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
fearefull warres If so forbearance is a deed well done Arth. Ah mother possession of a Crowne is much And Iohn as I haue heard reported of For present vantage would aduenture farre The world can witnesse in his Brothers time He tooke vpon him rule and almost raigne Then must it follow as a doubtfull point That hee 'l resigne the rule vnto his Nephew I rather thinke the menace of the world Sounds in his eares as threats of no esteeme And sooner would he scorne Europa's power Than loose the smallest title he enioyes For questionlesse he is an Englishman Lewis Why are the English peerelesse in compare Braue Caualiers as ere that Island bred Haue liu'd and di'd and dar'd and done enough Yet neuer grac'd their countrey for the cause England is England yeelding good and bad And Iohn of England is as other Iohns Trust me yong Arthur if thou like my reed Praise thou the French that helpe thee in this need Lymog. The Englishman hath little cause I trowe To spend good speaches on so proud a foe Why Arthur here 's his spoyle that now is gone Who when he liu'd outrou'd his brother Iohn But hastie curres that lie so long to catch Come halting home and meete their ouer-match But newes comes now here 's the Embassadour Enter Chattilion K. Phil. And in good time welcome my Lord Chattillion What newes will Iohn accord to our command Chat. Be I not briefe to tell your Highnesse all He will approach to interrupt my tale For one selfe bottome brought vs both to France He on his part will trie the chance of warre And if his words inferre assured truth Will loose himselfe and all his followers Ere yeeld vnto the least of your demands The Mother Queene shee taketh on amaine Gainst Lady Constance counting her the cause That doth effect this claime to Albion Coniuring Arthur with a grandames care To leaue his Mother willing him submit His state to Iohn and her protection Who as shee saith are studious for his good More circumstance the season intercepts This is the summe which briefly I haue showne K. Phil. This bitter wind must nip some-bodies spring Sodaine and briefe why so t is haruest weather But say Chattilion what persons of account are with him Chat. Of England Earle Pembrooke and Salisburie The onely noted men of any name Next them a bastard of the Kings deceast A hardie wild-head tough and venturous With many other men of high resolue Then is there with them Elinor Mother Queene And Blanch her Neece daughter to the King of Spaine These are the prime birds of this hot aduenture Enter Iohn and his followers Queene Bastard Earles c. K. Phil. Me seemeth Iohn an ouer-daring spirit Effects some frensie in thy rash approach Treading my Confines with thy armed troupes I rather lookt for some submisse reply Touching the claime thy Nephew Arthur makes To that which thou vniustly dost vsurpe K. Iohn For that Chattilion can discharge you all I list not pleade my Title with my tongue Nor came I hither with intent of wrong To France or thee or any right of thine But in defence and purchase of my right The towne of Angiers which thou dost begirt In the behalfe of Lady Constance sonne Whereto nor he nor she can lay iust claime Constance Yes false intruder if that iust be iust And head-strong vsurpation put apart Arthur my Sonne heire to thy elder brother Without ambiguous shadow of discent Is Soueraigne to the substance thou withholdst Q. Elinor Misgouernd gossip staine to this resort Occasion of these vndecided iarres I say that know to checke thy vaine suppose Thy sonne hath naught to do with that he claimes For proofe whereof I can inferre a Will That barres the way he vrgeth by discent Con. A Will indeed a crabbed womans will Wherein the diuell is an ouerseer And prowd dame Elinor sole Executresse More wills than so on perill of my soule Were neuer made to hinder Arthurs right Arthur But say there was as sure there can be none The Law intends such testaments as void Where right discent can no way be impeacht Q. Elinor Peace Arthur peace thy mother makes thee wings To soare with perill after Icarus And trust me yongling for the Fathers sake I pity much the hazard of thy youth Constance Beshrew you else how pittifull you are Ready to weepe to heare him aske his owne Sorrow betide such Grandames and such griefe That minister a poyson for pure loue But who so blind as cannot see this beame That you forsooth would keepe your cousin downe For feare his mother should be vs'd too well I there 's the griefe confusion catch the braine That hammers shiftes to stop a Princes raigne Q. Elia. Impatient franticke common slaunderer Immodest dame vnnurtur'd quarreller I tell thee I not enuie to thy sonne But iustice makes me speake as I haue done K. Phil. But here 's no proofe that shews your son a king K.I. What wants my sword shal more at large set down Lew. But that may breake before the truth be known Bast Then this may hold till all his tight be showne Lym. Good words sir sauce your betters are in place Bast Not you sir doughtie with your Lyons case Blanch. Ah ioy betide his soule to whom that spoyle belong'd Ah Richard how thy glory here is wrong'd Lym. Me thinks that Richards pride Richards fall Should be a president t' affright you all Bast What words are these how do my sinews shake My fathers foe clad in my fathers spoyle A thousand furies kindle with reuenge This heart that choller keepes a consistoriâ— Searing my inwards with a brand of hate How doth Alecto whisper in mine eares Delay not Philip kill the villaine straight Disrobe him of the matchlesse monument Thy fathers triumph ore the Sauages Base heardgroom coward peasant worse than a threshing slaue What mak'st thou with the Trophie of a king Sham'st thou not coystrell loathsome dunghill swad To grace thy carkasse with an ornament Too pretious for a Monarkes couerture Scarce can I temper due obedience Vnto the presence of my Soueraigne From acting outrage on this trunke of hate But arme thee traytor wronger of renowne For by his soule I sweare my Fathers soule Twise will I not reuiew the mornings rise Till I haue torne that Trophie from thy backe And split thy heart for wearing it so long Philip hath sworne and if it be not done Let not the world repute me Richards sonne Lym. Nay soft sir bastard hearts are not split so soone Let them reioyce that at the end doe win And take this lesson at thy foe-mans hand Pawne not thy life to get thy Fathers skin Blan. Wel may the world speake of his knightly valor That wins this hide to weare a Ladies fauour Bast Ill may I thriue and nothing brooke with me If shortly I present it not to thee K. Phil. Lordings forbeare for time is comming fast That deeds may trie what words can not
