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
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
vnto a Friory Is this the King that aymes at Abbeis lands Is this the man whom all the world abhorres And yet will flie vnto a Friorie Accurst be Swinstead Abbey Abbot Friers Monkes Nunnes and Clarks and all that dwells therein If wicked Iohn escape aliue away Now if that thou wilt looke to merit heauen And be canonized for a holy Saint To please the world with a deseruing worke Be thou the man to set thy countrey free And murder him that seekes to murder thee Enter the Abbot Abbot Why are not you within to cheere the King He now begins to mend and will to meate Monke What if I say to strangle him in his sleepe Abbot What at thy Mumpsimus away And seeke some meanes for to pastime the King Monke I le set a dudgeon dagger at his heart And with a mallet knocke him on the head Abbot Alas what meanes this Monke to murder me Dare lay my life hee 'l kill me for my place Monke I le poyson him and it shall ne'r be knowne And then shall I be chiefest of my house Abbot If I were dead indeed he is the next But I le away for why the Monke is mad And in his madnesse he will murder me Mon. My L. I cry your Lordship mercy I saw you not Abbot Alas good Thomas do not murder me and thou shalt haue my place with thousand thanks Monke I murder you God shield from such a thought Abbot If thou wilt needs yet let me say my prayers Monke I will not hurt your Lordship good my Lord but if you please I will impart a thing that shall be beneficiall to vs all Abbot Wilt thou not hurt me holy Monke say on Monke You know my Lord the King is in our house Abbot True Monke You know likewise the King abhorres a Frier Abbot True Monke And he that loues not a Frier is our enemy Abbot Thou saist true Monke Then the King is our enemy Abbot True Mon. Why then should we not kil our enemy and the king being our enemy why then should we not kill the K. Abbot O blessed Monke I see God moues thy minde to free this land from tyrants slauery But who dare venter for to do this deede Mon. Who dare why I my Lord dare do the deed I le free my Countrey and the Church from foes And merit heauen by killing of a King Abbot Thomas kneele downe and if thou art resolu'd I will absolue thee here from all thy sinnes For why the deede is meritorious Forward and feare not man for euery month Our Friers shall sing a Masse for Thomas soule Mon. God and S. Francis prosper my attempt For now my Lord I goe about my worke Exeunt Enter Lewes and his armie Lewes Thus victorie in bloudie Lawrell clad Followes the fortune of yong Lodowike The Englishmen as danted at our sight Fall as the fowle before the Eagles eies Onely two crosses of contrary change Do nip my heart and vex me with vnrest Lord Meluns death the one part of my soule A brauer man did neuer liue in Fraunce The other griefe I that 's a gall indeed To thinke that Douer Castle should hold out Gainst all assaults and rest impregnable Yee warrelike race of Francus Hectors sonne Triumph in conquest of that tyrant Iohn The better halfe of England is our owne And towards the conquest of the other part We haue the face of all the English Lords What then remaines but ouerrunne the land Be resolute my warrelike followers And if good fortune serue as shee begins The poorest pesant of the realme of France Shal be a master ore an English Lord. Enter a Messenger Lewes Fellow what newes Mess Pleaseth your Grace the Earle of Salsbury Penbrooke Essex Clare and Arundell with all the Barons that did fight for thee are on a sodaine fled with all their powers to ioyne with Iohn to driue thee backe againe Enter another Messenger Messen Lewes my Lord why standst thou in a maze Gather thy troupes hope not of helpe from Fraunce For all thy forces being fiftie saile Containing twenty thousand souldiers With victuall and munition for the warre Putting them from Callis in vnluckie time Did crosse the seas and on the Goodwin sands The men munition and the ships are lost Enter another Messenger Lewes More newes say on Messen Iohn my Lord â—ith all his scattered troups Flying the fury of your conquering sword As Pharaoh earst within the bloody sea So he and his enuironed with the tide On Lincolne washes all were ouerwhelmed The Barons fled our forces cast away Lewes Was euer heard such vnexpected newes