The mightiest of thy greatest enemies,
Richard of Bourdeaux, by me hither brought.
Boling. Exton, I thank thee not; for thou
hast wrought

A deed of slander, with thy, fatal hand,
Upon my head, and all this famous land.
Exton.

1

From your own mouth, my lord, did I this deed.

Boling. They love not poison that do poison need,

:

Nor do I thee; though I did wish him dead,
I hate the murderer, love him murdered.
The guilt of conscience take thou for thy labour,
But neither my good word, nor princely favour
With Cain go wander through the shade of night,
And never shew thy head by day nor light.
Lords, I protest, my soul is full of woe,
That blood should sprinkle me, to make me grow:
Come, mourn with me for what I do lament,
And put on sullen black incontinent;
I'll make a voyage to the Holy land,

To wash this blood off from my guilty hand:
March sadly after; grace my mournings here,
In weeping after this untimely bier. [Exeunt.]

KING HENRY IV.

PART I.

1

* THE transactions contained in this historical drama are comprised within the period of about ten months; for the action commences with the news brought of Hotspur, having defeated the Scots under Archibald, earl of Douglas, at Holmedon, (or Halidownhill), which battle was fought on Holyrood - day (the 14th of September) 1402; and it closes with the defeat and death of Hotspur at Shrewsbury; which engagement happened on Saturday the 21st of July, (the eve of Saint Mary Magdalen) in the year 1403.

Shakspeare has apparently designed a regular connection of these dramatick histories from Richard the Second to Henry the Fifth. King Henry, at the end of Richard the Second, declares his purpose to visit the Holy land, which he resumes in his first speech. The complaint, made by king Henry in the last act of Richard the Second, of the wildnefs of his son, prepares the reader for the frolicks which are here to be recounted, and the characters which are now to be exhibited.

Persons Represented.

King Henry the Fourth.

Sons to the king.

Prince John of Lancaster.

Earl of Westmoreland, Friends to the king.
Sir Walter Blunt.

Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester.

Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland:
Henry Percy, surnamed Hotspur, his son.
Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March.

Scroop, Archbishop of York.

Archibald, Earl of Douglas.

Owen Glendower.

Sir Richard Vernon.

Şir John Falstaff.
Poins.

Gadshill.

Peto.

Bardolph.

Lady Percy, wife to Hotspur, and sister to Mortimer. Lady Mortimer, daughter to Glendower, and wife to Mortimer.

Mrs. Quickly, hostess of a tavern in Eastcheap.

Lords, Officers, Sheriff, vintner, chamberlain, drawtwo carriers, travellers, and attendants, etc.

ers,

SCENE, England.