and the two prelates, with the young Prince Aumerle, entered into a secret pla to restore their oppressed monarch to his throne and crown.

Their plans were deeply laid-a tournament was to be held at Oxford, where B.linbroke's death was. meditated, and this was sworn to by nine others in conjunction with Aumerle and the two prelates! But the paper wherein their names were enrolled, and their purpose explained, fell it the hands of the Duke of York, whose ideas of 1 yalty were so great, that in spite of the entreaties of his Duchess, he resolved to sacrifice this his cn'y so, by discovering the plot to the new ki g Aume.le's life,

in consequence, stood in great jeopardy-but the earnest supplications of his distracted mother secured an unconditional pardon from Bolinbroke, though many of the conspirators were condemned to death, and the rest to slighter punishments.

Isabella had suffered the most agonizing anxiety -still in ignorance of the fate of her husband, till seated in an arbour one day with her ladies, who were vainly striving to amuse her, she accidentally overheard the conversation of two gardeners, and from them learned the sad intelligence of Bolinbroke's success, of Richard's misfortunes, and of their progress towards the metropolis. The poor afflicted Queen hastened to London without delay; and there heard that Richard had been compelled to resign the crown-and that it was expected he would be sent to the Tower. Towards the Tower then she hastened, to await the arrival of her hus* band. On his approach, she rushed into his arms, and wept upon his neck! "Ah! my sweet (said Richard), dost thou join with me in grief, to make my end more sudden? we have dreamed, dear wife, and are but now awaked: Hie thee to France, to some lone cloister: our holy lives to come must win us an immortal crown, in lieu of that which our profaner hours have lost us here on earth!"

Isabella looked surprised! "Is this my noble Richard (she exclaimed.) Hath Bolinbroke deposed thine intellect? Why art thou thus weak ? The lion, even when dying, thrusts forth his paw and wounds the earth, if nothing else! And dost thou meet thy fate thus mildly? Thus kiss the rod which scourges thee?"

Richard interrupted her," Forbear, sweet Isabella, Richard will never be himself again: poor shadow, imperfect vestige of what once was noble and kingly now alas! no more. Prepare thee for France, think I am dead, and pass thy life away

lamenting me! thy husband once-now only Richard, a deposed king!"

Isabella, whose love for Richard was rather increased than diminished by his sorrows, refused to leave him; whatever was his fate, she was resolved to share it with him! Alas! poor Queen-tod soon she learned she had not the liberty of choice. Northumberland brought the mandate of Bolinbroke, that Richard was to be immediately conveyed to Pomfret Castle, and Isabella to France. Though Richard had proposed to Isabella that she should return to France, he hardly wished she should obey him! his hopes were, that her powerful love would induce her to share his fallen fortunes -and sooth his prison hours with her sweet endearments. Now that hope was cut off, and he was not only to encounter the affliction of losing her, but to have her torn from his arms by the imperious command of an usurping tyrant. "What! (he cried), am 1 to be

Doubly divorced ?-Bad men, ye viclate

A twofold marriage; 'twixt my crown and me;
And then betwixt me, and my married wife
Let me unkiss the oath 'twixt thee and me;
And yet not so, for with a kiss 'twas made.
Part us, Northumberland! I towards the north,
Where shivering cold and sickness pines the clime.
My wife t. France; from whence, set forth in pomp,
She came adorned hither like sweet May,
Sent back like Hallowmas or shortest day.***

The Queen en

Afflicting was their parting. treated she might be permitted to share her husband's captivity, or that they might be banished together be exiles in a distant land, so that they might not be separated. She cast herself at Northumberland's feet; she grasped his hand and implored his compassion. (6 Behold, Northumberland (cried the lovely pleader), behold a queen kisses the earth beneath thy feet and imples thy pity"

let Bolinbroke take crown, take kingdom, all ; I yield them to his grasp-but give me Richard, give me my husband, let Isabella share his fate, be it to sit within a gloomy prison's walls, or wander forth unsheltered, to brave the war of elements; oh! any war, better than that which severs the body from the soul. Be Richard and Isabella one, and all the wide extended earth we leave to Bolinbroke."

Poor Isabella pleaded in vain ; Northumberland's heart felt no touch of pity, and imperiously he commanded them instantly to separate. They clung around each other, sighed, and wept, and kissed, embraced, and tore themselves asunder, and then again embraced, till at length, Isabella fainted. Richard now gazed in silent speechless anguish on the beauteous and inanimate form he was never again to behold! She was borne from him, and he bent his sad way to Pomfre, there to be consigned to a living tomb.

Shut out from every communication, he had no opportunities of gaining friends; yet some few busy spirits were active in his cause. Many factions were formed; too weak indeed to be of service to Richard, yet unfortunately strong enough to disturb the tranquility of Heury; who, one day, in the hearing of Sir Peirce of Exton, happening to say, peevishly, "Have I no friend will rid me of this liv ing fear Sir Peirce thought proper to consider it as a hint given to himself, and even to imagine the king's eyes were wistfully turned on him as he spoke. Hoping to pave the way to his own advancement, by thus serving the king, he hastened to Pomfret; where, with his servants armed, he rudely forced himself into the presence of Richard, and offered him some insult, which excited the fallen nonarch's resentment. Richard, whose personal valor was great, though his mind was feeble, snatched a sword from one of Exton's attendants, with

which he fought bravely and killed two of them; when the treacherous Exton, stealing behind him, clove his head in twain, and he fell lifeless to the ground!

This deed was scarcely performed ere the assas sin repented; but could not recall the blood he had spilt, or re-animate the form he had rendered breathless! Hoping that the high reward of the king would compensate him, he stifled his conscience; and having the body of Richard deposited in a coffin, proceeded to London, where he laid it at the feet of Henry, who, shocked at the enormity of the crime, instead of gracing Exton with rewards, as he had hoped, loaded him with invectives, ordered him to quit his presence for ever, as a monster whom he loathed, and consigned him to the torments of an accusing conscience, as the only reward he merited-as the fate which ever should await on fawning parasites.

Thus hapless Richard fell;—in the full blom
Of life! e'en then, when buoyancy of youth
Might contemplate on scenes of joy and gladness:
Alas! nor joy, nor gladness waited him.
His spring of life was as a teeming year
So full of change, and sad variety,

And mingled season; -overblooming spring
Made wasteful summer-and autumnal blights
A dreary winter brought, or ere its time;
Affliction's nipping frosts, with chill advance
Upon his May of life untimely trod,
Ushering a premature Dereiber.

So young to die! while yet his prime of blood,
Like the full foaming tide, flowed through his veins.

Nor silver hair upon his polished brow;"

Nor any mark of natural decay,

To indicate death's awful hour as near

Or mark him an expected visitor.

Hard fate-But yet the hand of Heaven guides all,

And guides to some good end-thongh oftentimes
To human thought incomprehensible;

Yet this important moral stands confess'd;
To act in all things by our wisdom's strength:
Nor mar the gifts of heaven by evi' deeds,