Listen braue Lords a fearefull mourning tale To be deliuered by a man of death Behold these scarres the dole of bloudie Mars Are harbingers from natures common foe Citing this truncke to Tellus prison house Lifes charter Lordings lasteth not an houre And fearefull thoughts forerunners of my end Bids me giue physicke to a sickely soule O Peeres of England know you what you do There 's but a haire that sunders you from harme The hooke is baited and the traine is made And simply you runne doating to your deaths But lest I die and leaue my tale vntolde With silence slaughtering so braue a crew This I auerre if Lewes winne the day There 's not an Englishman that lifts his hand Against King Iohn to plant the heire of France But is already damnd to cruell death I heard it vow'd my selfe amongst the rest Swore on the Altar aide to this Edict Two causes Lords makes me display this drift The greatest for the freedome of my soule That longs to leaue this mansion free from guilt The other on a naturall instinct For that my Grandsire was an Englishman Misdoubt not Lords the truth of my discourse No frensie nor no brainsicke idle fit But well aduisde and wotting what I say Pronounce I here before the face of heauen That nothing is discouered but a truth T is time to flie submit your selues to Iohn The smiles of Fraunce shade in the frownes of death Lift vp your swords turne face against the French Expell the yoke that 's framed for your necks Backe warremen backe imbowell not the clime Your seate your nurse your birth dayes breathing place That bred you beares you brought you vp in armes Ah! be not so ingrate to digge your mothers graue Preserue your lambes and beate away the wolfe My soule hath said contritions penitence Laies hold on mans redemption for my sinne Farewell my Lords witnesse my faith when we are met in heauen And for my kindnesse giue me graue roome here My soule doth fleet worlds vanities farewell Sals Now ioy betide thy soule well-meaning man How now my Lords what cooling carde is this A greater griefe growes now than earst hath beene What counsell giue you shall we stay and die Or shall we home and kneele vnto the King Pemb. My heart misgaue this sad accursed newes What haue we done fie Lords what frensie moued Our hearts to yeeld vnto the pride of Fraunce If we perseuer we are sure to die If we desist small hope againe of life Salsb. Beare hence the body of this wretched man That made vs wretched with his dying tale And stand not wayling on our present harmes As women wont but seeke our harmes redresse As for my selfe I will in haste be gone And kneele for pardon to our soueraigne Iohn Pemb. I there 's the way le ts rather kneele to him Than to the French that would confound vs all Exeunt Enter King Iohn carried betweene two Lords Iohn Set downe set downe the loade not woorth your paine For done I am with deadly wounding griefe Sickely and succourlesse hopelesse of any good The world hath wearied me and I haue wearied it It loathes I liue I liue and loathe my selfe Who pities me to whom haue I beene kinde But to a few a few will pitie me Why die I not Death scornes so vilde a prey Why liue I not life hates so sad a prize I sue to both to be retaind of either But both are deafe I can be heard of neither Nor death nor life yet life and neare the neere Ymixt with death biding I wot not where Phil. How fares my Lord that he is carried thus Not all the aukeward fortunes yet befalne Made such impression of lament in me Nor euer did my eye attaint my heart With any obiect moouing more remorse Than now beholding of a mighty King Borne by his Lords in such distressed State Ioh. What newes with thee if bad report it straight If good be mute it doth but flatter me Phil. Such as it is and heauy though it be To glut the world with tragicke elegies Once will I breathe to aggrauate the rest Another moane to make the measure full The brauest bow-man had not yet sent forth Two arrowes from the quiuer at his side But that a rumor went throughout our Campe That Iohn was fled the King had left the field At last the rumor scal'd these eares of mine Who rather chose as sacrifice for Mars Than ignominious scandall by retire I cheer'd the troupes as did the prince of Troy His weary followers gainst the Mermidons Crying alowd S. George the day is ours But feare had captiuated courage quite And like the Lambe before the greedie Wolfe So heartlesse fled our war-men from the field Short tale to make my selfe amongst the rest Was faine to flie before the eager foe By this time night had shadowed all the earth With sable curtaines of the blackest hue And fenc'd vs from the furie of the French As Io from the iealous Iunoes eie When in the morning our troupes did gather head Passing the washes with our carriages The impartiall tide deadly and inexorable Came raging in with billowes threatning death And swallowed vp the most of all our men My selfe vpon a Galloway right free well pac'd Out stript the flouds that followed waue by waue I so escap'd to tell this tragicke tale Iohn Griefe vpon griefe yet none so great a griefe To end this life and thereby rid my griefe Was euer any so infortunate The right Idea of a cursed man As I poore I a triumph for despight My feuer growes what ague shakes me so How farre to Sminstead tell me do you know Present vnto the Abbot word of my repaire My sicknesse rages to tyrannize vpon me I cannot liue vnlesse this feuer leaue me Philip Good cheere my Lord the Abbey is at hand Behold my Lord the Churchmen come to meet you Enter the Abbot and certaine Monkes Abb. All health happines to our soueraigne lord the King Iohn Nor health nor happines hath Iohn at all Say Abbot am I welcome to thy house Abbot Such welcome as our Abbey can afford Your Maiestie shall be assured of Philip The King thou seest is weake and very faint What victuals hast thou to refresh his Grace Abb. Good stote my Lord of that you need not feare For Lincolneshire and these our Abbey grounds Were neuer fatter nor in better plight Iohn Philip thou neuer needst to doubt of cates Nor King nor Lord is seated halfe so well As are the Abbeis throughout all the land If any plot of ground do passe another The Friers fasten on it strait But let vs in to taste of their repast It goes against my heart to feed with them Or be beholding to such Abbey groomes Exeunt Manet the Monke Monke Is this the King that neuer lou'd a Frier Is this the man that doth contemne the Pope Is this the man that rob'd the holy Church And yet will flie