determine And to the purpose for the cause you come Me seemes you set right in chaunce of warre Yeelding no other reasons for your claime But so and so because it shall be so So wrong shall be subornd by trust of strength A tyrants practise to inuest himselfe Where weake resistance giueth wrong the way To checke the which in holy lawfull armes I in the right of Arthur Geffreys sonne Am come before this city of Angiers To barre all other false supposed claime From whence or howsoere the error springs And in his quarrell on my princely word I le fight it out vnto the latest man Iohn Know King of France I will not be commanded By any power or prince in Christendome To yeeld an instance how I hold mine owne More than to answere that mine owne is mine But wilt thou see me parley with the Towne And heare them offer me allegeance Fealtie and homage as true liege men ought K. Phil. Summon them I will not beleeue it till I see it and when I see it I le soone change it They summon the Towne the Citizens appeare vpon the walls K. Iohn You men of Angiors and as I take it my loiall subiects I haue summoned you to the walls to dispute on my right were to thinke you doubtfull therein which I am perswaded you are not In few words our brothers sonne backt with the king of France haue beleagred your towne vpon a false pretended title to the same in defence wherof I your liege Lord haue brought our power to fence you from the Vsurper to free your intended seruitude and vtterly to supplant the foemen to my right and your rest Say then who keepe you the towne for Citizen For our lawfull King Iohn I was no lesse perswaded then in Gods name open your gates and let me enter Citizen And it please your Highnes we comptroll not your title neither will wee rashly admit your entrance if you be lawfull King with all obedience we keep it to your vse if not King our rashnes to be impeached for yeelding without more considerate triall wee answere not as men lawlesse but to the behoofe of him that prooues lawfull Iohn I shall not come in then Citizen No my Lord till we know more K. Phil. Then heare me speak in the behalfe of Arthur son of Geffrey elder brother to Iohn his title manifest with out contradiction to the crowne kingdom of England with Angiers diuers townes on this side the sea wil you acknowledge him your liege Lord who speaketh in my word to entertain you with all fauors as beseemeth a King to his subiects or a friend to his welwillers or stand to the peril of your contēpt whē his title is proued by the sword Citiz. We answer as before till you haue proued one right we acknowledge none right he that tries himselfe our Soueraigne to him wil we remaine firme subiects and for him and in his right we hold our towne as desirous to know the truth as loth to subscribe before we know more than this we cannot say more than this we dare not do K. Phil. Then Iohn I defie thee in the name and behalfe of Arthur Plantaginet thy king and cousin whose right and patrimony thou detainest as I doubt not ere the day end in a set battel make thee confesse whereunto with a zeale to right I challenge thee K. Iohn I accept thy challenge and turne the defiance to thy throat Excursions The Bastard chaseth Lymoges the Austrich Duke and maketh him leaue the Lyons skin Bast And art thou gone misfortune haunt thy steps And chill cold feare assaile thy times of rest Morpheus leaue here thy silent Eban caue Besiege his thoughts with dismall fantasies And ghastly obiects of pale threatning Mors. Affright him euery minute with stearne lookes Let shadow temper terror in his thoughts And let the terror make the coward mad And in his madnesse let him feare pursuit And so in frensie let the peasant die Here is the ransome that allaies his rage The first freehold that Richard left his sonne With which I shall surprize his liuing foes As Hectors statue did the fainting Greekes Exit Enter the Kings Heraulds with Trumpets to the wals of Angiers they summon the Towne Eng. Her Iohn by the grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland Aniou Toraine c. demandeth once againe of you his subiects of Angiers if you wil quietly surrender vp the towne into his hands Fr. Herold Philip by the grace of God King of France demaundeth in the behalfe of Arthur Duke of Brittaine if you will surrender vp the towne into his hands to the vse of the said Arthur Citizens Herrolds go tell the two victorious Princes that we the poore Inhabitants of Angiers require a parley of their Maiesties Herolds We goe Enter the Kings Queene Elianor Blanch Bastard Lymoges Lewis Castilean Pembrooke Salisbury Constance and Arthur Duke of Brittaine Iohn Herold what answer doe the Townsmen send Philip. Will Angiers yeeld to Philip King of France Eng. Her The Townsmen on the wals accept your Grace Fr. Her And craue a parley of your Maiesty Iohn You cittizens of Angiers haue your eyes Beheld the slaughter that our English bowes Haue made vpon the coward fraudfull French And haue you wisely pondred therewithall Your gaine in yeelding to the English King Phil. Their losse in yeelding to the English King But Iohn they saw from out their highest towers The Cheualiers of France and crosse-bow-shot Make lanes