the proceeding against Merick, which is printed in the State Trials, Vol. VII. p. 60, the matter is stated thus: "The story of Henry IV. being set forth in a play, and in that play, there being set forth the killing of the king upon the stage; the Friday before, Sir Gilly Merick and some others of the earl's train having an humour to see a play, they must needs have The Play of HENRY IV. The players told them that was stale; they should get nothing by playing that; but no play else would serve: and Sir Gilly Merick gives forty shillings to Philips the player to play this, besides whatsoever he could get." Augustine Philippes was one of the patentees of the Globe playhouse with Shakspeare, in 1603; but the play here described was certainly not Shakspeare's HENRY IV. as that commences above a year after the death of Richard. TYRWHITT. This play of Shakspeare was first entered at Stationers' Hall by Andrew Wise, Aug 29, 1597. STEEVENS. It was written, I imagine, in the same year. MALONE. King Richard the Second. Edmund of Langley, Duke of York; Uncles to the 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 Surrey. Earl of Salisbury. Earl Berkley.* Bushy, Bagot, Green, Creatures to King Richard. Earl of Northumberland: Henry Percy, his Son. Lord Ross.3 Lord Willoughby. Lord Fitzwater. Bishop of Carlisle. Abbot of Westminster. Lord Marshal; and another Lord. Sir Pierce of Exton. Sir Stephen Scroop. Queen to King Richard. Duchess of Gloster. Lady attending on the Queen. Lords, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, Two Gardeners, Keeper, Messenger, Groom, and other Attendants. SCENE, dispersedly in England and Wales. Duke of Aumerle,] Aumerle, or Aumale, is the French for what we now call Albemarle, which is a town in Normandy. The old historians generally use the French title. STEEVENS. Earl Berkley.] It ought to be Lord Berkley. There was no Earl Berkley till some ages after. STEEVENS. 3 Lord Ross.] Now spelt Roos, one of the Duke of Rutland's titles. STEEVENS. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF 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. K. Rich. Old John of Gaunt, time-honour'd Lancaster, Hast thou, according to thy oath and band,1 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 thy oath and band,] i. e. bond. The accuser, and the accused, freely speak:- Re-enter Attendants, with BOLINGBROKE and Boling. May many years of happy days befal K. Rich. We thank you both: yet one but flat ters us, As well appeareth by the cause you come; In the devotion of a subject's love, Or my Tendering the precious safety of my prince, may prove. 2 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, The blood is hot, that must be cool'd for this, And let him be no kinsman to my liege, I do defy him, and I spit at him; Call him-a slanderous coward, and a villain: 3 Where ever Englishman durst set his foot. Disclaiming here the kindred of a king; Which fear, not reverence, makes thee to except: -right-drawn-] Drawn in a right or just cause. |