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Enter KING HENRY, GLOUCESTER, BEDFORD, EXETER, WARWICK, WESTMORELAND, and attendants |
KING HENRY, GLOUCESTER, BEDFORD, EXETER, WARWICK, and WESTMORELAND enter, with attendants. |
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KING HENRY
Where is my gracious lord of Canterbury?
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KING HENRY
Where is my gracious lord of Canterbury?
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EXETER
Not here in presence.
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EXETER
He’s not here.
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KING HENRY
Send for him, good uncle.
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KING HENRY
Send for him, dear uncle.
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WESTMORELAND
Shall we call in th' ambassador, my liege?
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WESTMORELAND
Shall we call in the ambassador, my liege?
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KING HENRY
Not yet, my cousin. We would be resolved,
Before we hear him, of some things of weight
That task our thoughts concerning us and France.
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KING HENRY
Not yet, cousin. Before I hear him, I want to decide some important issues that are on my mind concerning my throne and France.
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Enter the Archbishop of CANTERBURY and the Bishop of ELY
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The archbishop of CANTERBURY and the bishop of ELY enter. |
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CANTERBURY
God and his angels guard your sacred throne
And make you long become it.
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CANTERBURY
May God and his angels guard your sacred throne and grant that you dignify it for a long time.
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KING HENRY
Sure we thank you.
My learnèd lord, we pray you to proceed
And justly and religiously unfold
Why the law Salic that they have in France
Or should or should not bar us in our claim.
And God forbid, my dear and faithful lord,
That you should fashion, wrest, or bow your reading,
Or nicely charge your understanding soul
With opening titles miscreate, whose right
Suits not in native colors with the truth;
For God doth know how many now in health
Shall drop their blood in approbation
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KING HENRY
Thank you, I’m sure. My learned lord, kindly explain to us the legal and religious grounds for why this French Salic law either should or shouldn’t bar me in my claim. And God forbid, my dear and faithful lord, that you should invent, twist, or distort your interpretation, or burden your conscience by subtly arguing for false claims. For God knows how many healthy men will shed their blood in support of whatever you persuade me to do. So think carefully before you incite me
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