Speeches (Lines) for Lord Chief Justice
in "Henry IV, Part II"
Total: 56

1

I,2,353

Falstaff. Wait close; I will not see him.

Lord Chief Justice. What's he that goes there?

2

I,2,355

Servant. Falstaff, an't please your lordship.

Lord Chief Justice. He that was in question for the robb'ry?

3

I,2,360

Servant. He, my lord; but he hath since done good service at
Shrewsbury, and, as I hear, is now going with some charge to
Lord John of Lancaster.

Lord Chief Justice. What, to York? Call him back again.

4

I,2,364

Page. You must speak louder; my master is deaf.

Lord Chief Justice. I am sure he is, to the hearing of anything
Go, pluck him by the elbow; I must speak with him.

5

I,2,392

Servant. Sir, my lord would speak with you.

Lord Chief Justice. Sir John Falstaff, a word with you.

6

I,2,404

Falstaff. My good lord! God give your lordship good time of
am glad to see your lordship abroad. I heard say your
was sick; I hope your lordship goes abroad by advice. Your
lordship, though not clean past your youth, hath yet some
of age in you, some relish of the saltness of time; and I
humbly beseech your lordship to have a reverend care of your
health.

Lord Chief Justice. Sir John, I sent for you before your expedition
Shrewsbury.

7

I,2,410

Falstaff. An't please your lordship, I hear his Majesty is
with some discomfort from Wales.

Lord Chief Justice. I talk not of his Majesty. You would not come
sent for you.

8

I,2,416

Falstaff. And I hear, moreover, his Highness is fall'n into
same whoreson apoplexy.

Lord Chief Justice. Well God mend him! I pray you let me speak with

9

I,2,423

Falstaff. This apoplexy, as I take it, is a kind of lethargy,
please your lordship, a kind of sleeping in the blood, a
tingling.

Lord Chief Justice. What tell you me of it? Be it as it is.

10

I,2,428

Falstaff. It hath it original from much grief, from study, and
perturbation of the brain. I have read the cause of his
in Galen; it is a kind of deafness.

Lord Chief Justice. I think you are fall'n into the disease, for you
hear not what I say to you.

11

I,2,435

Falstaff. Very well, my lord, very well. Rather an't please
is the disease of not listening, the malady of not marking,
I am troubled withal.

Lord Chief Justice. To punish you by the heels would amend the
of your ears; and I care not if I do become your physician.

12

I,2,445

Falstaff. I am as poor as Job, my lord, but not so patient.
lordship may minister the potion of imprisonment to me in
of poverty; but how I should be your patient to follow your
prescriptions, the wise may make some dram of a scruple, or
indeed a scruple itself.

Lord Chief Justice. I sent for you, when there were matters against
for your life, to come speak with me.

13

I,2,451

Falstaff. As I was then advis'd by my learned counsel in the
of this land-service, I did not come.

Lord Chief Justice. Well, the truth is, Sir John, you live in great
infamy.

14

I,2,455

Falstaff. He that buckles himself in my belt cannot live in

Lord Chief Justice. Your means are very slender, and your waste is
great.

15

I,2,460

Falstaff. I would it were otherwise; I would my means were
and my waist slenderer.

Lord Chief Justice. You have misled the youthful Prince.

16

I,2,464

Falstaff. The young Prince hath misled me. I am the fellow with
great belly, and he my dog.

Lord Chief Justice. Well, I am loath to gall a new-heal'd wound.
day's service at Shrewsbury hath a little gilded over your
night's exploit on Gadshill. You may thank th' unquiet time
your quiet o'erposting that action.

17

I,2,471

Falstaff. My lord—

Lord Chief Justice. But since all is well, keep it so: wake not a
sleeping wolf.

18

I,2,474

Falstaff. To wake a wolf is as bad as smell a fox.

Lord Chief Justice. What! you are as a candle, the better part burnt
out.

19

I,2,479

Falstaff. A wassail candle, my lord—all tallow; if I did say
wax, my growth would approve the truth.

Lord Chief Justice. There is not a white hair in your face but
have his effect of gravity.

20

I,2,483

Falstaff. His effect of gravy, gravy,

Lord Chief Justice. You follow the young Prince up and down, like
ill angel.

21

I,2,505

Falstaff. Not so, my lord. Your ill angel is light; but hope
that looks upon me will take me without weighing. And yet in
respects, I grant, I cannot go—I cannot tell. Virtue is of
little regard in these costermongers' times that true valour
turn'd berod; pregnancy is made a tapster, and his quick wit
wasted in giving reckonings; all the other gifts appertinent
man, as the malice of this age shapes them, are not worth a
gooseberry. You that are old consider not the capacities of
that are young; you do measure the heat of our livers with
bitterness of your galls; and we that are in the vaward of
youth, must confess, are wags too.