of slaughterd bodies through thine hoast And are resolu'd to yeeld to Arthurs right Iohn Why Philip though thou braust it fore the wals Thy conscience knowes that Iohn hath wonne the field Phi. What ere my conscience knowes thy army feeles That Philip had the better of the day Bastard Philip indeed hath got the Lions case Which here he holds to Lymoges disgrace Base Duke to flie and leaue such spoiles behind But this thou knewst of force to make me stay It farde with thee as with the mariner Spying the hugie Whale whose monstrous bulke Doth beare the waues like mountaines fore the wind That throwes out emptie vessels so to stay His fury while the ship doth sayle away Philip t' is thine and fore this princely presence Madame I humbly lay it at your feete Being the first aduenture I atchieu'd And first exploite your Grace did me enioyne Yet many more I long to be enioyn'd Blanch. Philip I take it and I thee command To weare the same as earst thy father did Therewith receiue this fauour at my hands T' incourage thee to follow Richards fame Arth. Ye Cittizens of Angiers are ye mute Arthur or Iohn say which shall be your King Citizen We care not which if once we knew the right But till we know we will not yeeld our right Bast Might Philip counsell two so mightie Kings As are the Kings of England and of France He would aduise your Graces to vnite And knit your
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
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
Ioh. Brother of France what say you to the Cardinall Phil. I say I am sory for your Maiestie requesting you to submit your selfe to the Church of Rome Ioh. And what say you to our league if I do not submit Phil. What should I say I must obey the Pope Ioh. Obey the Pope and breake your oath to God Phil. The Legate hath absolu'd me of mine oath Then yeeld to Rome or I defie thee here Ioh. Why Philip I defie the Pope and thee False as thou art and periur'd King of France Vnworthy man to be accounted King Giu'st thou thy sword into a Prelates hands Pandulph where I of Abbots Monkes and Friers Haue taken somewhat to maintaine my wars Now will I take no more but all they haue I le rouze the lazie lubbers from their cels And in despight I le send them to the Popc 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 fight for your K. that fighteth for your good Phil. And are they gone Pandulph thy selfe shalt see How France will fight for Rome and Romish rites Nobles to armes let him not passe the seas Let 's take him captiue and in triumph lead The K. of England to the gates of Rome Arthur bestirre thee man and thou shalt see What Philip K. of France will doe for thee Blanch. And will your Grace vpon your wedding day Forsake your bride and follow dreadfull drums Nay good my Lord stay you at home with me Lew. Sweet heart content thee and wee shall agree Phil. Follow my Lords Lord Cardinall lead the way Drums shal be musicke to this wedding day Exeunt Excursions The Bastard pursues Austria and kils him Bast Thus hath K. Richards son performd his vowes And offred Austria's blood for sacrifice Vnto his fathers euerliuing soule Braue Cordelion now my heart doth say I haue deseru'd though not to be thine 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 prey to euery rau'ning fowle And as my father triumpht in thy spoyles And trode thine Ensignes vnderneath his feet So doe I tread vpon thy cursed selfe And leaue thy body to the fowles for food Exit Excursions Arthur Constance Lewis hauing taken Q. Elianor prisoner Const. Thus hath the God of kings with conquering arme Dispearst the foes to true succession Proud and disturber of thy Countries peace Constance doth liue to tame thine insolence And on thy head will now auenged be For all the mischiefs hatched in thy braine Q. Elinor Contemptuous Dame vnreuerent Dutches thou To braue so great a Queene as Elianor Base scold hast thou forgot that I was wife And mother to three mightie English Kings I charge thee then and you forsooth sir boy To set your Grandmother at libertie And yeeld to Iohn your Vncle and your King Const T' is not thy words proud Queene shall carry it Elin. Nor yet thy threates proud Dame shal daunt my mind Arth. Sweete Grandam and good mother leaue these braules Elian. I le find a time to triumph in thy fall Const My time is now to triumph in thy fall And thou shalt know that Constance will triumph Arthur Good mother weigh it is Queene Elinor Though she be captiue vse her like her selfe Sweet Grandame beare with what my Mother sayes Your Highnesse shall be vsed honourably Enter a messenger Mess Lewis my Lord Duke Arthur and the rest To armes in hast K. Iohn relyes his men And ginnes the sight afresh and sweares withall To loose his life or set his mother free Lewis Arthur away t' is time to looke about Eli. Why how now dame what is your courage coold Const No Elinor my courage gathers strength And hopes to leade both Iohn 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 victory Enter Iohn Elianor and Arthur prisoner Bastard Pembrooke Salisbury and Hubert de Burgh Iohn Thus right triumphs and Iohn triumphs in right Arthâ—r 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 vncle Iohn Thou shalt be vsed as becomes a Prince Arthur Vncle my grandame taught her nephew this To beare captiuitie with patience Might hath preuaild not right for I am King Of England though thou weare the Diademe Q. Elin. Sonne Iohn soone shall wee teach him to forget These prowd 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 Ransacke the Abbeis Cloysters Priories Conuert their coine 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 enemy to England Mother wee leaue you here beyond the seas As Regent of our Prouinces in France 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 keepe 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 Frolicke yong prince thogh I your keeper be Yet shall your keeper liue at your command Arthur As please my God so shall become of me Q. Elian. My sonne to England I will see thee shipt And pray to God to send thee safe ashore Bastard Now warres are done I long to be at home To diue into the Monks and Abbots bagges To make some sport among the smooth skind Nunnes And keepe some reuell with the fanzen Friers Iohn To England Lords each looke vnto your charge And arme your selues against the Roman pride Exeunt Enter the King of France Lewes his sonne Cardinall Pandolph Legate and Constance Philip What euery man attacht with this mishap Why frowne you so why droope ye Lords of France Me thinkes it differs from a warrelike 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 soule is safe and 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 Holinesse free pardon doth pronounce To all that follow you gainst English heretikes Who stand accursed in our
