King Richard III Play

Richard the Third takes up the action from Henry VI, Part Three. Edward IV has grown ill, and will not live much longer…. Richard III (the Duke of Gloucester) still has his eye on the throne even though his brother, Edward IV occcupies it. The Duke of Gloucester plans on setting Edward IV and his other brother George (Duke of Clarence) against one another so he can eventually seize the throne. Betraying his brother George, The Duke of Gloucester casts doubt on his brother, resulting in George being arrested on the charge of treason. Showing his evil, the Duke of Gloucester even pursues Anne, the widow of the slain Edward, Prince of Wales (Henry VI’s son). Scandalously, the Duke of Gloucester does not even let a funeral procession (for Henry VI) get in his way…The Duke of Gloucester successfully courts Anne despite telling her he had her husband killed because he loved her.

Edward IV dies, intensifying the Duke of Gloucester’s desire for the throne. Leaving nothing to chance, The Duke of Gloucester has already made plans for brother Clarence to die in the Tower of London, Clarence drowning in a wine barrel. Naturally the Duke of Gloucester will have to take the throne until Edward V, Edward’s IV’s son and heir is of age to rule. Queen Elizabeth’s sons Grey and Dorset are sent by Buckingham and Richard III to Pomfret Castle. Queen Elizabeth and son Richard (the Duke of York) go into hiding. Under the guise of protection, Richard has both Edward V (the Prince of Wales) and his brother the Duke of York stay in the Tower of London, a place where Gloucester, Henry VI and George have all been killed… Now, Richard III imprisons Rivers, Vaughn and Grey, all of whom are loyal to Edward and are killed at Pomfret Castle. At the Tower of London, Richard III has Hastings beheaded for “treason.” Now without Lords to defend them, Richard III has Buckingham spread rumours that King Edward IV and his children are all illegitimate. Richard arranges to be publicly offered the crown which he pretends to be reluctant to take…

Needing to strengthen his claim as King, Richard III decides to remove the threat of Edward IV’s offspring. Unfortunately even the ever loyal Buckingham can’t conscionably kill two children. Richard therefore has Tyrell kill the boys, and now finds little use for Buckingham… Anne mysteriously vanishes allowing Richard to pursue Elizabeth, his niece and the daughter of the late King Edward IV. However Elizabeth has arranged to marry the Earl of Richmond instead. Richmond is leading an army in France intent on fighting Richard. Buckingham, no longer able to find favor with Richard, joins Richmond. Unfortunately for Buckingham, floods cause chaos in his army, resulting in his capture and execution by Richard. Meanwhile Richmond crosses the Channel and heads for London. Both armies gather near Bosworth Field. The night before battle, all those Richard has killed, come to see him as ghosts, foretelling his doom… These same ghosts wish Richmond all the best. In battle, Richard is thrown from his horse. Amid the slaughter and chaos, Richmond meets Richard III, Richmond killing the tyrant. On the battlefield, Richmond is crowned King Henry VII. The York line of Kings is dead and with it the War of the Roses when King Henry VII (Lancaster) marries Elizabeth (Edward IV’s daughter, a York).

King Richard II Play

King Richard II begins with Henry Bolingbroke accusing the Duke of Norfolk, Mowbray for the Duke of Gloucester’s death, the brother of King Richard II. Mowbray did not murder him. However he does not reveal that King Richard II ordered this nor that he could have prevented Gloucester’s death. To settle the dispute, King Richard II decides to let the men joust, only to later decide that they shall both be banished (Mowbray for life, Bolingbroke for five years) instead. Mowbray correctly predicts Bolingbroke’s return and his hand in Richard II’s downfall. Henry Bolingbroke’s father Gaunt soon dies, largely from sorrow at his son’s banishment, Richard II wasting little time in seizing the late Duke’s estate since he needs money to fight the Irish.

