verence to God, and because he is a sacred
person, shall have and enjoy all he has at present for the term
of his life, whatever shall happen by the will of God between us
and you, as it shall be agreed between his council, ours, (p. 155)
and yours.

So that if God shall give us the victory, the crown of France
with its appurtenances, as our right, shall be immediately
rendered to us without difficulty after his decease. And to this
all the lords and estates of France shall be bound, as it shall
be agreed between us.

For it is better for us, cousin, thus to decide this war for ever
between our two persons, than to suffer the misbelievers, by
occasion of our wars, to destroy Christianity, our holy mother
the church to remain in divisions, and the people of God to
destroy one another. We pray much that you may have as strong a
desire to avoid that, and to come to peace, and seek all means of
finding it. And let us trust in God that no better way than this
can be found. And, therefore, in discharge of our soul, and in
charge of yours, if such great evils follow, we make to you the
above offer.

Protesting ever that we make this offer for the honour and fear
of God, and for the above causes, of our own motion, without our
royal relations, councillors, and subjects daring in so high a
matter to advise us. Nor can it at any time to come be urged to
our prejudice, nor in prejudice of our good right and title which
we have at present to the said crown with its appurtenances, nor
to the good right and title which we now have to other our lands
and heritages on this side the sea, nor to our heirs and
successors, if this our offer does not take full effect between
us and you in the manner aforesaid. Given under our privy seal,
at our town of Harfleur, the 16th[123] day of September."

[Footnote 123: There is a doubt whether it is the
xvi. or the xxvi.--the first x in the manuscript
having, perhaps, been obliterated by the fire which
damaged it.--Foed. vol. ix. 313.]

CHAPTER XXIII. (p. 156)

HENRY, WITH TROOPS MUCH WEAKENED, LEAVES HARFLEUR, FULLY PURPOSED TO
MAKE FOR CALAIS, NOTWITHSTANDING THE THREATENED RESISTANCE OF THE
FRENCH. -- PASSE