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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    Not Peer Reviewed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 second part of the troublesome Raigne
    of King Iohn, containing the entrance of Lewes
    the French Kings sonne: with the poysoning of King
    Iohn by a Monke.
    1915Enter yong Arthur on the walls.
    NOw helpe good hap to further mine entent,
    Crosse not my youth with any more extreames:
    I venter life to gaine my libertie,
    And if I die, worlds troubles haue an end.
    1920Feare gins disswade the strength of my resolue,
    My holde will faile, and then alas I fall,
    And if I fall, no question death is next:
    Better desist, and liue in prison still.
    Prison said I? nay rather death than so:
    1925Comfort and courage come againe to me.
    Ile venter sure: tis but a leape for life.
    He leapes, and brusing his bones, after he was from
    his traunce, speakes thus;
    Hoe, who is nigh? some bodie take me vp.
    1930Where is my mother? let me speake with her.
    Who hurts me thus? speake hoe, where are you gone?
    Ay me poore Arthur, I am here alone.
    Why cald I mother, how did I forget?
    My fall, my fall, hath kilde my Mothers Sonne.
    1935How will she wéepe at tidings of my death?
    My death indéed, O God my bones are burst.
    A 3Swéete
    The troublesome Raigne
    Sweete Iesu saue my soule, forgiue my rash attempt.
    Comfort my Mother, shield her from despaire,
    When she shall heare my tragick ouerthrowe.
    1940My heart controules the office of my toong,
    My vitall powers forsake my brused trunck,
    I dye I dye, heauen take my fleeting soule,
    And Lady Mother all good hap to thee. He dyes.
    Enter Penbrooke, Salsburie, Essex.
    1945Essex My Lords of Penbroke and of Salsbury
    We must be carefull in our pollicie
    To vndermine the kepers of this place,
    Else shall we neuer find the Princes graue.
    Penbrooke My Lord of Essex take no care for that,
    1950I warrant you it was not closely done.
    But who is this? lo Lords the withered flowre
    Who in his life shinde like the Mornings blush,
    Cast out a doore, denide his buriall right,
    A pray for birds and beasts to gorge vpon.
    1955Salsburie O ruthfull spectacle, O damned deede;
    My sinnewes shake, my very heart doth bleede.
    Essex Leaue childish teares braue Lords of England,
    If waterfloods could fetch his life againe,
    My eyes should conduit foorth a sea of teares.
    1960If sobbs would helpe, or sorrowes serue the turne,
    My heart should volie out deepe piercing plaints.
    But bootlesse wert to breath as many sighes
    As might eclipse the brightest Sommers sunne,
    Heere rests the helpe, a seruice to his ghost.
    1965Let not the tyrant causer of this dole,
    Liue to triumph in ruthfull massacres,
    Giue hand and hart, and Englishmen to armes,
    Tis Gods decree to wreake vs of these harmes,
    Penbrok The best aduise: But who commes posting heere.
    Enter
    of King Iohn.
    1970Enter Hughbert.
    Right noble Lords, I speake vnto you all,
    The King intreates your soonest speed
    To visit him, who on your present want,
    Did ban and cursse his birth, himselfe and me.
    1975For executing of his strict commaund.
    I saw his passion, and at fittest time,
    Assurde him of his cousins being safe,
    Whome pittie would not let me doo to death,
    He craues your company my Lords in haste,
    1980To whome I will conduct young Arthur streight,
    Who is in health vnder my custodie.
    Essex In health base villaine, wert not I leaue thy crime
    To Gods reuenge, to whome reuenge belongs,
    Heere shouldst thou perish on my Rapires point.
    1985Calst thou this health? such health betide thy friends,
    And all that are of thy condition.
    Hughbert My Lords, but heare me speake, & kil me then,
    If heere I left not this yong Prince aliue,
    Maugre the hasty Edict of the King,
    1990Who gaue me charge to put out both his eyes,
    That God that gaue me liuing to this howre,
    Thunder reuenge vpon me in this place:
    And as I tenderd him with earnest loue,
    So God loue me, and then I shall be well.
    1995Sals. Hence traytor hence thy councel is herein. Exit Hughb.
    Some in this place appoynted by the King
    Haue throwne him from this lodging here aboue,
    And sure the murther hath bin newly done,
    For yet the body is not fully colde.
    2000Essex How say you Lords, shall we with speed dispatch
    Under our hands a packet into Fraunce
    To bid the Dolphin enter with his force
    To claime the Kingdome for his proper right,
    His title maketh lawfull strength thereto.
    2005Besides the Pope, on perill of his cursse,
    Hath
    The troublesome Raigne
    Hath bard vs of obedience vnto Iohn,
    This hatefull murder Lewes his true discent,
    The holy charge that wee receiude from Rome,
    Are weightie reasons if you like my reede,
    2010To make vs all perseuer in this deede.
    Pembrooke My Lord of Essex, well haue you aduisde,
    I will accord to further you in this.
    Salsbury And Salsbury will not gainsay the same.
    But aid that course as far foorth as he can.
    2015Essex Then each of vs send straight to his Allyes.
    To winne them to this famous enterprise,
    And let vs all yclad in Palmers weede,
    The tenth of April at Saint Edmonds Bury
    Meete to confer, and on the Altar there
    2020Sweare secrecie and aid to this aduise.
    Meane while let vs conueigh this body hence,
    And giue him buriall as befits his state,
    Keeping his months minde and his obsequies
    With solemne intercession for his soule.
    2025How say you Lordings, are you all agreed?
    Pembrooke The tenth of Aprill at Saint Edmonds Bury
    God letting not, I will not faile the time.
    Essex Then let vs all conuey the body hence. Exeunt.
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