Shakespeare's Histories - Exton and Richard II and Pontefract Castle

Shakespeare's History Plays: The Ultimate Quiz

Question #12: CORRECT!

Exton, a nobleman with much ambition, believes that Bolingbroke will praise him if he carries out the murder of Richard II, held captive at Pontefract Castle. Poor Richard's life ends with these lines:

KING RICHARD II How now! what means death in this rude assault?
Villain, thy own hand yields thy death's instrument.
Snatching an axe from a Servant and killing him
Go thou, and fill another room in hell.
He kills another. Then Exton strikes him down
That hand shall burn in never-quenching fire
That staggers thus my person. Exton, thy fierce hand
Hath with the king's blood stain'd the king's own land.
Mount, mount, my soul! thy seat is up on high;
Whilst my gross flesh sinks downward, here to die.

[Dies]

EXTON As full of valour as of royal blood:
Both have I spill'd; O would the deed were good!
For now the devil, that told me I did well,
Says that this deed is chronicled in hell.
This dead king to the living king I'll bear
Take hence the rest, and give them burial here.

Congratulations! Wow, you really know your history plays! Thanks for playing.

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$Pontefract Castle. From Pontefract: its name, its lords, and its castle by Richard Holmes$