At the palace in London, Henry gives Hal a serious dressing down. Alone with his son, Henry claims Hal must be a punishment for his previous sins, and lists Hal’s failures: he’s been ejected from the council, alienated all the nobles, and hangs around taverns with commoners. Hal promises to “quit all offences”, but Henry goes on, telling him how to manage his image so that he won’t end up like Richard II. He then compares Hal, unfavorably, to Hotspur, at which point Hal speaks passionately about how he’ll kill Hostspur at the battle of Shrewsbury. Henry seems pleased, and gives him command of a host of troops.

Walter Blunt appears, with news of Douglas, leader of the English rebels, and his grand army. The King announces he’s preparing for war, too, and instructs Hal, Westmoreland and Prince John to convene in twelve days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u009U1q69A

Pernrhyn Castle in Bangor, via.

We move to Glendower’s Castle in Wales, where he discusses the upcoming rebellion with Mortimer, Hotspur and Worcester. Hotspur and Glendower immediately start verbally jousting, with Glendower claiming the earth shook when he was born, and Hotspur claiming it was in fact a fart.

Mortimer states the plan: he will ride with Hotspur and Worcester to rendezvous with Northumberland, and the Scottish rebels, at Shrewsbury. Glendower’s army is still mobilizing, so he will join later.

The rebels propose to divide the kingdom into three, and Hotspur thinks he’s getting a poor deal, resulting in more arguing. Hotspur continually insults Glendower, before Mortimer defends his father-in-law, and Worcester warns Hotspur he’ll lose his allies if he keeps up his belligerence.

Ladies Percy and Mortimer arrive to say goodbye to their husbands. Lady Mortimer only speaks Welsh, which irks Mortimer, but she sings him a song as he sits on her lap. Hotspur demands Kate does the same, but she refuses, so he insults her, again. Everyone bar Glendower leaves for Shrewsbury.

The rebel’s proposed division of Britain, via Internet Shakespeare Editions

Prince Hal is, as usual, in a tavern. He jokes around waiting for Falstaff, boasting of his popularity with drawers (waiters) and tradesmen. Falstaff, Bardolph, Gadshill and Peto enter, and Falstaff berates Hal and Poins for seeming to wimp out the robbery in 2.2. He claims they were robbed afterwards by 100 thieves, Hal encouraging his exaggeration.

Hal calls Falstaff a liar, and Falstaff responds with some exotic insults before running out of breath. Hal reveals the truth (he and Poins robbed Falstaff), and Sir John quick-wittedly counters that a “lion will not touch the true prince”, i.e., he’s brave, but cowardly towards a Prince, as he should be. Mistress Quickly, the Hostess, turns up and says that Hal has a messenger sent by the King. Falstaff says he’ll deal with him, and in the meantime Hal gets Bardolph to admit that Falstaff made them all destroy their swords so it looked like they’d been fighting the 100 thieves.

Falstaff returns, and tells Hal that the Percys have joined forces with the Welsh and Scottish rebels, and that war is brewing. Falstaff suggests he and Hal put on a play– Falstaff as the King, Hal as himself, in order to practice what he’ll say to his dad. They switch roles, and Falstaff-as-Hal urges Hal-as-King not to banish him. A Sheriff arrives to try to arrest Falstaff, but Hal covers for him, and promises his friends good places in the military for the coming war.

The Boar’s-Head Tavern in the present day, via.

Prince Hal, Falstaff, Poins, Peto and Bardolph assemble, ready to execute the robbery they’d planned in 1.2. Poins has taken Falstaff’s horse, leading Sir John to discuss how walking too far gives him flatulence. Gadshill arrives, and tells them that the King’s exchequer is coming.

Prince Hal and Poins slope off to disguise themselves, while Falstaff leads the remainder to carry out the robbery. After it’s done, Hal and Poins pop up and rob the robbers– just as planned.

Two carriers (we’d call them couriers) are discussing the various foibles of life on the road, including having to urinate in the fireplace when there’s no toilet.

Gadshill, Falstaff’s accomplice, turns up and asks to borrow a lantern–the carriers refuse, saying they won’t get it back. They go off to warn the rich gentlemen staying at the inn that there are thieves about, before the Chamberlain arrives and tips Gadshill off about the rich franklin who’s staying at the inn–he’ll make a great target.

Written circa 1595-15956, 1 Henry IV is the second play in Shakespeare’s second tetralogy, which looks at the origins of the Wars of the Roses. Classified as a history play, it shows Henry struggling to keep the throne, while his heir seems to be squandering his potential drinking with lowlives.

The King meets with Henry Percy (Earl of Northumberland), Thomas Percy (Earl of Worcester – Northumberland’s brother) and Harry Percy (Henry’s son, nicknamed “Hotspur”). Henry says that the Percys have been allowed to get away with too much, and he’s reigning in their freedom. Worcester reminds him that they helped him seize the throne, but is sent packing by the King.

Hotspur claims that the reason he wouldn’t give up his prisoners of war to the King was the conduct of the lord sent to retrieve them– he was “perfumed like a milliner” and didn’t show the proper respect for the dead. Walter Blunt backs him up, but the King reminds Hotspur that he still won’t hand over the prisoners, unless the King pays a ransom for the captured Mortimer (this was recounted in I.i.)

The King says he won’t pay Mortimer’s ransom because he’s a traitor, got English soldiers killed on purpose, and has married the daughter of Glendower, who is leading the Welsh rebels. After Henry leaves, Hotspur claims he will never give up the POWs, and says at length how the Percys shouldn’t have helped depose Richard. Northumberland tells him to calm down: he should hand over the POWs for now, since Worcester has a plan to link up with Glendower and Mortimer (who the Percys claim Richard annointed as his successor before he died) and overthrow Henry.

Henry and his retinue arrive at Harfleur, on the northern coast of France. Henry gives a brutal speech to the governor, demanding a surrender, or his army will murder all of the town’s children and old men, then rape all the women. He claims that he’ll be unable to control his men if the town doesn’t yield; it does, and Henry’s army rests there before marching on Calais.

Written circa 1598-1599, Henry V is the final play in Shakespeare’s second tetralogy, which looks at the origins of the Wars of the Roses. Classified as a history play, the play shows the new King successfully invading France, culminating in the battle of Agincourt.

Gloucester, Exeter and Westmoreland discuss Henry’s knowledge of the traitors from the previous scene. Henry is in fact with them as he prepares to sail to France. After the traitors suck up to him, Henry mentions a drunkard who had publicly slandered him, and asks if he should show him mercy. The traitors disagree, with Scroop saying “Let him be punish’d”, before Henry reveals his trap, and shows them documents that prove their treason.

They all confess and beg for mercy, with Cambridge claiming he didn’t do it for the money. Henry thanks God for revealing the plot to him, and takes it as an auspicious sign for the forthcoming war.