Original: Ay, no; no, ay; for I must nothing be;
Modern: Yes, no; no, yes; because I must become nothing;

Original: Therefore no no, for I resign to thee.
Modern: So no, no more, because I give up my throne to you.

Original: Now mark me, how I will undo myself;
Modern: Now watch me as I destroy everything I am;

Original: I give this heavy weight from off my head
Modern: I take this heavy crown from my head

Original: And this unwieldy sceptre from my hand,
Modern: And this awkward royal staff from my hand,

Original: The pride of kingly sway from out my heart;
Modern: The pride of royal power from my heart;

Original: With mine own tears I wash away my balm,
Modern: With my own tears I wash away my holy anointing oil,

Original: With mine own hands I give away my crown,
Modern: With my own hands I give away my crown,

Original: With mine own tongue deny my sacred state,
Modern: With my own voice I deny my holy position as king,

Original: With mine own breath release all duty’s rites:
Modern: With my own words I release all the ceremonies of kingship:

Original: All pomp and majesty I do forswear;
Modern: I give up all the pageantry and grandeur;

Original: My manors, rents, revenues I forego;
Modern: I give up my estates, my rental income, and all my money;

Original: My acts, decrees, and statutes I deny:
Modern: I take back all my laws, commands, and royal orders:

Original: God pardon all oaths that are broke to me!
Modern: May God forgive everyone who broke their promises to me!

Original: God keep all vows unbroke that swear to thee!
Modern: May God help everyone keep the promises they make to you!

Original: Make me, that nothing have, with nothing grieved,
Modern: Let me, who now has nothing, not be sad about having nothing,

Original: And thou with all pleased, that hast all achieved!
Modern: And let you be happy with everything, since you’ve won it all!

Original: Long mayst thou live in Richard’s seat to sit,
Modern: May you live long sitting on Richard’s throne,

Original: And soon lie Richard in an earthly pit!
Modern: And may Richard soon lie dead in his grave!

Original: God save King Harry, unking’d Richard says,
Modern: God save King Henry, says Richard who is no longer king,

Original: And send him many years of sunshine days!
Modern: And give him many years of happy days!

Original: What more remains?
Modern: What else is left to do?

In Act IV, Scene i of Richard II, the deposition scene unfolds in Westminster Hall before Bolingbroke and the assembled nobles. Richard II enters and, after initial resistance, formally abdicates his throne to Bolingbroke. He removes his crown, relinquishes his royal ring, and renounces all the sacred duties and privileges of kingship. The ceremony becomes increasingly theatrical as Richard calls for a mirror, which he then shatters after gazing at his reflection, symbolically destroying his royal image.

Following the abdication, Bolingbroke, now to be crowned Henry IV, orders Richard to be taken to the Tower of London. The Abbot of Westminster, the Bishop of Carlisle, and Aumerle remain behind and discuss their dismay at the day’s events. They begin to plot against the new king, with Aumerle agreeing to join a conspiracy to restore Richard to the throne. The scene concludes with their plans taking shape for future action against Bolingbroke’s rule.

Richard II opens with King Richard presiding over a dispute between Henry Bolingbroke (John of Gaunt’s son) and Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk. Both men accuse each other of treason, and when Richard cannot reconcile them, he arranges a trial by combat. However, just as the combat is about to begin, Richard stops the fight and banishes both men from England - Mowbray for life and Bolingbroke for six years, later reduced to four.

When John of Gaunt falls ill and dies, Richard seizes his lands and wealth to fund his wars in Ireland, effectively disinheriting Bolingbroke. This act alienates the nobility, who fear their own inheritances are now at risk. While Richard departs for his Irish campaign, Bolingbroke returns from exile with an army, ostensibly to reclaim his rightful inheritance. He quickly gains support from discontented nobles, including the Duke of York, who was left as regent in Richard’s absence.

Richard returns from Ireland to find his support has collapsed and his army has dispersed. After a series of encounters, including a pivotal scene at Flint Castle where Richard realizes his situation is hopeless, he agrees to abdicate. In a formal ceremony at Westminster, Richard hands over his crown to Bolingbroke, who becomes King Henry IV. Richard is imprisoned in Pomfret Castle, where he is eventually murdered by Sir Pierce Exton, who believes he is carrying out Henry’s wishes. The play ends with Henry expressing regret over Richard’s death and vowing to journey to the Holy Land to atone for his indirect role in the former king’s murder.