Richard II

Bolingbroke and many nobles assemble for Parliament at Westminster Hall in London. Bolingbroke calls Bagot as a witness and asks him what he knows about the murder of Gloucester. Bolingbroke implies that Richard and others were responsible. Bagot accuses Aumerle of being involved in the plot against Gloucester. Aumerle denies it and says Bagot is lying. He challenges Bagot to combat, but Bolingbroke forbids Bagot to respond to the challenge.

Fitzwater then testifies that he heard Aumerle say that he was the cause of Gloucester’s death. Aumerle is defiant, saying that Fitzwater is damned for his false accusation, but Percy accuses Aumerle of lying about Fitzwater and challenges him. Another lord accuses Aumerle and challenges him. Surrey intervenes and says Fitzwater is lying and challenges him. Fitzwater, in his turn, insists that Aumerle is guilty of Gloucester’s murder; he says he himself heard Mowbray say that Aumerle sent two of his men to murder the duke at Calais. Aumerle says that Mowbray lied, and he wants to challenge him. Bolingbroke rules that the challenge must be put off until Mowbray returns, since Bolingbroke intends to repeal his banishment and restore his confiscated lands. However, Carlisle says that Mowbray has died in exile in Venice.

York enters and tells Bolingbroke that Richard is ready to renounce his crown. Bolingbroke says he will ascend the throne. Carlisle speaks up, condemning what he sees as the illegality of such a move: The king cannot be judged by those of inferior standing, especially since Richard is not even present. He accuses Bolingbroke of treason and says his actions will lead to a civil war. Northumberland responds by arresting Carlisle for treason. Bolingbroke commands that Richard be brought to the proceedings.

York enters with Richard. York tells him he has been summoned to resign his crown to Bolingbroke. Richard asks for the crown and holds it on one side while asking Bolingbroke to hold the other side. He compares himself and Bolingbroke to two buckets of water; as one is emptied, it rises up while the other one fills with water and is pulled down. They engage in a brief dialogue in which Bolingbroke says he thought Richard was willing to give up the crown and asks him if he is content to do so. Richard responds with a long, theatrical speech in which he says he will cast off all the elements of royalty until he has nothing left, other than a pit reserved for his grave. He asks in the traditional phrase for God to save Harry and grant him a peaceful reign.

After Northumberland demands that Richard read out a list of the crimes he committed against the realm, Richard demurs and says they have committed a sin in deposing a king. When Northumberland repeats the demand, Richard refers to his accusers as traitors, but then says that he is a traitor too, since he voluntarily agreed to abdicate. Richard then asks for a mirror to be brought to him so he can examine his face now that it is no longer that of a king. After some self-examination, he throws the mirror to the ground, where it smashes. He then asks Bolingbroke that one thing be granted him: that he be allowed to go. Bolingbroke instructs that Richard be sent to the Tower of London. Bolingbroke announces his coronation for the following week.

After the nobles exit, the Abbot of Westminster invites Carlisle and Aumerle to supper, where he will explain the plot that he is hatching for a rebellion.