William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's History of King Henry the Fourth William Shakespeare

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 Excerpt: ...towards the king than ever it was before, driving him by that means to fight whether he would or not; then suddenly blew the trumpets; the king's part crying St. George upon them, the adversaries cried Esperance Percy, and so the two armies furiously joined. "The prince that day holp his father like a lusty young gentleman; for although he was hurt in the face with an arrow so that divers noblemen that were about him would have conveyed him forth of the field, yet he would not suffer them so to do, lest his departure from amongst his men might happily have stricken some fear into their hearts. At length the king crying St. George, Victory, brake the array of his enemies, and adventured so far that (as some write) the earl Douglas strake him down, and at that instant slew Sir Walter Blunt, and three others, apparelled in the king's suit and clothing: saying, I marvel to see so many kings thus suddenly arise, one in the neck of another. The king indeed was raised, and did that day many a noble feat of arms. The other on his part, encouraged by his doings, fought valiantly, and slew the lord Percy, called Sir Henry Hotspur. To conclude, the king's enemies were vanquished and put to flight; in which flight the ear! of Douglas, for haste, falling from the crag of a high mountain, was taken, and, for his valiantness, of the king frankly and freely delivered. There were also taken the earl of Worcester, the procurer and setter forth of all this mischief, sir Richard Vernon, with divers other. The earl of Worcester, the baron of Kinderton and sir Richard Vernon, knights, were condemned and beheaded." ACT I. Scene I.--1. The action of the play begins with the news of Hotspur's defeat of the Scots under Archibald, Earl of Douglas, at Holmedon (or Halidown-h...