SOW

King JOHN.

Dramatis perfonae.

MEN.

Prince HENRY, Son to the King.

ARTHUR, Duke of Bretagne, and Nephew to the King.

PEMBROKE,

ESSEX,

SALISBURY,
HUBERT,

BIGOT,

English Lords.

FAULCONBRIDGE, Bastard Son to Richard the First. ROBERT FAULCONBRIDGE, Half Brother to the Bastard. JAMES GURNEY, Servant to the Lady Faulconbridge. PETER OF POMFRET, a Prophet.

PHILIP, King of France.

LEWIS, the Dauphin.

Arch-Duke of Austria.

Cardinal PANDULPHO, the Pope's Legate.

MELUN, a French Lerd.

CHATILLON, Ambassador from France to King John.

WOMEN.

ELINOR, Queen Mother of England.
CONSTANCE, Mother to Arthur.

BLANCH, Daughter to Alphonso King of Castile, and Niece to King John.

Lady FAULCONBRIDGE, Mother to the Bastard and Rebert Faulconbridge.

Citizens of Algiers, Heralds, Executioners, Messengers, Soldiers, and other Attendants.

The SCENE, sometimes in England; and sometimes in France.

KING

JOHN.

ACT 1. SCENE I.

Northampton. A Room of State in the Palace. Enter King JOHN, Queen ELINOR, PEMBROKE, ESSEX, and SALISBURY, with CHATILLON.

N

King John.

ow, say, Chatillon, what would France with us? Thus, after greeting, speaks the king of France,

Chat.

In my behaviour, to the majesty,

The borrow'd majesty of England here.

Eli. A strange beginning;-borrow'd majesty ! K. John. Silence, good mother; hear the embassy. Chat. Philip of France, in right and true behalf Of thy deceased brother Geffrey's son, Arthur Plantagenet, lays most lawful claim To this fair island, and the territories;

To Ireland, Poitiers, Anjou, Touraine, Maine: B

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Desiring

Desiring thee to lay aside the sword,

Which sways usurpingly these several titles ;
And put the same into young Arthur's hand,
Thy nephew, and right royal sovereign.

K. John. What follows, if we disallow of this? Chat. The proud control of fierce and bloody war, To enforce these rights so forcibly withheld.

K. John. Here have we war for war, and blood for blood,

Controlment for controlment; so answer France. 20 Chat. Then take my king's defiance from my mouth,

The farthest limit of my embassy.

K. John. Bear mine to him, and so depart in peace Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France; For ere thou canst report I will be there,

The thunder of my cannon shall be heard:

So, hence! Be thou the trumpet of our wrath,
And sullen presage of your own decay.—
An honourable conduct let him have ;-
Pembroke, look to't:-Farewel, Chatillon.

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[Exeunt CHAT. and PEM.

Eli. What now, my son? have I not ever said,
How that ambitious Constance would not cease,
'Till she had kindled France, and all the world,
Upon the right and party of her son?

This might have been prevented, and made whole,
With very easy arguments of love;

Which now the manage of two kingdoms must
With fearful bloody issue arbitrate.

K. John.

K. John. Our strong possession, and our right, for

us.

Eli. Your strong possession, much more than your

right;

Or else it must go wrong with you, and me:

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So much my conscience whispers in your ear;
Which none but heaven, and you, and I, shall hear.

Enter the Sheriff of Northamptonshire, who whispers
ESSEX.

Essex. My liege, here is the strangest controversy, Come from the country to be judg'd by you, That e'er I heard: Shall I produce the men? K. John. Let them approach.—

Our abbies, and our priories, shall pay

[Exit Sheriff.

Re-enter Sheriff with ROBERT FAULCONBRIDGE, and
PHILIP, his Brother.

This expedition's charge.What men are you?
Phil. Your faithful subject I, a gentleman,
Born in Northamptonshire; and eldest son,
As I suppose, to Robert Faulconbridge;
A soldier, by the honour-giving hand
Of Cœur-de-lion knighted in the field.
K. John. What art thou?

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Rob. The son and heir to that same Faulconbridge. K. John. Is that the elder, and art thou the heir? You came not of one mother then, it seems.

Phil. Most certain of one mother, mighty king, That is well known; and, as I think, one father: