Richard II
Contents
Characters in the Play
Entire Play
In Richard II, anger at a king’s arbitrary rule leads to his downfall—and sets in motion a decades-long struggle for the…
Act 1, scene 1
Henry Bolingbroke, King Richard’s cousin, publicly accuses Thomas Mowbray, duke of Norfolk, of treason. Among Bolingbroke’s charges is that Mowbray…
Act 1, scene 2
The widow of the duke of Gloucester begs John of Gaunt to avenge the murder of her husband. Gaunt says…
Act 1, scene 3
Bolingbroke and Mowbray prepare to fight to the death. King Richard suddenly calls off the fight and banishes Mowbray for…
Act 1, scene 4
Richard makes plans to fight in person in Ireland. To obtain money for the war against the Irish, he leases…
Act 2, scene 1
John of Gaunt, knowing that he is dying, speaks plainly to Richard about his deficiencies as king. Richard expresses his…
Act 2, scene 2
As the Queen grieves for Richard’s departure, news comes that Bolingbroke has landed in England with an army. As York…
Act 2, scene 3
Bolingbroke and Northumberland, just outside Berkeley Castle, meet young Henry Percy, Northumberland’s son. When the duke of York enters, he…
Act 2, scene 4
The Welsh troops, having waited ten days for Richard’s return, disperse. The earl of Salisbury predicts that Richard stands at…
Act 3, scene 1
Bolingbroke sentences Bushy and Green to death.
Act 3, scene 2
Richard, landing in England, greets his kingdom and expresses certainty that God will protect him against Bolingbroke’s threat. He learns…
Act 3, scene 3
Bolingbroke, approaching Flint Castle, learns that Richard is within. In answer to Bolingbroke’s trumpets, Richard and Aumerle appear on the…
Act 3, scene 4
Richard’s queen overhears a gardener describing Richard’s downfall and probable deposition.
Act 4, scene 1
Bolingbroke seeks information about the duke of Gloucester’s death. Bagot implicates Aumerle, and several nobles challenge Aumerle and each other….
Act 5, scene 1
Richard and his queen say their farewells, she to be sent to France, he to Pomfret Castle.
Act 5, scene 2
The duke of York expresses his sympathy for Richard but declares his allegiance to King Henry. When York discovers that…
Act 5, scene 3
Aumerle reaches King Henry and begs a pardon for an unnamed offence. The duke of York arrives and reveals the…
Act 5, scene 4
Sir Pierce Exton, reflecting on King Henry’s wish that Richard be removed, decides to carry out that wish.
Act 5, scene 5
Richard, imprisoned at Pontefract Castle, is visited by a former groom of his stable and then by the prison Keeper….
Act 5, scene 6
News is brought to Henry about the capture and punishment of rebel leaders. Henry pardons the bishop of Carlisle. Exton…

and later King Henry IV


later known as “Hotspur”

Bolingbroke