The life and death of King Iohn.How easie dost thou take all
England vp,
From forth this morcell of dead Royaltie?
[2080]
The life, the right, and truth of all this RealmeIs fled to heauen: and
England now is left
To tug and scamble, and to part by th'teethThe vn‑owed interest of proud swelling State:Now for the bare‑pickt bone of Maiesty,
[2085]
Doth dogged warre bristle his angry crest,And snarleth in the gentle eyes of peace:Now Powers from home, and discontents at homeMeet in one line: and vast confusion waitesAs doth a Rauen on a sicke‑falne beast,
[2090]
The iminent decay of wrested pompe.Now happy he, whose cloake and center canHold out this tempest. Beare away that childe,And follow me with speed: Ile to the King:A thousand businesses are briefe in hand,
[2095]
And heauen it selfe doth frowne vpon the Land.Exit.
Actus Quartus, Scæna prima.
[Act 5, Scene 1]
Enter King Iohn and Pandolph, attendants.K. Iohn.Thus haue I yeelded vp into your handThe Circle of my glory.Pan.Take againeFrom this my hand, as holding of the Pope
[2100]
Your Soueraigne greatnesse and authoritie.Iohn.Now keep your holy word, go meet the
French,
And from his holinesse vse all your powerTo stop their marches 'fore we are enflam'd:Our discontented Counties doe reuolt:
[2105]
Our people quarrell with obedience,Searing Allegiance, and the loue of souleTo stranger‑bloud, to forren Royalty;This inundation of mistempred humor,Rests by you onely to be qualified.
[2110]
Then pause not: for the present time's so sicke,That present medicine must be ministred,Or ouerthrow incureable ensues.Pand.It was my breath that blew this Tempest vp,Vpon your stubborne vsage of the Pope:
[2115]
But since you are a gentle conuertite,My tongue shall hush againe this storme of warre,And make faire weather in your blustring land:On this Ascention day, remember well,Vpon your oath of seruice to the Pope,
[2120]
Goe I to make the
French lay downe their Armes.
Exit.Iohn.Is this Ascension day? did not the ProphetSay, that before Ascension day at noone,My Crowne I should giue off? euen so I haue:I did suppose it should be on constraint,
[2125]
But (heau'n be thank'd) it is but voluntary.Enter Bastard.Bast.All Kent hath yeelded: nothing there holds outBut Douer Castle: London hath receiu'dLike a kinde Host, the Dolphin and his powers.Your Nobles will not heare you, but are gone
[2130]
To offer seruice to your enemy:And wilde amazement hurries vp and downeThe little number of your doubtfull friends.Iohn.Would not my Lords returne to me againeAfter they heard yong
Arthur was aliue
?
They found him dead, and cast into the streets,An empty Casket, where the Iewell of lifeBy some damn'd hand was rob'd, and tane away.Iohn.That villaine
Hubert told me he did liue.
Bast.So on my soule he did, for ought he knew:
[2140]
But wherefore doe you droope? why looke you sad?Be great in act, as you haue beene in thought:Let not the world see feare and sad distrustGouerne the motion of a kinglye eye:Be stirring as the time, be fire with fire,
[2145]
Threaten the threatner, and out‑face the browOf bragging horror: So shall inferior eyesThat borrow their behauiours from the great,Grow great by your example, and put onThe dauntlesse spirit of resolution.
[2150]
Away, and glister like the god of warreWhen he intendeth to become the field:Shew boldnesse and aspiring confidence:What, shall they seeke the Lion in his denne,And fright him there? and make him tremble there
?
[2155]
Oh let it not be said: forrage, and runneTo meet displeasure farther from the dores,And grapple with him ere he come so nye.Iohn.The Legat of the Pope hath beene with mee,And I haue made a happy peace with him,
[2160]
And he hath promis'd to dismisse the PowersLed by the Dolphin.Bast.Oh inglorious league:Shall we vpon the footing of our land,Send fayre‑play‑orders, and make comprimise,
[2165]
Insinuation, parley, and base truceTo Armes Inuasiue
? Shall a beardlesse boy,
A cockred‑silken wanton braue our fields,And flesh his spirit ihn a warre‑like soyle,Mocking the ayre with colours idlely spred,
[2170]
And finde no checke? Let vs my Liege to Armes:Perchance the Cardinall cannot make your peace;Or if he doe, let it at least be saidThey saw we had a purpose of defence.Iohn.Haue thou the ordering of this present time.Bast.
[2175]
Away then with good courage: yet I knowOur partie may well meet a prowder foe.Exeunt.
Scœna Secunda.
[Act 5, Scene 2]
Enter (in Armes) Dolphin, Salisbury, Meloone, Pem
broke, Bigot, Souldiers.
Dol.My Lord
Melloone, let this be coppied out,
And keepe it safe for our remembrance:Returne the president to these Lords againe,
[2180]
That hauing our faire order written downe,Both they and we, perusing ore these notesMay know wherefore we tooke the Sacrament,And keepe our faithes firme and inuiolable.Sal.Vpon our sides it neuer shall be broken.
[2185]
And Noble Dolphin, albeit we sweareA voluntary zeale, and an vn‑urg'd FaithTo your proceedings: yet beleeue me Prince,I am not glad that such a sore of TimeShould seeke a plaster by contemn'd reuolt,
Actus Quartus, Scæna prima.