Messenger Yet Lodowike reuiue thy dying heart King Iohn and all his forces are consumde The lesse thou needst the aid of English Earles The lesse thou needst to grieue thy nauies wracke And follow times aduantage with successe Lewes Braue Frenchmen arm'd with magnanimitie March after Lewes who will leade you on To chase the Barons power that wants a head For Iohn is drown'd and I am Englands King Though our munition and our men be lost Philip of Fraunce will send vs fresh supplies Exeunt Enter two Friers laying a Cloth Frier Dispatch dispatch the King desires to eate Would a might eate his last for the loue he bears to church men Frier I am of thy mind too and so it should be and we might be our owne caruers I maruell why they dine here in the Orchard Frier I know not nor I care not The King comes Iohn Come on Lord Abbot shall we sit together Abbot Pleaseth your Grace sit downe Iohn Take your places sirs no pomp in penury all beggers and friends may come where Necessitie keepes the house curtesie is barr'd the table sit downe Philip. Bast My Lord I am loth to allude so much to the prouerb honors change maners a king is a king though Fortune do her worst we as dutifull in despite of her frown as if your highnes were now in the highest tipe of dignitie Iohn Come no more adoe and you tell mee much of dignity you 'l marre my appetite in a surfet of sorrow What cheere Lord Abbot me thinks ye frown like an host that knows his guest hath no money to pay the reckning Abbot No my Liege if I frowne at all it is for I feare this cheere too homely to entertaine so mighty a guest as your maiestie Bast I thinke rather my Lord Abbot you remember my last being here when I went in progresse for powches and the rancor of his heart breakes out in his countenance to shew he hath not forgot me Abb. Not so my Lord you and the meanest follower of his maiesty are heartily welcome to me Monke Wassell my Liege and as a poore Monke may say welcome to Swinstead Iohn Begin Monke and report hereafter thou wast taster to a King Monke As much health to your Highnesse as to mine owne heart Iohn I pledge thee kind Monke Monke The merriest draught that euer was drunke in
THE First and second Part of the troublesome Raigne of John King of England With the discouerie of King Richard Cordelions Base sonne vulgarly named The Bastard Fawconbridge Also the death of King Iohn at Swinstead Abbey As they were sundry times lately acted the Queenes Maiesties Players Written by W. Sh. Imprinted at London by Valentine Simmes for Iohn Helme and are to be sold at his shop in Saint Dunstons Churchyard in Fleetestreet 1611. The troublesome Raigne of King Iohn Enter K. Iohn Queene Elinor his mother William Marshall Earle of Pembrooke the Earles of Essex and of Salisbury Queene Elianor BArons of England and my noble Lords Though God and Fortune haue bereft from vs Victorious Richard scourge of Infidells And clad this Land in stole of dismall hew Yet giue me leaue to ioy and ioy you all That from this wombe hath sprung a second hope A King that may in rule and vertue both Succeede his brother in his Emperie K. Iohn My gratious mother Queene and Barons all Though farre vnworthy of so high a place As is the Throne of mighty Englands King Yet Iohn your Lord contented vncontent Will as he may sustaine the heauy yoke Of pressing cares that hang vpon a Crowne My Lord of Pembrooke and Lord Salsbury Admit the Lord Chattilion to our presence That we may know what Philip King of Fraunce By his Ambassadors requires of vs. Q. Elinor Dare lay my hand that Elinor can gesse Whereto this weighty Embassade doth tend If of my nephew Arthur and his claime Then say my Sonne I haue not missde my aime Enter Chattilion and the two Earles Iohn My Lord Chattilion welcome into England How fares our brother Philip king of Fraunce Chat. His Highnesse at my comming was in health And will'd me to salute your Maiestie And say the message he hath giuen in charge Iohn And spare not man wee are preparde to heare Chat. Philip by the grace of God most Christian King of France hauing taken into his gardain protection Arthur D. of Brittaine sonne and heire to Ieffrey thine elder brother requireth in the behalfe of the saide Arthur the kingdome of England with the lordship of Ireland Poiters Aniow Toraine Maine and I attend thine answer Iohn A small request belike