THE TALK OF KINGS

On the 30^th September 1399, Henry of Bolingbroke, was proclaimed King Henry IV of England, He was the grandson of Edward III, and the first King of England from the Lancaster branch of the House of Plantagenet, the other being the York branch. Henry had in fact usurped the crown from his cousin Richard II. This eventually led to the Plantagenet family bickering known as the War of the Roses.  A war which cost many lives, but provided Shakespeare with a collection of plays that was seemingly unending. Rather like George Lucas with the Star Wars fantasy, Shakespeare did not write his version of the stories of the House of Plantagenet in chronological order.

He began with Henry VI Part 2, followed by Henry VI part 3, Henry VI Part 1, Richard III, Edward III, Richard II, The life and Death of King John, Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2 and Henry V.  A series of ten plays. The true chronology is:

King John = 27th May 1199 - 19^th October 1216

Edward III = 25^th January 1327 – 21^st June 1377
Richard II = 21^st June 1377 – 29^th September 1399

Henry IV = 30^th September 1399 – 20^th March 1413
Henry V = 20th March 1413 – 31^st August 1422

Henry VI = 31^st August 1422 - 4^th March 1461 and again from 30^th October 1470 – 11^th April 1471  (His cousin Edward IV ruled from 4^th March 1461 to 30^th October 1470 and again from his death on 11^th April 1471 to 9^th April 1483. Hence the rather complicated series of 3 plays)

Richard III = 26^th June 1483 to 22^nd August 1485, the last of the Plantagenet Kings.

Thus Shakespeare accounted for nearly 300 years of the History of England

In keeping with the Shakespearean theme, there will be a small prize awarded to whoever comes up with the complete list of the sources of the following quotes from the above mentioned plays, and remember, “The play ‘s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King”:

“How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds Makes ill deeds done.”

“Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale, Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man, And bitter shame hath spoiled the sweet world's taste, That it yields nought but shame and bitterness.”

“And, oftentimes, excusing of a fault, Doth make the fault the worse by the excuse.”

“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

“Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep, And in his simple show he harbors treason.”

“The smallest worm will turn, being trodden on, And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood.”

“Trust not him that hath once broken faith.”

“Death will have his day.”

“God keep me from false friends!”

“Take all the swift advantage of the hours.”

“An honest tale speeds best being plainly told.”

“Glory is like a circle in the water, Which never ceases’ to enlarge itself Till by broad spreading it disperse to naught.”

“A plague upon it when thieves cannot be true one to another!”

“There are grades of vanity, there are only grades of ability in concealing it.”

“He was indeed the glass Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves.”

“Rebellion in this land shall lose his sway, Meeting the check of such another day; And since this business so fair is done, Let us not leave till all our own be won.”

“Unthread the rude eye of rebellion, And welcome home again discarded faith.”

“Instinct is a great matter. I was now a coward on instinct.”

“I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty a heart; but the saying is true, 'The empty vessel makes the greatest sound.'”

“I'll follow, as they say, for reward. He that rewards me, God reward him. If I do grow great, I'll grow less; for I'll purge, and leave sack, and live cleanly, as a nobleman should do.”

“Custom will reconcile people to any atrocity; and fashion will drive them to acquire any custom.”

“The better part of valor is discretion, in the which better part I have saved my life.”

“Think you I bear the shears of destiny? Have I commandment on the pulse of life?”

“Base is the slave that pays.”

“A scepter snatched with an unruly hand Must be as boisterously maintained as gained, And he that stands upon a slippery place Makes nice of no vile hold to stay him up.”

“Every subject's duty is the king's, but every subject's soul is his own.”

I await your replies, in the comments section of the blog.

Can you resist a small prize?