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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    Not Peer Reviewed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

    Of great iniustice, that the miscreant
    Liues to oppresse the innocents with wrong.
    1535Ah Hubert, makes he thee his instrument
    To sound the tromp that causeth hell triumph?
    Heauen weepes, the Saints doo shed celestiall teares,
    They feare thy fall, and cyte thee with remorse,
    They knock thy conscience, moouing pitie there,
    1540Willing to fence thee from the rage of hell:
    Hell Hubert, trust me all the plagues of hell
    Hangs on performance of this damned deede.
    This seale, the warrant of the bodies blisse,
    Ensureth Satan chieftaine of thy soule:
    1545Subscribe not Hubert, giue not Gods part away.
    I speake not onely for eyes priuiledge,
    The chiefe exterior that I would enioy:
    But for thy perill, farre beyond my paine,
    Thy sweete soules losse, more than my eyes vaine lack;
    1550A cause internall, and eternall too.
    Aduise thee Hubert, for the case is hard,
    To loose saluation for a Kings reward.
    Hubert My Lord, a subiect dwelling in the land
    Is tyed to execute the Kings commaund.
    1555Arthur. Yet God commands, whose power reacheth further,
    That no commaund should stand in force to murther.
    Hubert But that same Essence hath ordaind a law,
    A death for guilt, to keepe the world in awe.
    Arthur I plead not guiltie, treasonles and free.
    1560Hubert But that appeale my Lord concernes not me.
    Arthur Why, thou art he that maist omit the perill.
    Hubert I, if my Soueraigne would remit his quarrell.
    Arthur His quarrell is vnhallowed false and wrong.
    Hubert Then be the blame to whom it doth belong.
    1565Arthur Why thats to thee if thou as they proceede,
    Conclude their iudgement with so vile a déede.
    Hubert Why then no execution can be lawfull,
    If Iudges doomes must be reputed doubtfull.
    Arthur
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