William Shakespeare: The Life of King Henry V

ACT FOURTH. 7. SCENE VII. Another part of the field. (continued)

KING HENRY.
Thanks, good my countryman.

FLUELLEN.
By Jeshu, I am your Majesty's countryman, I care not who know it.
I will confess it to all the 'orld. I need not be asham'd of your
Majesty, praised be God, so long as your Majesty is an honest man.

KING HENRY.
God keep me so!

[Enter Williams.]

Our heralds go with him;
Bring me just notice of the numbers dead
On both our parts. Call yonder fellow hither.

[Exeunt Heralds with Montjoy.]

EXETER.
Soldier, you must come to the King.

KING HENRY.
Soldier, why wear'st thou that glove in thy cap?

WILLIAMS.
An't please your Majesty, 'tis the gage of one that I
should fight withal, if he be alive.

KING HENRY.
An Englishman?

WILLIAMS.
An't please your Majesty, a rascal that swagger'd with me
last night; who, if alive and ever dare to challenge this
glove, I have sworn to take him a box o' the ear; or if I can
see my glove in his cap, which he swore, as he was a soldier,
he would wear if alive, I will strike it out soundly.

KING HENRY.
What think you, Captain Fluellen? Iis it fit this soldier keep
his oath?

FLUELLEN.
He is a craven and a villain else, an't please your Majesty, in
my conscience.

KING HENRY.
It may be his enemy is a gentlemen of great sort, quite from
the answer of his degree.

FLUELLEN.
Though he be as good a gentleman as the devil is, as Lucifier
and Belzebub himself, it is necessary, look your Grace, that he
keep his vow and his oath. If he be perjur'd, see you now, his
reputation is as arrant a villain and a Jacksauce, as ever his
black shoe trod upon God's ground and His earth, in my
conscience, la!