HISTORICAI. NOTICE

OF

KING RICHARD II.

This play comprises little more than the last two years of the reign of Richard II. The action of the drama commences with Bolingbroke's challenge to Mowbray, duke of Norfolk, on an accusation of high treason, which took place in 1398, and it concludes with the murder of King Richard at Pomfret castle towards the end of 1400, or the beginning of the following year. Holinshed furnished the facts which the poet dramatised: the speech of the bishop of Carlisle in favor of Richard's divine right, and exemption from human jurisdiction, is copied, almost verbatim, from that old historian.

The year 1593 is the date assigned by Malone to the production of this drama, which was printed four times during the life-time of our author; the first two editions appearing in 1597 and 1598, without the scene of the deposition, which was first appended in 1608. The next impression was that of 1615.

'This play,' says Dr. Johnson, is one of those which Shakspeare has apparently revised; but as suc

cess in works of invention is not always proportionate to labor, it is not finished at last with the happy force of some other of his tragedies, nor can be said much to affect the passions, or enlarge the understanding.'

ARGUMENT.

Henry Bolingbroke, eldest son of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, accuses Mowbray, duke of Norfolk, of high treason, and, in confirmation of his assertion, challenges him to single combat, which is eagerly accepted by his opponent. At the appointed time, the combatants enter the lists, and the conflict is about to commence, when the king interposes, and pronounces a sentence of perpetual banishment on Norfolk, while the exile of Bolingbroke is limited to the period of six years. Shortly after the departure of his son, John of Gaunt dies, and his property and estates are unjustly seised by the indigent monarch. Stung by this scandalous act of oppression, Bolingbroke takes advantage of the king's absence in Ireland, and arrives in England, where, by his artful professions of loyalty, together with solemn protestations of circumscribing his views within the reasonable demand of a repeal of his exile and a recovery of his patrimony, he insensibly acquires a power too formidable to be resisted; and the unfortunate Richard is compelled to resign his crown into the hands of his cousin; after which he is confined in Pomfret castle, where he is put to death by the connivance of Bolingbroke.

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PERSONS REPRESENTED.

KING RICHARD THE SECOND.

EDMUND OF LANGLEY, duke of York;

uncles to the king.

JOHN OF GAUNT, duke of Lancaster ;

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.

LORD ROSS. LORD WILLOUGHBY. LORD FITZWATER.

BISHOP OF CARLISLE. ABBOT OF WESTMINSTER.

LORD MARSHAL; and another Lord.

SIR PIERCE OF EXTON, SIR STEPHEN SCROOP.

Captain of a band of Welshmen.

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.