Dramatis Personæ.
KING Richard the Second.
Duke of York,
John of Gaunt

, Duke of Lancafler, } 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,

Servants to King Richard.
Green,
Fery of some real worthumberland, Friends to Boling-
Ross,

broke, Willoughby, Bishop of Carlisle,

G

}

Sir Stephen Scroop, } Friends to King Richard.

Fitzwater,
Surry,

Abbot of Westminster,
Sir Pierce of Exton,

Lords in the Parliament,

Queen to King Richard.
Dutchess of Gloucefter.
Dutchess of York.
Ladies, attending on the Queen.
Heralds, two Gardiners, Keeper, Messenger, Groom,

and other Attendants.

SCENE, dispersedly, in several Parts of England.

(1) The LIFE and DEATH of KING RICHARD II.

ACT I.

SCENE, the COURT.

Enter King Richard, John of Gaunt, with other
Nobles and Attendants.

King RICHARD.

LD John of Gaunt, time-honour'd Lancafter,

Haft thou, according to thy oath and bond,

Brought hither Henry Hereford thy bold fon,

(1) The Life and Death of King Richard II.] But this Hiftory comprizes little more than the Two laft Years of this unand fortunate 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.

HE

A 3

Here

Here to make good the boift'rous 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, haft thou founded him,
If he appeal the Duke on ancient malice,
Or worthily, as a good Subject should,
On fome known ground of treachery in him?

Gaunt. As near as I could fift him on that argument,
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 selves will hear
Th' accufer, and th' accufed freely speak:
High-ftomach'd are they Both, and full of ire;
In rage, deaf as the fea; hafty as fire.

Enter Bolingbroke and Mowbray.

Boling. May many years of happy days befall 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 Treason.
Coufin of Hereford, what doft thou object
Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray?

Boling. First (Heaven be the record to my speech!}
In the devotion of a Subject's love,
Tend'ring the precious fafety of my Prince,
And free from other mif-begotten hate,
Come I Appellant to this princely presence.
Now, Thomas Mowbray, do I turn to thee,
And mark my Greeting well; for what I fpeak,.
My body fhall make good upon this earth,
Or my divine foul answer it in heav'n.
Thou art a traitor and a miscreant;
Too good to be fo, and too bad to live;
Since, the more fair and crystal is the Sky,

The