INTRODUCTION.

We may state with more certainty than usual, that “Henry IV.” Part ii. was written before the 25th Feb. 1598. In the preliminary notice of “Henry IV.” Part i. it is mentioned, that Act ii. sc. 2. of the “history” before us contains a piece of evidence that Falstaff was still called Oldcastle when it was written; viz. that the prefix of Old. is retained in the quarto, 1600, before a speech which belongs to Falstaff, and which is assigned to him in the folio of 1623. Now, we know that the name of Oldcastle was changed to that of Falstaff anterior to the entry of “Henry IV.” Part i. in the books of the Stationers' Company on the 25th Feb. 1597–8. This circumstance overturns Malone's theory, that “Henry IV.” Part ii. was not written until 1599. It requires no proof that it was produced after “Richard II.” because that play is quoted in it.

The memorandum in the Stationers' Registers, prior to the publication of the following play, is inserted literatim in Vol. ii. p. 183: it bears date on 23d Aug. 1600, and it was made by Andrew Wise and William Aspley, who brought out “The Seconde Parte of the History of Kinge Henry the iiii^th,” 4to, in that year.

There was only one edition of “Henry IV.” Part ii. in 1600, but some copies vary importantly. The play was evidently produced from the press in haste; and besides other large omissions, a whole scene, forming the commencement of Act iii. was left out. Most of the copies are without these pages, but they are found in those of the Duke of Devonshire and Malone. The stationer must have discovered the error after the publication, and sheet E was accordingly reprinted, in order to supply the defect.

The folio 1623, was taken from a complete copy of the edition of 1600; and, moreover, the actor-editors, probably from a play-house manuscript in their hands, furnished many other lines wanting in the quarto. On the other hand, the quarto, 1600, contains several passages not found in the folio, 1623. Our text includes both, (properly distinguished in the notes) in order that no syllable which came from the pen of Shakespeare may be lost. Even if we suppose our great dramatist to have himself rejected certain portions, preserved in the quarto, the exclusion of them by a modern editor would be unpardonable, as they form part of the history of the poet's mind.

1 ^note.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ KING HENRY THE FOURTH. HENRY, Prince of Wales; Son of King Henry the Fourth. THOMAS, Duke of Clarence; Son of King Henry the Fourth. PRINCE JOHN OF LANCASTER; Son of King Henry the Fourth. PRINCE HUMPHREY OF GLOSTER [Prince Humphrey of Gloucester]; Son of King Henry the Fourth. EARL OF WARWICK; Of the King's Party. EARL OF WESTMORELAND; Of the King's Party. GOWER; Of the King's Party. HARCOURT; Of the King's Party. Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. A Gentleman attending on the Chief Justice [Attendant]. EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND; Opposite to the King. SCROOP, Archbishop of York; Opposite to the King. LORD MOWBRAY; Opposite to the King. LORD HASTINGS; Opposite to the King. LORD BARDOLPH; Opposite to the King. SIR JOHN COLEVILE [Sir John Colville]; Opposite to the King. TRAVERS, Retainer of Northumberland. MORTON, Retainer of Northumberland. FALSTAFF [Sir John Falstaff], BARDOLPH PISTOL a Page. POINS PETO. SHALLOW, Country Justice. SILENCE, Country Justice. DAVY, Servant to Shallow. MOULDY, Recruit. SHADOW, Recruit. WART, Recruit. FEEBLE, Recruit. BULCALF [Bullcalf], Recruit. FANG, Sheriff's Officer. SNARE, Sheriff's Officer. RUMOUR, the Presenter. A Porter. A Dancer, Speaker of the Epilogue. LADY NORTHUMBERLAND LADY PERCY. Hostess QUICKLY [Mrs. Quickly]. DOLL TEAR-SHEET [Doll Tearsheet]. Lords, and Attendants; Officers, Soldiers, Messenger, Drawers, Beadles, Grooms, &c. [Beadle 1], [Groom 1], [Groom 2] SCENE, England.

Main text 1 ^note.

INDUCTION Warkworth. Before Northumberland's Castle. Enter Rumour, painted full of Tongues^{2 note}.

Rum.
Open your ears; for which of you will stop
The vent of hearing, when loud Rumour speaks?
I, from the orient to the drooping west,
Making the wind my post-horse, still unfold
The acts commenced on this ball of earth:
Upon my tongues continual slanders ride,
The which in every language I pronounce,
Stuffing the ears of men with false reports. 11Q0613
I speak of peace, while covert enmity,
Under the smile of safety, wounds the world:
And who but Rumour, who but only I,
Make fearful musters, and prepar'd defence;
Whilst the big year, swoln with some other grief,
Is thought with child by the stern tyrant war,
And no such matter? Rumour is a pipe
Blown by surmises, jealousies, conjectures;
And of so easy and so plain a stop,
That the blunt monster with uncounted heads,
The still-discordant wavering multitude,

Can play upon it. But what need I thus
My well-known body to anatomize
Among my household? Why is Rumour here?
I run before king Harry's victory;
Who in a bloody field by Shrewsbury
Hath beaten down young Hotspur, and his troops,
Quenching the flame of bold rebellion
Even with the rebels' blood. But what mean I
To speak so true at first? my office is
To noise abroad, that Harry Monmouth fell
Under the wrath of noble Hotspur's sword;
And that the king before the Douglas' rage
Stoop'd his anointed head as low as death.
This have I rumour'd through the peasant towns 11Q0614
Between that royal field of Shrewsbury^{3 note}
And this worm-eaten hold^{4 note} of ragged stone,
Where Hotspur's father^{5 note}, old Northumberland,
Lies crafty-sick: the posts come tiring on,
And not a man of them brings other news
Than they have learn'd of me: from Rumour's tongues
They bring smooth comforts false, worse than true wrongs. [Exit.

SECOND PART OF KING HENRY IV.

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