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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    Not Peer Reviewed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))

    Enter King Iohn with two or three and the Prophet.
    2030Iohn Disturbed thoughts, foredoomers of mine ill,
    Distracted passions, signes of growing harmes,
    Strange Prophecies of imminent mishaps,
    Confound my wits, and dull my senses so,
    That euery obiect these mine eyes behold
    2035Séeme instruments to bring me to my end.
    Ascension day is come, Iohn feare not then
    The prodigies this pratling Prophet threates.
    Tis come indeede: ah were it fully past,
    Then were I careles of a thousand feares.
    The
    of King Iohn.
    2040The Diall tells me, it is twelue at noone.
    Were twelue at midnight past, then might I vaunt
    False seers prophecies of no import.
    Could I as well with this right hand of mine
    Remoue the Sunne from our Meridian,
    2045Unto the moonsted circle of thantipodes,
    As turne this steele from twelue to twelue agen,
    Then Iohn the date of fatall prophecies
    Should with the Prophets life together end.
    But Multa cadunt inter calicem supremaque labra.
    2050Peter, vnsay thy foolish doting dreame,
    And by the Crowne of England héere I sweare,
    To make thee great, and greatest of thy kin.
    Peter King Iohn, although the time I haue prescribed
    Be but twelue houres remayning yet behinde,
    2055Yet do I know by inspiration,
    Ere that fixt time be fully come about,
    King Iohn shall not be King as heeretofore.
    Iohn Uain buzzard, what mischaunce can chaunce so soone
    To set a King beside his regall seate:
    2060My heart is good, my body passing strong,
    My land in peace, my enemies subdewd,
    Only my Barons storme at Arthurs death,
    But Arthur liues, I there the challenge growes,
    Were he dispatcht vnto his longest home,
    2065Then were the King secure of thousand foes.
    Hubert what news with thée, where are my Lords?
    Hubert Hard newes my Lord, Arthur the louely Prince
    Seeking to escape ouer the Castle walles,
    Fell headlong downe, and in the cursed fall
    2070He brake his bones, and there before the gate
    Your Barons found him dead, and breathlesse quite.
    Iohn Is Arthur dead? then Hubert without more words
    hang the Prophet.
    Away with Peter, villen out of my sight,
    2075I am deafe, be gone, let him not speake a word.
    BNow
    The troublesome Raigne
    Now Iohn, thy feares are vanisht into smoake,
    Arthur is dead, thou guiltlesse of his death.
    Swéete Youth, but that I striued for a Crowne,
    I could haue well affoorded to thine age
    2080Long life, and happines to thy content.
    Enter the Bastard.
    Iohn Philip, what newes with thee?
    Bastard The newes I heard was Peters prayers,
    Who wisht like fortune to befall vs all:
    2085And with that word, the rope his latest friend,
    Kept him from falling headlong to the ground.
    Iohn There let him hang, and be the Rauens food,
    While Iohn triumphs in spight of Prophecies.
    But whats the tidings from the Popelings now.
    2090What say the Monkes and Priests to our proceedings?
    Or wheres the Barons that so sodainly
    Did leaue the King vpon a false surmise?
    Bastard The Prelates storme & thrirst for sharpe reuẽge
    But please your Maiestie, were that the worst,
    2095It little skild: a greater danger growes,
    Which must be weeded out by carefull speede,
    Or all is lost, for all is leueld at.
    Iohn More frights and feares, what ere thy tidings be,
    I am preparde: then Philip quickly say,
    2100Meane they to murder, or imprison me,
    To giue my crowne away to Rome or Fraunce;
    Or will they each of them become a King?
    Worse than I thinke it is, it cannot be.
    Bastard Not worse my Lord, but euerie whit as bad.
    2105The Nobles haue elected Lewes King,
    In right of Ladie Blanche your Neece, his Wife:
    His landing is expected euery hower,
    The Nobles, Commons, Clergie, all Estates,
    Incited chiefely by the Cardinall,
    Pandulph
    of King Iohn.
