Act 5, Scene 4 Summary

Sir Pierce of Exton, one of Henry's supporters tells one of his men that Henry wished he had a friend that would rid him "this living fear," Richard. Exton believes Henry was inadvertently asking him to ease his worries by killing Richard. Exton says he will be a friend to Henry and kill Richard.

Act 5, Scene 4 Analysis

It is impossible to know if Exton is right that Henry was hinting that he would like Richard killed. The juxtaposition of this conversation with the previous scene in which Henry pardons a man who confessed to planning to kill him, suggests that Exton is wrong.

This scene also reintroduces Richard who, until this point, had disappeared from the play.