KING John.

Prince Henry, Son to the King.

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

Bigot,

Faulconbridge, Baflard-Son to Richard the First. Robert Faulconbridge, fuppos'd Brother to the Baftard. James Gurney, Servant to the Lady Faulconbridge. Peter of Pomfret, a Prophet.

Philip, King of France.

Lewis, the Dauphin.

Arch-Duke of Auftria.

Cardinal Pandulpho, the Pope's Legate.

Melun, a French Lord.

Chatilion, Ambassador from France to King John.

Elinor, Queen-Mother of England.
Conftance, Mother to Arthur.

Blanch, Daughter to Alphonfo King of Caftile, and
Neice to King John.

Lady Faulconbridge, Mother to the Baftard, and Robert Faulconbridge.

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

The SCENE, fometimes in England, and fometimes in France.

THE

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

King JOHN.

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

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

In my behaviour, to the Majefty,
The borrow'd Majefty of England here.

Eli. A ftrange beginning; borrow'd Majesty!
K. John. Silence, good mother; hear the embaffie.

1 The troublefome Reign of King John was written in two parts, by W. Shakespear and W. Rowley, and printed 1611. But the prefent Play is intirely different, and infinitely superior to it.

Cc 3

Mr. Pope.

Chat.

Chat. Philip of France, in right and true behalf Of thy deceased brother Geffrey's fon, Arthur Plantagenet, lays lawful claim To this fair ifland, and the territories: To Ireland, Poitiers, Anjou, Touraine, Maine: Defiring thee to lay afide the fword, Which fways ufurpingly these several titles; And put the fame into young Arthur's hand, Thy nephew, and right-royal Sovereign.

K. John. What follows, if we difallow 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; fo answer France. Chat. Then take my King's defiance from my mouth, The fartheft limit of my embaffie.

K. John. Bear mine to him, and fo depart in peace. Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France, For ere thou canft report, I will be there, The thunder of my cannon fhall be heard. So, hence! be thou the trumpet of our wrath, And fullen prefage 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 faid,
How that ambitious Conftance would not ceafe,
Till fhe 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 eafy arguments of love;

Which now the manage of two kingdoms must
With fearful, bloody, iffue arbitrate.

K.John. Our strong poffeffion, and our right for us -
Eli. Your ftrong poffeffion much more than your

right,

Or

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 fhall hear.
Effex. My Liege, here is the ftrangest controverfie,
Come from the country to be judg'd by you,
That e'er I heard: fhall I produce the men?
K. John. Let them approach.

Our abbies and our priories fhall pay
This expedition's charge.

S

What men are you?

Enter Robert Faulconbridge, and Philip, his Brother,

the Baftard.

Phil. Your faithful fubject, I, a gentleman
Born in Northamptonshire, and eldest son,
As I fuppofe, to Robert Faulconbridge,
A foldier, by the honour-giving hand
Of Caur-de-lion knighted in the field.
K. John. What art thou?

Robert. The fon and heir to that fame Faulconbridge. K. John. Is that the elder, and art thou the heir? You came not of one mother then, it seems?

Phil. Most certain of one mother, mighty King, That is well known; and, as I think, one father: But for the certain knowledge of that truth, I put you o'er to heav'n, and to my mother; Of that I doubt, as all mens' children may.

Eli. Out on thee, rude man! thou doft fhame thy
mother,

And wound her honour with this diffidence.
Phil. I, Madam? no, I have no reafon for it;
That is my brother's plea, and none of mine;
The which if he can prove, he pops me out
At least from fair five hundred pound a year:
Heav'n guard my mother's honour, and
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my land!

K. John.