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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    Not Peer Reviewed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 the Nobles, Penbrooke, Essex, Chester, Bewchampe,
    Clare, with others.
    2275Penbrooke Now sweet S. Edmond holy Saint in heauen,
    Whose Shrine is sacred, high esteemd on earth,
    Infuse a constant zeale in all our hearts
    To prosecute this act of mickle waight,
    Lord Bewchampe say, what friends haue you procurde.
    2280Bewchamp. The L. Fitz Water, L. Percy, and L. Rosse,
    Uowd meeting heere this day the leuenth houre.
    Essex Under the cloke of holie Pilgrimage,
    By
    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
    of King Iohn.
    If any heere that loues him, and I aske
    2320What kindship, lenitie, or christian raigne
    Rules in the man, to barre this foule impeach.
    First I inferre the Chesters bannishment:
    For reprehending him in most vnchristian crimes,
    Was speciall notice of a tyrants will.
    2325But were this all, the deuill should be saud,
    But this the least of many thousand faults,
    That circumstance with leisure might display.
    Our priuate wrongs, no parcell of my tale
    Which now in presence, but for some great cause
    2330Might wish to him as to a mortall foe.
    But shall I close the period with an acte
    Abhorring in the eares of Christian men,
    His Cosens death, that sweet vnguilty childe,
    Untimely butcherd by the tyrants meanes,
    2335Héere is my proofes as cleere as grauell brooke,
    And on the same I further must inferre,
    That who vpholds a tyrant in his course,
    Is culpable of all his damned guilt.
    To show the which, is yet to be describd.
    2340My Lord of Penbrooke shew what is behinde,
    Only I say that were there nothing else
    To moue vs but the Popes most dreadfull cursse,
    Whereof we are assured if we fayle,
    It were inough to instigate vs all
    2345With earnestnesse of sprit to seeke a meane
    To dispossesse Iohn of his regiment.
    Penbrooke Well hath my Lord of Essex tolde his tale,
    Which I auer for most substanciall truth,
    And more to make the matter to our minde,
    2350I say that Lewes in chalenge of his wife,
    Hath title of an vncontrouled plea
    To all that longeth to our English Crowne.
    Short tale to make, the Sea apostolick
    Hath offerd dispensation for the fault.
    CIf
    The troublesome Raigne
    2355If any be, as trust me none I know
    By planting Lewes in the Usurpers roome:
    This is the cause of all our presence héere,
    That on the holie Altar we protest
    To ayde the right of Lewes with goods and life,
    2360Who on our knowledge is in Armes for England.
    What say you Lords?
    Salsburie As Pembrooke sayth, affirmeth Salsburie:
    Faire Lewes of Fraunce that spoused Lady Blanch,
    Hath title of an vncontrouled strength
    2365To England, and what longeth to the Crowne:
    In right whereof, as we are true informd,
    The Prince is marching hitherward in Armes.
    Our purpose to conclude that with a word,
    Is to inuest him as we may deuise,
    2370King of our Countrey in the tyrants stead:
    And so the warrant on the Altar sworne,
    And so the intent for which we hither came.
    Bastard. My Lord of Salsbury, I cannot couch
    My speeches with the néedfull words of arte,
    2375As doth beseeme in such a waightie worke,
    But what my conscience and my dutie will
    I purpose to impart.
    For Chesters exile, blame his busie wit,
    That medled where his dutie quite forbade:
    2380For any priuate causes that you haue,
    Me thinke they should not mount to such a height,
    As to depose a King in their reuenge.
    For Arthurs death King Iohn was innocent,
    He desperat was the deathsman to himselfe,
    2385With you to make a colour to your crime iniustly do impute (to his default,
    But where fell traytorisme hath residence,
    There wants no words to set despight on worke.
    I say tis shame, and worthy all reproofe,
    To wrest such pettie wrongs in tearmes of right,
    2390Against a King annoynted by the Lord.
    Why
    of King Iohn.
    Why Salsburie admit the wrongs are true,
    Yet subiects may not take in hand reuenge,
    And rob the heauens of their proper power,
    Where sitteth he to whome reuenge belongs.
