NORTHUMBERLAND            The noble Duke hath sworn his coming is

But for his own, and for the right of that

We all have strongly sworn to give him aid.

And let him ne’er see joy that breaks that oath.

YORK                                      Well well, I see the issue of these arms.

I cannot mend it, I must needs confess,

Because my power is weak and all ill-left.

But if I could, by him that gave me life,

I would attach you all and make you stoop

Unto the sovereign mercy of the King.

But since I cannot, be it known unto you

I do remain as neuter.          (2.3.147-158)

York is presumably outnumbered here, and all the fight seems to go out of him, pretty much: even if both sides have attendants, Bolingbroke has three supporters speaking up for him, while York only has Berkeley, who seems wholly ineffectual. The point that Northumberland makes is an important one: he’s not going to argue, or even press Bolingbroke’s claim further; rather, he’s simply telling it like it is. Bolingbroke has sworn that his coming is but for his own, that is, to claim what is rightfully his, his inheritance; Northumberland, Willoughby, and Ross have similarly sworn to support him. They have taken a binding oath, and that’s that. (What’s perhaps implicit here is that they would also have sworn an oath of loyalty to Richard, at the time of his coronation, or when they themselves came into their titles and estates. The oath that they have strongly sworn to aid Bolingbroke may well be in conflict with their earlier professions of loyalty and fealty to their sovereign.) I see the issue of these arms, the outcome of this situation; I cannot mend it, I can’t do anything about it or find any further remedy, admits York, because my power is weak and all ill-left. I don’t have the numbers, and those troops I have are not well provided for or equipped. (In the chronicle source, York had initially had a good force of fighting men, who then took Bolingbroke’s part and refused to fight against him.) A final defiant gesture: if I were able to, if I had the strength, the numbers, and the firepower (as it were), then by GodI would attach you all, put you all under arrest, and make you stoop, kneel unto the sovereign mercy of the King. (That he imagines them kneeling to beg for clemency, and for their lives, abasing themselves, suggests the degree to which he thinks that Bolingbroke and his supporters have quite literally got above themselves.) But I can’t make you do that. And so I’m going to remain neutral. (Actually, given that he’s meant to be regent, this is as good as announcing that he’s on Bolingbroke’s side. He remains, fairly notionally, loyal to the King—but he cannot and will not deny the legitimacy and right of Bolingbroke’s claims.)