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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    Not Peer Reviewed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))

    A parle sounded, Lewes, Pandulph, Salsbury, &c.
    Pandulph Lewes of Fraunce, yong Henry Englands King
    3100Requires to know the reason of the claime
    That thou canst make to any thing of his.
    King Iohn that did offend is dead and gone,
    See where his breathles trunke in presence lyes,
    And he as heire apparant to the crowne
    3105Is now succeeded in his Fathers roome.
    Henry Lewes, what law of Armes doth lead thée thus,
    To keepe possession of my lawfull right?
    Answere in fine if thou wilt take a peace,
    And make surrender of my right againe,
    3110Or trie thy title with the dint of sword?
    I tell thée Dolphin, Henry feares thée not,
    For now the Barons cleaue vnto their King,
    And what thou hast in England they did get.
    Lewes Henry of England, now that Iohn is dead,
    3115That was the chiefest enemie to Fraunce,
    I may the rather be inducde to peace.
    But Salsbury, and you Barons of the Realme.
    This strange reuolt agrees not with the oath
    That you on Bury Altare lately sware.
    3120Salsbury Nor did the oath your Highnes there did take
    Agree with honour of the Prince of Fraunce.
    Bastard My Lord, what answere make you to the King.
    Dolphin
    The troublesome Raigne
    Dolphin Faith Philip this I say: It bootes not me,
    Nor any Prince, nor power of Christendome
    3125To seeke to win this Iland Albion,
    Unles he haue a partie in the Realme
    By treason for to help him in his warres.
    The Péeres which were the partie on my side,
    Are fled from me: then bootes not me to fight,
    3130But on conditions, as mine honour wills,
    I am contented to depart the Realme.
    Henry On what conditions will your Highnes yeeld?
    Lewes That shall we thinke vpon by more aduice.
    Bastard Then Kings & Princes, let these broils haue end,
    3135And at more leasure talke vpon the League.
    Meane while to Worster let vs beare the King,
    And there interre his bodie, as beseemes.
    But first, in sight of Lewes heire of Fraunce,
    Lords take the crowne, and set it on his head,
    3140That by succession is our lawfull King.
    They crowne yong Henry.
    Thus Englands peace begins in Henryes Raigne,
    And bloody warres are closde with happie league.
    Let England liue but true within it selfe,
    3145And all the world can neuer wrong her State.
    Lewes, thou shalt be brauely shipt to France,
    For neuer Frenchman got of English ground
    The twentith part that thou hast conquered.
    Dolphin thy hand, to Worster we will march,
    3150Lords all lay hands to beare your Soueraigne
    With obsequies of honor to his graue:
    If Englands Peeres and people ioyne in one,
    Nor Pope, nor Fraunce, nor Spaine can doo them wrong.
    FINIS.
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