    2395And doth a Pope, a Priest, a man of pride
    Giue charters for the liues of lawfull Kings?
    What can he blesse, or who regards his cursse,
    But such as giue to man, and takes from God.
    I speake it in the sight of God aboue,
    2400Theres not a man that dyes in your beliefe,
    But sels his soule perpetually to payne.
    Ayd Lewes, leaue God, kill Iohn, please hell,
    Make hauock of the welfare of your soules,
    For héere I leaue you in the sight of heauen,
    2405A troupe of traytors foode for hellish feends;
    If you desist, then follow me as friends,
    If not, then doo your worst as hatefull traytors.
    For Lewes his right alas tis too too lame,
    A senselesse clayme, if truth be titles friend.
    2410In briefe, if this be cause of our resort,
    Our Pilgrimage is to the Deuils Shrine.
    I came not Lords to troup as traytors doo,
    Nor will I counsaile in so bad a cause:
    Please you returne, wee go againe as friends,
    2415If not, I to my King, and you where traytors please. Exit.
    Percy A hote young man, and so my Lords proceed,
    I let him go, and better lost then found.
    Penbrooke What say you Lords, will all the rest proceed,
    Will you all with me sweare vpon the Aulter
    2420That you wil to the death be ayd to Lewes, & enemy to Iohn?
    Euery man lay his hãd by mine, in witnes of his harts accord,
    Well then, euery man to Armes to meete the King
    Who is alreadie before London.
    Messenger Enter.
    2425Penbrooke What newes Harrold.
    C 2The
    The troublesome Raigne
    The right Christian Prince my Maister, Lewes of Fraunce, is
    at hand, comming to visit your Honors, directed hether by
    the right honorable Richard Earle of Bigot, to conferre
    with your Honors.
    2430Penbrooke How néere is his Highnesse,
    Messenger Ready to enter your presence.
    Enter Lewes, Earle Bigot, with his troupe.
    Lewes Faire Lords of England, Lewes salutes you all
    As friends, and firme welwillers of his weale,
    2435At whose request from plenty flowing Fraunce
    Crossing the Ocean with a Southern gale,
    He is in person come at your commaunds
    To vndertake and gratifie withall
    The fulnesse of your fauours proffred him.
    2440But worlds braue men, omitting promises,
    Till time be minister of more amends,
    I must acquaint you with our fortunes course.
    The heauens dewing fauours on my head,
    Haue in their conduct safe with victorie,
    2445Brought me along your well manured bounds,
    With small repulse, and little crosse of chaunce.
    Your Citie Rochester with great applause
    By some deuine instinct layd armes aside:
    And from the hollow holes of Thamesis
    2450Eccho apace replide Viue la roy.
    From thence, along the wanton rowling glade
    To Troynouant your fayre Metropolis,
    With luck came Lewes to shew his troupes of Fraunce,
    Wauing our Ensignes with the dallying windes,
    2455The fearefull obiect of fell frowning warre;
    Where after some assault, and small defence,
    Heauens may I say, and not my warlike troupe,
    Temperd their hearts to take a friendly foe
    Within the compasse of their high built walles,
    2460Geuing me title as it seemd they wish.
    Thus
    of King Iohn.
    Thus Fortune (Lords) acts to your forwardnes
    Meanes of content in lieu of former griefe:
    And may I liue but to requite you all,
    Worlds wish were mine in dying noted yours.
    2465Salisbury Welcome the balme that closeth vp our wounds,
    The soueraigne medcine for our quick recure,
    The anchor of our hope, the onely prop,
    Whereon depends our liues, our lands, our weale,
    Without the which, as sheepe without their heard,
    2470(Except a shepheard winking at the wolfe)
    We stray, we pine, we run to thousand harmes.
    No meruaile then though with vnwonted ioy,
    We welcome him that beateth woes away.
    Lewes Thanks to you all of this religious league,
    2475A holy knot of Catholique consent.
