KING RICHARD the Second. Duke of YORK, JOHN of Gaunt, Duke of Lancafter, Uncles to the King. BOLINGBROKE, Earl of Hereford, Son to John of Gaunt, afterwards King Henry the Fourth. AUMERLE, Son to the Duke of York. MOWBRAY, Duke of Norfolk, Earl of SALISBURY. Earl of BARKLEY, BUSHY, BAGOT, GREEN, } Servants to King Richard. Friends to Bolingbroke, Earl of NORTHUMBERLAND, PERCY, Sonto Northumberland, Ross, WILLOUGHBY, Bishop of CARLISLE, Sir STEPHEN SCROOP, Friends to King Richard. FITZWATER, SURREY, Abbot of WESTMINSTER, Sir PIERCE of Exton, one of Bolingbroke's Creatures. A Captain of a band of Welshmen. QUEEN to King Richard. Duchefs of GLOUCESTER. Dutchess of YORK. Ladies attending on the Queen. Heralds, two Gardiners, Keeper, Messenger, and other Attendants. SCENE, ENGLAND. THE THE LIFE and DEATH OF King RICHARD II. ACT I. SCENE I. The COURT. Enter King Richard, John of Gaunt, with other Nobles K. Rich. O and Attendants. LD John of Gaunt, time-honour'd Lazcafter, 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, If he appeal the Duke on ancient malice, Or worthily, as a good fubject should, On fome known ground of treachery in him? Gaunt. As near as I could fift him on that argument, On fome apparent danger feen in him Aim'd at your Highness; no invet'rate malice. K, Ricbe K. Rich. Then call them to our prefence; face to face, And frowning brow to brow, our felves will hear Th' accufer, and th' accufed freely fpeak: High-ftomach'd are they both, and full of ire: In rage, deaf as the fea; hafty as fire. SCENE X. Enter Bolingbroke and Mowbray. Boling. May many years of happy days befal My gracious Sovereign, my moft loving Liege! Mob. Each day ftill better others 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, Tend'ring the precious fafety of my Prince, Thou art a traitor and a mifcreant. * 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 cause betwixt us twain; The blood is hot that must be cool'd for this. ...a mifcreant. Too good to be fo, and too bad to live. What my tongue fpeaks, my right drawn fword may prove Firk Firft the fair rev'rence of your Highness curbs me Call him a flanderous coward, and a villain; Boling. Pale trembling coward, there I throw my gage, Difclaiming here the kindred of a King, And lay afide my high blood's royalty, Or chivalrous defign of knightly tryal; And when I mount, alive may I not light, If I be traitor, or unjustly fight! K. Rich. What doth our coufin lay 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, In name of lendings for your Highness' foldiers, The which he hath detain'd for lewd imployments; Like a falfe traitor and injurious villain. Befides, I fay, and will in battel prove, Or here, or elsewhere, to the furtheft verge VOL. IV. That |