Troublesome Raigne of Iohn 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 it was sundry times publikely acted by the Queenes Maiesties Players in the honourable Citie of London Imprinted at London for Sampson Clarke and are to be solde at his shop on the backeside of the Royall Exchange 1591. To the Gentlemen Readers YOu that with friendly grace of smoothed brow Haue entertained the Scythian Taâ—burlaine And giuen applause vnto an Infidel Vouchsafe to welcome with like curtesie A warlike Christian and your Coâ—ntreyman For Christs true faith indur'd he many a storme And set himselfe against the Man of Rome Vntill ase treason by a damned wight Diâ—â— all his former triumphs put to â—ight Accept of it sweete Gentles in good sort And thinke it was preparde for your diâ—port The troublesome Raigne of King Iohn Enter K. Iohn Queene Elinor his mother William Marshal Earle of Pembrooke the Earles of Essex and of Salisbury Queene Elianor BArons of England and my noble Lords Though 〈◊〉 Fortune haue bereft from vs Victorious 〈…〉 scourge of Infidels And clad this 〈◊〉 in stole of dismall hieu 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 Succéede his brother in his Emperie K. John My gracious mother Queene and Barons all Though farre vnworthie of so high a place As is the Throne of mightie Englands King Yet Iohn your Lord contented vncontent Will as he may sustaine the heauie yoke Of pressing cares that hang vpon a Crowne My Lord of Pembrooke and Lord Salsbury Admit the Lord Shattilion to our presence That we may know what Philip King of Fraunce By his Ambassadors requires of vs. Q. Elinor Daâ—e lay my hand that Elinor can gesse Whereto this wâ—ightie Embassade doth tend 〈◊〉 of my Nephew Arthur and his claime Then say my Sonne I haue not mist my aime Enter Chattilion and the two Earles Iohn My Lord Chattilion welcome into England How fares our Brother Philip King of Fraunce Chatt His Highnes at my comming was in health And wild me to salute your Maiestie And say the message he hath giuen in charge Iohn And spare not man we are preparde to heare Chattilion Philip by the grace of God most Christian K. of France hauing taken into his guardain and protection Arthur Duke of Brittaine son heire to Ieffrey thine elder brother requireth in the behalfe of the said Arthur the Kingdom of England with the Lordship of Ireland Poiters Aniow Torain Main and I attend thine aunswere Iohn A small request belike he makes account That England Ireland Poiters Aniow Torain Main 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 Chatilion Is this thine answere Iohn It is and too good an answer for so proud a message Chattilion Then King of England in my Masters name And in Prince Arthur Duke of Britaines name I doo defie chee as an Enemie And wish thee to prepare for bloodie 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 pricks him so Her pride we know and know her for a Dame That will not sticke to bring him to his ende So she may bring her selfe to rule a Realme Next wish him to forsake the King of Fraunce And come to me and to his Vnckle here And he shall want for nothing at our hands Chattilion This shall I doo and thus I take my leaue Iohn Pembrooke conuay him safely to the sea But not in hast for as we are aduisde We meane to be in Fraunce as soone as he To fortesie such townes as we possesse In Aniou Torain and in Normandy Exâ—â— Enter the Shriue whispers the Earle of Sals in the 〈…〉 Salisbury Please it your Maiestie heere is the 〈◊〉 Northhamptonshire with certaine persons that of late â—â—mitted a riot and haue appealed to your Maiestie beseeâ—◠〈…〉 your Highnes for speciall cause to heare them Iohn Wil them come neere and while we heare the cause Goe Salsbury and make prouision We meane with speede to passe the sea to Fraunce Say Shrieue what are these men what haue they done Or wheretoo tends the course of this appeale Shrieue Please it your Maiestie these two brethren vnnaturally falling at odds about their Fathers liuing haue broken your Highnes peace in seeking to right their own wroÌ„gs without cause of Law or order of Iustice and vnlawfully assembled themselues in mutinous manner hauing committed a riot appealing from triall in their Countrey to your Highnes and here I Thomas Nidigate Shrieue of Northhamptonshire doo deliuer them ouer to their triall Iohn My Lord of Essex will the offenders to stand foorth and tell the cause of their quarrell Essex Gentlemen it is the Kings pleasure that you discouer your griefes douâ—â— not but you shall haue iustice Philip Please it your Maiestie the wrong is mine yet wil I abide all wrongs before I once open my mouth to vnrippe the shamefull slaunder of my parents the dishonour of myself the wicked dealing of my brother in this princely assembly 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 vnknowen vnto your Grace Receiud 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 Auncestours And warlike seruice vnder Englands Armes His liuing did amount too 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 auncient Lawe How should myselfe make any other doubt But I am heire to Robert Fauconbridge Iohn Fond Youth to trouble these our Princely eares 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 denie 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 graunt 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 doo â—uerâ—e Both to my Mothers shame and his reproach He is no heire nor yet legitimate Then gracious Lord let Fauconbridge enioy The liuing that belongs to Fauconbridge And let not him possesse anothers right Iohn Proue this the land is thine by Englands law Q. Elianor Vngracious youth to â—ip thy mothers shame The wombe from whence thou didst thy being take All honest eares abhorre thy wickednes But gold I see doth beate downe natures law Mother My gracious Lord you thrice reuerend Dame That see the teares distilling from mine eyes And scalding sighes blowne