hee makes account That England Ireland Poiters Aniow Toraine Maine Are nothing for a King to giue at once I wonder what he meanes to leaue for me Tell Philip he may keepe his Lords at home With greater honour than to send them thus On Embassades that not concerne himselfe Or if they did would yeeld but small returne Chat. Is this thine answer Iohn It is and too good an answer for so prowd a message Chat. Then King of England in my Masters name And in Prince Arthur duke of Brittaines name I doe defie thee as an enemie And wish thee to prepare for bloody warres Q. Elinor My Lord that stands vpon defiance thus Commend me to my nephew tell the boy That I Queene Elianor his grandmother Vpon my blessing charge him leaue his Armes Whereto his head-strong mother prickes him so Her pride we know and know her for a Dame That will not sticke to bring him to his end So she may bring herselfe to rule a realme Next wish him to forsake the King of Fraunce And come to me and to his vncle here And he shall want for nothing at our hands Chat. This shall I do and thus I take my leaue Iohn Pembrooke conuey him safely to the sea But not in haste for as we are aduisde We meane to be in France as soone as he To fortifie such townes as we possesse In Aniow Toraine and in Normandie Exit Chatt Enter the Shriue and whispers the Earle of Salis in the care Sals Please it your maiesty here is the shriue of Northhamptonshire with certaine persons that of late committed a riot and haue appeald to your Maiestie beseeching your Highnesse for speciall cause to heare them Iohn Will them come neere and while wee heare the cause Goe Salsbury and make prouision We meane with speed to passe the Sea to France Say shriue what are these men what haue they done Or whereto tends the course of this appeale Shriue Please it your maiesty these two brethren vnnaturally falling at odds about their fathers liuing haue broken your Highnesse peace in seeking to right their owne wrongs without course of Lawe or order of Iustice vnlawfully assembled thēselues in mutinous maner hauing committed a riot appealing from triall in their country to your Highnes and here I Thomas Nidigate shrine of Northamptonshire do deliuer them ouer to their triall Iohn My Lord of Essex wil th offenders to stand forth and tell the cause of their quarrell Essex Gentlemen it is the Kings pleasure that you discouer your griefs and doubt not but you shal haue iustice Phil. Please it your M. the wrong is mine yet will I abide all wrongs before I once open my mouth t' vnrip the shamefull slander of my parents the dishonor of my self the bad dealing of my brother in this princely assemblie Robert Then by my Prince his leaue shall Robert speake And tell your Maiestie what right I haue To offer wrong as he accounteth wrong My father not vnknowne vnto your Grace Receiu'd his spurres of Knighthood in the Field At kingly Richards hands in Palestine When as the walls of Acon gaue him way His name sir Robert Fauconbridge of Mountbery What by succession from his Ancestors And warlike seruice vnder Englands Armes His liuing did amount to at his death Two thousand markes reuenew euery yeare And this my Lord I challenge for my right As lawfull heire to Robert-Fauconbridge Philip If first-borne sonne be heire indubitate By certaine right of Englands auntient Lawe How should my selfe make any other doubt But I am heire to Robert Fauconbridge Iohn Fond youth to trouble these our princely cares Or make a question in so plaine a case Speake is this man thine elder brother borne Robert Please it your Grace with patience for to heare I not deny but he mine elder is Mine elder brother too yet in such sort As he can make no title to the land Iohn A doubtfull tale as euer I did heare Thy brother and thine elder and no heire Explaine this darke Aenigma Robert I grant my Lord he is my mothers sonne Base borne and base begot no Fauconbridge Indeede the world reputes him lawfull heire My father in his life did count him so And here my mother stands to prooue him so But I my Lord can prooue and doe auerre Both to my mothers shame and his reproach He is no heire nor yet legitimate Then gratious Lord let Fauconbridge enioy The liuing that belongs to Fauconbridge And let not him possesse anothers right Iohn Prooue this the land is thine by Englands lawe Q. Elin. Vngratious youth to rip thy mothers shame The wombe from whence thou didst thy being take All honest eares abhorre thy wickednesse But
