Finding that the powerful family of the Percies were willing to aid him, and that many of the common people desired a change of government, the Duke boldly claimed the crown, on the ground that Richard had forfeited it by his tyranny, and that he stood next in succession through his descent from Henry III.  But in reality Henry Bolingbroke had no claim save that given by right of conquest, since the boy Edmund Mortimer held the direct title to the crown.[1]

[1] See Genealogical Table, under No. 3 and 4, p. 140

The King now fell into Henry’s hands, and events moved rapidly to a crisis.  Richard had rebuilt Westminster Hall (S156).  The first Parliament which assembled there deposed him on the ground that he was “altogether insufficient and unworthy,” and they gave the throne to the victorious Duke of Lancaster.  Shakespeare represents the fallen monarch saying in his humiliation: 

“With mine own tears I wash away my balm,[2]
With mine own hand I give away my crown.”

[2] “Richard II,” Act IV, scene i.  The balm was the sacred oil used in anointing the King at his coronation.

After his deposition Richard was confined in Pontefract Castle, Yorkshire, where he found, like his unfortunate ancestory, Edward II (S233), “that in the cases of princes there is but a step from the prison to the grave.”  His death did not take place, however, until after Henry’s accession.[1] Most historians condemn Richard as an unscrupulous tyrant.  Froissart, who wrote in his time, says that he ruled “fiercely,” and that no one in England dared “speak against anything the King did.”  A recent writer thinks he may have been insane, and declares that whether he “was mad or not, he, at all events acted like a madman.”  But another authority defends him, saying that Richard was not a despot at heart, but used despotic means hoping to effect much-needed reforms.[2]

[1] Henry of Lancaster was the son of John of Gaunt, who was the fourth son of Edward III; but there were descendents of that King’s THIRD son (Lionel, Duke of Clarence) living, who, of course, had a prior claim, as the following table shows: 

                                Edward III
                        [Direct descendant of Henry III]
     1 2 3 | 4 5
   ------------------------------------------
---------------------
   | | | | |
 Edward, the William, d.  Lionel, Duke John of Gaunt, Edmund Black Prince in childhood. of Clarence Duke of Lancaster Duke of
   | | | York
 Richard II Philippa, m.  Henry Bollinger
                        Edmund Mortimer Duke of Lancaster,
                                | afterward
                        Roger Mortimer Henry IV
                         d.