reflecting view Let hell to them as earth they wish to me Be darke and direfull guerdon for their guilt And let the blacke 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 thee reaue me of my sight But to performe a tragedie indeede Conclude the period with a mortall stab Constance farewell tormenter come away Make my dispatch the Tyrants 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 free But God forbids and he commaundeth Kings That great Commaunder countercheckes my charge He stayes my hand he maketh soft my heart Goe cursed tooles your office is exempt Cheere thee yong Lord thou shalt not loose an eie Though I should purchase it with losse of life I le to the King and say his will is 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 eiesight by thy curtesie Thou lentst them me I will not be ingrate But now procrastination may offend The issue that thy kindnesse vndertakes Depart we Hubert to preuent the worst Exeunt Enter K. Iohn Essex Salisbury Penbrooke Iohn Now warlike followers resteth aught vndone That may impeach vs of fond ouersight The French haue felt the temper of our swords Cold terror keepes possession in their soules Checking their ouerdaring arrogance For buckling with so great an ouermatch The arch prowd titled Priest of Italy That calls himselfe grand Vicar vnder God Is busied now with trentall obsequies Masse and months mind dirge and I know not what To ease their soules in painefull purgatorie That haue miscarried in these bloody warres Heard you not Lords when first his Holinesse Had tidings of our small account of him How with a taunt vaunting vpon his toes He vrgde a reason why the English Asse Disdaind 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 soules 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 proind the more than needfull braunch That did oppresse the true well-growing stocke It resteth we throughout our Territories Be reproclaimed and inuested King Pemb. My Liege that were to busie men with doubts Once were you crownd proclaimd and with applause Your citie streets haue ecchoed to the eare God saue the King God saue our Soueraigne Iohn Pardon my feare my censure doth inferre Your Highnesse 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 thee do Thou knowst not what induceth me to this Essex goe in and Lordings all be gone About this taske I will be crownd anone Enter the Bastard Philip What newes how do the Abbots chests Are Friers fatter than the Nunnes are faire What cheere with Church-men had they gold or no Tell me how hath thy office tooke effect Phil. My Lord I haue performd your Highnes charge The ease-bred Abbots and the bare-foote Friers The Monks the Priors and holy cloystred Nunnes Are all in health and were my Lord in wealth Till I had tithde and tolde their holy hoords I doubt not when your Highnesse 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 breathe out damned orisons As thicke as haile-stones fore the Springs approach But yet as harmelesse and without effect As is the eccho of a Cannons cracke Dischargde against the battlements of heauen But what newes else befell there Philip Bast. Strange news my Lord within your territories Neere Pomfret is a prophet new sprung vp Whose diuination volleis 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 rites 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 Ioh. Thou telst me maruels 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 staies my Lord but at the Presence doore Pleaseth your Highnesse I will call him in Iohn Nay stay awhile wee 'l haue him here anone A thing of weight is first to be performd Enter the Nobles and crowne King Iohn and then cry 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 deede of yours Once ere this time was I inuested King Your fealtie sworne as Liegemen to our state Once since that time ambitious weedes haue sprung To staine the beauty of our garden plot But heauens in our conduct rooting thence The false intruders breakers of worlds peace Haue to our ioy made sunne-shine chase the storme After the which to trie your constancie That now I see is worthy of your names We crau'd once more your helps for to inuest vs Into the right that enuy sought to wracke Once was I not deposde your former choice Now twice beene crowned and applauded King Your cheered action to install me so Infers assured witnesse 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 trie me and finde me yours Essex A boone my Lord at vantage of your words We aske to guerdon all our loyalties Pemb. We take the time your Highnesse bids vs aske Please it you grant you make your promise good With lesser losse than one superfluous haire That not remembred falleth from your head Iohn My word is past receiue your boone my Lords What may it be Aske it and it is yours Ess We craue my Lord to please the Commons with The libertie of Lady Constance sonne Whose durance darkeneth your Highnesse right As if you kept him prisoner to the end Your selfe were doubtfull of the thing you haue Dismisse him thence your Highnesse needs not feare Twice by consent you are proclaim'd our King Pemb.
