Richard II left no children. The nearest heir to the kingdom by right
of birth was the boy Edmund Mortimer, a descendant of Richard's uncle
Lionel, Duke of Clarence.[2] Henry ignored Mortimer's claim, and
standing before Richard's empty throne in Westminster Hall (S257),
boldly demanded the crown for himself.[3]
[2] See Genealogical Table on page 140.
[3] "In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I, Henry of
Lancaster, challenge this realm of England and the Crown, with all the
members and the appurtenances, as that I am descended by right line of
blood, coming from the good King Henry III, and through that right
that God of his grace hath sent me, with help of kin and of all my
friends to recover it, the which realm was in point to be undone by
default of government and undoing of the good laws."
The nation had suffered so much from the misgovernment of those who
had ruled during the minority of Richard, and later by Richard
himself, that they wanted no more boy kings. Parliament, therefore,
set aside the direct line of descent and accepted Henry. But the air
was full of tumultuous passion. The Lords were divided in their
allegiance, some stood by the former King, others by the new one. No
loess than forty noblemen challenged each other to fight, and civil
war seemed imminent.[1]
[1] J.F. Bright's "History of England," I, 276.