Henry IV Part 1 - “I'll so offend, to make offence a skill; redeeming time when men think least I will..."

Henry IV Part 1 - “I'll so offend, to make offence a skill; redeeming time when men think least I will..."

Queen Elizabeth (the First I mean and not the second) was not getting younger in 1596. With no children In the wings (or grandchildren for that matter), speculation about who would take over the crown after her was starting to gather momentum. Having just turned thirty and having reigned for almost as many years in Scotland, James VI was starting to look like a true contender but just like Henry V in Henry IV, he did not start that way. Although seemingly initially virtuous and conservative, by 1596 rumours of James VI mixing with all unsavoury sorts in his interest (or some would say obsession) with witches and whisky. His troubles with Highlanders also started to create a schism in Scottish unity. In some senses, ‘Henry IV Part 1’ can be seen as a ‘coming of age’ drama where we see the making the boy Hal into the king, King Henry V. Oh, just to remind you (and myself) ‘Henry IV Part 1’ is set around 1403 and it is the second play in the Henry Tetralogy by Shakespeare (his great mini-series) which started with ‘Richard II’ and will eventually end with ‘Henry V’.

Henry IV is a bit tired of all the civil wars and unrest which seems to been continuous throughout his reign. He wants to run away and join one of the Crusades in the Holy Lands. But Scottish and Welsh rebellions mean that he stay at home and clean up his own house. What makes things a even worse is that the Welsh have captured Mortimer and many of Mortimer’s men have been slaughtered and mutilated by Welsh women (as apparently was their ancient custom which hopefully which not have a cultural revival in the 21^st century).

While the news is slightly better from Scotland, it seems that young Harry Percy (known as Hotspur) has defeated the Scottish Douglas and his one thousand strong force. King Henry IV wishes that he had a son like Hotspur since his son Hal seems to be idle and only hangs out with lowly types. But Hotspur has strangely decided to send only one prisoner back to Henry IV’s court and refuses to give up the rest. Henry sends for Hotspur to explain himself in person before Henry IV’s court.

We then move to Prince Harry (Hal) and his low-life friend Sir John Falstaff. Hal seems very much at home with his drinking, highwayman and generally criminal companion. It seems that all King Henry IV said about his son is true. I have to tread lightly here because although Falstaff is an old, slothful, fat criminal who drinks copious amounts of sweet is clever, he was in Shakespeare’s time, one of the most entertaining, witty and best loved characters. He is the archetypal lovable rogue, and the actor who initially he was written for must have had a personality and following second to none.

Edward Poins (Ned to his friends) arrives and the particulars of a highway robbery they are planning the next day are discussed. Falstaff agrees to take part but Young Hal declines the offer claiming he may be many dubious things but that he is not a thief. Falstaff leaves Ned alone with Hal to convince him to be part of the venture, but with Falstaff missing, Ned suggests that he and Hal should rob the robbers and take all the money after it is stolen. He suggests that they hide their faces Behind masks. The joke will be complete when they finally reveal who they are to Falstaff and his fellow thieves. Harry agrees to the venture.

After Ned has left the room Hal reveals is deceiving everyone from his father the king, to his lowlife friends to the people of England themselves. He is hanging around these lowlifes to have his father and the people have low expectations of him, so that when he does start behaving like a royal prince and potential monarch, his father and the people will be surprised:

“The unyoked humour of your idleness…

When this loose behaviour I throw off…

My Reformation, glittering o’er my fault,

Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes

Than that which hath no fail to set off.”

Back at the castle, Hotspur has arrived to answer to King Henry IV himself. Hotspur is supported by his father (the Earl of Northumberland) and the Earl of Worcester (his uncle). Henry is furious and sees Hotspur not giving up his captives as an act of rebellion or treason. Hotspur explains that:

“… when the fight was done,

When I was dry with rage and extreme toil…

Came there a certain lord, neat, and trimly dress’d,

Fresh as a bridegroom, and his chin new reaped

…question’d me; amongst the rest, demanded

My prisoners in your majesty’s behalf.”

