An Army have I muster'd in my thoughts,
Wherewith already France is over-run.

Enter another Messenger.

Mes. My gracious Lords, to adde to your laments,
Wherewith you now bedew King Henries hearse,
I must informe you of a dismall fight,

Betwixt the stout Lord Talbot, and the French.
Win. What? wherein Talbot overcame, is't so?

.Mes. O no: wherein Lord Talbot was o'rethrown:

3.1

The circumstance Ile tell you more at large.

The tenth of August last, this dreadfull Lord,
Retyring from the Siege of Orleance,

121

Having full scarce six thousand in his troupe,
By three and twentie thousand of the French
Was round incompassed, and set upon:
No leysure had he to enranke his men.
He wanted Pikes to set before his Archers:
Instead whereof, sharpe Stakes pluckt out of Hedges
They pitched in the ground confusedly,

130

To keepe the Horsemen off, from breaking in.
More then three houres the fight continued:
Where valiant Talbot, above humane thought,
Enacted wonders with his Sword and Lance.
Hundreds he sent to Hell, and none durst stand him:
Here, there, and every where enrag'd, he slew.
The French exclaym'd, the Devill was in Armes,
All the whole Army stood agaz'd on him.
His Souldiers spying his undaunted Spirit,
A Talbot, a Talbot, cry'd out amaine,
And rusht into the Bowels of the Battaile.
Here had the Conquest fully been seal'd up,

136. slew: flew-2RowE.

140

If Sir John Falstaffe had not play'd the Coward.
He being in the Vauward,1 plac't behinde,
With purpose to relieve and follow them,
Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroake.
Hence grew the generall wrack and massacre:
Enclosed were they with their Enemies.
A base Wallon, to win the Dolphins grace,
Thrust Talbot with a Speare into the Back,

1 van

150

Whom all France, with their chiefe assembled strength,

Durst not presume to looke once in the face.

Bedf. Is Talbot slaine then? I will slay my selfe, For living idly here, in pompe and ease, Whil'st such a worthy Leader, wanting ayd, Unto his dastard foe-men is betray'd.

3. Mess. O no, he lives, but is tooke Prisoner, And Lord Scales with him, and Lord Hungerford: Most of the rest slaughter'd, or tooke likewise.

pay. 160

Bedf. His Ransome there is none but I shall
Ile hale the Dolphin headlong from his Throne,
His Crowne shall be the Ransome of my friend:
Foure of their Lords Ile change for one of ours.
Farwell my Masters, to my Taske will I,
Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make,
To keepe our great Saint Georges Feast withall.
Ten thousand Souldiers with me I will take,
Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake.

3. Mess. So you had need, for Orleance is besieg'd, The English Army is growne weake and faint: The Earle of Salisbury craveth supply,

And hardly keepes his men from mutinie,

Since they so few, watch such a multitude.

170

Exe. Remember Lords your Oathes to Henry sworne:

143. Falstaffe: Fastolfe, and so throughout-THEOBALD. 153. slaine then? I: slain? then I-JOHNSON.

Eyther to quell the Dolphin utterly,

Or bring him in obedience to your yoake.

Bedf. I doe remember it, and here take my leave, To goe about my preparation. Exit Bedford.

Glost. Ile to the Tower with all the hast I can,

To view th' Artillerie and Munition,

And then I will proclayme young Henry King.

Exit Gloster.

180

Exe. To Eltam will I, where the young King is, Being ordayn'd his speciall Governor,

And for his safetie there Ile best devise.

Exit.

Winch. Each hath his Place and Function to attend:

I am left out; for me nothing remaines:

But long I will not be Jack out of Office.
The King from Eltam I intend to send,
And sit at chiefest Sterne of publique Weale.

190

[Scene ii.

France.

Exit.

Before Orleans.]

Sound a Flourish.

Enter Charles, Alanson, and Reigneir, marching

with Drum and Souldiers.

Charles. Mars his true moving, even as in the Heavens, So in the Earth, to this day is not knowne. Late did he shine upon the English side: Now we are Victors, upon us he smiles. What Townes of any moment, but we have? At pleasure here we lye, neere Orleance:

Otherwhiles, the famisht English, like pale Ghosts, 10

183. Eltam: Eltham, and so throughout-STEEVENS.

189. send: steal-SINGER.

2. Reigneir: Reignier, and so throughout-RowE.

Faintly besiege us one houre in a moneth.

Alan. They want their Porredge, & their fat Bul Beeves: Eyther they must be dyeted like Mules,

And have their Provender ty'd to their mouthes,
Or pitteous they will looke, like drowned Mice.
Reigneir. Let's rayse the Siege: why live we idly here?
Talbot is taken, whom we wont to feare:
Remayneth none but mad-brayn'd Salisbury,
And he may well in fretting spend his gall,
Nor men nor Money hath he to make Warre.

20

Charles. Sound, sound Alarum, we will rush on them.

Now for the honour of the forlorne French:

Him I forgive my death, that killeth me,

When he sees me goe back one foot, or flye. Exeunt. Here Alarum, they are beaten back by the English, with great losse.

Enter Charles, Alanson, and Reigneir.

Charles. Who ever saw the like? what men have I? Dogges, Cowards, Dastards: I would ne're have fled, But that they left me 'midst my Enemies.

Reigneir. Salisbury is a desperate Homicide,

He fighteth as one weary of his life:

The other Lords, like Lyons wanting foode,

Doe rush upon us as their hungry prey.

30

Alanson. Froysard, a Countreyman of ours, records,

England all Olivers and Rowlands breed,

During the time Edward the third did raigne:

More truly now may this be verified;

For none but Samsons and Goliasses

It sendeth forth to skirmish: one to tenne?

Leane raw-bon'd Rascals, who would e're suppose,

27. Reigneir: Reignier-2-4F.

35. Froysard: Froissart-CAPELL.

40

36. breed: bred-RowE.

They had such courage and audacitie?

Charles. Let's leave this Towne, For they are hayre-brayn'd Slaves,

And hunger will enforce them to be more eager:
Of old I know them; rather with their Teeth
The Walls they'le teare downe, then forsake the Siege.
Reigneir. I thinke by some odde Gimmors1 or Device
Their Armes are set, like Clocks, still to strike on;
Else ne're could they hold out so as they doe:
By my consent, wee'le even let them alone. 1 clockwork
Alanson. Be it so.

Enter the Bastard of Orleance.

50

Bastard. Where's the Prince Dolphin? I have newes for him.

Dolph. [Char.] Bastard of Orleance, thrice welcome

to us.

Bast. Me thinks your looks are sad, your chear2 appal'd. Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence? 2 looks Be not dismay'd, for succour is at hand:

A holy Maid hither with me I bring,

Which by a Vision sent to her from Heaven,

Ordayned is to rayse this tedious Siege,

And drive the English forth the bounds of France:
The spirit of deepe Prophecie she hath,

Exceeding the nine Sibyls of old Rome:

What's past, and what's to come, she can descry.
Speake, shall I call her in? beleeve my words,
For they are certaine, and unfallible.

60

Dolph. Goe call her in: [Exit Bast.] but first, to try her skill,

Reignier stand thou as Dolphin in my place;

70

43-4. I 1.-POPE.