into the bottome of-these cares But I who see the poyse that weigheth downe Thy weale my wish and all the willing meanes Wherewith thy fortune and thy fame should mount What ioy what ease what rest can lodge in me With whom all hope and hap doth disagree Arthur Yet Ladies teares and cares and solemne shows Rather than helpes heape vp more worke for woes Constance If any Power will heare a widdowes plaint That from a wounded soule implores reuenge Send fell contagion to infect this Clyme This cursed Countrey where the traytors breath Whose periurie as prowd Briareus Beleaguers all the Skie with misbeliefe He promist Arthur and he sware it too To fence thy right and check thy foemans pride But now black-spotted Periure as he is He takes a truce with Elnors damned brat And marries Lewes 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 thy owne And triumph in a widowes tearefull cares So heauens crosse them with a thriftles course Is all the bloud yspilt on either part Closing the cranies of the thirstie earth Growne to a louegame and a Bridall feast And must thy birthright hid the wedding banes Poore helples boy hopeles and helples too To whom misfortune seemes no yoke at all Thy stay thy state thy imminent mishaps Woundeth thy mothers thoughts with feeling care Why lookst thou pale the colour flyes thy face I trouble now the fountaine of thy yoâ—th And make it moodie with my doles discourse Goe in with me reply not louely boy We must obscure this mone with melodie Least worser wrack ensue our malecontent Exeunt Enter the King of England the King of Fraunce Arthur Bastard Lewes Lymoges Coâ—stance Blanche Chattilion Pembrooke Salisburie and Elianor Iohn This is the day the long desired day Wherein the Realmes of England and of Fraunce Stand highly blessed in a lasting peace Thrice happie is the Bridegroome and the Bride From whose sweete Bridale such a concord springs To make of mortall foes immortall friends Constance Vngodly peace made by an others warre Philip Vnhappie peace that ties thee from reuenge Rouse thée Plantaginet liue not to see The butcher of the great Plantiginet Kings Princes and ye Peeres of either Realmes Pardon my rashnes and forgiue the zeale That caries me in furie to a deede Of high desert of honour and of armes A boone O Kings a boone doth Philip beg Prostrate vpon his knee which knee shall cleaue Vnto the superficies of the earth Till Fraunce and England graunt this glorious boone Iohn Speake Philip England graunts thee thy request Philip And Fraunce confirmes what ere is in his power Bastard Then Duke sit fast I leuell at thy head Too base a ransome for my fathers life Princes I craue the Combat with the Duke That braues it in dishonor of my Sire Your words are past nor can you now reuerse The Princely promise that reuiues my soule Whereat me thinks I see his sinnews shake This is the boon dread Lords which granted once Or life or death are pleasant to my soule Since I shall liue and die in Richards right Lymoges Base Bastard misbegotten of a King To interrupt these holy nuptiall rytes 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 Bastard A fine excuse Kings if you wilbe Kings Then keepe your words and let vs combat it Iohn Philip We cannot force the Duke to fight Being a subiect vnto neither Realme But tell me Austria if an English Duke Should dare thee thus wouldst thou accept the challendge Lymoges Els let the world account the Austrich Duke The greatest coward liuing on the Earth Iohn Then cheere thee Philip Iohn will keepe his word Kneele downe in sight of Philip King of Fraunce And all these Princely Lords assembled here I gird thee with the sword of Normandie And of that land I doo inuest thee Duke So shalt thou be in liuing and in land Nothing inferiour vnto Austria Lymoges K. Iohn I tell thee flatly to thy face Thou wrongst mine honour and that thou maist 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 low degree Ile finde a time to match you for this geere Exit Iohn Stay Philip let him goe the honors thine Bastard I cannot liue vnles his life be mine Q. Elianor Thy forwardnes this day hath ioyd my soule And made me thinke my Richard liues in thâ—â— K. Philip Lordings lets in and spend the wedding day In maskes and triumphs letting quarrells cease Enter a Cardynall 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 demaund of thee in the name of our holy Father the Pope Innocent why thou dost contrarie to the lawes of our holy mother the Church and our holye father the Pope disturbe the quiet of the Church and disanull the election of Stephen Langhton whom his Holines hath elected Archbishop of Canterburie this in his Holines name I demaund of thee Iohn And what hast thou or the Pope thy maister to doo to demaund of me how I employ mine owne Know