from a rented heart For honour and regard of womanhood Let me entreate to be commaunded hence Let not these eares receiue the hissing sound Of such a viper who with poysoned words Doth masserate the bowels of my soule Iohn Ladie 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 he accuseth with adulterie Here 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 self Sonne to your Grace and Brother to your Maiestie Thus bluntly and Elianor Yong man thou néedst 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 Highnes and these noble Lords And all saue those that haue no eyes 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 back returne agen My Mother was deliuered as tis sed Sixe weekes 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 gracious Lord rest he King Richards Sonne And let me rest safe in my Fathers right That am his rightfull sonne and onely heire Iohn Is this thy proofe and all thou hast to say Robert I have no more nor néede I greater proofe John 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 proceede vnto the next Q. Elinor Thou saist she téemde six wéeks 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 mischaunces hap 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 holde with thée for in my life I neuer saw so liuely counterfet Of Richard Cordelion as in him Robert Then good my Lord be you indifferent 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 ye good sir Tâ—was thus I warrant and no otherwise She lay with Sir Robert your Father and thought vppon 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 knowst not weele aske of them that know His mother and himselfe shall ende this strife And as they say so shall thy liuing passe Robert My Lord herein I chalenge you of wrong To giue away my right and put the doome Vnto themselues Can there be likelihood That she will loose Or he will giue the liuing from himselfe It may not be my Lord. Why should it be Iohn Lords keepe him back and let him heare the doome Essex first aske the Mother thrice who was his Sire Essex Ladie Margaret Widow of Fauconbridge Who was Father to thy Sonne Philip Mother Please it your Maiestie Sir Robert Fauconbridge Robert This is right aske my felow there if I be a thiefe Iohn Aske Philip whose Sonne he is Essex Philip who was thy Father Philip Maâ— my Lord and thats 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 he is my father that was néerest my mother when I was gotten him I thinke to be Sir Robert Fauconbridge Iohn Essex for fashions sake demaund agen And so an ende to this contention Robert Was euer man thus wrongd as Robert is Essex Philip speake I say who was thy Father Iohn Yong man how now what art thou in a traunce Elianor Philip awake the man is in a dreame Philip Philippus atauis aâ—dite Regibus What saist thou Philip sprung of auncient Kings Quo me rapit tempestas What winde of honour blowes this furie forth Or whence proeede 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 ayre with glorie of my birth Birds bubbles leaues and mountaines Eccho all Ring in mine eares that I am Richards Sonne Fond man ah whether 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 monnting minde Doth soare too high to stoupe to Fauconbridge Why how now knowest thou where thou art And knowest thou who expects thine answere here Wilt thou vpon a frantick 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 John 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 Leâ— land and liuing goe tis 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
at thy foemans hand Pawne not thy life to get thy Fathers skin Blanch Well may the world speake of his knightly valor That winnes this hide to weare a Ladies fauour Bastard Ill â—ay I thriue and nothing brooke with mee If shortly I present it not to thee K. Philip Lordings forbeare fortune is comming fast That deedes may trie what words cannot 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 shalbe subornd by trust of strength A Tyrants practize to inuest himselfe Where weake resistance giueth wrong the way To check the which in holy lawfull Armes I in the right of Arthur Geffreys Sonne Am come before this Citie of Angiers To barre all other false supposed clayme From whence or howsoere the error springs And in his quarrell on my Princely word Ile fight it out vnto the latest man Iohn Know King of Fraunce I will not be commaunded 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 alleageance Fealtie and homage as true liege men ought K. Philip Summon them I will not beleeue it till I see it and when I see it Ile soone change it They summon the Towne the Citizens appeare vpon the walls K. Iohn You men of Angiers and as I take it my loyall 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 Fraunce haue beleagred your Towne vpon a false pretended title to the same in defence whereof 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 your rest Say then who who keepe you the Towne for Citizen For our lawfull King John 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 we rashly admit your entrance if you bee lawfull King with all obedience we keepe it to your vse if not King our rashnes to be impeached for yeelding without more considerate triall we answere not as men lawles 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. Philip Then heare me speake in the behalfe of Arthur Sonne of Geffrey elder Brother to Iohn his title manifest without contradiction to the Crowne and Kingdome of England with Angiers and diuers Townes on this side the sea will you acknowledge him your liege Lord who speaketh in my word to intertaine you with all fauours as bescemeth a King to his subiects or a friend to his wel-willers or stand to the perill of your contempt when his title is prooued by the sword Citizen We answere as before till you haue prooued one right we acknowledge none right he that tries himselfe our Soueraigne to him will we remaine firme subiects and for him and in his right we hold our Towne as desirous to know the truth as loath to subscribe before we knowe More than this we cannot say and more than this we dare not doo K. Philip Then Iohn I defâ—e thee in the name and behalfe of Arthur Plantaginet thy King and cousin whose right and patrimonie thou detainest as I doubt not ere the day ende in a set battell make thee confesse whereunto with a zeale to right I challenge thee K. Iohn I accept the challenge and turne the defiance to thy throate Excursions The Bastard chaseth Lymoges the Austrich Duke and maketh him leaue the Lyons skinne Bastard And art thou gone misfortune haunt thy steps And chill colde feare assaile thy times of rest Morpheus leaue here thy silent Eban caue Besiedge his thoughts with dismall fantasies And ghastly obiects of pale threatning Mors. Affright him euery minute with stearâ—e lookes Let shadowe temper terror in his thoughts And let the terror make the coward mad And in his madnes let him feare pursute And so in frenzie let the peasant die Here is the ransome that allayes 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 Herolds with Trumpets to the wals of Angiers they summon the Towne Eng. Herold Iohn by the grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland Aniou Toraine c. demaundeth once againe of you his subiects of Angiers if you will quietly surrender vp the Towne into his hands Fr. Herold Philip by the grace of God King of Fraunce demaundeth in the behalfe of Arthur Duke of Britaine if you will surrender vp the Towne into his hands to the vse of the said Arthur Citizens Herrolds goe tell the two victorious Princes that we the poore Inhabitants of Angiers require a parle of their Matesties Herolds We goe Enter the Kings Queene Elianor Blaunch Bastard Lymoges Lowes Castilean Pembrooke Salisbury Constance and Arthur Duke of Britaine John Herold what answere doo the Townsmen send Philip Will Angiers yéeld to Philip King of Fraunce En. Her The Townsmen on the wals accept your Grace Fr. Her And craue a parley of your Maiestie Iohn You Citizens of Angiers haue your eyes Beheld the slaughter that our English bowes Haue made vpon the coward frawdfull French And haue you wisely pondred therewithall Your gaine in yeâ—lding to the English King Philip Their losse in yéelding to the English King But Iohn they saw from out their highest Towers The Cheualiers of Fraunce and crossebow shot Make lanes of slaughtred bodies through thine hoast And are resolude to yéelde to Arthurs right Iohn Why Philip though thou brauest it fore the walls Thy conscience knowes that Iohn hath wonne the field Philip What ere my conscience knows thy Armie feeles That Philip had the better of the day Bastard Philip indéede hath got the Lyons case Which here he holds to Lymoges disgrace Base Duke to flye and leaue such spoyles behinde But this thou knewst of force to make mée stay It farde with thée as with the marriner Spying the hugie Whale whose monstrous bulke Doth beare the waues like mountaines fore the winde That throwes out emptie vessels so to stay His furie while the ship doth saile away Philip tis thine and fore this Princely presence Madame I humbly lay it at your feete Being the first aduenture I atchieud And first exployt your Grace did enioyne Yet many more I long to be enioynd Blaunch Philip I take it and I thee commaund To weare the same as earst thy Father did Therewith receiue this fauour at my hands T'incourage thee to follow Richards fame Arthur
Ye Citizens 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 Bastard Might Philip counsell two so mightie Kings As are the Kings of England and of Fraunce He would aduise your Graces to vnite And knit your forces gainst these Citizens Pulling their battered walls about their eares The Towne once wonne then striue about the claime For they are minded to delude you both Citizen Kings Princes Lords Knights assembled here The Citizens 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 Philip. Speake on we giue thee leaue Citizen Then thus whereas that yong lustie knight Incites you on to knit your kingly strengths The motion cannot choose but please the good And such as loue the quiet of the State But how my Lords how should your strengths be kniâ— 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 Doo this the gates of Angiers shall giue way And stand wide open to your harts content To make this peace a lasting bond of loue Remains one onely honorable meanes Which by your pardon I shall here display Lewes the Dolphin and the heire of Fraunce A man of noted valor through the world Is yet vnmaried let him take to wife The beauteous daughter of the King of Spaine Neere to K. Iohn the louely Ladie Blanche Begotten on his Sister Elianor With her in marriage will her vnckle 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 yong and yet vnmeete to raigne As he shall stand contented euerie 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 Arthur 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. Elianor Sonne Iohn follow this motion as thou louest thy mother Make league with Philip yeeld to any thing Lewes shall haue my Neece and then be sure Arthur shall haue small succour out of Fraunce John Brother of Fraunce you heare the Citizens Then tell me how you meane to deale herein Constance Why John what canst thou giue vnto thy Neece That hast no foote of land but Arthurs right Lewes Byr Ladie Citizens I like your choyce A louely Damsell is the Ladie Blanche Worthie the heire of Europe for her pheere Constance What Kings why stand you gazing in a trance Why how now Lords accursed Citizens To fill and tickle their ambicious eares With hope of gaine that springs from Arthurs losse Some dismall Plannet at thy birthday raignd For now I see the fall of all thy hopes K. Philip Ladie and Duke of Britaine know you both The King of Fraunce respects his honor more Than to betray his