The Second Part of King Henry the Fourth — Acts IV, V, Reveal

Act IV

Scene i, ii

Yorkshire. Gaultree. Forest. Circus. Because why not?

Enter the Archbishop of York, Mowbray, Lord Hastings, and other head honchos of the rebel army. They are waiting in the forest for word from Northumberland. When it comes by way of messenger, the word ain’t so good. He’s not coming to save them and they’re going to have to win the war on their own. Good luck with that.

A scout rides forth to tell that Henry’s army is less than a mile away. Shortly after, the Earl of Westmoreland rides up to deliver the king’s wishes. Henry, who is sick back at home, is a reasonable man and will listen to their demands, as long as they are reasonable. The archbishop gives Westmoreland a list of the rebels’ demands and Westmoreland rides off to bring those back to Prince John, who is leading the king’s army in his absence.

Yeah, this scene could be about a million times shorter. But what are ya gonna do? They didn’t have texting back then. Instead, they had long-winded speeches.

While they wait, Mowbray expresses that he believes even if Henry agrees to their terms, he’s just going to kill the lot of them when he gets the chance anyway. Well yeah probably, Mowbray.

Westmoreland comes back and escorts the rebels to his own camp where Prince John says, “OK, these demands of yours are doable. We can hang.”

So they all hang. Together I mean. As homies. Not swinging from trees with their necks broke. Not yet anyway. Though I don’t think that’s coming. Not exactly. Where is Falstaff? I could use some of his cheeky comic relief!

Another part of the forest.

Peace is brokered! Word is sent out to all rebel soldiers, “Go home and be with your loved ones! The king has agreed to our demands!”

And they all lived happily ever after… except they don’t.

As soon as the rebel army disbands, Prince John is like, “Haha, sike! Got you, suckers! Arrest them!”

So Mowbray and the Archbishop and whomever else has rebel tattooed on his bicep gets hauled away to be executed. Yeah, it’s real time.

Before they go, they ask Prince John how he can be so dishonorable. To which, he answers, “I’m keeping my word. Your demands will be met. But I never said I wouldn’t kill you.”

Good one.

Scene iii

Yet another part of the forest. It’s so big, ya’ll!

Enter Falstaff (yay! but boo) and Colevile (who?)

Ok, Falstaff doesn’t know him either. Colevile introduces himself right away as a knight of the dale and he surrenders to Falstaff. That’s fine. Turns out, Falstaff definitely still has clout because people believe he killed Hotspur in a battle that took place back in Part One.

Prince John of Lancaster enters and asks Falstaff where he’s been all this time. His tardiness will “break the gallows back” someday. Not sure how lateness coincides with being punished so severely but whatever. Falstaff says he’s right where he needs to be. He’s captured this Colevile guy! Check him out! Lancaster doesn’t care. He has to rush back to his father, King Henry (remember him?) who is ill.

Falstaff makes a big long speech about drinking sheris or something but nobody’s listening. So he heads of in the direction of Gloucestershire to bum some money off a dude.

Scene iv

Westminster. The Jerusalem Chamber. Am I supposed to know where that is? Wherever it is, it sounds ominous.

Enter King Henry IV (where you been, man?), the Princes Thomas of Clarence and Humphrey of Gloucester, Warwick, and others.

Phew! Ok, let’s go.

King Henry seems delirious. He asks for his sons when they are right in front of him. Is he really that sick? What’s he got? He’s not that old, I know that.

Anyway, he can still hold his own with long speeches so he can’t be too far gone. He asks where his other son is, Prince Henry. Clarence tells his father that the Prince is dining in London with Poins. The king tells his sons (who by the way I didn’t even know existed before now) to be easy on Prince Henry. He’s a good lad. They agree that they will.

Everything in this scene reeks of coming death for Henry. Sad.

Westmoreland enters, bringing news of victory over the rebels. Yay. It makes the King happy, anyway.

O Westmoreland, thou art a summer bird,

Which ever in the haunch of winter sings

The lifting up of day.

That’s nice. I’m going to call my friend a summer bird the next time I see him. Somebody remind me.

Enter Harcourt.

Harcourt Publishers? That’s where I started my career! No? This is some other Harcourt? Well that makes sense. I wonder if the two are related.