sir Priest as I honour the Church and holy Churchmen so I scorne to be subiect to the greatest Prelate in the world Tell thy Maister so from me and say Iohn of England said it that neuer an Italian Priest of them all shall either haue tythe tole or poling penie out of England but as I am King so wil I raigne next vnder God supreame head both ouer spirituall and temrall and hee that contradicts me in this Ile make him hoppe headlesse K. Philip What King Iohn know you what you say thus to blaspheme against our holy father the Pope Iohn Philip though thou and all the Princes of Christendome suffer themselues to be abusde by a Prelates slauerie my minde is not of such base temper If the Pope will bee King in England let him winne it with the sword I know no other title he can alleage to mine inheritance Card. Iohn this is thine answere Iohn What then Card. Then I Pandulph of Padoa Legate from the Apostolik Sea doo in the name of S. Peter and his successor our holy Father Pope Innocent pronounce thee accursed discharging euery of thy subiectes of all dutie and fealtie that they doo owe to thee and pardon and forgiuenes of sinne to those or them whatsoeuer which shall carrie armes against thee or murder thee this I pronounce and charge all good men to abhorre thee as an excommunicate person Iohn So sir the more the Fox is curst 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 thée Philip King
free from Purgatorie Our holy Father hath dispenst his sinnes The blessed Saints haue heard our orisons And all are Mediators for his soule And in the right of these most holy warres His holines free pardon doth pronounce To all that follow you gainst English heretiques Who stand accursed in our mother Church Enter Constance alone Philip To aggrauate the measure of our griefe All malcontent comes Constance for her Sonne Be briefe good Madame for your face imports A tragick â—ale behinde thats yet vntolde Her passions stop the organ of her voyce Deepe sorrow throbbeth misbefalne euents Out with it Ladie that our Act may end A full Catastrophe of sad laments Const My tongue is tunde to storie forth mishap When did I breath to tell a pleasing tale Must Constance speake let teares preuent her talke Must I discourse let Didâ— sigh and say She weepes againe to heare the wrack of Troy Two words will serue and then my tale is done Elâ—ors proud brat hath robd me of my Sonne Leweâ— Haue patience Madame this is chaunce of warre He may be ransomde we reuenge his wrong Constance Beit â—er so soone I shall not liue so long Philip Despaire not yet come Constance goe with me These clowdes will fleet the day will cleare againe Exeunt Card. Now Lewes thy fortune buds with happie spring Our holy Fathers prayers effecteth this Arthur is safe let Iohn alone with him Thy title next is fairst to Englands Crowne Now stirre thy Father to begin with John The Pope sayes I and so is Albiox thine Lewes Thankes my Lord Legate for your good conceipt Tis best we follow now the game is faire My Father wants to worke him your good words Card. A few will serue to forward him in this Those shal not want but lets about it then Exeunt Enter Philip leading a Frier charging him to show where the Abbots golde lay Philip Come on you fat Franciscans dallie no longer but shew me where the Abbots treasure lyes or die Frier Benedicamus Domini was euer such an iniurie Sweete S. Withold of thy lenitie defend vs from extremitie And heare vs for S. Charitie oppressed with austeritie In nomini Domini make I my homilie Gentle Gentilitie griene not the Cleargie Philip Grey gownd good face coniure ye nâ—r trust me for a groate If this waste girdle hang thee not that girdeth in thy coate Now balde and barefoote Bungie birds when vp the gallowes climing Say Philip he had words inough to put you downe with ryming Frier A pardon Oparce Saint Fraunces for mercie Shall shield thee from nightspells and dreaming of diuells If thou wilt forgiue me and neuer more grieue me With fasting and praying and Haile Marie saying From black Purgatorie a penance right sorie Frier Thomas will warme you It shall neuer harme you Philip Come leaue off your rabble Sirs hang vp this lozell 2. Frier For charitie I beg his life Saint Frauncis chiefest Frier The best in all our Couent Sir to keepe a Wintersster O strangle not the good olde man my hostesse oldest guest And I will bring you by and by vnto the Priors chest Philip I saist thou so if thou wilt the frier is at libertie If not as I am honest man Ile hang you both for companie Frier Come hether this is the chest though simple to behold That wanteth not a thousand pound in siluer and in gold Myselfe will warrant full so much I know the Abbots store Ile pawne my life there is no lesse to haue what ere is more Philip I take thy word the