Bolingbroke tells York that he has only come to reclaim his lands and nothing more.

In London, the Duke of York is in power during Richard's absence, and he is forced to go meet with Bolingbroke. Richard unfortunately leaves for Ireland unaware that Bolingbroke has landed on English soil. When he hears that Richard has confiscated his estates, he uses the seizure as an excuse to invade England.

Gaunt passes away soon thereafter, and Richard takes over the estate which legally should have been inherited by Bolingbroke.īolingbroke meanwhile has organized an army and sailed northward. He therefore goes to visit Gaunt, who tells Richard that his 'fierce blaze of riot cannot last' (2.1.33). Richard quickly calculates that he can seize Gaunt's estates to finance his war. One of Richard's allies, Bushy, tells him that John of Gaunt is near dying.

However, because he lacks money, Richard tells his men to start issuing forced loans on the nobles, and he also sells his right to tax. Mowbray leaves, and Richard then quickly reduces Bolingbroke's sentence to only six years in an effort to make John of Gaunt happier.Īfter Bolingbroke is gone, Richard starts to prepare his army for a war with Ireland. He orders Mowbray to be permanently banished from England, and banishes Bolingbroke for ten years. The ceremony is halted and Richard takes over. He symbolically allows his warder (a staff representing that he is king) fall to the ground. On the day of the trial, Richard allows the ceremony to proceed right up until the noblemen actually start fighting. Instead, Richard agrees to let them hold a medieval trial by combat in which the two men will fight to see who is right. He attempts to make the two noblemen make peace, but is unable to control them. Code).Richard II opens with Mowbray and Bolingbroke accusing each other of treason in front of Richard. This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Gardener, Second Herald, and Second Servant – read by Kara Shallenberg Surrey and Willoughby – read by Nikolle Doolinīushy and Carlisle – read by Cecelia Priorīagot, Abbot, Scroop, and Exton – read by Lintonĭuchess of York – read by Kristen McQuillinįitzwater and Groom – read by Sean McKinleyĬaptain and First Herald – read by Hugh Mac King Richard II and First Servant – read by Peter Yearsley Narration, Keeper, and Lord – read by Annie Coleman By the end of the play, Bolingbroke has been crowned King Henry IV.Īudio edited by J.

Richard is separated from his beloved Queen, imprisoned, and later murdered. Bolingbroke later returns with an army and the support of some of the nobility, and he deposes Richard. At the beginning of the play, Richard II banishes his cousin Henry Bolingbroke from England. The Tragedy of King Richard II, by William Shakespeare, is the first of the history series that continues with Parts 1 and 2 of King Henry IV and with The Life of King Henry V.

Richard II by William Shakespeare