KING Richard the Second. Duke of York, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, 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. Surry. Abbot of Westminster. Queen to King Richard. Dutchess of Gloucefter. 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 than the first Folio, are, I. 4to, by Valentine Simmes, for Andrew Wife, 1598, of which I have a collation by Mr. Theobald. II. 4to, for Mathew Law, 1615, from which the firft Folio was printed. The LIFE and DEATH of KING RICHARD II. ACT I. SCENE 1. The COURT. Enter King Richard, John of Gaunt, with other Nobles and Attendants. O' 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 appealing 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 seen in him Aim'd at your Highness; no invet'rate malice. K. Rich. Then call them to our prefence; face to face, And frowning brow to brow. Our felves will hear SCENE II. Enter Bolingbroke and Mowbray. Boling. May many years of happy days befal My gracious Sovereign, my moft loving Liege! Mowb. Each day ftill better other's happiness; Until the heavens, envying earth's good hap, Add an immortal title to your Crown! 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 Treafon. Tend'ring the precious fafety of my Prince, Του Too good to be fo, and too bad to live; may prove. Mowb. Let not my cold words here accufe my zeal; 'Tis not the tryal of a woman's war, The bitter clamour of two eager tongues, First, the fair Rev'rence of your Highnefs curbs me, And let him be no kinfman to my Leige, Call him a fland'rous coward, and a villain ; Boling, Pale trembling Coward, there I throw my Difclaiming here the kindred of a King, And lay afide my high blood's Royalty, Which fear, not rev rence, makes thee to except. As to take up mine Honour's pawn, then stoop; Mowb. I take it up, and by that Sword I swear, Which gently laid my Knighthood on my fhoulder, I'll answer thee in any fair degree, 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 fhall prove it true; That Mowbray hath receiv'd eight thousand nobles, Fetch from falfe Mowbray their firft head and spring. Upon his bad Life to make all This good, That he did plot the Duke of Gloucester's death; Suggeft his foon-believing adverfaries; And confequently, like a traitor-coward, Sluic'd out his inn'cent foul through ftreams of blood; K. R.ch. How high a pitch his refolution foars! Tho |