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
this forward hand Making it weake to execute your charge Iohn What liues he Then sweete hope come home agen Chase hence despaire the purueyor for hell Hye Hubert tell these tidings to my Lords That throb in passions for yong Arthurs death Hence Hubert stay not till thou hast reueald The wished newes of Arthurs happy health I goe my selfe the ioyfullst man aliue To storie out this new supposed crime Exeunt The end of the first Part. To the Gentlemen Readers THe changelesse purpose of determinde Fate Giues period to our care or hearts content When heau'ns fixt time for this or that hath end Nor can earths pomp or pollicie preuent The doome ordained in their secret will Gentles we left King Iohn repleate with blisse That Arthur liude whom he supposed slaine And Hubert posting to returne those Lords Who deem'd him dead and parted discontent Arthur himselfe begins our latter Act Our Act of outrage desprate furie death Wherein fond rashnesse murdreth first a Prince And Monkish falsenesse poysneth last a King First Scene shews Arthurs death in infancie And last concludes Iohns fatall tragedie The second part of The troublesome Raigne of King Iohn Containing The entrance of Lewis the French Kings sonne With the poysoning of King Iohn by a Monke Enter yong Arthur on the walls NOw help good hap to further mine entent Crosse not my youth with any more extremes I venter life to gaine my libertie And if I die worlds troubles haue an end Feare gins disswade the strength of my resolue My holde will faile and then alas I fall And if I fall no question death is next Better desist and liue in prison still Prison said I nay rather death than so Comfort and courage come againe to me I le venter sure t is but a leape for life He leapes and brusing his bones after he was from his traunce speakes thus Hoe who is nigh some bodie take me vp Where is my mother let me speake with her Who hurts me thus speake hoe where are you gone Ay me poore Arthur I am heere alone Why calld I mother how did I forget My fall my fall hath killd my mothers sonne How will she weepe at tidings of my death My death indeed O God my bones are burst Sweet Iesu saue my soule forgiue my rash attempt Comfort my mother shield her from despaire When shee shall heare my tragycke ouerthrowe My heart controls the office of my tongue My vitall powers forsake my brused trunke I die I die heauen take my fleeting soule And Lady mother all good hap to thee He dies Enter Pembrooke Salisburie Essex Essex My Lords of Pembrooke and of Salisburie We must be carefull in our policie To vndermine the keepers of this place Else shall we neuer find the Princes graue Pemb. My Lord of Essex take no care for that I warrant you it was not closely done But who is this lo Lords the withered flowre Who in his life shin'd like the Mornings blush Cast out a doore deni'd his buriall right A prey for birds and beasts to gorge vpon Salisb. O ruthfull spectacle O damned deed My sinewes shake my very heart doth bleed Essex Leaue childish teares braue Lords of England If water-floods could fetch his life againe My eies should conduit forth a sea of teares If sobs would helpe or sorows serue the turne My heart should volley out deepe piercing plaints But bootlesse were 't to breath as many sighes As might ecclipse the brightest Sommers sunne Here rests the helpe a seruice to his ghost Let not the tyrant causer of this dole Liue to triumph in ruthfull massacres Giue hand and heart and Englishmen to armes T is Gods decree to wreake vs of these harmes Pemb. The best aduice But who comes posting here Enter Hubert Right noble Lords I speake vnto you all The King entreats your soonest speed To visit him who on your present want Did ban and curse his birth himselfe and me For executing of his strict command I saw his passion and at fittest time Assur'd him of his cousins being safe Whom pity would not let me doe to death He craues your company my Lords in haste To whom I will conduct young Arthur straight Who is in health vnder my custody Essex In health base villaine were 't not I leaue the crime To Gods reuenge to whom reuenge belongs Here should'st thou perish on my rapiers point Call'st thou this health such health betide thy friends And all that are of thy condition Hub. My Lords but heare me speake and kil me then If here I left not this yong Prince aliue Maugre the hastie Edict of the King Who gaue me charge to put out both his eyes That God that gaue me liuing to this houre Thunder reuenge vpon me in this place And as I tendred him with earnest loue So God loue me and then I shall be well Sals Hence traytor hence thy counsel is herein Exit Hu. Some in this place appointed by the King Haue throwne him from this lodging here aboue And sure the murther hath bin newly done For yet the body is not fully cold Essex How say you Lords shal we with speed dispatch Vnder our hands a packet into France To bid the Dolphin enter with his