ouerplus vnto thy share shall come But if there want of full so much thy neck shall pay the sum Breake vp the Cofer Frier Frier Oh I am vndun faire Alice the Nun Hath tooke vp her rest in the Abbots chest Sancte benedicite pardon my simplicitie Fie Alice confession will not salue this transgression Philip What haue wee here a holy Nun So kéepe mee God in health A smooth facte Nunne for ought I knowe is all the Abbots wealth Is this the Noâ—ries chastitie Beshrewe me but I thinke They goe as oft to Venery as niggards to their drinke Why paltrey Frier and Pandar too yee shamelesse shauen crowne Is this the chest that held a hoord at least a thousand pound And is the hoord a holy whore Wel be the hangman nimble Hee'le take the paine to paye you home and teach you to dissemble Nunne O spare the Frier Anthony a better neuer was To sing a Dirige solemnly or read a morning Masse If money be the meanes of this I know an ancient Nunne That hath a hoord this seauen yeares did neuer sée the sunne And that is yours and what is ours so fauour now be shown You shall commaund as commonly as if it were your owne Frier Your honour excepted Nunne I Thomas I meane so Philip From all saue from Friers Nunne Good Sir doo not thinke so 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 heauie countenances you had rather be otherwise imployed and for my owne part I would the King had made choyce of some other executioner onely 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 readie to attend the aduenture stay within that entry and when you heare me crie God saue the King issue sodainly foorth lay handes on Arthur set him in this chayre wherin once fast bound leaue him with me to finish the rest Attendants We goe though loath Exeunt Hubert My Lord will it please your Honour to take the benefite of the faire euening Enter Arthur to Hubert de Burgh Arthur Gramttcie Hubert for thy care of me In or to whom restraint is newly knowen The ioy of walking is small beueâ—â—â— Yet will I take thy offer with small thankes I would not loose the pleasure of the eye But tell me curteous keeper if you 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 helpe me Hubert gentle keeper helpe God send this sodaine mutinous approach Tend not to reaue a wretched guiltles life Hubert So sirs depart and leaue the rest for me Arthur Then Arthur yeeld death frowneth in thy face What meaneth this Good Hubert plead the case Hubert Patience yong Lord and listen words of woe Harmfull and harsh hells horror to be heard A dismall tale fit for a furies tongue I faint to tell déepe sorrow is the sound Arthur What must I die Hubert No newes of death but tidings
feare Nay murmur not my will is law enough I loue you well but if I loude you better I would not buy it with my discontent Enter Hubert How now what newes with thee Hubert According to your Highnes strickt commaund Yong Arthurs eyes are blinded and extinct John Why so then he may feele the crowne but neuer sée it Hubert Nor see nor féele for of the extreame paine Within one hower gaue he vp the Ghost John What is he dead Hubert He is my Lord. Iohn Then with him dye my cares Essex Now ioy betide thy soule Pembrooke And heauens reuenge thy death Essex What haue you done my Lord Was euer heard A deede of more inhumane consequence Your foes will curse your friends will crie reuenge Vnkindly rage more rough than Northern winde To chip the beautie of so sweete a flower What hope in vs for mercie on a fault When kinsman dyes without impeach of cause As you haue done so come to chéere you with The guilt shall neuer be cast me in my teeth Exeunt Iohn And are you gone The diuell be your guide Proud Rebels as you 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 traitrous throats But husht breath not buggs words to soone abroad Least time preuent the issue of thy reach Arthur is dead I there the corzie growes But while he liude 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 luck shall haunt his game To whome 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 aymed shrowdly at my roome But to preuent that plea twice was I crownd Twice did my subiects sweare me fealtie And in my conscience loude me as their liege In whose defence they would haue pawnd their liues But now they shun me as a Serpents sting A tragick Tyrant sterne and pitiles And not a title followes after Iohn But Butcher bloudsucker and murtherer What Planet gouernde my natiuitie To bode me soueraigne types of high estate So interlacte 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 birthday 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 Hubert Why heres my Lord your Highnes hand scale Charging on liues regard to doo the deede John Ah dull conceipted peazant knowst thou not It was a damned execrable deede Showst 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 happie tale I tell For heauens health send Sathan packing hence That instigates your Highnes 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 eysight not a haire amisse This hart tooke vigor from this forward hand Making it weake to execute your charge Iohn What liues he Then sweete hope come home agen Chase hence despâ—ire the purueyer 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 ioyfulst man aliue To storie out this new supposed crime Exeunt The ende of the first part
