Henry V is portrayed as a patriotic and good king throughout the play. Even though in Henry's past he was not looked upon as such a good prince he has grown into a noble king. While Henry's father was on the throne, he did not act as though he were a prince because he continued to hang around bars with thieves and drunks. Henry even participated in outlandish acts with these men. But now, as a king, Henry reveals that he can be an honorable and noble king by upholding all laws and showing his true patriotism to his country by condemning his treacherous friends to death. Cambridge, Scroop, and Grey were Henry's friends and the best men he had on his court, but Henry knows that death is the only punishment for these men who committed such a terrible act. Henry does not want to sentence these men to death, but because he must remain loyal to his court and country, he does what is right in his country's eye despite the friendship that was bestowed.
When Henry confronts Cambridge, Scroop, and Grey about being traitors sent by the Dauphin to kill him, Cambridge begins to beg the king for mercy on their lives. Henry replies,
"The mercy that was quick in us but late,
By your own counsel is suppressed and killed.
You must not dare (for shame) to talk of mercy,
For your own reasons turn into your bosoms,
As dogs upon their masters, worrying you.
See you, my princes and my noble peers,
These English monsters! My Lord of Cambridge
Henry is informing the men that it is too late for mercy on their souls, and they should be shameful of posing as Englishmen and acting as Henry's noblest men. He uses an animal analogy to emphasis that these men are like dogs trained by their master to obey the Dauphin's commands no matter what friendship has been made. Henry is revealing to his court that honesty and loyalty come before any friendship and band of brothers.
These men were not only his close friends, but th
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