force To claime the kingdom for his proper right His title maketh lawfull strength thereto Besides the Pope on peril of his curse Hath bard vs of obedience vnto Iohn This hatefull murder Lewis his true descent The holy charge that we receiu'd from Rome Are weightie reasons if you like my reed To make vs all perseuer in this deed Pemb. My Lord of Essex well haue you aduis'd I will accord to further you in this Salisb. And Salisbury will not gainesay the same But aide that course as farre forth as he can Essex Then each of vs send straight to his allies To win them to this famous enterprise And let vs all yclad in Palmers weed The tenth of April at S. Edmunds Bury Meet to conferre and on the altar there Sweare secrecie and aid to this aduise Meane while let vs conuey this body hence And giue him buriall as befits his state Keeping his months mind and his obsequies With solemne intercession for his soule How say you Lordings are you all agreed Pemb. The tenth of April at S. Edmunds Burie God letting not I will not faile the time Essex Then let vs all conuey the body hence Exeunt Enter K. Iohn with two or three and the Prophet Ioh. Disturbed thoughts foredoomers of mine ill Distracted passions signes of growing harmes Strange prophecies of imminent mishaps Confound my wits and dull my senses so That euery obiect these mine eies behold Seeme instruments to bring me to my end Ascension day is come Iohn feare not then The prodigies this pratling Prophet threats T is come indeed ah were it fully past Then were I carelesse of a thousand feares The Diall tels me it is twelue at noone Were twelue at midnight past then might I
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
giue the salue To cure the hurt else quite incurable Thy sinnes are farre too great to be the man T' abolish Pope and Poperie from thy Realme But in thy Seate if I may guesse at all A King shall raigne that shall suppresse them all Peace Iohn here comes the Legate of the Pope Dissemble thou and whatsoere thou sai'st Yet with thy heart wish their confusion Enter Pandulph Pand. Now Iohn vnworthy man to breath on earth That do'st oppugne against thy mother Church Why am I sent for to thy cursed selfe Iohn Thou man of God Vicegerent for the Pope The holy Vicar of S. Peters Church Vpon my knees I pardon craue of thee And doe submit me to the sea of Rome And vow for penance of my high offence To take on me the holy Crosse of Christ And carry Armes in holy Christian warres Pand. No Iohn thy crowching and dissembling thus Cannot deceiue the Legate of the Pope Say what thou wilt I will not credite thee Thy Crowne and Kingdome both are tane away And thou art curst without redemption Iohn Accurst indeed to kneele to such a drudge And get no help with thy submission Vnsheathe thy sword and sley the misprowd priest That thus triumphs ore thee a mightie King No Iohn submit againe dissemble yet For Priests and Women must be flattered Yet holy Father thou thy selfe dost know No time too late for sinners to repent Absolue me then and Iohn doth sweare to do The vttermost what euer thou demaundst Pandulph Iohn now I see thy hearty penitence I rew and pitty thy distrest estate One way is left to reconcile thy selfe And onely one which I shall shew to thee Thou must surrender to the sea of Rome Thy Crowne and Diadem then shall the Pope Defend thee from th' inuasion of thy foes And where his Holinesse hath kindled Fraunce And set thy subiects hearts at warre with thee Then shall he curse thy foes and beate them downe That seeke the discontentment of the King Iohn From bad to worse or I must loose my realme Or giue my Crowne for penance vnto Rome A miserie more piercing than the darts That breake from burning exhalations power What shall I giue my Crowne with this right hand No with this hand defend thy Crowne and thee What newes with thee Enter Messenger Please it your Maiestie there is descried on the coast of Kent an hundred Sayle of Ships which of all men is thought to be the French fleet vnder the conduct of the Dolphin so that it puts the countrey in a mutiny so they send to your Grace for succour K. Ioh. How now Lord Cardinal what 's your best aduise These mutinies must be allaid in time By policy or headstrong rage at least O Iohn these troubles tyre thy wearied soule And like to Luna in a sad Eclipse So are thy thoughts and passions for this newes Well may it be when Kings are grieued so The vulgar sort worke Princes ouerthrowe Card. K. Iohn for not effecting of thy plighted vow This strange annoyance happens to thy Land But yet be reconcil'd vnto the Church And nothing shall be grieuous to thy state Ioh. On Pandulph be it as thou hast decreed Iohn will not spurne against thy sound aduise Come le ts away and with thy helpe I trow My Realme shall flourish and my Crowne in peace Enter the Nobles Pembrooke Essex Chester Bewchampe Clare with others Pemb. Now sweet S. Edmund holy Saint in heauen Whose Shrine is sacred high esteem'd on earth