    2110Pandulph that lies here Legate for the Pope,
    Thinks long to sée their new elected King.
    And for vndoubted proofe, sée here my Liege
    Letters to me from your Nobilitie,
    To be a partie in this action:
    2115Wha vnder show of fained holines,
    Appoynt their meeting at S. Edmonds Bury,
    There to consult, conspire, and conclude
    The ouerthrow and downfall of your State.
    Iohn Why so it must be: one hower of content
    2120Matcht with a month of passionate effects.
    Why shines the Sunne to fauour this consort?
    Why doo the windes not breake their brazen gates,
    And scatter all these periurd complices,
    With all their counsells and their damned drifts.
    2125But see the welkin rolleth gently on,
    Theres not a lowring clowde to frowne on them;
    The heauen, the earth, the sunne, the moone and all
    Conspire with those confederates my decay.
    Then hell for me if any power be there,
    2130Forsake that place, and guide me step by step
    To poyson, strangle, murder in their steps
    These traitors: oh that name is too good for them,
    And death is easie: is there nothing worse
    To wreake me on this proud peace-breaking crew?
    2135What saist thou Philip? why assists thou not,
    Bastard These curses (good my Lord) fit not the season:
    Help must descend from heauen against this treason?
    Iohn Nay thou wilt prooue a traitor with the rest,
    Goe get thee to them, shame come to you all.
    2140Bastard I would be loath to leaue your Highnes thus,
    Yet you command, and I though grieud will goe.
    Iohn Ah Philip whether goest thou, come againe.
    Bastard My Lord these motions are as passions of a mad (man.
    Iohn A mad man Philip, I am mad indeed,
    2145My hart is mazd, my senses all foredone.
    B 2And
    The troublesome Raigne
    And Iohn of England now is quite vndone.
    Was euer King as I opprest with cares?
    Dame Elianor my noble Mother Quéene,
    My onely hope and comfort in distresse,
    2150Is dead, and England excommunicate,
    And I am interdicted by the Pope,
    All Churches curst, their doores are sealed vp,
    And for the pleasure of the Romish Priest,
    The seruice of the Highest is neglected;
    2155The multitude (a beast of many heads)
    Doo wish confusion to their Soueraigne;
    The Nobles blinded with ambitions fumes,
    Assemble powers to beat mine Empire downe,
    And more than this, elect a forren King.
    2160O England, wert thou euer miserable,
    King Iohn of England sées thée miserable:
    Iohn, tis thy sinnes that makes it miserable,
    Quicquid delirunt Reges, plectuntur Achius.
    Philip, as thou hast euer loude thy King,
    2165So show it now: post to S. Edmonds Bury,
    Dissemble with the Nobles, know their drifts,
    Confound their diuelish plots, and damnd deuices.
    Though Iohn be faultie, yet let subiects beare,
    He will amend and right the peoples wrongs.
    2170A Mother though she were vnnaturall,
    Is better than the kindest Stepdame is:
    Let neuer Englishman trust forraine rule.
    Then Philip shew thy fealtie to thy King,
    And mongst the Nobles plead thou for the King.
    2175Bastard I goe my Lord: sée how he is distraught,
    This is the cursed Priest of Italy
    Hath heapt these mischiefes on this haplesse Land.
    Now Philip, hadst thou Tullyes eloquence,
    Then mightst thou hope to plead with good successe. Exit.
    2180Iohn And art thou gone? successe may follow thee:
    Thus hast thou shewd thy kindnes to thy King.
    Sirra,
    of King Iohn.
    Sirra, in hast goe greete the Cardinall,
    Pandulph I meane, the Legate from the Pope.
    Say that the King desires to speake with him.
    2185Now John bethinke thee how thou maist resolue:
    And if thou wilt continue Englands King,
    Then cast about to kéepe thy Diadem;
    For life and land, and all is leueld at.
