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

    of King Iohn.

    And hopes to lead both John and thee as slaues:
    1125And 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, Pem-
    brooke, Salisbury, and Hubert de Burgh.

    1130Iohn Thus right triumphs, and John triumphs in right.
    Arthur 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 Unckle John,
    1135Thou shalt be vsed as becomes a Prince.
    Arthur Unckle, my Grandame taught her Nephew this,
    To beare captiuitie with patience.
    Might hath preuayld not right, for I am King
    Of England, though thou we are the Diadem.
    1140Q. 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,
    1145And 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:
    1150And 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.
    1155Mother, we leaue you here beyond the seas,
    As Regent of our Prouinces in Fraunce,
    E 3 While