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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 come to me and to his Unckle here,
    And he shall want for nothing at our hands.
    Chattilion. This shall I doo, and thus I take my leaue.
    65Iohn Pembrooke, conuay him safely to the sea,
    But not in hast: for as we are aduisde,
    We meane to be in Fraunce as soone as he,
    To fortefie such townes as we possesse
    In Aniou, Torain and in Normandy. Exit Chatt.
    70Enter the Shriue, & whispers the Earle of Sals in the eare
    Salisbury. Please it your Maiestie, heere is the Shriue of
    Northhamptonshire, with certaine persons that of late com-
    mitted a riot, and haue appeald to your Maiestie beseeching
    your Highnes for speciall cause to heare them.
    75Iohn Wil them come neere, and while we heare the cause,
    Goe Salsbury and make prouision,
    We meane with speede to passe the sea to Fraunce.
    Say Shrieue, what are these men, what haue they done?
    Or wheretoo tends the course of this appeale?
    80Shrieue Please it your Maiestie these two brethren vnna-
    turally falling at odds about their Fathers liuing haue bro-
    ken your Highnes peace, in seeking to right their own wrõgs
    without cause of Law, or order of Iustice, and vnlawfully as-
    sembled themselues in mutinous manner, hauing committed
    85a riot, appealing from triall in their Countrey to your High-
    nes : and here I Thomas Nidigate Shrieue of Northhamp-
    tonshire, doo deliuer them ouer to their triall.
    Iohn My Lord of Essex, will the offenders to stand foorth,
    and tell the cause of their quarrell.
    90Essex Gentlemen, it is the Kings pleasure that you disco-
    uer your griefes, & doubt not but you shall haue iustice.
    Philip Please it your Maiestie, the wrong is mine; yet wil
    I abide all wrongs, before I once open my mouth to vnrippe
    the shamefull slaunder of my parents, the dishonour of myself,
    95& the wicked dealing of my brother in this princely assembly.
    Robert Then by my Prince his leaue shall Robert speake,
    And tell your Maiestie what right I haue
    To