Henry Bolingbroke has succeeded to the throne of England after the murder in prison of his cousin Richard II. To atone for Richard's death Henry IV resolves to lead a crusade to Jerusalem but his departure is prevented by news of civil unrest. In Wales his cousin Edmund Mortimer has been captured by Owen Glendower, and in the north there is fighting between the Earl of Douglas and Harry Hotspur, the warlike son of Henry's former ally the Earl of Northumberland. King Henry regrets that his own eldest son, Henry, known as Hal, spends most of his time in the taverns of London. The King quarrels with Hotspur at the council of war and demands his allegiance and help against the Welsh. 

Meanwhile, Prince Hal, at the Boars Head Tavern, jokes with his friend the elderly and penniless Sir John Falstaff. Falstaff seeks any means possible to acquire money to pay for his drinking habits and plots to rob a group of carriers taking money from London to the coast. Together with Bardolph and Nym Falstaff carries out the robbery but, in disguise, Hal and his companion, Poins, prove Falstaff a coward by attacking him and capturing the gold for themselves. Back at the tavern they expose their trick and Hal and the knight mock one another by pretending to be the stern King Henry chiding the wayward Hal. Hal's pointed comments disconcert Falstaff but Hal protects him from the law and restores the stolen money to its owners. 

The civil wars become more serious as, denying the King, Hotspur joins his father and his uncle the Earl of Worcester in making an alliance with Glendower, Mortimer and Douglas. All are jealous of the growing power of King Henry and Hotspur sets out to Shrewsbury to meet his father's troops. Before he leaves he and his wife, Kate, are entertained by Mortimer's new Welsh wife, Glendower's daughter. 

Hal returns to his father, makes his peace with him and is given a command in the army that is setting out to meet Hotspur. On the way Hal encounters Falstaff, near Coventry, with a few ragged men whom he has enlisted as soldiers, having taken bribes instead of enrolling more able men. The King offers pardon and freedom to Hotspur if he will withdraw his opposition. Glendower's troops and those of Northumberland have been unable to reach Hotspur and Worcester, who are advised by their ally the Archbishop of York not to fight, but Worcester keeps the King's generous terms from Hotspur and the battle of Shrewsbury ensues. 

Falstaff fears death in battle and ponders on the wisdom of pursuing honour in exchange only for injury or death. Hal saves his father from harm in combat with the Scotsman, Douglas, and then fights and kills Hotspur. Falstaff, having feigned death to avoid injury, claims he was Hotspur's vanquisher. The King's forces win the day and Worcester is condemned to death. Hal frees Douglas while Henry IV divides his forces to continue 'the pursuit of Mortimer and the Welsh, and of the Northumberland faction. 

Henry IV, Part I was written about 1596-7 and was probably performed in 1598, the year in which it was first printed.

© Marian J. Pringle
Special Collections Librarian