your Grace I am King Richards Sonne Robert Robert reuiue thy heart let sorrow die His faltring tongue not suffers him to lie Mother What head-strong furie doth enchaunt my sonne Philip Philip cannot repent for he hath done Iohn Then Philip blame not me thy selfe hast lost By wilfulnesse thy liuing and thy land Robert thou art the heire of Fauconbridge God giue thee ioy greater than thy desert Q Elianor Why how now Philip giue away thine owne Philip Madame I am bold to make my selfe your nephew The poorest kinsman that your Highnes hath And with this Prouerb gin the world anew Help hands I haue no lands honour is my desire Let Philip liue to shew himselfe worthie so great a Sire Elinor Philip I think thou knewst thy Grandams minde But chéere thée boy I will not see thée want As long as Elinor hath foote of land Henceforth thou shalt be taken for my sonne And waite on me and on thine Vnckle heere Who shall giue honour to thy noble minde Iohn Philip kneele down that thou maist throughly know How much thy resolution pleaseth vs Rise vp Sir Richard Plantaginet K. Richards Sonne Phil. Graunt heauens that Philip once may shew himself Worthie the honour of Plantaginet Or basest glorie of a Bastards name Iohn Now Gentlemen we will away to France To checke the pride of Arthur and his mates Essex thou shalt be Ruler of my Realme And toward the maine charges of my warres Ile ceaze the lazie Abbey lubbers lands Into my hands to pay my men of warre The Pope and Popâ—liâ—gâ— shall not grease themselues With golde and groates that are the souldiers due Thus forward Lords let our commaund be done And march we forward mightely to Fraunce Exeunt Manet Philip and his Mother Philip Madame I â—eseech you deigne me so much leasure as the hearing of a matter that I long to impart to you Mother Whats the matter Philip. I thinke your sute in secret tends to some money matter which you suppose burns in the bottome of my chest Phil. No Madam it is no such sute as to beg or borrow But such a sute as might some other grant I would not now haue troubled you withall Mother A Gods name let vs heare it Philip Then Madame thus your Ladiship sees well How that my scandall growes by meanes of you In that report hath rumord vp and downe I am a bastard and no Fauconbridge This grose attaint so tilteth in my thoughts Maintaining combat to abridge my ease That field and towne and company alone Whatso I doo or wheresoere I am I cannot chase the slaunder from thy thoughts If it be true resolue me of my Sire For pardon Madame if I thinke amisse Be Philip Philip and no Fauconbridge His Father doubtles was as braue a man To you on knees as sometime Phaeton Mistrusting silly Merop for his Sire Strayning a little bashfull modestie I beg some instance whence I am extraught Mother Yet more adoo to haste me to my graue And wilt thou too become a Mothers crosse Must I accuse myself to close with you Slaunder myself to quiet your affects Thou mooust me Philip with this idle talke Which I remit in hope this mood will die Philip Nay Ladie mother heare me further yet For strong conceipt driues dutie hence awhile Your husband Fauconbridge was Father to that sonne That carries marks of Nature like the Sire The sonne that blotteth you with wedlocks breach And holds my right as lineall in discent From him whose forme was figured in his face Can Nature so dissemble in her frame To make the one so like as like may be And in the other print no character To chalenge any marke of true discent My brothers minde is base and too too dull To mount where Philip lodgeth his affects And his externall graces that you view Though I report it counterpoise not mine His constitution plaine debilitie Requires the chayre and mine the seate of steâ—le Nay what is he or what am I to him When any one that knoweth how to carpe Will scarcely iudge vs both one Countrey borne This Madame this hath droue me from myselfe And here by heauens eternall lampes I sweare As cursed Nero with his mother did So I with you if you resolue me not Mother Let mothers teares quench out thy angers fire And vrge no further what thou doost require Philip Let sonnes entreatie sway the 〈◊〉 now Or els she dies Ile not infringe my vow Mother Vnhappy taske must I recount my shame Blab my misdeedes or â—y concealing die Some power strike me speechlesse for a time Or take from him awhile his hearings vse Why wish I so vnhappy as I am The fault is mine and he the faultie frute I blush I faint oh would I might be mute