Bolingbroke believes that he deserves the right to come home to claim his father’s inheritance. York angrily chides Bolingbroke for disturbing the peace through his invasion, “why have they dared to march So many miles upon her peaceful bosom, Frighting her pale-faced villager with war And ostentation of despised arms” (2.3, 91-94). Bolingbroke makes a speech declaring that Richard has wronged him and pleads his right to the titles denied him:
As I was banished, I was banished Hereford;
But as I come, I come for Lancaster.
And, noble uncle, I beseech your grace;
Look on my wrongs with and indifferent eye.
You are my father, for methinks in you
I see old Gaunt alive. O then, my father,
Will you permit that I shall stand condemned
A wandering vagabond, my rights and royalties
Plucked from my arms perforce and given away
To upstart unthrifts?...
And therefore personally I lay my claim
To my inheritance of free descent (2.3, 112-121, 134-135).
Richard faces Bolingbroke and his men believing that Bolingbroke has betrayed him and come to seize the crown. Bolingbroke sends Northumberland to Richard with a message that he, Bolingbroke, has come as a loyal subject to his King, and promises to surrender his army upon the returning of the lands and title which Richard seized to Bolingbroke, Gaunt's rightful heir. Otherwise, Bolingbroke will wage war against the King.
Henry Bolingbroke
Upon his knees doth kiss King Richard’s hand,
And sends allegiance and true faith of heart
To his most royal person, hither come
Even at his feet to lay my arms and power,
Provided that my banishment repealed
And lands restored again be freely granted.
If not, I’ll use the advantage of my power,
And lay the summer’s dust with showers of blood. (3.3, 34-42)
However, before Northumberland can enter the castle, King Richard and his allies appear upon the high walls of the castle. Richard with all the authority of a king, tells Northumberland to relay a message to Bolingbroke: if Bolingbroke dares to take the throne, the heavens and the King will rain vengeance upon him. He also says that Bolingbroke will not possess the crown in peace until blood stains the fields of England. Bolingbroke quickly denies that he has come to seize the throne, claiming he merely wants the rights as Gaunt's heir restored to him. Richard agrees to Bolingbroke's demands, but he realizes that his reign as king has ended; Bolingbroke certainly overpowered Richard and will not let him retain the crown. Bolingbroke calls upon Richard to come down, and Richard and his attendants obediently descend. Bolingbroke never says aloud of his intention to take the crown, but Richard asks whether he must go with Bolingbroke and his army to London, and Bolingbroke says yes; Richard agrees. Richard gives Bolingbroke the crown, “I give this heavy weight from off my head” (4.1, 194). Bolingbroke betrays and overpowers King Richard while gaining his inheritance and seizing the crown.
Shakespeare’s Henry V character Archbishop of Canterbury uses betrays Henry V in believing the legitimacy to invade France. A large tax that would fall upon the Church threatens the Church’s financial situation. Canterbury devises a plan to distract King Henry V from going along with the tax on the Church. Canterbury tells Henry that he has claim to the French throne, and the Church will pay for the war with France to seize the throne, “With blood and sword and fire, to win your right. In aid whereof, we of the spiritualty Will raise your highness such a mighty sum” (1.2, 131-133). Intrigued with the situation, Henry V arranges for a public ceremony for all the people to hear the “facts” from the Archbishop’s mouth directly.
Canterbury explains the French rule of inheriting the throne: no inheritance from the female side, “’No woman shall succeed in Salic land’,” (1.2, 39). Canterbury begins to enlighten everyone that the rule, made in Germany, cannot apply to the French throne. Three other kings inherited the throne through the woman, Canterbury explains, “Louis the Emperor, and Louis the son Of Charles the Great. Also King Louis the Ninth,” (2.1, 76-77). Henry V asks Canterbury directly, “May I with right and conscience make this claim?” (2.1, 96). Canterbury replies that the Bible supports Henry’s claim, “For in the Book of Numbers it is writ, ‘When the son dies, let the inheritance descend unto the daughter,’” (2.1, 97-100). Here Canterbury misquotes the words of the Bible; he uses his power to convince everyone into believing the just causes of the war. Given the title of Archbishop, lying to all the people, nobles, and the King proves a great problem with the clergy of the kingdom. With the Church behind him, Henry V goes to war with France to claim the throne. The dishonesty and misuse of the power of his position, the Archbishop of Canterbury undercuts the great military success of the war.
Power and betrayal, two powerful weapons, show the great degree used to achieve one’s goals. As proved, Bolingbroke and Canterbury use power and betrayal to propel their plan of success. Although both characters had completely different goals, they each used these similar weapons to their advantage. Bolingbroke used his power to gain support to betray Richard II and take his inheritance and the English crown. Canterbury used his power of position to betray everyone that Henry V had claims to the French throne and England needed to begin a war with the French. Not only do the dangers of power and betrayal appear throughout Shakespeare’s writing, but in today’s everyday turn of events.
