THE LIFE

AND DEATH OF KING RICHARD II.

But this history comprises little more than the two last years of this prince. The action of the drama begins with Bolingbroke's appealing the duke of Norfolk, on an accusation of high treason, which fell out in the year 1398; and it closes with the murder of king Richard at Pomfret-castle towards the end of the year 1400, or the beginning of the ensuing year.

Persons Represented.

King Richard the Second.

Edmund of Langley, duke of York;
John of Gannd, duke of Lancaster;

uncles to the

king.

Henry, surnamed Bolingbroke, duke of Hereford, som to John of Gaunt; afterwards King Henry IV.

Duke of Aumerle, son to the duke of York.
Mowbray, duke of Norfolk.

Duke of Surrey.

Earl of Salisbury. Earl Berkley.

Bushy,

Bagot,

Green,

creatures to king Richard.

Earl of Northumberland:

Henry Percy, his son.

Lord Rofs. Lord Willoughby. Lord Fitzwater.
Bishop of Carlisle. Abbot of Westminster.
Lord Marshal; and another lord.

Sir Pierce of Exton. Sir Stephen Scroop.
Captain of a band of Welchmen.

Queen to king Richard.,

Dutchefs of Gloster.

Dutchess of York.

Lady, attending on the Queen.

Lords, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, two gardeners, keeper, messenger, groom, and other attendants.

SCENE, dispersedly, in England and Wales.

Enter king RICHARD, attended; John of GAUNT, and other nobles, with him.

K. Rich. Old John of Gaunt, time-honour'd

Lancaster,

Hast thou, according to thy oath and band, Brought hither, Henry Hereford thy bold son; Here to make good the boisterous late appeal, Which then our leisure would not let us hear, Against the duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray? Gaunt. I have, my liege.

K. Rich, Tell me moreover, hast thou sounded him,

If he appeal the duke on ancient malice;
Or worthily, as a good subject should,
On some known ground of treachery in him?

Gaunt. As near as I could sift him on that argument,

On some apparent danger seen in him,

Aim'd at your highness, no inveterate malice.
K. Rich. Then call them to our presence; face
to face,

And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear
The accuser, and the accused, freely speak: —
[Exeunt some Attendants]
High-stomach'd are they both, and full of ire,
In rage deaf as the sea, hasty as fire...

Re-enter Attendants, with BOLINGBROKE and
NORFOLK.

Baling. Many years of happy days befal My gracious sovereign, my most loving liege! Nor. Each day still 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, to appeal each other of high treason. Cousin of Hereford, what dost thou object Against the duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mow

.bray?

Boling. First, (heaven be the record to my speech!)

In the devotion of a subject's love,"
Tendering the precious safety of my prince,
And free from other misbegotten hate,
Come I appellant to this princely presence.
Now, Thomas Mowbray, do I turn to thee,
And mark my greeting well; for what I speak,
My body shall make good upon this earth,
Or my divine soul answer it in heaven.
Thou art a traitor, and a miscreant;
Too good to be so, and too had to live;