingers, Raid the summer buds, And bring their spoils home with a cheerful march To the royal camp of their emperor; Who, busy with his duties, watches The singing workers building golden roofs, The citizens making honey, The poor workers carrying heavy loads Through his narrow gate, The stern justice, with his grim tone, Turning over the lazy, yawning drone to the executioners. I deduce from this, That many things, all aiming at one goal, Can sometimes work against each other: Just like many arrows, shot in different directions, Can hit the same target; like many roads leading to one town; Like many streams flowing into the same sea; Like many lines meeting at the center of a compass; So too may a thousand actions, once begun, End with one purpose, and all be successful Without failure. Therefore, to France, my liege. Divide your prosperous England into four parts; Take one quarter with you to France, And with that, you’ll shake all of Gaul. If we, with three times the strength left behind, Can’t protect our own borders from attack, Then let us be defeated and lose The reputation of strength and strategy.
Call in the messengers sent from the Dauphin.
Bring in the messengers from the Dauphin.
Now are we well resolved; and, by God’s help, And yours, the noble sinews of our power, France being ours, we’ll bend it to our awe, Or break it all to pieces: or there we’ll sit, Ruling in large and ample empery O’er France and all her almost kingly dukedoms, Or lay these bones in an unworthy urn, Tombless, with no remembrance over them: Either our history shall with full mouth Speak freely of our acts, or else our grave, Like Turkish mute, shall have a tongueless mouth, Not worshipp’d with a waxen epitaph.
Now we are firmly resolved; and with God’s help, And yours, the noble strength of our power, Once France is ours, we’ll make them bow to us, Or break them into pieces: or there we’ll stay, Ruling over France and all her almost-royal dukedoms, Or our bones will lie in a dishonorable grave, Without a tombstone or remembrance: Either our history will loudly proclaim Our deeds, or our grave, Like a silent Turkish tomb, will have no words, And won’t be honored with a written epitaph.
Now are we well prepared to know the pleasure Of our fair cousin Dauphin; for we hear Your greeting is from him, not from the king.
Now we’re ready to hear what our fair cousin Dauphin desires; We understand his message is from him, not the king.
May’t please your majesty to give us leave Freely to render what we have in charge; Or shall we sparingly show you far off The Dauphin’s meaning and our embassy?
May it please your majesty to allow us To freely deliver what we’ve been sent to say; Or should we give you a brief, distant version Of the Dauphin’s message and our mission?
We are no tyrant, but a Christian king; Unto whose grace our passion is as subject As are our wretches fetter’d in our prisons: Therefore with frank and with uncurbed plainness Tell us the Dauphin’s mind.
We are not a tyrant, but a Christian king; To whose authority our emotions are as controlled As the prisoners locked up in our jails: So, with openness and honesty, Tell us the Dauphin’s thoughts.
Thus, then, in few. Your highness, lately sending into France, Did claim some certain dukedoms, in the right Of your great predecessor, King Edward the Third. In answer of which claim, the prince our master Says that you savour too much of your youth, And bids you be advised there’s nought in France That can be with a nimble galliard won; You cannot revel into dukedoms there. He therefore sends you, meeter for your spirit, This tun of treasure; and, in lieu of this, Desires you let the dukedoms that you claim Hear no more of you. This the Dauphin speaks.
Here’s the summary. Your highness, when you recently sent an embassy to France, You claimed certain dukedoms, based on The rights of your great predecessor, King Edward III. In response to your claim, the prince, our master, Says you’re too youthful in your actions, And advises you that nothing in France Can be easily won through a lively dance; You can’t just party your way into dukedoms there. So, he sends you, more suitable for your spirit, This barrel of treasure; and, in exchange for this, Asks you to stop pursuing the dukedoms you claim And hear no more of them. This is what the Dauphin says.
What treasure, uncle?
What treasure, uncle?
Tennis-balls, my liege.
Tennis balls, my liege.
We are glad the Dauphin is so pleasant with us; His present and your pains we thank you for: When we have march’d our rackets to these balls, We will, in France, by God’s grace, play a set Shall strike his father’s crown into the hazard. Tell him he hath made a match with such a wrangler That all the courts of France will be disturb’d With chaces. And we understand him well, How he comes o’er us with our wilder days, Not measuring what use we made of them. We never valued this poor seat of England; And therefore, living hence, did give ourself To barbarous licence; as ’tis ever common That men are merriest when they are from home. But tell the Dauphin I will keep my state, Be like a king and show my sail of greatness When I do rouse me in my throne of France: For that I have laid by my majesty And plodded like a man for working-days, But I will rise there with so full a glory That I will dazzle all the eyes of France, Yea, strike the Dauphin blind to look on us. And tell the pleasant prince this mock of his Hath turn’d his balls to gun-stones; and his soul Shall stand sore charged for the wasteful vengeance That shall fly with them: for many a thousand widows Shall this his mock mock out of their dear husbands; Mock mothers from their sons, mock castles down; And some are yet ungotten and unborn That shall have cause to curse the Dauphin’s scorn. But this lies all within the will of God, To whom I do appeal; and in whose name Tell you the Dauphin I am coming on, To venge me as I may and to put forth My rightful hand in a well-hallow’d cause. So get you hence in peace; and tell the Dauphin His jest will savour but of shallow wit, When thousands weep more than did laugh at it. Convey them with safe conduct. Fare you well.
We’re glad the Dauphin is so playful with us; We thank you for his gift and for your efforts: When we’ve used our rackets to hit these balls, We will, by God’s grace, in France, play a game That will knock his father’s crown into danger. Tell him he’s made a match with such a troublemaker That all the courts of France will be disturbed With pursuits. And we understand him well, How he looks down on us from our wilder days, Not realizing how we used those days. We never valued this poor seat of England; And so, living away from it, we gave ourselves To wild freedom; as it’s common, That men are happiest when they’re far from home. But tell the Dauphin I will hold my position, Be like a king and show my full greatness When I rise up in my throne of France: For though I’ve set aside my majesty And worked like an ordinary man, I will rise there with such glory That I will dazzle all the eyes of France, Yes, even blind the Dauphin with my presence. And tell the playful prince that his joke Has turned his tennis balls into cannonballs; and his soul Will be heavily burdened by the wasteful vengeance That will come with them: for many thousands of widows Will lose their dear husbands because of his mockery; Mothers will lose their sons, castles will fall; And some unborn children Will have reason to curse the Dauphin’s mockery. But this is all within God’s will, To whom I appeal; and in His name, Tell the Dauphin I am coming, To take my revenge as best as I can and to make my move In a just cause. So go in peace; and tell the Dauphin His joke will seem shallow and foolish, When thousands of people cry over it more than laughed at it. Escort them safely. Farewell.
This was a merry message.
That was a funny message.
We hope to make the sender blush at it. Therefore, my lords, omit no happy hour That may give furtherance to our expedition; For we have now no thought in us but France, Save those to God, that run before our business. Therefore let our proportions for these wars Be soon collected and all things thought upon That may with reasonable swiftness add More feathers to our wings; for, God before, We’ll chide this Dauphin at his father’s door. Therefore let every man now task his thought, That this fair action may on foot be brought.
We hope to make the sender feel embarrassed about it. So, my lords, don’t waste any time That might help move our plans forward; For now, we think only of France, Except for those prayers to God that go before our business. So let’s quickly gather our resources for these wars And think of everything that we need To move with reasonable speed and add More strength to our cause; for, with God’s blessing, We’ll scold the Dauphin at his father’s door. So let every man now focus his thoughts, To ensure this noble cause gets underway.