****************

THE

LIFE and DEATH

OF

KING JOHN.

Dramatis Perfonæ.

KING John.

Prince Henry, Son to the King.

Arthur, Duke of Bretagne, and Nephew to the King.

Pembroke,

Effex,

Salisbury,

Hubert,

Bigot,

English Lords.

Faulconbridge, Bastard-Son to Richard the First. Robert Faulconbridge, suppos'd Brother to the Baslard. James Gurney, Servant to the Lady Faulconbridge.

Peter of Pomfret, a Prophet.

Philip, King of France.

Lewis, the Dauphin.

Arch-Duke of Austria.

Cardinal Pandulpho, the Pope's Legate.

Melun, a French Lord.

Chatilion, Ambassador from France to King John.

Elinor, Queen-Mother of England.
Constance, Mother to Arthur. D

Blanch, Daughter to Alphonso King of Castile, and

Niece to King John.

Lady Faulconbridge, Mother to the Bastard, and Robert

Faulconbridge.

Citizens of Angiers, Heralds, Executioners, Messengers, Soldiers, and other Attendants.

The SCENE, fometimes in England, and fometimes in

France.

THE

*The LIFE and DEATH of

KING JOHN.

H

ACT I. SCENE I.

The Court of England.

Enter King John, Queen Elinor, Pembroke, Effex, and Salisbury, with Chatilion.

King JOHN.

NOW, fay, Chatilion, what would France with us?

Chat. Thus, after greeting, speaks the King of
France,

In my behaviour, to the Majesty,

The borrow'd Majesty of England here.

Eli. A strange beginning; borrow'd Majesty!
K. John. Silence, good mother; hear the embaffy.
Chat. Philip of France, in right and true behalf

Of thy deceased brother Geffrey's fon,
Arthur Plantagenet, lays lawful claim
To this fair island, and the territories:
To Ireland, Poitiers, Anjou, Touraine, Maine :
Desiring thee to lay aside the sword,
Which sways usurpingly these several titles;
And put the fame into young Arthur's hand,
Thy nephew, and right-royal Sovereign.

* The troublesome Reign of King John was written in two Parts, by W. Shakespear and W. Rowley, and printed 1611. But the present

Play is entirely different, and infinitely fuperior to it.

Mr. Pope. K. John.

K. John. What follows, if we disallow of this? Chat. The proud controul of fierce and bloody war, T' inforce these rights fo forcibly with-held.

K. John. Here have we war for war, and blood for blood,

Controulment for controulment; so answer France. Chat. Then take my King's defiance from my mouth, The farthest limit of my embassy.

K. John. Bear mine to him, and so depart in peace. Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France, For ere thou canst report, I will be there, The thunder of my cannon shall be heard. So, hence! be thou the trumpet of our wrath, And fullen presage of your own decay. An honourable conduct let him have, Pembroke, look to't; farewel, Chatilion.

[Exeunt Chat. and Pem.

Eli. What now, my fon, have I not ever said, How that ambitious Constance would not cease, Till the had kindled France and all the world, Upon the right and party of her fon ? This might have been prevented, and made whole With very easy arguments of love; Which now the manage of two kingdoms must With fearful, bloody, issue arbitrate.

K. John. Our ftrong poffeffion, and our right for

us

Eli. Your strong poffeffion much more than your

right,

Or else it must go wrong with you and me;
So much my confcience whispers in your ear,
Which none but heav'n, and you, and I shall hear.
Effex. My Liege, here is the strangest controverfy,
Come from the country to be judg'd by you,
That e'er I heard: shall I produce the men?

K. John. Let them approach.

Our abbies and our priories shall pay

This expedition's charge What men are you?

SCENE