It is evident from a passage in Camden's Anmals, that there was an old play on the subject of Richard the Second; but I know not in what language. Sir Gillie Merick, who was concerned in the hare-brained business of the earl of Essex, who was hanged for it, with the ingenious Cuffe, in 1601, is accused, amongst other things, "quod exoletam tragœdiam de tragica abdicatione regis Ricardi Secundi in publico theatro eorum conjurata data pecunia agi curasset."

I have since met with a passage in my lord Bacon, which proves this play to have been in English. It is in the arraignments of Cuffe and Merick, Vol. IV. p. 412., of Mallet's edition: "The afternoon before the rebellion, Merick, with a great companie of others, that afterwards were all in the action, had procured to be played before them the play of deposing King Richard the Second; when it was told him by one of the players, that the play was old, and they should have loss in playing it, because few would come to it, there was forty shillings extraordinary given to play, and so thereupon played it was."

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It may be worth enquiring, whether some of he rhyming parts of the present play, which Mr. Pope thought of a different hand, might not De borrowed from the old one. Certainly, however, the general tendency of it must have een very different; since, as Dr. Johnson observes there are some expressions in this of Shakspeare, which strongly inculcate the docrine of indefeasible right. FARMER.

Bacon elsewhere glances at the same transaction; "And for your comparison with Richrd II., I see you follow the example of them hat brought him upon the stage, and into print

in queen Elizabeth's time." Works, Vol. IV. p. 278. The partisans of Essex had, therefore, procured the publication as well as the acting of this play. HOLT WHITE.

It is probable, I think, that the play which Sir Gilly Merick procured to be represented, bore the title of HENRY IV. and not of RICHARD II.

Camden calls it "exoletam tragediam de tragica abdicatione regis Ricardi secundi;” and Lord Bacon (in his account of The effect of that which passed at the arraignment of Merick and others, says: "that the afternoon before the rebellion, Merick had procured to be played before them, the play of deposing King Richard the Second." But in a more particular account of the proceeding against Merick, which is printed in the State Trials, Vol. VII. p. 60. the matter in 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 TYRRWHITT.

This play of Shakspeare was first entered at Stationer's Hall by Andrew Wise, Aug. 29, 1597. STEEVENS.

Mr. Malone thinks that this play was written in 1593, that it was Shakspeare's first tragic performance, and is as manifestly his production as his more highly wrought and finished pieces. Mr. M. wonders that Dr. Farmer should give any countenance to the idle notion entertained by Mr. Pope, that "some of the rhyming parts in this tragedy were of a different hand."

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,
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
If he appeal the duke on ancient malice;
Or worthily, as a good subject should,

[him,

(ment,

On some known ground of treachery in him?
Gaunt. As near as I could sift him on that argu-
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,
In rage deaf as the sea, hasty as fire.

Re-enter Attendants, with BOLINGBROKE and
NORFOLK.

Boling. Many years of happy days befal
My gracions sovereign, my most loving liege!
Nor. Each day still better other's happiness;
Until the heavens, envying earth's good hap,
Add an immortal title to your crown!

[us,

K. Rich. We thank you both; yet one but flatters 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 ? Boling. First, (heaven be the record to my In the devotion of a subject's love, [speech) 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,
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,
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 cubs 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 a-foot
Even to the frozen ridges of the Alps,
Or any other ground inhabitable,
Where ever Englishman dare set his foot.
Mean time, let this defend my loyalty,-
By all my hopes, most falsely doth he lie.
Boling. Pale trembling coward, there I throw
my gage,

Disclaiming here the kindred of a king;
And lay aside my high blood's royalty,
Which fear, not reverence, makes thee to except:
If guilty dread hath 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.

Nor. take it up; and by that sword I swear,
Which gently lay'd 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!

K. Rich. What doth our cousin lay to Mowbray's It must be great, that can inherit us [charge? So much as of a thought of ill in him. Boling. Look, what I speak my life shall prove

it true;

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,―