gold I see doth beate downe Natures law Mother My gratious Lord and you thrice reuerend Dame That see the teares distilling from mine eies And scalding sighes blowne from a rented heart For honour and regard of womanhood Let me intreate to be commaunded hence Let not these eares heere receiue the hissing sound Of such a viper who with poysoned words Doth masserate the bowells of my soule Iohn Lady stand vp be patient for a while And fellow say whose bastard is thy brother Philip Not for my selfe nor for my mother now But for the honour of so braue a man Whom hee accuseth with adulterie Heere I beseech your Grace vpon my knees To count him mad and so dismisse vs hence Robert Nor mad nor mazde but well aduised I Charge thee before this royall presence here To be a bastard to king Richards selfe Sonne to your Grace and brother to your Maiestie Thus bluntly and Elian. Yong man thou needst not be ashamed of thy kin Nor of thy Sire But forward with thy proofe Robert The proofe so plaine the argument so strong As that your Highnesse and these noble Lords And all saue those that haue no eies to see Shall sweare him to be bastard to the king First when my Father was Embassadour In Germanie vnto the Emperour The King lay often at my fathers house And all the realme suspected what befell And at my fathers backe-returne agen My mother was deliuered as t is sed Sixe weeks before the account my father made But more than this looke but on Philips face His features actions and his lineaments And all this princely presence shall confesse He is no other but King Richards sonne Then gratious Lord rest he King Richards sonne And let me rest safe in my Fathers right That am his rightfull sonne and only heire Iohn Is this thy proofe and all thou hast to say Robert I haue no more nor neede I greater proofe Iohn First where thou saidst in absence of thy Sire My brother often lodged in his house And what of that base groome to slaunder him That honoured his Embassador so much In absence of the man to cheere the wife This will not hold proceed vnto the next Q. Elin. Thou saist shee teemde sixe weekes before her time Why good sir Squire are you so cunning growen To make account of womens reckonings Spit in your hand and to your other proofes Many mischances happen in such affaires To make a woman come before her time Iohn And where thou saist he looketh like the King In action feature and proportion Therein I hold with thee for in my life I neuer saw so liuely counterfet Of Richard Cordelion as in him Robert Then good my Lord be you indiffrent Iudge And let me haue my liuing and my right Q. Elinor Nay heare you sir you runne away too fast Know you not Omne simile non est idem Or haue read in Harke yee good sir T was thus I warrant and no otherwise Shee lay with sir Robert your father and thought vpon King Richard my sonne and so your brother was formed in this fashion Robert Madame you wrong me thus to iest it out I craue my right King Iohn as thou art King So be thou iust and let me haue my right Iohn Why foolish boy thy proofes are friuolous Nor canst thou chalenge any thing thereby But thou shalt see how I will helpe thy claime This is my doome and this my doome shall stand Irreuocable as I am king of England For thou know'st not wee le aske of them that know His mother and himselfe shall end this strife And as they say so shall thy liuing paste Robert My Lord herein I challenge you of wrong To giue away my right and put the doome Vnto themselues Can there be likelihood That shee will loose Or he will giue the liuing from himselfe It may not be my Lord. Why should it be Iohn Lords keep him back let him heare the doom Essex first aske the Mother thrice who was his Sire Essex Lady Margaret widow of Fauconbridge Who was Father to thy Sonne Philip Mother Please it your Maiesty Sir Rob. Fauconbridge Rob. This is right aske my fellow there if I be a thiefe Iohn Aske Philip whose sonne he is Essex Philip who was thy Father Philip. Mas my Lord and that 's a question and you had not taken some paines with her before I should haue desired you to aske my Mother Iohn Say who was thy Father Philip. Faith my Lord to answere you sure hee is my father that was neerest my mother when I was begotten