King Henry IV, Part 2

The Earl of Northumberland hears that his son Hotspur has been killed and that the royal army has been dispatched against him. Persuaded by his wife not to join the rebel forces of the Archbishop of York, he flees to Scotland. The Archbishop and his allies Mowbray and Hastings meet with the Earl of Westmorland who explains their grievances against Henry to his son and general, Prince John. John promises to redress these grievances if the rebels disperse their army but when they do so, he arrests the leaders and pursues the scattered forces. Henry, who is dying, receives news of the end of the rebellion before passing the crown to his son Hal, crowned Henry V. Interwoven with this history are the adventures of the comic character Falstaff, formerly a close friend of Prince Hal's. At the end of the play, Falstaff is rejected by the new king and sent to prison for bribery and corruption.