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King Henry V Play
King Henry V, begins with deception. Worried
that forthcoming legislation will take much of the power
and wealth from the Church of England, The Archbishop
of Canterbury connives to manipulate King Henry V (Hal)
into a war with France since this will mean he will
have to drop the proposed legislative reforms. The church
generously even agreeing to help fund this campaign.
The Archbishop strengthens his case by producing a legal
technicality, allowing Hal to claim France. Now set
on France, Hal proceeds, determined to have France.
Fortuitously, Hal learns that Richard Earl of Cambridge,
Henry Lord Scroop of Marsham and Sir Thomas Grey, Knight
of Northumberland had planned to assassinate him. Discovering
this, Hal has these men quickly executed as an example
despite their repenting.
Meanwhile, Hal's initial legal claim for France meets
with little support from the French, the French Regent's
son, the Dauphin sending a case of tennis balls as their
less than serious response. Hal decides then that it
will be war. Worried that his throne is ripe for rebellion
when his troops are overseas, Hal leaves sufficient
troops behind to protect against an uprising, resulting
in a small force to take France. Many of Hal's old friends
join the army for France, later sharing their perspectives
on the coming battle. Old friend Falstaff is not amongst
them, said to be sick from Hal's earlier betrayal of
him, later passing away before the English army sets
foot in France.
Now fighting in France, the English forces siege Harfleur,
taking heavy casualties from the French who still do
not take Hal seriously; they see a boy not a ruler.
Hal wisely wins the town by appealing to the defender's
wish to avoid further bloodshed. During this battle,
the boy who accompanies Bardolph, Nym and Pistol, deserts
them, disgusted at their cowardice. Meanwhile the Dauphin
expresses his desire to fight Hal, but is barred by
his father.. . Bardolph steals money from a French church,
and when Pistol reports this, old friends Bardolph and
Nym are executed, Hal pointing out that his army will
not pillage nor take anything that they have not paid
for...
Fearing the arrival of winter, Hal wants to retreat
his troops but the French threaten to make this impossible,
Hal resolving to fight. On the eve of battle, the Hal
disguises himself as a lowly soldier, learning their
hopes and fears. Not all the men support Hal, but they
will fight the French. The French are eager for battle,
sensing an easy victory. Outnumbered some five times
over, Hal delivers his famous St. Crispin's Day speech
foreseeing a victory; the English will tell tales of
this battle for years to come. At the Battle of Agincourt
the English do just that, soundly defeating the French,
helped no doubt by the technical supremacy of the English
longbow. At Agincourt the French, breaking all conventions
of war, kill boys in an English camp earning English
retribution in the form of all French prisoners, many
being nobility, being executed. The French, bewildered
at their defeat, surrender, Hal marrying Katherine of
France and being named heir to the throne of France,
uniting the two nations.
Contents
Dramatis
Personæ
Act I
Chorus, Scene
I, Scene II
Act II
Chorus, Scene
I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV
Act III
Chorus, Scene
I, Scene II, Scene
III, Scene IV, Scene
V, Scene VI, Scene
VII
Act IV
Chorus, Scene
I, Scene II, Scene
III, Scene IV, Scene
V, Scene VI, Scene
VII, Scene VIII
Act V
Chorus, Scene
I, Scene II
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