Finally they will fight вЂ“ for glory, for their lives, and for the kingdom. The day wears on, the issue still in doubt, the king harried by the wild Scot Douglas, when Prince Hal and Hotspur, the two Harrys that cannot share one land, meet. He outnumbers the rebels, but Hotspur, with the wild hope of despair, leads his troops into battle. The battle is crucial because if the rebels even achieve a standoff their cause gains greatly, as they have other powers awaiting under Northumberland, Glendower, Mortimer, and the Archbishop of York. Stung and alarmed by Henry's dangerous and peremptory way with them, they proceed to make common cause with the Welsh and Scots, intending to depose 'this ingrate and cankered Bolingbroke.' By Act II, rebellion is brewing.ДЄn 1829 watercolor by Johann Heinrich Ramberg of Act II, Scene iv: Falstaff enacts the part of the king. Henry refuses, berates Mortimer's loyalty, and treats the Percys with threats and rudeness. Hotspur, for his part, would have the king ransom Edmund Mortimer (his wife's brother) from Owen Glendower, the Welshman who holds him. Streetwise and pound-foolish, these rogues manage to paint over this grim history in the colours of comedy.ДЄs the play opens, the king is angry with Hotspur for refusing him most of the prisoners taken in a recent action against the Scots at Holmedon. Finally, at the centre of the play are the young Prince Hal and his companions Falstaff, Poins, Bardolph, and Peto. The Scottish Earl of Douglas, Edmund Mortimer and the Welshman Owen Glendower also join. Next there is the group of rebels, energetically embodied in Harry Percy ('Hotspur') and including his father, the Earl of Northumberland and led by his uncle Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester. He is the engine of the play, but usually in the background. First there is King Henry himself and his immediate council. The play features three groups of characters that interact slightly at first, and then come together in the Battle of Shrewsbury, where the success of the rebellion will be decided. Fat, old, drunk, and corrupt as he is, he has a charisma and a zest for life that captivates the Prince. Hal's chief friend and foil in living the low life is Sir John Falstaff. This makes him an object of scorn to the nobles and calls into question his royal worthiness. Hal (the future Henry V) has forsaken the Royal Court to waste his time in taverns with low companions. 'Henry IV', Part I, Act I, Scene 3, Hotspur and the Fop, Samuel John Egbert Jones (1828)ДЄdding to King Henry's troubles is the behaviour of his son and heir, the Prince of Wales.

Robin Ostler, deceased character who preceded the current Ostler, concerned with the price of oats.

Lords, Officers, Drawers, Messengers, and Attendants.

Lady Mortimer (Catrin) - Glendower's daughter and Mortimer's wife.Lady Percy ('Kate', though her real name was Elizabeth) - Hotspur's wife and Mortimer's sister.Sir Michael вЂ“ a friend to the Archbishop of York.Richard le Scrope ('Scroop'), Archbishop of York.Sir Richard Vernon, 8th Baron of Shipbrook.Archibald, Earl of Douglas вЂ“ leader of the Scottish rebels.Owen Glendower вЂ“ leader of the Welsh rebels.Edmund Mortimer вЂ“ Hotspur's brother-in-law and Glendower's son-in-law.Harry Percy (nicknamed 'Hotspur') вЂ“ Northumberland's son.Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester вЂ“ Northumberland's brother.Mistress Quickly вЂ“ hostess of the Boar's Head Tavern.Sir John Falstaff вЂ“ a knight who befriends Prince Hal.

John of Lancaster вЂ“ represented in the play as the King's second son, although he was actually the third.Henry, Prince of Wales (nicknamed ' Prince Hal' or 'Harry') вЂ“ eldest son of Henry IV.King Henry the Fourth вЂ“ King of England.

Henry iv part 1