payment page
Captain Jamy is a marvelous falorous gentleman, that is certain, and of great expedition and knowledge in th’ aunchient wars, upon my particular knowledge of his directions. By Cheshu, he will maintain his argument as well as any military man in the world in the disciplines of the pristine wars of the Romans.
(Act 3, scene 2, lines 78–84)
This passage demonstrates Fluellen’s characteristic manner of speech, which, in accordance with contemporary stereotypes about Welshman, is a tad verbose and filled with odd pronunciations. But despite these stereotypical features, Fluellen also emerges clearly as an upstanding leader who’s quick to praise others for their valor. He also reveals a charmingly idiosyncratic fascination with the military tactics once practiced in the “aunchient” and “pristine” wars of Roman antiquity.
In the name of Jesu Christ, speak fewer. It is the greatest admiration in the universal world when the true and aunchient prerogatifes and laws of the wars is not kept. If you would take the pains but to examine the wars of Pompey the Great, you shall find, I warrant you, that there is no tiddle taddle nor pibble babble in Pompey’s camp. I warrant you, you shall find the ceremonies of the wars and the cares of it and the forms of it and the sobriety of it and the modesty of it to be otherwise.
(Act 4, scene 1, 67–77)
This quote further develops Fluellen as a comic figure. In an amusing moment of inadvertent irony, he cautions his friend, the English Captain Gower, against verbosity while prattling on in his own wordy way. Once again highlighting his idiosyncratic obsession with ancient military history, Fluellen cites the example of “the wars of Pompey the Great.” There, he asserts, one would not have found soldiers engaging in “tiddle taddle nor pibble babble.” Following the silliness of these nonsense words, Fluellen proceeds with a ridiculous run-on sentence that commends the “cares” and “forms” and “sobriety” and “modesty” of antique military exploits.
By Jeshu, I am your Majesty’s countryman, I care not who know it. I will confess it to all the ‘orld. I need not to be ashamed of your Majesty, praised be God, so long as your Majesty is an honest man.
(Act 4, scene 7, lines 117–21)
Despite being a comic character whose presence brings levity to otherwise very serious events, Fluellen is an important figure in the play for the way he represents a new kind of unity—not just English unity but British unity. As a Welshman, he formally owes his allegiance to the English king, but as the events of the previous Henry plays have indicated, the Welsh have long rebelled against English rule. With these lines, however, Fluellen expresses a deep and sincere commitment to Henry, whom he judges “an honest man.” Along with fellow captains from Ireland (MacMorris) and Scotland (Jamy), Fluellen represents the possibility of a truly united Britain.
