Henry IV Part 2 – “… Divorce not wisdom from your honour…”

Henry IV Part 2  – “… Divorce not wisdom from your honour…”

Like a character from an ancient Roman comedy or "Fama," the goddess of rumour who appears in Virgil’s epic poem ‘The Aeneid’ or a Butcher’s Guild character in a medieval pageant, Rumor comes out to start this play with a Prologue. Although in Ancient Roman times and Medieval times Rumor’s costume would have been decorated and made in many ways (including sometimes decorated in real ox tongues), in Shakespeare’s times the costume would have been covered in painted tongues to represent the nature of gossip. Rumor tells of how he travels everywhere and is as fast as the wind and that people are always ready to believe him. He arrives at the house in Northern England of Northumberland. Rumour at this point quickly retells some of the background to Northumberland’s son, Hotspur, and the rebellion against King Henry IV, and states that he has come to spread lies including the lies that tell Northumberland’s son has won the battle and is alive and well. Rumor leaves as mysteriously as he appeared.

Lord Bardolph arrives from the battlefront with news of the battle at Shrewsbury. Northumberland is told that King Henry IV is wounded, Prince Hal dead and the rebellion is victorious. Soon after, Travers, Lord Bardolph’s servant arrives with contradictory news that the rebellion has been defeated. Morton then arrives and relays that the rebels have lost, King Henry IV is alive and well, Northumberland’s son, Hotspur, has been killed at the hands of Prince Hal, and that other rebel leaders the Earl of Worchester and Douglas have been captured. Where Rumour brought false hope truth has brought devastation to Northumberland:

"Let heaven kiss earth! Now let not Nature's hand

Keep the wild flood confin'd! Let order die!"

In despair, Northumberland plans revenge even though Morton points out that this was the price that the risk of rebellion could always have brought. Morton rallies some hope when he points out that the Archbishop of York and his forces are still getting ready to rise up against King Henry IV. Northumberland writes letters to rally his remaining allies against the king.

Back in London, the old fat Falstaff is using his new-found fame from the Battle of Shrewsbury to his advantage. He claims that he killed Hotspur, when in fact Prince Hal did, and has a Page to carry his sword now. Bragging, swearing and general abuse of puns abound in this scene. When the Lord Chief Justice, enters and tells Falstaff that there are still allegations that he committed a robbery several weeks ago. Falstaff insults the Chief Justice but the Chief Justice is patient and says that he will forgive Falstaff, this time. We hear at the end of this conversation that the rebels are rallying forces for a final push and Falstaff sees that going to the battlefield will get him away from his troubles in London and give him money to once more fill his almost empty purse. Or as Falstaff finally puts it:

 "A good wit will make use of anything; I will turn diseases to commodity."

We switch to up north to the place of the Archbishop of York, in the north of England, who is meeting with Mowbray, Lord Hastings and Lord Bardolph to plan the next move of the rebellion. They weigh up whether Northumberland and his forces will support them because then the numbers against King Henry’s forces are about even. Hastings says that Northumberland is sure to send troops to avenge his son’s death but Bardolph and the Archbishop maintain that Northumberland failure to send troops earlier may have caused his own son’s death. Hastings claims that King Henry IV’s forces are now divided and now is the time to strike. They decide they will drive the rebellion forward, with or without the help of Northumberland. 

Henry IV Part 2 – Act 2 “Well, thus we play the fools with the time, and the

spirits of the wise sit in the clouds and mock us… in every

thing the purpose must weigh with the folly.”

If ‘Henry IV Part 1' was essentially a coming of age historical drama where Prince Hal finally becomes a man, then ‘Henry IV Part 2’ shows how hard it is to embrace the responsibilities of being an adult. Part of this journey, for Prince Hal, is for him to let go of his old companions and their ways but not before one last adventure into this seedy world.

At the seedy Boar's Head Tavern in Eastcheap in London, Falstaff has even managed to upset the patient and good-hearted Mistress Quickly (who still hangs on Falstaff’s promise of marriage). She has called two officers to arrest Falstaff for his unpaid bills. Falstaff and his friend Bardolph attack the officers and then the Lord Chief Justice, who just happens to have been innocently wandering about Eastcheap, enters and hearing some details of the situation, orders that Falstaff pays the Hostess the money he owes her and apologizes for not marrying her. All this seems reasonable, but Falstaff has other ideas and calling Mistress Quickly aside, he charms and convinces her to pawn her silver plates and her luxious tapestries so that she can loan him the money so that he can pay her back. Falstaff then makes plans for that very night to have a late sensual supper with his favourite prostitute Doll Tearsheet. Then messages arrive for the Lord Chief Justice that King Henry IV is returning to London from fighting the rebels in Wales. The news that forces are also being sent to the north to combat the rebel forces of Northumberland and the Archbishop of York force the Lord Chief Justice to remind Falstaff that he must get onto the road and draft men along the way to face the rebels.

