Part 18 (1/2)
[_Enter ENGLISH HERALD, R.H._
_K. Hen._ (_coming down C._) Now, herald, are the dead number'd?
[_HERALD uncovers, kneels, and delivers papers.
The KING gives one paper to EXETER._
_K. Hen._ (C.) What prisoners of good sort are taken, uncle?
_Exe._ (L.C.) Charles duke of Orleans, nephew to the king; John duke of Bourbon, and lord Bouciqualt: Of other lords and barons, knights and 'squires, Full fifteen hundred, besides common men.
_K. Hen._ (C.) This note doth tell me of ten thousand French That in the field lie slain: of princes, in this number, And n.o.bles bearing banners, there lie dead One hundred twenty-six: added to these, Of knights, esquires, and gallant gentlemen, Eight thousand and four hundred; of the which, Five hundred were but yesterday dubb'd knights:[32]
So that, in these ten thousand they have lost, There are but sixteen hundred mercenaries:[33]
The rest are--princes, barons, lords, knights, 'squires, And gentlemen of blood and quality.
Here was a royal fellows.h.i.+p of death!----(Q) What is the number of our English dead?
_Exe._ (L.C.) Edward the duke of York, the earl of Suffolk, Sir Richard Ketley, Davy Gam, esquire: None else of name; and of all other men But five and twenty.
_K. Hen._ O Heaven, thy arm was here; And not to us, but to thy arm alone, Ascribe we all! When, without stratagem, But in plain shock and even play of battle, Was ever known so great and little loss On one part and on the other?--Take it, Heaven, For it is only thine!
[_Returns papers to HERALD, who rises and stands L._
_Exe._ 'Tis wonderful!
_K. Hen._ Come, go we in procession to the village: And be it death proclaimed through our host To boast of this, or take that praise from Heaven Which is his only.
_Flu._ (R.C.) Is it not lawful, and please your majesty, to tell how many is killed?
_K. Hen._ (_up the stage C._) Yes, captain; but with this acknowledgment, That Heaven fought for us.
_Flu._ Yes, my conscience, he did us great goot.
_K. Hen._ Do we all holy rites:(R)
[_The curtains of the Royal Pavilion are drawn aside, and discover an Altar and Priests._
Let there be sung _Non n.o.bis_ and _Te Deum_; The dead with charity enclos'd in clay: We'll then to Calais; and to England then; Where ne'er from France arriv'd more happy men.
[_Organ music; all kneel, and join in Song of Thanksgiving._
END OF ACT FOUR.
[Footnote IV.32: _Five hundred were but yesterday dubb'd knights:_] In ancient times, the distribution of this honor appears to have been customary on the eve of a battle.]
[Footnote IV.33: _Sixteen hundred mercenaries;_] i.e., common soldiers, hired soldiers.]
HISTORICAL NOTES TO ACT FOURTH.
(A) _The English Camp at Agincourt._] The French were about a quarter of a mile from them at Agincourt and Ruisseauville, and both armies proceeded to light their fires, and to make the usual arrangements for a bivouack. The night was very rainy, and much inconvenience is said to have been experienced in each camp from wet and cold, accompanied, among the English, by hunger and fatigue. It was pa.s.sed in a manner strictly consistent with their relative situations. The French, confident in their numbers, occupied the hours not appropriated to sleep in calculating upon their success; and in full security of a complete victory, played at dice with each other for the disposal of their prisoners, an archer being valued at a blank, and the more important persons in proportion; whilst the English were engaged in preparing their weapons, and in the most solemn acts of religion. * * * The Chronicler in the text states, that from the great stillness which prevailed throughout the English camp, the enemy imagined they were panic-struck, and intended to decamp. Monstrelet relates that the English ”were much fatigued and oppressed by cold, hunger, and other annoyances; that they made their peace with G.o.d, by confessing their sins with tears, and numbers of them taking the sacrament; for, as it was related by some prisoners, they looked for certain death on the morrow.”
(B) _Enter Erpingham._] Sir Thomas Erpingham came over with Bolingbroke from Bretagne, and was one of the commissioners to receive King Richard's abdication. In Henry the Fifth's time Sir Thomas was warden of Dover Castle, and at the battle of Agincourt, was commander of the Archers. This venerable knight is described by Monstrelet to have grown grey with age and honour; and when orders were given for the English army to march toward the enemy, by Henry crying aloud, ”Advance banners,” Sir Thomas threw his truncheon in the air as a signal to the whole field, exclaiming, ”Now strike;” and loud and repeated shouts testified the readiness with which they obeyed the command.