Henry Bolingbroke, meanwhile has secretly returned, finding that the nobles of England are far from happy with the Duke of York, Richard’s II deputy whilst he is fighting in Ireland, and are moving against him. Henry Percy, the Earl of Northumberland is the most vocal in criticising Richard for stealing from Gaunt, taxing commoners, unfairly fining nobles for ancestor’s crimes and wasting England’s wealth. Richard returns from Ireland to find not only the banished Bolingbroke but also that the lands he took from Bolingbroke’s father have been reclaimed in Henry’s name! Even worse, he discovers Bolingbroke has seen fit kill his favorites Sir John Bushy, Sir John Green and the Earl of Wiltshire. The Duke of Aumerle, the Duke of York’s son, tries to help Richard II, confident that the heavens will aide his cause.

Unfortunately for Richard, his army disbands upon hearing the false rumor that he is dead. The commoners seeing no army, revolt, even the Duke of York joining Bolingbroke’s rebellion. Realising he barely controls England, Richard II goes into hiding at Flint Castle. Bolingbroke meets Richard II at the castle, asking him to overturn his banishment order in return for peace, Bolingbroke instead imprisoning the King in London. Before Parliament, cornered, and with little option, the monarch is forced to confess his many crimes against England, resulting in his handing over the crown to Bolingbroke who later becomes King Henry IV.

With Richard losing the throne, and his the Queen sent back to her native France, Aumerle, the son of the Duke of York, plots against Henry IV, planning on poisoning him at Oxford. The plot discovered, Aumerlie is shown mercy whilst Richard II is imprisoned at Ponfret Castle, Sir Pierce of Exton killing him in the mistaken belief it is Henry IV’s wish. The deposed monarch did not go quietly, killing two of Exton’s accomplices. Henry IV banishes Exton, Henry IV upon seeing Richard II’s dead body, denounces the killing, though he did desire it in part, deciding to mount a Holy crusade (which he never has the opportunity to launch) as atonement for his death.

King John Play

King John begins with King Richard the First, (Geoffrey Plantagenet) being killed by a man called Austria. King Richard’s youngest brother ascends to the throne as per King Richard’s will but Constance, the widow of King Richard’s other brother Geoffrey believes the crown should have gone to her teenage son Arthur. Not letting the issue rest, Constance seeks the help of King Phillip of France to replace King John with Arthur as King of England. Phillip, the illegitimate son of King Richard I and called the “Bastard” throughout this play, also makes a claim for the throne, but is generally ignored by Arthur and John. Phillip bears an uncanny resemblance to the late King Richard I.

We learn that Austria is helping the French with Phillip’s son, The Dauphin (Prince Lewis) also siding against the English. A battle ensues between the English and French armies to prove to Hubert, the ruler of Algiers who truly holds the English crown. Hubert suggests that The Dauphin marry the daughter (Blanch) of the late King Richard I, thereby settling the dispute by uniting the two nations in marriage. The dowry is to be peace between the two rulers and some English land. Arthur is made Earl of Richmond and Duke of Britain. Constance is far from satisfied… Even the Bastard feels Hubert’s plan will only end in disaster, Constance agreeing since the deal robs Arthur of ever holding the crown..

Sure enough, trouble quickly brews when Cardinal Pandulph insists as representative of the Pope, that the Archbishop of Canterbury be appointed by the Pope, King John refusing, the Cardinal excommunicating him. Nervous of this, Phillip walks away from peace, a battle quickly following where the Bastard slays Austria for killing his father (Richard I), Algiers is captured by the English and Arthur is captured. Wanting the threat of Arthur gone for once and for all, Hubert is ordered to return to England with Arthur and then to kill him. Meanwhile the Cardinal, knowing that the English will be far from pleased at Arthur’s death, manipulates the Dauphin into making a play for the English throne. Arthur, however lives. Hubert hesitates to burn out Arthur’s eyes, instead lying to King John that he is dead as ordered. The Lords of England now decide to side with The Dauphin upon hearing of Arthur’s death. Constance passes away in grief for Arthur, Queen Elinor also passing away.

