PRELIMINARY REMARKS.

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 Halidown-hill,) which battle was fought on Holy-rood 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. Theobald.

This play was first entered at Stationers' Hall, Feb. 25, 1597, by Andrew Wise. Again, by M. Woolff, Jan. 9, 1598. For the piece supposed to have been its original, see Six old Plays on which Shakspeare founded, &c. published for S. Leacroft, Charing-Cross. Steevens.

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 the first speech of this play. The complaint made by King Henry in the last Act of Richard the Second, of the wildness of his son, prepares the reader for the frolicks which are here to be recounted, and the characters which are now to be exhibited. Johnson.

This comedy was written, I believe, in the year 1597. See the Essay on the Chronological Order of Shakspeare's Plays, vol.ii. Malone.

No less than five quarto editions of this play were published during the author's life, 1598, 1599, 1604, 1608, 1613.

PERSONS REPRESENTED. King Henry the Fourth. Henry, Prince of Wales, Son to the King. Prince John of Lancaster^{1 note}, Son to the King. Earl of Westmoreland, Friend to the King. Sir Walter Blunt, Friend to the King. Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester. Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland: Henry Percy, surnamed Hotspur [Hotspur], his Son. Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March. Scroop, Archbishop of York. Archibald, Earl of Douglas. Owen Glendower. Sir Richard Vernon. Sir John Falstaff. Sir Michael, a friend of the Archbishop of York. 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, Drawers, Two Carriers, Travellers, and Attendants. [Carrier], [Carrier 1], [Carrier 2], [Ostler], [Chamberlain], [Traveller], [Servant], [Francis], [Vintner], [Sheriff], [Gentleman], [Messenger] SCENE, England.

FIRST PART OF KING HENRY IV.

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