PENGUIN BOOKS
T. J. B. SPENCER, sometime Director of the Shakespeare Institute of the University of Birmingham, was the founding editor of the New Penguin Shakespeare, for which he edited both Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet.
STANLEY WELLS is Honorary President of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Emeritus Professor of Shakespeare Studies at the University of Birmingham, and General Editor of the Oxford Shakespeare. His many books include Shakespeare: For All Time, Shakespeare & Co., Shakespeare, Sex, and Love and Great Shakespeare Actors.
PAUL EDMONDSON is Head of Research at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and an Honorary Fellow of the Shakespeare Institute. His publications include Shakespeare’s Sonnets; A Year of Shakespeare: Re-living the World Shakespeare Festival; Shakespeare Beyond Doubt: Evidence, Argument, Controversy; The Shakespeare Circle: An Alternative Biography; and Shakespeare: Ideas in Profile.
Richard II was first printed in 1597, in the edition known as the first Quarto (Q1). It is described on the title page as The Tragedy of King Richard the Second. As it hath been publicly acted by the Right Honourable the Lord Chamberlain his Servants. The Lord Chamberlain’s was the acting company to which Shakespeare belonged. The play seems to have been printed from his own manuscript, and with an unusually high standard of accuracy. As no manuscript has survived, modern editions must be based on the first Quarto. But it lacks one important episode – that portraying Richard’s abdication (IV.1.154–319). This was omitted most probably for political reasons, perhaps out of tact, or because the printers feared prosecution, or because they had been instructed to omit it. It contains nothing obviously inflammatory, but was certainly considered dangerous at a time of anxiety about the succession. A little tinkering was done to bridge the gap but there was no real revision, and the fact that the Abbot’s line ‘A woeful pageant have we here beheld’ (IV.1.320) was retained though the ‘pageant’ had disappeared is a good reason for believing that the cut was not theatrical.
Richard II was popular, and the Quarto was reprinted twice in 1598 (Q2 and Q3). The abdication scene continued to be omitted. The fourth edition (Q4) appeared in 1608. By this time the succession problem had been resolved, and the printer was able to announce on the title page The Tragedy of King Richard the Second: With new additions of the Parliament Scene, and the deposing of King Richard, as it hath been lately acted by the King’s Majesty’s Servants at the Globe. By William Shakespeare. Unfortunately the text of the added passages contains many obvious mistakes, and was printed probably from an unauthorized source. The next edition appeared in 1615, and is a reprint of the previous one.
The other important text is the one in the collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays, the first Folio (F), of 1623. The printers seem to have worked from a copy of Q3 with the substitution of a few leaves from Q5. There are two main reasons why this text is important. One is that the Quarto from which it was printed had been altered from a source that was obviously theatrical in origin. The natural assumption is that it had been checked against the theatre prompt book, which would be a manuscript or printed copy annotated and marked in accordance with theatre practice. It would, for example, indicate trumpet calls that Shakespeare had not noted in the manuscript, and might mark cuts. The stage directions in F are notably more precise and businesslike than those in the Quartos. They obviously reflect the stage practice of Shakespeare’s company and are our main source of information about how the play was put on the stage in his time. They have been incorporated in the present edition. Other alterations were made, some of which may be considered improvements on Q1. We have no reason to suppose that F presents an authoritatively corrected text, and the present edition is conservative in adopting Folio readings where Quarto ones are acceptable. The collations, however, record plausible readings from F among the rejected emendations.
The other main reason for F’s importance is that it includes a good text of the abdication episode omitted from the early Quartos. Modern editors therefore use F as their basic text for this passage, while adopting some readings from Q4. The present edition is closer to F than most modern ones.
Fifty-one lines of the play were omitted from F. They are: I.3.129–33; I.3.239–42; I.3.268–93; II.2.77; III.2.29–32, 49, 182; IV.1.52–9; V.3.98. Some of these omissions may be accidental, some may represent theatrical cutting.
In the present edition, spelling and punctuation have been modernized, speech-prefixes have been made consistent, and stage directions have been regularized and amplified where necessary. The collations that follow record departures from Q1 (F for the abdication episode); places where the present edition preserves original readings that other editors have often altered; and the more important modifications of the original stage directions. Quotations from early editions are given in the original spelling, but long ‘s’ [∫] has been replaced by the modern form. ‘Q’ indicates a reading common to all the early Quartos (Q1–5). The more interesting textual points are discussed in the Commentary.
