Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

BLUNT

in 1 Henry the Fourth — Shakespeare, William

Metadata

Play1 Henry the Fourth
AuthorShakespeare, William
Year (catalogued)1598
First performance1597
Decade1590s
GenreHistory
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyLord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men
Speech prefix(es)Blunt.
Words301
Characters1574
Typicality0.40 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA11966
BritDrama no.1059
ClusterCluster 2 — Allegory, Nature & pageant voices

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

The circumstance considered, good my lord, What ere Lord Harry Percy then had said To such a person, and in such a place, At such a time, with all the rest retold, May reasonably die, and never rise To do him wrong, or any way impeach What then he said, so he unsay it now. So hath the business that I come to speak of. Lord Mortimer of Scotland hath sent word, That Dow+glas and the English Rebels met The eleventh of this month at Shrewsbury, A mighty and a fearful head they are, If promises be kept on every hand, As ever offered foul play in a state. I come with gracious offers from the king, If you vouchsafe me hearing, and respect. And God defend but still I should stand so, So long as out of limit and true rule You stand against anointed Majesty. But to my charge. The king hath sent to know The nature of your griefs and whereupon You conjure from the breast of civil peace Such bold hostility: teaching his duteous land Audacious cruelty. If that the king Have any way your good deserts forgotten Which he confesses to be manifold, He bids you name your griefs, and with all speed, You shall have your desires with interest And pardon absolute for your self, and these Herein misled by your suggestion. Tut, I came not to hear this. Shall I return this answer to the king? I would y u would accept of grace and love. Pray God you do. What is thy name that in battle thus thou crossest me, What honour dost thou seek upon my head? They tell thee true. I was not born a yeelder thou proud Scot, And thou shalt find a king that will revenge Lord Stafford's death.

Plot summary

Plot — 1 Henry the Fourth
Civil war has ended in England, and King H@nryiliV intends to take an English army on a crusade to liberate the Holy Land. The enterprise is delayed by continuing military instability on England’s borders. Lord MOGrfimer has been defeated in battle by Owen Glemd@Wer and taken a prisoner to Wales. In the north, H@#Splr has had better success against the Scots, but refuses to hand over his prisoners until King Henry ransoms Mortimer. But Mortimer has thrown in his lot with Glendower, so Henry refuses. TH@IPEFGy family suspects an ulterior motive: Mortimer was proclaimed heir to the throne during the previous reign, so the King has good reason to want him off the scene. Led by tH@IBAPINSPIWSreeSter, the Percies plan to put together an alliance to rise in rebellion against the King; to that end, Hotspur releases his Scottish prisoners without ransom. THEMPHNCeMSMWales spends his time idly with . BaIStaif and Poyntz, secretly intending to use his bad reputation as a foil to a subsequent reformation. They plan and execute a highway robbery, but the Prince and Poyntz disguise themselves and rob Falstaff in turn. In the tavern afterwards, Falstaffs account of these events grows progressively more inflated and extravagant; but, when confronted with the truth, he claims he knew it was the Prince all the time. News of the Percies’ plans reaches the King, and Prince Henry is summoned to court. Falstaff helps the Prince with a rehearsal: at first he plays the King, but his performance is over-partial towards himself, so the Prince takes over the part and declares that he will banish Falstaff. A hue and cry after the robbery leads the SHEfiffito the tavern, but the Prince puts him off and later pays back the stolen money; he then plans to obtain a military commission for Falstaff. The rebel lords meet to agree the division of the kingdom, but Hotspur is not satisfied with his share. The Prince tells his admonishing father that he will redeem himself in battle. Troops are mobilized, and the armies meet at Shrewsbury. The rebels are depleted: Glendower’s forces are not ready and N@rthumiberland falls sick; Hotspur sees greater honour in the longer odds, WGreester only greater risk. In the parleys before battle, the Prince offers to settle things in single combat with Hotspur, but Worcester and WerniGn, knowing that the King will never trust them again, decide to keep this from Hotspur. In the battle, many of the King’s troops are dressed in bis colours, and are killed in…