Henry does not accept this explanation and Hotspur still refuses to hand over the prisoners unless the king pays a full ransom to the Welsh for Lord Mortimer (Hotspur’s brother in law). King Henry IV denounces Mortimer as a traitor since he secretly married the daughter of the Welsh rebel Glyndwr and probably intentionally lost a battle against Glyndwr. Hotspur upholds the honour of his kinsman but Henry will have none of it and leaves with his threats and demands heavy in the air.

Then Hotspur is true to name and nature when he unleashes a barrage of rage and treasonous sentiments. He suggests that Henry does it out of feeling threatened since Mortimer is the true heir to the throne in Hotspur’s view (as named by Richard II before his death). Worcester cools Hotspur’s rage a little when he reveals a complex (and at this point convoluted) plan to seek alliances with various rebel forces in Scotland and in Wales and with disaffected English nobles. The second part of the plan involves returning all the prisoners and getting the support of the defeated Douglas. The third part involves soliciting the support of the Archbishop of York (whose brother was executed by Henry IV). The fourth and fifth parts of the plan involve Lord Mortimer and the rebel Douglas and overthrowing King Henry IV.

 Hotspur is happy to participate in this treasonous plan and the act ends with his expectation:

“…let the hours be short

Till fields and blows and groans applaud our sport!"

Henry IV Part 1 Act 2 –  “I think this be the most villainous house in all London road for fleas: I am stung like a tench.”

Act 2 of Henry IV Part 1 moves into a world that Shakespeare had not explored in any of his plays before, the seedy world of the roadside inn. In a scene that seems more like something from Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’ than one from a Shakespeare History play, we encounter a group of carriers at the inn. Falstaff’s highwayman friend, Gadshill, asks some carriers for a lantern, but they distrust the look of Gladshill and refuse him the lantern. Gadshill hears from his informer that some rich travelers are about to hit the road and he goes to set up an ambush for the travelers.

Falstaff is searching for his horse (which Poins has secretly hidden) and he struggles to travel on foot. Hal lies to Falstaff and tells Falstaff that he will look for his horse. Gadshill enters and announces the arrival of the rich travelers. Masks are put on and they prepare for their robbery.

The victims give up their gold easily and are tied up. Hal and Poins re-enter in disguise and rob the robbers to take the rich booty. They have also hidden Falstaff’s horse. It seems from the robbery and the hiding of Falstaff’s horse, that it will take a while for Hal to become the honorable noblemen he assured us that he would become.

Meanwhile, at Warkworth Castle, the man that Henry IV believes his son should model himself on, is planning his rebellion. Hotspur reads a letter of rejection to join the plot because:

“The purpose you undertake is dangerous; the friends you have named uncertain; the time itself unsorted; and your whole plot too light for the counterpoise of so

great an opposition…”

Just when Hotspur is wondering whether the plans of the rebellion will be revealed or fail, his wife, Lady Percy (also known as Kate) enters and he tells her he will leave within a couple of hours. She asks Hotspur what is troubling him since he hasn’t eaten or slept well for two weeks but he ignores her and when she suggests that Lord Mortimer and his claim to the throne is behind all this, Hotspur gets angry with her saying:

“Away, you trifler! Love! I love thee not,

I care not for thee, Kate: this is no world

To play with mammets and to tilt with lips:

We must have bloody noses and crack'd crowns,

And pass them current too.”

Hotspur tells his wife no more but promises to take her with him when he leaves.

Back in London, Hal seems to be intent on drinking and living the high low life. When Falstaff and others arrive, Falstaff tells Hal and Poins the story of him being robbed but his story has become more exaggerated than the truth and he claims that hundreds of men set upon him. Hal challenges Falstaff on his version of events and reveals that Poins and him in fact were in disguise and were the one’s who robbed Falstaff. Falstaff claims that he knew it was them all along and he gets Harry and Poins to pay for the drinks.

A message arrives for Hal from his father. Falstaff leaves and returns to tell them all that civil war seems to be now inevitable. Hal must go to the court to see his father so he and Falstaff role play the meeting of Hal and his father until they are interrupted by the Hostess who tells them that the Sheriff is looking for Falstaff. Falstaff hides and the Sheriff enters but he does not find Falstaff. As the Sheriff goes, Hal tells Falstaff that:

“We must all to the wars, and thy place

shall be honourable. I'll procure this fat rogue a

charge of foot; and I know his death will be a

march of twelve-score.”