of France and al the Kings and Princes of Christendome to make war vppon this miscreant and whereas thou hast made a league with him and confirmed it by oath I doo in the name of our foresaid father the Pope acquit thée of that oath as vnlawful being made with an heretike how saist thou Philip doost thou obey Iohn Brother of Fraunce what say you to the Cardinall Philip I say I am sorrie for your Maiestie requesting you to submit your selfe to the Church of Rome John And what say you to our league if I doo not submit Philip What should I say I must obey the Pope Iohn Obey the Pope and breake your oath to God Philip The Legate hath absolude me of mine oath Then yeeld to Rome or I defie thée héere Iohn Why Philip I defie the Pope and thée False as thou art and periurde K. of Fraunce Vnworthie man to be accompted King Giu'st thou thy sword into a Prelates hands Pandulph where I of Abbots Monkes and Friers Haue taken somewhat to maintaine my warres Now will I take no more but all they haue Ile rowze the lazie lubbers from their Cells And in despight Ile send them to the Pope Mother come you with me and for the rest That will not follow Iohn in this attempt Confusion light vpon their damned soules Come Lords â—ight for your King that fighteth for your good Philip And are they gone Pandulph thy selfe shalt see How Fraunce will fight for Rome and Romish rytes Nobles to armes let him not passe the seas Lets take him captiue and in triumph lead The K. of England to the gates of Rome Arthur 〈◊〉 thee man and thou shalt see What Philip K. of Fraunce will doo for thee Blanche And will your Grace vpon your wedding day Forsake your Bride and follow dreadfull drums Nay good my Lord stay you at home with mee Lewes Sweete heart content thée and we shall agree Philip Follow me Lords Lord Cardynall lead the way Drums shalbe musique to this wedding day Exeunt Excursions The Bastard pursues Austria and kills him Bastard Thus hath K. Richards Sonne performe his vowes And offred Austrias bloud for sacrifice Vnto his fathers â—uerliuing soule Braue Cordelion now my heart doth say I haue deserude though not to be thy heire Yet as I am thy base begotten sonne A name as pleasing to thy Philips heart As to be cald the Duke of Normandie Lie there a pray to euery rauening fowle And as my Father triumpht in thy spoyles And trode thine Ensignes vnderneath his féete So doo I tread vpon thy cursed selfe And leaue thy bodie to the fowles for food Exit Excursions Arthur Constance Lewes hauing taken Q. Elianor prisoner Constance Thus hath the God of Kings with conquering arme Dispearst the foes to true succession Proud and disturber of thy Counâ—reyes peace Constance doth liue to came thine insolence And on thy head will now auenged be For all the mischiefes hatched in thy braine Q Elinor Contemptuous dame vnreuent Dutches thou To braue so great a Quéene as Elianor Base scolde hast thou forgot that I was wife And mother to three mightie English Kings I charge thée then and you forsooth sir Boy To set your Grandmother at libertie And yéeld to John your Vnckle and your King Constance Tis not thy words proud Queene shal carry it Elianor Nor yet thy threates proud Dame shal daunt my minde Arthur Sweete Grandaâ—e and good Mother leaue these brawles Elinor Ile finde a time to triumph in thy fall Constance My time is now to triumph in thy fall And thou shalt know that Constance will triumph Arthur Good Mother weigh it is Queene Elianor Though she be captiue vse her like herselfe Sweete Grandaâ—e beare with what my Mother sayes Your Highnes shalbe vsed honourably Enter a Messenger Mess Lewes my Lord Duke Arthur and the rest To armes in hast K. John relyes his men And ginnes the fight afresh and sweares withall To lose his life or set his Mother free Lewes Arthur away tis time to looke about Elianor Why how â—â—â—daine what is your courage coold Constance No Elianor my courage gathers strength And hopes to lead both John and thee as slaues And in that hope I hale thee to the field Exeunt Excursions Elianor is rescued by Iohn and Arthur is taken prisoner Exeunt Sound victorie Enter Iohn Elianor and Arthur Prisoner Bastard Pembrooke Salisbury and Hubert de Burgh Iohn Thus right triumphs and John triumphs in right