Hubert reveals that Arthur is not dead. Unfortunately Arthur actually is dead; he jumped to his death trying to escape from the castle where he was kept. King John, deeply remorseful over this, is accepted back into the church after admitting his guilt over Arthur but soon falls ill and becomes unable to rule, so much so that the Bastard assumes command of the army which is still fighting the French. The Bastard wins over the French, the English Lords learning what The Dauphin really has planned for them should he rule England… Beheadings for all noblemen! Unsurprisingly, the Lords now side with the English once more. Meanwhile, King John is poisoned in a monastery. Prince Henry, another claimant for the throne watches his father die, taking the crown after the Cardinal convinces the French to leave English soil, peace settling between England and France..

King Henry VIII Play

King Henry VIII begins with the Duke of Buckingham being arrested for treason, Buckingham being sent to the Tower of London.. Cardinal Wolsey, an advisor to King Henry, plays a major role in Buckingham’s downfall… Wolsey has not been pleased with Buckingham’s criticism over Wolsey’s excessive role in recent peace negotiations with France. The Queen tells Henry VIII that a one sixth tax has been levied on his subjects, without his authorisation but Wolsey’s. Henry VIII tells Wolsey to refund all those who have paid this tax but Wolsey, takes credit for the new tax being abolished. At Buckingham’s trial, a witness (Buckingham’s former surveyer) claims Buckingham wanted to become the new King. Queen Katherine begs for Buckingham to be shown mercy, only to see Buckingham beheaded. Wolsey, meanwhile has been adding new enemies to the taxes he was collecting…

Henry, however has turned his attentions elsewhere; at a gala (party) Wolsey holds, the King, disguised as a foreigner to crash this party, meets Anne Bullen, immediately falling in love with her after he dances with the young lady in waiting to Queen Katherine. Two gentlemen at this gala, reveal the population’s general hatred of Wolsey and also reveal the widespread belief that Wolsey was behind the false accusations levelled at Buckingham. These gentlemen believe Wolsey wants to rid England of their Queen, Katherine (Katherine was originally King Henry VIII’s brother’s wife). Meanwhile, Henry wanting to marry Anne, decides he wants a divorce. To settle matters, Wolsey has the Pope send a representative to make a decision on the divorce. Unfortunately, Queen Katherine will not go quietly; she has been Queen for twenty years and furthermore, views marriage as a sacred unbreakable bond…

Anne Bullen, greatly admiring the Queen, is saddened by the Queen’s pending divorce and privately resolves never to marry King Henry VIII… This does not stop King Henry, who at the trial in Blackfriars, claims he wants the divorce because in twenty years Katherine has borne him no male heirs to the throne. Anne later learns from Chamberlain, that she has been made Marcioness of Penbroke, greatly increasing her fears of becoming the new Queen… Wolsey however, wants the Henry to marry the French King’s sister, Mary. King Henry learns that Wolsey, realising he wanted to marry Anne, told the Pope to delay a decision on the divorce. Wolsey now loses favor with King Henry who secretly marries Anne, ignoring the Pope.

Wolsey passes away quickly followed by an ill Queen Katherine. Gardiner (Lord of Winchester), Wolsey’s secretary plots against Cranmer, the new Archbishop of Canterbury. Cranmer too goes to trial and to the Tower of London like Buckingham, but because he is under the protection of the monarchy, goes free. Cranmer now a free man again, christens Elizabeth, Anne’s baby daughter. Cranmer prophesizes a golden age for England under this future Queen, noting that she will die a virgin and be greatly missed by her people.

King Henry VI, Part III Play

King Henry VI, Part Three, begins in the aftermath of the Battle of St Albans. The York faction has won, King Henry VI (House of Lancaster) and Queen Margaret having gone into hiding. Now the Duke of York has fulfilled his dream, becoming King of England. King Henry however, has arranged a parley (discussion) with the Duke of York and a deal is made… Henry VI will be given back the crown if and only if the crown is given to the House of York upon King Henry’s death. The deal agreed, Henry becomes King again.