friends and fauourers Princesse of Spaine could you affect my Sonne If we vpon conditions could agree Bastard Swounds Madam take an English Gentleman Slaue as I was I thought to haue mooude 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. Elianor Peace Philip I will looke thee out a wife We must with pollicie compound this strife Bastard If Lewes get her well I say no more But let the frolicke Frenchman take no scorne If Philip front him with an English horne Iohn Ladie what answere make you to the King 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 being too too forward in the cause It may be blemish to my modestie Q Elinor Sonne John and worthie Philip K. of Fraunce Doo you confer awhile about the Dower And I will schoole my modest Neece so well That she shall yéeld assoone as you haue done Constance I theres the wretch that broacheth all this ill Why flye I not vpon the Beldames face And with my nayles pull foorth her hatefull eyes Arthur Swéete Mother cease these hastie madding fits For my sake let my Grandame 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 speach Philip 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 money thirtie thousand markes For land I leaue it to thine owne demaund Philip Then I demaund Volquesson Torain Main Poiters and Aniou these fiue Prouinces Which thou as King of England holdst in Fraunce Then shall our peace be soone concluded on Bastard No lesse than fiue such Prouinces at once Iohn Mother what shall I doo my brother got these lands With much effusion of our English bloud And shall I giue it all away at once Q. Elinor Iohn giue it him so shalt thou liue in peace And keepe the residue sanz ieopardie Ion Philip bring forth thy Sonne here is my Neece And here in mariage I doo giue with her From me and my Successors English Kings Volquesson Poiters Aniou Torain Main And thirtie thousand markes of stipend coyne Now Citizens how like you of this match Citizen We ioy to see so sweete a peace begun Lewes Lewes with Blanch shall euer liue content But now King Iohn what say you to the Duke Father speake as you may in his behalfe Philip K. Iohn be good vnto thy Nephewhere And giue him some what that shall please thee best John Arthur although thou troublest Englands peace Yet here I giue thee Brittaine for thine owne Together with the Earledome of Richmont And this rich Citie of Angiers withall Q. Elianor And if thou seeke to please thine Vnckle John Shalt see my Sonne how I will make of thee Iohn Now euery thing is sorâ—ed to this end Lets in and there prepare the mariage rytes Which in S. Maries Chappell presently Shalbe performed ere this Presence part Exeunt Maâ—ent Constance Arthur Arthur Madam good chcere these drouping languishmeÌ„tes Adde no redresse to salue our awkward haps If heauens haue concluded these euents To small auaile is bitter pensiuenes Seasons will change and so our present griefe May change with them and all to our reliefe Constance Ah boy thy yeares I sée are farre too greene To looke
cloystred Nunnes Are all in health and were my Lord in wealth Till I had tythde and tolde their holy boords I doubt not when your Highnes sees my prize You may proportion all their former pride Iohn Why so now sorts it Philip as it should This small intrusion into Abbey trunkes Will make the Popelings excommunicate Curse ban and breath out damned orisons As thick as hailestones fore the springs approach But yet as harmles and without effect As is the eccho of a Cannons crack Dischargd against the battlements of heauen But what newes els befell there Philip Bastard Strange newes my Lord within your territories Nere Pomfret is a Prophet new sprong vp Whose diuination volleys wonders foorth To him the Commons throng with Countrey gifts He sets a date vnto the Beldames death Prescribes how long the Virgins state shall last Distinguisheth the moouing of the heauens Giues limits vnto holy nuptiall rytes Foretelleth famine aboundeth plentie forth Of fate of fortune life and death he chats With such assurance scruples put apart As if he knew the certaine doomes of heauen Or kept a Register of all the Destinies Iohn Thou telst me meruailes would thou hadst brought the man We might haue questiond him of things to come Bastard My Lord I tooke a care of had I wist And brought the Prophet with me to the Court He stayes my Lord but at the Presence doore Pleaseth your Highnes I will call him in Iohn Nay stay awhile wée'l haue him here anon A thing of weight is first to be performd Enter the Nobles and crowne King Iohn and then crie God saue the King Iohn Lordings and friends supporters of our state Admire not at this vnaccustomd course Nor in your thoughts blame not this déede of yours Once ere this time was I inuested King Your fealtie sworne as Liâ—gmen to our state Once since that time ambicious wéedes haue sprung To staine the beautie of our garden plot But heauens in our conduct rooting thence The false intruders breakers of worlds peace Haue to our ioy made Sunshine chase the storme After the which to try your constancie That now I see is worthie of your names We craude once more your helps for to inuest vs Into the right that enuie sought to wrack Once was I not deposde your former choyce Now twice béen crowned and applauded King Your cheered action to install me so Infers assured witnes of your loues And binds me ouer in a Kingly care To render loue with loue rewards of worth To ballance downe requitall to the full But thankes the while thankes Lordings to you all Aske me and vse me try me and finde me yours Essex A boon my Lord at vauntage of your words We aske to guerdon all our loyalties Pembrooke We take the time your Highnes bids vs aske Please it you graunt you make your promise good With lesser losse than one superfluous haire That not remembred falleth from your head Iohn My wordis past receiue your boone my Lords What may it be Aske it and it is yours Essex We craue