none I know By planting Lewis in the Vsurpers roome This is the cause of all our presence here That on the holy Altar we protest To aid the right of Lewis with goods and life Who on our knowledge is in armes for England What say you Lords Salis As Pembrooke saith affirmeth Salisburie Faire Lewis of France that spoused Lady Blanch Hath title of an vncontrouled strength To England and what longeth to the Crowne In right whereof as we are true inform'd The Prince is marching hitherward in armes Our purpose to conclude that with a word Is to inuest him as we may deuise King of our countrey in the tyrants stead And so the warrant on the Altar sworne And so the intent for which we hither came Bast My Lord of Salisburie I cannot couch My speeches with the needfull words of arte As doth beseeme in such a waightie worke But what my conscience and my duty will I purpose to impart For Chesters exile blame his busie wit That medled where his duty quite forbade For any priuate causes that you haue Me thinke they should not mount to such a height As to depose a King in their reuenge For Arthurs death K. Iohn was innocent He desperate was the deathsman to himselfe Which you to make a colour to your crime iniustly do impute to his defalt But wher fel traitorisme hath resideÌ„ce There wants no words to set despight on worke I say t is shame and worthy all reproofe To wrest such petty wrongs in tearms of right Against a King annointed by the Lord. Why Salsburie admit the wrongs are true Yet subiects may not take in hand reuenge And rob the heauens of their proper power Where sitteth he to whom reuenge belongs And doth a Pope a priest a man of pride Giue charters for the liues of lawfull kings What can he blesse or who regards his curse But such as giue to man and take from God I speake it in the sight of God aboue There 's not a man that dies in your beleefe But sels his soule perpetually to paine Aid Lewis leaue God kill Iohn please hell Make hauocke of the welfare of your soules For here I leaue you in the sight of heauen A troope of traytors food for hellish fiends If you desist then follow me as friends If not then doe your worst as hatefull traytors For Lewis his right alasse t is too too lame A senslesse claime if truth be titles friend In briefe if this be cause of our resort Our pilgrimage is to the diuels shrine I came not Lords to troupe as traytors doe Nor will I counsell in so bad a cause Please you returne we goe againe as friends If not I to my King and you where traytors please Exit Percie A hot yong man and so my Lords proceed I let him goe and better lost than found Pemb. What say you Lords will all the rest proceed Will you all with me sweare vpon the Altar That you wil to the death be aid to Le. enemy to Iohn Euery man lay his hand by mine in witnes of his harts accord Wel then euery man to armes to meet the king Who is already before London Enter Messenger Pemb. What newes Herauld The right Christian Prince my master Lewis of France is at hand comming to visit your Honours directed hither by the right honourable Richard Earle of Bigot to conferre with your honours Pemb. How neere is his Highnesse Mes Ready to enter your presence Enter Lewis Earle Bigot with his troupe Lew. Faire Lords of England Lewis salutes you all As friends and firme wel-willers of his weale At whose request from plentie flowing France Crossing the Ocean with a Southerne gale He is in person come at your commands To vndertake and gratifie withall The fulnesse of your fauours profferd him But worlds braue men omitting promises Till time be minister of more amends I must acquaint you with our fortunes course The heauens dewing fauours on my head Haue in their conduct safe with victory Brought me along your well manured bounds With small repulse and little crosse of chance Your Citie Rochester with great applause By some diuine instinct laid armes aside And from the hollow holes of Thamesis Eccho apace repli'd Viue la Roy. From thence along the wanton rowling glade To Troynouant your faire Metropolis With lucke came Lewis to shew his troupes of France Wauing our Ensignes with the dallying winds The fearefull obiect of fell frowning warre Where after some assault and small defence Heauens may I say and not my warlike troupe Temperd their hearts to take a friendly foe Within the compasse of their high built wals Giuing me title as it seemd they wish Thus fortune Lords acts to your