Henry IV, Part I

Act 5, Scene 5

The trumpets sound. Enter the KING, PRINCE HENRY, Lord John of LANCASTER, Earl of WESTMORELAND, with WORCESTER and VERNON prisoners

Trumpets sound. The KING, PRINCE HENRY, Lord John of LANCASTER, and WESTMORELAND enter, with WORCESTER and VERNON as prisoners.

KING

Thus ever did rebellion find rebuke.—

Ill-spirited Worcester, did not we send grace,

Pardon, and terms of love to all of you?

And wouldst thou turn our offers contrary,

Misuse the tenor of thy kinsman’s trust?

Three knights upon our party slain today,

A noble earl, and many a creature else

Had been alive this hour,

If like a Christian thou hadst truly borne

Betwixt our armies true intelligence.

KING

This is how rebellions always end—defeated. Evil-spirited Worcester! Didn’t I offer kindness, forgiveness and friendship to all of you? And you pretended that I did the opposite? Your relatives and friends trusted you, yet you lied to them? Three of our knights who were killed today, a noble earl, and many other men might have been alive right now if you had been a decent man and reported truthfully on the negotiations between our two armies.

WORCESTER

What I have done my safety urged me to.

And I embrace this fortune patiently,

Since not to be avoided it falls on me.

WORCESTER

I did what I had to do for the sake of my own well-being. I accept my fate patiently, since there’s no way I can avoid it.

KING

Bear Worcester to the death, and Vernon too.

Other offenders we will pause upon.

KING

Put Worcester to death, and Vernon too: I’ll wait a while before I decide what to do about the others.

Exeunt WORCESTER and VERNON under guard

WORCESTER and VERNON are escorted away by guards.

How goes the field?

What’s happening on the battlefield?

PRINCE HENRY

The noble Scot, Lord Douglas, when he saw

The fortune of the day quite turned from him,

The noble Percy slain, and all his men

Upon the foot of fear, fled with the rest,

And, falling from a hill, he was so bruised

That the pursuers took him. At my tent

The Douglas is, and I beseech your Grace

I may dispose of him.

PRINCE HENRY

When that brave Scotsman, Lord Douglas, saw that things were turning against him, that Percy had been killed, and that his men were fleeing in terror, he ran away too. He fell down a hill and was so badly injured that our men were able to capture him. He’s being held prisoner at my tent. I ask your highness to let me decide what to do with him.

KING

With all my heart.

KING

With all my heart.

PRINCE HENRY

Then, brother John of Lancaster, to you

This honorable bounty shall belong.

Go to the Douglas, and deliver him

Up to his pleasure, ransomless and free.

His valor shown upon our crests today

Hath taught us how to cherish such high deeds,

Even in the bosom of our adversaries.

PRINCE HENRY

Brother, John of Lancaster, I’m going to give you the honor of this generous act. Go to Douglas and set him free, with no ransom due. Let him do whatever he wants. His brave fighting against us today should be valued, even though he was our enemy.

LANCASTER

I thank your Grace for this high courtesy,

Which I shall give away immediately.

LANCASTER

Thank you for giving me this honor. I’ll take care of it immediately.

KING

Then this remains, that we divide our power.

You, son John, and my cousin Westmoreland,

Towards York shall bend you with your dearest speed

To meet Northumberland and the prelate Scroop,

Who, as we hear, are busily in arms.

Myself and you, son Harry, will towards Wales

To fight with Glendower and the Earl of March.

Rebellion in this land shall lose his sway,

Meeting the check of such another day.

And since this business so fair is done,

Let us not leave till all our own be won.

KING

All that’s left is for us to split up our armies. You, my son John, and you, Westmoreland, head towards York as quickly as you can. Confront Northumberland and that churchman the Archbishop, who, I gather, are raising armies against us. You and I, Harry my son, will head for Wales to fight Glendower and Mortimer. The rebellion in this land will break apart once it meets battles like the one we fought today. And since we have accomplished our business so well, let’s not quit until everything has been won.

Exeunt

They exit.