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
Philip giue away thine owne Ph. Madame I am bold to make my self your nephew The poorest kinsman that your Highnesse hath And with this Prouerb gin the world anew Help hands I haue no lands Honor is my desire Let Philip liue to shew himselfe worthy so great a Sire Eli. Philip I think thou knewst thy Grandams minde But cheere thee boy I will not see thee want As long as Elinor hath foote of land Henceforth thou shalt be taken for my sonne And waite on me and on thine vncle heere Who shall giue honour to thy noble mind Iohn Philip kneele downe that thou maist throughly know How much thy resolution pleaseth vs Rise vp Sir Richard Plantaginet king Richards Sonne Philip Grant heauens that Philip once may shew himselfe Worthy the honour of Plantaginet Or basest glorie of a Bastards name Iohn Now Gentlemen we will away to France To checke the pride of Arthur and his mates Essex thou shalt be Ruler of my Realme And toward the maine charges of my warres I le ceaze the lasic Abbey lubbers lands Into my hands to pay my men of warre The Pope and Popelings shall not grease themselues With gold and groates that are the souldiers due Thus forward Lords let our commaund be done And march we forward mightily to France Exeunt Manet Philip and his Mother Philip Madame I beseech you deigne me so much leasure as the hearing of a matter that I loÌ„g to impart to you Mother What 's the matter Philip I thinke your suit in secret tends to some money matter which you suppose burnes in the bottome of my chest Phil. No Madam it is no such suit as to beg or borrow But such a suit as might some other grant I would not now haue troubled you withall Mother A Gods name let vs heare it Phil. Then Madam thus your Ladiship sees well How that my scandall growes by meanes of you In that report hath rumord vp and downe I am a bastard and no Fauconbridge This grosse attaint so tilteth in my thoughts Maintaining combat to abridge mine ease That field and towne and company alone What so I doe or wheresoere I am I cannot chase the slaunder from my thoughts If it be true resolue me of my fire For pardon Madam if I thinke amisse Be Philip Philip and no Fauconbridge His father doubtlesse was as braue a man To you on knees as sometime Phaeton Mistrusting sielly Merop for his sire Straining a little bashfull modestie I beg some instance whence I am extraught Moth. Yet more adoe to haste me to my graue And wilt thou too become a mothers crosse Must I accuse my selfe to close with you Slaunder my selfe to quiet your affects Thou moou'st me Philip with this idle talke Which I remit in hope this mood will die Phil. Nay Lady mother heare me further yet For strong conceit driues dutie hence awhile Your husband Fauconbridge was father to that sonne That carries markes of Nature like the fire The sonne that blotteth you with wedlockes breach And holds my right as lineall in descent From him whose forme was figured in his face Can Nature so dissemble in her frame To make the one so like as like may be And in the other print no character To challenge any marke of true descent My brothers mind is base and too too dull To mount where Philip lodgeth his affects And his externall graces that you viewe Though I report it counterpoise not mine His constitution plaine debilitie Requires the chaire and mine the seat of steele Nay what is he or what am I to him When any one that knoweth how to carpe Will scarcely iudge vs both one countrey borne This Madam this hath droue me from my selfe And here by heauens eternall lampes I sweare As cursed Nero with his mother did So I with you if you resolue me not Moth. Let mothers teares quench out thy angers fire And vrge no further what thou doest require Phil. Let sonnes intreatie sway the mother now Or else shee dies I le not infringe my vow Moth. Vnhappy taske must I recount my shame Blab my misdeeds or by concealing die Some power strike me speechlesse for a time Or take from him a while his hearings vse Why wish I so vnhappy as I am The fault is mine and he the faultie fruit I blush I faint oh would I might be mute Phil. Mother be briefe I long to know my name Moth. And longing die to shroud thy mothers shame Phil. Come Madame come you need not be so loath The shame is shared equall twixt vs both I st not a slackenesse in me worthy blame To be so old and cannot write my name Good mother resolue me Moth. Then Philip heare thy fortune and my griefe My honours losse by purchasse of thy selfe My shame thy name and husbands secret wrong All maimd and staind by youths vnruly sway And when thou know'st from whence thou art extraught Or if thou knew'st what suites what threats what feares To mooue by loue or massacre by death To yeeld with loue or end by loues contempt The mightinesse of him that courted me Who tempered terror with his wanton talke That something may extenuate the guilt But let it not aduantage me so much Vpbraid me rather with the Romane dame That shed her blood to wash away her shame Why stand I to expostulate the crime With pro contra now the deed is done When to conclude two words may tell the tale That Philips father was a princes sonne Rich Englands rule worlds onely terror he For honours losse left me with child of thee Whose sonne thou art then pardon me the rather For faire King Richard was thy noble father Phil. Then Robin Fauconbridge I wish thee ioy My sire a king and I a landlesse boy Gods lady mother the world is in my debt There 's something owing to Plantaginet I marry sir let me alone for game I le act some wonders now I know my name By blessed Mary I le not sell that pride For Englands wealth and all the world beside Sit fast the proudest of my fathers foes Away good mother there the comfort goes Exeunt Enter Philip the French King and Lewis Limoges Constance and her sonne Arthur King Now gin we broach the title of thy claime Young Arthur in the Albion territories Skaring proud Angiers with a puissant siege Braue Austria cause of Cordelions death Is also come to aide thee in thy warres And all our Forces ioyne for Arthurs right And but for causes of great consequence Pleading delay till newes from England come Twice should not Titan hide him in the West To coole the fâ—t-locks of his wearie teame Till I had with an vnresisted shocke Controld the mannage of prowd Angiers walls Or made a forfet of my fame to Chaunce Const May be that Iohn in conscience or in feare To offer wrong where you impugne the ill Will send such calme conditions backe to Fraunce As shall rebate the edge of
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
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
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