Infuze a constant zeale in all our hearts To prosecute this act of mickle weight Lord Bewchampe say what friends haue you procur'd Bewch. The L. Fitz Water L. Percie and L. Rosse Vow'd meeting here this day the leuenth houre Essex Vnder the cloke of holy pilgrimage By that same houre on warrant of their faith Philip Plantagenet a bird of swiftest wing Lord Eustauce Vescy Lord Cressy and Lord Mowbrey Appointed meeting at S. Edmunds shrine Pemb. Vntill their presence I le conceale my tale Sweet complices in holy Christian acts That venture for the purchasse of renowne Thrice welcome to the league of high resolue That pawne their bodies for their soules regard Essex Now wanteth but the rest to end this worke In Pilgrimes habite comes our holy troupe A furlong hence with swift vnwoonted pace May be they are the persons you expect Pemb. With swift vnwoonted gate see what a thing is zeale That spurs them on with feruence to this shrine Now ioy come to them for their true intent And in good time here come the war-men all That sweat in body by the minds disease Hap and hearts-ease braue Lordings be your lot Enter the Bastard Philip c. Amen my Lords the like betide your lucke And all that trauell in a Christian cause Essex Cheerely repli'd braue branch of Kingly stocko A right Plantagenet should reason so But silence Lords attend our commings cause The seruile yoke that pained vs with toyle On strong instinct hath fram'd this conuenticle To ease our neckes of seruitudes contempt Should I not name the foeman of our rest Which of you all so barren in conceipt As cannot leuell at the man I meane But lest Enigma's shadow shining truth Plainely to paint as truth requires no art Th' effect of this resort importeth this To root and cleane extirpate tyrant Iohn Tyrant I say appealing to the man If any here that loues him and I aske What kindship lenitie or Christian raigne Rules in the man to barre this soule impeach First I inferre the Chesters banishment For reprehending him in most vnchristian crimes Was speciall notice of a tyrants will But were this all the diuell should be sau'd But this the least of many thousand faults That circumstance with leisure might display Our priuate wrongs no parcell of my tale Which now in presence but for some great cause Might wish to him as to a mortall foe But shall I close the period with an act Abhorring in the eares of Christian men His cousins death that sweet vnguiltie child Vntimely butcherd by the tyrants meanes Here are my proofes as cleere as grauel brooke And on the same I further must inferre That who vpholds a tyrant in his course Is culpable of all his damned guilt To shew the which is yet to be describ'd My Lord of Pembrooke shewe what is behinde Onely I say that were there nothing else To mooue vs but the Popes most dreadfull curse Whereof we are assured if we faile It were enough to instigate vs all With earnestnesse ofsprite to seeke a meane To dispossesse Iohn of his regiment Pemb. Well hath my Lord of Essex told his tale Which I auerre for most substantiall truth And more to make the matter to our minde I say that Lewis in challenge of his wife Hath title of an vncontrouled plea To all that longeth to our English crowne Short tale to make the Sea Apostolike Hath offerd dispensation for the fault If any be as trust me
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
bring them to a fortunate euent Sal. We leaue your Hignesse to your good intent Exeunt Lords of England Lew. Now Vicount Meloun what remains behind Trust me these traytors to their Soueraigne State Are not to be beleeu'd in any sort Meloun Indeed my Lord they that infringe their oths And play the Rebels gainst their natiue King Will for as little cause reuolt from you If euer opportunitie incite them so For once forsworne and neuer after sound There 's no affiance after periury Lew. Well Meloun wel let 's smooth with thē awhile Vntill we haue as much as they can doe And when their vertue is exhaled drie I le hang them for the guerdon of their helpe Meane while wee 'l vse them as a pretious poyson To vndertake the issue of our hope Fr. Lo. T is policy my Lord to bait our hookes With merry smiles and promise of much weight But when your Highnesse needeth them no more T is good make sure worke with them lest indeede They prooue to you as to their naturall King Melun Trust mee my Lord right well haue you aduisde Venome for vse but neuer for a sport Is to be dallied with lest it infect Were you instald as soone I hope you shall Be free from traitors and dispatch them all Lewes That so I meane I sweare before you all On this same Altar and by heauens power There 's not an English traitor of them all Iohn once dispatcht and I faire Englands King Shall on his shoulders beare his head one day But I will crop it for their guilts desert Nor shall their heires inioy their Seigniories But perish by their parents foule amisse This haue I sworne and this will I performe If ere I come vnto the height