The following list indicates readings in the present edition of Richard II which depart from the first edition (Q1) or, in the abdication episode (IV.1.154–319), from the first Folio (F). It does not list corrections of simple misprints. Alterations of punctuation are recorded when a decision affecting the sense has had to be made. When the emendation derives from a later Quarto or the Folio, this is indicated. Most of the other emendations were first made by eighteenth-century editors.
The Characters in the Play] not in Q, F
3 Hereford] Q1 often, but by no means regularly, spells Herford
15 presence. Exit Attendant Face] presence face
118 my] F; not in Q
122 subject, Mowbray. So] subject Mowbray so
152 gentlemen] F; gentleman Q
162–3 When, Harry, when? | Obedience bids] When Harry? when obedience bids, | Obedience bids Q1; When Harrie when? Obedience bids, | Obedience bids Q2–5, F
47 sit] F; set Q
33 comest] Q5, F; comes
172 then] F; not in Q
180 you owe] F; y’owe Q
193 far as] fare as Q; fare, as F (see Commentary)
222 night] Q4–5, F; nightes Q1–3
239 had it] had’t
20 cousin, cousin] F; Coosens Coosin Q
52–3 Enter Bushy | Bushy, what news?] F; Enter Bushie with newes. Q
65 ALL] not in Q, F (which also omits ‘Amen’)
18 fond] found Q1
48 as a moat] Q4–5, F; as moate Q1–3
102 encagèd] F (incaged); inraged Q
124 brother] Q2–5; brothers Q1, F
177 the] F; a Q
257 King’s] Q3–5, F; King Q1
280 The son of Richard Earl of Arundel] not in Q, F
284 Coint] Coines Q; Quoint F
16 eye] F; eyes
147 bagot] not in Q (F gives the line to Bushy)
9 Cotswold] Cotshall Q; Cottshold F
36 Hereford, boy?] Q3; Herefords boy? Q1
163 Bristol] Bristow
31 not – heaven’s offer we] not, heauens offer, we Q1
32 succour] succors
40 boldly] bouldy Q1
72 O’erthrows] F; Ouerthrowes Q
12–13 Would you have been so brief with him, he would | Have been so brief with you to shorten you] F; would you haue beene so briefe with him, | He would haue bin so briefe to shorten you Q
31 lord] F; Lords Q
59–60 rain | My waters – on] raigne. | My water’s on Q1–2; raine | My water’s on Q3–5; raine | My Waters on F
119 a prince and] (Sisson) princesse Q1–2; a Prince Q3–5; a Prince, is F
140 Swellest thou, proud heart? I’ll] F; Swellst thou (prowd heart) Ile
Speech-prefixes to 3, 6, 10, 11 (second part), 19 (first part), 21] Lady Q; La. F
11 joy] griefe
21 weep, … good.] Q2; weep; … good? Q1
34 too] F; two
Speech-prefixes to 40, 54 (first part), 67] Man. Q; Ser. F
57 garden! We at] garden at
80 Camest] Q2; Canst
22 him] Q3 (my Q2); them
43 Fitzwater] F; Fitzwaters
54 As may] As it may
55 sun to sun] sinne to sinne
62 true.] true (true, Q2; true: F)
76 my] Q3; not in Q1 (the Q2)
83–4 gage. | That] gage, | That
154–319 This passage is not in Q1–3. See An Account of the Text, p.109. In its place, Q1 has: Bull. Let it be so, and loe on wednesday next, | We solemnly proclaime our Coronation, | Lords be ready all.
