K. Hen. So, if a son that is by his father sent about
merchandise do sinfully miscarry upon the sea, the[5066]140
imputation of his wickedness, by your rule, should be
imposed upon his father that sent him: or if a servant, under his
master's command transporting a sum of money, be assailed
by robbers and die in many irreconciled iniquities, you
may call the business of the master the author of the145
servant's damnation: but this is not so: the king is not bound
to answer the particular endings of his soldiers, the father
of his son, nor the master of his servant; for they purpose
not their death, when they purpose their services. Besides,[5067]
there is no king, be his cause never so spotless, if it come to150
the arbitrement of swords, can try it out with all unspotted
soldiers: some peradventure have on them the guilt of premeditated
and contrived murder; some, of beguiling virgins
with the broken seals of perjury; some, making the wars
their bulwark, that have before gored the gentle bosom of155
peace with pillage and robbery. Now, if these men have
defeated the law and outrun native punishment, though they
can outstrip men, they have no wings to fly from God: war
is his beadle, war is his vengeance; so that here men are
punished for before-breach of the king's laws in now the[5068][5069]160
king's quarrel: where they feared the death, they have borne[5069]
life away; and where they would be safe, they perish: then
if they die unprovided, no more is the king guilty of their
damnation than he was before guilty of those impieties
for the which they are now visited. Every subject's duty is165
the king's; but every subject's soul is his own. Therefore
should every soldier in the wars do as every sick man in his[5070]
bed, wash every mote out of his conscience: and dying so,[5071]
death is to him advantage; or not dying, the time was
blessedly lost wherein such preparation was gained: and in[5072]170
him that escapes, it were not sin to think that, making God[5073]
so free an offer, He let him outlive that day to see His
greatness and to teach others how they should prepare.
Will. 'Tis certain, every man that dies ill, the ill upon[5074]
his own head, the king is not to answer it.175
Bates. I do not desire he should answer for me; and
yet I determine to fight lustily for him.
K. Hen. I myself heard the king say he would not be
ransomed.
Will. Ay, he said so, to make us fight cheerfully: but180
when our throats are cut, he may be ransomed, and we
ne'er the wiser.
K. Hen. If I live to see it, I will never trust his word
after.
Will. You pay him then. That's a perilous shot out[5075]185
of an elder-gun, that a poor and private displeasure can[5076]
do against a monarch! you may as well go about to turn
the sun to ice with fanning in his face with a peacock's
feather. You'll never trust his word after! come, 'tis a
foolish saying.190
K. Hen. Your reproof is something too round: I should
be angry with you, if the time were convenient.
Will. Let it be a quarrel between us, if you live.
K. Hen. I embrace it.