Across the other side of London, Prince Hal is looking back on his days of drinking with Falstaff and company with great regret especially now that his father the king is so ill. Ironically, Bardolph then enters with a letter from Falstaff to Prince Hal which flamboyantly and poetically greets Prince Hal, but this letter stirs Prince Hal to play another trick on Falstaff. He decides that he and Poins will dress up as servants at the tavern and spy on Falstaff. It seems that Shakespeare has worked out how to allow even the most involved historical dramatic plots to include large diversions into the landscape of comedy.

We then move north, to the castle of the Earl of Northumberland where Northumberland, his wife and his daughter in law are grieving the death of Hotspur in the war against King Henry IV. Lady Percy blames Northumberland for his son’s death because Northumberland didn’t send troops to the battle of Shrewsbury. The futility of war is discussed and Northumberland decides that he will not support the rebels in their continued fight against King Henry IV’s troops.

We switch back to Eastcheap in London where Falstaff is at supper with Bardoloh, Mistress Quickly and his favourite lady of the night Doll Tearsheet. When Pistol, an old army friend of Falstaff arrives, a fight almost breaks out. Pistol is driven out and Falstaff and Doll Tearsheet makes amorous advances. Prince Hal and Poins sneak in disguised as men serving supper. Falstaff starts to big note himself and put down Prince Hal. Prince Hal and Poins reveal themselves and as they argue, Peto arrives with the news that King Henry IV is back at Westminster Castle. He also points out that army officers are now looking for Falstaff. Falstaff says goodbye to all as he prepares to go back to battle the rebels in the north. Comedy must now move aside as the play moves back to the dramatic ground of a Historical drama.

Henry IV Part 2 Act 3 – “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

What a strangely complex play ‘Henry IV Part 2’ is. It is a Historical drama yet by the end of Act 2, we have had more comedy than drama, the comic relief has had more stage time than any historical figure, no grand poetic and psychological landscapes have been painted with the lyric tongue, no battles have graced the stage as yet, the fundamental relationship of Prince Hal and Falstaff have been punctuated by a few minutes of stage time and King Henry Iv has not appeared on stage yet. All is about to change in Act 3, as Henry IV finally is revealed on stage in full contemplative voice and spirit.

It is night in Westminster Palace and Henry IV who now suffers from insomnia is trying to work on papers and plans for war. He sends letters to the Earl of Warwick and the Earl of Surrey. Alone, he weaves a rich tapestry of imagery, metaphor, wordplay and allegory as he contemplates the irony that even the poor can enjoy the luxury of sleep but that he for all his power and riches cannot sleep.

“How many thousand of my poorest subjects

Are at this hour asleep! O sleep, O gentle sleep,

Nature's soft nurse, how have I frighted thee,

That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down

And steep my senses in forgetfulness?

Why rather, sleep, liest thou in smoky cribs,

Upon uneasy pallets stretching thee

And hush'd with buzzing night-flies to thy slumber,

Than in the perfumed chambers of the great,

Under the canopies of costly state,

And lull'd with sound of sweetest melody?

… Canst thou, O partial sleep, give thy repose

To the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude,

And in the calmest and most stillest night,

With all appliances and means to boot,

Deny it to a king? Then happy low, lie down!

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

His contemplations are interrupted by the Earl of Warwick and the Earl of Surrey, and they discuss the possibility that Northumberland will rejoin the rebels. King Henry IV then sees the cruel irony that Northumberland, who had been the friend and confidant of Richard II, eight years ago helped he Henry to overthrow Richard II and now Northumberland might to the same to him. He states that this is exactly as Richard II predicted.

“O God! that one might read the book of fate,

And see the revolution of the times

Make mountains level, and the continent,

Weary of solid firmness, melt itself

Into the sea…”

Warwick claims that Richard II was probably lucky in his guess since he cast so many seeds of doubt.

“There is a history in all men's lives,

Figuring the nature of the times deceased;

The which observed, a man may prophesy,

With a near aim, of the main chance of things

As yet not come to life, which in their seeds

And weak beginnings lie intreasured.”

They then talk about the war with the rebels and the rumours of a rebel force of perhaps fifty thousand men. Warwick dismisses this and then reveals the news he has heard of the death of the Welsh rebel leader Owen Glendower. This seems to change the mood about the war. King Henry IV is then encouraged to go back to bed for his health and he once more expresses his remorse that he never got to go on his crusade to Jerusalem.

