hould dishearten his
army.

_Bates._ He may show what outward courage he will; but I believe, as
cold a night as 'tis, he could wish himself in the Thames up to the
neck; and so I would he were, and I by him, at all adventures, so we
were quit here.

_K. Hen._ (C.) By my troth, I will speak my conscience of the king:
I think he would not wish himself any where but where he is.

_Bates._ (L.) Then 'would he were here alone; so should he be sure to be
ransomed, and a many poor men's lives saved.

_K. Hen._ I dare say you love him not so ill, to wish him here alone,
howsoever you speak this, to feel other men's minds: Methinks I could
not die any where so contented as in the king's company; his cause being
just, and his quarrel honourable.[8]

_Will._ (R.) That's more than we know.

_Bates._ Ay, or more than we should seek after; for we know enough, if
we know we are the king's subjects: if his cause be wrong, our obedience
to the king wipes the crime of it out of us.

_Will._ But if the cause be not good, the king himself hath a heavy
rekoning to make, when all those legs and arms and heads, chopped off in
battle, shall join together at the latter day,[9] and cry all--We died
at such place; some swearing; some crying for a surgeon; some, upon
their wives left poor behind them; some, upon the debts they owe; some,
upon their children rawly left.[10] I am afeard there are few die well
that die in battle; for how can they charitably dispose of any thing,
when blood is their argument? Now, if these men do not die well, it will
be a black matter for the king that led them to it; whom to disobey were
against all proportion of subjection.

_K. Hen._ So, if a son, that is by his father sent about merchandise, do
sinfully miscarry upon the sea, the imputation of his wickedness, by
your rule, should be imposed upon his father that sent him:--But this is
not so: the king is not bound to answer the particular endings of his
soldiers, nor the father of his son, for they purpose not their death,
when they purpose their services. Every subject's duty is 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 bed, wash every mote out of his
conscience: and dying so, death is to him advantage; or not dying, the
time was blessedly lost wherein such preparation was gained.

_Will._ 'Tis certain, every man that dies ill, the ill is upon his own
head; the king is not t