This Is History: A Dynasty to Die For

Season 8, Episode 2: "Whack a Mole"

Date: September 23, 2025
Host: Dan Jones
Summary by Podcast Summarizer

Main Theme

This episode delves into the tumultuous early 1400s, focusing on the struggles of Henry IV to maintain his grip on the English throne amid endless rebellions, plots, and his own failing health. Dan Jones highlights how divine intervention and superstition colored royal actions and the fate of kingdoms, centering on the near-miraculous recovery of Prince Henry of Monmouth (the future Henry V) and the brutal consequences of Henry IV's relentless suppression of dissent.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Prince Henry’s Miraculous Survival and Pilgrimage

• [02:16] The episode opens with Prince Henry of Monmouth surviving a horrific arrow wound to the face at the Battle of Shrewsbury and recovering after surgery by John Bradmore.
• [03:10] Henry’s survival is seen as divinely ordained—"It's like God wants him alive for some reason"—prompting his pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral to give thanks at Thomas Becket’s tomb and then on to the shrine of the Virgin Mary at Walsingham.

2. Medieval and Modern Views of Divine Intervention

• [05:08] The episode explores the question, “How much does God interfere in human affairs?”
• Dan Jones draws modern parallels: "Sometimes we're maybe a little bit more like medieval people than we imagine. Watch a soccer match and you'll see players sign themselves with the cross…"
• The narrative sets the medieval worldview as very present, where rulers and their subjects read divine messages in success, survival, and suffering.

3. Henry IV’s Growing Burdens

• [07:51] After seizing the throne, Henry IV finds himself under siege—not just from external enemies but from the constant threat of rebellion and conspiracy.
• Problems include:
  • Welsh Uprising led by Owain Glyndŵr—Henry IV must rely on Prince Henry to suppress the rebellion.
  • Irish Troubles—Henry’s second son, Thomas, is dispatched to restore order but fails.
  • Scottish Aggression and rumors that Scotland is harboring the supposedly dead Richard II.
  • The Percy Family—especially the Earl of Northumberland, remain a constant, dangerous presence in the north, untouchable but potentially treacherous.

4. The "Whack a Mole" of Rebellion

• [10:53] The king’s endless battle against plots: “There are so many attempts on Henry's throne, in fact, that he'd be forgiven for thinking that someone has it in for him… It's like whack a mole out there.”

5. Ruthless Punishments and the Rise of Tension

• [13:51] William Searle’s gruesome execution for plotting to restore a “fake Richard II” is detailed as a chilling warning to others, though it fails to deter future plots.
• [15:24] An attempted escape of the Mortimer boys, high-value royal prisoners, and the imprisonment and decapitation of collaborators show the regime’s desperation and rising brutality.

6. The York Rebellion and Ecclesiastical Bloodshed

• [17:20] Archbishop Richard Scrope’s uprising in York marks a pivotal escalation:
  • Scrope’s sermons call out the king’s excessive taxation and a corrupt court:
    • “For this condemnation to be coming from Scroop, well, that's a kick in the balls. In fact, it's a headbutt in the balls with a pokey door, the eye for good measure.” [Dan Jones, 17:57]
  • The city of York is in turmoil with 8,000 men and women rising up.
  • King Henry responds with uncharacteristic severity by luring Scrope and Thomas Mowbray out under safe passage, arresting, and beheading them in front of the citizens—an act shocking for targeting a senior churchman.

7. The Consequences of Royal Brutality

• [22:17] Prince Henry besieges Berwick Castle, successfully taking it with cannon—demonstrating not only new military technology but also psychological warfare.
• [23:52] Meanwhile, King Henry is beset by nightmarish illness after Scrope’s execution—suffering hallucinations and pustules:
  • “The king wakes up in the middle of the night, screaming in terror… his whole body is covered in rank pustules which stand out of his skin like nipples.” [Dan Jones, 24:09]
• [25:23] Dan Jones muses on whether this is divine retribution for executing an archbishop: “Chopping off an archbishop's head is a pretty spicy way to test the patience of the Almighty.”

8. Prince Henry’s Rise and Transfer of Power

• [26:36] Despite his father’s decline, Prince Henry is dispatched to Wales as "Lieutenant for the whole principality," gaining real authority at age 19.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On medieval divine thinking and superstition:

  • "The Middle Ages may not be so far away as we think." — Dan Jones [05:46]

• Describing the endless plots against Henry IV:

  • "It's like whack a mole out there." — Dan Jones [11:27]
  • "At the end of all this, Searle is going to be disemboweled and beheaded at the Tower of London. You might think this sort of grisly display would put people off rebelling, but it doesn’t." — Dan Jones [14:12]

• On executing Archbishop Scrope:

  • "As piping hot crocks of shit go, this is right up with the best of them. And Henry IV finally loses his rag." — Dan Jones [17:53]
  • “It’s absolutely shocking, but King Henry has had enough. Scroop and his mob can file this one under F around and find out.” — Dan Jones [20:56]
  • “Chopping off an archbishop's head is a pretty spicy way to test the patience of the Almighty.” — Dan Jones [25:23]

• On Henry IV’s afflictions after Scrope’s execution:

  • “The king's whole body is covered in rank pustules which stand out of his skin like nipples… If you've heard our miniseries the Glass King, you'll know that kings having mad attacks of delusion and physical pain in this age can make their subjects kind of twitchy.” — Dan Jones [24:14]

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:16] Prince Henry’s recovery and pilgrimage
• [05:08] Theme: God’s role in human affairs
• [07:51] State of England and Henry IV’s challenges
• [10:53] Introduction of "Whack a Mole" idea
• [13:51] Grisly punishment of William Searle
• [17:20] Archbishop Scrope’s sermon and rebellion
• [20:47] Beheading of Scrope and Mowbray
• [22:17] Prince Henry’s siege of Berwick
• [23:52] Henry IV’s illness post-Scrope execution
• [26:36] Prince Henry made effective ruler in Wales

Discussion Starter

At the episode's conclusion, Dan Jones poses a question to listeners:

"If you were in Henry IV's position, would you be a little bit superstitious? After all, you're testing God's wrath in the medieval period and you've just whacked a man with a hotline to God." [27:35]

He encourages joining the discussion on Patreon.

Tone and Style

Dan Jones employs an engaging, informal tone—mixing vivid, sometimes irreverent descriptions with historical context and dark humor. Quotes are often colorful and memorable, making the medieval world feel at once alien and relevant.

For Listeners New and Old

This episode is a grim portrait of royal paranoia, cyclical revolt, and the increasingly personal cost of kingship. It juxtaposes physical and spiritual health, not only for Henry IV but for the very regime, culminating in the rise of Henry V—a king apparently chosen and tested by fate or God, depending on one’s point of view.

For further discussion and historical deep-dives, visit the official Patreon: patreon.com/thisishistory