my Lord to please the Commons with The libertie of Ladie Constance Sonne Whose durance darkeneth your Highnes right As if you kept him prisoner to the end Your selfe were doubtfull of the thing you haue Dismisse him thence your Highnes néedes not feare Twice by consent you are proclaimd our King Pembrooke This if you graunt were all vnto your good For simple people muse you keepe him close Iohn Your words haue searcht the center of my thoughts Confirming warrant of your loyalties Dismisse your couusell sway my state Let John doo nothing but by your consents Why how now Philip what extasie is this Why casts thou vp thy eyes to heauen so There the fiue Moones appeare Bastard See see my Lord strange apparitions Glauncing mine eye to see the Diadem Placte by the Bishops on your Highnes head From foorth a gloomie cloude which curtaine like Displaide it selfe I sodainly espied Fiue Moones reflecting as you sée them now Euen in the moment that the Crowne was placte Gan they appeare holding the course you see Iohn What might portend these apparitions Vnvsuall signes forerunners of euent Presagers of strange terror to the world Beleeue me Lords the obiect feares me much Philip thou toldst me of me of Wizzard late Fetch in the man to descant of this show Pembrooke The heauens frowne vpon the sinfull earth When with prodigious vnaccustomd signes They spot their superficies with such wonder Essex Before the ruines of Ierusalem Such Meteors were the Ensignes of his wrath That hastned to destroy the faultfull Towne Enter the Bastard with the Prophet Iohn Is this the man Bastard It is my Lord. Iohn Prophet of Pomfret for so I heare thou art That calculatst of many things to come Who by a power repleate with heauenly gift Canst blab the counsell of thy Makers will If famâ— be true or truth be wrongd by thee Decide in cyphering what these fiue Moones Portend this Clyme if they presage at all Breath out thy gift and if I liue to see Thy diuination take a true effect Ile honour thee aboue all earthly men Peter The Skie wherein these Moones haue residence Presenteth Rome the great Metropolis Where sits the Pope in all his holy pompe Fowre of the Moones present fowre Prouinces To wit Spaine Denmarke Germanie and Fraunce That beare the yoke of proud commaunding Rome And stand in feare to tempt the Prelates curse The smallest Moone that whirles about the rest Impatient of the place he holds with them Doth figure foorth this Iland Albion Who gins to scorne the Sea and State of Rome And seekes to shun the Edicts of the Pope This showes the heauen and this I doo auerre Is figured in these apparitions Iohn Why then it seemes the heauens smile on vs Giuing applause for leauing of the Pope But for they chaunce in our Meridian Doo they effect no priuate growing ill To be inflicted on vs in this Clyme Peter The Moones effect no more than what I said But on some other knowledge that I haue By my prescience ere Ascension day Haue brought the Sunne vnto his vsuall height Of Crowne Estate and Royall dignitie Thou shalt be cleane dispoyld and dispossest Iohn False Dreamer perish with thy witched newes Villaine thou woundst me with thy fallacies If it be true dye for thy tidings price If false for fearing me with vaine suppose Hence with the Witch hells damned secretarie Lock him vp sure for by my faith I sweare True or not true the Wizzard shall not liue Before Ascension day who should be cause hereof Cut off the cause and then the effect will dye Tut tut my mercie serues to maime my selfe The roote doth liue from whence these thornes spring vp I and my promise past for his deliury Frowne friends faile faith the diuell goe withall The brat shall dye that terrifies me thus Pembrooke and Essex I recall my graunt I will not buy your fauours with my
into the bottome of-these cares But I who see the poyse that weigheth downe Thy weale my wish and all the willing meanes Wherewith thy fortune and thy fame should mount What ioy what ease what rest can lodge in me With whom all hope and hap doth disagree Arthur Yet Ladies teares and cares and solemne shows Rather than helpes heape vp more worke for woes Constance If any Power will heare a widdowes plaint That from a wounded soule implores reuenge Send fell contagion to infect this Clyme This cursed Countrey where the traytors breath Whose periurie as prowd Briareus Beleaguers all the Skie with misbeliefe He promist Arthur and he sware it too To fence thy right and check thy foemans pride But now black-spotted Periure as he is He takes a truce with Elnors damned brat And marries Lewes to her louely Neece Sharing thy fortune and thy birth-dayes gift Betweene these louers ill betide the match And as they shoulder thee from out thy owne And triumph in a widowes tearefull cares So heauens crosse them with a thriftles course Is all the bloud yspilt on either part Closing the cranies of the thirstie earth Growne to a louegame and a Bridall feast And must thy birthright hid the wedding banes Poore helples boy hopeles and helples too To whom misfortune seemes no yoke at all Thy stay thy state thy imminent mishaps Woundeth thy mothers thoughts with feeling care Why lookst thou pale the colour flyes thy face I trouble now the fountaine of thy yoâ—th And make it moodie with my doles discourse Goe in with me reply not louely boy We must obscure this mone with melodie Least worser wrack ensue our malecontent Exeunt Enter the King of England the King of Fraunce Arthur Bastard Lewes Lymoges Coâ—stance Blanche Chattilion Pembrooke Salisburie and Elianor Iohn This is the day the long desired day Wherein the Realmes of England and of Fraunce Stand highly blessed in a lasting peace Thrice happie is the Bridegroome and the Bride From whose sweete Bridale such a concord springs To make of mortall foes immortall friends Constance Vngodly peace made by an others warre Philip Vnhappie peace that ties thee from reuenge Rouse thée Plantaginet