# Henry IV Part 1 (1917) Yale/Text/Act IV

Notes originally placed at the bottom of each page appear below, following Act IV. Where these notes gloss a word in the text, the gloss can also be found by hovering over the text.
Where these notes refer to an end note (cf. n. = confer notam; "consult note"), a link to the accompanying end note is provided from the Footnotes section. The end notes accompanying Act IV begin on page 126 of the original volume.
Layout 2
ACT FOURTH
Scene One
[Shrewsbury. The rebel camp]
Enter Harry Hotspur, Worcester, and Douglas.
Hot. Well said, my noble Scot: if speaking truth In this fine age were not thought flattery, Such attribution should the Douglas have, As not a soldier of this season's stamp 4 Should go so general current through the world. By God, I cannot flatter; do defy The tongues of soothers; but a braver place In my heart's love hath no man than yourself. 8 Nay, task me to my word; approve me, lord.
Doug. Thou art the the king of honour: No man so potent breathes upon the ground But I will beard him.
Hot.Do so, and 'tis well. 12
Enter a Messenger.
What letters hast thou there? I can but thank you.
Mess. These letters come from your father.
Hot. Letters from him! why comes he not himself?
​Mess. He cannot come, my lord: he's grievous sick. 16
Hot. 'Zounds! how has he the leisure to be sick In such a justling time? Who leads his power? Under whose government come they along?
Mess. His letters bear his mind, not I, my lord. 20
Wor. I prithee, tell me, doth he keep his bed?
Mess. He did, my lord, four days ere I set forth; And at the time of my departure thence He was much fear'd by his physicians. 24
Wor. I would the state of time had first been whole Ere he by sickness had been visited: His health was never better worth than now.
Hot. Sick now! droop now! this sickness doth infect 28 The very life-blood of our enterprise; 'Tis catching hither, even to our camp. He writes me here, that inward sickness— And that his friends by deputation could not 32 So soon be drawn; nor did he think it meet To lay so dangerous and dear a trust On any soul remov'd but on his own. Yet doth he give us bold advertisement, 36 That with our small conjunction we should on, To see how fortune is dispos'd to us; For, as he writes, there is no quailing now, Because the king is certainly possess'd 40 Of all our purposes. What say you to it?
Wor. Your father's sickness is a maim to us.
Hot. A perilous gash, a very limb lopp'd off: And yet, in faith, 'tis not; his present want 44 Seems more than we shall find it. Were it good ​To set the exact wealth of all our states All at one cast? to set so rich a main On the nice hazard of one doubtful hour? 48 It were not good; for therein should we read The very bottom and the soul of hope, The very list, the very utmost bound Of all our fortunes.
Doug.Faith, and so we should; 52 Where now remains a sweet reversion: We may boldly spend upon the hope of what Is to come in: A comfort of retirement lives in this. 56
Hot. A rendezvous, a home to fly unto, If that the devil and mischance look big Upon the maidenhead of our affairs.
Wor. But yet, I would your father had been here. 60 The quality and hair of our attempt Brooks no division. It will be thought By some, that know not why he is away, That wisdom, loyalty, and mere dislike 64 Of our proceedings, kept the earl from hence. And think how such an apprehension May turn the tide of fearful faction And breed a kind of question in our cause; 68 For well you know we of the offering side Must keep aloof from strict arbitrement, And stop all sight-holes, every loop from whence The eye of reason may pry in upon us: 72 This absence of your father's draws a curtain, That shows the ignorant a kind of fear ​Before not dreamt of.
Hot.You strain too far. I rather of his absence make this use: 76 It lends a lustre and more great opinion, A larger dare to our great enterprise, Than if the earl were here; for men must think, If we without his help can make a head 80 To push against the kingdom, with his help We shall o'erturn it topsy-turvy down. Yet all goes well, yet all our joints are whole.
Doug. As heart can think: there is not such a word 84 Spoke of in Scotland as this term of fear.
Enter Sir Richard Vernon.
Hot. My cousin Vernon! welcome, by my soul.
Ver. Pray God my news be worth a welcome, lord. The Earl of Westmoreland, seven thousand strong, Is marching hitherwards; with him Prince John.
Hot. No harm: what more?
Ver.And further, I have learn'd, The king himself in person is set forth, Or hitherwards intended speedily, 92 With strong and mighty preparation.
Hot. He shall be welcome too. Where is his son, The nimble-footed madcap Prince of Wales, And his comrades, that daff'd the world aside, 96 And bid it pass?
