Act 4, Scene 8 — Henry V — Study Shakespeare

The argument Williams strikes Fluellen over the glove, is arrested and brought before Henry, who reveals himself, rewards Williams's integrity, counts the dead — ten thousand French, twenty-five English — and orders prayers of thanksgiving.

Enter Gower and Williams.

WILLIAMS

I warrant it is to knight you, Captain.

Enter Fluellen.

FLUELLEN

God’s will and his pleasure, captain, I beseech you now, come apace to

the King. There is more good toward you peradventure than is in your

knowledge to dream of.

God’s will and his pleasure, captain, I beseech you now, come apace to the King. There is more good toward you peradventure than is in your knowledge to dream of.

God’s will and his pleasure, captain, I beseech you now, com

WILLIAMS

Sir, know you this glove?

FLUELLEN

Know the glove! I know the glove is a glove.

WILLIAMS

I know this; and thus I challenge it.

[_Strikes him._]

FLUELLEN

’Sblood! an arrant traitor as any is in the universal world, or in

France, or in England!

’Sblood! an arrant traitor as any is in the universal world, or in France, or in England!

’Sblood! an arrant traitor as any is in the universal world,

GOWER

How now, sir! you villain!

WILLIAMS

Do you think I’ll be forsworn?

FLUELLEN

Stand away, Captain Gower. I will give treason his payment into plows,

I warrant you.

Stand away, Captain Gower. I will give treason his payment into plows, I warrant you.

Stand away, Captain Gower. I will give treason his payment i

WILLIAMS

I am no traitor.

FLUELLEN

That’s a lie in thy throat. I charge you in his Majesty’s name,

apprehend him; he’s a friend of the Duke Alençon’s.

That’s a lie in your throat. I charge you in his Majesty’s name, apprehend him; he’s a friend of the Duke Alençon’s.

That’s a lie in your throat. I charge you in h's Majesty’s name, apprehend him; he’s a friend of the Duke Alençon’s.

that’s a lie in your throat. i charge you in his majesty’s name, apprehend him;

Enter Warwick and Gloucester.

WARWICK

How now, how now! what’s the matter?

FLUELLEN

My lord of Warwick, here is—praised be God for it!—a most contagious

treason come to light, look you, as you shall desire in a summer’s day.

Here is his Majesty.

My lord of Warwick, here is—praised be God for it!—a most contagious treason come to light, look you, as you shall desire in a summer’s day. Here is his Majesty.

My lord of Warwick, here is—praised be God for it!—a most co

Enter King Henry and Exeter.

KING HENRY

How now! what’s the matter?

FLUELLEN

My liege, here is a villain and a traitor, that, look your Grace, has

struck the glove which your Majesty is take out of the helmet of

Alençon.

My liege, here is a villain and a traitor, that, look your Grace, has struck the glove which your Majesty is take out of the helmet of Alençon.

My liege, here is a villain and a traitor, that, look your G

WILLIAMS

My liege, this was my glove; here is the fellow of it; and he that I

gave it to in change promis’d to wear it in his cap. I promis’d to

strike him, if he did. I met this man with my glove in his cap, and I

have been as good as my word.

My liege, this was my glove; here is the fellow of it; and he that I gave it to in change promis’d to wear it in his cap. I promis’d to strike him, if he did. I met this man with my glove in his cap, and I have been as good as my word.

My liege, this was my glove; here is the fellow of it; and h

FLUELLEN

Your Majesty hear now, saving your Majesty’s manhood, what an arrant,

rascally, beggarly, lousy knave it is. I hope your Majesty is pear me

testimony and witness, and will avouchment, that this is the glove of

Alençon that your Majesty is give me; in your conscience, now?

Your Majesty hear now, saving your Majesty’s manhood, what an arrant, rascally, beggarly, lousy knave it is. I hope your Majesty is pear me testimony and witness, and will avouchment, that this is the glove of Alençon that your Majesty is give me; in your conscience, now?

Your Majesty hear now, saving your Majesty’s manhood, what a

KING HENRY ≋ verse

Give me thy glove, soldier. Look, here is the fellow of it.

’Twas I, indeed, thou promisedst to strike;

And thou hast given me most bitter terms.

Give me your glove, soldier. Look, here is the fellow of it. ’Twas I, indeed, you promisedst to strike; And you hast given me most bitter terms.

Give me your glove, soldier. Look, here 's the fellow of it. ’Twas I, indeed, you prom'sedst to strike; And you hast given me most bitter terms.

give me your glove, soldier. look, here is the fellow of it. ’twas i, indeed, yo

FLUELLEN

An it please your Majesty, let his neck answer for it, if there is any

martial law in the world.