182 and] (Q4, 5) not in F
250 and] (Q4) a F
253 haught, insulting] (haught insulting Q4–5) haught-insulting F
254 Nor] (Q4) No, nor F
259 mockery king] (Q4) Mockerie, King F
318–19 proclaim | Our coronation. Lords, be ready, all.] Q1; set downe | Our Coronation: Lords, prepare your selues. F
332 I will] Ile
20 this.] this: Q1 (where the colon could be the equivalent of a modern fullstop)
41 thee] Q2; the
88 off than, near,] (unpunctuated, Q) off, then neere, F
11, 17 thee] F; the Q (where, however, ‘thee’ is often spelt thus)
35 that I may] Q2; that May
74 shrill-voiced] Q3; shril voice
110 KING HENRY] Q2; yorke
134–5 With all my heart | I pardon him] I pardon him with al my heart
27 sit] Q3; set
8 Salisbury, Spencer] F; Oxford, Salisbury Q
43 thorough shades] through shades Q1; through the shade Q2–5, F
The list printed below gives readings of the authoritative editions (Q1, and F1 for the abdication scene) which have been preserved in the present edition but which are often emended. The common emendations are given to the right of the square bracket. The aim has been to list alterations affecting the sense, especially those that are to be found in some of the editions still current. Most of them derive from the Folio, which until the early years of this century was generally considered the most authoritative early text. As the Folio has a special interest in spite of its generally inferior authority, some of its more interesting variants are noted even when they have been generally rejected. When a reading derives from an early edition (Q1–5, F) this is indicated. Most of the unattributed emendations were first made by eighteenth-century editors, many of them in an attempt to regularize the metre. The temptation to do this is strong, but Shakespeare may not have had the precise rhythmic sense that many of his editors assume in him.
97 Fetch] Fetcht Q3–5, Fetch’d F
186 up] downe F
187 deep] foule F
62 thy] my F
15 As] And
20 my succeeding] his succeeding F
26 ask] demand of
84 innocence] innocency
193 far as] fare as (see Commentary)
23 Ourself and Bushy] Ourself and Bushy, Bagot here, and Green
59 the] his F
70 raged] ragged; reined
115 And thou – | KING RICHARD – a lunatic] And thou. | King. Ah lunatick Q3–5; And – | Rich. And thou, a lunaticke F
254 noble] omitted in F and by many editors
278, 285 Brittaine] Britain; Brittany; Bretagne
12 trembles. At something] (trembles, at something Q1) trembles, yet at something
25 more is] more’s F
31 on thinking] in thinking
88 The nobles they are fled. The commons they are cold] The nobles they are fled, the commons cold
110 disorderly thrust] thrust disorderly
112 T’one] (Q: Tone) Th’one F
113 T’other] (Q: tother) th’other F
118 Berkeley] Barkley Castle F
128 that is] that’s F
137 Will the hateful commons] The hateful commons will
65 thank’s] thankes, F
80 self-borne] self-born
98 lord] the Lord F
122 in] of Q2–5, F
150 never] ne’er (ne’re Q3–5; neu’r F)
157 unto] to Q2–5, F
8 are all] all are Q2–5, F
30 neglected; else heaven] (Q1: neglected. Else heauen) neglected; else, if heaven
38 that] and
40 boldly] (bouldy Q1) bloudy Q2, bloody F
133–4 Would they make peace? Terrible hell | Make war upon their spotted souls for this.] Would they make peace? terrible Hell make warre | Vpon their spotted Soules for this Offence. F
17 mistake the] mistake; the; mistake. The; mistake: the
100 pastor’s] (pastors Q1) pasture’s; pastures’
121 thus. The King returns] thus the King returns:
168 laid there] (laide; there Q1) laid – there
177 you,] you;
182 base-court. Come down – down] (Q1: base court come downe: downe) base court? Come down? Down
202 hands] hand F
27 They will] They’le F
29 young] yon Q2
67 you the] you then the
80 this] these
13 mine] my F
49 And if] An if
89 he is] hee’s F
91 never] ne’re F
112 fourth of that name] of that Name the Fourth F
165 knee] limbes? Q4
182 thine] yours Q4
209 duteous oaths] duties rites Q4
214 are made] that sweare Q4
219 Henry] Harry Q4
275 that] the Q4
284 Is this the face which] Was … that Q4
285 That] And Q4
288 an] a Q4
295 manner] manners Q4
laments] lament
318–19 proclaim | Our coronation. Lords, be ready, all.] set downe | Our Coronation: Lords, prepare your selues. F
25 thrown] stricken F
32 the correction] thy correction Q2
correction, mildly] Correction mildly, F
34 the king] a King Q2, F
37 sometimes] sometime Q3, F
43 quite] quit F
44 tale] fall F
62 He] And he
64 urged another way,] urged, another way,; urged, another way; urged another way
