Enter Bolingbroke and Northumberland [with soldiers]

BOLINGBROKE                      How far is it, my lord, to Berkeley now?

NORTHUMBERLAND            Believe me, noble lord,

I am a stranger here in Gloucestershire.

These high wild hills and rough uneven ways

Draws out our miles and makes them wearisome,

And yet your fair discourse hath been as sugar,

Making the hard way sweet and delectable.           (2.3.1-7)

Heeeeeere’s Bolingbroke! He’s really back! It was the end of 1.3 when he was last seen, and much time has passed both in stage time (over 500 lines) and in the world of the play. And, in the immediate context of the action here, Northumberland has had time to meet Bolingbroke at Ravenspur, and they’re now on their way to Berkeley Castle, where we know that the Duke of York has gone. There’s potentially a laugh here (maybe unintentional), and especially if Northumberland has a strong northern accent: he will identify himself as a stranger here in Gloucestershire the minute he opens his mouth. South-west England is unfamiliar to him, although to describe its landscape as high wild hills and rough uneven ways is a bit odd, however: is it an oversight on the part of the playwright? (Gloucestershire would not look wild and hilly to a Northumbrian.) Is Northumberland being ironic? Trying to make conversation? Whatever, the nature of the countryside means that they’re making slow progress, but Northumberland doesn’t mind: he can chat to Bolingbroke! For a man who has set himself against royal favourites and flatterers, and deserted the king who has been too easily swayed by them, Northumberland is being notably sycophantic here, praising Bolingbroke’s fair discourse, which has been as sugar, making the trials and difficulties of their travel sweet and delectable. Maybe he’s being ironic again? Maybe Bolingbroke’s not been saying anything at all (he says surprisingly little, over the course of the entire play), and this is the first thing he’s said—are we there yet?—for miles and miles. Whatever, the play has entered a new phase. Bolingbroke’s back, and he’s on the move, at the head of an army.