The Life and Death of King John — Act 5, Scene 5: The French camp.

In the French camp, Lewis takes stock of the battle and boasts that his side has come close to winning, with the English retreating and the French holding the field. A messenger then brings bad news: Count Melun is dead, the English lords have turned back from the French cause, and the long-awaited reinforcements have been lost at Goodwin Sands. Lewis is shaken and angry, and he asks whether the report that King John fled earlier is true. When the messenger confirms it, Lewis tells his men to keep careful watch through the night and says he will wait for daylight before testing the next stage of the fight.

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The sun of heaven methought was loath to set,

But stay'd and made the western welkin blush,

When English measure backward their own ground

In faint retire. O, bravely came we off,

When with a volley of our needless shot,

After such bloody toil, we bid good night;

And wound our tattering colours clearly up,

Last in the field, and almost lords of it!

Where is my prince, the Dauphin?

Here: what news?

The Count Melun is slain; the English lords

By his persuasion are again fall'n off,

And your supply, which you have wish'd so long,

Are cast away and sunk on Goodwin Sands.

Ah, foul shrewd news! beshrew thy very heart!

I did not think to be so sad to-night

As this hath made me. Who was he that said

King John did fly an hour or two before

The stumbling night did part our weary powers?

Whoever spoke it, it is true, my lord.

Well; keep good quarter and good care to-night:

The day shall not be up so soon as I,

To try the fair adventure of to-morrow.