Scene 1

At Windsor Palace, two aggrieved noblemen appear in the court of Richard II, King of England. Henry Bolingbroke, Richard’s cousin, and Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, accuse each other of treason and throw down their gages before each other, indicating a challenge to a duel. Richard demands to know the exact nature of the charges. 

Bolingbroke accuses Mowbray of not just stealing money from the state but also of killing the Duke of Gloucester, or Thomas of Woodstock, uncle to both Bolingbroke and Richard. Mowbray denies the charges of theft but is evasive on the question of the murder. Richard asks the men to let bygones be bygones, but they continue to be adamant. Exasperated, Richard permits them to settle their differences through a duel.

Scene 2

John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster and father of Bolingbroke, meets the Duchess of Gloucester. The duchess is his sister-in-law, the widow of the murdered Duke of Gloucester. Gaunt wishes Bolingbroke would leave alone the matter of avenging his uncle Gloucester’s death. The duchess disagrees and accuses Gaunt of making light of the murder. Gaunt says justice is best delivered by God, not men, and Richard, as king, is God’s representative on earth. Since Richard was the one who secretly ordered Mowbray to kill Gloucester, Gloucester’s death was divinely ordained. 

Scene 3

Bolingbroke and Mowbray await Richard at an arena in Coventry where they can begin their duel. Richard arrives, and the duel is opened formally, with both combatants coming forward to state their reasons for fighting the other. As it is a duel to death, Bolingbroke and Mowbray bid goodbye to their loved ones and assume their positions. 

Just as the trumpet sounds, Richard drops his staff to halt the duel. Richard announces the duel will only lead to strife within England. He chooses instead to exile Mowbray from England forever and banish Bolingbroke for ten years. Richard reduces Bolingbroke’s exile to six years after sensing Gaunt’s despair, but he refuses to change the sentence any further. Richard leaves the arena. Bolingbroke is extremely unhappy with Richard’s decision.

Scene 4

Afterwards, Richard discusses the events at Coventry with his courtiers. He asks Aumerle, his cousin and the son of the Duke of York, how Bolingbroke bid him goodbye. Aumerle says while he pretended to cry, Bolingbroke simply said “farewell” and left. Richard worries his decision to exile Bolingbroke may prove unpopular, since Bolingbroke is beloved by the common people. 

Green exhorts the king to let these worries go with Bolingbroke, as he has other matters to which to attend. More funds and forces are needed to deal with the rebels in Ireland. Richard says he will go to Ireland himself. His treasury is empty, so he will sell his right to levy taxes and ask his noblemen to force loans from the country’s richest. Richard leaves to meet John of Gaunt, who has become extremely sick after his son’s exile. He hopes Gaunt dies soon, so he can confiscate Gaunt’s estate to fund the Irish cause.