helpes heape vp more worke for woes Const If any power will heare a widowes plaint That from a wounded soule implores reuenge Send fell contagion to infect this clime This cursed countrey where the traitors breath Whose periurie as proud Briareus Beleaguers all the Skie with mis-beleefe He promist Arthur and he sware it too To fence thy right and check thy fo-mans pride But now black-spotted Periure as he is He takes a truce with Elnors damned brat And marries Lewis to her louely Neece Sharing thy fortune and thy birth-dayes gift Betweene these louers ill betide the match And as they shoulder thee from out thine owne And triumph in a widowes tearefuâ—l cares So heau'ns crosse them with a thriftlesse course Is all the bloud yspilt on either part Closing the cranies of the thirstie earth Growne to a loue-game and a Bridall feast And must thy birth-right bid the wedding banes Poore helpelesse boy hopelesse and helplesse too To whom misfortune seemes no yoake at all Thy stay thy state thy imminent mishaps Woundeth thy mothers thoughts with feeling care Why lookst thou pale the colour flies thy face I trouble now the fountaine of thy youth And make it muddie with my doles discourse Goe in with me reply not louely boy We must obscure this mone with melodie Least worser wrack ensue our male-content Exeunt Enter the King of England the King of France Arthur Bastard Lewis Lymoges Constance Blanch Chattillion Pembrooke Salisburie and Elianor Iohn This is the day the long-desired day Wherein the Realmes of England and of France Stand highly blessed in a lasting peace Thrice happie is the Bridegroome and the Bride From whose sweet Bridall such a concord springs To make of mortall foes immortall friends Const Vngodly peace made by anothers warre Phil. Vnhappie peace that tyes thee from reuenge Rouze thee Plantaginet liue not to see The butcher of the great Plantaginet Kings Princes and ye Peeres of either realmes Pardon my rashnes and forgiue the zeale That carries me in furie to a deede Of high desert of honour and of armes A boone O Kings a boone doth Philip begge Prostrate vpon his knee which knee shall cleaue Vnto the superficies of the earth Till France and England grant this glorious boone Iohn Speake Philip England grants thee thy request Phil. And France confirmes what ere is in his power Bast. Then Duke sit fast I leuell at thy head Too base a ransome for my fathers life Princes I craue the combate with the Duke That braues it in dishonour of my sire Your words are past nor can you now reuerse The Princely promise that reuiues my soule Whereat me thinkes I see his sinewes shake This is the boone dread Lords which granted once Or life or death are pleasant to my soule Since I shall liue and die in Richards right Lym. Base bastard misbegotten of a King To interrupt these holy nuptiall rites With brawles and tumults to a Dukes disgrace Let it suffice I scorne to ioyne in fight With one so farre vnequall to my selfe Bast A fine excuse Kings if you will be Kings Then keepe your words and let vs combate it Iohn Philip we cannot force the Duke to fight Beeing a subiect vnto neither Realme But tell me Austria if an English Duke Should dare thee thus wouldst thou accept the challenge Lym. Else let the world account the Austrich Duke The greatest coward liuing on the earth Iohn Then cheere thee Philip Iohn wil keep his word Kneele downe in sight of Philip King of France And all these Princely Lords assembled here I gird thee with the sword of Normandie And of that Land I doe inuest thee Duke So shalt thou be in liuing and in land Nothing inferiour vnto Austria Lym. K. Iohn I tell thee flatly to thy face Thou wrong'st mine honour and that thou mai'st see How much I scorne thy new made Duke and thee I flatly say I will not be compeld And so farewell sir Duke of lowe degree I le finde a time to match you for this geare Exit Iohn Stay Philip let him goe the honours thine Bast I cannot liue vnlesse his life be mine Q. Elia. Thy forwardnes this day hath ioy'd my soule And made me thinke my Richard liues in thee K. Phil. Lordings let 's in and spend the wedding day In maskes and triumphs letting quarrels cease Enter a Cardinall from Rome Card. Stay king of France I charge thee ioyn not hands With him that stands accurst of God and men Know Iohn that I Pandulph Cardinall of Millaine and Legate from the Sea of Rome demand of thee in the name of our holy Father the Pope Innocent why thou do'st contrary to the lawes of our holy mother the Church and our holy Father the Pope disturb the quiet of the Church and disanull the election of Stephen Langhton whom his holinesse hath elected Archbishop of Canterburie this in his holinesse name I demaund of thee Ioh. And what hast thou or the Pope thy master to do to demand of me how I imploy mine own Know sir priest as I honor the Church and holy Church-men so I scorne to be subiect to the greatest Prelate in the world Tell thy master so from me and say Iohn of England said it that neuer an Italian Priest of them all shal either haue tythe tole or polling peny out of England but as I am King so will I raigne next vnder God supreame head both ouer spiritual and temporall and he that contradicts me in this I le make him hop headlesse K. Phil. What K. Iohn know you what you say thus to blaspheme against our holy father the Pope Ioh. Philip though thou and all the Princes of Christendome suffer themselues to be abus'd by a Prelates slauery my mind is not of such base temper If the Pope will bee king of England let him win it with the sword I know no other title he can alleadge to mine inheritance Card. Iohn this is thine answer Iohn What then Card. Then I Pandulph of Padua Legate from the Apostolike Sea doe in the name of Saint Peter and his successor our holy father Pope Innocent pronounce thee accursed discharging euery of thy subiects of all dutie and fealtie that they doe owe to thee and pardon and forgiuenesse of sinne to those or them whatsoeuer which shal carrie armes against thee or murder thee This I pronounce and charge all good men to abhorre thee as an excommunicate person Ioh. So sir the more the foxe is curs'd the better a fares if God blesse me and my Land let the Pope and his shauelings curse and spare not Card. Furthermore I charge thee Philip K. of Fraunce and all the kings and princes of Christendome to make warre vpon this miscreant and whereas thou hast made a league with him and confirmed it by oath I doe in the name of our foresaid father the Pope acquit thee of that oath as vnlawfull beeing made with an hereticke howe sai'st thou Philip do'st thou obey
