Henry IV Part 2 Act 4 – “Turning your books to graves, your ink to blood, your pens to lances…”

Henry IV Part 2 Act 4 – “Turning your books to graves, your ink to blood, your pens to lances…”

Shakespeare would have had a keen mind for diplomacy and politics if he had had the social position and education to enter this field. In Act 4 of ‘Henry IV Part 2’ we see how grievances and the shadows of recent and not-so-recent history can combine with the quests off strong willed powerful men to drive the wheels of the machinations of war. 

In Yorkshire in the Forest of Gaultree, the Archbishop of York, Mowbray, Hastings and their rebel army gather. The revelations that Northumberland and his army will not join them, along with reports of King Henry IV’s thirty thousand strong army led by his youngest son Prince John is only a mile away, does little to lessen their resolve.

Enter the Earl of Westmoreland, King Henry IV’s friend and ally to see if grievances can be heard and civil peace negotiated but first Westmoreland lays accusations at the feet of the Archbishop of York that he has abused his religious authority by leading the rebellion. The Archbishop defends his position stating that King Henry has dragged the country into ruin and that he has weighed up all factors:

“I have in equal balance justly weigh'd

What wrongs our arms may do, what wrongs we suffer,

And find our griefs heavier than our offences.”

Westmoreland states that he believes is the times and not the king that may have caused injury to the people. He then says that King Henry IV so desires peace that he has given Prince John the power to grant the rebels any reasonable demands. Westmoreland is handed by the Archbishop of York a “schedule” of demands, and he leaves to deliver these to prince John for his consideration.

When Westmoreland leaves, Mowbray speaks up stating that he believes that even if peace is brokered, the king will seek any small opportunity to seek his revenge on them. Hastings thinks that the words and grounds of the demands will make this impossible while the Archbishop says that the king is so weak and he is sure that Mowbray's fears are groundless. 

When Westmoreland returns to take the Archbishop of York, Mowbray and Hastings to see Prince John, they are surprised when he seems willing to grant all their demands, if the rebel army is dispersed. A message is sent to the soldiers. They all drink to peace, but when the news arrives that the rebel army has dispanded, Prince John orders that the Archbishop of York, Mowbray and Hastings be arrested. We do not know as an audience whether these are actually King Henry II's orders or whether this is solely the choice of Prince John. This adds an edge to Prince John, which, although it shows cunning, can be seen in direct contrast to what we believe is a growing regal quality in his brother Prince Hal. The Archbishop of York, Mowbray and Hastings decry the dishonour of this move but Prince John says he only pledged to fulfil the demands not to spare the lives of the rebel leaders.
"I pawn'd thee none:
I promised you redress of these same grievances
Whereof you did complain; which, by my honour,
I will perform with most Christian care.
But for you, rebels, look to taste the due
Meet for rebellion and such acts as yours...
Some guard these traitors to the block of death,
Treason's true bed and yielder of breath."

Finally Falstaff has made it to the battlefield, even though the battle that never started is over. A rebel traitor runs into Falstaff surrendering to Falstaff (believing the bubble reputation and rumour that Falstaff is the brave soldier who killed Hotspur at Shrewsbury). It seems like luck is, once more, on Falstaff's side. Falstaff turns his prisoner over to Prince John and soon after, Westmoreland arrives with news that the rebel army is heading home. Prince John announces that he is heading back to London. On his own again, Falstaff contemplates that what is wrong with young leaders like Prince John is that they don't drink enough or the alcohol they do drink is too weak. He then heads off to see Justice Shallow in nearby Gloucestershire to see if he can fill his empty purse once more.

Back at Westminster, King Henry IV is very ill when he receives the news that the war with the rebels seems to have ended. He announces once again his intention to lead a Crusades to Jerusalem. None of his advisers seem to want to discourage him from his dream. King Henry then learns that Prince Hal is back in London and he despairs that his son Prince hal will slip back into his old life and asks Clarence and others to watch him and direct him onto more virtuous paths. But Warwick has Prince Hal's measure well and advises the king that Prince Hal hangs out with more common company because he "... studies his companions like a strange tongue, wherein, to gain the language." Good news then arrives to King Henry IV in the form of Westmoreland announcing that the rebel leaders the Archbishop of York, Mowbray and Hastings have now been executed as traitors. The king is pleased at this but shows no signs that this was originally his plan. Harcourt then enters announcing that Northumberland and Bardolph have been overthrown by the sheriff of Yorkshire. King Henry IV is then laid contentedly in his bed.

Prince Hal arrives and he and the other princes talk about their father's closeness to death. They all exit except Prince Hal who reflects on the heavy burden the crown has brought to his father. 
"Why doth the crown lie there upon his pillow,
Being so troublesome a bedfellow?"
King Henry IV seems to stop breathing and Prince Hal tries on the crown. He then quickly retreats into another room with the crown. 

King Henry IV wakes up and is angry at finding that Prince Hal has taken his crown. He sends Warwick to find Prince Hal and decries, "How quickly nature falls into revolt when gold becomes her object!"  Hal is found weeping and King Henry IV dismisses everyone to have a quiet word with Prince Hal. 
King Henry IV lets loose. The king chastises Prince Hal for his immoral and irresponsible life and what he thinks is Hal's coveting of the crown. He warns Hal.
"Thou seek'st the greatness that will o'erwhelm thee."

Then Prince Hal kneels and begs forgiveness, declaring that he loves his father and that he held the crown as a nemesis, the murderer of his own father not a treasure to behold. Then, a father forgives his son and wishes him more peace and joy in the crown than the torment and turmoil he, King Henry IV, had found. He gives a final word of advice to Prince Hal:

"… (B)usy giddy minds

With foreign quarrels…"

As King Henry IV’s family gather around him, he asks the name of the chamber in which he is now. He hears that it is called ‘Jerusalem’ and he dies peacefully, knowing that the prophecy that he would die in Jerusalem has come true.