King John
A messenger from France arrives in the English court, demanding that King John abdicate his throne in favor of his nephew Arthur. The messenger speaks for King Philip of France, who supports Arthur's claim as the rightful heir to the throne; when John refuses to step down, France threatens war.
The Bastard and his younger brother enter to dispute their inherited lands. John rules that the Bastard has the right to the lands, because a wife's offspring become a father's heir, no matter who the actual father. John's mother, Eleanor, takes a liking to the Bastard, because it is rumored that his father was her son and John's brother, Richard the Lionhearted. She proposes that he leave his lands to his younger brother and join her armies under the name of the Bastard of Richard the Lionhearted. He agrees, and John knights him.
In France, Philip and his forces prepare to attack the English-held town of Angers unless its citizens swear allegiance to Arthur. John and his armies arrive; Arthur's mother, Constance, and Eleanor insult each other, as various members of each side argue. Each king asks Angers's citizens whom they support as the King of England, but the citizens say they support the rightful king. Philip and John's armies go to war, but are so equally matched that neither side wins. The citizens of Angers still won't decide between them. The Bastard suggests that the English and French armies unite to conquer the disobedient town of Angers, then fight each other later. They agree and prepare to attack. At this point, the citizens of Angers suggest an alternative. Marry Philip's son Louis to John's niece Blanche, they suggest, then peace can be settled. Louis and John are pleased with the idea, because it strengthens John's ties to the throne, and Louis gains English-held French territory. The Bastard marvels at the changeable minds of the nobles.
Constance is upset by the turn of events and blames Philip for having abandoned his support for Arthur when presented with a more fruitful bond to the English throne. Louis and Blanche are married when Pandolf, an ambassador from the pope, arrives. He charges John with having disobeyed the pope in the matter of a posting of an archbishop, but John is not about to obey the orders of the distant pope. Pandolf excommunicates John and charges Louis with the duty of overthrowing John. Philip, whose family has just been linked to John's by marriage, hesitates while his nobles try to influence him. Pandolf reminds him that his ties to the church predate his connection with John and threatens excommunication. Finally Philip gives in and breaks with John.
After inconclusive battles in which the English capture Arthur, John prepares to return to England, leaving his mother in charge of English-held French territories and sending the Bastard ahead to collect the finances of the English monasteries. John instructs Hubert to look after Arthur and then asks him surreptitiously to kill him. Meanwhile Pandolf tries to encourage the French to fight, suggesting to Louis that he now can lay the same claim to the throne of England as Arthur, because he has married into a branch of the English royal family. Louis agrees to attack England.
Hubert tries to kill Arthur but he is so enchanted with Arthur's innocence that he is unable. He tells Arthur that no one can know he is alive. Meanwhile John's lords have asked for Arthur to be released, so John agrees to order Arthur's freedom. Hubert enters and reports that Arthur is dead; the lords believe Arthur was assassinated and depart to join Louis's army. The Bastard returns from the monasteries, reporting that the people are not happy about John robbing the monasteries, and they predict John's downfall. John yells at Hubert, accusing him of having tricked him into ordering the death of Arthur, which he claims he never wanted. Finally Hubert reveals that Arthur is alive. A relieved John sends him after the departed lords to report the news.
Arthur tries to flee England but foolishly leaps off a castle wall and falls to his death. The lords come upon his body and are horrified at the brutality they believe was used to kill the boy. Hubert enters and reports that Arthur is alive; the lords point out Arthur's body and accuse Hubert of having killed him. Hubert says Arthur was alive when he left him. The lords depart to meet Louis.
John strikes a deal with Pandolf; he agrees to honor the pope if Pandolf can turn away the French army. The Bastard arrives to report the departure of the lords; John tells him about his deal with Pandolf. The Bastard wants to fight the French and leads John's army at his behest.
John's departed lords swear allegiance to Louis. Pandolf arrives with news that John has reconciled with Rome and tries to dissuade Louis from attacking, but Louis says he won't be ordered around by anyone. The Bastard arrives to speak to Louis and threatens him with terrible destruction at the hands of the English armies unless Louis retreats. Each side prepares for battle.
A French lord is wounded, and he tells the English lords that Louis planned to kill them if he won. He urges them to rejoin John, and they do so. Louis's reinforcements are lost at sea, greatly dimming his prospects of victory. Meanwhile the Bastard meets Hubert, who reports that John has been poisoned by a monk at a monastery, where he had been awaiting reports from the Bastard. The English lords and John's son Prince Henry gather around the ill King. The Bastard reports that he has lost many of his men, who drowned in a tide.
John dies from the monk's poison. The Bastard prepares to attack Louis, but the nobles report that Pandolf had just brought them a peace treaty from Louis. The Bastard and the lords swear allegiance to Henry, and the Bastard speaks of England and how it will never be taken by foreign conquerors unless it is first damaged by internal strife.
The Bastard and his younger brother enter to dispute their inherited lands. John rules that the Bastard has the right to the lands, because a wife's offspring become a father's heir, no matter who the actual father. John's mother, Eleanor, takes a liking to the Bastard, because it is rumored that his father was her son and John's brother, Richard the Lionhearted. She proposes that he leave his lands to his younger brother and join her armies under the name of the Bastard of Richard the Lionhearted. He agrees, and John knights him.
In France, Philip and his forces prepare to attack the English-held town of Angers unless its citizens swear allegiance to Arthur. John and his armies arrive; Arthur's mother, Constance, and Eleanor insult each other, as various members of each side argue. Each king asks Angers's citizens whom they support as the King of England, but the citizens say they support the rightful king. Philip and John's armies go to war, but are so equally matched that neither side wins. The citizens of Angers still won't decide between them. The Bastard suggests that the English and French armies unite to conquer the disobedient town of Angers, then fight each other later. They agree and prepare to attack. At this point, the citizens of Angers suggest an alternative. Marry Philip's son Louis to John's niece Blanche, they suggest, then peace can be settled. Louis and John are pleased with the idea, because it strengthens John's ties to the throne, and Louis gains English-held French territory. The Bastard marvels at the changeable minds of the nobles.
Constance is upset by the turn of events and blames Philip for having abandoned his support for Arthur when presented with a more fruitful bond to the English throne. Louis and Blanche are married when Pandolf, an ambassador from the pope, arrives. He charges John with having disobeyed the pope in the matter of a posting of an archbishop, but John is not about to obey the orders of the distant pope. Pandolf excommunicates John and charges Louis with the duty of overthrowing John. Philip, whose family has just been linked to John's by marriage, hesitates while his nobles try to influence him. Pandolf reminds him that his ties to the church predate his connection with John and threatens excommunication. Finally Philip gives in and breaks with John.
After inconclusive battles in which the English capture Arthur, John prepares to return to England, leaving his mother in charge of English-held French territories and sending the Bastard ahead to collect the finances of the English monasteries. John instructs Hubert to look after Arthur and then asks him surreptitiously to kill him. Meanwhile Pandolf tries to encourage the French to fight, suggesting to Louis that he now can lay the same claim to the throne of England as Arthur, because he has married into a branch of the English royal family. Louis agrees to attack England.
Hubert tries to kill Arthur but he is so enchanted with Arthur's innocence that he is unable. He tells Arthur that no one can know he is alive. Meanwhile John's lords have asked for Arthur to be released, so John agrees to order Arthur's freedom. Hubert enters and reports that Arthur is dead; the lords believe Arthur was assassinated and depart to join Louis's army. The Bastard returns from the monasteries, reporting that the people are not happy about John robbing the monasteries, and they predict John's downfall. John yells at Hubert, accusing him of having tricked him into ordering the death of Arthur, which he claims he never wanted. Finally Hubert reveals that Arthur is alive. A relieved John sends him after the departed lords to report the news.
Arthur tries to flee England but foolishly leaps off a castle wall and falls to his death. The lords come upon his body and are horrified at the brutality they believe was used to kill the boy. Hubert enters and reports that Arthur is alive; the lords point out Arthur's body and accuse Hubert of having killed him. Hubert says Arthur was alive when he left him. The lords depart to meet Louis.
John strikes a deal with Pandolf; he agrees to honor the pope if Pandolf can turn away the French army. The Bastard arrives to report the departure of the lords; John tells him about his deal with Pandolf. The Bastard wants to fight the French and leads John's army at his behest.
John's departed lords swear allegiance to Louis. Pandolf arrives with news that John has reconciled with Rome and tries to dissuade Louis from attacking, but Louis says he won't be ordered around by anyone. The Bastard arrives to speak to Louis and threatens him with terrible destruction at the hands of the English armies unless Louis retreats. Each side prepares for battle.
A French lord is wounded, and he tells the English lords that Louis planned to kill them if he won. He urges them to rejoin John, and they do so. Louis's reinforcements are lost at sea, greatly dimming his prospects of victory. Meanwhile the Bastard meets Hubert, who reports that John has been poisoned by a monk at a monastery, where he had been awaiting reports from the Bastard. The English lords and John's son Prince Henry gather around the ill King. The Bastard reports that he has lost many of his men, who drowned in a tide.
John dies from the monk's poison. The Bastard prepares to attack Louis, but the nobles report that Pandolf had just brought them a peace treaty from Louis. The Bastard and the lords swear allegiance to Henry, and the Bastard speaks of England and how it will never be taken by foreign conquerors unless it is first damaged by internal strife.
Richard II
Richard II, written around 1595, is the first play in Shakespeare's second "history tetralogy," a series of four plays that chronicles the rise of the house of Lancaster to the British throne. (Its sequel plays are Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2, and Henry V.)Richard II, set around the year 1398, traces the fall from power of the last king of the house of Plantagenet, Richard II, and his replacement by the first Lancaster king, Henry IV (Henry Bolingbroke). Richard II, who ascended to the throne as a young man, is a regal and stately figure, but he is wasteful in his spending habits, unwise in his choice of counselors, and detached from his country and its common people. He spends too much of his time pursuing the latest Italian fashions, spending money on his close friends, and raising taxes to fund his pet wars in Ireland and elsewhere. When he begins to "rent out" parcels of English land to certain wealthy noblemen in order to raise funds for one of his wars, and seizes the lands and money of a recently deceased and much respected uncle to help fill his coffers, both the commoners and the king's noblemen decide that Richard has gone too far.
Richard has a cousin, named Henry Bolingbroke, who is a great favorite among the English commoners. Early in the play, Richard exiles him from England for six years due to an unresolved dispute over an earlier political murder. The dead uncle whose lands Richard seizes was the father of Bolingbroke; when Bolingbroke learns that Richard has stolen what should have been his inheritance, it is the straw that breaks the camel's back. When Richard unwisely departs to pursue a war in Ireland, Bolingbroke assembles an army and invades the north coast of England in his absence. The commoners, fond of Bolingbroke and angry at Richard's mismanagement of the country, welcome his invasion and join his forces. One by one, Richard's allies in the nobility desert him and defect to Bolingbroke's side as Bolingbroke marches through England. By the time Richard returns from Ireland, he has already lost his grasp on his country.
There is never an actual battle; instead, Bolingbroke peacefully takes Richard prisoner in Wales and brings him back to London, where Bolingbroke is crowned King Henry IV. Richard is imprisoned in the remote castle of Pomfret in the north of England, where he is left to ruminate upon his downfall. There, an assassin, who both is and is not acting upon King Henry's ambivalent wishes for Richard's expedient death, murders the former king. King Henry hypocritically repudiates the murderer and vows to journey to Jerusalem to cleanse himself of his part in Richard's death. As the play concludes, we see that the reign of the new King Henry IV has started off inauspiciously.
Richard has a cousin, named Henry Bolingbroke, who is a great favorite among the English commoners. Early in the play, Richard exiles him from England for six years due to an unresolved dispute over an earlier political murder. The dead uncle whose lands Richard seizes was the father of Bolingbroke; when Bolingbroke learns that Richard has stolen what should have been his inheritance, it is the straw that breaks the camel's back. When Richard unwisely departs to pursue a war in Ireland, Bolingbroke assembles an army and invades the north coast of England in his absence. The commoners, fond of Bolingbroke and angry at Richard's mismanagement of the country, welcome his invasion and join his forces. One by one, Richard's allies in the nobility desert him and defect to Bolingbroke's side as Bolingbroke marches through England. By the time Richard returns from Ireland, he has already lost his grasp on his country.
There is never an actual battle; instead, Bolingbroke peacefully takes Richard prisoner in Wales and brings him back to London, where Bolingbroke is crowned King Henry IV. Richard is imprisoned in the remote castle of Pomfret in the north of England, where he is left to ruminate upon his downfall. There, an assassin, who both is and is not acting upon King Henry's ambivalent wishes for Richard's expedient death, murders the former king. King Henry hypocritically repudiates the murderer and vows to journey to Jerusalem to cleanse himself of his part in Richard's death. As the play concludes, we see that the reign of the new King Henry IV has started off inauspiciously.
Richard III
Richard has just had his brother Clarence arrested and placed in the Tower of London. Using an order signed by their brother, King Edward, Richard has two murderers enter the Tower and stab Clarence to death.
Richard also goes to speak with Lady Anne, whose father and husband he has helped murder. She curses him, but eventually is overcome by his smooth words. At the end of the scene Richard manages to get her to marry him.
Queen Margaret, an old lady who haunts the court, casts a curse upon the royal assembly. She predicts that the currentQueen Elizabeth's brother and sons will be killed, as will Lord Hastings, Buckingham, and lastly Richard. Her curse becomes the underlying plot of the play.
King Edward, who is sick, tries to force his Queen's family to become friends with his noblemen. Richard enters the room and immediately destroys this tranquil scene by telling them that Clarence is dead. King Edward dies soon thereafter, leaving his son Prince Edward to inherit the throne.
Richard wastes no time after the king's death. He immediately arrests Queen Elizabeth's brother and son, Rivers and Gray, and locks them in one of his castles. He also travel to where Prince Edward is staying, and helps the boy come back to London.
Prince Edward goes to stay in the Tower, along with his younger brother. Richard calls for two councils, one of which is public and meant to put Edward on the throne, and one of which is private and meant to put Richard on the throne. He is aided by Buckingham throughout these scenes.
Richard quickly puts Lord Hastings to death, because Hastings was unwilling to support Richard's attempt to seize the crown of England. With Buckingham helping him, Richard then orchestrates a neat scene in which he argues that Prince Edward is only a bastard. That would make Richard the next in line to the throne. The Lord Mayor of Londonagrees to this, and urges Richard to accept his duty. Richard pretends to reluctantly accept.
King Richard the Third moves quickly to destroy anyone he suspects as being dangerous. His first act is to hire a murderer and kill Prince Edward and his brother. He also kills off his wife, Lady Anne, and attempts to marry the daughter of Queen Elizabeth. Buckingham, fearful for his life, runs away and builds an army to defend himself. Meanwhile, many of the remaining lieutenants defect to join Henry of Richmond. Henry of Richmond then sails from Brittany towards England with an army.
Richard manages to capture Buckingham, and executes him for treason. He then takes his own army and goes to meet Henry of Richmond. The night before the battle, the ghosts of the people Richard has killed come into his dreams. They tell Richard that he will die, and inform Richmond that he will be victorious. Indeed, the next day Richard is killed and Henry is crowned King Henry VII of England.
Richard also goes to speak with Lady Anne, whose father and husband he has helped murder. She curses him, but eventually is overcome by his smooth words. At the end of the scene Richard manages to get her to marry him.
Queen Margaret, an old lady who haunts the court, casts a curse upon the royal assembly. She predicts that the currentQueen Elizabeth's brother and sons will be killed, as will Lord Hastings, Buckingham, and lastly Richard. Her curse becomes the underlying plot of the play.
King Edward, who is sick, tries to force his Queen's family to become friends with his noblemen. Richard enters the room and immediately destroys this tranquil scene by telling them that Clarence is dead. King Edward dies soon thereafter, leaving his son Prince Edward to inherit the throne.
Richard wastes no time after the king's death. He immediately arrests Queen Elizabeth's brother and son, Rivers and Gray, and locks them in one of his castles. He also travel to where Prince Edward is staying, and helps the boy come back to London.
Prince Edward goes to stay in the Tower, along with his younger brother. Richard calls for two councils, one of which is public and meant to put Edward on the throne, and one of which is private and meant to put Richard on the throne. He is aided by Buckingham throughout these scenes.
Richard quickly puts Lord Hastings to death, because Hastings was unwilling to support Richard's attempt to seize the crown of England. With Buckingham helping him, Richard then orchestrates a neat scene in which he argues that Prince Edward is only a bastard. That would make Richard the next in line to the throne. The Lord Mayor of Londonagrees to this, and urges Richard to accept his duty. Richard pretends to reluctantly accept.
King Richard the Third moves quickly to destroy anyone he suspects as being dangerous. His first act is to hire a murderer and kill Prince Edward and his brother. He also kills off his wife, Lady Anne, and attempts to marry the daughter of Queen Elizabeth. Buckingham, fearful for his life, runs away and builds an army to defend himself. Meanwhile, many of the remaining lieutenants defect to join Henry of Richmond. Henry of Richmond then sails from Brittany towards England with an army.
Richard manages to capture Buckingham, and executes him for treason. He then takes his own army and goes to meet Henry of Richmond. The night before the battle, the ghosts of the people Richard has killed come into his dreams. They tell Richard that he will die, and inform Richmond that he will be victorious. Indeed, the next day Richard is killed and Henry is crowned King Henry VII of England.
Henry IV, Part 1
Henry IV, Part One details the struggle of King Henry IV to maintain his control of the English throne which he usurped from Richard II. The play begins with news that one of his commanders, Mortimer, has lost a battle to Glyndwr in Wales. However, another commander, Hotspur, has succeeded in defeating Douglas in Scotland, but refuses to send his prisoners back to the king.
Henry is furious about this, since prisoners are a way of earning money through ransom. He orders Hotspur to yield the prisoners under threat of punishment. Hotspur, impulsive as always, tells his father Northumberland that he will never give up the prisoners. Worcester tells Hotspur that it would be smarter to turn over the prisoners but at the same time form an alliance with Douglas and Glyndwr, and thus raise an army with which to overthrow Henry IV.
Hal, the affectionate name for Prince Harry, the son of King Henry, is a prodigal and a madcap (thief). He wastes his time in taverns with the lower classes of English society, and spends a great deal of time with a fat nobleman named Falstaff. In the first act Hal agrees to participate in a robbery in order to experience it. However, at the end of the scene and in soliloquy, Hal indicates to the audience that he is merely in disguise, and that he fully expects to assume the reins of power in the near future.
The thieves, led by Falstaff, carry out their robbery. Hal and Poins, another robber, play a trick on the thieves by robbing the money from Falstaff. The next night in the tavern Falstaff tells a roaringly funny tale about how he fought with many men before being defeated. Hal finally reveals the secret of the attackers to him, at which point Falstaff claims that he knew who it was all along, but that he did not wish to harm the Prince of Wales (Hal).
The rebels, led by Hotspur, unite Douglas from Scotland and Glyndwr in Wales. Together with the Archbishop of York they start to raise an army, gathering their forces at Shrewsbury. Hotspur does not get along well with Glyndwr, whom he views as being too mystical. The men also start to argue about how they will split up the territories, since Hotspur wants England, Douglas Scotland, and Glyndwr Wales.
King Henry calls Hal into his throne room and begs his son to mend his ways. Hal agrees to "be more myself" in the future. Henry then informs his son that the rebels are mobilizing near Shrewsbury, and Hal receives a military command. He immediately starts to prepare for war with Hotspur. Henry assembles his own armies and starts moving towards Shrewsbury. Almost as a joke, Falstaff receives an infantry command from Hal, which is difficult for him since he is too fat to be able to walk very far.
At Shrewsbury, King Henry offers to fully pardon the rebels if they decamp and return to their homes. Hotspur's agent, Worcester, fails to deliver this message to Hotspur because he is convinced that Henry will not honor the pardon. Thus Hotspur feels trapped into fighting. To make matters worse, Glyndwr is unable to arrive on time, causing the rebels to have far fewer men than they had expected. At the same time, Northumberland falls ill and is unable to help rally his troops. Hotspur, unable to wait any longer, decides to go ahead with the battle preparations anyway.
Henry puts nobles on the field dressed as himself as a form of protection. Douglas kills several of the impersonators before encountering Henry. The two men start to fight, but Hal arrives in time to save his father and chase Douglas away. Henry comments that he is sorry he ever doubted his son's abilities.
Hal next encounters Hotspur. After a brief exchange of words they start to fight with on another. While the two young men are fighting, Falstaff arrives and encourages Hal to victory. Douglas also arrives and attacks Falstaff, who soon falls down as if he were dead. Hal succeeds in killing Hotspur, but is sad that Falstaff has also been killed.
No sooner does Hal depart then Falstaff gets back to his feet and stabs Hotspur's body. He then picks up Hotspur and takes the credit for killing him. Hal cannot believe Falstaff's lies, but decides it is not worth arguing about.
King Henry succeeds in winning the battle once the leaders are killed or captured. He sentences Worcester and Vernon to death for their failure to offer his pardon to Hotspur. Hal chooses to pardon Douglas and set him free, realizing that this is strategically necessary if he wants to rule Scotland in the future. Henry then splits his army into two parts, one of which will march on York, the other of which will attack Glyndwr.
Henry is furious about this, since prisoners are a way of earning money through ransom. He orders Hotspur to yield the prisoners under threat of punishment. Hotspur, impulsive as always, tells his father Northumberland that he will never give up the prisoners. Worcester tells Hotspur that it would be smarter to turn over the prisoners but at the same time form an alliance with Douglas and Glyndwr, and thus raise an army with which to overthrow Henry IV.
Hal, the affectionate name for Prince Harry, the son of King Henry, is a prodigal and a madcap (thief). He wastes his time in taverns with the lower classes of English society, and spends a great deal of time with a fat nobleman named Falstaff. In the first act Hal agrees to participate in a robbery in order to experience it. However, at the end of the scene and in soliloquy, Hal indicates to the audience that he is merely in disguise, and that he fully expects to assume the reins of power in the near future.
The thieves, led by Falstaff, carry out their robbery. Hal and Poins, another robber, play a trick on the thieves by robbing the money from Falstaff. The next night in the tavern Falstaff tells a roaringly funny tale about how he fought with many men before being defeated. Hal finally reveals the secret of the attackers to him, at which point Falstaff claims that he knew who it was all along, but that he did not wish to harm the Prince of Wales (Hal).
The rebels, led by Hotspur, unite Douglas from Scotland and Glyndwr in Wales. Together with the Archbishop of York they start to raise an army, gathering their forces at Shrewsbury. Hotspur does not get along well with Glyndwr, whom he views as being too mystical. The men also start to argue about how they will split up the territories, since Hotspur wants England, Douglas Scotland, and Glyndwr Wales.
King Henry calls Hal into his throne room and begs his son to mend his ways. Hal agrees to "be more myself" in the future. Henry then informs his son that the rebels are mobilizing near Shrewsbury, and Hal receives a military command. He immediately starts to prepare for war with Hotspur. Henry assembles his own armies and starts moving towards Shrewsbury. Almost as a joke, Falstaff receives an infantry command from Hal, which is difficult for him since he is too fat to be able to walk very far.
At Shrewsbury, King Henry offers to fully pardon the rebels if they decamp and return to their homes. Hotspur's agent, Worcester, fails to deliver this message to Hotspur because he is convinced that Henry will not honor the pardon. Thus Hotspur feels trapped into fighting. To make matters worse, Glyndwr is unable to arrive on time, causing the rebels to have far fewer men than they had expected. At the same time, Northumberland falls ill and is unable to help rally his troops. Hotspur, unable to wait any longer, decides to go ahead with the battle preparations anyway.
Henry puts nobles on the field dressed as himself as a form of protection. Douglas kills several of the impersonators before encountering Henry. The two men start to fight, but Hal arrives in time to save his father and chase Douglas away. Henry comments that he is sorry he ever doubted his son's abilities.
Hal next encounters Hotspur. After a brief exchange of words they start to fight with on another. While the two young men are fighting, Falstaff arrives and encourages Hal to victory. Douglas also arrives and attacks Falstaff, who soon falls down as if he were dead. Hal succeeds in killing Hotspur, but is sad that Falstaff has also been killed.
No sooner does Hal depart then Falstaff gets back to his feet and stabs Hotspur's body. He then picks up Hotspur and takes the credit for killing him. Hal cannot believe Falstaff's lies, but decides it is not worth arguing about.
King Henry succeeds in winning the battle once the leaders are killed or captured. He sentences Worcester and Vernon to death for their failure to offer his pardon to Hotspur. Hal chooses to pardon Douglas and set him free, realizing that this is strategically necessary if he wants to rule Scotland in the future. Henry then splits his army into two parts, one of which will march on York, the other of which will attack Glyndwr.
Henry IV, Part 2
In the first years of the 15th century, England is in the middle of a civil war. Powerful rebels have assembled against King Henry IV in an attempt to overthrow him. They have just suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Shrewsbury, but several rebel leaders--including the Archbishop of York, Lord Mowbray, and Lord Hastings--remain alive and continue to wage war against the king. King Henry, aging prematurely because of his anxiety over the war and over his oldest son, Prince Hal, has recently become very ill.
Prince Hal has spent most of his teenage years raising hell in taverns with a group of lowlife friends. His closest friend and mentor is Falstaff, a jovial, aging, witty criminal. Falstaff and some of Hal's other friends have won wealth and power at the Battle of Shrewsbury. We watch Falstaff, now an army captain, drink in a London tavern and travel around the countryside to recruit young men to serve in the upcoming battles. Prince Hal, meanwhile, knowing that he will have to take the reins of power when his father dies, has vowed to change his ways and become responsible. He has started to spend less time with his old friends.
The rebel leaders gather their forces to battle the king at the Forest of Gaultree. They are disappointed when the powerful Earl of Northumberland does not offer soldiers to support them. (This is the second time he had refused to offer aid; the first time, at the Battle of Shrewsbury, his refusal led to his son's death in battle.) Prince John, the king's second son, leads the king's army to meet them at the forest. Prince John says he will agree to all the rebels' demands, but as soon as the relieved rebels have sent their soldiers home, he arrests them for treason. The rebels protest this injustice, but the prince has them executed.
Meanwhile, at his palace in London, King Henry IV grows increasingly sick. He is worried about what will happen when his wayward son becomes king. Prince Hal comes to the palace; his father gives him a tongue-lashing, and Prince Hal, in an eloquent speech, vows that he will be a responsible king. His father forgives him and then dies. Prince Hal, now King Henry V, tells the Lord Chief Justice, the highest law official in England, that he will now view him as a father figure.
After the rebels have been executed, Hal is formally crowned King Henry V. Falstaff and his companions come to London to greet him, but in the middle of a public street, the king rejects Falstaff, telling him he must never come within ten miles of the king or court again. He may have a pension, but the king will have nothing more to do with him. Then the young king goes to court to lay plans for an invasion of France.
Prince Hal has spent most of his teenage years raising hell in taverns with a group of lowlife friends. His closest friend and mentor is Falstaff, a jovial, aging, witty criminal. Falstaff and some of Hal's other friends have won wealth and power at the Battle of Shrewsbury. We watch Falstaff, now an army captain, drink in a London tavern and travel around the countryside to recruit young men to serve in the upcoming battles. Prince Hal, meanwhile, knowing that he will have to take the reins of power when his father dies, has vowed to change his ways and become responsible. He has started to spend less time with his old friends.
The rebel leaders gather their forces to battle the king at the Forest of Gaultree. They are disappointed when the powerful Earl of Northumberland does not offer soldiers to support them. (This is the second time he had refused to offer aid; the first time, at the Battle of Shrewsbury, his refusal led to his son's death in battle.) Prince John, the king's second son, leads the king's army to meet them at the forest. Prince John says he will agree to all the rebels' demands, but as soon as the relieved rebels have sent their soldiers home, he arrests them for treason. The rebels protest this injustice, but the prince has them executed.
Meanwhile, at his palace in London, King Henry IV grows increasingly sick. He is worried about what will happen when his wayward son becomes king. Prince Hal comes to the palace; his father gives him a tongue-lashing, and Prince Hal, in an eloquent speech, vows that he will be a responsible king. His father forgives him and then dies. Prince Hal, now King Henry V, tells the Lord Chief Justice, the highest law official in England, that he will now view him as a father figure.
After the rebels have been executed, Hal is formally crowned King Henry V. Falstaff and his companions come to London to greet him, but in the middle of a public street, the king rejects Falstaff, telling him he must never come within ten miles of the king or court again. He may have a pension, but the king will have nothing more to do with him. Then the young king goes to court to lay plans for an invasion of France.
Henry V
The play is set in England in the early fifteenth century. The political situation in England is tense: King Henry IV has died, and his son, the young King Henry V, has just assumed the throne. Several bitter civil wars have left the people of England restless and dissatisfied. Furthermore, in order to gain the respect of the English people and the court, Henry must live down his wild adolescent past, when he used to consort with thieves and drunkards at the Boar’s Head Tavern on the seedy side of London.
Henry lays claim to certain parts of France, based on his distant roots in the French royal family and on a very technical interpretation of ancient land laws. When the young prince, or Dauphin, of France sends Henry an insulting message in response to these claims, Henry decides to invade France. Supported by the English noblemen and clergy, Henry gathers his troops for war.
Henry’s decision to invade France trickles down to affect the common people he rules. In the Boar’s Head Tavern in Eastcheap, some of the king’s former friends—whom he rejected when he rose to the throne—prepare to leave their homes and families. Bardolph, Pistol, and Nim are common lowlifes and part-time criminals, on the opposite end of the social spectrum from their royal former companion. As they prepare for the war, they remark on the death of Falstaff, an elderly knight who was once King Henry’s closest friend.
Just before his fleet sets sail, King Henry learns of a conspiracy against his life. The three traitors working for the French beg for mercy, but Henry denies their request. He orders that the trio, which includes a former friend named Scrope, be executed. The English sail for France, where they fight their way across the country. Against incredible odds, they continue to win after conquering the town of Harfleur, where Henry gives an impassioned speech to motivate his soldiers to victory. Among the officers in King Henry’s army are men from all parts of Britain, such as Fluellen, a Welsh captain. As the English advance, Nim and Bardolph are caught looting and are hanged at King Henry’s command.
The climax of the war comes at the famous Battle of Agincourt, at which the English are outnumbered by the French five to one. The night before the battle, King Henry disguises himself as a common soldier and talks to many of the soldiers in his camp, learning who they are and what they think of the great battle in which they have been swept up. When he is by himself, he laments his ever-present responsibilities as king. In the morning, he prays to God and gives a powerful, inspiring speech to his soldiers. Miraculously, the English win the battle, and the proud French must surrender at last. Some time later, peace negotiations are finally worked out: Henry will marry Catherine, the daughter of the French king. Henry’s son will be the king of France, and the marriage will unite the two kingdoms.
Henry lays claim to certain parts of France, based on his distant roots in the French royal family and on a very technical interpretation of ancient land laws. When the young prince, or Dauphin, of France sends Henry an insulting message in response to these claims, Henry decides to invade France. Supported by the English noblemen and clergy, Henry gathers his troops for war.
Henry’s decision to invade France trickles down to affect the common people he rules. In the Boar’s Head Tavern in Eastcheap, some of the king’s former friends—whom he rejected when he rose to the throne—prepare to leave their homes and families. Bardolph, Pistol, and Nim are common lowlifes and part-time criminals, on the opposite end of the social spectrum from their royal former companion. As they prepare for the war, they remark on the death of Falstaff, an elderly knight who was once King Henry’s closest friend.
Just before his fleet sets sail, King Henry learns of a conspiracy against his life. The three traitors working for the French beg for mercy, but Henry denies their request. He orders that the trio, which includes a former friend named Scrope, be executed. The English sail for France, where they fight their way across the country. Against incredible odds, they continue to win after conquering the town of Harfleur, where Henry gives an impassioned speech to motivate his soldiers to victory. Among the officers in King Henry’s army are men from all parts of Britain, such as Fluellen, a Welsh captain. As the English advance, Nim and Bardolph are caught looting and are hanged at King Henry’s command.
The climax of the war comes at the famous Battle of Agincourt, at which the English are outnumbered by the French five to one. The night before the battle, King Henry disguises himself as a common soldier and talks to many of the soldiers in his camp, learning who they are and what they think of the great battle in which they have been swept up. When he is by himself, he laments his ever-present responsibilities as king. In the morning, he prays to God and gives a powerful, inspiring speech to his soldiers. Miraculously, the English win the battle, and the proud French must surrender at last. Some time later, peace negotiations are finally worked out: Henry will marry Catherine, the daughter of the French king. Henry’s son will be the king of France, and the marriage will unite the two kingdoms.
Henry VI, Part 1
Henry V's funeral is attended by many of his noblemen, who speak sadly of the death of such a great king. Several messengers arrive, announcing trouble in France. Several towns, part of the English territory once won by Henry V, have been lost, the Dauphin Charles has been crowned king, while the English hero Talbot has been taken prisoner. Hearing the news, the noblemen rise to action, each taking on a different task to help reorganize the kingdom and prepare the newly crowned king--the former king's son, Henry VI--for his emergency duties in France.
Talbot's forces lay siege to Orléans, while Charles and his lords try to fight their way out. Yet the English, although exhausted and starving, still beat them. The Bastard of Orléans brings Joan to meet Charles. She says she has seen visions and can lead the troops. Charles challenges her to single combat and she beats him. She assures the French that she will break the siege that very day.
In London, the Protector of the kingdom, Gloucester, who will rule until the young king is old enough to take over, comes to blows with the leader of the church, Winchester, at the Tower of London. Winchester bars Gloucester from entering the Tower and accuses him of plotting to take over the kingdom. Their serving men join in the fight, but soon the Mayor arrives to split them up.
In France, Talbot has been released in exchange for a captured French lord. The French launch an attack on the English forces, killing important leaders. Talbot and Joan fight, and she gains the upper hand, but she says it is not his time to die, and she leaves him. Joan succeeds in lifting the siege, and the French nobles celebrate her successes. Yet Talbot engineers a sneak attack on Orléans and retakes the city, so that he can bury his dead comrades within the city.
The Countess of Auvergne sends for Talbot. She says she wants to see this renowned man in person. Talbot goes to her castle, where she now declares he has fallen into her trap. But Talbot laughs, saying he is not as small as he looks. Rather, he is just one part of a great army that will never be trapped. His soldiers arrive instantly.
Back in London many lords gather in the Temple Garden outside Parliament to dispute a point of law. Richard Plantagenet and Somerset form the heads of opposing camps, and they pluck white and red roses as symbols of their differing opinions. Their followers do the same. Somerset insults Plantagenet's father and they each scorn each other. Warwick predicts that the argument, though begun over something so small, will end in the deaths of thousands.
Plantagenet goes to the Tower of London to talk to his uncle Mortimer and to ask about his father. Mortimer says Plantagenet's father was once in line to the throne and had raised an army to help him claim his right to power, but he was captured and executed, while the rest of the Mortimer line, including this Mortimer, was suppressed. Mortimer dies, leaving Plantagenet even more anxious to regain his birthright.
All of Parliament soon learns of Gloucester and Winchester's dispute when their serving men crash into the room pelting each other with stones. King Henry urges them not to fight, for civil dissention will weaken the nation. The two men promise to stop fighting for the moment. Warwick presents Plantagenet's request to have his father's title passed on to him. The king grants it, also giving him his uncle's former title, and, thus, renaming him the Duke of York. Gloucester urges the king to go to France to deal with the unrest there, and Henry agrees. Exeter comments on the growing factionalism resulting from the noblemen's quarrels--that of Gloucester and Winchester and that of Plantagenet (now York) and Somerset--and refe rs to a prophecy stating that Henry VI would lose all the territories that his father had won for Britain.
Talbot's forces stand outside Rouen, prepared to attack. The French and English forces insult each other repeatedly. Talbot asks the French to meet him in the field and fight a fair fight rather than using their walled city to their advantage, but they refuse. The English forces manage to beat the French forces anyway. Joan tells Charles not to worry about the loss, because she has a new plan to weaken Talbot. Burgundy, a French leader fighting with Talbot, constitutes the only threat to her plan, but she lures him to the French camp and convinces him that he's fighting for the wrong side.
Henry arrives in Paris with his nobles. Talbot goes to meet him, where he receives a message from Burgundy about his change of loyalty. Talbot goes with his forces to try to talk to him. Meanwhile two underlings of York and Somerset ask the king for the right to have an armed fight. This is the first the King learns of the struggle between the followers of the white rose and the red rose. The king urges Somerset and York to put aside their differences while they are in France, for their dissention will make Britain appear weak to its enemy. The king says it shouldn't matter what rose he wears, since he loves both his lords--yet even as he says this he picks Somerset's red rose. York is upset but he keeps it to himself. Henry assigns the two men to new tasks in France, making York the leader of the English troops and putting Somerset in charge of the cavalry.
Talbot prepares to attack Bordeaux, but the city is well defended and Charles' forces approach from behind: he is trapped! A messenger from Talbot asks York to send the cavalry reinforcements to save Talbot, but York has no troops to send. Convinced Somerset has delayed the delivery of the cavalry out of dislike for him, York bemoans the imminent death of Talbot and the loss of the lands hard won by Henry V. The same messenger goes to Somerset, who says York is to blame for sending Talbot into battle without sufficient troops and that York probably did so knowingly, wanting to take over Talbot's post. The messenger says Somerset should have helped Talbot, and his death will be both noblemen's shame.
Talbot's son John arrives on the battlefield, having come to learn about soldiering from his father. But Talbot tells him he has arrived at a terrible moment and urges him to flee rather than die in his first battle. But John refuses, saying he will disgrace the honor of the Talbot name if he flees. The battle begins, and John is wounded; yet still he will not flee. Finally, John is killed and Talbot dies of grief. The English army is defeated.
Back in London, Gloucester reads letters from the pope urging the English to make peace with the French. Charles agrees to make an offer. Meanwhile in France, Charles' forces are under attack by the united front of Somerset and York. Joan calls to her patron-demons to advise her about the future, but they refuse to speak to her. York captures Joan in battle.
In the course of the battles, Suffolk has captured Margaret, a French girl, daughter to one of Charles' nobles, René. Impressed with her beauty, he wants to woo her, but he is already married. So he decides to woo her for Henry and asks René if he will consent to her marriage to the English king.
York and Warwick hold Joan in trial. They ask if it is true that her father was a shepherd, but she refuses to acknowledge this. She tries to convince them that they should not kill her, for she is a virgin and, thus, able in her purity to communicate with powers on high; they will incur a heavenly wrath if they execute her. York and Warwick nonetheless prepare to have her burnt at the stake. She now suddenly claims that she is pregnant and they wouldn't dare kill a pregnant woman, but York tells her that no matter what she says, she will die. She curses the English and is led away.
Meanwhile, Winchester tries to engineer peace between Charles and the English. At first, Charles resists, but his nobles advise him to accept the peace for the moment in order to stop the massacre of his citizens; they can always break the treaty later.
Suffolk arrives in London and tells the king of Margaret's charms. Henry decides that he will marry her, but Gloucester reminds him he is already engaged to the daughter of a relative of Charles, a match that would soothe international politics. Margaret's father Rene is only a minor earl with no money and, thus, a union with her would offer no real advantages. Yet Henry insists on marrying her and tells Gloucester he must simply forgive his choice. Suffolk has succeeded; now Margaret will rule the king and he will rule Margaret.
Talbot's forces lay siege to Orléans, while Charles and his lords try to fight their way out. Yet the English, although exhausted and starving, still beat them. The Bastard of Orléans brings Joan to meet Charles. She says she has seen visions and can lead the troops. Charles challenges her to single combat and she beats him. She assures the French that she will break the siege that very day.
In London, the Protector of the kingdom, Gloucester, who will rule until the young king is old enough to take over, comes to blows with the leader of the church, Winchester, at the Tower of London. Winchester bars Gloucester from entering the Tower and accuses him of plotting to take over the kingdom. Their serving men join in the fight, but soon the Mayor arrives to split them up.
In France, Talbot has been released in exchange for a captured French lord. The French launch an attack on the English forces, killing important leaders. Talbot and Joan fight, and she gains the upper hand, but she says it is not his time to die, and she leaves him. Joan succeeds in lifting the siege, and the French nobles celebrate her successes. Yet Talbot engineers a sneak attack on Orléans and retakes the city, so that he can bury his dead comrades within the city.
The Countess of Auvergne sends for Talbot. She says she wants to see this renowned man in person. Talbot goes to her castle, where she now declares he has fallen into her trap. But Talbot laughs, saying he is not as small as he looks. Rather, he is just one part of a great army that will never be trapped. His soldiers arrive instantly.
Back in London many lords gather in the Temple Garden outside Parliament to dispute a point of law. Richard Plantagenet and Somerset form the heads of opposing camps, and they pluck white and red roses as symbols of their differing opinions. Their followers do the same. Somerset insults Plantagenet's father and they each scorn each other. Warwick predicts that the argument, though begun over something so small, will end in the deaths of thousands.
Plantagenet goes to the Tower of London to talk to his uncle Mortimer and to ask about his father. Mortimer says Plantagenet's father was once in line to the throne and had raised an army to help him claim his right to power, but he was captured and executed, while the rest of the Mortimer line, including this Mortimer, was suppressed. Mortimer dies, leaving Plantagenet even more anxious to regain his birthright.
All of Parliament soon learns of Gloucester and Winchester's dispute when their serving men crash into the room pelting each other with stones. King Henry urges them not to fight, for civil dissention will weaken the nation. The two men promise to stop fighting for the moment. Warwick presents Plantagenet's request to have his father's title passed on to him. The king grants it, also giving him his uncle's former title, and, thus, renaming him the Duke of York. Gloucester urges the king to go to France to deal with the unrest there, and Henry agrees. Exeter comments on the growing factionalism resulting from the noblemen's quarrels--that of Gloucester and Winchester and that of Plantagenet (now York) and Somerset--and refe rs to a prophecy stating that Henry VI would lose all the territories that his father had won for Britain.
Talbot's forces stand outside Rouen, prepared to attack. The French and English forces insult each other repeatedly. Talbot asks the French to meet him in the field and fight a fair fight rather than using their walled city to their advantage, but they refuse. The English forces manage to beat the French forces anyway. Joan tells Charles not to worry about the loss, because she has a new plan to weaken Talbot. Burgundy, a French leader fighting with Talbot, constitutes the only threat to her plan, but she lures him to the French camp and convinces him that he's fighting for the wrong side.
Henry arrives in Paris with his nobles. Talbot goes to meet him, where he receives a message from Burgundy about his change of loyalty. Talbot goes with his forces to try to talk to him. Meanwhile two underlings of York and Somerset ask the king for the right to have an armed fight. This is the first the King learns of the struggle between the followers of the white rose and the red rose. The king urges Somerset and York to put aside their differences while they are in France, for their dissention will make Britain appear weak to its enemy. The king says it shouldn't matter what rose he wears, since he loves both his lords--yet even as he says this he picks Somerset's red rose. York is upset but he keeps it to himself. Henry assigns the two men to new tasks in France, making York the leader of the English troops and putting Somerset in charge of the cavalry.
Talbot prepares to attack Bordeaux, but the city is well defended and Charles' forces approach from behind: he is trapped! A messenger from Talbot asks York to send the cavalry reinforcements to save Talbot, but York has no troops to send. Convinced Somerset has delayed the delivery of the cavalry out of dislike for him, York bemoans the imminent death of Talbot and the loss of the lands hard won by Henry V. The same messenger goes to Somerset, who says York is to blame for sending Talbot into battle without sufficient troops and that York probably did so knowingly, wanting to take over Talbot's post. The messenger says Somerset should have helped Talbot, and his death will be both noblemen's shame.
Talbot's son John arrives on the battlefield, having come to learn about soldiering from his father. But Talbot tells him he has arrived at a terrible moment and urges him to flee rather than die in his first battle. But John refuses, saying he will disgrace the honor of the Talbot name if he flees. The battle begins, and John is wounded; yet still he will not flee. Finally, John is killed and Talbot dies of grief. The English army is defeated.
Back in London, Gloucester reads letters from the pope urging the English to make peace with the French. Charles agrees to make an offer. Meanwhile in France, Charles' forces are under attack by the united front of Somerset and York. Joan calls to her patron-demons to advise her about the future, but they refuse to speak to her. York captures Joan in battle.
In the course of the battles, Suffolk has captured Margaret, a French girl, daughter to one of Charles' nobles, René. Impressed with her beauty, he wants to woo her, but he is already married. So he decides to woo her for Henry and asks René if he will consent to her marriage to the English king.
York and Warwick hold Joan in trial. They ask if it is true that her father was a shepherd, but she refuses to acknowledge this. She tries to convince them that they should not kill her, for she is a virgin and, thus, able in her purity to communicate with powers on high; they will incur a heavenly wrath if they execute her. York and Warwick nonetheless prepare to have her burnt at the stake. She now suddenly claims that she is pregnant and they wouldn't dare kill a pregnant woman, but York tells her that no matter what she says, she will die. She curses the English and is led away.
Meanwhile, Winchester tries to engineer peace between Charles and the English. At first, Charles resists, but his nobles advise him to accept the peace for the moment in order to stop the massacre of his citizens; they can always break the treaty later.
Suffolk arrives in London and tells the king of Margaret's charms. Henry decides that he will marry her, but Gloucester reminds him he is already engaged to the daughter of a relative of Charles, a match that would soothe international politics. Margaret's father Rene is only a minor earl with no money and, thus, a union with her would offer no real advantages. Yet Henry insists on marrying her and tells Gloucester he must simply forgive his choice. Suffolk has succeeded; now Margaret will rule the king and he will rule Margaret.
Henry VI, Part 2
Henry enters the court with his various lords. Suffolk has returned from France with Margaret, whom he presents to the king as his new wife. He also brings a peace treaty from France, which Gloucester reads. He falters when he comes to a passage about the French keeping the territories of Anjou and Maine in return for Margaret. Gloucester is upset at this loss of land, once hard-won by Henry V and by the other lords in recent French wars. He prophecies the imminent loss of France and leaves. Beaufort speaks against Gloucester, suggesting to Buckingham and Somerset that they plot to oust him. Salisbury and Warwick talk with York about trying to suppress the influence of Suffolk and Beaufort, two ambitious and prideful nobles. York, left alone, speaks of his belief in his claim to the throne and his frustration that Henry willingly allows lands that are rightfully his own to be returned to the French. Yet he can't make his claims yet; he plans to side with Warwick and Salisbury.