and him I thinke to be Sir Robert Fauconbridge Iohn Essex for fashions sake demand agen And so an end to this contention Robert Was euer man thus wrongd as Robert is Essex Philip speake I say who was thy father Iohn Young man how now what art thou in a trance Elianor Philip awake the man is in a dreame Philip. Philippus atauis aedite Regibus What saist thou Philip sprung of auncient Kings Quo me rapit tempestas What winde of honour blowes this furie forth Or whence proceede these fumes of Maiestie Me thinkes I heare a hollow Eccho sound That Philip is the sonne vnto a King The whistling leaues vpon the trembling trees Whistle in consort I am Richards sonne The bubling murmur of the waters fall Records Philippus Regius filius Birds in their flight make musicke with their wings Filling the aire with glorie of my birth Birds bubbles leaues and mountaines Eccho all Ring in mine eares that I am Richards sonne Fond man ah whither art thou carried How are thy thoughts ywrapt in Honors heauen Forgetfull what thou art and whence thou camst Thy Fathers land cannot maintaine these thoughts These thoughts are farre vnfitting Fauconbridge And well they may for why this mounting minde Doth soare too high to stoupe to Fauconbridge Why how now knowest thou where thou art And knowest thou who expects thine answer here Wilt thou vpon a franticke madding vaine Goe loose thy land and say thy selfe base borne No keepe thy land though Richard were thy Sire What ere thou thinkst say thou art Fauconbridge Iohn Speake man be sodaine who thy Father was Philip. Please it your Maiestie Sir Robert Philip that Fauconbridge cleaues to thy iawes It will not out I cannot for my life Say I am sonne vnto a Fauconbridge Let land and liuing goe t is Honors fire That makes me sweare King Richard was my Sire Base to a King addes title of more State Than Knights begotten though legittimate Please it your Grace I am King Richards Sonne Robert Robert reuiue thy heart let sorrow die His faltring tongue not suffers him to lie Mo. What head-strong furie doth enchant my sonne Philip Philip cannot repent for he hath done Iohn Then Philip blame not me thy selfe hast lost By wilfulnesse thy liuing and thy land Robert thou art the heire of Fauconbridge God giue thee ioy greater than thy desert Q. Elia. Why how now
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
forces gainst these cittizens Pulling their battred wals about their eares The Towne once wonne then striue about the claime For they are minded to delude you both Citti. Kings Princes Lords Knights assembled here The Cittizens of Angiers all by me Entreate your Maiestie to heare them speake And as you like the motion they shall make So to account and follow their aduice Iohn Phil. Speake on we giue thee leaue Cittiz. Then thus whereas the young and lusty knight Incites you on to knit your kingly strengths The motion cannot chuse but please the good And such as loue the quiet of the State But how my Lords how shold your strengths be knit Not to oppresse your subiects and your friends And fill the world with brawles and mutinies But vnto peace your forces should be knit To liue in Princely league and amitie Doe this the gates of Angiers shall giue way And stand wide open to your hearts content To make this peace a lasting bond of loue Remaines one onely honourable meanes Which by your pardon I shall here display Lewis the Dolphin and the heire of France A man of noted valour through the world Is yet vnmarried let him take to wife The beauteous daughter of the king of Spaine Neece to K. Iohn the louely Lady Blanch Begotten on his sister Elianor With her in marriage will her vnkle giue Castles and towers as fitteth such a match The Kings thus ioynd in league of perfect loue They may so deale with Arthur Duke of Britaine Who is but young and yet vnmeet to raigne As he shall stand contented euery way Thus haue I boldly for the common good Deliuered what the Citie gaue in charge And as vpon conditions you agree So shall we stand content to yeeld the Towne Arth. A proper peace if such a motion hold These Kings beare armes for me and for my right And they shall share my lands to make them friends Q. Elian. Sonne Iohn follow this motion as thou louest thy mother Make league with Philip yeeld to any thing Lewis shall haue my neece and then be sure Arthur shall haue