ARGUMENT. After the deposition and death of the unfortunate Richard, the attention of Henry is directed to the incursions of the Scots, who, under the conduct of Douglas, advance to the borders of England, where they are totally routed by the celebrated Percy, surnamed Hotspur. The intelligence of this victory no sooner reaches the ears of the king, than, regardless of the debt of gratitude due to the powerful family of the Percies, he demands the prisoners taken in the late struggle, among whom was the renowned Douglas; contrary to the practice of those times, when the custody and destination of captives were determined at the discretion of the conquering general. Exasperated at this unexpected mandate, Hotspur dismisses all his prisoners without ransom, and with his relatives and dependents raises the standard of revolt against the sovereign, whose elevation they had so recently effected. Having formed a treaty of alliance with the Scottish and Welsh leaders, the insurgents arrive at Shrewsbury, where they are encountered by the king in person. A decisive battle ensues, in which Hotspur is slain, and the rebels sustain a signal defeat. The remainder of this drama is occupied with the amusing detail of the frolics of the prince of Wales and his merry companions, among whom sir John Falstaff occupies the most conspicuous part. PERSONS REPRESENIED. KING HENRY THE FOURTH. sons to the king. friends to the king. THOMAS PERCY, earl of Worcester. HENRY PERCY, earl of Northumberland. SCHOOP, archbishop of York. ARCHIBALD, earl of Douglas. OWEN GLENDOWER. SIR RICHARD VERNON. SIR JOHN FALSTAFF. SIR MICHAEL, a friend of the archbishop of York. POINS. GADSHILL. PETO. BARDOLPH. LADY PERCY, wife to Hotspur, and sister to Mortimer. LADY MORTIMER, daughter to Glendower, and wife tc Mor timer. MRS. QUICKLY, hostess of a tavern in Eastcheap. Lords, Officers, Sheriff, Vintner, Chamberlain, Drawers, Two Carriers, Travellers, and Attendants. SCENE, England. KING HENRY IV. ᏢᎪᎡᎢ 1. ACT I. SCENE I. London. A room in the palace. Enter KING HENRY, WESTMORELAND, SIR WALTER BLUNT, and others. K. Hen. So shaken as we are, so wan with care, Shall daub her lips with her own children's blood; Which, like the meteors of a troubled heaven, 1 Let us indulge in a short interval of peace, that we may recover breath to propose new wars. Strands, banks of the sea. All of one nature, of one substance bred,- Shall now, in mutual, well-beseeming ranks, Therefore, friends, As far as to the sepulchre of Christ, (Whose soldier now, under whose blessed cross Then let me hear Of you, my gentle cousin Westmoreland, West. My liege, this haste was hot in question. Leading the men of Herefordshire to fight Upon whose dead corpse there was such misuse, By those Welsh women done, as may not be, K. Hen. It seems then, that the tidings of this broil Brake off our business for the Holy Land. West. This, match'd with other, did, my gracious lord; For more uneven and unwelcome news Came from the north, and thus it did import :- At Holmedon met, Where they did spend a sad and bloody hour; And shape of likelihood, the news was told; K. Hen. Here is a dear and true-industrious friend, Sir Walter Blunt, new lighted from his horse, Betwixt that Holmedon and this seat of ours; And he hath brought us smooth and welcome news. |