They reveal themselves, and Falstaff tries and fails to wriggle out of the situation.
Falstaff and Doll flirt, thinking themselves to be finally alone. Hal and Poins arrive, disguised as servingmen, and listen as Falstaff mocks them both. They are interrupted by Pistol, who soon starts a fight and is thrown out. Northumberland concedes, and decides to flee to Scotland until it becomes clearer whether or not the rebels stand a chance of victory.Īct 2 Scene 4 - ‘It is the foul-mouth’dst rogue in England’īack in London, Falstaff is in the tavern with Doll Tearsheet, a prostitute. Both his wife and his daughter-in-law – Lady Percy, Hotspur’s widow – beg him to stay. Northumberland is preparing to join the rebels. Hearing that Falstaff is going to be spending the evening with a prostitute, Hal and Poins decide to visit him disguised as servingmen to hear how he talks about them when he thinks they are not around.Īct 2 Scene 3 - ‘Never, O never, do his ghost the wrong’ Falstaff’s page boy arrives with a letter for Hal from his master, which is long-winded and almost entirely lacking in any message. Prince Hal admits to Poins that he is having doubts about his unruly lifestyle, particularly because his father has been so unwell. Gower arrives with news of the various new rebellions against the king.Īct 2 Scene 2 - ‘A most princely hypocrite’ Falstaff convinces Mistress Quickly to drop the charge and even persuading her to pawn some of valuables in order to lend him yet more money. The Lord Chief Justice arrives and orders Falstaff to pay his debt he owes and get on with his errand to York. Falstaff and his page boy try to fight them off. Mistress Quickly, the hostess of a tavern, has called on officers to arrest Falstaff for not paying what is by now a criminally large bar bill. They decide to press on with the rebellion as soon as possible.Īct 2 Scene 1 - ‘I’ll tickle your catastrophe!’ Hastings points out that the king is currently engaged in three separate battles: the English rebels, the Welsh and the French. A great deal depends on whether or not Northumberland will support them, as he so disastrously failed to do in the previous battle. The Archbishop of York meets with three of his allies – Bardolph, Mowbray and Hastings – and they discuss their situation. Falstaff is sent on an errand to York with Hal’s brother, John of Lancaster.Īct 1 Scene 3 - ‘So is the unfirm King in three divided’ He warns Falstaff that while his ‘service’ in battle is appreciated, it will not pardon his crimes. He is confronted by the Lord Chief Justice, who wishes to discuss his involvement in the robbery (which took place in Part 1).
With the battle over, Falstaff has returned to his old ways. They go into Northumberland’s castle to plan their next move.Īct 1 Scene 2 - ‘I can get no remedy against this consumption of the purse’ Northumberland curses the world, but his allies remind him that there is still hope, as the powerful Archbishop of York is plotting against the king. Morton arrives directly from the battle and confirms Hotspur’s death. One of Northumberland’s servants, however, has heard contradictory news, and Northumberland is not sure which to believe. Lord Bardolph arrives to inform Northumberland that he has heard news of Hotspur’s success. He arrives at the castle of the Earl of Northumberland – Hotspur’s father, whose illness caused him to miss the battle – who does not yet know that his son is dead.Īct 1 Scene 1 - ‘Say not that Percy’s dead’ Rather than telling the truth (that Prince Hal defeated Hotspur), Rumour spreads the word that Hal is dead and the rebels were victorious. ‘Rumour’ announces that he intends to cause mischief and confusion by spreading false reports from the battle that ended Part 1. Prologue - ‘Stuffing the ears of men with false reports’ Lords, Musicians, Officers, Soldiers, Attendants Three drawers, including Francis and Will Prince Henry, afterwards crowned King Henry the Fifth Follow Henry IV - Part One with our scene by scene synopsis.Ī printable version of this synopsis is available in the downloads section below.