The Shakespeare Book

134

T

he troubles that plague

Henry IV’s reign begin

with his overthrow and

murder of Richard II in the earlier

play of that name. Plagued by guilt,

which he longs to expiate with a

crusade to the Holy Land, Henry

is kept frustratingly at home by

the threat of rebellion in Wales

and in the north.

In Wales, the warlord Owain

Glyndwˆr has thrown his forces

behind the claim of Glyndwˆr’s

son-in-law, Edmund Mortimer, to

be Richard’s rightful heir. In the

north, those barons who helped

HENRY IV PART 1

Henry to the throne, led by the

Earl of Northumberland, fear his

appropriation of their feudal rights.

Henry has already demanded the

Scottish prisoners captured for

ransom by Hotspur. Faced with

Henry’s ultimatum, the fiery Hotspur

vents his fury. The barons harness

the young man’s anger by recruiting

him to their cause. Stung by Henry’s

ingratitude, they plan to join with

Mortimer and the Scots against him.

Henry’s son, Prince Hal, adds to

his father’s woes. He sidesteps all

responsibility as Prince of Wales

and wastes his time in the seamy

DRAMATIS

PERSONAE

Henry IV King of England,

also known as Bolingbroke.

Harry, Prince of Wales

Eldest son of the King, also

known as Hal.

Earl of Worcester Leader

of the rebel warlords.

Percy, Earl of

Northumberland The Earl

of Worcester’s elder brother

and fellow rebel.

Henry Percy Son of

Northumberland, also

known as Hotspur.

Kate Lady Percy,

Hotspur’s wife.

Sir John Falstaff

A disreputable knight,

and drinking companion

of Prince Hal.

Mistress Quickly Hostess

of the Boar’s Head Tavern in

Eastcheap, London.

Owain Glyndwˆr A Welsh lord

and Lady Mortimer’s father.

Lady Mortimer Glyndwˆr’s

daughter and Mortimer’s wife.

Lord Edmund Mortimer

Earl of March, Hotspur’s

brother-in-law.

Sir Richard Vernon A rebel

executed after the Battle of

Shrewsbury.

Sir Walter Blunt A noble

loyal to the king, who dies

fighting the Percys.

Ned Poins A follower

of Falstaff.

1.2

1.3

1.1

1.2

2.1

Hal speaks in soliloquy

of his rebellious

reputation and long-term

plan to reform himself.

Henry learns that

rebellion in the north

and west will postpone

his crusade to the

Holy Land.

Ned Poins recruits

Falstaff to rob travelers and

pilgrims at Gad’s Hill in Kent.

At Gad’s Hill, Hal and

Poins steal back the

stolen money from

Falstaff and company.

The barons

Worcester and

Northumberland

recruit the

enthusiastic

Hotspur to their

rebel cause.

Act 1