Philip Mother be briefe I long to know my name Mother And longing dye to shrowd thy Mothers shame Philip Come Madame come you neede not be so loth The shame is shared equall twixt vs both Ist not a slacknes in me worthie blame To be so olde and cannot write my name Good Mother resolue me Mother Then Philip heare thy fortune and my griefe My honours losse by purchase of thy selfe My shame thy name and husbands secret wrong All maind and staind by youths vnruly sway And when thou knowest from whence thou art extraught Or if thou knewst what sutes what threates what feares To mooue by loue or massacre by death To yeeld wiâ—h loue or end by loues contempt The mightines of him that courted me Who tempred terror with his wanton talke That something may extenuate the guilt But let it not aduantage me so much Vpbraid me rather with the Romane Dame That shed her blood to wash away her shame Why stand I to expostulate the crime With pro contra now the déede is don When to conclude two words may tell the tale That Philips Father was a Princes Son Rich Englands rule words onely terror hee For honours losse left me with childe of thee Whose Sonne thou art then pardon me the rather For faire King Richard was thy noble Father Philip Then Robin Fauconbridge I wish thee ioy My Sire a King and I a landles Boy Gods Ladie Mother the world is in my debt There's something owing to Plantaginet I marrie Sir let me alone for game Ile act some wonders now I know my name By blessed Marie Ile not sell that pride For Englands wealâ—h and all the world beside Sit fast the proudest of my Fathers foes Away good Mother there the comfort goes Execunt Enter Philip the French King and Lewes Limoges Constance and her sonne Arthur King Now gin we broach the title of thy claime Yong Arthur in the Albion Territories Scaring proud Angiers with a puissant siedge Braue Austria cause of Cordelions death Is also come to aide thee in thy warres And all our Forces ioyne for Arthurs right And but for causes of great consequence Pleading delay till newes from England come Twice should not
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
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
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
Titan hide him in the West To coole the fet-locks of his wearie teame Till I had with an vnresisted shock Controld the mannage of proud Angiers walls Or made a forfet of my fame to Chaunce Constance May be that Iohn in conscience or in feare To offer wrong where you impugne the ill Will send such calme conditions backe to Fraunce As shall rebate the edge of fearefull warres If so forbearance is a deede well done Arthur Ah Mother possession of a Crowne is mucâ— And Iohn as I haue heard reported of For present vantage would aduenture farre The world can witnes in his Brothers time He tooke vpon him rule any almost raigne Then must it follow as a doubtfull poynt That hee â—eresigne the rule vnto his Nephew I rather thinke the menace of the world Sounds in his eares as threats of no estéeme And sooner would he scorne Europaes power Than loose the smallest title he enioyes For questionles he is an Englishman Lewes Why are the English péereles in compare Braue Caualiers as ere that Iland bred Haue liude and dyde and darde and done inough Yet neuer gracde their Countrey for the cause England is England yéelding good and bad And John of England is as other Iohns Trust me yong Arthur if thou like my réede Praise thou the French that helpe thee in this neede Lymoges The Englishman hath little cause I trow To spend good speaches on so proud a foe Why Arthur heres his spoyle that now is gon Who when he liude outroude his Brother Iohn But hastie curres that lie so long to catch Come halting home and meete their ouermatch But newes comes now heres the Embassadour Enter Chattilion K Philip And in good time welcome my Lord Chattilion What newes will Iohn accord to our commaund Chattilion Be I not briefe to tell your Highnes all He will approach to interrupt my tale For one selfe bottome brought vs both to Fraunce He on his part will try the chaunce of warre And if his words inferre assured truth Will loose himselfe and all his followers Ere yéeld vnto the least of your demaunds The Mother Quéene she taketh on amaine Gainst Ladie Constance counting her the cause That doth effect this claime to Albion Coniuring Arthur with a Grandames care To leaue his Mother willing him submit His state to Iohn and her protection Who as she saith