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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    Not Peer Reviewed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 Lewes and his armie.
    2875Lewes Thus victory in bloudy Lawrell clad,
    Followes the fortune of young Lodowicke,
    The Englishmen as daunted at our sight,
    Fall
    of King Iohn.
    Fall as the fowle before the Eagles eyes.
    Only two crosses of contrary change
    2880Do nip my heart, and vexe me with vnrest.
    Lord Melons death, the one part of my soule,
    A brauer man did neuer liue in Fraunce.
    The other griefe, I thats a gall in deede,
    To thinke that Douer Castell should hold out
    2885Gainst all assaults, and rest impregnable.
    Yee warlike race of Francus Hectors sonne,
    Triumph in conquest of that tyrant Iohn,
    The better halfe of England is our owne,
    And towards the conquest of the other part,
    2890We haue the face of all the English Lords,
    What then remaines but ouerrun the land.
    Be resolute my warlike followers,
    And if good fortune serue as she begins,
    The poorest peasant of the Realme of Fraunce
    2895Shall be a maister ore an English Lord.
    Enter a Messenger.
    Lewes Fellow what newes.
    Messen. Pleaseth your Grace, the Earle of Salsbury, Pen-,
    broke, Essex, Clare, and Arundell, with all the Barons that did
    2900fight for thee, are on a suddeine fled with all their powers, to
    ioyne with Iohn, to driue thee back againe.
    Enter another Messenger.
    Messen. Lewes my Lord why standst thou in a maze,
    Gather thy troups, hope out of help from Fraunce,
    2905For all thy forces being fiftie sayle,
    Conteyning twenty thousand souldyers,
    With victuall and munition for the warre,
    Putting from Callis in vnluckie time,
    Did crosse the seas, and on the Goodwin sands,
    2910The men, munition, and the ships are lost.
    Enter another Messenger.
    Lewes More newes? say on.
    Messen. Iohn (my Lord) with all his scattered troupes,
    EFlying
    The troublesome Raigne
    Flying the fury of your conquering sword,
    2915As Pharaoh earst within the bloody sea,
    So he and his enuironed with the tyde,
    On Lincolne washes all were ouerwhelmed,
    The Barons fled, our forces cast away.
    Lewes Was euer heard such vnexspected newes?
    2920Messenger Yet Lodowike reuiue thy dying heart,
    King Iohn and all his forces are consumde.
    The lesse thou néedst the ayd of English Earles,
    The lesse thou néedst to grieue thy Nauies wracke,
    And follow tymes aduantage with successe.
    2925Lewes Braue Frenchmen armde with magnanimitie,
    March after Lewes who will leade you on
    To chase the Barons power that wants a head,
    For Iohn is drownd, and I am Englands King.
    Though our munition and our men be lost,
    2930Phillip of Fraunce will send vs fresh supplyes. Exeunt.
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