Ver.All furnish'd, all in arms, All plum'd like estridges that with the wind Baited like eagles having lately bath'd, Glittering in golden coats, like images, 100 As full of spirit as the month of May, ​And gorgeous as the sun at midsummer, Wanton as youthful goats, wild as young bulls. I saw young Harry, with his beaver on, 104 His cushes on his thighs, gallantly arm'd, Rise from the ground like feather'd Mercury, And vaulted with such ease into his seat, As if an angel dropp'd down from the clouds, To turn and wind a fiery Pegasus 109 And witch the world with noble horsemanship.
Hot. No more, no more: worse than the sun in March This praise doth nourish agues. Let them come; They come like sacrifices in their trim, 113 And to the fire-ey'd maid of smoky war All hot and bleeding will we offer them: The mailed Mars shall on his altar sit 116 Up to the ears in blood. I am on fire To hear this rich reprisal is so nigh And yet not ours. Come, let me taste my horse, Who is to bear me like a thunderbolt 120 Against the bosom of the Prince of Wales: Harry to Harry shall, hot horse to horse, Meet and ne'er part till one drop down a corse. O! that Glendower were come.
Ver.There is more news: 124 I learn'd in Worcester, as I rode along, He cannot draw his power these fourteen days.
Doug. That's the worst tidings that I hear of yet.
War. Ay, by my faith, that bears a frosty sound. 128
Hot. What may the king's whole battle reach unto?
Ver. To thirty thousand.
​Hot.Forty let it be: My father and Glendower being both away, The powers of us may serve so great a day. 132 Come, let us take a muster speedily: Doomsday is near; die all, die merrily.
Doug. Talk not of dying: I am out of fear Of death or death's hand for this one half year.
Exeunt Omnes.
Scene Two
[A Road near Coventry]
Enter Falstaff and Bardolph.
Fal. Bardolph, get thee before to Coventry; fill me a bottle of sack: our soldiers shall march through: we'll to Sutton-Co'fil' to-night.
Bard. Will you give me money, captain? 4
Fal. Lay out, lay out.
Bard. This bottle makes an angel.
Fal. An if it do, take it for thy labour; and if it make twenty, take them all, I'll answer the coinage. Bid my Lieutenant Peto meet me at the town's end. 10
Bard. I will, captain: farewell. Exit.
Fal. If I be not ashamed of my soldiers, I am a soused gurnet. I have misused the king's press damnably. I have got, in exchange of a hundred and fifty soldiers, three hundred and odd pounds. I press me none but good householders, yeomen's sons; inquire me out contracted bachelors, such as had been asked twice on the banns; such a ​commodity of warm slaves, as had as lief hear the devil as a drum; such as fear the report of a 20 caliver worse than a struck fowl or a hurt wild- duck. I pressed me none but such toasts-and- butter, with hearts in their bellies no bigger than pins' heads, and they have bought out their ser- vices; and now my whole charge consists of ancients, corporals, lieutenants, gentlemen of companies, slaves as ragged as Lazarus in the painted cloth, where the glutton's dogs licked his sores; and such as indeed were never soldiers, but discarded unjust serving-men, younger sons to 30 younger brothers, revolted tapsters and ostlers trade-fallen, the cankers of a calm world and a long peace; ten times more dishonourable ragged than an old faced ancient: and such have I, to fill up the rooms of them that have bought out their services, that you would think that I had a hundred and fifty tattered prodigals, lately come from swine-keeping, from eating draff and husks. A mad fellow met me on the way and told me I had unloaded all the gibbets and pressed the 40 dead bodies. No eye hath seen such scarecrows. I'll not march through Coventry with them, that's flat: nay, and the villains march wide be- twixt the legs, as if they had gyves on; for, in- deed I had the most of them out of prison. There's but a shirt and a half in all my com- pany; and the half shirt is two napkins tacked together and thrown over the shoulders like a ​herald's coat without sleeves; and the shirt, to say the truth, stolen from my host at Saint Alban's, or the red-nose inn-keeper of Daventry. But that's all one; they'll find linen enough on every hedge. 53
Enter the Prince, and the Lord of Westmoreland.
Prince. How now, blown Jack! how now, quilt!
Fal. What, Hal! How now, mad wag! what a devil dost thou in Warwickshire? My good Lord of Westmoreland, I cry you mercy: I thought your honour had already been at Shrewsbury.
West. Faith, Sir John, 'tis more than time that I were there, and you too; but my powers are there already. The king, I can tell you, looks for us all: we must away all night. 63
Fal. Tut, never fear me: I am as vigilant as a cat to steal cream.
Prince. I think to steal cream indeed, for thy theft hath already made thee butter. But tell me. Jack, whose fellows are these that come after?
Fal. Mine, Hal, mine. 70
Prince. I did never see such pitiful rascals.
Fal. Tut, tut; good enough to toss; food for powder, food for powder; they'll fill a pit as well as better: tush, man, mortal men, mortal men.