We now travel up to Gloucestershire where Justice Shallow and Justice Silence are preparing for Falstaff's traveling recruitment drive. Shallow talks of the antics that he and Falstaff got up to when younger. When Falstaff and Bardolph enter, Justice Shallow and Justice Silence present their motley crew of recruits - Mouldy, Shadow, Wart, Feeble, and Bullcalf. After confusion, protests and bribes, Falstaff decides to take Shadow, Feeble, and Wart (the least likely candidates of the presented). Shallow invites Falstaff to dinner but Falstaff says that he must start on his journey to battles the rebels in war.

Henry IV Part 2 Act 4 – “Turning your books to graves, your ink to blood, your pens to lances…”

Shakespeare would have had a keen mind for diplomacy and politics if he had had the social position and education to enter this field. In Act 4 of ‘Henry IV Part 2’ we see how grievances and the shadows of recent and not-so-recent history can combine with the quests off strong willed powerful men to drive the wheels of the machinations of war. 

In Yorkshire in the Forest of Gaultree, the Archbishop of York, Mowbray, Hastings and their rebel army gather. The revelations that Northumberland and his army will not join them, along with reports of King Henry IV’s thirty thousand strong army led by his youngest son Prince John is only a mile away, does little to lessen their resolve.

Enter the Earl of Westmoreland, King Henry IV’s friend and ally to see if grievances can be heard and civil peace negotiated but first Westmoreland lays accusations at the feet of the Archbishop of York that he has abused his religious authority by leading the rebellion. The Archbishop defends his position stating that King Henry has dragged the country into ruin and that he has weighed up all factors:

“I have in equal balance justly weigh'd

What wrongs our arms may do, what wrongs we suffer,

And find our griefs heavier than our offences.”

Westmoreland states that he believes is the times and not the king that may have caused injury to the people. He then says that King Henry IV so desires peace that he has given Prince John the power to grant the rebels any reasonable demands. Westmoreland is handed by the Archbishop of York a “schedule” of demands, and he leaves to deliver these to prince John for his consideration.

When Westmoreland leaves, Mowbray speaks up stating that he believes that even if peace is brokered, the king will seek any small opportunity to seek his revenge on them. Hastings thinks that the words and grounds of the demands will make this impossible while the Archbishop says that the king is so weak and he is sure that Mowbray's fears are groundless. 

When Westmoreland returns to take the Archbishop of York, Mowbray and Hastings to see Prince John, they are surprised when he seems willing to grant all their demands, if the rebel army is dispersed. A message is sent to the soldiers. They all drink to peace, but when the news arrives that the rebel army has dispanded, Prince John orders that the Archbishop of York, Mowbray and Hastings be arrested. We do not know as an audience whether these are actually King Henry II's orders or whether this is solely the choice of Prince John. This adds an edge to Prince John, which, although it shows cunning, can be seen in direct contrast to what we believe is a growing regal quality in his brother Prince Hal. The Archbishop of York, Mowbray and Hastings decry the dishonour of this move but Prince John says he only pledged to fulfil the demands not to spare the lives of the rebel leaders.
"I pawn'd thee none:
I promised you redress of these same grievances
Whereof you did complain; which, by my honour,
I will perform with most Christian care.
But for you, rebels, look to taste the due
Meet for rebellion and such acts as yours...
Some guard these traitors to the block of death,
Treason's true bed and yielder of breath."

Finally Falstaff has made it to the battlefield, even though the battle that never started is over. A rebel traitor runs into Falstaff surrendering to Falstaff (believing the bubble reputation and rumour that Falstaff is the brave soldier who killed Hotspur at Shrewsbury). It seems like luck is, once more, on Falstaff's side. Falstaff turns his prisoner over to Prince John and soon after, Westmoreland arrives with news that the rebel army is heading home. Prince John announces that he is heading back to London. On his own again, Falstaff contemplates that what is wrong with young leaders like Prince John is that they don't drink enough or the alcohol they do drink is too weak. He then heads off to see Justice Shallow in nearby Gloucestershire to see if he can fill his empty purse once more.

Back at Westminster, King Henry IV is very ill when he receives the news that the war with the rebels seems to have ended. He announces once again his intention to lead a Crusades to Jerusalem. None of his advisers seem to want to discourage him from his dream. King Henry then learns that Prince Hal is back in London and he despairs that his son Prince hal will slip back into his old life and asks Clarence and others to watch him and direct him onto more virtuous paths. But Warwick has Prince Hal's measure well and advises the king that Prince Hal hangs out with more common company because he "... studies his companions like a strange tongue, wherein, to gain the language." Good news then arrives to King Henry IV in the form of Westmoreland announcing that the rebel leaders the Archbishop of York, Mowbray and Hastings have now been executed as traitors. The king is pleased at this but shows no signs that this was originally his plan. Harcourt then enters announcing that Northumberland and Bardolph have been overthrown by the sheriff of Yorkshire. King Henry IV is then laid contentedly in his bed.