Lord Chief Justice. Do you set down your name in the scroll of
that are written down old with all the characters of age?
you not a moist eye, a dry hand, a yellow cheek, a white
decreasing leg, an increasing belly? Is not your voice
your wind short, your chin double, your wit single, and every
part about you blasted with antiquity? And will you yet call
yourself young? Fie, fie, fie, Sir John!

22

I,2,534

Falstaff. My lord, I was born about three of the clock in the
afternoon, with a white head and something a round belly. For
voice—I have lost it with hallooing and singing of anthems.
approve my youth further, I will not. The truth is, I am only
in judgment and understanding; and he that will caper with me
a thousand marks, let him lend me the money, and have at him.
the box of the ear that the Prince gave you—he gave it like
rude prince, and you took it like a sensible lord. I have
him for it; and the young lion repents—marry, not in ashes
sackcloth, but in new silk and old sack.

Lord Chief Justice. Well, God send the Prince a better companion!

23

I,2,538

Falstaff. God send the companion a better prince! I cannot rid
hands of him.

Lord Chief Justice. Well, the King hath sever'd you. I hear you are
going with Lord John of Lancaster against the Archbishop and
Earl of Northumberland.

24

I,2,565

Falstaff. Yea; I thank your pretty sweet wit for it. But look
pray, all you that kiss my Lady Peace at home, that our
join not in a hot day; for, by the Lord, I take but two
out with me, and I mean not to sweat extraordinarily. If it
hot day, and I brandish anything but a bottle, I would I
never spit white again. There is not a dangerous action can
out his head but I am thrust upon it. Well, I cannot last
but it was alway yet the trick of our English nation, if they
have a good thing, to make it too common. If ye will needs
am an old man, you should give me rest. I would to God my
were not so terrible to the enemy as it is. I were better to
eaten to death with a rust than to be scoured to nothing with
perpetual motion.

Lord Chief Justice. Well, be honest, be honest; and God bless your
expedition!

25

I,2,570

Falstaff. Will your lordship lend me a thousand pound to
forth?

Lord Chief Justice. Not a penny, not a penny; you are too impatient
bear crosses. Fare you well. Commend me to my cousin
Westmoreland.

26

II,1,786

(stage directions). Enter the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE and his men

Lord Chief Justice. What is the matter? Keep the peace here, ho!

27

II,1,789

Hostess Quickly. Good my lord, be good to me. I beseech you, stand to

Lord Chief Justice. How now, Sir John! what, are you brawling here?
Doth this become your place, your time, and business?
You should have been well on your way to York.
Stand from him, fellow; wherefore hang'st thou upon him?

28

II,1,796

Hostess Quickly. O My most worshipful lord, an't please your Grace, I
poor widow of Eastcheap, and he is arrested at my suit.

Lord Chief Justice. For what sum?

29

II,1,806

Falstaff. I think I am as like to ride the mare, if I have any
vantage of ground to get up.

Lord Chief Justice. How comes this, Sir John? Fie! What man of good
temper would endure this tempest of exclamation? Are you not
ashamed to enforce a poor widow to so rough a course to come
her own?

30

II,1,846

Falstaff. My lord, this is a poor mad soul, and she says up and
down the town that her eldest son is like you. She hath been
good case, and, the truth is, poverty hath distracted her.
for these foolish officers, I beseech you I may have redress
against them.

Lord Chief Justice. Sir John, Sir John, I am well acquainted with
manner of wrenching the true cause the false way. It is not a
confident brow, nor the throng of words that come with such
than impudent sauciness from you, can thrust me from a level
consideration. You have, as it appears to me, practis'd upon
easy yielding spirit of this woman, and made her serve your
both in purse and in person.

31

II,1,858

Hostess Quickly. Yea, in truth, my lord.

Lord Chief Justice. Pray thee, peace. Pay her the debt you owe her,
unpay the villainy you have done with her; the one you may do
with sterling money, and the other with current repentance.

32

II,1,871

Falstaff. My lord, I will not undergo this sneap without reply.
call honourable boldness impudent sauciness; if a man will
curtsy and say nothing, he is virtuous. No, my lord, my
duty rememb'red, I will not be your suitor. I say to you I do
desire deliverance from these officers, being upon hasty
employment in the King's affairs.

Lord Chief Justice. You speak as having power to do wrong; but
th' effect of your reputation, and satisfy the poor woman.

33

II,1,876

(stage directions). Enter GOWER

Lord Chief Justice. Now, Master Gower, what news?

34

II,1,910

(stage directions). Exeunt HOSTESS, BARDOLPH, and OFFICERS

Lord Chief Justice. I have heard better news.

35

II,1,912

Falstaff. What's the news, my lord?

Lord Chief Justice. Where lay the King to-night?

36

II,1,916

Falstaff. I hope, my lord, all's well. What is the news, my

Lord Chief Justice. Come all his forces back?

37

II,1,921

Falstaff. Comes the King back from Wales, my noble lord?