West. Ay, but, Sir John, methinks they are exceeding poor and bare; too beggarly. 76
Fal. Faith, for their poverty, I know not where they had that; and for their bareness, I am sure they never learned that of me. 79
​Prince. No, I'll be sworn; unless you call three fingers on the ribs bare. But sirrah, make haste: Percy is already in the field.
Fal. What, is the king encamped?
West. He is, Sir John: I fear we shall stay too long. 84
Fal. Well, To the latter end of a fray and the beginning of a feast Fits a dull fighter and a keen guest. Exeunt.
Scene Three
[Shrewsbury. The rebel camp]
Enter Hotspur, Worcester, Douglas, and Vernon.
Hot. We'll fight with him to-night.
Wor.It may not be.
Doug. You give him then advantage.
Ver.Not a whit.
Hot. Why say you so? looks he not for supply?
Ver. So do we.
Hot.His is certain, ours is doubtful. 4
Wor. Good cousin, be advis'd: stir not to-night.
Ver. Do not, my lord.
Doug.You do not counsel well: You speak it out of fear and cold heart.
Ver. Do me no slander, Douglas: by my life,— And I dare well maintain it with my life,— 9 If well-respected honour bid me on, I hold as little counsel with weak fear As you, my lord, or any Scot that this day lives: Let it be seen to-morrow in the battle 13 Which of us fears.
​Doug.Yea, or to-night.
Ver.Content.
Hot. To-night, say I.
Ver. Come, come, it may not be. I wonder much, 16 Being men of such great leading as you are, That you foresee not what impediments Drag back our expedition: certain horse Of my cousin Vernon's are not yet come up: 20 Your uncle Worcester's horse came but to-day; And now their pride and mettle is asleep, Their courage with hard labour tame and dull, That not a horse is half the half of himself. 24
Hot. So are the horses of the enemy In general, journey-bated and brought low: The better part of ours are full of rest.
Wor. The number of the king exceedeth ours: For God's sake, cousin, stay till all come in. 29
The trumpet sounds a parley. Enter Sir Walter Blunt.
Blunt. I come with gracious offers from the king, If you vouchsafe me hearing and respect.
Hot. Welcome, Sir Walter Blunt; and would to God 32 You were of our determination! Some of us love you well; and even those some Envy your great deservings and good name, Because you are not of our quality, 36 But stand against us like an enemy.
Blunt. And God defend but still I should stand so, So long as out of limit and true rule You stand against anointed majesty. 40 ​But, to my charge. The king hath sent to know The nature of your griefs, and whereupon You conjure from the breast of civil peace Such bold hostility, teaching his duteous land 44 Audacious cruelty. If that the king Have any way your good deserts forgot,— Which he confesseth to be manifold,— He bids you name your griefs; and with all speed 48 You shall have your desires with interest, And pardon absolute for yourself and these Herein misled by your suggestion.
Hot. The king is kind; and well we know the king 52 Knows at what time to promise, when to pay. My father and my uncle and myself Did give him that same royalty he wears; And when he was not six-and-twenty strong, 56 Sick in the world's regard, wretched and low, A poor unminded outlaw sneaking home, My father gave him welcome to the shore; And when he heard him swear and vow to God He came but to be Duke of Lancaster, 61 To sue his livery and beg his peace, With tears of innocency and terms of zeal, My father, in kind heart and pity mov'd, 64 Swore him assistance and perform'd it too. Now when the lords and barons of the realm Perceiv'd Northumberland did lean to him, The more and less came in with cap and knee; Met him in boroughs, cities, villages, 69 Attended him on bridges, stood in lanes, Laid gifts before him, proffer'd him their oaths, ​Gave him their heirs as pages, follow'd him 72 Even at the heels in golden multitudes. He presently, as greatness knows itself, Steps me a little higher than his vow Made to my father, while his blood was poor, 76 Upon the naked shore at Ravenspurgh; And now, forsooth, takes on him to reform Some certain edicts and some strait decrees That lie too heavy on the commonwealth, 80 Cries out upon abuses, seems to weep Over his country's wrongs; and by this face, This seeming brow of justice, did he win The hearts of all that he did angle for; 84 Proceeded further; cut me off the heads Of all the favourites that the absent king In deputation left behind him here, When he was personal in the Irish war. 88
Blunt. Tut, I came not to hear this.
Hot.Then to the point. In short time after, he depos'd the king; Soon after that, depriv'd him of his life; And, in the neck of that, task'd the whole state; To make that worse, suffer'd his kinsman March— 93 Who is, if every owner were well plac'd, Indeed his king—to be engag'd in Wales, There without ransom to lie forfeited; 96 Disgrac'd me in my happy victories; Sought to entrap me by intelligence; Rated my uncle from the council-board; In rage dismiss'd my father from the court; 100 Broke oath on oath, committed wrong on wrong; ​And in conclusion drove us to seek out This head of safety; and withal to pry Into his title, the which we find 104 Too indirect for long continuance.
