Enter [Richard] with Green and Bagot at one door, and Aumerle at another

RICHARD        We did observe.—Cousin Aumerle,

How far brought you high Hereford on his way?

AUMERLE       I brought high Hereford, if you call him so,

But to the next highway, and there I left him.

RICHARD        And say what store of parting tears were shed?

AUMERLE       Faith, none for me, except the north-east wind

Which then blew bitterly against our faces

Awaked the sleeping rheum, and so by chance

Did grace our hollow parting with a tear. (1.4.1-9)

Richard, off-duty and unguarded, with his friends Green and Bagot. It’s an informal scene, in contrast with the ceremony of his previous two appearances in the play; they enter in the middle of a gossipy conversation, rather than in procession, and presumably from one of the side entrances. Some time has passed since the previous scene, but not much, as this is the first report of Bolingbroke’s departure—from Aumerle (the son of the Duke of York, Bolingbroke’s cousin as well as Richard’s), who has, it seems, escorted Bolingbroke from the court (as it was present at Coventry, for the trial by combat) as far as the next highway, the main road, presumably to the coast. This is the first time he’s seen the King since then. Aumerle seems to show his true allegiance here, in contrast to his fond farewell to Bolingbroke (was he only pretending to be sorrowful and anxious?), picking up Richard’s arch high Hereford with his highway, and implying that high Hereford, who is after all of royal blood but had got above himself, has now been brought low. Was it an emotional farewell, asks Richard? What store of parting tears were shed? Did you cry? Well I certainly didn’t, Aumerle assures him, no tears for me. But there was a cold wind from the north-east, and it made our noses run and our eyes water. And so our hollow parting (hollow because it was empty and insincere) was indeed graced with a tear.