Lord Chief Justice. You shall have letters of me presently.
Come, go along with me, good Master Gower.

38

II,1,924

Falstaff. My lord!

Lord Chief Justice. What's the matter?

39

II,1,929

Gower. I must wait upon my good lord here, I thank you, good
John.

Lord Chief Justice. Sir John, you loiter here too long, being you
take soldiers up in counties as you go.

40

II,1,933

Falstaff. Will you sup with me, Master Gower?

Lord Chief Justice. What foolish master taught you these manners,
John?

41

II,1,941

Falstaff. Master Gower, if they become me not, he was a fool
taught them me. This is the right fencing grace, my lord; tap
tap, and so part fair.

Lord Chief Justice. Now, the Lord lighten thee! Thou art a great

42

V,2,3246

Earl of Warwick. How now, my Lord Chief Justice; whither away?

Lord Chief Justice. How doth the King?

43

V,2,3248

Earl of Warwick. Exceeding well; his cares are now all ended.

Lord Chief Justice. I hope, not dead.

44

V,2,3251

Earl of Warwick. He's walk'd the way of nature;
And to our purposes he lives no more.

Lord Chief Justice. I would his Majesty had call'd me with him.
The service that I truly did his life
Hath left me open to all injuries.

45

V,2,3255

Earl of Warwick. Indeed, I think the young king loves you not.

Lord Chief Justice. I know he doth not, and do arm myself
To welcome the condition of the time,
Which cannot look more hideously upon me
Than I have drawn it in my fantasy.

46

V,2,3265

Earl of Warwick. Here comes the heavy issue of dead Harry.
O that the living Harry had the temper
Of he, the worst of these three gentlemen!
How many nobles then should hold their places
That must strike sail to spirits of vile sort!

Lord Chief Justice. O God, I fear all will be overturn'd.

47

V,2,3272

Prince John. Well, peace be with him that hath made us heavy!

Lord Chief Justice. Peace be with us, lest we be heavier!

48

V,2,3282

Prince Thomas. Well, you must now speak Sir John Falstaff fair;
Which swims against your stream of quality.

Lord Chief Justice. Sweet Princes, what I did, I did in honour,
Led by th' impartial conduct of my soul;
And never shall you see that I will beg
A ragged and forestall'd remission.
If truth and upright innocency fail me,
I'll to the King my master that is dead,
And tell him who hath sent me after him.

49

V,2,3291

(stage directions). Enter KING HENRY THE FIFTH, attended

Lord Chief Justice. Good morrow, and God save your Majesty!

50

V,2,3313

Henry V. You all look strangely on me; and you most.
You are, I think, assur'd I love you not.

Lord Chief Justice. I am assur'd, if I be measur'd rightly,
Your Majesty hath no just cause to hate me.

51

V,2,3321

Henry V. No?
How might a prince of my great hopes forget
So great indignities you laid upon me?
What, rate, rebuke, and roughly send to prison,
Th' immediate heir of England! Was this easy?
May this be wash'd in Lethe and forgotten?

Lord Chief Justice. I then did use the person of your father;
The image of his power lay then in me;
And in th' administration of his law,
Whiles I was busy for the commonwealth,
Your Highness pleased to forget my place,
The majesty and power of law and justice,
The image of the King whom I presented,
And struck me in my very seat of judgment;
Whereon, as an offender to your father,
I gave bold way to my authority
And did commit you. If the deed were ill,
Be you contented, wearing now the garland,
To have a son set your decrees at nought,
To pluck down justice from your awful bench,
To trip the course of law, and blunt the sword
That guards the peace and safety of your person;
Nay, more, to spurn at your most royal image,
And mock your workings in a second body.
Question your royal thoughts, make the case yours;
Be now the father, and propose a son;
Hear your own dignity so much profan'd,
See your most dreadful laws so loosely slighted,
Behold yourself so by a son disdain'd;
And then imagine me taking your part
And, in your power, soft silencing your son.
After this cold considerance, sentence me;
And, as you are a king, speak in your state
What I have done that misbecame my place,
My person, or my liege's sovereignty.

52

V,5,3637

Henry V. My Lord Chief Justice, speak to that vain man.

Lord Chief Justice. Have you your wits? Know you what 'tis you

53

V,5,3690

(stage directions). Re-enter PRINCE JOHN, the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE, with officers

Lord Chief Justice. Go, carry Sir John Falstaff to the Fleet;
Take all his company along with him.

54

V,5,3693

Falstaff. My lord, my lord—

Lord Chief Justice. I cannot now speak. I will hear you soon.
Take them away.

55

V,5,3702

Prince John. I like this fair proceeding of the King's.
He hath intent his wonted followers
Shall all be very well provided for;
But all are banish'd till their conversations
Appear more wise and modest to the world.

Lord Chief Justice. And so they are.

56

V,5,3704

Prince John. The King hath call'd his parliament, my lord.

Lord Chief Justice. He hath.