In Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England Shakespeare found the tragic story of the years 1397-1400 when King Richard II was deposed by his cousin and rival, Henry Bolingbroke.

The play opens at King Richard's court as Henry Bolingbroke, son of the great John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, challenges Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, accusing him of being involved in the recent death of the Kings uncle the Duke of Gloucester. The challenge is to be answered by a tournament at Coventry, but the wayward and uncertain Richard stops the contest as it is about to begin. He banishes Mowbray for life and, responding to Lancaster's pleas, he commutes Bolingbroke's exile to six years.

Richard enjoys the companionship of his cousin Aumerle, son of the Duke of York, and of Bushy, Bagotand Green, who are seen as misleading him into poor government of the country. Gaunt dies, finally broken by his son's banishment, and by the state in which he sees the kingdom under Richard's rule. Richard ignores Gaunts advice and, to the horror of his last surviving uncle, the Duke of York, daims Count's estates, using the money to fund an expedition against the Irish. He leaves York as regent in England. Bolingbroke, angered that his inheritance has been sequestrated, returns with an invading army and is welcomed by the English who are led by the powerful Earl of Northumberland, Henry Percy.

Richard, arrives back to find his Welsh allies have dispersed and that York, who has been unable to prevent Bolingbroke's triumphant return, has joined the invader. Other friends have fled the Kings cause, and Bushy and Green have been executed on Bolingbroke's orders. After taking refuge at Flint castle, Richard agrees to go to London where the case is discussed in Parliament.

King Richard is persuaded to abdicate in favour of Henry Bolingbroke, but the new King Henry IV is nervous of his position. Aumerle joins with the Bishop of Carlisle and the Abbot of Westminster in a plot against Henry but is discovered by his father, York. Loyal to the new regime, York tells Bolingbroke of his son's treachery and Aurnerie is saved only by his mother's pleas to King Henry.

Richard is imprisoned in Pontefract castle and his Queen is sent home to France. Pierce of Exton, misinterpreting King Henry's wishes, murders Richard and brings the body to London. The play ends with King Henry swearing to make reparation for his cousin's death by going one day on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Richard II was probably written in 1595. A performance is recorded in 1595 and the play was first printed in 1597.

© Marian J. Pringle
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust