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
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
parce Dabo pecuniam si habeo veniam To goe and fetch it I will dispatch it A hundred pound sterling for my liues sparing Enter Peter a Prophet with people Pet. Hoe who is here S. Francis be your speed Come in my flocke and follow me your fortunes I will reed Come hither boy goe get thee home and clime not ouer hie For from aloft thy fortune stands in hazard thou shalt die Boy God be with you Peter I pray you come to our house a Sunday Pet. My boy shew me thy hand blesse thee my boy For in thy palme I see a many troubles are ybent to dwel But thou shalt scape them all and doe full well Boy I thanke you Peter there 's a cheese for your labor my sister prayes yee to come home and tell her how many husbands she shall haue and shee 'l giue you a rib of bacon Peter My masters stay at the townes end for me I le come to you all anone I must dispatch some busines with a Frier and then I le reade your fortunes Philip How now a prophet sir prophet whence are ye Peter I am of the world and in the world but liue not as others by the world what I am I know and what thou wilt be I know If thou knowest me now be answered if not enquire no more what I am Phil. Sir I know you will be a dissembling knaue that deludes the people with blinde prophecies you are hee I look for you shal away with me bring away all the rable and you Frier Laurence remember your raunsome a hundred pound and a pardon for your selfe and the rest come on sir prophet you shall with me to receiue a prophets rewarde Exeunt Enter Hubert de Burgh with three men Hubert My masters I haue shewed you what warrant I haue for this attempt I perceiue by your heauy countenances you had rather be otherwise imployed and for my owne part I would the King had made choice of some other executioner only this is my comfort that a king commaunds whose precepts neglected or omitted threatneth torture for the default Therefore in briefe leaue me and be ready to attend the aduenture stay within that entry and when you heare me crie God saue the King issue sodainely forth lay hands on Arthur set him in this chaire wherein once fast bound leaue him with me to finish the rest Attendants We goe though loath Exeunt Hubert My Lord will it please your Honor to take the benefit of the faire euening Enter Arthur to Hubert de Burgh Arthur Gramercie Hubert for thy care of me In or to whom restraint is newly knowne The ioy of walking is small benefit Yet will I take thy offer with small thanks I would not loose the pleasure of the eie But tell me curteous Keeper if thou can How long the King will haue me tarrie heere Hubert I know not Prince but as I gesse not long God send you freedome and God saue the King They issue forth Arthur Why how now sirs what may this outrage meane O help me Hubert gentle Keeper help God send this sodaine mutinous approach Tend not to reaue a wretched guiltles life Hubert So sirs depart and leaue the rest for me Arth. Then Arthur yeeld death frowneth in thy face What meaneth this good Hubert pleade the case Hubert Patience yong Lord and listen words of woe Harmefull and harsh hells horror to be heard A dismall tale fit for a furies tongue I faint to tell deepe sorrow is the sound Arthur What must I die Hubert No newes of death but tidings of more hate A wrathfull doome and most vnluckie fate Deaths dish were daintie at so fell a feast Be deafe heare not its hell to tell the rest Arthur Alas thou wrongst my youth with words of feare T is hell t is horror not for one to heare What is it man if it must needes be done Act it and end it that the paine were gone Hubert I will not chaunt such dolour with my tongue Yet must I act the outrage with my hand My heart my head and all my powers beside To aide the office haue at once denide Peruse this Letter lines of trebble woe Reade ore my charge and pardon when you know Hubert these are to commaund thee as thou tendrest our quiet in minde and the estate of our person that presently vpon the receipt of our commaund thou put out the eies of Arthur Plantaginet Arthur Ah monstrous damned man his very breath infects the elements Contagious venome dwelleth in his heart Effecting meanes to poyson all the world Vnreuerent may I be to blame the heauens Of great iniustice that the miscreant Liues to oppresse the innocents with wrong Ah Hubert makes he thee his instrument To sound the trump that causeth hell triumph Heauen weepes the Saints do shed celestiall teares They feare thy fall and cite thee with remorse They knocke thy conscience mouing pitie there Willing to fence thee from the rage of hell Hell Hubert trust me all the plagues of hell Hangs on performance of this damned deed This scale the warrant of the bodies blisse Ensureth Satan chiefetaine of thy soule Subscribe not Hubert giue not Gods part away I speake not only for eies priuiledge The chiefe exterior that I would enioy But for thy perill farre beyond my paine Thy sweete soules losse more than my eies vaine lacke A cause internall and eternall too Aduise thee Hubert for the case is hard To loose saluation for a Kings reward Hubert My Lord a subiect dwelling in the land Is tied to execute the Kings commaund Arthur Yet God commaunds whose power reacheth further That no command should stand in force to murther Hubert But that same Essence hath ordaind a law A death for guilt to keepe the world in awe Arthur I pleade not guilty treasonlesse and free Hubert But that appeale my Lord concernes not me Arthur Why thou art he that maist omit the perill Hubert I if my Soueraigne would omit his quarrell Arthur His quarrell is vnhallowed false and wrong Hubert Then be the blame to whom it doth belong Arthur Why that 's to thee if thou as they proceede Conclude their iudgement with so vile a deede Hubert Why then no execution can be lawfull If Iudges doomes must be reputed doubtfull Arthur Yes where in forme of Law in place and time The offender is conuicted of the crime Hubert My Lord my Lord this long expostulation Heapes vp more griefe than promise of redresse For this I know and so resolude I end That subiects liues on Kings commands depend I must not reason why he is your foe But do his charge since he commaunds it so Arthur Then do thy charge and charged be thy soule With wrongfull persecution done this day You rowling eyes whose superficies yet I doe behold with eies that Nature lent Send foorth the terror of your Moouers frowne To wreake my wrong vpon the murtherers That rob me of your faire
This if you grant were all vnto your good For simple people muse you keepe him close Ioh. Your words haue searcht the center of my thoghts Confirming warrant of your loyalties Dismisse your counsell sway my state Let Iohn doe nothing but by your consents Why how now Philip what extasie is this Why casts thou vp thy eyes to heauen so There the fiue Moones appeare Bast. See see my Lord strange apparitions Glancing mine eie to see the Diadem Plac'd by the Bishops on your Highnesse head From forth a gloomie cloud which curtaine-like Displaid it selfe I suddainely espied Fiue Moones reflecting as you see them now Euen in the moment that the crowne was plac'd Can they appeare holding the course you see Ioh. What might portend these apparitions Vnvsuall signes forerunners of euent Presagers of strange terrors to the world Beleeue me Lords the obiect feares me much Philip thou toldst me of a Wizard but of late Fetch in the man to descant of this show Pemb. The heauens frowne vpon the sinfull earth When with prodigious vnaccustom'd signes They spot their superficies with such wonder Essex Before the ruines of Ierusalem Such meteors were the Ensignes of his wrath That hast'ned to destroy the faultfull towne Enter the Bastard with the Prophet Iohn Is this the man Bast. It is my Lord. Iohn Prophet of Pomfret for so I heare thou art That calculat'st of many things to come Who by a power repleat with heauenly gift Canst blab the counsell of thy Makers will If fame be true or truth be wrong'd by thee Decide in cyphering what these fiue moones Portend this clime if they presage at all Breath out thy gift and if I liue to see Thy diuination take a true effect I le honour thee aboue all earthly men Pet. The skie wherein these moones haue residence Presenteth Rome the great Metropolis Where sits the Pope in all his holy pompe Foure of the moones present foure prouinces To wit Spaine Denmarke Germanie and France That beare the yoke of proud commanding Rome And stand in feare to tempt the Prelates curse The smallest moone that whirles about the rest Impatient of the place he holds with them Doth figure forth this Island Albion Who gins to scorne the sea and seat of Rome And seekes to shunne the Edicts of the Pope This showes the heauen and this I doe auerre Is figured in the apparitions Ioh. Why then it seemes the heauens smile on vs Giuing applause for leauing of the Pope But for they chance in our Meridian Doe they effect no priuate growing ill To be inflicted on vs in this clime Pet. The moones effect no more than what I said But on some other knowledge that I haue By my prescience ere Ascension day Haue brought the Sunne vnto his vsuall height Of Crowne Estate and Royall dignity Thou shalt be cleane dispoyl'd and dispossest Ioh. False dreamer perish with thy witched newes Villaine thou woundst me with thy fallacies If it be true die for thy tidings price If false for fearing me with vaine suppose Hence with the Witch hels damned secretarie Locke him vp sure for by my faith I sweare True or not true the Wizard shall not liue Before Ascension day who should be cause hereof Cut off the cause and then the effect will die Tut tut my mercie serues to maime my selfe The roote doth liue from whence these thornes spring vp I and my promise past for his deliu'rie Frowne friends faile faith the diuell goe withall The brat shall die that terrifies me thus Pembrooke and Essex I recall my graunt I will not buy your fauours with my feare Nay murmure not my will is lawe enough I loue you well but if I lou'd you better I would not buy it with my discontent Enter Hubert How now what newes with thee Hub. According to your highnesse strict command Young Arthurs eies are blinded and extinct Ioh. Why so then he may feele the crown but neuer see it Hub. Nor see nor feele for of the extream paine Within one houre gaue he vp the ghost Ioh. What is he dead Hub. He is my Lord. Ioh. Then with him dies my cares Essex Now ioy betide thy soule Pemb. And heauens reuenge thy death Essex What haue you done my Lord Was euer heard A deed of more inhumane consequence Your foes will curse your friends will crie reuenge Vnkindly rage more rough than Northern wind To clip the beautie of so sweete a flower What hope in vs for mercie on a fault When kinsman dies without impeach of cause As you haue done so come to cheere you with The guilt shall neuer be cast me in my teeth Exeunt Ioh. And are you gone The diuell be your guide Proud rebels as ye are to braue me so Saucie vnciuill checkers of my will Your tongues giue edge vnto the fatall knife That shall haue passage through your trayt'rous throats But husht breath not bugs words too soone abroad Lest time preuent the issue of thy reach Arthur is dead I there the corzie growes But while he liu'd the danger was the more His death hath freed me from a thousand feares But it hath purchast me ten times ten thousand foes Why all is one such lucke shall haunt his game To whom the diuell owes an open shame His life a foe that leueld at my crowne His death a frame to pull my building downe My thoughts harpt still on quiet by his end Who liuing aimed shrewdly at my roome But to preuent that plea twice was I crown'd Twice did my subiects sweare me fealtie And in my conscience lou'd me as their liege In whose defence they would haue pawn'd their liues But now they shun me as a Serpents sting A tragyke tyrant sterne and pitilesse And not a title followes after Iohn But butcher blood-sucker and murtherer What planet gouern'd my natiuitie To bode me soueraigne types of high estate So interlac'd with hellish discontent Wherein fell furie hath no interest Curst be the crowne chiefe author of my care Nay curst my will that made the crowne my care Curst be my birth-day curst ten times the wombe That yeelded me aliue into the world Art thou there villaine furies haunt thee still For killing him whom all the world laments Hub. Why here 's my Lord your Highnes hand seale Charging on liues regard to do the deed Iohn Ah dull conceipted pesant knowst thou not It was a damned execrable deed Shewst me a Seale Oh villaine both our soules Haue solde their freedome to the thrall of hell Vnder the warrant of that cursed Seale Hence villaine hang thy selfe and say in hell That I am comming for a kingdome there Hubert My Lord attend the happy tale I tell For heauens health send Sathan packing hence That instigates your Highnesse to despaire If Arthurs death be dismall to be heard Bandie the newes for rumors of vntruth He liues my Lord the sweetest youth aliue In health with eie sight not a haire amisse This heart tooke vigor from
vnto a Friory Is this the King that aymes at Abbeis lands Is this the man whom all the world abhorres And yet will flie vnto a Friorie Accurst be Swinstead Abbey Abbot Friers Monkes Nunnes and Clarks and all that dwells therein If wicked Iohn escape aliue away Now if that thou wilt looke to merit heauen And be canonized for a holy Saint To please the world with a deseruing worke Be thou the man to set thy countrey free And murder him that seekes to murder thee Enter the Abbot Abbot Why are not you within to cheere the King He now begins to mend and will to meate Monke What if I say to strangle him in his sleepe Abbot What at thy Mumpsimus away And seeke some meanes for to pastime the King Monke I le set a dudgeon dagger at his heart And with a mallet knocke him on the head Abbot Alas what meanes this Monke to murder me Dare lay my life hee 'l kill me for my place Monke I le poyson him and it shall ne'r be knowne And then shall I be chiefest of my house Abbot If I were dead indeed he is the next But I le away for why the Monke is mad And in his madnesse he will murder me Mon. My L. I cry your Lordship mercy I saw you not Abbot Alas good Thomas do not murder me and thou shalt haue my place with thousand thanks Monke I murder you God shield from such a thought Abbot If thou wilt needs yet let me say my prayers Monke I will not hurt your Lordship good my Lord but if you please I will impart a thing that shall be beneficiall to vs all Abbot Wilt thou not hurt me holy Monke say on Monke You know my