Enter the Lord Marshal and the DUKE OF AUMERLE Lord Marshal My Lord Aumerle, is Harry Hereford arm'd? DUKE OF AUMERLE Yea, at all points; and longs to enter in. Lord Marshal The Duke of Norfolk, sprightfully and bold, Stays but the summons of the appellant's trumpet. DUKE OF AUMERLE Why, then, the champions are prepared, and stay For nothing but his majesty's approach.
The trumpets sound, and KING RICHARD enters with his nobles, JOHN OF GAUNT, BUSHY, BAGOT, GREEN, and others. When they are set, enter THOMAS MOWBRAY in arms, defendant, with a Herald KING RICHARD II Marshal, demand of yonder champion The cause of his arrival here in arms:
Ask him his name and orderly proceed To swear him in the justice of his cause. Lord Marshal In God's name and the king's, say who thou art And why thou comest thus knightly clad in arms, Against what man thou comest, and what thy quarrel:
Speak truly, on thy knighthood and thy oath;
As so defend thee heaven and thy valour! THOMAS MOWBRAY My name is Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk;
Who hither come engaged by my oath--Which God defend a knight should violate!--Both to defend my loyalty and truth To God, my king and my succeeding issue, Against the Duke of Hereford that appeals me And, by the grace of God and this mine arm, To prove him, in defending of myself, A traitor to my God, my king, and me:
And as I truly fight, defend me heaven!
The trumpets sound. Enter HENRY BOLINGBROKE, appellant, in armour, with a Herald KING RICHARD II Marshal, ask yonder knight in arms, Both who he is and why he cometh hither Thus plated in habiliments of war, And formally, according to our law, Depose him in the justice of his cause. Lord Marshal What is thy name? and wherefore comest thou hither, Before King Richard in his royal lists?
Against whom comest thou? and what's thy quarrel?
Speak like a true knight, so defend thee heaven! HENRY BOLINGBROKE Harry of Hereford, Lancaster and Derby Am I; who ready here do stand in arms, To prove, by God's grace and my body's valour, In lists, on Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, That he is a traitor, foul and dangerous, To God of heaven, King Richard and to me;
And as I truly fight, defend me heaven! Lord Marshal On pain of death, no person be so bold Or daring-hardy as to touch the lists, Except the marshal and such officers Appointed to direct these fair designs. HENRY BOLINGBROKE Lord marshal, let me kiss my sovereign's hand, And bow my knee before his majesty:
For Mowbray and myself are like two men That vow a long and weary pilgrimage;
Then let us take a ceremonious leave And loving farewell of our several friends. Lord Marshal The appellant in all duty greets your highness, And craves to kiss your hand and take his leave. KING RICHARD II We will descend and fold him in our arms.
Cousin of Hereford, as thy cause is right, So be thy fortune in this royal fight!
Farewell, my blood; which if to-day thou shed, Lament we may, but not revenge thee dead. HENRY BOLINGBROKE O let no noble eye profane a tear For me, if I be gored with Mowbray's spear:
As confident as is the falcon's flight Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight.
My loving lord, I take my leave of you;
Of you, my noble cousin, Lord Aumerle;
Not sick, although I have to do with death, But lusty, young, and cheerly drawing breath.
Lo, as at English feasts, so I regreet The daintiest last, to make the end most sweet:
O thou, the earthly author of my blood, Whose youthful spirit, in me regenerate, Doth with a twofold vigour lift me up To reach at victory above my head, Add proof unto mine armour with thy prayers;
And with thy blessings steel my lance's point, That it may enter Mowbray's waxen coat, And furbish new the name of John a Gaunt, Even in the lusty havior of his son. JOHN OF GAUNT God in thy good cause make thee prosperous!
Be swift like lightning in the execution;
And let thy blows, doubly redoubled, Fall like amazing thunder on the casque Of thy adverse pernicious enemy:
Rouse up thy youthful blood, be valiant and live. HENRY BOLINGBROKE Mine innocency and Saint George to thrive! THOMAS MOWBRAY However God or fortune cast my lot, There lives or dies, true to King Richard's throne, A loyal, just and upright gentleman:
Never did captive with a freer heart Cast off his chains of bondage and embrace His golden uncontroll'd enfranchisement, More than my dancing soul doth celebrate This feast of battle with mine adversary.
Most mighty liege, and my companion peers, Take from my mouth the wish of happy years:
As gentle and as jocund as to jest Go I to fight: truth hath a quiet breast. KING RICHARD II Farewell, my lord: securely I espy Virtue with valour couched in thine eye.
Order the trial, marshal, and begin. Lord Marshal Harry of Hereford, Lancaster and Derby, Receive thy lance; and God defend the right! HENRY BOLINGBROKE Strong as a tower in hope, I cry amen. Lord Marshal Go bear this lance to Thomas, Duke of Norfolk. First Herald Harry of Hereford, Lancaster and Derby, Stands here for God, his sovereign and himself, On pain to be found false and recreant, To prove the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray, A traitor to his God, his king and him;
And dares him to set forward to the fight. Second Herald Here standeth Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, On pain to be found false and recreant, Both to defend himself and to approve Henry of Hereford, Lancaster, and Derby, To God, his sovereign and to him disloyal;
Courageously and with a free desire Attending but the signal to begin. Lord Marshal Sound, trumpets; and set forward, combatants.
A charge sounded Stay, the king hath thrown his warder down. KING RICHARD II Let them lay by their helmets and their spears, And both return back to their chairs again:
Withdraw with us: and let the trumpets sound While we return these dukes what we decree.
A long flourish Draw near, And list what with our council we have done.
For that our kingdom's earth should not be soil'd With that dear blood which it hath fostered;
And for our eyes do hate the dire aspect Of civil wounds plough'd up with neighbours' sword;