Harcourt brings more good news, specifically that the Earl of Northumberland and Lord Bardolph have been arrested.

The king is overwhelmed with joy, so much so that he passes out. He’s pretty sick. Gloucester mentions apoplexy. That ain’t good.

But he doesn’t die just yet. They take him to another room for

Scene v

Another chamber. Oh I get it now. Jerusalem’s chamber was a room in the king’s castle, not a torture room! Still…

The king is lying on a bed. Attended by everyone we just saw.

The king calls for some peace and quiet, and then music. Music plays.

Enter Prince Henry. Yay! He made it! The eldest son sits by his father’s side and asks everyone else to leave. When they are gone, he delivers a tender speech to his snoring father. It is a son doting on his dying father while also concerning himself with the crown by his side. “Why is it not on your head, Dad?” he asks. “I suppose soon it shall be on mine.”

I believe Prince Henry is truly affected by his father’s passing, here. He has no immediate desire to be king. He’d rather have his father recover.

After his speech, he leaves. Just then the King wakes and shouts for Warwick! Gloucester! Clarence!

Whoa. The crown is gone. Prince Henry took it with him and no one saw him leave.

OK so first of all, why you gotta go and do such a thing, Henry? Here I was thinking you were having a real moment with your Pops. Was I wrong? Or did you just take the crown to have it cleaned?

Warwick has some offhand words about blood and deceit and he surely isn’t one to take things lightly.

They find Prince Henry and he comes back with the crown to speak to the king alone. This oughtta be good.

The king does an excellent job of guilting the pants off this kid! “Oh, so a guy can’t even catch 20 winks without his son makes off with his crown? I’m still alive, ya ingrate! Could you maybe wait til this ticker of mine shuts down?” Yeah that’s the worst paraphrase ever, but you should really read it because the way the king speaks to the prince here is truly a work of art.

Prince Henry doubles over backwards attempting to apologize. “I didn’t know you were only sleeping, Pa! I swear, I thought you’d kicked it! Here, here’s your crown back. I’m sorry. Can you ever forgive me?”

The king waves it off. He’s dying anyway so who cares, right? Instead of furthering the pointless game, he decides to tell his son he hopes that his reign is better than his was. He earned his crown by treacherous deeds. — Deeds I’m sure are detailed in Richard III but we’re reading these in alphabetical order by title so I won’t know for quite some time! — And he feels guilty about them.

Prince Henry reassures his father that, “No Dad. You earned your crown fair and square. War happens. You won.”

Cool.

Enter Lancaster. Enter Warwick.

The king asks where they all dragged him from. They tell him it was the Jerusalem Chamber! Ah! My senseless joke returns! And the king tells them all to drag him back there for

Laud be to God! even there my life must end.

It hath been prophesied to me many years,

I should not die but in Jerusalem;

Which vainly I supposed the Holy Land:

But bear me to that chamber; there I’ll lie;

In that Jerusalem shall Harry die.

Act V

Scene i

Gloucestershire. Shallow’s house.

Enter Shallow, Falstaff, Bardolph, and a lowly page.

There is much talk of being excused and not being excused but nobody is excused. I think they’re all drunk.

Where’s Davy? Has anybody seen Davy? Is he still in the navy? Where’s Davy?

Alright already, here he comes. Though I’m not sure what purpose he serves. I think he’s just a servant. Bingo.

Justice Shallow leaves and Falstaff talks to himself about Shallow’s foolishness. Funny that. End boring scene.

Scene ii

Westminster. The palace.

Warwick tells the Lord Chief Justice that King Henry has died. But he’s better off now, he says. Not you though, Lord Chief Justice! The new King Harry doesn’t like you one bit?

Lord Chief Justice agrees. He’s going to have a difficult time of it now.

So anyway, the King is dead so the play should end now, right? No? Ok, I’ll keep going.

Prince Harry, ahem, the newly crowned King Henry V waltzes in and tells his prince brothers and everyone else that he’s still cool. “So stop looking at me like we’ve never got piss drunk under a table before. Yeah, I wear this crown now but that doesn’t mean we aren’t still bros, bros!”

Actually, he’s rather kingly in his words and I do them no justice here.