Henry IV Part 1 Act 3 -  “I shall hereafter, my thrice-gracious lord, be more myself.”

Act 3 of ‘Henry IV Part 1 is strangely modern. This act sees Mortimer’s embarrassment at the cultural insensitivity of his brother in law Hotspur, as well as the growth of Hal into a young man of regal worth.

We start with the leaders of the rebellion at Owan Glyndwr’s castle in Wales. Hotspur mocks his host Glymdwr’s Welsh culture and his belief in spirits and more pagan traditions. Mortimer criticizes Hotspur’s attitude to Glyndwr who barely tolerates Hotspur’s youth and arrogance. A map is produced and the rebels start to decide how Britain will be carved up when they beat Henry and his forces in battle. Hotspur is upset that the river through his share is meandering and he declares he will dam and straighten the river. Glyndwr argues with Hotspur over this through what seems like an objection to Hotspur's trying to change nature for the sake of change. Glyndwr does eventually back off from the young arrogant Hotspur.

When Glyndwr goes to get Hotspur and Mortimer’s wives, Hotspur derides Glyndwr but Mortimer points out how tolerant Glyndwr has been and that an alliance with him is vital for the rebellion to succeed. If Doctor Who is masquerading as one of the characters in this scene, he must be Mortimer. Enter the wives with Glyndwr and Lady Mortimer (Glyndwr’s daughter) shows her great love and devotion for Mortimer in Welsh and eventually sings a Welsh song. This can be contrasted with the largely unpassionate farewell of Hotspur and his family. The men prepare to sign agreements and move into battle.

Meanwhile, Prince Hal has finally come to answer his father’s summons at the palace. Henry IV chastises his son and shows his great disappointment in young Hal. Henry compares himself to his young rival Hotspur while comparing Prince Hal to Richard II. Hal is truly contrite and promises to change his attitude and behaviour.  “I shall hereafter, my thrice-gracious lord, be more myself.”

Suddenly, news of the Scottish forces of Douglas joining the English rebels at Shrewsbury is revealed. Now the time for battle approaches. Hal knows that when he sets out on Thursday, he must change and prove his resolve or die trying.

Later in London at the Boar’s Head Tavern in London, we see a drunken Falstaff complaining about being pickpocketed. The tavern’s hostess claims that Falstaff is only trying to get out of paying his bill. Hal arrives with news of the impending war at hand. Hal reveals how he pick-pocketed and deceived Falstaff. Falstaff claimed that he knew this all of the time. While Hal pays the bill and prepares for war, Falstaff prepares for a good battle with breakfast.

“Hostess, my breakfast come!

O, I could wish this tavern were my drum!”

Henry IV Part 1 Act 4 -  “To the latter end of a fray and the beginning of a feast fits a dull fighter and a keen guest.”

If there is one thing that Shakespeare has learnt by the middle period of his career, it is how to build dramatic tension with greater clarity and pace than he did in his early work. In 'Henry IV Part 1' we also see characters develop with the action without the interludes and diversions which he seemed to need early in his earlier Histories and other plays.

As the rebels discuss their strategies at the agreed meeting place at Shrewsbury, news that Northumberland (Hotspur’s father) has fallen ill and will not be able to bring his troops, strikes a hard blow to the rebels. Many see that his army’s absence will not only affect the strength of the size of their force but also strike a blow to morale. The youth and arrogance of Hotspur rises to the surface when he shows no loss of resolve even when news arrives of the imminent arrival of King Henry IV’s army led by the king himself, Prince John and the Prince of Wales Harry (Hal). Hotspur almost relishes (in rhyme and thought) the moment when he, Harry Hotspur, will face off with Prince Harry in hand to hand combat:

“Harry to Harry shall, hot horse to horse,

Meet and ne'er part till one drop down a corse.

O that Glendower were come!”

