Char. Go, take their bodies hence.
Lucy.

I'll bear them hence:

But doubt not from their ashes shall be rear'd
A phoenix that shall make all France afeard.
Char. So we be rid of them, do what thou wilt.
And now to Paris, in this conquering vein :
All will be ours, now bloody Talbot's slain.

ACT V.

SCENE I. London. A Room in the Palace.

Enter King HENRY, GLOSTER, and EXETER.

King. Have you perused the letters from the Pope, The Emperor, and the Earl of Armagnac ?

Glo. I have, my lord: and their intent is this: They humbly sue unto your Excellence

To have a godly peace concluded of

Between the realms of England and of France.
King. How doth your Grace affect their motion?
Glo. Well, my good lord; and as the only means

To stop effusion of our Christian blood,
And stablish quietness on every side.

King. Ay, marry, uncle; for I always thought
It was both impious and unnatural

1

That such immanity 1 and bloody strife

Should reign among professors of one faith.

Glo. Besides, my lord, the sooner to effect

And surer bind this knot of amity,

1 Immanity is savageness, barbarity; like the Latin immanitas.

The Earl of Armagnac

near kin to Charles,

A man of great authority in France

Proffers his only daughter to your Grace

In marriage, with a large and sumptuous dower.
King. Marriage, uncle! alas, my years are young!
And fitter is my study and my books

Than wanton dalliance with a paramour.
Yet, call th' ambassadors; and, as you please,

So let them have their answers every one :

I shall be well content with any choice

Tends to God's glory and my country's weal.

Enter a Legate and two Ambassadors, with WINCHESTER, now Cardinal BEAUFORT, and habited accordingly.

Exe. [Aside.] What! is my Lord of Winchester install'd, And call'd unto a cardinal's degree? 2

Then I perceive that will be verified

Henry the Fifth did sometime prophesy,

If once he come to be a cardinal,

He'll make his cap co-equal with the crown.

King. My lords ambassadors, your several suits

Have been consider'd and debated on.

Your purpose is both good and reasonable;
And therefore are we certainly resolved
To draw conditions of a friendly peace;
Which by my Lord of Winchester we mean

2 Beaufort's preferment to "a cardinal's degree" having happened about fifteen years back, it may seem strange that Exeter should now for the first time wonder at it as something new. This, however, is quite in keeping with other things in the same scene, such as the alleged youth of the King, who was at this time twenty-three years old. The point is well stated by Coleridge: "The history of our ancient kings, - the events of their reigns, I mean, — are like stars in the sky; — whatever the real interspaces may be, and however great, they seem close to each other. The stars the strike us and remain in our eye, little modified by the difference

events
of dates."

Shall be transported presently to France.

Glo. And, for the proffer of my lord your master,
I have inform'd his Highness so at large,

As, liking of the lady's virtuous gifts,
Her beauty, and the value of her dower,

He doth intend she shall be England's Queen.

King. [To the Amb.] In argument and proof of which

contract,

Bear her this jewel, pledge of my affection.-
And so, my Lord Protector, see them guarded,
And safely brought to Dover; where, inshipp'd,
Commit them to the fortune of the sea.

[Exeunt King HENRY, GLOSTER, EXETER,
and Ambassadors.

Car. Stay, my lord legate: you shall first receive The sum of money which I promised

Should be deliver'd to his Holiness

For clothing me in these grave ornaments.

Leg. I will attend upon your lordship's leisure.
Car. Now Winchester will not submit, I trow,

[Exit.

Or be inferior to the proudest peer.

Humphrey of Gloster, thou shalt well perceive
That neither in birth or for authority

The bishop will be overborne by thee:

I'll either make thee stoop and bend thy knee,
Or sack this country with a mutiny.

[Exit.

Enter CHARLES, BURGUNDY, ALENÇON, the Bastard of Orleans, REIGNIER, LA PUCELLE, and Forces, marching.

Char. These news, my lords, may cheer our drooping spirits:

'Tis said the stout Parisians do revolt,

And turn again unto the warlike French.

Alen. Then march to Paris, royal Charles of France,

And keep not back your powers in dalliance.

Puc. Peace be amongst them, if they turn to us; Else, ruin combat with their palaces!

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. Success unto our valiant general,

And happiness to his accomplices!

Char. What tidings send our scouts? I pr'ythee, speak.

Mess. The English army, that divided was

Into two parts, is now conjoin'd in one,

And means to give you battle presently.

Char. Somewhat too sudden, sirs, the warning is;

But we will presently provide for them.

Bur. I trust the ghost of Talbot is not there : Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear.

Puc. Of all base passions, fear is most accursed: Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine; Let Henry fret, and all the world repine.

Char. Then on, my lords; and France be fortunate !

SCENE III. Before Angiers.

Alarums: excursions. Enter LA PUCELLE.

[Exeunt.

Puc. The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly. Now help, ye charming spells and periapts; :1

1 Periapts were certain written charms worn about the person as preservatives from disease and danger. Of these the first chapter of St. John's Gospel was deemed the most efficacious. The following story is related in Wits, Fits, and Fancies, 1595: "A cardinal, seeing a priest carrying a cudgel under his gown, reprimanded him. His excuse was, that he only carried it to defend himself against the dogs of the town. Wherefore, I pray you, replied the cardinal, serves St. John's Gospel? Alas, my lord, said the priest, these curs understand no Latin."

And ye choice spirits that admonish me,
And give me signs of future accidents ;
You speedy helpers, that are substitutes
Under the lordly monarch of the North,2
Appear, and aid me in this enterprise !

Enter Fiends.

This speed and quick appearance argues proof

Of

your

accustom'd diligence to me.

Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull'd

Out of the powerful legions under earth,

Help me this once, that France may get the field.

[Thunder.

[They walk about, and speak not.

my blood,

O, hold me not with silence over-long!
Where 3 I was wont to feed you with
I'll lop a member off, and give it you,
In earnest of a further benefit,
So you do condescend to help me now.

[They hang their heads.

No hope to have redress? My body shall
Pay recompense, if you will grant my suit.

[They shake their heads.

Cannot my body nor blood-sacrifice
Entreat you to your wonted furtherance?
Then take my soul, my body, soul, and all,

Before that England give the French the foil. [They depart.

See, they forsake me !

That France must vail 4

Now the time is come,

her lofty-plumèd crest,

And let her head fall into England's lap.

2 The monarch of the North was Zimimar, one of the four principal devils invoked by witches. The North was supposed to be the particular habitation of bad spirits. Milton assembles the rebel angels in the North.

3 Where for whereas, a common usage in old writers. Whereas is also sometimes used for where.

4 To vail is to lower or let fall. Often so.