An it please your Majesty, let his neck answer for it, if there is any martial law in the world.

An it please your Majesty, let his neck answer for it, if th

KING HENRY

How canst thou make me satisfaction?

How canst you make me satisfaction?

How canst you make me sat'sfaction?

how canst you make me satisfaction?

WILLIAMS

All offences, my lord, come from the heart. Never came any from mine

that might offend your Majesty.

All offences, my lord, come from the heart. Never came any from mine that might offend your Majesty.

All offences, my lord, come from the heart. Never came any f

KING HENRY

It was ourself thou didst abuse.

It was ourself you didst abuse.

it was ourself you didst abuse.

WILLIAMS

Your Majesty came not like yourself. You appear’d to me but as a common

man; witness the night, your garments, your lowliness; and what your

Highness suffer’d under that shape, I beseech you take it for your own

fault and not mine; for had you been as I took you for, I made no

offence; therefore, I beseech your Highness, pardon me.

Your Majesty came not like yourself. You appear’d to me but as a common man; witness the night, your garments, your lowliness; and what your Highness suffer’d under that shape, I beseech you take it for your own fault and not mine; for had you been as I took you for, I made no offence; therefore, I beseech your Highness, pardon me.

Your Majesty came not like yourself. You appear’d to me but

Why it matters Williams's defense is one of the most direct speeches in the play — and he's right. Henry went in disguise and provoked a fight; Williams honored the fight. The king who played tricks with identity cannot complain when someone responds to the identity he presented.

↩ Callback to 4-1 Williams's defense — 'you appeared to me as a common man' — is the direct consequence of Henry's disguise in 4-1. The king who chose to test his men incognito must now accept the consequences of that choice.

KING HENRY ≋ verse

Here, uncle Exeter, fill this glove with crowns,

And give it to this fellow. Keep it, fellow;

And wear it for an honour in thy cap

Till I do challenge it. Give him his crowns;

And, captain, you must needs be friends with him.

Here, uncle Exeter, fill this glove with crowns, And give it to this fellow. Keep it, fellow; And wear it for an honour in your cap Till I do challenge it. Give him his crowns; And, captain, you must needs be friends with him.

Here, uncle Exeter, fill th's glove with crowns, And give it to th's fellow. Keep it, fellow; And wear it for an honour in your cap Till I do challenge it. Give him h's crowns; And, captain, you must needs be friends with him.

here, uncle exeter, fill this glove with crowns, and give it to this fellow. kee

FLUELLEN

By this day and this light, the fellow has mettle enough in his belly.

Hold, there is twelve pence for you; and I pray you to serve God, and

keep you out of prawls, and prabbles, and quarrels, and dissensions,

and, I warrant you, it is the better for you.

By this day and this light, the fellow has mettle enough in his belly. Hold, there is twelve pence for you; and I pray you to serve God, and keep you out of prawls, and prabbles, and quarrels, and dissensions, and, I warrant you, it is the better for you.

By this day and this light, the fellow has mettle enough in

WILLIAMS

I will none of your money.

FLUELLEN

It is with a good will; I can tell you, it will serve you to mend your

shoes. Come, wherefore should you be so pashful? Your shoes is not so

good. ’Tis a good silling, I warrant you, or I will change it.

It is with a good will; I can tell you, it will serve you to mend your shoes. Come, wherefore should you be so pashful? Your shoes is not so good. ’Tis a good silling, I warrant you, or I will change it.

It is with a good will; I can tell you, it will serve you to

Enter an English Herald.

KING HENRY

Now, herald, are the dead numb’red?

HERALD

Here is the number of the slaught’red French.

KING HENRY

What prisoners of good sort are taken, uncle?

EXETER ≋ verse

Charles Duke of Orleans, nephew to the King;

John Duke of Bourbon, and Lord Boucicault:

Of other lords and barons, knights and squires,

Full fifteen hundred, besides common men.

Charles Duke of Orleans, nephew to the King; John Duke of Bourbon, and Lord Boucicault: Of other lords and barons, knights and squires, Full fifteen hundred, besides common men.

Charles Duke of Orleans, nephew to the King; John Duke of Bo

KING HENRY ≋ verse

This note doth tell me of ten thousand French

That in the field lie slain; of princes, in this number,

And nobles 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;

So that, in these ten thousand they have lost,

There are but sixteen hundred mercenaries;

The rest are princes, barons, lords, knights, squires,

And gentlemen of blood and quality.