But the deluge of bad news has just started for Hotspur, as it is also revealed by Sir Richard Vernon, that Glyndwr and his Welsh forces will need more time to organise and that it is unlikely that Glyndwr will not be arriving in time for the initial battle. Worcester and the Douglas are worried by this new development. Hotspur rallies hope and when Douglas also agrees to rise to the challenge too, it seems as if the rebels will go into battle with some hope in their hearts.

On the side of a road near Coventry, Falstaff is moving very slowly with his ragamuffin troop of men. His recruitment methods have involved him taking money from rich farmers and merchants as bribes for them not joining up and keeping most of the money for himself while he assembled a cheaper motley crew of:

“… ancients, corporals, lieutenants, gentlemen of companies, slaves as ragged as Lazarus in the painted cloth … discarded unjust serving-men, younger sons to younger brothers, revolted tapsters and ostlers trade-fallen, the cankers of a calm world and a long peace, ten times more dishonourable ragged than an old faced ancient… A mad

fellow met me on the way and told me I had unloaded

all the gibbets and pressed the dead bodies.”

When Prince Harry (Hal) and Westmoreland arrive, Westmoreland casts a disparaging look over Falstaff’s troops. Falstaff optimistically replies that are his army is “good enough to toss” and good enough “food for powder” (which was a popular term in Shakespeares’s time for canon fodder). They then make haste to join the forces of King Henry IV.

We switch back to the opposition's changing rooms to check on their pre-game status. Hotspur and Douglas are fighting with Worcester and Vernon about the best time and tactics for an attack. Needless to say, Hotspur and Douglas are champing at the bit when a peace envoy arrives who is sent from King Henry IV himself. Henry IV, despite now having superior numbers, wants to avoid bloodshed and offers to give a full pardon to the rebels and listen to and give into most of whatever demands Hotspur voices. Hotspur’s then unleashes a long list of grievances against Henry which is finally punctuated by Henry’s refusal to pay a ransom for Mortimer. The patient envoy asks whether he should conclude that all this means that Hotspur wishes to continue into battle. Hotspur says he will send an answer with Worchester in the morning. We get the sense that Hotspur might consider withdrawing and settling for this generous peace offer after all.

Now, we encounter a short scene that is usually cut for modern audiences. What must be remembered here is that not everyone in Elizabethan times had arrived to see Shakespeare’s plays at the beginning. Audience etiquette, and their sense of time was more fluid than the modern cattle who are mustered into theatres rallied by electronic warning bells and enticed out at interval by the promise of red wine and chardonnay. Shakespeare’s audience are more hardy and resilient and needed no interval. They were more like a football crowd and arrived whenever they wanted, talked during the play when they needed to, and got a drink whenever they desired. So, at this point in Shakespeare’s play, the Archbishop of York and Sir Michael’s recap of the story is necessary for the audience and also allows the actors to change costumes and, unlike their modern football performing compatriots, a jug of sack or wine to fortify them in the dying moments of their game. 

Henry IV Part 1 Act 5 - “For my part, I may speak it to my shame,

I have a truant been to chivalry…”

Father and son, King and Prince, Henry and Hal watch the sunrise.

“How bloodily the sun begins to peer

Above yon busky hill! the day looks pale

At his distemperature.”

Enter Worcester and Vernon and King Henry IV quickly asks whether Worchester whether the conflict will be avoided. Worcester points out how the conflict could have been avoided in the first place by Henry if he had kep his promises to the Percy family. 

Henry casts off the concerns of the Percy’s as “fickle changelings and poor discontents”. War seems inevitable. Then Prince Harry (Hal) suggests a solution instead of countless men loosing their lives that he and Hotspur meet on the battlefield in hand-to-hand combat – mono on mono.

“I am content that he shall take the odds

Of his great name and estimation,

And will, to save the blood on either side,

Try fortune with him in a single fight.”

Worchester leaves to pitch this proposition to Hotspur while King Henry IV and Prince Harry express the opinion that this offer will not be accepted by Hotspur and the rebels. The audience knows that Hotspur already expressed this desire earlier so they hope the deal will be accepted. While Henry and harry depart, Falstaff muses at the value of honor when dead men seem to be the only ones who keep it.

“Yea, but how if honour prick me off when I

come on? how then? Can honour set to a leg? no: or

an arm? no: or take away the grief of a wound? no.

Honour hath no skill in surgery, then? no. What is

honour? a word. What is in that word honour? what

is that honour? air. A trim reckoning! Who hath it?

he that died o' Wednesday. Doth he feel it? no.

Doth he hear it? no. 'Tis insensible, then. Yea,

to the dead. But will it not live with the living?

no. Why? detraction will not suffer it. Therefore

I'll none of it. Honour is a mere scutcheon: and so

ends my catechism.”

Over in the opposition’s camp, the news of Prince Harry’s offer meets with mixed reactions. Worcester urges that no-one tell Hotspur of the offer since he does not trust King Henry IV’s promises and thinks that persecution of the Percy’s would follow. Hotspur enters and is told that Henry mocked the Percy family concerns and Hotspur sends an immediate challenge to Henry. After this, Worcester relents and tells Hotspur of prince Harry’s offer. It is too late, Hotspur is ready for battle and even will not read important letters when they arrive for him.

Chaos reigns on the battlefield of Shrewsbury. The Scot Douglas thinks he has killed the king when he fights and kills Sir Walter Blunt. Falstaff in wandering off to avoid the main battle comes across Prince Harry who asks him for his sword. He refuses while Hotspur is still on the loose. Through either jest or drunkenness, Falstaff throws what he claims is his pistol to Prince Harry. It turns out to be an empty skin of sack (sweet alcohol).

Pandemonium and Prince Harry enters wounded. Henry tells his son to retire from the field but Harry wants to continue and he heads off with John and Westmoreland to re-engage in the battle. King Henry IV is alone when Douglas comes before him. The aging Henry challenges Douglas to a fight. Suddenly Prince Harry returns and fights Douglas and is so determined that Douglas retreats. Prince harry heads back into the field and soon meets Hotspur face to face. They eye each other off. Then Falstaff wanders back in and encourages young Prince Harry but he is soon set upon by Douglas. Falstaff decides to play dead and when he is lying still on the ground, Douglas thinks that Falstaff is dead.  Harry strikes a fatal blow to Hotspur. He speaks a eulogy for both Hotspur and Falstaff who he thinks are dead.

“For worms, brave Percy: fare thee well, great heart!

Ill-weaved ambition, how much art thou shrunk…

Adieu, and take thy praise with thee to heaven!

Thy ignominy sleep with thee in the grave,

But not remember'd in thy epitaph…

What, old acquaintance! could not all this flesh…

Death hath not struck so fat a deer to-day,

Though many dearer, in this bloody fray.

Embowell'd will I see thee by and by:

Till then in blood by noble Percy lie.”

When Prince Harry leaves, Falstaff leaps up and then stabs the corpse of Hotspur to claim that he has killed Hotspur. Harry returns and although he knows that he really killed Hotspur, he allows Falstaff to claim his little victory.

Henry IV’s victory has been decisive. The rebels are captured and news arrives of the capture of Douglas. Prince Harry deals with Douglas by setting him free for his bravery on the battlefield (albeit for the losing side). King Henry IV agrees to make deals with the remaining rebels, asking his father for permission to handle the case, commands that the Douglas be set free in recognition of his valor and integrity.

In the end, a king has learnt to be merciful and keep his word, a drunkard has learnt new deceptive methods d pay off and a rogue son has learnt to be a man and earned his father’s respect in the process. King Henry IV ends this play dividing his forces for the conflict ahead to be played out in the second part of this two-parter:

“Then this remains, that we divide our power.

You, son John, and my cousin Westmoreland

Towards York shall bend you with your dearest speed,

To meet Northumberland and the prelate Scroop,

Who, as we hear, are busily in arms:

Myself and you, son Harry, will towards Wales,

To fight with Glendower and the Earl of March.

Rebellion in this land shall lose his sway,

Meeting the cheque of such another day:

And since this business so fair is done,

Let us not leave till all our own be won.”

Henry IV and Prince Harry return later in ‘Henry IV Part 2'. But next Shakespeare turns to the bawdy world of Falstaff in the comedy of ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’.