Edward III Act 4 – “The drops are infinite, that make a flood, and yet, thou knowest, we call it but a Rain.”

Edward III Act 4 – “The drops are infinite, that make a flood, and yet, thou knowest, we call it but a Rain.”

There is a definite sense of Shakespeare’s flair in the verse of the deluge of battles in Act 4 of Edward III. Once again he explores the nature of war and questions whether chivalry and goodness has any place on the battlefield. The Frenchmen Lord Mountford thanks Salisbury for killing his rival and swears allegiance to Kind Edward III and gives Salisbury a crown to take to Edward in Calais. This gift proves problematic. Salisbury knows he must pass through French held territory on the way to Calais so he takes the prisoner Villiers to offer him as ransom for his safe passage and he grants Villiers freedom as part of this deal. Salisbury makes Villiers,

“… swear by thy faith,


That, if thou canst not compass my desire,


Thou wilt return my prisoner back again…”

Noble Villiers agrees to these conditions.

Before the walls of Calais, King Edward and Derby realize that they may have to starve the people of Calais out. Ironically, six starving Frenchmen (who the people of Calais had cast out to help preserve the Calais people who were still healthy) arrive and Edward takes compassion on the men and feeds them and gives them money. News of the defeat of the Scots arrives, but the victor John Copland will only give up the Scottish king to King Edward himself. It is also revealed that the queen is about to leave England and join the king at Calais. By this time, the French at Calais have rethought their position and will surrender if they all are given their lives. Edward refuses this at first and asks that six (no coincidence here) of the wealthiest merchants in the town:

“Come naked, all but for their linen shirts,


With each a halter hanged about his neck,


And prostrate yield themselves, upon their knees,


To be afflicted, hanged, or what I please…”

Villiers, after much discussion about honor and the notion of allegiance, keeps his word and Salisbury gets his passage to Calais. King John and his superior numbers seem to be winning the day but the English seem to have a secret weapon. No, not weapons of mass destruction, but a hermit’s prophesy.

'When feathered foul shall make thine army tremble,


And flint stones rise and break the battle ray,


Then think on him that doth not now dissemble;


For that shall be the hapless dreadful day:


Yet, in the end, thy foot thou shalt advance


As far in England as thy foe in France.'

King John obviously never did literary analysis with his tutors because he reads this as predicting a French victory.

Prince Edward and the English are outnumbered and surrounded, but still wearing his lucky cloak of optimism, he fancies his chances and rejects all offers and bibles.

The darkness of a flock of ravens blocks out the sun and King John and his son Charles discuss the meaning of the prophecy. King John has captured Salisbury and wants to kill him, but Charles states that he has given his word that he will let Salisbury pass to Calais and King John finally concedes.

All is not looking well for Prince Edward and he commands that his men use stones from the ground as weapons to win the battle. Needless to say, King John is very disappointed that his men are defeated by small Englishmen armed with stones. Charles tells King John of the battle.

“ …one poor David


Hath with a stone foiled twenty stout Goliahs;


Some twenty naked starvelings with small flints,


Hath driven back a puissant host of men.”

King John presses on but he and Charles are captured by Prince Edward who is feeling a bit cocky about his victory against the odds. The Prince, pumped up from bravado gives the brave and wounded Audley three thousand marks a year in England for his services but Audley is even more gracious and gives this to the two esquires who saved him. It is then Calais or Bust for Prince Edward.