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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    Not Peer Reviewed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

    While we to England take a speedie course,
    And thanke our God that gaue vs victorie.
    Hubert de Burgh take Arthur here to thee,
    1160Be 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.
    1165Hubert 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 shipt,
    And pray to God to send thee safe ashore.
    1170Bastard 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,
    1175And arme yourselues against the Romane pride. Exeunt.

    Enter the K. of Fraunce, Lewes his sonne, Cardinall Pan-
    dolph Legate, and Constance.

    Philip What euery man attacht with this mishap?
    Why frowne you so, why droop ye Lords of Fraunce?
    1180Me 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.
    1185Card. His sowle is safe and free from Purgatorie,
    Our holy Father hath dispenst his sinnes,
    The blessed Saints haue heard our orisons,
    And all are Mediators for his soule,
    And in the right of these most holy warres,
    1190His holines free pardon doth pronounce
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