PERSONS REPRESENTED. KING RICHARD THE SECOND. EDMUND of Langley, Duke of York, Uncles to the King. HENRY, surnamed BOLINGBROKE, Duke of Hereford, Duke of Aumerle, Son to the Duke of York. Duke of Surrey. Earl of Salisbury. Earl Berkley. BUSHY, BAGOT, Creatures to King Richard. Earl of Northumberland. HENRY PERCY, his Son. Lord Ross. Lord Willoughby. Lord Fitzwater. Lord Marshal; and another Lord. SIR PIERCE of Exton. SIR STEPHEN SCROOP Queen to King Richard. Duchess of Gloster. Duchess 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. KING RICHARD II. ACT I. SCENE I. London. A Room in the Palace. Enter KING RICHARD, attended; JOHN of GAUNT, and other Nobles with him. King Richard. OLD John of Gaunt, time-honored Lancaster, Hast thou, according to thy oath and band, 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, Aimed 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 stomached are they both, and full of ire, Re-enter Attendants, with BOLINGBROKE and NORFOLK. K. Rich. We thank you both; yet one but flatters us, Tendering the precious safety of my prince, What my tongue speaks, my right-drawn sword may prove. The bitter clamor of two eager tongues, Can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain. The blood is hot that must be cooled for this; I do defy him, and I spit at him; Call him a slanderous coward, and a villain; Boling. Pale, trembling coward, there I throw my gage, Disclaiming here the kindred of the king; And lay aside my high blood's royalty, Or chivalrous design of knightly_trial; And, when I mount, alive may I not light, If I be traitor, or unjustly fight! K. Rich. What doth our cousin 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 speak my life shall prove it true;That Mowbray hath received eight thousand nobles, In name of lendings for your highness' soldiers; The which he hath detained for lewd employments, Like a false traitor, and injurious villain. Besides I say, and will in battle prove,Or here, or elsewhere, to the furthest verge That ever was surveyed by English eye,That all the treasons for these eighteen years Complotted and contrived in this land, Fetch from false Mowbray their first head and spring. Further I say, and further will maintain Upon his bad life, to make all this good, That he did plot the duke of Gloster's death; Suggest his soon-believing adversaries; And, consequently, like a traitor coward, Sluiced out his innocent soul through streams of blood; Even from the tongueless caverns of the earth, K. Rich. How high a pitch his resolution soars! - And bid his ears a little while be deaf, K. Rich. Mowbray, impartial are our eyes and ears. Were he my brother, nay, my kingdom's heir, |