" He says "the power of the English" in attempt to strengthen a divided country. A much more implicit motive is his wish to divert attention from domestic issues such as the legitimacy of his rulership by organising the crusade. Here, Henry's exploitation of his quarelling nobles is evident.
Manipulation is hidden by a seemingly genuine friendship between Hal and Falstaff. However, underneath is a mutualistic dependence of each man upon the other. Falstaff is the representation of everything in which Hal, as royal heir to the throne, is not meant to indulge. He is Hal's key to a materialistic world of pleasures of the flesh and gives Hal a new identity as a "mad-cap". However Falstaff, who is involved with criminal activity, relies on Hal's link to the throne. Falstaff says: " When thou art king let us not that are squires of the night's body be called thieves of the days" beauty." Here, he is presumptiously hoping that Hal will let him escape legal limitations once he is ruler. The superficiality of their acquaintance undermines the true meaning of the word "friendship." It demonstrates that in a society concerned with material possessions and nepotism, a friendship can rarely be devoid of ulterior motives. .
Upon this basis it would seem that the two men have an equally weighted friendship. However Shakespeare assures the reader early on that Hal certainly has the upper hand. He identifies Falstaff's priorities immediately when he says " Unless hours were cups of sack (Spanish white whine) and minutes capons (roast chickens) and clocks the tongues of bawds (prostitutes) and the blessed sun himself a fair hot wench I see no reason why thou shouldst demand the time of day." His purpose here is to keep Falstaff on his toes. Later on, Falstaff asks of Hal "Do not when thou art king hang a thief," referring to himself as the "thief". However Hal reponds with the ambiguous response of "No, thou shalt," leading Falstaff to believe that Hal will have him made a judge ("By the Lord, I"ll be a brave judge!").