are studious for his good More circumstance the season intercepts This is the summe which briefly I haue showne K. Phil. This bitter winde must nip some bodies spring Sodaine and briefe why so tis haruest weather But say Chattilion what persons of accompt are with him Chattilion Of England Earle Pembrooke and Salsbury The onely noted men of any name Next them a Bastard of the Kings deceast A hardy wilde head tough and venturous With many other men of high resolue Then is there with them Elinor Mother Queene And Blanch her Néece daughter to the King of Spaine These are the prime Birds of this hot aduenture Enter Iohn his followers Queene Bastard Earles c. K. Philip Me seemeth Iohn an ouer-daring spirit Effecte some frenzie in thy rash approach Treading my Confines with thy armed Troupes I rather lookt for some submisse reply Touching the claime thy Nephew Arthur makes To that which thou vniustly dost vsurpe K Iohn For that Chattilion can discharge you all I list not plead my Title with my tongue Nor came I hether with intent of wrong To Fraunce or thee or any right of thine But in defence and purchase of my right The Towne of Angiers which thou doost begirt In the behalfe of Ladie Constance Sonne Wheretoo nor he nor she can lay iust claime Constance Yes false intruder if that iust be iust And headstrong vsurpation put apart Arthur my Sonne heire to thy elder Brother Without ambiguous shadow of discent Is Soueraigne to the substance thou withholdst Q Elinor Misgouernd Gossip staine to this resort Occasion of these vndecided iarres I say that know to check thy vaine suppose Thy Sonne hath naught to doo with that he claymes For proofe whereof I can inferre a Will That barrâ—s the way he vrgeth by discent Constance A Will indéede a crabbed Womans will Wherein the Diuell is an ouerséer And proud dame Elnor sole Executresse More wills than so on perill of my soule Were neuer made to hinder Arthurs right Arthur But say there was as sure there can be none The law intends such testaments as voyd Where right discent can no way be impeacht Q Elinor Peace Arthur peace thy mother makes thee wings To soare with perill after Icarus And trust me yongling for the Fathers sake I pitie much the hazard of thy youth Constance Beshrew you els how pitifull you are Readie to weepe to heare him aske his owne Sorrow betide such Grandames and such griefe That minister a poyson for pure loue But who so blinde as cannot see this beame That you forsooth would kéepe your cousin downe For feare his Mother should be vsde too well I theres the griese confusion catch the braine That hammers shifts to stop a Princes raigne Q. Elianor Impatient frantike common slanderer Immodest Dame vnnurtred quarreller I tell thée I not enuie to thy Son But iustice makes me speake as I haue don K. Philip But heres no proof that showes your son a King K. Iohn What wants my sword shal more at large set down Lewes But that may breake before the truth be knowne Bastard Then this may hold till all his right be showne Lymoges Good worâ—s sir sauce your betters are in place Bastard Not you sir doughtie with your Lions case Blanch Ah ioy betide his soule to whom that spoile beloÌ„gd Ah Richard how thy glorie hate is wrongd Lymoges Me 〈…〉 pride Richards fall Should be a president t'affright you all Bastard What words are these how doo my sinews shake My Fathers foe clad in my Fathers spoyle A thousand furies kindle with reuendge This hart that choller keepes a consistorie Searing my inwards with a brand of hate How doth Alecte whisper in mine eares Delay not Philip kill the villaine straight Disrobe him of the matchles moniment Thy Fathers triumph ore the Sauages Base heardgroome coward peasant worse than a threshing slaue What makst thou with the Trophei of a King Shamsâ— thou not coystrell loathsome dunghill swad To grace thy carkasse with an ornament Too precious for a Monarchs couerture Scarce can I temper due obedience Vnto the pâ—esence of my Soueraigne From acting outrage on this trunke of hate But arme thee traytor wronger of renowme For by his soule I sweare my Fathers soule Twice will I not review the Mornings rise Till I haue torne that Trophei from thy back And split thy heart for wearing it so long Philip hath sworne and if it be not done Let not the world repute me Richards Sonne Lymoges Nay soft sir Bastard harts are not split so soone Let them reioyce that at the ende doo win And take this lesson
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