QueenʼsMen Editions

About this text

  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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 Iohn, Elianor, and Arthur Prisoner, Bastard, Pem-
    brooke, Salisbury, and Hubert de Burgh.
    1130Iohn Thus right triumphs, and John triumphs in right.
    Arthur thou seest, Fraunce cannot bolster thee:
    Thy Mothers pride hath brought thee to this fall.
    But if at last, Nephew thou yeeld thy selfe
    Into the gardance of thine Unckle John,
    1135Thou shalt be vsed as becomes a Prince.
    Arthur Unckle, my Grandame taught her Nephew this,
    To beare captiuitie with patience.
    Might hath preuayld not right, for I am King
    Of England, though thou we are the Diadem.
    1140Q. Elianor Sonne Iohn, soone shall we teach him to forget
    These proud presumptions, and to know himselfe.
    Iohn Mother, he neuer will forget his claime,
    I would he liude not to remember it.
    But leauing this, we will to England now,
    1145And take some order with our Popelings there,
    That swell with pride, and fat of lay mens lands.
    Philip I make thee chiefe in this affaire,
    Ransack the Abbeys, Cloysters, Priories,
    Conuert their coyne vnto my souldiers vse:
    1150And whatsoere he be within my Land,
    That goes to Rome for iustice and for law,
    While he may haue his right within the Realme,
    Let him be iudgde a traitor to the State,
    And suffer as an enemie to England.
    1155Mother, we leaue you here beyond the seas,
    As Regent of our Prouinces in Fraunce,
    E 3 While
    The troublesome Raigne
    While we to England take a speedie course,
    And thanke our God that gaue vs victorie.
    Hubert de Burgh take Arthur here to thee,
    1160Be he thy prisoner: Hubert kéepe him safe,
    For on his life doth hang thy Soueraignes crowne,
    But in his death consists thy Soueraignes blisse:
    Then Hubert, as thou shortly hearst from me,
    So vse the prisoner I haue giuen in charge.
    1165Hubert Frolick yong Prince, though I your keeper bee,
    Yet shall your kéeper liue at your commaund.
    Arthur As please my God, so shall become of me.
    Q. Elianor My Sonne to England, I will see thee shipt,
    And pray to God to send thee safe ashore.
    1170Bastard Now warres are done, I long to be at home
    To diue into the Monkes and Abbots bags,
    To make some sport among the smooth skin Nunnes,
    And keepe some reuell with the fanzen Friers.
    Iohn To England Lords, each looke vnto your charge,
    1175And arme yourselues against the Romane pride. Exeunt.