KING Richard the Second. Duke of York, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, } Uncles to the King. Bolingbroke, Son to John of Gaunt, afterwards King Henry the Fourth. Aumerle, Son to the Duke of York. Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk. Earl of Salisbury. Lord Berkley. Bushy, Bagot,} Green, Servants to King Richard. Earl of Northumberland. Percy, Son to Northumberland. Willoughby. Bishop of Carlifle. Sir Stephen Scroop. Surry. Abbot of Westminster. Queen to King Richard: Dutchefs of Gloucester. Ladies, attending on the Queen. Heralds, two Gardiners, Keeper, Messenger, Groom, and other Attendants. SCENE, difperfedly, in feveral Parts of England. Of this the Editions, earlier I have a collation by Mr. Theothan the first Folio, are, bald I. 4to, by Valentine Simmes, for Andrew Wife, 1598, of which II. 4to, for Mathew Law, 1615, from which the firft Folio was printed. The LIFE and DEATH of KING RICHARD II. A C T I. SCENE 1. The COURT. Enter King Richard, John of Gaunt, with other Nobles and Attendants. Ο King RICHAR D. LD John of Gaunt, time-honour'd Lancaster, Haft thou, according to thy oath and bond, Brought hither Henry Hereford thy bold fon, Here to make good the boift'rous late Appeal, Which then our leifure would not let us hear, Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray? Gaunt. I have, my liege. K. Rich. Tell me moreover, haft thou founded him, The Life and Death of King Richard II.] But this Hiftory comprizes little more than the Two laft Years of this Prince. The Action of the Drama begins with Bolingbroke's appeal ing the Duke of Norfolk, on an Accufation of high Treafon, which fell out in the Year 1398; and it clofes with the Murder of King Richard at Pomfret-Caftle towards the End of the Year 1400, or the Beginning of the enfuing Year. THEOBALD. If he appeal the Duke on ancient malice, ment, On fome apparent Danger feen in him Aim'd at your Highnefs; no invet'rate malice. K. Rich. Then call them to our prefence; face to face, And frowning brow to brow. Our felves will hear Enter Bolingbroke and Mowbray. Boling. May many years of happy days befal K. Rich. We thank you both, yet one but flatters us, As well appeareth by the cause you come ; Namely, t'appeal each other of high Treason. Tend'ring the precious fafety of my Prince, Too Too good to be fo, and too bad to live; may prove. Mowb. Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal; 'Tis not the tryal of a woman's war, The bitter clamour of two eager tongues, Can arbitrate this caufe betwixt us twain; The blood is hot, that must be cool'd for this. First, the fair Rev'rence of your Highness curbs me, Call him a fland'rous coward, and a villain; * Where never Englishman durft fet his foot. Boling. Pale trembling Coward, there I throw my Disclaiming here the kindred of a King, Which fear, not rev rence, makes thee to except. 2 Right-drawn.] Drawn in right or just Caufe. *Inhabitable.] That is, not habitable, uninhabitable. As to take up mine Honour's pawn, then stoop; Or chivalrous defign of knightly tryal; K. Rich. What doth our Coufin fay to Mowbray's charge? It must be great, that can inherit us So much as of a thought of Ill in him. Boling. Look, what I faid, my life shall prove it true; That Mowbray hath receiv'd eight thoufand nobles, Fetch from falfe Mowbray their firft head and fpring. Upon his bad Life to make all This good, That he did plot the Duke of Gloucester's death; And confequently, like a traitor-coward, Sluic'd out his inn'cent foul through streams of blood; K. Rich. How high a pitch his refolution foars! |