66 men] friends F
71 Doubly divorced! Bad] (Doubly diuorst (bad) Q1; Doubly diuorc’d? (bad F
84 RICHARD] North. F
18 the one] one F
28 gentle] not in F
52 Do these justs and triumphs hold?] Hold those Iusts & Triumphs? F
55 prevent not] prevent me not; prevent it not
74 Some editors add the direction: Enter a Servant. See Commentary.
78 by my life, by my troth] my life, my troth Q2, F; by my life, my troth
113 Spur, post] Spurre post F
10 Which] While
20 Yet] But yet [with relineation, lines ending yet, hope, forth, means] (Harold Brooks, in Ure’s Arden edition)
30 my roof] the roof
40 Villain] omitted (Ure)
45 What is the matter,] omitted (Ure)
67 An] And F and editors
105 still] shall F
143 cousin,] Cosin too, Q6
7 wishtly] wistly Q3, F
56 which] that F
70 never] euer Q5, F
105 means] meanest
Stage directions in the present edition are based on those of Q1. The original directions have been normalized and clarified. They are often inadequate, failing for instance to indicate many obvious entrances and exits. Additional directions have been made from F, which is much more precise in its instructions to the performers, and often indicates the practice of Shakespeare’s company. Further directions have been added where necessary to clarify the action. All directions for speeches to be given aside or addressed to a particular character are editorial. Below are listed some of the other additions and alterations to Q’s stage directions. When these derive in whole or part from F, this is noted. Minor alterations such as the addition of a character’s name to Exit, the change of Exit to Exeunt, the normalization of character names, and the provision of exits and entrances where these are obviously demanded by the context are not listed here.
0 Enter King Richard and John of Gaunt, with other nobles, including the Lord Marshal, and attendants] Enter King Richard, Iohn of Gaunt, with other Nobles and attendants. Q, F
15 not in Q, F
69 not in Q, F
78 not in Q, F
149 not in Q, F
165 not in Q, F
195 F; not in Q
6 The trumpets sound and the King enters with his nobles, including Gaunt, and Bushy, Bagot, and Green. When they are set, enter Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, in arms, defendant; and a Herald] The trumpets sound and the King enters with his nobles, when they are set, enter the Duke of Norfolke in armes defendant. Q; Flourish. Enter King, Gaunt, Bushy, Bagot, Greene, & others: Then Mowbray in Armor, and Harrold. F
25 The trumpets sound. Enter Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford, appellant, in armour; and a Herald] The trumpets sound. Enter Duke of Hereford appellant in armour. Q; Tucket. Enter Hereford, and Harold. F
54 not in Q, F
117 A charge sounded. King Richard throws his warder into the lists] not in Q. A charge sounded F
122 A long flourish. King Richard consults his nobles, then addresses the combatants] not in Q. A long Flourish. F
248 Flourish. Exit King Richard with his train] not in Q. Exit. Flourish. F
0 Enter the King with Bagot and Green at one door, and the Lord Aumerle at another] Enter the King with Bushie, &c at one dore, and the Lord Aumarle at another. Q; Enter King, Aumerle, Greene, and Bagot. F
52 (see Commentary)
0 Enter John of Gaunt sick, with the Duke of York, the Earl of Northumberland, attendants, and others] Enter Iohn of Gaunt sicke, with the duke of Yorke, &c. Q; Enter Gaunt, sicke with Yorke. F
68 Enter King Richard, Queen Isabel, Aumerle, Bushy, Green, Bagot, Ross, and Willoughby] F; Enter king and Queene, & c. Q
223 Flourish. Exeunt King Richard and Queen Isabel. Northumberland, Willoughby, and Ross remain] Exeunt King and Queene: Manet North. Q; Flourish. Manet North. Willoughby, & Ross. F
82 not in Q, F