liue not to see The butcher of the great Plantiginet Kings Princes and ye Peeres of either Realmes Pardon my rashnes and forgiue the zeale That caries me in furie to a deede Of high desert of honour and of armes A boone O Kings a boone doth Philip beg Prostrate vpon his knee which knee shall cleaue Vnto the superficies of the earth Till Fraunce and England graunt this glorious boone Iohn Speake Philip England graunts thee thy request Philip And Fraunce confirmes what ere is in his power Bastard Then Duke sit fast I leuell at thy head Too base a ransome for my fathers life Princes I craue the Combat with the Duke That braues it in dishonor of my Sire Your words are past nor can you now reuerse The Princely promise that reuiues my soule Whereat me thinks I see his sinnews shake This is the boon dread Lords which granted once Or life or death are pleasant to my soule Since I shall liue and die in Richards right Lymoges Base Bastard misbegotten of a King To interrupt these holy nuptiall rytes With brawles and tumults to a Dukes disgrace Let it suffice I scorne to ioyne in fight With one so farre vnequall to my selfe Bastard A fine excuse Kings if you wilbe Kings Then keepe your words and let vs combat it Iohn Philip We cannot force the Duke to fight Being a subiect vnto neither Realme But tell me Austria if an English Duke Should dare thee thus wouldst thou accept the challendge Lymoges Els let the world account the Austrich Duke The greatest coward liuing on the Earth Iohn Then cheere thee Philip Iohn will keepe his word Kneele downe in sight of Philip King of Fraunce And all these Princely Lords assembled here I gird thee with the sword of Normandie And of that land I doo inuest thee Duke So shalt thou be in liuing and in land Nothing inferiour vnto Austria Lymoges K. Iohn I tell thee flatly to thy face Thou wrongst mine honour and that thou maist see How much I scorne thy new made Duke and thee I flatly say I will not be compeld And so farewell Sir Duke of low degree Ile finde a time to match you for this geere Exit Iohn Stay Philip let him goe the honors thine Bastard I cannot liue vnles his life be mine Q. Elianor Thy forwardnes this day hath ioyd my soule And made me thinke my Richard liues in thâ—â— K. Philip Lordings lets in and spend the wedding day In maskes and triumphs letting quarrells cease Enter a Cardynall from Rome Card. Stay King of France I charge thee ioyn not hands With him that stands accurst of God and men Know Iohn that I Pandulph Cardinall of Millaine and Legate from the Sea of Rome demaund of thee in the name of our holy Father the Pope Innocent why thou dost contrarie to the lawes of our holy mother the Church and our holye father the Pope disturbe the quiet of the Church and disanull the election of Stephen Langhton whom his Holines hath elected Archbishop of Canterburie this in his Holines name I demaund of thee Iohn And what hast thou or the Pope thy maister to doo to demaund of me how I employ mine owne Know sir Priest as I honour the Church and holy Churchmen so I scorne to be subiect to the greatest Prelate in the world Tell thy Maister so from me and say Iohn of England said it that neuer an Italian Priest of them all shall either haue tythe tole or poling penie out of England but as I am King so wil I raigne next vnder God supreame head both ouer spirituall and temrall and hee that contradicts me in this Ile make him hoppe headlesse K. Philip What King Iohn know you what you say thus to blaspheme against our holy father the Pope Iohn Philip though thou and all the Princes of Christendome suffer themselues to be abusde by a Prelates slauerie my minde is not of such base temper If the Pope will bee King in England let him winne it with the sword I know no other title he can alleage to mine inheritance Card. Iohn this is thine answere Iohn What then Card. Then I Pandulph of Padoa Legate from the Apostolik Sea doo in the name of S. Peter and his successor our holy Father Pope Innocent pronounce thee accursed discharging euery of thy subiectes of all dutie and fealtie that they doo owe to thee and pardon and forgiuenes of sinne to those or them whatsoeuer which shall carrie armes against thee or murder thee this I pronounce and charge all good men to abhorre thee as an excommunicate person Iohn So sir the more the Fox is curst the better a fares if God blesse me and my Land let the Pope and his shauelings curse and spare not Card. Furthermore I charge thée Philip King
of France and al the Kings and Princes of Christendome to make war vppon this miscreant and whereas thou hast made a league with him and confirmed it by oath I doo in the name of our foresaid father the Pope acquit thée of that oath as vnlawful being made with an heretike how saist thou Philip doost thou obey Iohn Brother of Fraunce what say you to the Cardinall Philip I say I am sorrie for your Maiestie requesting you to submit your selfe to the Church of Rome John And what say you to our league if I doo not submit Philip What should I say I must obey the Pope Iohn Obey the Pope and breake your oath to God Philip The Legate hath absolude me of mine oath Then yeeld to Rome or I defie thée héere Iohn Why Philip I defie the Pope and thée False as thou art and periurde K. of Fraunce Vnworthie man to be accompted King Giu'st thou thy sword into a Prelates hands Pandulph where I of Abbots Monkes and Friers Haue taken somewhat to maintaine my warres Now will I take no more but all they haue Ile rowze the lazie lubbers from their Cells And in despight Ile send them to the Pope Mother come you with me and for the rest That will not follow Iohn in this attempt Confusion light vpon their damned soules Come Lords â—ight for your King that fighteth for your good Philip And are they gone Pandulph thy selfe shalt see How Fraunce will fight for Rome and Romish rytes Nobles to armes let him not passe the seas Lets take him captiue and in triumph lead