Gloucester speaks to his wife, the Duchess. He had a dream that his staff of office was broken, but she dreamed that she was about to be crowned queen. He urges her not to speak of her excessive ambition, since she is already the second woman in the kingdom, behind Margaret. Hume enters, and the Duchess and Hume discuss her desire to hire a witch and conjurer to summon spirits to ask about the future of Henry's reign.
Petitioners come to the court to ask for Gloucester's help. They encounter Suffolk and Margaret and believe Suffolk is Gloucester. One petitioner, Peter, accuses his boss of saying York is the rightful king, and Suffolk sees he has found a way to weaken York. Henry and his court enter, discussing who should be the regent of English forces in France. Gloucester suggests York, but after hearing Peter accusing his master Horner and casting doubt on York, he recommends Somerset. Margaret insults Gloucester and asks him why he is still protector of the kingdom; she also insults the Duchess. Gloucester suggests that justice will be best served by single combat between Peter and Horner.
The Duchess welcomes the Witch and the conjurer, Bolingbroke. They summon a spirit and ask it Margaret's questions about Henry's rule. The spirit gives ambiguous replies, then York, Suffolk, and Somerset enter and arrest the Duchess for dabbling in the occult.
Henry and his queen and lords are hunting. Gloucester and Beaufort bicker. They meet a poor man who claims to have had his sight restored by miracle, but Gloucester sees he is lying and chases him away, "curing" his lameness, too. Then, Buckingham arrives with news of the Duchess' arrest.
Richard speaks to Warwick and Salisbury, explaining the complex family tree that makes him the more rightful heir to the throne than Henry. Both men believe him, call him the true king, and swear allegiance.
Henry and his lords judge the Duchess and her sorcerers. She is banished and ordered to do penance by being led through the streets of London before departing. Gloucester gives up his staff and his office. Then, Peter and Horner enter for their combat. Peter thinks he can't fight, but he is able to defeat and kill Horner, who arrives drunk. Later, Gloucester waits in the street to see the Duchess paraded through the streets. She warns him that the lords are out to get him, but he says he has always been honorable and, thus, is above blame. He bids farewell to his wife.
Henry holds a meeting of the lords outside London, and Somerset enters to report that all the French lands have been lost. Gloucester arrives late, and Suffolk arrests him for treason. The lords all accuse him of wrongdoing. Henry says he hopes Gloucester can prove his innocence, but Gloucester says the lords have all plotted against him, and he will not be able to defend himself. Gloucester is taken away, and Henry mourns his inability to defend an innocent Gloucester against the plots of the lords. He departs; the other lords discuss how they shall come up with an excuse to kill Gloucester. A messenger arrives with news of rebellions in Ireland; York is sent to take care of them and given an army. Left alone onstage, York revels in the turn of events; all he had lacked was an army and now he has one. While he is in Ireland, he has hired Jack Cade to raise trouble in England, to say he is a York with a claim to the throne, to see what is the public response to such a gesture. If it's positive, York will return and take over himself.
Gloucester is killed by murderers at his home. Henry and his lords arrive for his trial, but Suffolk announces that Gloucester has died. Henry is distraught. Warwick and Salisbury enter with reports of unsettled commoners, who suspect Gloucester was murdered. Examining the body, they decide that Gloucester died in struggle and was murdered. The commoners ask for the death or banishment of Suffolk. Henry grants their wish, and he orders Suffolk to leave the country. Left alone, Margaret and Suffolk declare their feelings for each other. She says she will try to have him returned or will be banished, too. He says he can't live without her and wants to stay. She sends him away.
Meanwhile, Beaufort has been taken ill, raving in his bed. He dies miserably, signifying bad behavior during his life. Suffolk is captured at sea but refuses to plead for his life. He insists he can't be killed by such lowly men, but Suffolk is beheaded.
Cade speaks to his army of commoners, claiming to be the heir to the throne and promising many changes in a new England. He promises to honor only workmen, not artisans or people who can read. Stafford and his brother arrive with an army to convince Cade and his men to lay down their arms, but the two armies come to blows. Stafford and his brother are killed, and Cade drags their bodies to London.
Margaret holds Suffolk's disembodied head and mourns him. Henry listens to reports of Cade's attack, and he determines to leave the city temporarily. Cade attacks London, hunting for and killing Lord Saye, who Cade accuses of ruining England with literacy. Cade's rabble asks Cade to create new, spoken laws. Cade wreaks havoc on London, until Buckingham and Clifford arrive, reminding the commoners of the honorable rule of Henry V. Soon, the rabble abandons Cade, who flees. Henry forgives the commoners and receives word that York's army marches from Ireland, demanding the imprisonment of Somerset, who York claims is a traitor. Meanwhile, Cade is starving in the countryside; he steals food from Alexander Iden's garden. Iden arrives, and Cade threatens him. The two come to blows, and Cade is killed.
York marches near London with his army. Buckingham arrives to ask about his intentions. York claims he only wants Somerset imprisoned. Buckingham says he has been, so York dismisses his army. Henry enters, followed by Margaret and Somerset. Seeing Somerset free, York can contain himself no longer; he accuses Henry of being a weak, unfit king, and he declares himself to be the rightful heir to the throne. Somerset orders York's arrest. York refuses to budge and asks for his sons Edward and Richard and Salisbury and Warwick to speak on his behalf. Salisbury and Warwick declare their allegiance to York. Henry agrees there is nothing left to do but fight.
Richard fights with Somerset and kills him. Then, he fights with Clifford and kills him. York's army is winning, so Margaret urges Henry to flee back to London, where he has support. After the battle, York declares victory, but his enemy has fled. So he, with Edward and Richard, Salisbury and Warwick, prepare to enter London.
Gloucester speaks to his wife, the Duchess. He had a dream that his staff of office was broken, but she dreamed that she was about to be crowned queen. He urges her not to speak of her excessive ambition, since she is already the second woman in the kingdom, behind Margaret. Hume enters, and the Duchess and Hume discuss her desire to hire a witch and conjurer to summon spirits to ask about the future of Henry's reign.
Petitioners come to the court to ask for Gloucester's help. They encounter Suffolk and Margaret and believe Suffolk is Gloucester. One petitioner, Peter, accuses his boss of saying York is the rightful king, and Suffolk sees he has found a way to weaken York. Henry and his court enter, discussing who should be the regent of English forces in France. Gloucester suggests York, but after hearing Peter accusing his master Horner and casting doubt on York, he recommends Somerset. Margaret insults Gloucester and asks him why he is still protector of the kingdom; she also insults the Duchess. Gloucester suggests that justice will be best served by single combat between Peter and Horner.
The Duchess welcomes the Witch and the conjurer, Bolingbroke. They summon a spirit and ask it Margaret's questions about Henry's rule. The spirit gives ambiguous replies, then York, Suffolk, and Somerset enter and arrest the Duchess for dabbling in the occult.
Henry and his queen and lords are hunting. Gloucester and Beaufort bicker. They meet a poor man who claims to have had his sight restored by miracle, but Gloucester sees he is lying and chases him away, "curing" his lameness, too. Then, Buckingham arrives with news of the Duchess' arrest.
Richard speaks to Warwick and Salisbury, explaining the complex family tree that makes him the more rightful heir to the throne than Henry. Both men believe him, call him the true king, and swear allegiance.
Henry and his lords judge the Duchess and her sorcerers. She is banished and ordered to do penance by being led through the streets of London before departing. Gloucester gives up his staff and his office. Then, Peter and Horner enter for their combat. Peter thinks he can't fight, but he is able to defeat and kill Horner, who arrives drunk. Later, Gloucester waits in the street to see the Duchess paraded through the streets. She warns him that the lords are out to get him, but he says he has always been honorable and, thus, is above blame. He bids farewell to his wife.
Henry holds a meeting of the lords outside London, and Somerset enters to report that all the French lands have been lost. Gloucester arrives late, and Suffolk arrests him for treason. The lords all accuse him of wrongdoing. Henry says he hopes Gloucester can prove his innocence, but Gloucester says the lords have all plotted against him, and he will not be able to defend himself. Gloucester is taken away, and Henry mourns his inability to defend an innocent Gloucester against the plots of the lords. He departs; the other lords discuss how they shall come up with an excuse to kill Gloucester. A messenger arrives with news of rebellions in Ireland; York is sent to take care of them and given an army. Left alone onstage, York revels in the turn of events; all he had lacked was an army and now he has one. While he is in Ireland, he has hired Jack Cade to raise trouble in England, to say he is a York with a claim to the throne, to see what is the public response to such a gesture. If it's positive, York will return and take over himself.
Gloucester is killed by murderers at his home. Henry and his lords arrive for his trial, but Suffolk announces that Gloucester has died. Henry is distraught. Warwick and Salisbury enter with reports of unsettled commoners, who suspect Gloucester was murdered. Examining the body, they decide that Gloucester died in struggle and was murdered. The commoners ask for the death or banishment of Suffolk. Henry grants their wish, and he orders Suffolk to leave the country. Left alone, Margaret and Suffolk declare their feelings for each other. She says she will try to have him returned or will be banished, too. He says he can't live without her and wants to stay. She sends him away.