    The Pope of Rome, tis he that is the cause,
    2190He curseth thee, he sets thy subiects free
    From due obedience to their Soueraigne:
    He animates the Nobles in their warres,
    He giues away the Crowne to Philips Sonne,
    And pardons all that seeke to murther thee:
    2195And thus blinde zeale is still predominant.
    Then Iohn there is no way to kéepe thy Crowne,
    But finely to dissemble with the Pope:
    That hand that gaue the wound must giue the salue
    To cure the hurt, els quite incurable.
    2200Thy sinnes are farre too great to be the man
    T'abolish Pope, and Popery from thy Realme:
    But in thy Seate, if I may gesse at all,
    A King shall raigne that shall suppresse them all.
    Peace John, here comes the Legate of the Pope,
    2205Dissemble thou, and whatsoere thou saist,
    Yet with thy heart wish their confusion.
    Enter Pandulph.
    Pand. Now Iohn, vnworthie man to breath on earth,
    That dost oppugne against thy Mother Church:
    2210Why am I sent for to thy cursed selfe?
    Iohn Thou man of God, Uicegerent for the Pope,
    The holy Uicar of S. Peters Church,
    Upon my knees, I pardon craue of thee,
    And doo submit me to the sea of Rome,
    2215Iud vow for penaunce of my high offence,
    B 3To
    The troublesome Raigne
    To take on me the holy Crosse of Christ,
    And cary Armes in holy Christian warres.
    Pandulph. No Iohn, thy crowching and dissembling thus
    Cannot deceiue the Legate of the Pope,
    2220Say what thou wilt, I will not credit thee:
    Thy Crowne and Kingdome both are tane away,
    And thou art curst without redemption.
    Iohn Accurst indéede to kneele to such a drudge,
    And get no help with thy submission,
    2225Unsheath thy sword, and sley the misprowd Priest
    That thus triumphs ore thée a mighty King:
    No Iohn submit againe dissemble yet,
    For Priests and Women must be flattered.
    Yet holy Father thou thy selfe dost know
    2230No time to late for sinners to repent,
    Absolue me then, and Iohn doth sweare to doo
    The vttermost what euer thou demaundst.
    Pandulph Iohn, now I see thy harty penitence,
    I rew and pitty thy distrest estate,
    2235One way is left to reconcile thy selfe,
    And only one which I shall shew to thee.
    Thou must surrender to the sea of Rome
    Thy Crowne and Diademe, then shall the Pope
    Defend thee from thinuasion of thy foes.
    2240And where his holinesse hath kindled Fraunce,
    And set thy subiects hearts at warre with thee,
    Then shall he cursse thy foes, and beate them downe,
    That seeke the discontentment of the King.
    Iohn From bad to woorse or I must loose my realme,
    2245Or giue my Crowne for pennance vnto Rome?
    A miserie more piercing than the darts
    That breake from burning exhalations power.
    What? shall I giue my Crowne with this right hand?
    No: with this hand defend thy Crowne and thee.
    2250What newes with thee.
    Enter
    of King Iohn.
    Enter Messenger.
    Please it your Maiestie, there is descried on the Coast of
    Kent an hundred Sayle of Ships, which of all men is
    thought to be the French Fleete, vnder the conduct of the
    2255Dolphin, so that it puts the Cuntrie in a mutinie, so they
    send to your Grace for succour.
    K. Iohn How now Lord Cardinall, whats your best aduise,
    These mutinies must be allayd in time
    By pollicy or headstrong rage at least.
    2260O Iohn, these troubles tyre thy wearyed soule,
    And like to Luna in a sad Eclipse,
    So are thy thoughts and passions for this newes.
    Well may it be when Kings are grieued so,
    The vulgar sort worke Princes ouerthrow.
    2265Cardinall K. Iohn, for not effecting of thy plighted vow,
    This strange annoyance happens to thy land:
    But yet be reconcild vnto the Church,
    And nothing shall be grieuous to thy state.
    Iohn On Pandulph be it as thou hast decreed,
    2270Iohn will not spurne against thy sound aduise,
    Come lets away, and with thy helpe I trow
    My Realme shall florish and my Crowne in peace.
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