The K. of England to the gates of Rome Arthur 〈◊〉 thee man and thou shalt see What Philip K. of Fraunce will doo for thee Blanche And will your Grace vpon your wedding day Forsake your Bride and follow dreadfull drums Nay good my Lord stay you at home with mee Lewes Sweete heart content thée and we shall agree Philip Follow me Lords Lord Cardynall lead the way Drums shalbe musique to this wedding day Exeunt Excursions The Bastard pursues Austria and kills him Bastard Thus hath K. Richards Sonne performe his vowes And offred Austrias bloud for sacrifice Vnto his fathers â—uerliuing soule Braue Cordelion now my heart doth say I haue deserude though not to be thy heire Yet as I am thy base begotten sonne A name as pleasing to thy Philips heart As to be cald the Duke of Normandie Lie there a pray to euery rauening fowle And as my Father triumpht in thy spoyles And trode thine Ensignes vnderneath his féete So doo I tread vpon thy cursed selfe And leaue thy bodie to the fowles for food Exit Excursions Arthur Constance Lewes hauing taken Q. Elianor prisoner Constance Thus hath the God of Kings with conquering arme Dispearst the foes to true succession Proud and disturber of thy Counâ—reyes peace Constance doth liue to came thine insolence And on thy head will now auenged be For all the mischiefes hatched in thy braine Q Elinor Contemptuous dame vnreuent Dutches thou To braue so great a Quéene as Elianor Base scolde hast thou forgot that I was wife And mother to three mightie English Kings I charge thée then and you forsooth sir Boy To set your Grandmother at libertie And yéeld to John your Vnckle and your King Constance Tis not thy words proud Queene shal carry it Elianor Nor yet thy threates proud Dame shal daunt my minde Arthur Sweete Grandaâ—e and good Mother leaue these brawles Elinor Ile finde a time to triumph in thy fall Constance My time is now to triumph in thy fall And thou shalt know that Constance will triumph Arthur Good Mother weigh it is Queene Elianor Though she be captiue vse her like herselfe Sweete Grandaâ—e beare with what my Mother sayes Your Highnes shalbe vsed honourably Enter a Messenger Mess Lewes my Lord Duke Arthur and the rest To armes in hast K. John relyes his men And ginnes the fight afresh and sweares withall To lose his life or set his Mother free Lewes Arthur away tis time to looke about Elianor Why how â—â—â—daine what is your courage coold Constance No Elianor my courage gathers strength And hopes to lead both John and thee as slaues And in that hope I hale thee to the field Exeunt Excursions Elianor is rescued by Iohn and Arthur is taken prisoner Exeunt Sound victorie Enter Iohn Elianor and Arthur Prisoner Bastard Pembrooke Salisbury and Hubert de Burgh Iohn Thus right triumphs and John triumphs in right thou seest Fraunce cannot bolster thee Thy Mothers pride hath brought thee to this fall But if at last Nephew thou yeeld thy selfe Into the gardance of thine Vnckle John Thou shalt be vsed as becomes a Prince Arthur Vnckle my Grandame taught her Nephew this To beare captiuitie with patience Might hath preuayld not right for I am King Of England though thou weare the Diadem Q. Elianor Sonne Iohn soone shall we teach him to forget These proud presumptions and to know himselfe Iohn Mother he neuer will forget his claime I would he liude not to remember it But leauing this we will to England now And take some order with our Popelings there That swell with pride and fat of lay mens lands Philip I make thee chiefe in this affaire Ransack the Abbeys Cloysters Priories Conuert their coyne vnto my souldiers vse And whatsoere he be within my Land That goes to Rome for iustice and for law While he may haue his right within the Realme Let him be iudgde a traitor to the State And suffer as an enemie to England Mother we leaue you here beyond the seas As Regent of our Prouinces in Fraunce While we to England take a speedie course And thanke our God that gaue vs victorie Hubert de Burgh take Arthur here to thee Be he thy prisoner Hubert kéepe him safe For on his life doth hang thy Soueraignes crowne But in his death consists thy Soueraignes blisse Then Hubert as thou shortly hearst from me So vse the prisoner I haue giuen in charge Hubert Frolick yong Prince though I your keeper bee Yet shall your kéeper liue at your commaund Arthur As please my God so shall become of me Q. Elianor My Sonne to England I will see thee shipâ— And pray to God to send thee safe ashore Bastard Now warres are done I long to be at home To diue into the Monkes and Abbots bags To make some sport among the smooth skin Nunnes And keepe some reuell with the fanzen Friers Iohn To England Lords each looke vnto your charge And arme yourselues against the Romane pride Exeunt Enter the K. of Fraunce Lewes his sonne Cardinall Pundolph Legate and Constance Philip What euery man attacht with this mishap Why frowne you so why droop ye Lords of Fraunce Me thinkes it differs from a warlike minde To lowre it for a checke or two of chaunce Had Lymoges escapt the bastards spight A little sorrow might haue serude our losse Braue Austria heauen ioyes to haue thee there Card. His sowle is safe and
