King Richard, following the death of his mother, Joan of Kent, in 1385, and resentful of his regents, had begun to take control of England, appointing his friends to high office.

He has offended much of the English populace with his high-handed style of government, disinterest in the French war, and reliance on these few young friends, especially Michael de la Pole, earl of Suffolk, who Richard names chancellor, and Robert de Vere, earl of Oxford, who Richard makes Duke of Ireland.

Following the departure of Richard’s uncle, John of Gaunt, for Spain, the “Merciless” Parliament of 1386, packed by several barons under the leadership of the the king’s uncle, Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, meets under the threat of rebellion by the king's five leading opponents, known as the Lords Appellant—Gloucester; Gaunt's son, Henry Bolingbroke; the earl of Arundel; the earl of Warwick; and the earl of Nottingham—who bring charges of treason against Oxford.

Suffolk is impeached and a council is imposed on the king, despite Richard's charges of treason.