Henry V Play
By TheAwesomeIronfanfics
The King of France has put Henry V, King of England, on trial for war crimes and not being an ideal statesman.
List of Characters:
Judge Jmd -
Bailiff - Mr. Richardson -
Henry V ( King of England) - Defense / defendant -
King of France - Accuser / prosecution -
Duke of Burgundy -
Katherine Princess of France -
Earl of Westmoreland -
Jury -Citizens 1 - 12
Judge JMD - (taps gavel) Order in the court. We will now begin the trial of Henry V for not being an ideal statesman and for war crimes committed against the French. We will now commence opening arguments. The prosecution may begin.
King of France - Today I am accusing Henry V of not being an ideal statesman. He also committed war crimes at the Battle of Agincourt against our French soldiers. The English had already captured them and then he ordered more that 10,000 prisoners killed. In one of his speeches, Henry V said he would kill women and children if our regional army did not surrender.
Judge JMD - The defense may make their opening statement.
Henry V - The king of France is lying. There is no merit to any of his arguments. I did not do any of these things you accuse me of having him prove it his word doesn't mean that I did it In war people do die it's a casualty they are casualties of War I did not purposely kill anyone that wasn't part of the war. This court does not have the right to try the King. At the Battle of Agincourt I was greatly outnumbered (5 to 1) and we ended victorious. We lost many good soldiers in this battle.
Judge JMD - King of France you may call your first Witness
King of France - I like to call The French Duke of Burgundy to the stand.
Mr. Richardson - Raise your right hand and put your left hand on the Bible Repeat After me do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Duke of Burgundy - I do.
King of France - Tell me about your role with France and England ?
Duke of Burgundy -I was a key player in bringing France and England together to sign a peace treaty. Henry's delegates negotiated the treaty with the Nobles.
King of France - Tell me about your role Katherine and King Henry V.
Duke of Burgundy -While I was assisting in negotiating the peace treaty, King Henry was wooing Katherine princess of France. Katherine finally did agree to marry him. Then French accepted all English terms including Henry's right to succeed to the French throne.
King of France - No more questions, your honor.
Judge JMD - Would the prosecution like to cross-examine.
Henry V - Yes I would like to cross-examine. Why do you think I was trying to get Katherine to marry me.
Duke of Burgundy - To help gain your legitimacy. To the French throne in case that part of the treaty didn't pan out. And if you guys had a son Your son with legitimacy to the French throne.
Henry V - No more questions your honor.
Judge JMD - Would the prosecution call the next Witness?
King of France - I like to call Henry V
Mr. Richardson - Raise your right hand and put your left hand on the Bible Repeat After me do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Henry V (defendant) - I do.
King of France - Did you order the death of the thousands of French prisoners at agincourt.
Henry V (defendant) - I did. Because they were Outnumbering my soldiers. I thought the attack was coming from the French and that the French prisoners would take up arms.
King of France - Did you betray your childhood friends.
Henry V - Objection your honor, Relevance the evidence being solicited does not relate to the merits of the case.
Judge JMD - Will the king of France please state the relevance of this question or I would have to agree with the defense.
King of France - I'm just trying to determine the characteristics of the defendant.
Judge JMD - Is finding the characteristics of the defendant part of this case.
King of France - No your honor.
Judge JMD - The objection is sustained please ask another question.
King of France - Did you respect the rules of War.
Henry V (defendant) - Yes I do.
King of France - Then why did you kill the French prisoners And threaten to kill women and children if they did not surrender.
Henry V (defendant) -First I explained the French prisoners part in a previous question if you want me to say it again I would
King of France - It's fine can you answer the second part of the question.
Henry V (defendant) - The heat of battle.
King of France - do you like to negotiate.
Henry V (defendant) - Not really.
King of France - What do you think will happen if you never negotiate with Anybody.
Henry V - Objection, your honor prosecution is asking for his opinion not the facts.
Judge JMD - I agree with the defense he is asking for his opinion. Please reword the question or go on to another question.
King of France - I do not have any more questions, your honor.
Judge JMD - So you are done asking questions for this Witness.
King of France - Yes your honor I am.
Judge JMD - Would the prosecution like to cross-examine.
Henry V - Yes I would like to cross-examine. How are you around your common man and Nobles
Henry V (defendant) - People say I act like a nobles around nobles I act like a common man around the Common Man
Henry V - How good are you getting your soldiers ready to fight.
Henry V (defendant) - Very good they really liked my saint crispin's Day speech.
Henry V - Do you want to say it to the court.
Henry V (defendant) - Sure but first could we adjourn for a couple minutes so I can grab my paper on the Saint crispin's Day speech.
Henry V - Your honor I request we adjourn for 10 minutes.
Judge JMD - We will adjourn for 10 minutes (Taps gavel).
(They adjourned for 10 minutes)
Judge JMD - Order Order in the Court (Taps Gavel). Will Henry V please recite his st. Crispin's Day speech.
Henry V (defendant) - Before I start I would like to tell the court that I was talking to my cousin Westmoreland before I started the speech. Now I will begin my saint crispin's Day speech.
