Tyler Price Robinson, Henry V, External Actions Table of Contents

Henry V
Prologue: The play starts off very intensely when Chorus comes out asking for a muse of fire.
They tell us to get ready for a battle of two monarchies and England and France go into war. The
chorus also makes it clear that we have to us our imagination to get through the story since its
impossible to have thousands of soldiers and an accurate reenactment of a war on stage.
Act 1
Scene 1: The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely talk about a bill thats been raised
by parliament during Henry IVs reign but it was pushed aside due to the civil wars, it has since
resurfaced. If the bill goes into effect, the church will have to give some of the money that they
collected over years from rich people and give some it for the kings treasury and some of it to
army and the poor. Canterbury and Ely dont want the bill to be passed. They talk about how
Henry used to be a wild child but nowadays is the perfect king. Canterbury gives King Henry a
suddle bribe by giving him a large amount of money from the Church, encouraging a war
between England and France so King Henry can gain the French Crown.
Scene 2: Canterbury gives a long speech, telling Henry that he can make a legitimate claim
because Henry's great-great-grandmother, Isabella, was the daughter of the French King Phillip
IV. Canterbury says that the French have been using the "Salic Law" as an excuse to prevent
English kings from taking the power the deserve. He the convinces Henry that the Salic Law
shouldn't apply to him. Canterbury urges Henry to channel his great-grandfather's "warlike
spirit" and declare war on France. Canterbury promises Henry that the Church will raise a ton of

money to fund the war and convinces him that it will be the biggest donation the Church has ever
made to an English monarch. King Henry wants to start the war but is worried of the possibly
negative outcome. Canterbury and Ely peer pressure him into believing that England is strong
enough to win this war. The French Ambassador comes in with a treasure chest. The
Ambassador has a gift and a message for Henry, but asks the King not to shoot the messenger if
he doesnt like what he sees or hears. The gift is a chest full of tennis balls which is a response to
a claim that Henry made on some French dukedoms. Henry gets ticked off and says that God will
help him turn Dauphins tennis balls into cannons that tear down castles and turn thousands of
French wives into widows. This was the final straw that broke the camels back.
Act 2
Chorus: The Chorus lets us know that England is gearing up for war and the French are a little
frazzled with doubt and fear of the unknown. The chorus also lets us know that three English
traitors, Cambridge, Lorde Scrope and Sir Thomas Grey, have taken money from France as a
payment for King Henrys assassination
Scene 1: Bardolph and Nim talk about the impending war with France. Mistress Quickly and
Pistol, a married couple, enter and talk about their family business and how people think that its
sketchy. Nim is upset because he was engaged to Quickly before she ran off with Pistol so he
threatens to slit Pistols throat. Two men draw their swords at Nim but Bardolph breaks up the
argument to save his friend. A Boy runs in to tell everyone that John Falstaff, Henrys old friend
that was banished once Henry became the king of England, is deathly ill. Mistress Quickly, Nim
and Pistol all come to conclusion that he is dying due to the loss of a friend.

Scene 2: Henry knows all about the traitors' plot to assassinate him. Meanwhile, King Henry is
boarding a ship that will take him and his troops to France. Henry decides to play mind games
with his traitors by bringing up a fake story of treason to see what they would say. All of the
traitors tell him that he should punish any man who commits treason, after that Henry hands the
men documents that prove he knows their plan The traitors faces become pale and they
immediately confess, begging for mercy. But Henry has them arrested and sentenced to death.
Cambridge then declares that he didnt do it for the Frenchs money, he did it because he wanted
to kill the King. This serves as another excuse for the King to invade France.
Scene 3: Pistol reveals that Falstaff has died of a venereal disease. Quickly, Pistol and Bardolph
are devastated because they were friends with Falstaff. The men dont grieve for too long
because they know that they need to focus on the approaching war.
Scene 4: King Charles is making plans to defend his kingdom but his son, the Dauphin, tells him
that Henry is just a fool and that they shouldnt be worried. King Charles recalls the great
fighters in Henrys ancestry and that makes him fearful of Henry V. A messenger tells King
Charles that England is near and they want a word with the King. The Duke of Exeter delivers a
message from King Henry saying that he wants King Charles to step down as King of France
peacefully so Henry can receive the crown or they will start fire.
Act 3
Chorus: The Chorus lets us know that Henry and his men have arrived in France.
Scene 1: King Henry gives his troops a big encouraging speech before the war begins. He tells
them to channel inner tigers. He says that if they give everything is this fight, they are bound to
win.

