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PLAY SYNOPSIS - RICHARD II
A History
This play opens with King Richard II and his uncle John of Gaunt trying to convince Henry Bolingbroke (Gaunt's son) and Thomas Mowbray (Duke of Norfolk)
to settle a quarrel, wherein Bolingbroke accuses Mowbray of murdering Richard's brother the Duke of Gloucester (Thomas of Woodstock). Although Mowbray didn't kill him, he could have prevented it or at least told the truth that Richard II had ordered it. Richard II cannot calm
them so he allows them to compete in a joust, then stops the joust while it is starting and sentences the two to banishment from England
- Mowbray forever and Bolingbroke for five years. Mowbray predicts while leaving that Bolingbroke will retaliate and defeat Richard II. In despair, Bolingbroke's father Gaunt dies, and Richard II seizes all of Gaunt's lands and money. The Earl of Northumberland (Henry Percy), his son Henry Percy (Hotspur), Lord
Ross and Lord Willoughby all
criticise Richard II of wasting England's money, for taking Gaunt's money to fund a war with Ireland, of taxing the commoners, and of fining the nobles for crimes their ancestors committed. Bolingbroke secretly returns to England with their help to usurp Richard II and correct these problems. Gaunt's brother (Richard's last surviving uncle) Edmund of Langley
(first Duke of York) tells Bolingbroke that he is doing wrong to defy Richard's order of banishment.
Bolingbroke defeats and executes Sir John Bushy, Sir Henry Green and the Earl of Wiltshire, all accused by Bolingbroke of being
favourites to Richard II and of misleading him. Edmund's (York's) son the Duke of Aumerle helps Richard II defend the crown, gaining courage from the hope that Heaven will support the
'right', since Richard II feels he is the rightful King of England. Unfortunately, Richard's 12,000 Welsh soldiers disperse when they hear a false
rumour that he is dead. Furthermore, the commoners revolt and Edmund (York) joins Bolingbroke. Consequently, Richard II flees to Flint Castle with Aumerle, the Earl of Salisbury, Sir Stephen Scroop and Bishop Carlisle. There Richard II meets Bolingbroke
who asks Richard to repeal his banishment in exchange for peace. Richard
regretfully replies, then becomes saddened believing that Bolingbroke will usurp the throne. Bolingbroke
does by practically forcing Richard II to hand over the crown to him, renaming Bolingbroke
as King Henry IV. Bishop Carlisle echoes Richard's prediction that England will fall to disorder because of the usurpation, so Northumberland arrests him. Aumerle wishes Richard II were still king and Lord Fitzwater falsely accuses Aumerle of killing Gloucester.
Richard II is ordered by Henry IV (Bolingbroke) to go to Northern England and Richard's wife (the Queen) is ordered to return to her native France. Edmund (York) tells his wife (Duchess of York) of Richard's tragic journey to the north where the commoners
throw dust at him. Their son Aumerle (renamed Rutland by Henry IV for being a friend to Richard II) plots with others to poison Henry IV at Oxford. Edmund (York) informs Henry IV and Aumerle and his
mother plea for Aumerle's pardon which Henry IV reservedly grants. Sir Pierce of Exton murders Richard II (in prison at Pomfret Castle) thinking it is Henry IV's wish that Richard II is dead. Richard II manages to kill two of Exton's helpers before dying himself, however. Henry IV has the Earl of Salisbury, Lord Spencer (formerly the Earl of Gloucester), Sir Thomas
Blunt and the Earl of Kent all executed for treason. Sir Leonard Brocas and Sir Bennet Seely are also executed for plotting with Aumerle to poison Henry IV. The Abbot of Westminster kills
himself to avoid capture by Henry IV, though Bishop Carlisle is captured then released by Henry IV and ordered to hide away in some secret place. Finally, Exton shows Richard II's body to Henry
IV whereby Henry IV reveals that though he sort of wanted Richard II dead, it will now only slander him and may bring repercussions. Henry IV banishes Exton.
Above: "Julius Caesar's ill-erected Tower" (Richard II), across the river, towards the left at the top; the Tower is referred to in several of Shakespeare's English histories - it is significant in all three parts of Henry VI; it was the place where Bolingbroke confined the King in Richard II and the place where Richard III imprisoned the two little Princes and then murdered them; in Henry VIII Archbishop Cranmer is ordered to the Tower by his enemies but is saved by the intervention of the King
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