Meanwhile, Beaufort has been taken ill, raving in his bed. He dies miserably, signifying bad behavior during his life. Suffolk is captured at sea but refuses to plead for his life. He insists he can't be killed by such lowly men, but Suffolk is beheaded.
Cade speaks to his army of commoners, claiming to be the heir to the throne and promising many changes in a new England. He promises to honor only workmen, not artisans or people who can read. Stafford and his brother arrive with an army to convince Cade and his men to lay down their arms, but the two armies come to blows. Stafford and his brother are killed, and Cade drags their bodies to London.
Margaret holds Suffolk's disembodied head and mourns him. Henry listens to reports of Cade's attack, and he determines to leave the city temporarily. Cade attacks London, hunting for and killing Lord Saye, who Cade accuses of ruining England with literacy. Cade's rabble asks Cade to create new, spoken laws. Cade wreaks havoc on London, until Buckingham and Clifford arrive, reminding the commoners of the honorable rule of Henry V. Soon, the rabble abandons Cade, who flees. Henry forgives the commoners and receives word that York's army marches from Ireland, demanding the imprisonment of Somerset, who York claims is a traitor. Meanwhile, Cade is starving in the countryside; he steals food from Alexander Iden's garden. Iden arrives, and Cade threatens him. The two come to blows, and Cade is killed.
York marches near London with his army. Buckingham arrives to ask about his intentions. York claims he only wants Somerset imprisoned. Buckingham says he has been, so York dismisses his army. Henry enters, followed by Margaret and Somerset. Seeing Somerset free, York can contain himself no longer; he accuses Henry of being a weak, unfit king, and he declares himself to be the rightful heir to the throne. Somerset orders York's arrest. York refuses to budge and asks for his sons Edward and Richard and Salisbury and Warwick to speak on his behalf. Salisbury and Warwick declare their allegiance to York. Henry agrees there is nothing left to do but fight.
Richard fights with Somerset and kills him. Then, he fights with Clifford and kills him. York's army is winning, so Margaret urges Henry to flee back to London, where he has support. After the battle, York declares victory, but his enemy has fled. So he, with Edward and Richard, Salisbury and Warwick, prepare to enter London.
Henry VI, Part 3
The Duke of York enters the throne room with his sons and followers, wondering where King Henry has fled to after their recent battles. Warwick urges York to take the throne. As York sits, Henry enters with his followers, who want to fight York right there. Henry urges calm and asks York to descend from the throne. York makes public his alleged claim to the throne, while Henry defends his hereditary possession of the crown. Suspecting that his claim to the throne may be spurious, Henry asks York to let him rule while he lives, and he will pass the throne on to the house of York on his death. York agrees and departs, but Henry's nobles are astonished that he would deny his son the birthright of becoming king on his father's death. Margaret, Henry's queen, arrives and accuses him of being an unnatural father for having disinherited his son and a bad ruler for thinking that York will let him rule.
Back in the town of York, Richard's sons Edward and Richard, and his follower Montague, urge York to take the throne immediately, rather than await Henry's death. York insists he has sworn an oath to let Henry rule, but Richard easily convinces him that the oath was not binding. Meanwhile, Margaret's forces arrive to challenge York.
Richard's other son Rutland is captured and killed on the way home by Clifford, who wants to avenge his father's death at York's hand. York's troops are losing the battle, and York is captured by Margaret and Clifford. She offers him a handkerchief dipped in Rutland's blood and challenges him to wipe his tears with it. He rails against her, calling her unnatural, and Clifford and Margaret stab him to death.
Edward and Richard wonder about the fate of their father, when they see a vision of three suns on the horizon, which Edward believes is a sign that the three York brothers must become as one. Richard isn't so sure, preferring to keep his allegiance only to himself. A messenger arrives with news of York's death, and the brothers are devastated. Warwick and Montague prepare to march to spar again with Margaret's forces, this time bringing the aid of York's other son George's troops.
Margaret and Clifford, with their followers, meet Henry at the town of York. Clifford urges Henry to undo his disinheritance of his son, but Henry isn't convinced that sons automatically appreciate that which their fathers leave them, since he didn't enjoy his father Henry V's legacy. Edward and his men burst in and demand the throne. The nobles from each side insult each other, and Henry tries to speak, but none will listen to him. Edward blames Margaret's pride for the civil war, and he declares that they will have to argue on the field of battle, since she won't let Henry speak.
Richard hunts Clifford on the field of battle in order to revenge his brother's and father's death. The tides of the battle ebb and flow as Henry watches from afar. He sees two soldiers drag dead bodies away from the scene of the fighting, trying to find valuables to steal. As the soldiers remove the armor from the bodies, one discovers he has accidentally killed his own father, and the other, his son. Henry mourns that the battles of the nation have come to this level of unnaturalness. Henry's son Prince Edward urges him to flee.
In London, Lady Gray petitions Edward to get her land back. He takes a liking to her and asks her to marry him. His brothers are annoyed to hear Edward's enthused announcement of his imminent marriage. Richard, alone, considers his potential route to the throne. Many people stand in his way, but what alternative is there? He could enjoy the pleasures of the court, but his physical abnormalities, including a hump back and withered arm, make him undesirable. Therefore, nothing remains for him but to connive and plot to get the crown. He decides he will play the role of the good brother and subject, while he plots ways to eliminate everyone in his way to the throne.Clifford is wounded and dies. Edward sees he has won the battle, though Henry is nowhere to be found. They head to London to crown Edward and to give new titles to Richard and George. Meanwhile, as Henry wanders through the forest, he is arrested by two men who support Edward. Edward sends Warwick to France to ask for the hand of the king of France's sister, and Margaret goes to France to ask for aid against Edward.
In France, Warwick and Margaret arrive at the same time. King Louis decides to give the hand of his sister, Lady Bona, to Edward, thus, denying Margaret aid, when a messenger arrives with news of Edward's marriage. Insulted to have been sent on a futile errand, Warwick changes sides, pledging his allegiance to Henry. Louis gives Margaret troops to fight with Edward.
In England, Edward and his brothers and lords discuss his marriage. They receive news that Warwick and Margaret have joined forces. George is so upset by Edward's new marriage that he leaves with Somerset to join with Warwick. In preparations for the coming battles, Edward is captured. Seeing George on the enemy's side, Edward gives up the throne and consents to be imprisoned at Warwick's brother's estate. Yet Richard and Hastings soon spring Edward from his gilded prison.
Warwick, George, and their nobles find Henry in the Tower and free him. Henry says he wants to be king in name only, and he names Warwick and George as joint protectors of the kingdom. They receive word that Edward has escaped to Brittany, from where he soon returns with reinforcements. Returning to the town of York, Edward thinks he wants only to be the Duke of York, but his followers urge him to seek the crown.
Henry's followers go to gather troops to battle Edward. Edward and Richard capture Henry and send him to the Tower before they march to meet Warwick's army. Edward's army meets Warwick's forces, and Edward asks Warwick if he will again swear allegiance to him. Warwick refuses. Warwick's supporters arrive, including George. Richard convinces George to break with Warwick, and the forces prepare to fight.
Warwick is wounded in battle and dies. Warwick's surviving supporters, Somerset and Oxford, go to join Margaret's army. Margaret urges on her forces, and they meet Edward's army. Edward wins this battle; he sends Somerset and Oxford away, kills Prince Edward, and imprisons a mourning Margaret. Richard sneaks off to the Tower, where Henry awaits.
Henry prophesizes that thousands will suffer because of Richard's deeds, for Richard was born under all the most inauspicious and evil signs. Richard kills Henry and declares himself separated from the ties of family and brotherhood. Since he was punished by the heavens with such unfortunate physical attributes, he will fight for himself alone hereafter. And with Henry and his son out of the way, Richard's next goal is to eliminate George and Edward.
Edward's son has been born, and George and Richard kiss the child. Edward calls for festivities to celebrate his attainment of the throne. At last there is no one to oppose him--except his own brother.
Back in the town of York, Richard's sons Edward and Richard, and his follower Montague, urge York to take the throne immediately, rather than await Henry's death. York insists he has sworn an oath to let Henry rule, but Richard easily convinces him that the oath was not binding. Meanwhile, Margaret's forces arrive to challenge York.
Richard's other son Rutland is captured and killed on the way home by Clifford, who wants to avenge his father's death at York's hand. York's troops are losing the battle, and York is captured by Margaret and Clifford. She offers him a handkerchief dipped in Rutland's blood and challenges him to wipe his tears with it. He rails against her, calling her unnatural, and Clifford and Margaret stab him to death.
Edward and Richard wonder about the fate of their father, when they see a vision of three suns on the horizon, which Edward believes is a sign that the three York brothers must become as one. Richard isn't so sure, preferring to keep his allegiance only to himself. A messenger arrives with news of York's death, and the brothers are devastated. Warwick and Montague prepare to march to spar again with Margaret's forces, this time bringing the aid of York's other son George's troops.
Margaret and Clifford, with their followers, meet Henry at the town of York. Clifford urges Henry to undo his disinheritance of his son, but Henry isn't convinced that sons automatically appreciate that which their fathers leave them, since he didn't enjoy his father Henry V's legacy. Edward and his men burst in and demand the throne. The nobles from each side insult each other, and Henry tries to speak, but none will listen to him. Edward blames Margaret's pride for the civil war, and he declares that they will have to argue on the field of battle, since she won't let Henry speak.
