King Henry IV

Henry appears in the first scene of the play discussing his decision not to visit the Holy Land due to the civil unrest in his kingdom. (He had made the decision to go on the journey at the end of Richard II when he vowed to atone for the guilt he felt when Richard was murdered by Sir Pierce of Exton. Sir Pierce, an associate of Henry, then Bolingbroke, acted upon Henry's comment that the death of Richard would ease his fears.) Henry refuses to give in to Hotspur's demand that Edmund Mortimer be ransomed. Rather, he presents his own demand that Hotspur's Scottish prisoners be turned over to him. Hotspur refuses.

Henry then begins to prepare for war with the Percys, who have shown themselves to be rebels against the crown. This preparation includes Henry's successful attempt to reclaim his son, Hal, from the...