The reception of Machiavelli’s writings in early modern England was, to a large extent, marked by reductions and distortions. Under the name of “Machiavel” or “Machevill” we encounter the stereotype and caricature-like figure of a scrupulous and deceitful villain ready for any kind of violence and murder. In Shakespeare’s dramatic protagonists and their actions, however, we also find a more differentiated appropriation of Machiavelli’s political thought. In particular, the ‚Henry IV‘ plays and ‚Henry V‘ reveal a prudent and realistic approach to power which closely mirrors Machiavelli’s analytical insights.