Henry IV Part 1 Act 1 – “I'll so offend, to make offence a skill; redeeming time when men think least I will.”

Henry IV Part 1 Act 1 – “I'll so offend, to make offence a skill; redeeming time when men think least I will,”

Queen Elizabeth (the First I mean and not the second) was not getting younger in 1596. With no children In the wings (or grandchildren for that matter), speculation about who would take over the crown after her was starting to gather momentum. Having just turned thirty and having reigned for almost as many years in Scotland, James VI was starting to look like a true contender but just like Henry V in Henry IV, he did not start that way. Although seemingly initially virtuous and conservative, by 1596 rumours of James VI mixing with all unsavoury sorts in his interest (or some would say obsession) with witches and whisky. His troubles with Highlanders also started to create a schism in Scottish unity. In some senses, ‘Henry IV Part 1’ can be seen as a ‘coming of age’ drama where we see the making the boy Hal into the king, King Henry V. Oh, just to remind you (and myself) ‘Henry IV Part 1’ is set around 1403 and it is the second play in the Henry Tetralogy by Shakespeare (his great mini-series) which started with ‘Richard II’ and will eventually end with ‘Henry V’.

Henry IV is a bit tired of all the civil wars and unrest which seems to been continuous throughout his reign. He wants to run away and join one of the Crusades in the Holy Lands. But Scottish and Welsh rebellions mean that he stay at home and clean up his own house. What makes things a even worse is that the Welsh have captured Mortimer and many of Mortimer’s men have been slaughtered and mutilated by Welsh women (as apparently was their ancient custom which hopefully which not have a cultural revival in the 21^st century).

While the news is slightly better from Scotland, it seems that young Harry Percy (known as Hotspur) has defeated the Scottish Douglas and his one thousand strong force. King Henry IV wishes that he had a son like Hotspur since his son Hal seems to be idle and only hangs out with lowly types. But Hotspur has strangely decided to send only one prisoner back to Henry IV’s court and refuses to give up the rest. Henry sends for Hotspur to explain himself in person before Henry IV’s court.

We then move to Prince Harry (Hal) and his low-life friend Sir John Falstaff. Hal seems very much at home with his drinking, highwayman and generally criminal companion. It seems that all King Henry IV said about his son is true. I have to tread lightly here because although Falstaff is an old, slothful, fat criminal who drinks copious amounts of sweet is clever, he was in Shakespeare’s time, one of the most entertaining, witty and best loved characters. He is the archetypal lovable rogue, and the actor who initially he was written for must have had a personality and following second to none.

Edward Poins (Ned to his friends) arrives and the particulars of a highway robbery they are planning the next day are discussed. Falstaff agrees to take part but Young Hal declines the offer claiming he may be many dubious things but that he is not a thief. Falstaff leaves Ned alone with Hal to convince him to be part of the venture, but with Falstaff missing, Ned suggests that he and Hal should rob the robbers and take all the money after it is stolen. He suggests that they hide their faces Behind masks. The joke will be complete when they finally reveal who they are to Falstaff and his fellow thieves. Harry agrees to the venture.

After Ned has left the room Hal reveals is deceiving everyone from his father the king, to his lowlife friends to the people of England themselves. He is hanging around these lowlifes to have his father and the people have low expectations of him, so that when he does start behaving like a royal prince and potential monarch, his father and the people will be surprised:

“The unyoked humour of your idleness…

When this loose behaviour I throw off…

My Reformation, glittering o’er my fault,

Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes

Than that which hath no fail to set off.”

Back at the castle, Hotspur has arrived to answer to King Henry IV himself. Hotspur is supported by his father (the Earl of Northumberland) and the Earl of Worcester (his uncle). Henry is furious and sees Hotspur not giving up his captives as an act of rebellion or treason. Hotspur explains that:

“… when the fight was done,

When I was dry with rage and extreme toil…

Came there a certain lord, neat, and trimly dress’d,

Fresh as a bridegroom, and his chin new reaped

…question’d me; amongst the rest, demanded

My prisoners in your majesty’s behalf.”

Henry does not accept this explanation and Hotspur still refuses to hand over the prisoners unless the king pays a full ransom to the Welsh for Lord Mortimer (Hotspur’s brother in law). King Henry IV denounces Mortimer as a traitor since he secretly married the daughter of the Welsh rebel Glyndwr and probably intentionally lost a battle against Glyndwr. Hotspur upholds the honour of his kinsman but Henry will have none of it and leaves with his threats and demands heavy in the air.

Then Hotspur is true to name and nature when he unleashes a barrage of rage and treasonous sentiments. He suggests that Henry does it out of feeling threatened since Mortimer is the true heir to the throne in Hotspur’s view (as named by Richard II before his death). Worcester cools Hotspur’s rage a little when he reveals a complex (and at this point convoluted) plan to seek alliances with various rebel forces in Scotland and in Wales and with disaffected English nobles. The second part of the plan involves returning all the prisoners and getting the support of the defeated Douglas. The third part involves soliciting the support of the Archbishop of York (whose brother was executed by Henry IV). The fourth and fifth parts of the plan involve Lord Mortimer and the rebel Douglas and overthrowing King Henry IV.

 Hotspur is happy to participate in this treasonous plan and the act ends with his expectation:

“…let the hours be short

Till fields and blows and groans applaud our sport!"