of more hate A wrathfull doome and most vnluckie fate Deaths dish were daintie at so fell a feast Be deafe heare not its hell to tell the rest Arthur Alas thou wrongst my youth with words of feare Tis hell tis horror not for one to heare What is it man if it must needes bedon Act it and end it that the paine were gon Hubert I will not chaunt such dolour with my tongue Yet must I act the outrage with my hand My heart my head and all my powers beside To aide the office haue at once deuide Peruse this letter lines of treble woe Read ore my charge and pardon when you know Hubert these are to commaund thee as thou tendrest our quiet in minde and the estate of our person that presently vpon the receipt of our commaund thou put out the eyes of Arthur Plantaginet Arthur Ah monstrous damned man his very breath infects the elements Contagious venyme dwelleth in his heart Effecting meanes to poyson all the world Vnreuerent may I be to blame the heauens Of great iniustice that the miscreant Liues to oppresse the innocents with wrong Ah Hubert makes he thee his instrument To sound the tromp that causeth hell triumph Heauen weepes the Saints doo shed celestiall teares They feare thy fall and cyte thee with remorse They knock thy conscience moouing pitie there Willing to fence thee from the rage of hell Hell Hubert trust me all the plagues of hell Hangs on performance of this damned deede This seale the warrant of the bodies blisse Ensureth Satan chieftaine of thy soule Subscribe not Hubert giue not Gods part away I speake not onely for eyes priuiledge The chiefe exterior that I would enioy But for thy perill farre beyond my paine Thy sweete soules losse more than my eyes vaine lack A cause internall and eternall too Aduise thee Hubert for the case is hard To loose saluation for a Kings reward Hubert My Lord a subiect dwelling in the land Is tyed to execute the Kings commaund Arthur Yet God commands whose power reacheth further That no commaund should stand in force to murther Hubert But 〈◊〉 me Essence hath ordaind a law A death for guilt to keepe the world in awe Arthur I plead not guiltie treasonles and free Hubert But that appeale my Lord concernes not me Arthur Why thou art he that maist omit the perill Hubert I if my Soueraigne would remit his quarrell Arthur His quarrell is vnhallowed false and wrong Hubert Then be the blame to whom it doth belong Arthur Why thats to thee if thou as they proceede Conclude their iudgement with so vile a déede Hubert Why then no execution can be lawfull If Iudges doomes must be reputed doubtfull Arthur Yes where in forme of Lawe in place and time The offender is conuicted of the crime Hubert My Lord my Lord this long expostulation Heapes vp more griefe than promise of redresse For this I know and so resolude I end That subiects liues on Kings commaunds depend I must not reason why he is your foe But doo his charge since he commaunds it so Arthur Then doo thy charge and charged be thy soule With wrongfull persecution done this day You rowling eyes whose superficies yet I doo behold with eyes that Nature lent Send foorth the terror of your Moouers frowne To wreake my wrong vpon the murtherers That rob me of your faire reflecting view Let hell to them as earth thâ—y wish to mée Be darke and direfull guerdon for their guylt And let the black tormenters of deepe Tartary Vpbraide them with this damned enterprise Inflicting change of tortures on their soules Delay not Hubert my orisons are ended Begin I pray thée reaue me of my sight But to performe a tragedie indéede Conclude the period with a mortall stab Constance farewell tormentor come away Make my dispatch the Tirants feasting day Hubert I faint I feare my conscience bids desist Faint did I say feare was it that I named My King commaunds that warrant sets me frée But God forbids and he commaundeth Kings That great Commaunder counterchecks my charge He stayes my hand he maketh soft my heart Goe cursed tooles your office is exempt Cheere thée yong Lord thou shalt not looâ—e an eye Though I should purchase it with losse of life Ile to the King and say his willis done And of the langor tell him thou art dead Goe in with me for Hubert was not borne To blinde those lampes that Nature pollisht so Arthur Hubert if euer Arthur be in state Looke for amends of this receiued gift I tooke my eysight by thy curtesie Thou lenest them me I will not be ingrate But now procrastination may offend The issue that thy kindnes vndertakes Depart we Hubert to preuent the worst Exeunt Enter King Iohn Essex Salisbury Penbrooke Iohn Now warlike followers resteth ought vndon That may impeach vs of foud ouersight The French haue felt the temper of our swords Cold terror keepes possession in their sowles Checking their ouerdaring arrogance For buckling with so great an ouermatch The Arche proud titled Priest of Italy That calles himselfe grand Viccar vnder God Is busied now with trentall obsequies Masse and mouths minde dirge and I know not what To ease their sowles in painefull purgatory That haue miscaried in these bloudy warres Heard you not Lords when first his holines Had tidings of our small account of him How with a taunt vaunting vpon his toes He vrdge a reason why the English Asse Disdaingd the blessed ordinance of Rome The title reuerently might I inferre Became the Kings that earst haue borne the load The slauish weight of that controlling Priest Who at his pleasure temperd them like waxe To carrie armes on danger of his curse Banding their sowles with warrants of his hand I grieue to thinke how Kings in ages past Simply deuoted to the Sea of Rome Haue run into a thousand acts of shame But now for confirmation of our State Sith we haue proynd the more than needfull braunch That did oppresse the true wel-growing stock It resteth we throughout our Territories Be reproclaimed and inuested King Pembrook My Liege that were to busie men with doubts Once were you crownd proclaimd and with applause Your â—â—tie stréetes haue ecchoed to the eare God saue the King God saue our Soueraigne Iohn Pardon my feare my censure doth infer Your Highnes not deposde from Regall State Would breed a mutinie in peoples mindes What it should meane to haue you crownd againe Iohn Pembrooke performe what I haue bid thée doo Thou knowst not what induceth me to this Essex goe in and Lordings all be gon About this taske I will be crownd anon Enter the Bastard Philip what newes how doo the Abbots chests Are Friers fatter than the Nunnes are faire What chéere with Churchmen had they golde or no Tell me how hath thy office tooke effect Philip My Lord I haue performd your Highnes charge The ease bred Abbots and the bare foote Friers The Monkes the Priors and holy