Whilst King Richard II was away on campaign in Ireland, Henry of Bolingbroke, the King's cousin and rightful Duke of Lancaster landed with an army in England, his claim was that he was merely trying to reclaim his rightful inheritance, though there were some who suspected he harboured ulterior motives. Mainly for the throne.
Henry raised through much of the north, and sent troops to harry and burn Cheshire, it was during a skirmish with forces loyal to his cousin that Henry took an arrow to the throat, and despite the best intentions of his doctors could not be saved. Henry of Bolingbroke was dead, and his rebellion/uprising up in smoke.
The question remained, what happened now. Would Henry's supporters rally to his son Henry of Monmouth, currently with Richard II in Ireland, or would they bend to the King and accept his judgement?
There was the issue of succession as well, the King's bride, Queen Isabella was but a girl of ten, and as such some thought the King's heir was his cousin of Mortimer, whilst others believed the heir to now be Henry of Monmouth.