However, Queen Margaret is infuriated; this deal will rob her son Edward, the Prince of Wales of ever ruling England. At Sandal Castle, son Richard III convinces York that he can break his oath not to hurt Henry since a magistrate did not witness it. Queen Margaret divorces King Henry and having raised an army, intends to defeat the Yorkists. Henry wishes the revolt the best of luck since it is in his interests. The Duke of York wants to kill Henry but Margaret’s army numbers 20,000 against their 5000. Margaret’s army defeats the Yorkists at Sandal Castle (the Battle of Wakefield), Margaret stabbing and beheading the Duke of York and killing Rutland, his youngest son. Unfortunately, the Yorkists succeed in driving King Henry into hiding in Scotland, Queen Margaret retreating to France. Clifford is wounded, Edward IV and Warwick watching this before beheading him.

With King Henry VI gone, Edward, York’s first-born, becomes the new King of England. Henry VI however, secretly returns to England only to be put in the Tower of London by Edward. Meanwhile, Margaret attempts to convince the King of France to help Henry. Warwick then tries to arrange for Edward to marry Bona, the French King’s sister in law. This switches the French’s support not to Henry as Margaret had hoped but instead to Edward. Unfortunately, Edward decides to marry Lady Grey. Warwick, intensely irritated by this, decides to join Margaret’s forces instead. Neither Edward’s brothers George (Duke of Clarence) and Richard III, nor Montague approve of the marriage.

In England, the York’s are squabbling amongst themselves. Richard III wants to be King. George, less than pleased, joins Margaret’s faction, now blostered by both the French and Warwick. Before battle can be joined however, Edward is captured by Warwick, allowing Henry to reclaim his throne. Lady Grey escapes with Edward’s unborn child. Unfortunately for Henry, Edward is rescued by brother Richard III. Richard III now plans on facing Warwick with an army he has been gathering, George choosing to return to the York fold and support his brothers again. At the Battle of Barnet, Edward defeats Warwick, personally killing him. Henry’s armies desert him. The French attempt to counter-attack but Margaret and her son, Edward, the Prince of Wales are both captured at Tewksbury. York’s sons kill the Prince of Wales, Henry’s son, but Margaret is shown mercy. Richard III, foreseeing mercy for Henry, visits him in the Tower of London where he kills Henry after Henry foresees a bloody future for Richard. Richard III even confirms Henry’s prophecy after killing him. Henry’s nephew Henry VII has been hidden. Edward becomes King Edward IV, Richard III scheeming to take the crown from brother Edward’s grasp…

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.

King Henry IV, Part II Play

King Henry IV part 2, follows from the action of part one. Three years have passed since the Percy rebellion was crushed and The Earl Of Northumberland’s son, Hotspur died at the battle of Shrewsbury. Not all the rebels have been brought to justice however, the King appointing Westmoreland and Lancaster to lead an army to finish them off. Richard Scroop, the Archbishop of York, one of the remaining rebels is supporting Lord Hastings, Lord Mowbray and Lord Bardolph in a new rebellion; Northumberland who has already lost his son Hotspur, supports them only distantly. This support soon vanishes as Northumberland’s wife and Hotspur’s widow blame him for abandoning Hotspur at Shrewsbury even though Northumberland was sick, convincing him to hide in Scotland, Lady Grey convincing Northumberland to leave the rebels.

Meanwhile, Falstaff has returned to form, frequenting the Boar’s Head Inn, Hal rejoining his old friend who with his huge appetite is driving Mistress Quickly rapidly out of business. However this fun is soon over as the King, now suffering illness, summons both to fight once more. Falstaff who in his last battle recruited poor soldiers, is tasked with recruiting soldiers once again for the King of England’s army. Unsurprisingly, the lazy Falstaff ends up keeping company in Gloucestershire with Justice Shallow whom he quickly takes advantage of financially. Falstaff corruptly allows his soldiers to pay their way out of their service to the King of England. We learn from the Chief Justice in London that Hal is distancing himself from Falstaff by having him accompany his brother, Prince John of Lancaster.