THE First and second Part of the troublesome Raigne of John King of England With the discouerie of King Richard Cordelions Base sonne vulgarly named The Bastard Fawconbridge Also the death of King Iohn at Swinstead Abbey As they were sundry times lately acted the Queenes Maiesties Players Written by W. Sh. Imprinted at London by Valentine Simmes for Iohn Helme and are to be sold at his shop in Saint Dunstons Churchyard in Fleetestreet 1611. The troublesome Raigne of King Iohn Enter K. Iohn Queene Elinor his mother William Marshall Earle of Pembrooke the Earles of Essex and of Salisbury Queene Elianor BArons of England and my noble Lords Though God and Fortune haue bereft from vs Victorious Richard scourge of Infidells And clad this Land in stole of dismall hew Yet giue me leaue to ioy and ioy you all That from this wombe hath sprung a second hope A King that may in rule and vertue both Succeede his brother in his Emperie K. Iohn My gratious mother Queene and Barons all Though farre vnworthy of so high a place As is the Throne of mighty Englands King Yet Iohn your Lord contented vncontent Will as he may sustaine the heauy yoke Of pressing cares that hang vpon a Crowne My Lord of Pembrooke and Lord Salsbury Admit the Lord Chattilion to our presence That we may know what Philip King of Fraunce By his Ambassadors requires of vs. Q. Elinor Dare lay my hand that Elinor can gesse Whereto this weighty Embassade doth tend If of my nephew Arthur and his claime Then say my Sonne I haue not missde my aime Enter Chattilion and the two Earles Iohn My Lord Chattilion welcome into England How fares our brother Philip king of Fraunce Chat. His Highnesse at my comming was in health And will'd me to salute your Maiestie And say the message he hath giuen in charge Iohn And spare not man wee are preparde to heare Chat. Philip by the grace of God most Christian King of France hauing taken into his gardain protection Arthur D. of Brittaine sonne and heire to Ieffrey thine elder brother requireth in the behalfe of the saide Arthur the kingdome of England with the lordship of Ireland Poiters Aniow Toraine Maine and I attend thine answer Iohn A small request belike hee makes account That England Ireland Poiters Aniow Toraine Maine Are nothing for a King to giue at once I wonder what he meanes to leaue for me Tell Philip he may keepe his Lords at home With greater honour than to send them thus On Embassades that not concerne himselfe Or if they did would yeeld but small returne Chat. Is this thine answer Iohn It is and too good an answer for so prowd a message Chat. Then King of England in my Masters name And in Prince Arthur duke of Brittaines name I doe defie thee as an enemie And wish thee to prepare for bloody warres Q. Elinor My Lord that stands vpon defiance thus Commend me to my nephew tell the boy That I Queene Elianor his grandmother Vpon my blessing charge him leaue his Armes Whereto his head-strong mother prickes him so Her pride we know and know her for a Dame That will not sticke to bring him to his end So she may bring herselfe to rule a realme Next wish him to forsake the King of Fraunce And come to me and to his vncle here And he shall want for nothing at our hands Chat. This shall I do and thus I take my leaue Iohn Pembrooke conuey him safely to the sea But not in haste for as we are aduisde We meane to be in France as soone as he To fortifie such townes as we possesse In Aniow Toraine and in Normandie Exit Chatt Enter the Shriue and whispers the Earle of Salis in the care Sals Please it your maiesty here is the shriue of Northhamptonshire with certaine persons that of late committed a riot and haue appeald to your Maiestie beseeching your Highnesse for speciall cause to heare them Iohn Will them come neere and while wee heare the cause Goe Salsbury and make prouision We meane with speed to passe the Sea to France Say shriue what are these men what haue they done Or whereto tends the course of this appeale Shriue Please it your maiesty these two brethren vnnaturally falling at odds about their fathers liuing haue broken your Highnesse peace in seeking to right their owne wrongs without course of Lawe or order of Iustice vnlawfully assembled thēselues in mutinous maner hauing committed a riot appealing from triall in their country to your Highnes and here I Thomas Nidigate shrine of Northamptonshire do deliuer them ouer to their triall Iohn My Lord of Essex wil th offenders to stand forth and tell the cause of their quarrell Essex Gentlemen it is the Kings pleasure that you discouer your griefs and doubt not but you shal haue iustice Phil. Please it your M. the wrong is mine yet will I abide all wrongs before I once open my mouth t' vnrip the shamefull slander of my parents the dishonor of my self the bad dealing of my brother in this princely assemblie Robert Then by my Prince his leaue shall Robert speake And tell your Maiestie what right I haue To offer wrong as he accounteth wrong My father not vnknowne vnto your Grace Receiu'd his spurres of Knighthood in the Field At kingly Richards hands in Palestine When as the walls of Acon gaue him way His name sir Robert Fauconbridge of Mountbery What by succession from his Ancestors And warlike seruice vnder Englands Armes His liuing did amount to at his death Two thousand markes reuenew euery yeare And this my Lord I challenge for my right As lawfull heire to Robert-Fauconbridge Philip If first-borne sonne be heire indubitate By certaine right of Englands auntient Lawe How should my selfe make any other doubt But I am heire to Robert Fauconbridge Iohn Fond youth to trouble these our princely cares Or make a question in so plaine a case Speake is this man thine elder brother borne Robert Please it your Grace with patience for to heare I not deny but he mine elder is Mine elder brother too yet in such sort As he can make no title to the land Iohn A doubtfull tale as euer I did heare Thy brother and thine elder and no heire Explaine this darke Aenigma Robert I grant my Lord he is my mothers sonne Base borne and base begot no Fauconbridge Indeede the world reputes him lawfull heire My father in his life did count him so And here my mother stands to prooue him so But I my Lord can prooue and doe auerre Both to my mothers shame and his reproach He is no heire nor yet legitimate Then gratious Lord let Fauconbridge enioy The liuing that belongs to Fauconbridge And let not him possesse anothers right Iohn Prooue this the land is thine by Englands lawe Q. Elin. Vngratious youth to rip thy mothers shame The wombe from whence thou didst thy being take All honest eares abhorre thy wickednesse But
this forward hand Making it weake to execute your charge Iohn What liues he Then sweete hope come home agen Chase hence despaire the purueyor for hell Hye Hubert tell these tidings to my Lords That throb in passions for yong Arthurs death Hence Hubert stay not till thou hast reueald The wished newes of Arthurs happy health I goe my selfe the ioyfullst man aliue To storie out this new supposed crime Exeunt The end of the first Part. To the Gentlemen Readers THe changelesse purpose of determinde Fate Giues period to our care or hearts content When heau'ns fixt time for this or that hath end Nor can earths pomp or pollicie preuent The doome ordained in their secret will Gentles we left King Iohn repleate with blisse That Arthur liude whom he supposed slaine And Hubert posting to returne those Lords Who deem'd him dead and parted discontent Arthur himselfe begins our latter Act Our Act of outrage desprate furie death Wherein fond rashnesse murdreth first a Prince And Monkish falsenesse poysneth last a King First Scene shews Arthurs death in infancie And last concludes Iohns fatall tragedie The second part of The troublesome Raigne of King Iohn Containing The entrance of Lewis the French Kings sonne With the poysoning of King Iohn by a Monke Enter yong Arthur on the walls NOw help good hap to further mine entent Crosse not my youth with any more extremes I venter life to gaine my libertie And if I die worlds troubles haue an end Feare gins disswade the strength of my resolue My holde will faile and then alas I fall And if I fall no question death is next Better desist and liue in prison still Prison said I nay rather death than so Comfort and courage come againe to me I le venter sure t is but a leape for life He leapes and brusing his bones after he was from his traunce speakes thus Hoe who is nigh some bodie take me vp Where is my mother let me speake with her Who hurts me thus speake hoe where are you gone Ay me poore Arthur I am heere alone Why calld I mother how did I forget My fall my fall hath killd my mothers sonne How will she weepe at tidings of my death My death indeed O God my bones are burst Sweet Iesu saue my soule forgiue my rash attempt Comfort my mother shield her from despaire When shee shall heare my tragycke ouerthrowe My heart controls the office of my tongue My vitall powers forsake my brused trunke I die I die heauen take my fleeting soule And Lady mother all good hap to thee He dies Enter Pembrooke Salisburie Essex Essex My Lords of Pembrooke and of Salisburie We must be carefull in our policie To vndermine the keepers of this place Else shall we neuer find the Princes graue Pemb. My Lord of Essex take no care for that I warrant you it was not closely done But who is this lo Lords the withered flowre Who in his life shin'd like the Mornings blush Cast out a doore deni'd his buriall right A prey for birds and beasts to gorge vpon Salisb. O ruthfull spectacle O damned deed My sinewes shake my very heart doth bleed Essex Leaue childish teares braue Lords of England If water-floods could fetch his life againe My eies should conduit forth a sea of teares If sobs would helpe or sorows serue the turne My heart should volley out deepe piercing plaints But bootlesse were 't to breath as many sighes As might ecclipse the brightest Sommers sunne Here rests the helpe a seruice to his ghost Let not the tyrant causer of this dole Liue to triumph in ruthfull massacres Giue hand and heart and Englishmen to armes T is Gods decree to wreake vs of these harmes Pemb. The best aduice But who comes posting here Enter Hubert Right noble Lords I speake vnto you all The King entreats your soonest speed To visit him who on your present want Did ban and curse his birth himselfe and me For executing of his strict command I saw his passion and at fittest time Assur'd him of his cousins being safe Whom pity would not let me doe to death He craues your company my Lords in haste To whom I will conduct young Arthur straight Who is in health vnder my custody Essex In health base villaine were 't not I leaue the crime To Gods reuenge to whom reuenge belongs Here should'st thou perish on my rapiers point Call'st thou this health such health betide thy friends And all that are of thy condition Hub. My Lords but heare me speake and kil me then If here I left not this yong Prince aliue Maugre the hastie Edict of the King Who gaue me charge to put out both his eyes That God that gaue me liuing to this houre Thunder reuenge vpon me in this place And as I tendred him with earnest loue So God loue me and then I shall be well Sals Hence traytor hence thy counsel is herein Exit Hu. Some in this place appointed by the King Haue throwne him from this lodging here aboue And sure the murther hath bin newly done For yet the body is not fully cold Essex How say you Lords shal we with speed dispatch Vnder our hands a packet into France To bid the Dolphin enter with his force To claime the kingdom for his proper right His title maketh lawfull strength thereto Besides the Pope on peril of his curse Hath bard vs of obedience vnto Iohn This hatefull murder Lewis his true descent The holy charge that we receiu'd from Rome Are weightie reasons if you like my reed To make vs all perseuer in this deed Pemb. My Lord of Essex well haue you aduis'd I will accord to further you in this Salisb. And Salisbury will not gainesay the same But aide that course as farre forth as he can Essex Then each of vs send straight to his allies To win them to this famous enterprise And let vs all yclad in Palmers weed The tenth of April at S. Edmunds Bury Meet to conferre and on the altar there Sweare secrecie and aid to this aduise Meane while let vs conuey this body hence And giue him buriall as befits his state Keeping his months mind and his obsequies With solemne intercession for his soule How say you Lordings are you all agreed Pemb. The tenth of April at S. Edmunds Burie God letting not I will not faile the time Essex Then let vs all conuey the body hence Exeunt Enter K. Iohn with two or three and the Prophet Ioh. Disturbed thoughts foredoomers of mine ill Distracted passions signes of growing harmes Strange prophecies of imminent mishaps Confound my wits and dull my senses so That euery obiect these mine eies behold Seeme instruments to bring me to my end Ascension day is come Iohn feare not then The prodigies this pratling Prophet threats T is come indeed ah were it fully past Then were I carelesse of a thousand feares The Diall tels me it is twelue at noone Were twelue at midnight past then might I
