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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    Not Peer Reviewed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))

    The troublesome Raigne

    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.
    390Philip 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.
    395Mother 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,
    400Or if thou knewst what sutes, what threates, what feares,
    To mooue by loue, or massacre by death.
    To yeeld with loue, or end by loues contempt.
    The mightines of him that courted me,
    Who tempred terror with his wanton talke,
    405That something may extenuate the guilt.
    But let it not aduantage me so much:
    Upbraid me rather with the Romane Dame
    That shed her blood to wash away her shame.
    Why stand I to expostulate the crime
    410With 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, worlds onely terror hee,
    For honours losse left me with childe of thee:
    415Whose 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,
    420There's something owing to Plantaginet.
    I marrie Sir, let me alone for game,
    Ile
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