In London, Henry IV once more vows to finally set forth on his much delayed religious crusade if the rebellion is suppressed. The King, however is far from happy that his heir to the throne, Hal is still associating with petty criminals (Falstaff and company).Meanwhile the growing rebel threat results in the King sending his second son Prince John of Lancaster to speak with the Scroop representing the rebels. Prince John agrees to meet the rebel’s demands only if they first disband their army. Acting in good faith the rebels agree only to have Prince John’s intact army capture rebels Scroop and the other Lords, all being executed.

Hal arrives to an asleep King, taking his crown. Caught and accused of wanting his father dead, Hal claims he thought his father dead and wanted to protect the crown. The King, now facing death, finally makes peace with Hal, telling him he does believe he will be fit to rule the kingdom. The King tells Hal to fight foreign wars to secure his popularity and occupy his people, the King then dying. Hal becomes the new King of England. Falstaff, hearing this, believes he has a friend in the highest place in the land, immediately departing for London. As King of England, the old Hal, Falstaff remembers is no more, the King (Hal) at his coronation, banning his old friends from being within ten miles of him; any closer and they will all be put to death. Hal is now the true King of England.

King Henry IV, Part I Play

King Henry IV, Part I, picks up where Richard II left off; Henry IV is now King of England but all is not well in his kingdom, Welsh leader Owen Glendower has defeated one of King Henry IV’s armies, capturing Edmund Mortimer, its leader. Unfortunately our King does not have a son to take over the reins, his only son Henry V, known as Hal shirks responsibility, preferring to waste away his youth drinking, partying and getting up to trouble with his rogue friends, in particular a certain John Falstaff and his friend Poins.. . He even takes part in the robbery of travellers! If only the King could swap sons with the Percies, he’s fighting; Hotspur, the son of Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland is by all accounts a brave, couageous soldier. In an important soliloquy, Hal reveals that though he has been keeping bad company, he will soon show his true colors at the right time…

Meanwhile the King punishes the Earl of Worcester, the Earl of Northumberland and Hotspur (Northumberland’s son) for forgetting their obligations to their King. Hotspur and his father offer the prisoners from a Scottish campaign gladly, arguing their refusal to do so was all a misunderstanding. The King disagrees, believing Hotspur wanted to use the prisoners to force the King to pay the ransom of Lord Mortimer, his brother-in-law. The King will not do this because Lord Mortimer betrayed his forces by marrying the daughter of Glendower, his enemy on the battlefield! Hotspur is ordered to hand over the prisoners but refuses.

Worcester suggests a plan to deal with the King (the Percy Rebellion), which involves the Percies, Douglas, Glendower and the Archbishop of York siding against the King. Hotspur hands over the prisoners to buy time… The rebels, however quickly begin to argue over how the will divide the spoils of England. Hotspurs’ father the Earl of Northumberlaqnd (Henry Percy) falls ill, hurting the rebellion before it even begins since his forces will not be available, whilst Glendower is late gathering his forces. Meanwhile the King has words with his wayward son Hal, Hal becoming determined to earn his father’s respect in the forthcoming battle.

The King has also been busy raising a large army… Hotspur, learning this and the fact that Hal will fight beside the King ever courageously tries to find silver linings in an ever darkening cloud… Like Julius Caesar, the two sides exchange words before battle, the King hoping to avoid a bloody fight, offers a pardon to the rebels. Worcester, representing an absent Hotspur, however does not believe this grand offer, choosing to lie to Hotspur that the King is resolute in wanting war. The rebels are completely beaten in the battle that follows, Hal even gaining honor on the battlefield by killing Hotspur, a man many thought would be the stronger of the two in battle. This action saves his father, The King, earning Hal the respect he so desperately wanted. Falstaff, recruited into a battle he wanted no part in, somehow manages to survive the massacre on the battlefield by pretending to be dead, later trying to claim his own glory by claiming Hotspurs’ death for himself! Hal graciously lets Falstaff keep this unearned glory. The rebels, Worcester and Sir Richarsd Vernon are executed; Douglas is set free. However not all the rebels have been defeated….