Richard hunts Clifford on the field of battle in order to revenge his brother's and father's death. The tides of the battle ebb and flow as Henry watches from afar. He sees two soldiers drag dead bodies away from the scene of the fighting, trying to find valuables to steal. As the soldiers remove the armor from the bodies, one discovers he has accidentally killed his own father, and the other, his son. Henry mourns that the battles of the nation have come to this level of unnaturalness. Henry's son Prince Edward urges him to flee.
In London, Lady Gray petitions Edward to get her land back. He takes a liking to her and asks her to marry him. His brothers are annoyed to hear Edward's enthused announcement of his imminent marriage. Richard, alone, considers his potential route to the throne. Many people stand in his way, but what alternative is there? He could enjoy the pleasures of the court, but his physical abnormalities, including a hump back and withered arm, make him undesirable. Therefore, nothing remains for him but to connive and plot to get the crown. He decides he will play the role of the good brother and subject, while he plots ways to eliminate everyone in his way to the throne.Clifford is wounded and dies. Edward sees he has won the battle, though Henry is nowhere to be found. They head to London to crown Edward and to give new titles to Richard and George. Meanwhile, as Henry wanders through the forest, he is arrested by two men who support Edward. Edward sends Warwick to France to ask for the hand of the king of France's sister, and Margaret goes to France to ask for aid against Edward.
In France, Warwick and Margaret arrive at the same time. King Louis decides to give the hand of his sister, Lady Bona, to Edward, thus, denying Margaret aid, when a messenger arrives with news of Edward's marriage. Insulted to have been sent on a futile errand, Warwick changes sides, pledging his allegiance to Henry. Louis gives Margaret troops to fight with Edward.
In England, Edward and his brothers and lords discuss his marriage. They receive news that Warwick and Margaret have joined forces. George is so upset by Edward's new marriage that he leaves with Somerset to join with Warwick. In preparations for the coming battles, Edward is captured. Seeing George on the enemy's side, Edward gives up the throne and consents to be imprisoned at Warwick's brother's estate. Yet Richard and Hastings soon spring Edward from his gilded prison.
Warwick, George, and their nobles find Henry in the Tower and free him. Henry says he wants to be king in name only, and he names Warwick and George as joint protectors of the kingdom. They receive word that Edward has escaped to Brittany, from where he soon returns with reinforcements. Returning to the town of York, Edward thinks he wants only to be the Duke of York, but his followers urge him to seek the crown.
Henry's followers go to gather troops to battle Edward. Edward and Richard capture Henry and send him to the Tower before they march to meet Warwick's army. Edward's army meets Warwick's forces, and Edward asks Warwick if he will again swear allegiance to him. Warwick refuses. Warwick's supporters arrive, including George. Richard convinces George to break with Warwick, and the forces prepare to fight.
Warwick is wounded in battle and dies. Warwick's surviving supporters, Somerset and Oxford, go to join Margaret's army. Margaret urges on her forces, and they meet Edward's army. Edward wins this battle; he sends Somerset and Oxford away, kills Prince Edward, and imprisons a mourning Margaret. Richard sneaks off to the Tower, where Henry awaits.
Henry prophesizes that thousands will suffer because of Richard's deeds, for Richard was born under all the most inauspicious and evil signs. Richard kills Henry and declares himself separated from the ties of family and brotherhood. Since he was punished by the heavens with such unfortunate physical attributes, he will fight for himself alone hereafter. And with Henry and his son out of the way, Richard's next goal is to eliminate George and Edward.
Edward's son has been born, and George and Richard kiss the child. Edward calls for festivities to celebrate his attainment of the throne. At last there is no one to oppose him--except his own brother.
Henry VIII
King Henry VIII of England was born in Greenwich palace on June 28, 1491. The second son of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, Henry was not heir to the throne until the unexpected death of his elder brother, Arthur, in April 1502. Seven years later, Henry VII died, and the seventeen-year-old prince acceded to the throne as King Henry VIII on April 21, 1509. Two months later he married his brother's widow, Catherine of Aragon.
In 1511 Henry joined the alliance known as the Holy League with Spain, Venice, and the Holy Roman Empire to curb French aggression in Italy. Henry led an invasion of France in 1513, and his armies captured the cities of Tournai and Therouanne. While abroad, Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, defeated the Scots at the battle of Flodden. In 1515, Henry named Cardinal Thomas Wolsey his Lord Chancellor, and Wolsey soon took on many important duties in the day-to-day administration of the government and in foreign policy efforts. He was Henry's chief minister until 1529, when he was replaced as Chancellor by Sir Thomas More.
In 1521, Henry published a book defending Catholic teaching against Martin Luther's positions on the seven sacraments. The Pope subsequently named the king "Defender of the Faith." By 1527, Henry was determined to divorce Queen Catherine, who had not borne him a living male heir. Of their eight children, only the Princess Mary (the future Queen Mary I) survived infancy. Henry tried to put pressure on Pope Clement VII to give him a special dispensation to divorce Catherine. When Wolsey failed in his negotiations with the Vatican to get the dispensation, Henry fired Wolsey and decided to sidestep established legal procedures of the Church. In defiance of Rome, he humbled the English clergy in a 1532 act of Parliament called the Supplication against the Ordinaries. Then, in 1533, he married Anne Boleyn, who soon gave birth to the future Queen Elizabeth I in 1533. The following year, Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, which named the king the Supreme Head on Earth of the Church of England. Thereafter followed the suppression of Catholic monastaries throughout England.
In May 1536, Anne Boleyn was executed on the grounds of marital infidelity. Henry married Jane Seymour, who died in childbed after giving birth to the king's only legitimate son, the future King Edward VI. In 1540, Henry's Viceregent and chief minister Thomas Cromwell arranged a political marriage between Henry and Anne of Cleves, in the hope of attaching German Protestant interests to those of England. Henry detested her appearance and the marriage lasted only six months, serving as the downfall of Cromwell, who was executed that same year for treason. Henry married twice more, first with Katherine Howard, who was executed in 1542 for marital infidelity, and then again in 1543 with his sixth wife Katherine Parr, who outlived the king.
Henry's later years saw a renewal of hostilities with both France and Scotland. War with Scotland ignited with the 1542 routing of the Scots by the English at Solway Moss, and continued the next three years. Henry personally invaded France in 1544, where his armies captured the strategically unimportant city of Boulogne. The two nations ceased fighting in 1546. Henry's later years were also characterized by rigorous persecution of both Roman Catholics and of Protestants. Many Catholics were executed for treason, and many Protestants–notably John Lambert and Anne Askew–were burned at the stake for heresy.
Henry passed away at Whitehall palace on January 28, 1547, at the age of 55. He was succeeded by his son, Edward VI.
In 1511 Henry joined the alliance known as the Holy League with Spain, Venice, and the Holy Roman Empire to curb French aggression in Italy. Henry led an invasion of France in 1513, and his armies captured the cities of Tournai and Therouanne. While abroad, Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, defeated the Scots at the battle of Flodden. In 1515, Henry named Cardinal Thomas Wolsey his Lord Chancellor, and Wolsey soon took on many important duties in the day-to-day administration of the government and in foreign policy efforts. He was Henry's chief minister until 1529, when he was replaced as Chancellor by Sir Thomas More.
In 1521, Henry published a book defending Catholic teaching against Martin Luther's positions on the seven sacraments. The Pope subsequently named the king "Defender of the Faith." By 1527, Henry was determined to divorce Queen Catherine, who had not borne him a living male heir. Of their eight children, only the Princess Mary (the future Queen Mary I) survived infancy. Henry tried to put pressure on Pope Clement VII to give him a special dispensation to divorce Catherine. When Wolsey failed in his negotiations with the Vatican to get the dispensation, Henry fired Wolsey and decided to sidestep established legal procedures of the Church. In defiance of Rome, he humbled the English clergy in a 1532 act of Parliament called the Supplication against the Ordinaries. Then, in 1533, he married Anne Boleyn, who soon gave birth to the future Queen Elizabeth I in 1533. The following year, Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, which named the king the Supreme Head on Earth of the Church of England. Thereafter followed the suppression of Catholic monastaries throughout England.
In May 1536, Anne Boleyn was executed on the grounds of marital infidelity. Henry married Jane Seymour, who died in childbed after giving birth to the king's only legitimate son, the future King Edward VI. In 1540, Henry's Viceregent and chief minister Thomas Cromwell arranged a political marriage between Henry and Anne of Cleves, in the hope of attaching German Protestant interests to those of England. Henry detested her appearance and the marriage lasted only six months, serving as the downfall of Cromwell, who was executed that same year for treason. Henry married twice more, first with Katherine Howard, who was executed in 1542 for marital infidelity, and then again in 1543 with his sixth wife Katherine Parr, who outlived the king.
Henry's later years saw a renewal of hostilities with both France and Scotland. War with Scotland ignited with the 1542 routing of the Scots by the English at Solway Moss, and continued the next three years. Henry personally invaded France in 1544, where his armies captured the strategically unimportant city of Boulogne. The two nations ceased fighting in 1546. Henry's later years were also characterized by rigorous persecution of both Roman Catholics and of Protestants. Many Catholics were executed for treason, and many Protestants–notably John Lambert and Anne Askew–were burned at the stake for heresy.
Henry passed away at Whitehall palace on January 28, 1547, at the age of 55. He was succeeded by his son, Edward VI.