thou seest Fraunce cannot bolster thee Thy Mothers pride hath brought thee to this fall But if at last Nephew thou yeeld thy selfe Into the gardance of thine Vnckle John Thou shalt be vsed as becomes a Prince Arthur Vnckle my Grandame taught her Nephew this To beare captiuitie with patience Might hath preuayld not right for I am King Of England though thou weare the Diadem Q. Elianor Sonne Iohn soone shall we teach him to forget These proud presumptions and to know himselfe Iohn Mother he neuer will forget his claime I would he liude not to remember it But leauing this we will to England now And take some order with our Popelings there That swell with pride and fat of lay mens lands Philip I make thee chiefe in this affaire Ransack the Abbeys Cloysters Priories Conuert their coyne vnto my souldiers vse And whatsoere he be within my Land That goes to Rome for iustice and for law While he may haue his right within the Realme Let him be iudgde a traitor to the State And suffer as an enemie to England Mother we leaue you here beyond the seas As Regent of our Prouinces in Fraunce While we to England take a speedie course And thanke our God that gaue vs victorie Hubert de Burgh take Arthur here to thee Be he thy prisoner Hubert kéepe him safe For on his life doth hang thy Soueraignes crowne But in his death consists thy Soueraignes blisse Then Hubert as thou shortly hearst from me So vse the prisoner I haue giuen in charge Hubert Frolick yong Prince though I your keeper bee Yet shall your kéeper liue at your commaund Arthur As please my God so shall become of me Q. Elianor My Sonne to England I will see thee shipâ— And pray to God to send thee safe ashore Bastard Now warres are done I long to be at home To diue into the Monkes and Abbots bags To make some sport among the smooth skin Nunnes And keepe some reuell with the fanzen Friers Iohn To England Lords each looke vnto your charge And arme yourselues against the Romane pride Exeunt Enter the K. of Fraunce Lewes his sonne Cardinall Pundolph Legate and Constance Philip What euery man attacht with this mishap Why frowne you so why droop ye Lords of Fraunce Me thinkes it differs from a warlike minde To lowre it for a checke or two of chaunce Had Lymoges escapt the bastards spight A little sorrow might haue serude our losse Braue Austria heauen ioyes to haue thee there Card. His sowle is safe and
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 Tis hell tis horror not for one to heare What is it man if it must needes bedon Act it and end it that the paine were gon 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 deuide Peruse this letter lines of treble woe Read 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 eyes of Arthur Plantaginet Arthur Ah monstrous damned man his very breath infects the elements Contagious venyme 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 tromp that causeth hell triumph Heauen weepes the Saints doo shed celestiall teares They feare thy fall and cyte thee with remorse They knock thy conscience moouing 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 deede This seale the warrant of the bodies blisse Ensureth Satan chieftaine of thy soule Subscribe not Hubert giue not Gods part away I speake not onely for eyes priuiledge The chiefe exterior that I would enioy But for thy perill farre beyond my paine Thy sweete soules losse more than my eyes vaine lack 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 tyed to execute the Kings commaund Arthur Yet God commands whose power reacheth further That no commaund should stand in force to murther Hubert But 〈◊〉 me Essence hath ordaind a law A death for guilt to keepe the world in awe Arthur I plead not guiltie treasonles 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 remit his quarrell Arthur His quarrell is vnhallowed false and wrong Hubert Then be the blame to whom it doth belong Arthur Why thats to thee if thou as they proceede Conclude their iudgement with so vile a déede Hubert Why then no execution can be lawfull If Iudges doomes must be reputed doubtfull Arthur Yes where in forme of Lawe 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 commaunds depend I must not reason why he is your foe But doo his charge since he commaunds it so Arthur Then doo thy charge and charged be thy soule With wrongfull persecution done this day You rowling eyes whose superficies yet I doo behold with eyes that Nature lent Send foorth the terror of your Moouers frowne To wreake my wrong vpon the murtherers That rob me of your faire reflecting view Let hell to them as earth thâ—y wish to mée Be darke and direfull guerdon for their guylt And let the black tormenters of deepe Tartary Vpbraide them with this damned enterprise Inflicting change of tortures on their soules