King Richard II Summary
William Shakespeare

King Richard II Summary

Act I:

King Richard presides over a conflict between Bolingbroke and Mowbray. Bolingbroke has accused Mowbray of misappropriation of funds and of murdering the Duke of Gloucester. Richard and Gaunt advise the men to settle their affairs peacefully, but they refuse, and Richard sets a date for trial by combat. Meanwhile, the Duchess of Gloucester pleads with Gaunt to avenge her husband's death, but Gaunt refuses, claiming that Richard himself ordered the assassination. When the trial by combat is about to ensue, Richard halts the proceedings and instead banishes Mowbray for life, and Bolingbroke for ten years. When Richard sees Gaunt's distress at the sentence, he reduces Bolingbroke's banishment to six years. Richard tells Aumerle that he dislikes that Bolingbroke is popular with the commoners. The king's advisor, Green, counsels Richard to attend to a possible uprising in Ireland. To raise money for the trip, Richard plans to lease royal lands. At... View more of the King Richard II Summary