Prince Hal arrives and he and the other princes talk about their father's closeness to death. They all exit except Prince Hal who reflects on the heavy burden the crown has brought to his father. 
"Why doth the crown lie there upon his pillow,
Being so troublesome a bedfellow?"
King Henry IV seems to stop breathing and Prince Hal tries on the crown. He then quickly retreats into another room with the crown. 

King Henry IV wakes up and is angry at finding that Prince Hal has taken his crown. He sends Warwick to find Prince Hal and decries, "How quickly nature falls into revolt when gold becomes her object!"  Hal is found weeping and King Henry IV dismisses everyone to have a quiet word with Prince Hal. 
King Henry IV lets loose. The king chastises Prince Hal for his immoral and irresponsible life and what he thinks is Hal's coveting of the crown. He warns Hal.
"Thou seek'st the greatness that will o'erwhelm thee."

Then Prince Hal kneels and begs forgiveness, declaring that he loves his father and that he held the crown as a nemesis, the murderer of his own father not a treasure to behold. Then, a father forgives his son and wishes him more peace and joy in the crown than the torment and turmoil he, King Henry IV, had found. He gives a final word of advice to Prince Hal:

"… (B)usy giddy minds

With foreign quarrels…"

As King Henry IV’s family gather around him, he asks the name of the chamber in which he is now. He hears that it is called ‘Jerusalem’ and he dies peacefully, knowing that the prophecy that he would die in Jerusalem has come true. 

Henry IV Part 2 Act 5 – “Presume not that I am the thing I was; For God doth know… That I have turn'd away my former self…”

'Henry IV Part 2' is a very interesting play from a number of viewpoints. If some of the other Henry plays examine conflict on a macro level with huge battles and machinations of power, this play looks at individual’s inner conflicts and the nature of interpersonal conflicts.

Act 5 starts with Falstaff and his visit to Justice Shallow on his way back from the battlefield. Falstaff sees the whole situation as absurd and thinks that his tale of this will be a good tavern tale for Prince Hal.

Meanwhile, now that Henry IV has died, Prince John, Prince Clarence, Prince Gloucester and the Lord Chief Justice and Warwick worry about what will happen to them now Prince Hal is King Henry V. King Henry V enters and he states that he will treat them all fairly. The Lord Chief Justice points out that when he, as Lord Chief Justice, had punished the young Prince Hal it was only because Prince Hal and his companions had broken the law. King Henry V extends his friendship and thanks to the Lord Chief Justice and thanks him for being fair in his dealings with him as a young prince and he states that he would be honoured if he could stay on in his position to keep things in order. We see that the young Prince Hal has indeed matured into King Henry V.

Meanwhile, Falstaff enjoys gluttony in Gloucestershire, consuming provincial hospitality in the form of meat, fruit and, of course, copious quantities of wine. Falstaff is commending his host on his intoxicated behaviour when Ancient Pistol arrives from London with the news that King Henry IV is dead and Prince Hal is now King Henry V. Falstaff and the others assume that this means that Falstaff is in a unique position of influence in the court. They all head to London, except for Justice Silence who has let wine get the better of him.

Back near the Boar's Head Tavern in London, the prostitute Doll Tearsheet and Mistress Quickly fare being dragged off to jail. Doll Tearsheet claims she is pregnant (a common way to avoid conviction or public punishment in Elizabethan times for women) but these women cannot talk their way out or free themselves.

Meanwhile, Shallow, Pistol, Bardolph, Falstaff and his page have just arrived in London after riding all night and they are waiting in the street to greet the new king. But when Falstaff hails the new king as King Hal, it seems like events and luck will finally turn for Flagstaff. As an audience, we can’t but feel sorry for Flagstaff when King Henry V says to Falstaff, “I know thee not, old man…”  He then points out to Flagstaff that he is no longer Prince Hal, and he has been transformed since his younger days:

“Presume not that I am the thing I was;

For God doth know…

That I have turn'd away my former self…”

As one of his first duties as king, King Henry V decides to banish Falstaff and his friends from within ten miles of his royal self, but decides to give them an income to keep them out of poverty and mischief. Falstaff’s hope turns to further despair when the Lord Chief Justice, Prince John and officers of the law come to arrest Falstaff on other charges. Falstaff is led away. Prince John and the Lord Chief Justice express admiration for the way that King Henry V conducts himself and they talk of the possibility of an English invasion and war with France.

Like a combination of a vaudeville curtain call and a modern day trailer, the Epilogue of the play apologizes for play and asks for applause, invites a prayer for Queen Elizabeth and promises that besides the return and death of Falstaff (if he is not already dead), the audience will get to see the beautiful Katherine of France in the sequel (even if it is just a young man in a dress).

But that will have to wait as Shakespeare returns in the comedy 'Much Ado About Nothing'.