small succour out of France Iohn Brother of France you heare the Citizens Then tell me how you meane to deale herein Const. Why Iohn what canst thou giue vnto thy Neece That hast no foote of land but Arthurs right Lew. Bi r lady Citizens I like your choyce A louely damsell is the Lady Blanch Worthy the heire of Europe for her pheere Const What kings why stand you gazing in a trance Why how now Lords accursed Cittizens To fill and tickle their ambitious eares With hope of gaine that springs from Arthurs losse Some dismall Planet at thy birth-day raign'd For now I see the fall of all thy hopes K. Phil. Ladie and Duke of Brittaine know you both The King of France respects his honor more Than to betray his friends and fauourers Princesse of Spaine could you affect my Sonne If we vpon conditions could ageee Bast Swounds Madam take an English Gentleman Slaue as I was I thought to haue moou'd the match Grandame you made me halfe a promise once That Lady Blanch should bring me wealth inough And make me heire of store of English land Q. Elian. Peace Philip I will looke thee out a wife We must with policie compound this strife Bastar If Lewis get her well I say no more But let the frollicke Frenchman take no scorne If Philip front him with an English horne Iohn Ladie what answer make you to the K. of France Can you affect the Dolphin for your Lord Blanch. I thanke the King that likes of me so well To make me Bride vnto so great a Prince But giue me leaue my Lord to pause on this Least beeing too too forward in the cause It may be blemish to my modestie Q. Elinor Sonne Iohn and worthy Philip K. of France Do you confer awhile about the Dower And I will schoole my modest Neece so well That she shall yeeld as soone as you haue done Constance I there 's the wretch that brocheth all this il Why flie I not vpon the Beldams face And with my nayles pull forth her hatefull eyes Arthur Sweet mother cease these hastie madding fits For my sake let my Grandam haue her will O would she with her hands pull forth my heart I could affoord it to appease these broyles But mother let vs wisely winke at all Least farther harmes ensue our hastie speech Phil. Brother of England what dowrie wilt thou giue Vnto my sonne in marriage with thy Neece Iohn First Philip knowes her dowrie out of Spaine To be so great as may content a King But more to mend and amplifie the same I giue in mor ey thirtie thousand markes For land I leaue it to thine owne demand Phil. Then I demand Volquesson Torain Main Poiters and Aniou these fiue Prouinces Which thou as King of England holdst in France Then shall our peace be soone concluded on Bast No lesse then fiue such Prouinces at once Iohn Mother what shal I do my brother got these lands With much effusion of our English bloud And shall I giue it all away at once Q. Elin. Iohn giue it him so shalt thou liue in peace And keepe the residue sans ieopardie Iohn Philip bring foorth thy sonne here is my neece And here in marriage I do giue with her From me and my successors English Kings Volquesson Poiters Aniou Torain Main And thirtie thousand markes of stipend coyne Now cittizens how like you of this match Cittiz. We ioy to see so sweete a peace begun Lewis Lewis with Blanch shall euer liue content But now King Iohn what say you to the Duke Father speake as you may in his behalfe Phil. K. Iohn be good vnto thy Nephew here And giue him somewhat that shall please you best Iohn Arthur although thou troublest Englands peace Yet here I giue thee Brittaine for thine owne Together with the Earledome of Richmont And this rich cittie of Angiers withall Q. Elian. And if thou seeke to please thine Vncle Iohn Shalt see my sonne how I will make of thee Iohn Now euery thing is sorted to this end Le ts in and there prepare the marriage rites Which in S. Maries Chappell presently Shall be performed ere this Presence part Exeunt Manent Constance Arthur Art Madam good cheere these drouping languishments Adde no redresse to salue our awkward haps If heauens haue concluded these euents To small auaile is bitter pensiuenesse Seasons will change and so our present greefe May change with them and all to our releefe Const Ah boy thy yeares I see are farre too greene To looke 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 doe disagree Arth. Yet Ladies teares and cares and solemn shewes Rather then