I hope Lay downe your hands and sweare the same with me The French Lords sweare Why so now call them in and speake them faire A smile of Fraunce will feed an English foole Beare them in hand as friends for so they be But in the heart like traitors as they are Enter the English Lords Now famous followers chiefetaines of the world Haue we sollicited with hearty prayer The heauen in fauour of our high attempt Leaue we this place and march we with our power To rowse the tyrant from his chiefest hold And when our labours haue a prosprous end Each man shall reape the fruit of his desert And so resolu'd braue followers let vs hence Enter K. Iohn Bastard Pandulph and a many Priests with them Thus Iohn thou art absolu'd from all thy sinnes And freed by order from our Fathers curse Receiue thy Crowne againe with this prouiso That thou remaine true liegeman to the Pope And carry armes in right of holy Rome Iohn I holde the same as tenant to the Pope And thanke your Holinesse for your kindnesse shewne Philip A proper iest when Kings must stoop to Friers Need hath no law when Friers must be Kings Enter a Messenger Mess Please it your maiestie the Prince of France With all the Nobles of your Graces Land Are marching hitherward in good aray Where ere they set their foot all places yeeld Thy Land is theirs and not a foot holds out But Douer Castle which is hard besieg'd Pan. Feare not king Iohn thy kingdome is the Popes And they shall know his Holinesse hath power To beate them soone from whence he hath to doe Drums and Trumpets Enter Lewes Melun Salisbury Essex Pembrooke and all the Nobles from Fraunce and England Lewes Pandulph as gaue his Holinesse in charge So hath the Dolphin mustred vp his troupes And wonne the greatest part of all this Land But ill becomes your Grace Lord Cardinall Thus to conuerse with Iohn that is accurst Pand. Lewes of France victorious Conqueror Whose sword hath made this Iland quake for feare Thy forwardnesse to fight for holy Rome Shall be remunerated to the full But know my Lord K. Iohn is now absolu'd The Pope is pleasde the Land is blest agen And thou hast brought each thing to good effect It resteth then that thou withdraw thy powers And quietly returne to Fraunce againe For all is done the Pope would wish thee doe Lewes But all 's not done that Lewes came to do Why Pandulph hath king Philip sent his sonne And beene at such excessiue charge in warres To be dismist with words king Iohn shall know England is mine and he vsurps my right Pand. Lewes I charge thee and thy complices Vpon the paine of Pandulphs holy curse That thou withdraw thy powers to Fraunce againe And yeeld vp London and the neighbour townes That thou hast tane in England by the sword Melun Lord Cardinall by Lewes princely leaue It can be nought but vsurpation In thee the Pope and all the Church of Rome Thus to insult on Kings of Christendome Now with a word to make them carrie armes Then with a word to make them leaue their armes This must not be Prince Lewes keepe thine owne Let Pope and Popelings curse their bellies full Bast. My Lord of Melun what title had the Prince To England and the Crowne of Albion But such a title as the Pope confirm'd The Prelate now le ts fall his fained claime Lewes is but the agent for the Pope Then must the Dolphin cease sith he hath ceast But cease or no it greatly matters not If you my Lords and Barons of the Land Will leaue the French and cleaue vnto our King For shame yee Peeres of England suffer not Your selues your honours and your land to fall But with resolued thoughts beate backe the French And free the Land from yoke of seruitude Salisbury Philip not so Lord Lewes is our King And wee will follow him vnto the death Pand. Then in the name of Innocent the Pope I curse the Prince and all that take his part And excommunicate the rebell Peeres As traitors to the King and to the Pope Lew. Pandulph our swords shall blesse our selues agen Prepare thee Iohn Lords follow me your King Exeunt Iohn Accursed Iohn the Diuell owes thee shame Resisting Rome or yeelding to the Pope all 's one The diuell take the Pope the Peeres and Fraunce Shame be my share for yeelding to the Priest Pand. Comfort thy selfe king Iohn the Cardnall goes Vpon his curse to make them leaue their armes Exit Bastard Comfort my Lord and curse the Cardinall Betake your selfe to armes my troupes are prest To answer Lewes with a lustie shocke The English archers haue their quiuers full Their bowes are bent the pikes are prest to push Good cheere my Lord King Richards fortune hangs Vpon the plume of warrelike Philips helme Then let them know his brother and his sonne Are leaders of the Englishmen at armes Iohn Philip I know not how to answer thee But let vs hence to answer Lewes pride Excursions Enter Meloun with English Lords Mel. O I am slaine Nobles Salsbury Pembrooke My soule is charged heare me for what I say Concerns the Peeres of England and their State
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