When Richard visits Gaunt, the dying man takes the opportunity to speak honestly to the king. When he receives news that John of Gaunt is on his deathbed, Richard decides to seize Gaunt’s lands and money (Henry’s inheritance) as further financial support for his war in Ireland. To make money for this war, Richard leases land owned by the monarchy and imposes heavy taxes. The king then banishes both men, Mowbray for life, and Henry for first ten but then only six years.Īfter delivering the sentencing on Mowbray and Henry, Richard decides he will go to Ireland, believing it is important that he lead the war there in person. Though Mowbray and Henry Bolingbroke are both prepared to fight to the death for their honor, Richard arbitrarily decides to stop the battle. After Gaunt and Richard are unable to calm the men down, Henry and Mowbray agree to settle the matter with trial by combat.īefore the fight, the Duke of Gloucester’s widow (the Duchess of Gloucester) tries to convince Gaunt to take action against Richard, but Gaunt refuses, since he believes his duty to the king is a religious matter. The irony here, as expressed in the next scene by Henry’s father, John of Gaunt, is that everyone knows that Richard himself was involved in Gloucester’s murder. Both Henry and Mowbray accuse each other of treason, and Henry also accuses Mowbray of conspiring to murder the king’s uncle, the Duke of Gloucester. Richard II begins with a dispute between Henry Bolingbroke, King Richard’s cousin, and Thomas Mowbray.
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