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          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 the 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 suppos'd the founder of this law;

          Who died within the year of our redemption

          Four hundred twenty-six; and Charles the Great

          Subdu'd 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 usurp'd 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-

          Though in pure truth it was corrupt and naught-

          Convey'd himself as th' heir to th' 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 tide 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 tides

          Usurp'd from you and your progenitors.

        KING HENRY. May I with right and conscience make this claim?

        CANTERBURY. 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 fun 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!

        ELY. 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.

        EXETER. Your brother kings and monarchs of the earth

          Do all expect that you should rouse yourself,

          As did the former lions of your blood.

        WESTMORELAND. 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.

        CANTERBURY. 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.

        KING HENRY. We must not only arm t' invade the French,

          But lay down our proportions to defend

          Against the Scot, who will make road upon us

          With all advantages.

        CANTERBURY. They of those marches, gracious sovereign,

          Shall be a wall sufficient to defend

          Our inland from the pilfering borderers.

        KING HENRY. 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

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