vaunt False seers prophecies of no import Could I as well with this right hand of mine Remoue the Sunne from our Meridian Vnto the moonested circle of th' antipodes As turne this steele from twelue to twelue agen Then Iohn the date of fatall prophecies Should with the Prophets life together end But multa cadunt inter calicem supremaque labra Peter vnsay thy foolish doting dreame And by the crowne of England here I sweare To make thee great and greatest of thy kin Peter King Iohn although the time I haue prescrib'd Be but twelue houres remaining yet behind Yet doe I know by inspiration Ere that fixt time be fully come about King Iohn shall not be king as heretofore Iohn Vaine buzzard what mischance can chance so soone To set a king beside his regall seat My heart is good my body passing strong My Land in peace my enemies subdu'd Onely my barons storme at Arthurs death But Arthur liues I there the challenge growes Were he dispatch'd vnto his longest home Then were the King secure of thousand foes Hubert what newes with thee where are my Lords Hub. Hard newes my Lord Arthur the louely prince Seeking to escape ouer the castle walles Fell headlong downe and in the cursed fall He brake his bones and there before the gate Your barons found him dead and breathlesse quite Ioh. Is Arthur dead then Hubert without more words hang the Prophet Away with Peter villain out of my sight I am deafe be gone let him not speake a word Now Iohn thy feares are vanisht into smoake Arthur is dead thou guiltlesse of his death Sweet youth but that I striued for a crowne I could haue well affoarded to thine age Long life and happinesse to thy content Enter the Bastard Ioh. Philip what newes with thee Bast The newes I heard was Peters prayers Who wisht like fortune to befall vs all And with that word the rope his latest friend Kept him from falling headlong to the ground Ioh. There let him hang and be the Rauens food While Iohn triumphs in spite of prophecies But what 's the tydings from the Popelings now What say the Monkes and Priests to our proceedings Or where 's the Barons that so suddainely Did leaue the king vpon a false surmise Bast The Prelates storme and thirst for sharp reuenge But please your Maiestie were that the worst It little skild a greater danger growes Which must be weeded out by carefull speed Or all is lost for all is leueld at Ioh. More frights and feares what ere thy tidings be I am prepar'd then Philip quickly say Meane they to murder or imprison me To giue my Crowne away to Rome or France Or will they each of them become a King Worse than I thinke it is it cannot be Bast. Not worse my Lord but euery whit as bad The Nobles haue elected Lewis King In right of Lady Blanch your neece his wife His landing is expected euery houre The Nobles Commons Clergie all Estates Incited chiefly by the Cardinall Pandulph that lies here Legate for the Pope Thinke long to see their new elected King And for vndoubted proofe see here my Liege Letters to me from your Nobilitie To be a partie in this action Who vnder shew of fained holinesse Appoint their meeting at S. Edmunds Burie There to consult conspire and conclude The ouerthrowe and downefall of your State Ioh. Why so it must be one houre of content Match'd with a month of passionate effects Why shines the Sunne to fauour this consort Why doe the winds not breake their brazen gates And scatter all these periur'd complices With all their counsels and their damned drifts But see the welkin rolleth gently on There 's not a lowring cloud to frowne on them The heauen the earth the sunne the moone and all Conspire with those confederates my decay Then hell for me if any power be there Forsake that place and guide me step by step To poyson strangle murder in their steps These traytors oh that name is too good for them And death is easie is there nothing worse To wreake me on this proud peace-breaking crew What saist thou Philip why assists thou not Bast These curses good my Lord fit not the season Help must descend from heauen against this treason Ioh. Nay thou wilt proue a traytor with the rest Goe get thee to them shame come to you all Bast I would be loath to leaue your Highnesse thus Yet you command and I though grieu'd will goe Ioh. Ah Philip whither go'st thou come againe Bast My Lord these motions are as passions of a mad man Ioh. A mad man Philip I am mad indeed My heart is maz'd my sences all foredone And Iohn of England now is quite vndone Was euer King as I opprest with cares Dame Elianor my noble mother Queene My onely hope and comfort in distresse Is dead and England excommunicate And I am interdicted by the Pope All Churches curst their doores are sealed vp And for the pleasure of the Romish Priest The seruice of the Highest is neglected The multitude a beast of many heads Doe wish confusion to their soueraigne The Nobles blinded with ambitions fumes Assemble powers to beate mine Empire downe And more than this elect a forrein king O England wert thou euer miserable King Iohn of England sees thee miserable Iohn t is thy sinnes that makes it miserable Quicquid delirunt Reges plectuntur Achiui Philip as thou hast euer lou'd thy King So show it now post to S. Edmunds Burie Dissemble with the Nobles know their drifts Confound their diuellish plots and damn'd deuises Though Iohn be faultie yet let subiects beare He will amend and right the peoples wrongs A mother though shee were vnnaturall Is better than the kindest step-dame is Let neuer Englishman trust forraine rule Then Philip shew thy fealty to thy King And mongst the Nobles plead thou for the King Bast. I goe my Lord see how he is distraught This is the cursed Priest of Italy Hath heap'd these mischiefes on this haplesse land Now Philip hadst thou Tullies eloquence Then might'st thou hope to plead with good successe Exit Ioh. And art thou gone successe may follow thee Thus hast thou shew'd thy kindnesse to thy King Sirra in haste goe greet the Cardinall Pandulph I meane the Legat from the Pope Say that the King desires to speake with him Now Iohn bethinke thee how thou maist resolue And if thou wilt continue Englands King Then cast about to keepe thy Diadem For life and land and all is leueld at The Pope of Rome t is he that is the cause He curseth thee he sets thy subiects free From due obedience to their Soueraigne He animates the Nobles in their warres He giues away the Crowne to Philips sonne And pardons all that seeke to murther thee And thus blind zeale is still predominant Then Iohn there is no way to keepe thy crowne But finely to dissemble with the Pope That hand that gaue the wound must