Blunt. Shall I return this answer to the king?
Hot. Not so, Sir Walter: we'll withdraw awhile. Go to the king; and let there be impawn'd 108 Some surety for a safe return again, And in the morning early shall my uncle Bring him our purposes; and so farewell.
Blunt. I would you would accept of grace and love. 112
Hot. And may be so we shall.
Blunt.Pray God, you do!
Exeunt.
Scene Four
[York. The Archbishop's Palace]
Enter the Archbishop of York and Sir Michael.
Arch. Hie, good Sir Michael; bear this sealed brief With winged haste to the lord marshal; This to my cousin Scroop, and all the rest To whom they are directed. If you knew 4 How much they do import, you would make haste.
Sir M. My good lord, I guess their tenour.
Arch.Like enough you do. To-morrow, good Sir Michael, is a day 8 Wherein the fortune of ten thousand men Must bide the touch; for, sir, at Shrewsbury, As I am truly given to understand, The king with mighty and quick-raised power 12 ​Meets with Lord Harry: and, I fear, Sir Michael, What with the sickness of Northumberland,— Whose power was in the first proportion,— And what with Owen Glendower's absence thence, 16 Who with them was a rated sinew too, And comes not in, o'er-rul'd by prophecies,— I fear the power of Percy is too weak To wage an instant trial with the king. 20
Sir M. Why, my good lord, you need not fear: There is the Douglas and Lord Mortimer.
Arch. No, Mortimer is not there.
Sir M. But there is Mordake, Vernon, Lord Harry Percy, 24 And there's my Lord of Worcester, and a head Of gallant warriors, noble gentlemen.
Arch. And so there is; but yet the king hath drawn The special head of all the land together: 28 The Prince of Wales, Lord John of Lancaster, The noble Westmoreland, and war-like Blunt; And many moe corrivals and dear men Of estimation and command in arms. 32
Sir M. Doubt not, my lord, they shall be well oppos'd.
Arch. I hope no less, yet needful 'tis to fear; And, to prevent the worse, Sir Michael, speed: For if Lord Percy thrive not, ere the king 36 Dismiss his power, he means to visit us, For he hath heard of our confederacy, And 'tis but wisdom to make strong against him: Therefore make haste. I must go write again 40 To other friends; and so farewell, Sir Michael.
Exeunt.
Footnotes to Act IV
Scene One
​3 attribution: praise 4-5 Cf. n. 6 defy: despise 7 soothers: flatterers 9 task me to my word: challenge me to make good my word approve: test ​18 justling: busy 36 advertisement: advice 37 conjunction: united forces 40 possess'd: informed 44 his present want: his absence now ​47 main: stake 48 nice: slender, precarious 51 list: limit 53 Cf. n. 56 Cf. n. 61 hair: nature 67 fearful: timid 69 the offering side: the offensive 70 arbitrement: judicial inquiry 73 draws: draws aside ​77 opinion: reputation 96 daff'd: thrust 97 furnish'd: equipped 98-99 Cf. n. 100 Cf. n. ​104 beaver: helmet 105 cushes: cuisses, thigh-armor 109 wind: wheel round 111-112 Cf. n. 113 trim: trappings 118 reprisal: prize ​
Scene Two
​3 Sutton-Co'fil'; cf. n. 6 makes an angel; cf. n. 13 soused gurnet: pickled fish king's press: royal warrant for conscripting troops 16 yeomen's: small freeholders'
17 contracted: i.e., to be married 18-19 Cf. n. ​19 commodity: stock warm: luxury-loving 21 caliver: musket 26 ancients: ensigns 27 Lazarus; cf. III. iii. 36, n. 28 painted cloth: hangings decorated with figures 32 cankers: worms 34 faced ancient: patched flag 37 prodigals; cf. n. 38 draff: pig-wash 44 gyves: fetters ​54 blown: swollen 58 cry you mercy: beg your pardon 72 to toss: i.e., upon a pike ​84 stay: linger
Scene Three
​10 well-respected: well-considered, reasonable ​17 leading: generalship 26 journey-bated: wearied with travel 31 respect: attention 36 quality: profession, party 38 defend: forbid ​51 suggestion: instigation 62 sue his livery: bring suit for the delivery of his lands 68 more and less: great and small 70 attended: awaited ​79 strait: strict 88 personal: in person 92 task'd: taxed 95 engag'd: held as hostage 98 intelligence: information obtained through spies 99 rated: drove away by chiding ​103 head of safety: army for protection 105 indirect: crooked
Scene Four
​1 brief: letter 10 bide the touch: be put to the test ​17 rated sinew: strength on which they counted 31 moe corrivals: more comrades dear: valued 32 estimation: reputation