BOLINGBROKE has been brought before the King by his father, JOHN OF GAUNT (Patrick Stewart), and is accusing MOWBRAY of being a traitor. MOWBRAY retaliates by calling BOLINGBROKE a slanderous coward.

His patron and friend was John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, another son of the King. On the death of John's first wife Blanche Chaucer wrote his poem The Book of the Duchess. Gaunt's third wife ...