DRAMATIS PERSONE. King Richard II. Edmund of Langley, Duke of York; Uncles to the King. Henry, surnamed Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford, Son to John of Gaunt; afterwards King Henry IV. Duke of Aumerle, Son to the Duke of York. Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk. Duke of Surry. Earl of Salisbury. Earl Berkley. Bushy, Bagot, Creatures to King Richard. Green, Earl of Northumberland: Henry Percy, his Son. Lord Ross. Lord Willoughby. Lord Fitzwater. 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. [caster, K. Rich. OLD John of Gaunt, time-honour'd LanHast 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, rage deaf as the sea, hasty as fire. In Re-enter Attendants, with BOLINGBROKE and Boling. May many years of happy days befal 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.- Tendering the precious safety of my prince, What my tongue speaks, my right-drawn sword may prove. Nor. Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal : "Tis not the trial of a woman's war, The bitter clamour of two eager tongues, From giving reins and spurs to my free speech; I do defy him, and I spit at him; Call him a slanderous coward, and a villain : Where ever Englishman durst set his foot. [gage, Boling. Pale trembling coward, there I throw my Which fear, not reverence, makes thee to except: Or chivalrous design of knightly trial: If I be traitor, or unjustly fight! [charge? K. Rich. What doth our cousin lay to Mowbray's It must be great, that can inherit us [true;— Boling. Look, what I speak my life shall prove it That Mowbray hath receiv'd eight thousand nobles, In name of lendings for your highness' soldiers; The which he hath detain'd 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 survey'd 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. Sluic'd out his innocent soul through streams of blood: K. Rich. How high a pitch his resolution soars!— K. Rich. Mowbray, impartial are our eyes and ears: Nor. Then, Bolingbroke, as low as to thy heart, For that my sovereign liege was in my debt, Upon remainder of a dear account, Since last I went to France to fetch his queen: Now swallow down that lie.For Gloster's death, I slew him not; but, to my own disgrace, Neglected my sworn duty in that case. For you, my noble lord of Lancaster, |