Lord Chief Justice throws himself at King Henry V’s mercy. The king says he’s fine. Lord Chief Justice can be a welcome counsel in the king’s court. The king surprises Lord Chief Justice and everyone else by telling him he can be a fatherly figure to him while he navigates this whole king thing.

I can’t even remember what this guy did that was so bad. Was he a part of Team Rebellion? No way. I believe LCJ was just disapproving of Henry’s juvenile behavior when he was prince. Not terrible. He certainly had valid points. Anyway, no comeuppance here. Just good, old fashioned “out with the old and in with the new.”

Scene iii

Gloucestershire. Shallow’s orchard.

Everyone is drinking again and news comes that the king has died. Falstaff perks right up and swiftly jumps on his horse to ride to the new king’s side.

“Because he needs me! He may not know it much but he needs me!”

Yeah, we’ll see about that, Guy.

Scene iv

London. A street.

Enter Beadle and at least one lame Ringo joke. No? Nothing? Fine. Mistress Quickly and Doll Tearsheet are also in this scene.

What the hell is happening here? These “ladies” are all wandering the street looking for somewhere to be. Is this the penultimate scene? Man, Act V is really lacking in drama.

OK, I cheated and looked this up. A beadle is some kind of lawman and these women are being escorted (dragged) to prison because Mistress Quickly was with Pistol when he beat some guy to death. And that makes her an accomplice so she’s being taken to be whipped, possibly executed.

Tearsheet Doll lies about being pregnant but it doesn’t win her any favors. They are both taken away and I doubt we’ll ever see them again. We are left to wonder what the significance (if anything) this scene has on the rest of the play.

I got nothin’.

Scene v

A public place near Westminster Abbey.

Falstaff is a giddy schoolgirl awaiting his new king. He’s ridden all night and day to be here and he makes sure everyone agrees that it was a wonderful thing and the king will be honored when he hears of his efforts.

But then Falstaff is informed that Mistress Quickly and Doll Tearsheet have been taken to some dungeon and he doesn’t hesitate to rush to their aid.

Quite uncharacteristic, Falstaff! Have you grown?!

Wait, no nevermind. Trumpets sound and here comes the king and the ladies in the dungeon will have to wait.

Oh snap. King Henry denies Falstaff and all else. He says he remembers a terrible dream he had where he was feiends with a fat, old, oaf, but he’s awoken from that dream and will have nothing to do with Falstaff going forward. Anyone Henry (Harry) associated with in his former life is now, basically, dead to him. He tells them to be gone or be hanged.

Cold as ice, your royal highness!

The king leaves and Falstaff tells Shallow he owes him a thousand pounds. And he will have it! As soon as Falstaff can get back in good graces with his buddy, the king.

But Prince John of Lancaster enters and lays down the law even further, taking Falstaff and the others to prison until they can get out of the king’s sight.

Epilogue

There’s an epilogue? Cool. And it’s spoken by a Dancer. Alrighty then.

Interesting! This dancer starts off by apologizing for a subpar play! What the deuce? I didn’t think it was that bad. I mean, it was a little disjointed and I didn’t see how everything fit together but it was enjoyable! But here this dancer offers to pay the audience with a dance, and offer her forgiveness for the author’s (Shakespeare’s) story. How bizarre!

She goes on to say, “Fear not! For the author’s continuation of this play will be much better! In Henry V, Falstaff will be back and maybe he will die. In the meantime, pray for the queen.”

I don’t even know who Henry’s Queen is! Should I? Did I miss that or is that in the next one?

I’m hella impressed by this wrap up/epilogue/next play tease. Wouldn’t have seen this self-deprecating technique coming a thousand miles away.

Bravo.

Reveal

King Henry V also offered his old friends an income, a paying them off to stay away.

The Epilogue was apparently a typical thing in Elizabethan stage. And the Queen the Dancer spoke of was the actual Queen of England at the time of the performance. God save her.

What else, what else?

For a play title King Henry IV, the old man wasn’t really in it that much, except when he was sick and dying. Further studies on the play reveal that Part Two is indeed generally concerned with aging and the passing of the torch. I like that. It sits well with me. Shakespeare can write about anything and make it interesting.

Next month - Prince Hal takes over and the war with France is on! It’s King Henry V! Should be fun.

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