* SECOND PART OF KING HENRY IV.] The tranfactions comprized in this history take up about nine years. The action commences with the account of Hotfpur's being defeated and killed [1403]; and clofes with the death of King Henry IV. and the coronation of King Henry V. [1412-13.] THEOBALD. This play was entered at Stationers' Hall, August 23, 1600. STEEVENS. The Second Part of King Henry IV. I fuppofe to have been written in 1598. See An Attempt to afcertain the Order of Shakspeare's Plays, Vol. II. MALONE. Mr. Upton thinks thefe two plays improperly called The First and Second Parts of Henry the Fourth. The firft play ends, he fays, with the peaceful fettlement of Henry in the kingdom by the defeat of the rebels. This is hardly true; for the rebels are not yet finally fuppreffed. The fecond, he tells us, thows Henry the Fifth in the various lights of a good-natured rake, till, on his father's death, he affumes a more manly character. This is true; but this representation gives us no idea of a dramatick action. These two plays will appear to every reader, who shall perufe them without ambition of critical difcoveries, to be fo connected, that the fecond is merely a sequel to the first; to be two only because they are too long to be one. JOHNSON. King Henry the Fourth: Henry, Prince of Wales, afterwards Thomas, Duke of Clarence; ita Prince John of Lancafter,' afterwards his Sons. (2 Henry V.) Duke of Bedford; Prince Humphrey of Glofter, afterwards (2 Henry V.) Duke of Glofter; Earl of Warwick; Earl of Westmoreland; Gower; Harcourt; } of the King's Party. Lord Chief Juftice of the King's Bench. Poins and Peto, Attendants on Prince Henry. Davy, Servant to Shallow. Mouldy, Shadow, Wart, Feeble, and Bullcalf, Recruits. Fang and Snare, Sheriff's Officers. A Dancer, Speaker of the Epilogue. Enemies to the Lady Northumberland. Lady Percy. Lords and other Attendants; Officers, Soldiers, Meffenger, Drawers, Beadles, Grooms, &c. SCENE, England. 'See note under the Perfonae Dramatis of the Firft Part of this play. STEEVENS. |