0 Enter Bolingbroke, York, Northumberland, with Bushy and Green, prisoners] Enter Duke of Hereford, Yorke, Northumberland, Bushie and Greene prisoners. Q; Enter Bullingbrooke, Yorke, Northumberland, Rosse, Percie, Willoughby, with Bushie and Greene Prisoners. F
0 Drums; flourish and colours. Enter King Richard, Aumerle, the Bishop of Carlisle, and soldiers] Enter the King Aumerle, Carleil, &c. Q; Drums: Flourish, and Colours. Enter Richard, Aumerle, Carlile, and Souldiers. F
0 Enter with drum and colours Bolingbroke, York, Northumberland, attendants, and soldiers] Enter Bull. Yorke, North. Q; Enter with Drum and Colours, Bullingbrooke, Yorke, Northumberland, Attendants. F
61 The trumpets sound parley without, and answer within; then a flourish. King Richard appeareth on the walls with the Bishop of Carlisle, Aumerle, Scroop, and Salisbury] The trumpets sound, Richard appeareth on the walls. Q; Parle without, and answere within: then a Flourish. Enter on the Walls, Richard, Carlile, Aumerle, Scroop, Salisbury. F
183 not in Q, F
186 not in Q, F
209 F; not in Q
0 Enter the Queen with two Ladies, her attendants] Enter the Queene with her attendants Q; Enter the Queene, and two Ladies. F
23 Enter Gardeners, one the master, the other two his men] Enter Gardeners. Q; Enter a Gardiner, and two Seruants. F
28 not in Q, F
72 not in Q, F
101 Exit Queen with her Ladies] Exit Q, F
0 Enter Bolingbroke with the Lords Aumerle, Northumberland, Harry Percy, Fitzwater, Surrey, the Bishop of Carlisle, the Abbot of Westminster, another Lord, Herald, and officer, to Parliament] Enter Bullingbrooke with the Lords to parliament. Q; Enter as to the Parliament, Bullingbrooke, Aumerle, Northumberland, Percie, Fitz-Water, Surrey, Carlile, Abbot of Westminster. Herauld, Officers, and Bagot. F
1 Enter Bagot with officers] Enter Bagot. Q; not in F
24 not in Q, F
34 not in Q, F
48 not in Q, F
55 not in Q, F
70 not in Q, F
83 not in Q, F
157 F; not in Q4
161 Enter Richard and York] F; Enter king Richard. Q4
267 not in F, Q4
274 Enter attendant with a glass] Enter one with a Glasse. F; not in Q4
287 not in F, Q4
319 Exeunt all except the Abbot of Westminster, the Bishop of Carlisle, Aumerle] Exeunt. Manent West. Caleil, Aumerle. Q1; Exeunt. F
6 Enter Richard and guard] F; Enter Ric. Q
96 not in Q, F
98 not in Q, F
71 He plucks it out of his bosom, and reads it] Q; Snatches it F
87 not in Q, F
0 Enter Bolingbroke, now King Henry, with Harry Percy and other lords] Enter the King with his nobles. Q; Enter Bullingbrooke, Percie, and other Lords. F
37 Aumerle locks the door. The Duke of York knocks at the door and crieth] The Duke of Yorke knokes at the doore and crieth. Q; not in F
38 YORK (within)] Yor. Q; Yorke within. | Yor. F
44 King Henry opens the door. Enter York] not in Q; Enter Yorke. F
73 DUCHESS OF YORK (within)] Du. Q; Dutchesse within. | Dut. F
81 Aumerle admits the Duchess. She kneels] not in Q; Enter Dutchesse. F (after line 85)
96, 97 not in Q, F
135 not in Q, F
Exeunt | Enter Sir Piers of Exton and a Man] Exeunt. Manet sir Pierce Exton, &c. Q; Exeunt. | Enter Exton and Seruants. F
11 Exeunt] not in Q; Exit. F
41 The music plays] Q; Musick (at end of 38) F
94 Enter Keeper to Richard with meat] Enter one to Richard with meate. Q; Enter Keeper with a Dish. F
102 not in Q, F
104 The murderers, Exton and servants, rush in] The murderers rush in. Q; Enter Exton and Seruants. F
106 not in Q, F
107 He kills another servant. Here Exton strikes him down] Here Exton strikes him downe. Q; Exton strikes him downe. F
112 not in Q, F
118 Exeunt with the bodies] not in Q; Exit. F
0 Flourish. Enter King Henry with the Duke of York, other lords, and attendants] Enter Bullingbrooke with the duke of Yorke. Q; Flourish. Enter Bullingbrooke, Yorke, with other Lords & attendants. F
18 Enter Harry Percy with the Bishop of Carlisle, guarded] Enter H Percie. Q; Enter Percy and Carlile. F
44 not in Q, F