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  • Title: The Troublesome Reign of King John ((Quarto, 1581))
  • Editor: Karen Oberer

    • Copyright Queen's Men Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Anonymous
    Editor: Karen Oberer
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Troublesome Reign of King John ((Quarto, 1581))

    of King Iohn.

    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,
    210So 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
    215Irreuocable, 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,
    220To giue away my right, and put the doome
    Unto 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?
    225Iohn 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.
    230Robert 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 Mas my Lord, and thats a question: and you had
    not taken some paines with her before, I should haue desired
    235you to aske my Mother.
    Iohn Say who was thy Father?
    Philip Faith (my Lord) to answere you sure he is my fa-
    ther that was néerest my mother when I was gotten, & him
    I thinke to be Sir Robert Fauconbridge.
    240Iohn Essex, for fashions sake demaund agen,
    And so an ende to this contention.
    B 2 Was
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