Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

CONSTABLE

in Henry the Fifth — Shakespeare, William

Metadata

PlayHenry the Fifth
AuthorShakespeare, William
Year (catalogued)1600
First performance1599
Decade1600s
GenreHistory
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyLord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men
Speech prefix(es)Con. | Const.
Words396
Characters2040
Typicality0.17 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA11975
BritDrama no.1183
ClusterCluster 17 — Intriguers & schemers

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

Oh peace Prince Dolphin, you deceive your self, Question your grace the late Ambassador, With what regard he herd his Embassage, How well supplied with aged Counsellors, And how his resolution andswered him, You then would say that Harry was not wild. My Lord here is and Ambassador From the King of England. Mordeu ma via: Shall a few spranes of us, The emptying of our father's luxerie, Outgrow their grafters. I have herd a Sonnet begin so, In the praise of ones Mistress. Ma foy the other day, me thought Your mistress shook you shrewdly. I could make as good a boast of that, If I had had a sow to my mistress. Yet I do not use my horse for my mistress. By my faith so will not I, For fear I be outfaced of my way. I think heel eat all he kills. I'll cap that proverb, With there is flattery in friendship. Have at the eye of that proverb, With a Jog of the devil. Doing his activity, and heel still be doing. No I warrant you, nor never will. I was told so by one that knows him better the ̄ you. Why he told me so himself: And said he cared not who knew it. You must go to hazard your self, Before you have them. Who hath measured the ground? A valiant man, a. and expert Gentleman. Come, come away: The Sun is High, and we wear out the day. Exit omnes. We are enough yet living in the field, To smother up the English, If any order might be thought upon. Disorder that hath spoiled us, right us now, Come we in heaps, weel offer up our lives Unto these English, or else die with fame. Come, come along, Lets die with honour, our shame does last too long. Why whence have they this mettle? Is not their climate raw, foggy and cold. On whom as in disdain, the Sun looks pale? Can barley broth, a drench for swollen Jades Their sodden water decockt such lively blood? And shall our quick blood spirited with wine Seem frosty? Oh for honour of our names, Let us not hang Like frozen Iicesickles Upon our houses tops, while they a more frosty climate Sweat drops of youthful blood. Tut I have the best armour in the world. Mor du ma vie.

Plot summary

Plot — Henry the Fifth
Faced with the prospect of parliamentary legislation to sequester church lands, the Bishop of Canterbury encourages King Henry V to consider his claim to the French throne: he demonstrates that the Salic law debarring succession through the female line does not apply to France, and promises the church's financial support for a war. The Dauphin hears of Henry's ambitions and sends him a mocking gift of tennis balls; annoyed by the suggestion tl1at he should go away and play, Henry gathers his troops. The French bribe three noblemen to assassinate him before he leaves England, but he discovers the plot and has the traitors put to death. The French prepare for battle, but the Dauphin scornfully underestimates Henry. Exeter, sent as ambassador to the French King, demands surrender and delivers to the Dauphin Henry's personal contempt. The French offer a few dukedoms and a marriage alliance if Henry will withdraw. He considers this inadequate, and attacks Harfleur. The Dauphin and his troops fail to arrive in time to relieve the town, so its Governor surrenders to Henry. Exeter is left in command while Henry takes his disease-ridden troops back to winter in Calais, but the French force a battle en route at Agincourt. The night before, the French anticipate victory over the bedraggled English. Henry tours his army and listens to their worries about the battle. He quarrels with one of his soldiers, Williams, and they agree to settle their differences after their battle: they will know one another by the gloves they exchange. The French offer Henry the chance to surrender, but he refuses and battle ensues. The English do well, but when the French regroup for a new assault, Henry orders his troops to kill their prisoners. The French attack the baggage-train and kill the boys who are guarding it. The English are victorious, with remarkably few casualties. Henry persuades Fluellen to wear Williams's glove, claiming it is a battle trophy which will be challenged only by a traitor; the n-vo soldiers are about to fight when the King intervenes and reveals the truth. Henry later agrees a peace with France, is adopted as heir to the French throne, and marries Princess Catherine. In a subsidiary action, Henry's former lowlife associates do less well. Rejected by the King, Falstaff dies, broken-hearted. Pistol, Nim, and Bardolph join the expedition to France, accompanied by Falstaff's boy. Bardolph and Nim are hanged for theft, and the boy killed in the French attack on…