with rose vp, and sayd to the king, that where the duke of Aumarle excuseth himself of the duke of Gloucesters death, I say (quoth he) that he was the very cause of his death, and so hee appealed him of treason, offring by throwing downe his hoode as a gage to proue it with his bodie. There were .xx. other Lordes also that threw downe their hoodes, as pledges to proue ye like matter against the duke of Aumarle.

'The Duke of Aumarle threwe downe hys hoode to trie it agaynst the Lorde FitzWater, as agaynst him that lyed falsly, in that hee charged him with, by that his appeale. These gages were deliuered to the Conestable and Marshal of England, and the parties put vnder arrest.

'The duke of Surrey stood vp also agaynst the L. Fitzwater, auouching that where he had sayd that the appellants were cause of ye duke of Gloucesters death, it was false, for they were constreyned to sue the same appeale, in like maner as the sayd Lorde Fitz Water was compelled to gyue iudgement against the duke of Glocester, and the Earle of Arundell, so that the suing of the appeale was done by cohertion, and if he sayd contrary he lied: and therwith he threw down his hood.

'The Lorde Fitz Water answered herevnto, that he was not present in the Parliament house when iudgement was giuen against them, and al the Lordes bare witnesse thereof.

'Morouer, where it was alledged that the duke of Aumarle should send two of his seruants vnto Calais, to murther the duke of Gloucester, ye sayd duke of Aumarle said, that if the duke of Norffolk affyrme it, he lyed falsly, and that he would proue with his bodie, throwing downe an other hoode which he had borowed.

'The same was likewise deliuered to the Conestable and Marshall of England, and the king licenced the Duke of Norffolke to returne, that hee might arraigne his appeale.' (pp. 1122, 1123.)

The speech of the Bishop of Carlisle was delivered on the Wednesday next after these events, and under the circumstances mentioned in the note on iv. 1. 114. The following

is Holinshed's version of it: 'Wherevpon the Bishop of Carleil, a man both learned, wise, & stoute of stomacke, boldly shewed forth his opinion concerning that demaunde, affyrming that there was none amongst them worthie or meete to giue iudgement vpon so noble a prince as king Richard was, whom they had taken for their soueraigne and liege Lorde, by the space of .xxij. yeares and more, and I assure you (sayd he) there is not so ranke a traytor, nor so errant a theef, nor yet so cruell a murtherer apprehended or deteyned in prison for his offence, but hee shall be brought before the Iustice to heare his iudgement, and ye will proceede to the iudgement of an annoynted K. hearing neither his answere nor excuse: and I say, that the duke of Lancaster whom ye cal king, hath more trespassed to king Ric. and his realme, than king Richard hath done either to him, or to vs: for it is manifest and well knowne, that the Duke was banished the realme by king Richard and his counsayle, and by the iudgement of hys owne father, for the space of tenne yeres, for what cause ye know, and yet without licence of King Richard, he is returned againe into the Realme, and that is worse, hath taken vpon him, the name, tytle, and preheminence of a King. And therefore I say, that yee haue done manifest wrong, to proceede in anye thing agaynst king Richarde, without calling him openly to his auns were and defence.

'As soone as the Bishop had ended this tale, he was attached by the Earle Marshal, & committed to warde in the Abbey of S. Albons.' (p. 1123.)

The passages on which the last five scenes of the fifth act are founded are quoted in the Notes.

Our references to other plays of Shakespeare are made to the Globe Edition, except in the case of the Notes to the Merchant of Venice, separately edited as one of the present series.

TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE,
November, 1868.

W. G. CLARK.

W. A. WRIGHT.

Enter KING RICHARD, JOHN OF GAUNT, with other Nobles and Attendants.

K. Richard. Old John of Gaunt, time-honour'd Lancaster, Hast 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. Richard. 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?

B

ΙΟ

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. Richard. Then call them to our presence; face to face, And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear The accuser and the accused freely speak: High-stomach'd are they both and full of ire, In rage deaf as the sea, hasty as fire.

Enter BOLINGBROKE and MOWBRAY.

Bolingbroke. Many years of happy days befal
My gracious sovereign, my most loving liege !
Mowbray. Each day still better other's happiness;
Until the heavens, envying earth's good hap,

Add an immortal title to your crown!

20

K. Richard. 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.

Cousin of Hereford, what dost thou object

Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray ?

Bolingbroke. First, heaven be the record to my speech! In the devotion of a subject's love,

Tendering the precious safety of my prince,
And free from other misbegotten hate,
Come I appellant to this princely presence.
Now, Thomas Mowbray, do I turn to thee,
And mark my greeting well; for what I speak
My body shall make good upon this earth,
Or my divine soul answer it in heaven.
Thou art a traitor and a miscreant,
Too good to be so and too bad to live,
Since the more fair and crystal is the sky,
The uglier seem the clouds that in it fly.
Once more, the more to aggravate the note,
With a foul traitor's name stuff I thy throat;
And wish, so please my sovereign, ere I move,

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40

What my tongue speaks my right drawn sword may prove.

Mowbray. 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,
Can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain;

The blood is hot that must be cool'd for this:
Yet can I not of such tame patience boast
As to be hush'd and nought at all to say:

First, the fair reverence of your highness curbs me
From giving reins and spurs to my free speech;
Which else would post until it had return'd
These terms of treason doubled down his throat.
Setting aside his high blood's royalty,

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:
Which to maintain I would allow him odds,
And meet him, were I tied to run afoot
Even to the frozen ridges of the Alps,
Or any other ground inhabitable,
Where ever Englishman durst set his foot.
Mean time let this defend my loyalty,
By all my hopes, most falsely doth he lie.

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Boling. Pale trembling coward, there I throw my gage,
Disclaiming here the kindred of the king,
And lay aside my high blood's royalty,

Which fear, not reverence, makes thee to except.
If guilty dread have left thee so much strength
As to take up mine honour's pawn, then stoop:
By that and all the rites of knighthood else,
Will I make good against thee, arm to arm,
What I have spoke, or thou canst worse devise.

Mowbray. I take it up; and by that sword I swear,
Which gently laid my knighthood on my shoulder,
I'll answer thee in any fair degree,

Or chivalrous design of knightly trial:
And when I mount, alive may I not light,
If I be traitor or unjustly fight!

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