forwardnesse Meanes of content in lieu of former griefe And may I liue but to requite you all Worlds wish were mine in dying noted yours Salis Welcom the balme that closeth vp our wounds The soueraigne medcine for our quicke recure The anchor of our hope the onely prop Whereon depends our liues our lands our weale Without the which as sheepe without their heird Except a shepheard winking at the wolfe We stray we pine we run to thousand harmes No maruell then though with vnwonted ioy We welcome him that beateth woes away Lew. Thanks to you all of this religious league A holy knot of Catholike consent I cannot name you Lordings man by man But like a stranger vnacquainted yet In generall I promise faithfull loue Lord Bigot brought me to S. Edmunds shrine Giuing me warrant of a Christian oath That this assembly came 〈…〉 To sweare according as your pâ—ckets show'd Homage and loyall seruice to our selfe I need not doubt the suretie of your wils Since well I know for many of your sakes The townes haue yeelded on their own accords Yet for a fashion not for misbeleefe My eyes must witnesse and these eares must heare Your oath vpon the holy Altar sworne And after march to end our commings cause Sals That we intend no other than good truth All that are present of this holy league For confirmation of our better trust In presence of his Highnesse sweare with me The sequel that my selfe shall vtter here I Thomas Plantaginet Earle of Salisburie sweare vpon the Altar and by the holy army of Saints homage and allegeance to the right Christian Prince Lewis of France as true and rightfull King to England Cornewall Wales and to their territories in the defence whereof I vpon the holy Altar sweare all forwardnesse All the Eng. Lo. sweare As the noble Earle hath sworne so sweare we all Lew. I rest assured on your holy oath And on this Altar in like sort I sweare Loue to you all and princely recompence To guerdon your good wils vnto the full And since I am at this religious shrine My good wel-willers giue vs leaue awhile To vse some orizons our selues apart To all the holy company of heauen That they will smile vpon our purposes And
helpes heape vp more worke for woes Const If any power will heare a widowes plaint That from a wounded soule implores reuenge Send fell contagion to infect this clime This cursed countrey where the traitors breath Whose periurie as proud Briareus Beleaguers all the Skie with mis-beleefe He promist Arthur and he sware it too To fence thy right and check thy fo-mans pride But now black-spotted Periure as he is He takes a truce with Elnors damned brat And marries Lewis to her louely Neece Sharing thy fortune and thy birth-dayes gift Betweene these louers ill betide the match And as they shoulder thee from out thine owne And triumph in a widowes tearefuâ—l cares So heau'ns crosse them with a thriftlesse course Is all the bloud yspilt on either part Closing the cranies of the thirstie earth Growne to a loue-game and a Bridall feast And must thy birth-right bid the wedding banes Poore helpelesse boy hopelesse and helplesse too To whom misfortune seemes no yoake at all Thy stay thy state thy imminent mishaps Woundeth thy mothers thoughts with feeling care Why lookst thou pale the colour flies thy face I trouble now the fountaine of thy youth And make it muddie with my doles discourse Goe in with me reply not louely boy We must obscure this mone with melodie Least worser wrack ensue our male-content Exeunt Enter the King of England the King of France Arthur Bastard Lewis Lymoges Constance Blanch Chattillion Pembrooke Salisburie and Elianor Iohn This is the day the long-desired day Wherein the Realmes of England and of France Stand highly blessed in a lasting peace Thrice happie is the Bridegroome and the Bride From whose sweet Bridall such a concord springs To make of mortall foes immortall friends Const Vngodly peace made by anothers warre Phil. Vnhappie peace that tyes thee from reuenge Rouze thee Plantaginet liue not to see The butcher of the great Plantaginet Kings Princes and ye Peeres of either realmes Pardon my rashnes and forgiue the zeale That carries me in furie to a deede Of high desert of honour and of armes A boone O Kings a boone doth Philip begge Prostrate vpon his knee which knee shall cleaue Vnto the superficies of the earth Till France and England grant this glorious boone Iohn Speake Philip England grants thee thy request Phil. And France