Lord the King is in our house Abbot True Monke You know likewise the King abhorres a Frier Abbot True Monke And he that loues not a Frier is our enemy Abbot Thou saist true Monke Then the King is our enemy Abbot True Mon. Why then should we not kil our enemy and the king being our enemy why then should we not kill the K. Abbot O blessed Monke I see God moues thy minde to free this land from tyrants slauery But who dare venter for to do this deede Mon. Who dare why I my Lord dare do the deed I le free my Countrey and the Church from foes And merit heauen by killing of a King Abbot Thomas kneele downe and if thou art resolu'd I will absolue thee here from all thy sinnes For why the deede is meritorious Forward and feare not man for euery month Our Friers shall sing a Masse for Thomas soule Mon. God and S. Francis prosper my attempt For now my Lord I goe about my worke Exeunt Enter Lewes and his armie Lewes Thus victorie in bloudie Lawrell clad Followes the fortune of yong Lodowike The Englishmen as danted at our sight Fall as the fowle before the Eagles eies Onely two crosses of contrary change Do nip my heart and vex me with vnrest Lord Meluns death the one part of my soule A brauer man did neuer liue in Fraunce The other griefe I that 's a gall indeed To thinke that Douer Castle should hold out Gainst all assaults and rest impregnable Yee warrelike race of Francus Hectors sonne Triumph in conquest of that tyrant Iohn The better halfe of England is our owne And towards the conquest of the other part We haue the face of all the English Lords What then remaines but ouerrunne the land Be resolute my warrelike followers And if good fortune serue as shee begins The poorest pesant of the realme of France Shal be a master ore an English Lord. Enter a Messenger Lewes Fellow what newes Mess Pleaseth your Grace the Earle of Salsbury Penbrooke Essex Clare and Arundell with all the Barons that did fight for thee are on a sodaine fled with all their powers to ioyne with Iohn to driue thee backe againe Enter another Messenger Messen Lewes my Lord why standst thou in a maze Gather thy troupes hope not of helpe from Fraunce For all thy forces being fiftie saile Containing twenty thousand souldiers With victuall and munition for the warre Putting them from Callis in vnluckie time Did crosse the seas and on the Goodwin sands The men munition and the ships are lost Enter another Messenger Lewes More newes say on Messen Iohn my Lord â—ith all his scattered troups Flying the fury of your conquering sword As Pharaoh earst within the bloody sea So he and his enuironed with the tide On Lincolne washes all were ouerwhelmed The Barons fled our forces cast away Lewes Was euer heard such vnexpected newes Messenger Yet Lodowike reuiue thy dying heart King Iohn and all his forces are consumde The lesse thou needst the aid of English Earles The lesse thou needst to grieue thy nauies wracke And follow times aduantage with successe Lewes Braue Frenchmen arm'd with magnanimitie March after Lewes who will leade you on To chase the Barons power that wants a head For Iohn is drown'd and I am Englands King Though our munition and our men be lost Philip of Fraunce will send vs fresh supplies Exeunt Enter two Friers laying a Cloth Frier Dispatch dispatch the King desires to eate Would a might eate his last for the loue he bears to church men Frier I am of thy mind too and so it should be and we might be our owne caruers I maruell why they dine here in the Orchard Frier I know not nor I care not The King comes Iohn Come on Lord Abbot shall we sit together Abbot Pleaseth your Grace sit downe Iohn Take your places sirs no pomp in penury all beggers and friends may come where Necessitie keepes the house curtesie is barr'd the table sit downe Philip. Bast My Lord I am loth to allude so much to the prouerb honors change maners a king is a king though Fortune do her worst we as dutifull in despite of her frown as if your highnes were now in the highest tipe of dignitie Iohn Come no more adoe and you tell mee much of dignity you 'l marre my appetite in a surfet of sorrow What cheere Lord Abbot me thinks ye frown like an host that knows his guest hath no money to pay the reckning Abbot No my Liege if I frowne at all it is for I feare this cheere too homely to entertaine so mighty a guest as your maiestie Bast I thinke rather my Lord Abbot you remember my last being here when I went in progresse for powches and the rancor of his heart breakes out in his countenance to shew he hath not forgot me Abb. Not so my Lord you and the meanest follower of his maiesty are heartily welcome to me Monke Wassell my Liege and as a poore Monke may say welcome to Swinstead Iohn Begin Monke and report hereafter thou wast taster to a King Monke As much health to your Highnesse as to mine owne heart Iohn I pledge thee kind Monke Monke The merriest draught that euer was drunke in