DRAMATIS PERSONE KING HENRY the Fourth HENRY, Prince of Wales, } son JOHN of Lancaster EARL OF WESTMORELAND SIR WALTER Blunt sons to the King THOMAS PERCY, Earl of Worcester HENRY PERCY, Earl of Northumberland OWEN GLENDOWER SIR RICHARD VERNON SIR JOHN FALSTAFF SIR MICHAEL, a friend to the Archbishop of York POINS GADSHILL BARDOLPH LADY PERCY, wife to Hotspur, and sister to Mortimer LADY MORTIMER, daughter to Glendower, and wife to Mortimer Lords, Officers, Sheriff, Vintner, Chamberlain, Drawers, two Carriers, Travelers, and Attendants SCENE: England SYNOPSIS By J. ELLIS BURDICK 1 ACT I Henry IV's plans for a crusade are broken off by news of rebellions in Wales and in Scotland. Henry Percy, famous in history as Hotspur, son of the Earl of Northumberland, is victorious over the Scots under Douglas at Homildon. The king demands the prisoners from his general, but Hotspur refuses to give them up unless King Henry will ransom his kinsman, Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, who is held prisoner by the Welsh. This the king will not do, for he fears Mortimer may some day claim the crown. Hotspur then sends his prisoners home without ransom and joins in the plots of the Welsh and Scots to overthrow Henry. ACT II The Prince of Wales is a wild youth; his favorite companion is Sir John Falstaff, whose chief occupations are talking and drinking wine. Falstaff and three comrades rob some travelers on the highway near Gadshill; the thiefs are in turn set upon by the Prince and one companion in disguise and put to flight. Later Falstaff boasts of an encounter with foes whose number increases with every mention of them, but the Prince turns the laugh on him by telling him the truth. A messenger from the king bringing the news of Hotspur's rising in the North interrupts their merriment. ACT III The king takes his son to task for his dissolute life and the Prince arouses to a sense of his responsibilities. I On his promise to be more worthy of his position, he is entrusted with part of the royal forces. By his influence Falstaff is given a command of foot-soldiers. ACT IV Hotspur is encamped near Shrewsbury, and, although he learns that neither his father nor the Welsh can come to his assistance, he determines to battle with the royal forces. ACT V The king offers to pardon the rebels if they will lay down their arms, but his message is distorted before its delivery to Hotspur and he gives battle. The rebels are defeated, Hotspur being slain by the Prince. Henry IV and the Prince then go to Wales to quell the insurrection there. |