confirmes what ere is in his power Bast. Then Duke sit fast I leuell at thy head Too base a ransome for my fathers life Princes I craue the combate with the Duke That braues it in dishonour of my sire Your words are past nor can you now reuerse The Princely promise that reuiues my soule Whereat me thinkes I see his sinewes shake This is the boone dread Lords which granted once Or life or death are pleasant to my soule Since I shall liue and die in Richards right Lym. Base bastard misbegotten of a King To interrupt these holy nuptiall rites With brawles and tumults to a Dukes disgrace Let it suffice I scorne to ioyne in fight With one so farre vnequall to my selfe Bast A fine excuse Kings if you will be Kings Then keepe your words and let vs combate it Iohn Philip we cannot force the Duke to fight Beeing a subiect vnto neither Realme But tell me Austria if an English Duke Should dare thee thus wouldst thou accept the challenge Lym. Else let the world account the Austrich Duke The greatest coward liuing on the earth Iohn Then cheere thee Philip Iohn wil keep his word Kneele downe in sight of Philip King of France And all these Princely Lords assembled here I gird thee with the sword of Normandie And of that Land I doe inuest thee Duke So shalt thou be in liuing and in land Nothing inferiour vnto Austria Lym. K. Iohn I tell thee flatly to thy face Thou wrong'st mine honour and that thou mai'st see How much I scorne thy new made Duke and thee I flatly say I will not be compeld And so farewell sir Duke of lowe degree I le finde a time to match you for this geare Exit Iohn Stay Philip let him goe the honours thine Bast I cannot liue vnlesse his life be mine Q. Elia. Thy forwardnes this day hath ioy'd my soule And made me thinke my Richard liues in thee K. Phil. Lordings let 's in and spend the wedding day In maskes and triumphs letting quarrels cease Enter a Cardinall from Rome Card. Stay king of France I charge thee ioyn not hands With him that stands accurst of God and men Know Iohn that I Pandulph Cardinall of Millaine and Legate from the Sea of Rome demand of thee in the name of our holy Father the Pope Innocent why thou do'st contrary to the lawes of our holy mother the Church and our holy Father the Pope disturb the quiet of the Church and disanull the election of Stephen Langhton whom his holinesse hath elected Archbishop of Canterburie this in his holinesse name I demaund of thee Ioh. And what hast thou or the Pope thy master to do to demand of me how I imploy mine own Know sir priest as I honor the Church and holy Church-men so I scorne to be subiect to the greatest Prelate in the world Tell thy master so from me and say Iohn of England said it that neuer an Italian Priest of them all shal either haue tythe tole or polling peny out of England but as I am King so will I raigne next vnder God supreame head both ouer spiritual and temporall and he that contradicts me in this I le make him hop headlesse K. Phil. What K. Iohn know you what you say thus to blaspheme against our holy father the Pope Ioh. Philip though thou and all the Princes of Christendome suffer themselues to be abus'd by a Prelates slauery my mind is not of such base temper If the Pope will bee king of England let him win it with the sword I know no other title he can alleadge to mine inheritance Card. Iohn this is thine answer Iohn What then Card. Then I Pandulph of Padua Legate from the Apostolike Sea doe in the name of Saint Peter and his successor our holy father Pope Innocent pronounce thee accursed discharging euery of thy subiects of all dutie and fealtie that they doe owe to thee and pardon and forgiuenesse of sinne to those or them whatsoeuer which shal carrie armes against thee or murder thee This I pronounce and charge all good men to abhorre thee as an excommunicate person Ioh. So sir the more the foxe is curs'd the better a fares if God blesse me and my Land let the Pope and his shauelings curse and spare not Card. Furthermore I charge thee Philip K. of Fraunce and all the kings and princes of Christendome to make warre vpon this miscreant and whereas thou hast made a league with him and confirmed it by oath I doe in the name of our foresaid father the Pope acquit thee of that oath as vnlawfull beeing made with an hereticke howe sai'st thou Philip do'st thou obey
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
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