ABSTRACT
Actually there is more connection between Henry V and Famous Victories than between the latter and Henry IV. There are many significant resemblances, and although much of the common material was inevitable in any play founded on the chronicles, there can be little doubt that Shakespeare recalled both the structure of the last half of Famous Victories (Sc. ix-xx; supra 32 Iff) and some of its incidents, historical and unhistorical. Both plays omit the Lollard unrest and other domestic events, and both make a great scene of the English claim to France, and discuss whether France or Scotland should be attacked first. Immediately afterwards the French ambassador delivers the 'tennis-balls' challenge, which Henry takes in almost identical words, not suggested by Hall or Holinshed: FV 846 My lord prince Dolphin is very pleasant with me. H5 1.2.259. We are glad the Dauphin is so pleasant with us.
