Henry IV Part 2 Act 1 – “… Divorce not wisdom from your honour…”

Henry IV Part 2 Act 1 – “… Divorce not wisdom from your honour…”

Like a character from an ancient Roman comedy or "Fama," the goddess of rumour who appears in Virgil’s epic poem ‘The Aeneid’ or a Butcher’s Guild character in a medieval pageant, Rumor comes out to start this play with a Prologue. Although in Ancient Roman times and Medieval times Rumor’s costume would have been decorated and made in many ways (including sometimes decorated in real ox tongues), in Shakespeare’s times the costume would have been covered in painted tongues to represent the nature of gossip. Rumor tells of how he travels everywhere and is as fast as the wind and that people are always ready to believe him. He arrives at the house in Northern England of Northumberland. Rumour at this point quickly retells some of the background to Northumberland’s son, Hotspur, and the rebellion against King Henry IV, and states that he has come to spread lies including the lies that tell Northumberland’s son has won the battle and is alive and well. Rumor leaves as mysteriously as he appeared.

Lord Bardolph arrives from the battlefront with news of the battle at Shrewsbury. Northumberland is told that King Henry IV is wounded, Prince Hal dead and the rebellion is victorious. Soon after, Travers, Lord Bardolph’s servant arrives with contradictory news that the rebellion has been defeated. Morton then arrives and relays that the rebels have lost, King Henry IV is alive and well, Northumberland’s son, Hotspur, has been killed at the hands of Prince Hal, and that other rebel leaders the Earl of Worchester and Douglas have been captured. Where Rumour brought false hope truth has brought devastation to Northumberland:

"Let heaven kiss earth! Now let not Nature's hand

Keep the wild flood confin'd! Let order die!"

In despair, Northumberland plans revenge even though Morton points out that this was the price that the risk of rebellion could always have brought. Morton rallies some hope when he points out that the Archbishop of York and his forces are still getting ready to rise up against King Henry IV. Northumberland writes letters to rally his remaining allies against the king.

Back in London, the old fat Falstaff is using his new-found fame from the Battle of Shrewsbury to his advantage. He claims that he killed Hotspur, when in fact Prince Hal did, and has a Page to carry his sword now. Bragging, swearing and general abuse of puns abound in this scene. When the Lord Chief Justice, enters and tells Falstaff that there are still allegations that he committed a robbery several weeks ago. Falstaff insults the Chief Justice but the Chief Justice is patient and says that he will forgive Falstaff, this time. We hear at the end of this conversation that the rebels are rallying forces for a final push and Falstaff sees that going to the battlefield will get him away from his troubles in London and give him money to once more fill his almost empty purse. Or as Falstaff finally puts it:

 "A good wit will make use of anything; I will turn diseases to commodity."

We switch to up north to the place of the Archbishop of York, in the north of England, who is meeting with Mowbray, Lord Hastings and Lord Bardolph to plan the next move of the rebellion. They weigh up whether Northumberland and his forces will support them because then the numbers against King Henry’s forces are about even. Hastings says that Northumberland is sure to send troops to avenge his son’s death but Bardolph and the Archbishop maintain that Northumberland failure to send troops earlier may have caused his own son’s death. Hastings claims that King Henry IV’s forces are now divided and now is the time to strike. They decide they will drive the rebellion forward, with or without the help of Northumberland.