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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    Not Peer Reviewed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
    By that same houre on warrant of their faith,
    Phillip Plantagenet, a bird of swiftest wing,
    2285Lord Eustace, Vescy, Lord Cressy, and Lord Mowbrey,
    Appoynted meeting at S. Edmonds Shrine.
    Pembroke Untill their presence ile conceale my tale,
    Sweete complices in holie Christian acts,
    That venture for the purchase of renowne,
    2290Thrice welcome to the league of high resolue,
    That pawne their bodies for their soules regard.
    Essex Now wanteth but the rest to end this worke,
    In Pilgrims habit commes our holie troupe
    A furlong hence with swift vnwonted pace,
    2295May be they are the persons you expect.
    Pembroke With swift vnwonted gate, sée what a thing is (zeale,
    That spurrs them on with feruence to this Shrine,
    Now ioy come to them for their true intent
    And in good time heere come the warmen all
    2300That sweate in body by the minds disease
    Hap and hartsease braue Lordings be your lot.
    Enter the Bastard Philip. & c.
    Amen my Lords, the like betide your lucke,
    And all that trauaile in a Christian cause.
    2305Essex Cheerely replied braue braunch of kingly stock,
    A right Plantaginet should reason so.
    But silence Lords, attend our commings cause,
    The seruile yoke that payned vs with toyle,
    On strong instinct hath framd this conuentickle,
    2310To ease our necks of seruitudes contempt.
    Should I not name the foeman of our rest,
    Which of you all so barraine in conceipt,
    As cannot leuell at the man I meane?
    But least Enigmas shadow shining truth
    2315Plainely to paint as truth requires no arte.
    Theffect of this resort importeth this,
    To roote and cleane extirpate tirant Iohn,
    Tirant I say, appealing to the man,
    If
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