    I cannot name you Lordings, man by man,
    But like a stranger vnacquainted yet,
    In generall I promise faithfull loue:
    Lord Bigot, brought me to S Edmonds Shrine,
    2480Giuing me warrant of a Christian oath,
    That this assembly came deuoted heere,
    To sweare according as your packets showd,
    Homage and loyall seruice to our selfe,
    I néede not doubt the suretie of your wills;
    2485Since well I know for many of your sakes
    The townes haue yeelded on their owne accords:
    Yet for a fashion, not for misbeliefe,
    My eyes must witnes, and these eares must heare
    Your oath vpon the holy Altar sworne,
    2490And after march to end our commings cause.
    Sals. That we intend no other than good truth,
    All that are present of this holy League,
    For confirmation of our better trust,
    In presence of his Highnes sweare with me,
    2495The sequel that my selfe shal vtter heere.
    C 3Thomas
    The troublesome Raigne
    I Thomas Plantaginet Earle of Salisbury, sweare vpon the
    Altar, and by the holy Armie of Saints, homage and alleag-
    ance to the right Christian Prince Lewes of Fraunce, as true
    and rightfull King to England, Cornwall and Wales, & to their
    2500Territories, in the defence whereof I vppon the holy Altare
    sweare all forwardnes. All the Eng. Lords sweare,
    As the noble Earle hath sworne, so sweare we all.
    Lewes I rest assured on your holy oath,
    And on this Altar in like sort I sweare
    2505Loue to you all, and Princely recompence
    To guerdon your good wills vnto the full.
    And since I am at this religious Shrine,
    My good welwillers, giue vs leaue awhile
    To vse some orisons our selues apart
    2510To all the holy companie of heauen,
    That they will smile vpon our purposes,
    And bring them to a fortunate euent.
    Salsbury We leaue your Highnes to your good intent.
    Exeunt Lords of England.
    2515Lewes Now Uicount Meloun, what remaines behinde?
    Trust me these traitors to their souereigne State
    Are not to be beléeude in any sort.
    Meloun Indéed my Lord, they that infringe their oaths,
    And play the rebells gainst their natiue King,
    2520Will for as little cause reuolt from you,
    If euer opportunitie incite them so:
    For once forsworne, and neuer after sound,
    Theres no affiance after periurie.
    Lewes Well Meloun well, lets smooth with them awhile,
    2525Untill we haue asmuch as they can doo:
    And when their vertue is exhaled drie,
    Ile hang them for the guerdon of their help,
    Meane while wee'l vse them as a precious poyson
    To vndertake the issue of our hope.
    2530Fr. Lord Tis policie (my Lord) to bait our hookes
    With merry smiles, and promise of much waight:
    But
    of King Iohn.
    But when your Highnes needeth them no more,
    Tis good make sure work with them, least indeede
    They prooue to you as to their naturall King.
    2535Melun Trust me my Lord, right well haue you aduisde
    Uenyme for vse, but neuer for a sport
    Is to be dallyed with, least it infect.
    Were you instald, as soone I hope you shall:
    Be free from traitors, and dispatch them all.
    2540Lewes That so I meane, I sweare before you all
    On this same Altar, and by heauens power,
    Theres not an English traytor of them all,
    Iohn once dispatcht, and I faire Englands King,
    Shall on his shoulders beare his head one day,
    2545But I will crop it for their guilts desert:
    Nor shall their heires enioy their Signories,
    But perish by their parents fowle amisse.
    This haue I sworne, and this will I performe,
    If ere I come vnto the height I hope.
    2550Lay downe your hands, and sweare the same with mee.
    The French Lords sweare.
    Why so, now call them in, and speake them faire,
    A smile of France will feed an English foole.
    Beare them in hand as friends, for so they be:
    2555But in the hart like traytors as they are.
    Enter the English Lords.
    Now famous followers, chieftaines of the world,
    Haue we sollicited with heartie prayer
    The heauen in fauour of our high attempt.
    2560Leaue we this place, and march we with our power
    To rowse the Tyrant from his chiefest hold:
    And when our labours haue a prosprous end,
    Each man shall reape the fruite of his desert.
    And so resolude, braue followers let vs hence.
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