Chapter: Scoena Quarta.

Enter King, Aumerle, Greene, and Bagot.

  Rich. We did obserue. Cosine Aumerle,
How far brought you high Herford on his way?
  Aum. I brought high Herford (if you call him so)
But to the next high way, and there I left him

   Rich. And say, what store of parting tears were shed?
  Aum. Faith none for me: except the Northeast wind
Which then grew bitterly against our face,
Awak'd the sleepie rhewme, and so by chance
Did grace our hollow parting with a teare

   Rich. What said our Cosin when you parted with him?
  Au. Farewell: and for my hart disdained y my tongue
Should so prophane the word, that taught me craft
To counterfeit oppression of such greefe,
That word seem'd buried in my sorrowes graue.
Marry, would the word Farwell, haue lengthen'd houres,
And added yeeres to his short banishment,
He should haue had a volume of Farwels,
But since it would not, he had none of me

   Rich. He is our Cosin (Cosin) but 'tis doubt,
When time shall call him home from banishment,
Whether our kinsman come to see his friends,
Our selfe, and Bushy: heere Bagot and Greene
Obseru'd his Courtship to the common people:
How he did seeme to diue into their hearts,
With humble, and familiar courtesie,
What reuerence he did throw away on slaues;
Wooing poore Craftes-men, with the craft of soules,
And patient vnder-bearing of his Fortune,
As 'twere to banish their affects with him.
Off goes his bonnet to an Oyster-wench,
A brace of Dray-men bid God speed him well,
And had the tribute of his supple knee,
With thankes my Countrimen, my louing friends,
As were our England in reuersion his,
And he our subiects next degree in hope

   Gr. Well, he is gone, & with him go these thoughts:
Now for the Rebels, which stand out in Ireland,
Expedient manage must be made my Liege
Ere further leysure, yeeld them further meanes
For their aduantage, and your Highnesse losse

   Ric. We will our selfe in person to this warre,
And for our Coffers, with too great a Court,
And liberall Largesse, are growne somewhat light,
We are inforc'd to farme our royall Realme,
The Reuennew whereof shall furnish vs
For our affayres in hand: if that come short
Our Substitutes at home shall haue Blanke-charters:
Whereto, when they shall know what men are rich,
They shall subscribe them for large summes of Gold,
And send them after to supply our wants:
For we will make for Ireland presently.
Enter Bushy.

Bushy, what newes?
  Bu. Old Iohn of Gaunt is verie sicke my Lord,
Sodainly taken, and hath sent post haste
To entreat your Maiesty to visit him

   Ric. Where lyes he?
  Bu. At Ely house

   Ric. Now put it (heauen) in his Physitians minde,
To helpe him to his graue immediately:
The lining of his coffers shall make Coates
To decke our souldiers for these Irish warres.
Come Gentlemen, let's all go visit him:
Pray heauen we may make hast, and come too late.
Enter.

 This scene opens in Windsor Castle in London almost immediately after the previous scene. Richard assesses the feelings of Aumerle, the Duke of York's son, and asks him about his parting words with Bolingbroke. Richard observes that Aumerle had accompanied Bolingbroke for a long distance. Aumerle replies bluntly that he had only accompanied him to the next highway. Aumerle says that he had not shed any genuine parting tears, and the few that did appear on his face were due to the stinging northeast wind. He further tells Richard that the only word exchanged at the parting was "farewell" and that he did not say anything, since his heart forbade him to fake a fond farewell. Aumerle's dislike of Bolingbroke emerges clearly throughout this dialogue, and Richard can be sure of his loyalty. Richard cautiously admonishes Aumerle not to appear unfeeling, gently reminding him that after all, Bolingbroke is their cousin. Then, changing the subject, Richard says that he has been informed by Bushy, Bagot and Green that Bolingbroke enjoys great popularity among the common people. Richard reflects that the ease with which Bolingbroke thanked the common people for their concern made it seem as if "our England in reversion his / And he our subjects' next degree in hope." Green then prompts Richard to remember the Irish rebels, now that Bolingbroke has been effectively done away with. He urges Richard to take immediate action against them, as further delay will only give them an advantage. Richard optimistically proclaims that he himself will lead the army against the rebels in Ireland. He then mentions that the royal coffers are empty and need to be filled. With that end in mind he is forced to "farm our royal realm." If the money collected from taxes is not enough, he will have to demand money from the wealthy nobles of the land. At this point in time, Bushy enters with the news that old John of Gaunt is extremely sick and has asked Richard to come to his death bed at Ely House. Richard's response is quite callous, and he wishes that Gaunt may die quickly, so that his fortune can be used to finance the expedition to Ireland. His words are shocking: "Now, put it, God, in his physician's mind / To help him to his grave immediately!" He tells all his companions to come along with him to Gaunt's bedside, all the while praying that they may "make haste, and come too late." Echoing Richard's sentiments, they all exit.