Delay not Hubert my orisons are ended Begin I pray thée reaue me of my sight But to performe a tragedie indéede Conclude the period with a mortall stab Constance farewell tormentor come away Make my dispatch the Tirants feasting day Hubert I faint I feare my conscience bids desist Faint did I say feare was it that I named My King commaunds that warrant sets me frée But God forbids and he commaundeth Kings That great Commaunder counterchecks my charge He stayes my hand he maketh soft my heart Goe cursed tooles your office is exempt Cheere thée yong Lord thou shalt not looâ—e an eye Though I should purchase it with losse of life Ile to the King and say his willis done And of the langor tell him thou art dead Goe in with me for Hubert was not borne To blinde those lampes that Nature pollisht so Arthur Hubert if euer Arthur be in state Looke for amends of this receiued gift I tooke my eysight by thy curtesie Thou lenest them me I will not be ingrate But now procrastination may offend The issue that thy kindnes vndertakes Depart we Hubert to preuent the worst Exeunt Enter King Iohn Essex Salisbury Penbrooke Iohn Now warlike followers resteth ought vndon That may impeach vs of foud ouersight The French haue felt the temper of our swords Cold terror keepes possession in their sowles Checking their ouerdaring arrogance For buckling with so great an ouermatch The Arche proud titled Priest of Italy That calles himselfe grand Viccar vnder God Is busied now with trentall obsequies Masse and mouths minde dirge and I know not what To ease their sowles in painefull purgatory That haue miscaried in these bloudy warres Heard you not Lords when first his holines Had tidings of our small account of him How with a taunt vaunting vpon his toes He vrdge a reason why the English Asse Disdaingd the blessed ordinance of Rome The title reuerently might I inferre Became the Kings that earst haue borne the load The slauish weight of that controlling Priest Who at his pleasure temperd them like waxe To carrie armes on danger of his curse Banding their sowles with warrants of his hand I grieue to thinke how Kings in ages past Simply deuoted to the Sea of Rome Haue run into a thousand acts of shame But now for confirmation of our State Sith we haue proynd the more than needfull braunch That did oppresse the true wel-growing stock It resteth we throughout our Territories Be reproclaimed and inuested King Pembrook My Liege that were to busie men with doubts Once were you crownd proclaimd and with applause Your â—â—tie stréetes haue ecchoed to the eare God saue the King God saue our Soueraigne Iohn Pardon my feare my censure doth infer Your Highnes not deposde from Regall State Would breed a mutinie in peoples mindes What it should meane to haue you crownd againe Iohn Pembrooke performe what I haue bid thée doo Thou knowst not what induceth me to this Essex goe in and Lordings all be gon About this taske I will be crownd anon Enter the Bastard Philip what newes how doo the Abbots chests Are Friers fatter than the Nunnes are faire What chéere with Churchmen had they golde or no Tell me how hath thy office tooke effect Philip My Lord I haue performd your Highnes charge The ease bred Abbots and the bare foote Friers The Monkes the Priors and holy
cloystred Nunnes Are all in health and were my Lord in wealth Till I had tythde and tolde their holy boords I doubt not when your Highnes sees my prize You may proportion all their former pride Iohn Why so now sorts it Philip as it should This small intrusion into Abbey trunkes Will make the Popelings excommunicate Curse ban and breath out damned orisons As thick as hailestones fore the springs approach But yet as harmles and without effect As is the eccho of a Cannons crack Dischargd against the battlements of heauen But what newes els befell there Philip Bastard Strange newes my Lord within your territories Nere Pomfret is a Prophet new sprong vp Whose diuination volleys wonders foorth To him the Commons throng with Countrey gifts He sets a date vnto the Beldames death Prescribes how long the Virgins state shall last Distinguisheth the moouing of the heauens Giues limits vnto holy nuptiall rytes Foretelleth famine aboundeth plentie forth Of fate of fortune life and death he chats With such assurance scruples put apart As if he knew the certaine doomes of heauen Or kept a Register of all the Destinies Iohn Thou telst me meruailes would thou hadst brought the man We might haue questiond him of things to come Bastard My Lord I tooke a care of had I wist And brought the Prophet with me to the Court He stayes my Lord but at the Presence doore Pleaseth your Highnes I will call him in Iohn Nay stay awhile wée'l haue him here anon A thing of weight is first to be performd Enter the Nobles and