What's he that wishes so? My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin: If we are mark'd to die, we are now To do our country's loss; and if to live, The fewer men, the greater share of honour. God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more. By Jove, I am not covetous for gold, Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost; It yearns me not if men my garments wear; Such outward things dwell not in my desires: But if it be a sin to covet honour, I am the most offending soul alive. No, faith, my coz, I wish not a man from England: God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour As one man more, methinks, would share from me For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more! Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host, That he which hath no stomach to this fight, Let him depart; his passport shall be made And crowns for convoy put into his purse: We would not die in that man's company That fears his fellowship to die with us. This day is called the feast of Crispian: He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named, And rouse him at the name of Crispian. He that shall live this day, and see old age, Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours, And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:' Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars. And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.' Old men forget: yet all shall be forgotten, But he'll remember with advantages What feats he did that day: then shall our names. Familiar in his mouth as household words Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester, Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered. This story shall the good man teach his son; And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remember'd; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition: And gentlemen in England now a-bed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
Henry V - Wow inspiring.
Henry V (defendant) - The soldiers fought that too.
Henry V - Okay one more question why did you marry Catherine princess of France
Henry V (defendant) - I married her to help bridge the relationship between our two countries. And because I love her.
Henry V - No more questions your honor.
Judge JMD - Would the prosecution call the next Witness?
King of France - I like to call Katherine Princess France off to the stand.
Henry V - I object your honor She is my wife she should not be allowed to testify against me.
King of France - But she's my daughter.
Judge JMD - With the princess like to testify?
Katherine Princess of France - I think I'm biased to both sides I'll not be a good witness for either
side
Judge JMD - I would agree Katherine to not testify, does the prosecution have any more witnesses?
King of France - No your honor.
Judge JMD - Then we will recess for lunch. (Taps gavel)
(They go to lunch and come back an hour later)
Judge JMD - order, order (Taps gavel) The court will be back in the Defense call their first Witness.
Henry V - The defense calls Earl of Westmorland.
Mr. Richardson - Raise your right hand and put your left hand on the Bible Repeat After me do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Earl of Westmoreland - I do
Henry V - What Can you tell me about Henry Character.
Earl of Westmoreland - Is incredible at speech and he's a Great leader and He has the ability to inspire.
Henry V -You were at his st. Crispin's Day speech where you are.
Earl of Westmoreland - Yes And I really like the speech it really inspired the men.
Henry V - That was going to be my next question. no more questions, your honor.
Judge JMD - Does the prosecution want to cross-examine The witness.
King of France - I do your honor. Were you present when the Were prisoners killed .
Earl of Westmoreland - No I was not I believe I was still on the battlefield.
King of France - Did the king order the killing of the French prisoners.
Henry V - Objection your honor, speculation the witness doesn't have does not have first-hand knowledge of the facts he is testifying.
Judge JMD - Sustained Please reword the question or ask another question.
King of France - No more questions, your honor.
Judge JMD - Who does the defence call their next Witness.
Henry V - The defense calls The King of France.
Mr. Richardson - Raise your right hand and put your left hand on the Bible Repeat After me do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
King of France (Accuser) - I do
Henry V - Do you think that Henry V King of England had your soldiers killed.
King of France (Accuser) - Yes.
Henry V - Why do you think that.
King of France (Accuser) - Some of the soldiers escaped that we're ab...
Henry V - Objection your honor. lack of foundation There is no proof that the witness killed the soldiers.
Judge JMD - Overruled. The witness May finish the question.
King of France (Accuser) - Judge is it okay if I just restate my response.
Judge JMD - Yes you may.
King of France (Accuser) - Some of the soldiers escaped that we're about to be slaughtered Told me.
(Shock in the courtroom)
Henry V - Then why didn't you call any of those Witnesses up.
King of France (Accuser) - Because they later died of their wounds. From the battle.
Henry V - Do you have any proof.
King of France (Accuser) - Yes (Shows proof the courtroom. Is in shock again)
Henry V - Well I don't believe you could have doctored those photos. No more questions, your honor .
Judge JMD - Does the prosecution want to cross-examine the witness.
King of France - Yes your honor what do you think of Henry now.
King of France (Accuser) - I think he's a good man. He just went a little crazy during the battle and had my soldiers killed.
King of France - If he asked you to marry his daughter today would you .
King of France (Accuser) - Yes I would only because he's King.
King of France - No more questions, your honor.
Judge JMD - Does the defense have any more witnesses
Henry V - No your honor
Judge JMD - then we will move to closing arguments! The prosecution May begin.
King of France - He is guilty of war crimes for killing the French prisoners.
Judge JMD - The defense may make their closing statement.
Henry V - It was war even if something like that happened it's War It happens sometimes in war what if they rise against us and kill all of us.
Judge JMD - Now we will begin jury deliberations.
Ending 1
to the reader from a scale of 1 to 12 1 being the least guilty 12 in the most guilty. How guilty do you say Henry V is first on the count of not being Ideal Statesman. second on war crimes.
Ending 2
(The jury comes back from deliberations)
Judge JMD - Order order, does a jury have a verdict.
Jury- we do your honor We find Henry V guilty of war crimes. and not guilty of being the ideal Statesman.
Judge JMD - I like the thank and excused the jury. King of France what do you want for a light punishment for Henry V war crimes.
King of France - I want money. I want to alternate Kings between English and French.
Henry V - Deal
King of France - Deal
Judge JMD - The punishment has been declared for Henry V alternate Kings English and French and money to the French. thank you the trial is over (taps gavel)