Chapter Synopsis of Henry IV Part I - Study Guide by William Shakespeare

The Archbishop is in York, preparing for the possibility of a royal victory, it further emphasises the fact that the current King is better equipped to rule the country than the disorganised rebels.

Act V, Scene I

Worcester and Vernon go to the King’s camp for discussions. The King is very cool towards them and Hal proposes that he and Hotspur fight so that the dispute may be settled. Therefore a large-scale battle could be avoided. The King accepts this proposition and vaguely makes some general offers for a redress of grievances. The scene ends with Falstaff and Hal’s discussion war and honour and Falstaff offers his famous soliloquy.

Act V, Scene II

Worcester tells Vernon that the King’s offer must not be reported back to Hotspur because they cannot trust their ruler to keep his word, Vernon supports this idea. Westmoreland was kept as a hostage until Worcester and Vernon arrived back and he is set free with a message that they reject the offer. The battle begins.

Act V, Scene III

Many of the King’s soldiers are dressed in disguise as the King himself. It is a cunning ploy so that the rebels are never sure whether or not they have managed to kill their enemy – it is a confusion tactic. Walter Blunt who is disguised is killed by Douglas. Hotspur realises that Blunt was an impersonator and he and Douglas depart. Falstaff is shown up as a coward and a wholly ineffective fighter. He has left his men in a dangerous situation and when Hal tries to borrow his pistol he finds a bottle of alcohol instead of a weapon and in exasperated.

Act V, Scene IV

The King withdraws, Hal is wounded though not seriously and refuses to retire. Douglas attacks the King but his son returns to his defence and soon Douglas flees. The father and son are reunited and Henry IV admits that Hal saved his life. The King leaves and Hotspur arrives. Words are blows are exchanged between the two young men as they are cheered on by Falstaff from the sidelines. Douglas attacks Falstaff and he "falls down as if he were dead". Hotspur is badly wounded by the Prince and delivers a poignant dying speech and then receives a most noble epitaph from his killer. When he sees Falstaff who is supposedly dead the Prince gives an affectionate but still slightly derisory eulogy which again shows that the two are slowly drifting apart. Falstaff rises up and inflicts another wound upon the already dead Hotspur just as Hal returns with John of Lancaster. He maintains that it was him who killed the rebel, even though the Prince stands before him.

Act V, Scene V

The end is a victorious one for the King. Worcester and Vernon are sentenced to death and Hal begs that Douglas has a political pardon (a wise political move). The Royalists then decide that the next move should be a further attack against Glendower and Mortimer in Wales and Northumberland and the Archbishop of York. Thus the premise is set for Henry IV, Part II.