Points to Williams, who is standing in the ranks up the stage, L.
Exe. Soldier, you must come to the king.
K. Hen. (C.) Soldier, why wear’st thou that glove in thy cap?
Will. kneels R. An’t please your majesty, ’tis the gage of one that I should fight withal, if he be alive.
Rises from his knee.
K. Hen. An Englishman?
Will. An’t please your majesty, a rascal that swaggered with me last night; who, if ’a live, 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.
K. Hen. What think you, Captain Fluellen? is it fit this soldier keep his oath?
Flu. (L.) He is a craven and a villain else, an’t please your majesty, in my conscience.
K. Hen. It may be his enemy is a gentleman of great sort,[30] quite from the answer of his degree.[31]