crowne King Iohn and then crie God saue the King Iohn Lordings and friends supporters of our state Admire not at this vnaccustomd course Nor in your thoughts blame not this déede of yours Once ere this time was I inuested King Your fealtie sworne as Liâ—gmen to our state Once since that time ambicious wéedes haue sprung To staine the beautie of our garden plot But heauens in our conduct rooting thence The false intruders breakers of worlds peace Haue to our ioy made Sunshine chase the storme After the which to try your constancie That now I see is worthie of your names We craude once more your helps for to inuest vs Into the right that enuie sought to wrack Once was I not deposde your former choyce Now twice béen crowned and applauded King Your cheered action to install me so Infers assured witnes of your loues And binds me ouer in a Kingly care To render loue with loue rewards of worth To ballance downe requitall to the full But thankes the while thankes Lordings to you all Aske me and vse me try me and finde me yours Essex A boon my Lord at vauntage of your words We aske to guerdon all our loyalties Pembrooke We take the time your Highnes bids vs aske Please it you graunt you make your promise good With lesser losse than one superfluous haire That not remembred falleth from your head Iohn My wordis past receiue your boone my Lords What may it be Aske it and it is yours Essex We craue my Lord to please the Commons with The libertie of Ladie Constance Sonne Whose durance darkeneth your Highnes right As if you kept him prisoner to the end Your selfe were doubtfull of the thing you haue Dismisse him thence your Highnes néedes not feare Twice by consent you are proclaimd our King Pembrooke This if you graunt were all vnto your good For simple people muse you keepe him close Iohn Your words haue searcht the center of my thoughts Confirming warrant of your loyalties Dismisse your couusell sway my state Let John doo 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 Bastard See see my Lord strange apparitions Glauncing mine eye to see the Diadem Placte by the Bishops on your Highnes head From foorth a gloomie cloude which curtaine like Displaide it selfe I sodainly espied Fiue Moones reflecting as you sée them now Euen in the moment that the Crowne was placte Gan they appeare holding the course you see Iohn What might portend these apparitions Vnvsuall signes forerunners of euent Presagers of strange terror to the world Beleeue me Lords the obiect feares me much Philip thou toldst me of me of Wizzard late Fetch in the man to descant of this show Pembrooke The heauens frowne vpon the sinfull earth When with prodigious vnaccustomd signes They spot their superficies with such wonder Essex Before the ruines of Ierusalem Such Meteors were the Ensignes of his wrath That hastned to destroy the faultfull Towne Enter the Bastard with the Prophet Iohn Is this the man Bastard It is my Lord. Iohn Prophet of Pomfret for so I heare thou art That calculatst of many things to come Who by a power repleate with heauenly gift Canst blab the counsell of thy Makers will If famâ— be true or truth be wrongd by thee Decide in cyphering what these fiue Moones Portend this Clyme if they presage at all Breath out thy gift and if I liue to see Thy diuination take a true effect Ile honour thee aboue all earthly men Peter The Skie wherein these Moones haue residence Presenteth Rome the great Metropolis Where sits the Pope in all his holy pompe Fowre of the Moones present fowre Prouinces To wit Spaine Denmarke Germanie and Fraunce That beare the yoke of proud commaunding 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 foorth this Iland Albion Who gins to scorne the Sea and State of Rome And seekes to shun the Edicts of the Pope This showes the heauen and this I doo auerre Is figured in these apparitions Iohn Why then it seemes the heauens smile on vs Giuing applause for leauing of the Pope But for they chaunce in our Meridian Doo they effect no priuate growing ill To be inflicted on vs in this Clyme Peter 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 dignitie Thou shalt be cleane dispoyld and dispossest Iohn False Dreamer perish with thy witched newes Villaine thou woundst me with thy fallacies If it be true dye for thy tidings price If false for fearing me with vaine suppose Hence with the Witch hells damned secretarie Lock him vp sure for by my faith I sweare True or not true the Wizzard shall not liue Before Ascension day who should be cause hereof Cut off the cause and then the effect will dye 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 deliury Frowne friends faile faith the diuell goe withall The brat shall dye that terrifies me thus Pembrooke and Essex I recall my graunt I will not buy your fauours with my