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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    Not Peer Reviewed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

    810Bastard 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.
    815Q. 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.
    820Iohn 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,
    825Least 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,
    830That 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:
    835For 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.
    840Philip Brother of England, what dowrie wilt thou giue
    Unto 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,
    845I giue in money thirtie thousand markes.
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