none I know By planting Lewis in the Vsurpers roome This is the cause of all our presence here That on the holy Altar we protest To aid the right of Lewis with goods and life Who on our knowledge is in armes for England What say you Lords Salis As Pembrooke saith affirmeth Salisburie Faire Lewis of France that spoused Lady Blanch Hath title of an vncontrouled strength To England and what longeth to the Crowne In right whereof as we are true inform'd The Prince is marching hitherward in armes Our purpose to conclude that with a word Is to inuest him as we may deuise King of our countrey in the tyrants stead And so the warrant on the Altar sworne And so the intent for which we hither came Bast My Lord of Salisburie I cannot couch My speeches with the needfull words of arte As doth beseeme in such a waightie worke But what my conscience and my duty will I purpose to impart For Chesters exile blame his busie wit That medled where his duty quite forbade For any priuate causes that you haue Me thinke they should not mount to such a height As to depose a King in their reuenge For Arthurs death K. Iohn was innocent He desperate was the deathsman to himselfe Which you to make a colour to your crime iniustly do impute to his defalt But wher fel traitorisme hath resideÌ„ce There wants no words to set despight on worke I say t is shame and worthy all reproofe To wrest such petty wrongs in tearms of right Against a King annointed by the Lord. Why Salsburie admit the wrongs are true Yet subiects may not take in hand reuenge And rob the heauens of their proper power Where sitteth he to whom reuenge belongs And doth a Pope a priest a man of pride Giue charters for the liues of lawfull kings What can he blesse or who regards his curse But such as giue to man and take from God I speake it in the sight of God aboue There 's not a man that dies in your beleefe But sels his soule perpetually to paine Aid Lewis leaue God kill Iohn please hell Make hauocke of the welfare of your soules For here I leaue you in the sight of heauen A troope of traytors food for hellish fiends If you desist then follow me as friends If not then doe your worst as hatefull traytors For Lewis his right alasse t is too too lame A senslesse claime if truth be titles friend In briefe if this be cause of our resort Our pilgrimage is to the diuels shrine I came not Lords to troupe as traytors doe Nor will I counsell in so bad a cause Please you returne we goe againe as friends If not I to my King and you where traytors please Exit Percie A hot yong man and so my Lords proceed I let him goe and better lost than found Pemb. What say you Lords will all the rest proceed Will you all with me sweare vpon the Altar That you wil to the death be aid to Le. enemy to Iohn Euery man lay his hand by mine in witnes of his harts accord Wel then euery man to armes to meet the king Who is already before London Enter Messenger Pemb. What newes Herauld The right Christian Prince my master Lewis of France is at hand comming to visit your Honours directed hither by the right honourable Richard Earle of Bigot to conferre with your honours Pemb. How neere is his Highnesse Mes Ready to enter your presence Enter Lewis Earle Bigot with his troupe Lew. Faire Lords of England Lewis salutes you all As friends and firme wel-willers of his weale At whose request from plentie flowing France Crossing the Ocean with a Southerne gale He is in person come at your commands To vndertake and gratifie withall The fulnesse of your fauours profferd him But worlds braue men omitting promises Till time be minister of more amends I must acquaint you with our fortunes course The heauens dewing fauours on my head Haue in their conduct safe with victory Brought me along your well manured bounds With small repulse and little crosse of chance Your Citie Rochester with great applause By some diuine instinct laid armes aside And from the hollow holes of Thamesis Eccho apace repli'd Viue la Roy. From thence along the wanton rowling glade To Troynouant your faire Metropolis With lucke came Lewis to shew his troupes of France Wauing our Ensignes with the dallying winds The fearefull obiect of fell frowning warre Where after some assault and small defence Heauens may I say and not my warlike troupe Temperd their hearts to take a friendly foe Within the compasse of their high built wals Giuing me title as it seemd they wish Thus fortune Lords acts to your forwardnesse Meanes of content in lieu of former griefe And may I liue but to requite you all Worlds wish were mine in dying noted yours Salis Welcom the balme that closeth vp our wounds The soueraigne medcine for our quicke recure The anchor of our hope the onely prop Whereon depends our liues our lands our weale Without the which as sheepe without their heird Except a shepheard winking at the wolfe We stray we pine we run to thousand harmes No maruell then though with vnwonted ioy We welcome him that beateth woes away Lew. Thanks to you all of this religious league A holy knot of Catholike consent I cannot name you Lordings man by man But like a stranger vnacquainted yet In generall I promise faithfull loue Lord Bigot brought me to S. Edmunds shrine Giuing me warrant of a Christian oath That this assembly came 〈…〉 To sweare according as your pâ—ckets show'd Homage and loyall seruice to our selfe I need not doubt the suretie of your wils Since well I know for many of your sakes The townes haue yeelded on their own accords Yet for a fashion not for misbeleefe My eyes must witnesse and these eares must heare Your oath vpon the holy Altar sworne And after march to end our commings cause Sals That we intend no other than good truth All that are present of this holy league For confirmation of our better trust In presence of his Highnesse sweare with me The sequel that my selfe shall vtter here I Thomas Plantaginet Earle of Salisburie sweare vpon the Altar and by the holy army of Saints homage and allegeance to the right Christian Prince Lewis of France as true and rightfull King to England Cornewall Wales and to their territories in the defence whereof I vpon the holy Altar sweare all forwardnesse All the Eng. Lo. sweare As the noble Earle hath sworne so sweare we all Lew. I rest assured on your holy oath And on this Altar in like sort I sweare Loue to you all and princely recompence To guerdon your good wils vnto the full And since I am at this religious shrine My good wel-willers giue vs leaue awhile To vse some orizons our selues apart To all the holy company of heauen That they will smile vpon our purposes And
