116. THE DEPOSITION OF RICHARD. SHAKSPERE. The scene of fiery contention in Westminster Hall, which we are about to give, follows the chroniclers very literally. Shakspere has, however, placed this remarkable exhibition of vindictive charges and recriminations before the deposition of Richard. It took place after Henry's coronation. The protest of the Bishop of Carlisle, whom Holinshed calls "a bold bishop and a faithful," also, according to most authorities, followed the deposition. It is stated to have been made on a request from the Commons that Richard might have "judgment decreed against him, so as the realm were not troubled by him." There is considerable doubt whether this speech was delivered at all. It does not appear that Richard made his resignation in Parliament, but that Northumberland and other peers, prelates, and knights, with justices and notaries, attended the captive on the 29th September, 1399, in the chief chamber of the king's lodging in the Tower, where he read aloud and subscribed the scroll of resignation, saying that, if it were in his power, he would that the Duke of Lancaster there present should be his successor. These instruments were read to the Parliament the day following. So Holinshed relates the story. Froissart, however, details the ceremonies of the surrender with more minuteness: "On a day the Duke of Lancaster, accompanied with lords, dukes, prelates, earls, barons, and knights, and of the notablest men of London, and of other good towns, rode to the Tower, and there alighted. Then King Richard was brought into the hall, appareled like a king in his robes of state, his sceptre in his hand, and his crown on his head; then he stood up alone, not holden nor stayed by no man, and said aloud: 'I have been King of England, Duke of Aquitaine, and lord of Ireland, about twenty-two years, which signiory, royalty, sceptre, crown, and heritage I clearly resign here to my cousin Henry of Lancaster; and I desire him here, in this open presence, in entering of the same possession, to take this sceptre:' and so delivered it to the duke, who took it." There can be no doubt that this apparently willing resignation, which his enemies said was made even with a merry countenance, was extorted from Richard by the fear of death. Northumberland openly proclaimed this when he rebelled against Henry. In a very curious manuscript in the library of the king of France, from which copious extracts are given in Mr. Webb's notes to the 'Metrical History,' there is a detailed account of a meeting between Richard and Bolingbroke in the Tower, at which York and Aumerle were present,-where the king, in a most violent rage, says, I am king, and will still continue king, in spite of all my enemies." Shakspere has most skilfully portrayed this natural struggle of the will of the unhappy man, against the necessity by which he was overwhelmed. The deposition scene shows us,-as faithfully as the glass which the poet introduces exhibits the person of the king,-the vacillations of a nature irresolute and yielding, but clinging to the phantom of power when the substance had passed away. There can be no doubt that Shakspere's portrait of Richard II. is as historically true as it is poetically just. Bolingbroke, Aumerle, Surrey, Northumberland, Percy, Fitzwater, another Lord, Bishop of Carlisle, Abbot of Westminster, and Attendants. Enter York, attended. York. Great duke of Lancaster, I come to thee From plume-pluck'd Richard; who with willing soul To the possession of thy royal hand : Ascend his throne, descending now from him,— And long live Henry, of that name the fourth! Boling. In God's name, I'll ascend the regal throne. Worst in this royal prosence may I speak, Would God, that any in this noble presence And he himself not present? O, forfend it, God, Shall here inhabit, and this land be call'd It will the woefullest division prove Prevent it, resist it, and let it not be so, Lest child, child's children, cry against you-woe! North. Well have you argued, sir; and, for your pains, Of capital treason we arrest you here: My lord of Westminster, be it your charge To keep him safely till his day of trial. May't please you, lords, to grant the commons' suit? Boling. Fetch hither Richard, that in common view He may surrender; so we shall proceed Boling. Lords, you that here are under our arrest, Procure your sureties for your days of answer : Little are we beholden to your love, And little look'd for at your helping hands. [Exit. [To Carlisle. Re-enter York, with King Richard, and Officers bearing the crown, &a. K. Rich. Alack, why am I sent for to a king, Before I have shook off the regal thoughts Wherewith I reign'd? I hardly yet have learn'd To insinuate, flatter, bow, and bend my knee : Give sorrow leave awhile to tutor me To this submission. Yet I will remember The favours of these men: Were they not mine? Found truth in all but one; I, in twelve thousand, none. York. To do that office, of thine own good will, The resignation of thy state and crown To Henry Bolingbroke. K. Rich. Give me the crown :-Here, cousin, seize the crown; Here, cousin, on this side my hand; on that side thine. Now is this golden crown like a deep well, That owes two buckets filling one another; The emptier ever dancing in the air, The other down, unseen, and full of water : Drinking my griefs, whilst you mount up on high. Boling. I thought you had been willing to resign. K. Rich. My crown I am, but still my griefs are mine: You may my glories and my state depose, But not my griefs; still am I king of those. Boling. Part of your cares you give me with your crown. My care is loss of care, by old care done; Your care is gain of care, by new care won: The cares I give I have, though given away; They tend the crown, yet still with me they stay. Now mark me how I will undo myself: I give this heavy weight from off my head, All pomp and majesty I do forswear ; My manors, rents, revenues, I forego; God pardon all oaths that are broke to me! And soon lie Richard in an earthy pit! North. K. Rich. Must I do so? and must I ravel out Would it not shame thee, in so fair a troop, And cracking the strong warrant of an oath, North. My lord, despatch; read o'er these articles. [Offering a paper. K. Rich. No lord of thine, thou haught, insulting man, No, nor no man's lord; I have no name, no title,— No, not that name was given me at the font, But 't is usurp'd :—Alack the heavy day, That I have worn so many winters out, And know not now what name to call myself! O, that I were a mockery king of snow, Good king,-great king,-(and yet not greatly good,) Boling. Go some of you, and fetch a looking-glass. [Exit an Attendant. North. Read o'er this paper, while the glass doth come. K. Rich. They shall be satisfied: I'll read enough, Where all my sins are writ, and that's myself. Re-enter Attendant with a glass. Give me that glass, and therein will I read. No deeper wrinkles yet? Hath sorrow struck And made no deeper wounds ?-O flattering glass, Thou dost beguile me! Was this face the face Did keep ten thousand men? Was this the face As brittle as the glory is the face; [Dashes the glass against the ground. For there it is, crack'd in an hundred shivers. K. Rich. Say that again. The shadow of my sorrow? Ha! let's see:- Are merely shadows to the unseen grief, There lies the substance: and I thank thee, king, Boling. Name it, fair cousin. K. Rich. Fair cousin I am greater than a king: For when I was a king my flatterers Were then but subjects; being now a subject, I have a king here to my flatterer. Being so great, I have no need to beg. Boling. Yet ask. K. Rich. And shall I have? Boling. You shall. K. Rich. Then give me leave to go. Boling. Whither? K. Rich. Whither you will, so I were from your sights. |