Scene 2: During the war, Bardolph, Nim, and Pistol yield trying to avoid being hurt. The Boy
turns out to be Falstaffs old servant, says he wishes he could relax back in England. Captain
Fluellen comes in and demands that the men start carrying their weight and fighting. Nim then
goes off of Fluellen and Fluellen reacts by beating him. The Boy lets us know his disapproval of
Bardolph, Nim and Pistol being nothing but dirty thieves.
Scene 3: Henry gives a speech about how the Governor of Harfleur needs to surrender soon or
his troops will raid the town and rape all of its virgin women. The governor surrenders after
Henry claims that he will have no control over what his men do if the war continues and they
enter the town.
Scene 4: At the French palace, Princess Catherine begins an English lesson with her lady in
waiting, Alice. Catherine believes that the English words for "le pied" (foot) and "de cown"
(gown) are filthy and she will never say them in front of a French gentlemen.
Scene 5: King Charles, the Constable, and the Dauphin acknowledge the fact that Henry is
marching through France unchecked. They are worried that they will have an advantage in the
war since they were already superior in one town. The Dauphin, runs his mouth again, claiming
that some women are cheering for England to win this war. The French notice that the English
troops are ill and are falling short. King Charles orders his men to plow through Englands troops
and kidnap Henry. The French believe that they will win at this point.
Scene 6: Captains Gower and Fluellen are discussing the Duke of Exeters success in controlling
a vital bridge due to Pistols lack of nobility. Bardolph is set for assassination for stealing and
Pistol tries to plea for his life, Fluellen isnt having any of it. Gower advises Fluellen to be wary
of men like are good at being conniving. The French herald, Montjoy arrives to deliver a

message from the French king, telling King Henry that the French have just begun their fight and
the English will soon realize that they are in over their heads. King Henry disputes the message
and lets Montjoy know that he is not phased.
Scene 7: At the French Camp, Bourbon starts bragging about this horse he received and Orleans
points out that Bourbon talks about it like he wants to marry it. Which causes Bourbon to reveal
that he once wrote a sonnet about his horse. The men then compare riding a horse to having sex
with a woman. A messenger arrives with news that the English are only 1500 paces away.
Act 4
Chorus: They lets us know that the French are being very arrogant and that King Henry has
been walking around the English camp trying to encourage his soldiers even though Henry
himself is worried. The Chorus apologizes again for not being able to show the action of the war.
Scene 1:
Henry borrows Erpingham's dirty old cloak to disguise himself as a commoner. Henry walks
around the camp in the disguise realizing that the only man who isnt questioning the Kings
decision to goto war on the French is Fluellen. They even claim that the King will be responsible
for every soldiers death. When Henry is left alone onstage he gives a monologue about the
challenges he is facing as King. He then prays for God to help him out in this battle.
Scene 2: The French are even more cocky about the battle. A messenger comes in telling them
that the English are prepared and set for battle. The Constable states that the English soldiers are
going to fall very easily, suggesting that they should just quit. The guys all go on about how they
are going to beat the English. Then they run off to fight.

Scene 3: Henrys army realizes that they are outnumbered after Westmoreland states that he
wishes they had more soldiers with them. Henry then gives a speech, proving to be a great
leader. Henry then tells the men that he will pay for any man to leave if they dont want to stand
by him and fight. He then encourages every brave man who wants to stay by giving the famous
St. Cripins speech. Montjoy then comes in with another message urging the men to give up and
not fight. Henry refuses, AGAIN and send Montjoy back to where he came from.
Scene 4: Pistol takes an unarmed soldier prisoner and makes a deal with him in exchange for his
life through the boy. The boy translates the bargain between the two men because they dont
speak each others languages. The boy reveals that Nim has been hung for stealing then heads
back to the English camp to take cover with the other servant boys while the war takes place.
Scene 5: French start losing the war. A soldier named Rambures runs away. Bourbon
encourages his men to stay by telling them that running away is going to result in English
soldiers raping their French daughters.
Scene 6: The English are winning, Exeter shows up to let King Henry know that The Earl of
Suffolk and Duke of York have been killed in battle. The two men cry over the deaths.
Scene 7: A group of French soldiers attack the English camp, cowardly. Montjoy declares that
the English won the battle. Williams shows up wearing the King's glove in his cap. Henry pokes
fun by sending Williams off on an errand and then gives Fluellen Williams' glove and asks him
to wear it in his cap. Henry lies and says the glove belonged to a Frenchman and, if anyone
confronts Fluellen about the glove, it means that they're a traitor.
Scene 8: When Williams returns and sees his glove in Fluellen's hat, he slaps Fluellen. Fluellen
accuses Williams of being a traitor and says that Williams should be arrested. Williams is

shocked, but he defends himself and says that he didn't know he was arguing with the king, since
Henry was disguised as a commoner. Henry fills the glove with some coins and gives it to
William. An English Herald shows up to tell us that ten thousand French soldiers have been
counted dead while, only four English nobles and twenty-five commoners have been killed in
battle.
Act Five
Chorus: The Chorus tells us about Henry's trip to Calais and his return to London. They also
tell us that the Holy Roman Emperor made a trip to England to try to negotiate peace between
England and France and that Henry has returned to France.
Scene 1: Pistol shows up, Fluellen beats him severely and crams the leek from his hate into
Pistols mouth, then gives him money and sends him off. When left alone onstage, Pistol reveals
that Mistress Quickly has died.
Scene 2: At the French palace, King Henry meets with King Charles and Queen Isabel to
negotiate a peace treaty. King Charles approves of the treaty. King Henry and Catherine develop
a romance and are given the okay to marry.
Epilogue: The chorus tells us that Henry and Catherine has a son who became Henry VI. They
also tell us that these events play out in Henry VI Part 1 and Part 2 where Henry loses France in
a war.