bring them to a fortunate euent Sal. We leaue your Hignesse to your good intent Exeunt Lords of England Lew. Now Vicount Meloun what remains behind Trust me these traytors to their Soueraigne State Are not to be beleeu'd in any sort Meloun Indeed my Lord they that infringe their oths And play the Rebels gainst their natiue King Will for as little cause reuolt from you If euer opportunitie incite them so For once forsworne and neuer after sound There 's no affiance after periury Lew. Well Meloun wel let 's smooth with thē awhile Vntill we haue as much as they can doe And when their vertue is exhaled drie I le hang them for the guerdon of their helpe Meane while wee 'l vse them as a pretious poyson To vndertake the issue of our hope Fr. Lo. T is policy my Lord to bait our hookes With merry smiles and promise of much weight But when your Highnesse needeth them no more T is good make sure worke with them lest indeede They prooue to you as to their naturall King Melun Trust mee my Lord right well haue you aduisde Venome for vse but neuer for a sport Is to be dallied with lest it infect Were you instald as soone I hope you shall Be free from traitors and dispatch them all Lewes That so I meane I sweare before you all On this same Altar and by heauens power There 's not an English traitor of them all Iohn once dispatcht and I faire Englands King Shall on his shoulders beare his head one day But I will crop it for their guilts desert Nor shall their heires inioy their Seigniories But perish by their parents foule amisse This haue I sworne and this will I performe If ere I come vnto the height I hope Lay downe your hands and sweare the same with me The French Lords sweare Why so now call them in and speake them faire A smile of Fraunce will feed an English foole Beare them in hand as friends for so they be But in the heart like traitors as they are Enter the English Lords Now famous followers chiefetaines of the world Haue we sollicited with hearty prayer The heauen in fauour of our high attempt Leaue we this place and march we with our power To rowse the tyrant from his chiefest hold And when our labours haue a prosprous end Each man shall reape the fruit of his desert And so resolu'd braue followers let vs hence Enter K. Iohn Bastard Pandulph and a many Priests with them Thus Iohn thou art absolu'd from all thy sinnes And freed by order from our Fathers curse Receiue thy Crowne againe with this prouiso That thou remaine true liegeman to the Pope And carry armes in right of holy Rome Iohn I holde the same as tenant to the Pope And thanke your Holinesse for your kindnesse shewne Philip A proper iest when Kings must stoop to Friers Need hath no law when Friers must be Kings Enter a Messenger Mess Please it your maiestie the Prince of France With all the Nobles of your Graces Land Are marching hitherward in good aray Where ere they set their foot all places yeeld Thy Land is theirs and not a foot holds out But Douer Castle which is hard besieg'd Pan. Feare not king Iohn thy kingdome is the Popes And they shall know his Holinesse hath power To beate them soone from whence he hath to doe Drums and Trumpets Enter Lewes Melun Salisbury Essex Pembrooke and all the Nobles from Fraunce and England Lewes Pandulph as gaue his Holinesse in charge So hath the Dolphin mustred vp his troupes And wonne the greatest part of all this Land But ill becomes your Grace Lord Cardinall Thus to conuerse with Iohn that is accurst Pand. Lewes of France victorious Conqueror Whose sword hath made this Iland quake for feare Thy forwardnesse to fight for holy Rome Shall be remunerated to the full But know my Lord K. Iohn is now absolu'd The Pope is pleasde the Land is blest agen And thou hast brought each thing to good effect It resteth then that thou withdraw thy powers And quietly returne to Fraunce againe For all is done the Pope would wish thee doe Lewes But all 's not done that Lewes came to do Why Pandulph hath king Philip sent his sonne And beene at such excessiue charge in warres To be dismist with words king Iohn shall know England is mine and he vsurps my right Pand. Lewes I charge thee and thy complices Vpon the paine of Pandulphs holy curse That thou withdraw thy powers to Fraunce againe And yeeld vp London and the neighbour townes That thou hast tane in England by the sword Melun Lord Cardinall by Lewes princely leaue It can be nought but vsurpation In thee the Pope and all the Church of Rome Thus to insult on Kings of Christendome Now with a word to make them carrie armes Then with a word to make them leaue their armes This must not be Prince Lewes keepe thine owne Let Pope and Popelings curse their bellies full Bast. My Lord of Melun what title had the Prince To England and the Crowne of Albion But such a title as the Pope confirm'd The Prelate now le ts fall his fained claime Lewes is but the agent for the Pope Then must the Dolphin cease sith he hath ceast But cease or no it greatly matters not If you my Lords and Barons of the Land Will leaue the French and cleaue vnto our King For shame yee Peeres of England suffer not Your selues your honours and your land to fall But with resolued thoughts beate backe the French And free the Land from yoke of seruitude Salisbury Philip not so Lord Lewes is our King And wee will follow him vnto the death Pand. Then in the name of Innocent the Pope I curse the Prince and all that take his part And excommunicate the rebell Peeres As traitors to the King and to the Pope Lew. Pandulph our swords shall blesse our selues agen Prepare thee Iohn Lords follow me your King Exeunt Iohn Accursed Iohn the Diuell owes thee shame Resisting Rome or yeelding to the Pope all 's one The diuell take the Pope the Peeres and Fraunce Shame be my share for yeelding to the Priest Pand. Comfort thy selfe king Iohn the Cardnall goes Vpon his curse to make them leaue their armes Exit Bastard Comfort my Lord and curse the Cardinall Betake your selfe to armes my troupes are prest To answer Lewes with a lustie shocke The English archers haue their quiuers full Their bowes are bent the pikes are prest to push Good cheere my Lord King Richards fortune hangs Vpon the plume of warrelike Philips helme Then let them know his brother and his sonne Are leaders of the Englishmen at armes Iohn Philip I know not how to answer thee But let vs hence to answer Lewes pride Excursions Enter Meloun with English Lords Mel. O I am slaine Nobles Salsbury Pembrooke My soule is charged heare me for what I say Concerns the Peeres of England and their State
England Am I not too bold with your Highnesse Iohn Not a whit all friends and fellowes for a time Monke If the inwards of a toad be a compound of any proofe why so it workes Iohn Stay Philip where 's the Monke Bastard He is dead my Lord. Iohn Then drinke not Philip for a world of wealth Ba. What cheere my liege your collor gins to change Iohn So doth my life O Philip I am poison'd The Monke the Diuell the poyson gins to rage It will depose my selfe a King from raigne Bast. This Abbot hath an interest in this act At all aduentures take thou that from me There lie the Abbot Abbey Lubber Diuell March with the Monke vnto the gates of hell How fares my Lord Iohn Philip some drinke oh for the frozen Alpes To tumble on and coole this inward heate That rageth as the fornace seuen-fold hote To burne the holy tree in Babylon Power after power forsake their proper power Onely the heart impugnes with faint resist The fierce inuade of him that conquers Kings Helpe God O paine die Iohn O plague Inflicted on thee for thy grieuous sinnes Philip a chaire and by and by a graue My legges disdaine the carriage of a King Bast. A good my Liege with patience conquer griefe And beare this paine with kingly fortitude Iohn Me thinkes I see a catalogue of sinne Wrote by a fiend in marble characters The least enough to loose my part in heauen Me thinkes the Diuell whispers in mine eares And tells me t is in vaine to hope for grace I must be damn'd for Arthurs sodaine death I see I see a thousand thousand men Come to accuse me for my wrong on earth And there is none so mercifull a God That will forgiue the number of my sinnes How haue I liu'd but by anothers losse What haue I lou'd but wracke of others weale When haue I vow'd and not infring'd mine oath Where haue I done a deede deseruing well How what when and where haue I bestow'd a day That tended not to some notorious ill My life repleate with rage and tyrannie Craues little pittie for so strange a death Or who will say that Iohn deceasde too soone Who will not say he rather liu'd too long Dishonour did attaint me in my life And shame attendeth Iohn vnto his death Why did I scape the fury of the French And dide not by the temper of their swords Shamelesse my life and shamefully it ends Scorn'd by my foes disdained of my friends Bast. Forgiue the world and all your earthly foes And call on Christ who is your latest friend Iohn My tongue doth falter Philip I tell thee man Since Iohn did yeeld vnto the Priest of Rome Nor he nor his haue prospred on the earth Curst are his blessings and his curse is blisse But in the spirit I crie vnto my God As did the kingly prophet Dauid cry Whose hands as mine with murder were attaint I am not he shall build the Lord a house Or roote these locusts from the face of earth But if my dying heart deceiue me not From out these loynes shall spring a kingly braunch Whose armes shall reach vnto the gates of Rome And with his feete treades downe the Strumpets pride That sits vpon the chaire of Babylon Philip my heart strings breake the poysons flame Hath ouercome in me weake Natures power And in the faith of Iesu Iohn doth die Bastard See how he striues for life vnhappy Lord Whose bowels are diuided in themselues This is the fruit of Poperie when true Kings Are slaine and shouldred out by Monkes and Friers Enter a Messenger Mess Please it your Grace the Barons of the Land Which all this while bare armes against the King Conducted by the Legate of the Pope Together with the Prince his Highnesse sonne Do craue to be admitted to the presence of the King Bast Your Sonne my Lord yong Henry craues to see Your Maiestie and brings with him beside The Barons that reuolted from your Grace O piercing sight he fumbleth in the mouth His speech doth faile lift vp your selfe my Lord And see the Prince to comfort you in death Enter Pandulph yong Henry the Barons with daggers in their hands Prince O let me see my father ere he die O vncle were you here and suffred him To be thus poysned by a damned Monke Ah he is dead Father sweet Father speake Bastard His speach doth faile he hasteth to his end Pandulph Lords giue me leaue to ioy the dying King With sight of these his Nobles kneeling here With daggers in their hands who offer vp Their liues for ransome of their foule offence Then good my Lord if you forgiue them all Lift vp your hand in token you forgiue Salis We humbly thanke your royall Maiestie And vow to fight for England and her King And in the sight of Iohn our soueraigne Lord In spite of Lewes and the power of Fraunce Who hitherward are marching in all haste We crowne yong Henry in his fathers sted Henry Help help he dies Ah father looke on mee Legat K. Iohn farewell in token of thy faith And signe thou diest the seruant of the Lord Lift vp thy hand that we may witnesse here Thou diedst the seruant of our Sauiour Christ Now ioy betide thy soule what noise is this Enter a Messenger Mess Help Lords the Dolphin maketh hitherward With Ensignes of defiance in the winde And all our armie standeth at a gaze Expecting what their Leaders will commaund Bast. Let 's arme our selues in yong K. Henries right And beate the power of Fraunce to sea againe Legate Philip not so but I will to the Prince And bring him face to face to parley with you Bast. Lord Salsbury your selfe shall march with me So shall we bring these troubles to an end King Sweet vncle if thou loue thy Soueraigne Let not a stone of Swinstead Abbey stand But pull the house about the Friers eares For they haue kill'd my Father and my King Exeunt A Parley sounded Lewes Pandulph Salisbury c. Pand. Lewes of Fraunce yong Henry Englands king Requires to know the reason of the claime That thou canst make to any thing of his King Iohn that did offend is dead and gone See where his breathlesse trunke in presence lies And he as heire apparant to the crowne Is now succeeded in his Fathers roome Henry Lewes what law of armes doth leade thee thus To kéepe possession of my lawfull right Answere in fine if thou wilt take a peace And make surrender of my right againe Or trie thy title with the dint of sword I tell thee Dolphin Henry feares thee not For now the Barons cleaue vnto their King And what thou hast in England they did get Lewes Henry of England now that Iohn is dead That was the chiefest enemie to Fraunce I may the rather be inducde to peace But Salsbury and you Barons of the Realme This strange reuolt agrees not with the oath That you on Bury Altare lately sware Sals Nor did the oath your Highnesse there did take Agree with honour of the Prince of Fraunce Bast. My Lord what answer make you to the King Dolphin Faith Philip this I say It bootes not me Nor any Prince nor power of Christendome To seeke to win this Iland Albion Vnlesse he haue a partie in the Realme By treason for to help him in his warres The Peeres which were the partie on my side Are fled from me then bootes not me to fight But on conditions as mine honour wills I am contented to depart the Realme Henry On what conditions will your Highnes yeeld Lew. That shall we thinke vpon by more aduice Bast. Then Kings Princes let these broils haue end And at more leisure talke vpon the League Meane while to Worster let vs beare the King And there interre his bodie as beseemes But first in sight of Lewes heire of Fraunce Lords take the Crowne and set it on his head That by succession is our lawfull King They crowne yong Henry Thus Englands peace begins in Henries raigne And bloodie warres are closde with happie league Let England liue but true within it selfe And all the world can neuer wrong her State Lewes thou shalt be brauely shipt to Fraunce For neuer Frenchman got of English ground The twentith part that thou hast conquered Dolphin thy hand to Worster we will march Lords all lay hands to beare your Soueraigne With obsequies of honour to his graue If Englands Peeres and people ioyne in one Nor Pope nor France nor Spaine can do them wrong FINIS