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
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
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
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
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
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