The names of those their nobles that lie dead:

Charles Delabreth, High Constable of France;

Jacques of Chatillon, Admiral of France;

The master of the Crossbows, Lord Rambures;

Great Master of France, the brave Sir Guichard Dauphin,

John, Duke of Alençon, Anthony, Duke of Brabant,

The brother to the Duke of Burgundy,

And Edward, Duke of Bar; of lusty earls,

Grandpré and Roussi, Fauconbridge and Foix,

Beaumont and Marle, Vaudemont and Lestrale.

Here was a royal fellowship of death!

Where is the number of our English dead?

This note does tell me of ten thousand French That in the field lie slain; of princes, in this number, And nobles 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; So that, in these ten thousand they have lost, There are but sixteen hundred mercenaries; The rest are princes, barons, lords, knights, squires, And gentlemen of blood and quality. The names of those their nobles that lie dead: Charles Delabreth, High Constable of France; Jacques of Chatillon, Admiral of France; The master of the Crossbows, Lord Rambures; Great Master of France, the brave Sir Guichard Dauphin, John, Duke of Alençon, Anthony, Duke of Brabant, The brother to the Duke of Burgundy, And Edward, Duke of Bar; of lusty earls, Grandpré and Roussi, Fauconbridge and Foix, Beaumont and Marle, Vaudemont and Lestrale. Here was a royal fellowship of death! Where is the number of our English dead?

Th's note does tell me of ten thousand French That in the field lie slain; of princes, in th's number, And nobles 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; So that, in these ten thousand they have lost, There 're but sixteen hundred mercenaries; The rest 're princes, barons, lords, knights, squires, And gentlemen of blood and quality. The names of those their nobles that lie dead: Charles Delabreth, High Constable of France; Jacques of Chatillon, Admiral of France; The master of the Crossbows, Lord Rambures; Great Master of France, the brave Sir Guichard Dauphin, John, Duke of Alençon, Anthony, Duke of Brabant, The brother to the Duke of Burgundy, And Edward, Duke of Bar; of lusty earls, Grandpré and Roussi, Fauconbridge and Foix, Beaumont and Marle, Vaudemont and Lestrale. Here was a royal fellowship of death! Where 's the number of our Engl'sh dead?

this note does tell me of ten thousand french that in the field lie slain; of pr

🎭 Dramatic irony Ten thousand French dead. Twenty-five English. The audience who heard the French mock the English army as already-dead men in 4-2 now hears the reversal. The numbers are the scene's quiet bombshell.

[_Herald gives him another paper._]

Edward the Duke of York, the Earl of Suffolk,

Sir Richard Ketly, Davy Gam, esquire;

None else of name; and of all other men

But five and twenty.—O God, 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, God,

For it is none but thine!

EXETER

’Tis wonderful!

KING HENRY ≋ verse

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 God

Which is His only.

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 God Which is His only.

Come, go we in procession to the village; And be it death pr

FLUELLEN

Is it not lawful, an please your Majesty, to tell how many is kill’d?

Is it not lawful, an please your Majesty, to tell how many i

KING HENRY ≋ verse

Yes, Captain; but with this acknowledgment,

That God fought for us.

Yes, Captain; but with this acknowledgment, That God fought for us.

Yes, Captain; but with this acknowledgment, That God fought

FLUELLEN

Yes, my conscience, He did us great good.

KING HENRY ≋ verse

Do we all holy rites.

Let there be sung _Non nobis_ and _Te Deum_,

The dead with charity enclos’d in clay,

And then to Calais; and to England then,

Where ne’er from France arriv’d more happy men.

Do we all holy rites. Let there be sung _Non nobis_ and _Te Deum_, The dead with charity enclos’d in clay, And then to Calais; and to England then, Where ne’er from France arriv’d more happy men.

Do we all holy rites. Let there be sung _Non nobis_ and _Te

Why it matters The closing of Agincourt: after the bloodshed and the rhetoric and the bodies, Henry insists on humility, ceremony, and proper burial. The battle ends not with a triumph but with a prayer.

[_Exeunt._]

The Reckoning

The glove trick resolves with more grace than Williams probably expected. His argument — 'you appeared to me as a common man' — is accepted; he's rewarded rather than punished. Then comes the casualty count, which is the emotional climax of Agincourt: ten thousand French dead, twenty-five English. Henry gives God the credit, orders no boasting on pain of death, and closes the act with 'Non nobis' and 'Te Deum.' The scene moves from comedy to awe in about sixty lines.

If this happened today…

After the upset win, the CEO who disguised himself the night before calls in the junior employee who argued with him. Instead of firing him, he gives him a promotion and says, 'You were right to hold me to my word.' Then the company releases the numbers: competitor lost 800 people in the reorganization; they lost two. He tells everyone: 'Don't put this on LinkedIn. No victory laps. This goes to the whole team, not to us.'

Continue to 5.1 →