[Act 5, Scene 1]
Enter King Iohn and Pandolph, attendants.K. Iohn.Thus haue I yeelded vp into your handThe Circle of my glory.Pan.Take againeFrom this my hand, as holding of the Pope
[2100]
Your Soueraigne greatnesse and authoritie.Iohn.Now keep your holy word, go meet the
French,
And from his holinesse vse all your powerTo stop their marches 'fore we are enflam'd:Our discontented Counties doe reuolt:
[2105]
Our people quarrell with obedience,Searing Allegiance, and the loue of souleTo stranger‑bloud, to forren Royalty;This inundation of mistempred humor,Rests by you onely to be qualified.
[2110]
Then pause not: for the present time's so sicke,That present medicine must be ministred,Or ouerthrow incureable ensues.Pand.It was my breath that blew this Tempest vp,Vpon your stubborne vsage of the Pope:
[2115]
But since you are a gentle conuertite,My tongue shall hush againe this storme of warre,And make faire weather in your blustring land:On this Ascention day, remember well,Vpon your oath of seruice to the Pope,
[2120]
Goe I to make the
French lay downe their Armes.
Exit.Iohn.Is this Ascension day? did not the ProphetSay, that before Ascension day at noone,My Crowne I should giue off? euen so I haue:I did suppose it should be on constraint,
[2125]
But (heau'n be thank'd) it is but voluntary.Enter Bastard.Bast.All Kent hath yeelded: nothing there holds outBut Douer Castle: London hath receiu'dLike a kinde Host, the Dolphin and his powers.Your Nobles will not heare you, but are gone
[2130]
To offer seruice to your enemy:And wilde amazement hurries vp and downeThe little number of your doubtfull friends.Iohn.Would not my Lords returne to me againeAfter they heard yong
Arthur was aliue
?Bast.
[2135]
They found him dead, and cast into the streets,An empty Casket, where the Iewell of lifeBy some damn'd hand was rob'd, and tane away.Iohn.That villaine
Hubert told me he did liue.
Bast.So on my soule he did, for ought he knew:
[2140]
But wherefore doe you droope? why looke you sad?Be great in act, as you haue beene in thought:Let not the world see feare and sad distrustGouerne the motion of a kinglye eye:Be stirring as the time, be fire with fire,
[2145]
Threaten the threatner, and out‑face the browOf bragging horror: So shall inferior eyesThat borrow their behauiours from the great,Grow great by your example, and put onThe dauntlesse spirit of resolution.
[2150]
Away, and glister like the god of warreWhen he intendeth to become the field:Shew boldnesse and aspiring confidence:What, shall they seeke the Lion in his denne,And fright him there? and make him tremble there
?
[2155]
Oh let it not be said: forrage, and runneTo meet displeasure farther from the dores,And grapple with him ere he come so nye.Iohn.The Legat of the Pope hath beene with mee,And I haue made a happy peace with him,
[2160]
And he hath promis'd to dismisse the PowersLed by the Dolphin.Bast.Oh inglorious league:Shall we vpon the footing of our land,Send fayre‑play‑orders, and make comprimise,
[2165]
Insinuation, parley, and base truceTo Armes Inuasiue
? Shall a beardlesse boy,
A cockred‑silken wanton braue our fields,And flesh his spirit ihn a warre‑like soyle,Mocking the ayre with colours idlely spred,
[2170]
And finde no checke? Let vs my Liege to Armes:Perchance the Cardinall cannot make your peace;Or if he doe, let it at least be saidThey saw we had a purpose of defence.Iohn.Haue thou the ordering of this present time.Bast.
[2175]
Away then with good courage: yet I knowOur partie may well meet a prowder foe.Exeunt.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="1">
<head rend="italic center">Actus Quartus, Scæna prima.</head>
<head type="supplied">[Act 5, Scene 1]</head>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter King Iohn and Pandolph, attendants.</stage>
<sp who="#F-jn-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">K. Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2096">Thus haue I yeelded vp into your hand</l>
<l n="2097">The Circle of my glory.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-pan">
<speaker rend="italic">Pan.</speaker>
<l n="2098">Take againe</l>
<l n="2099">From this my hand, as holding of the Pope</l>
<l n="2100">Your Soueraigne greatnesse and authoritie.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2101">Now keep your holy word, go meet the<hi rend="italic">French</hi>,</l>
<l n="2102">And from his holinesse vse all your power</l>
<l n="2103">To stop their marches 'fore we are enflam'd:</l>
<l n="2104">Our discontented Counties doe reuolt:</l>
<l n="2105">Our people quarrell with obedience,</l>
<l n="2106">Searing Allegiance, and the loue of soule</l>
<l n="2107">To stranger‑bloud, to forren Royalty;</l>
<l n="2108">This inundation of mistempred humor,</l>
<l n="2109">Rests by you onely to be qualified.</l>
<l n="2110">Then pause not: for the present time's so sicke,</l>
<l n="2111">That present medicine must be ministred,</l>
<l n="2112">Or ouerthrow incureable ensues.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-pan">
<speaker rend="italic">Pand.</speaker>
<l n="2113">It was my breath that blew this Tempest vp,</l>
<l n="2114">Vpon your stubborne vsage of the Pope:</l>
<l n="2115">But since you are a gentle conuertite,</l>
<l n="2116">My tongue shall hush againe this storme of warre,</l>
<l n="2117">And make faire weather in your blustring land:</l>
<l n="2118">On this Ascention day, remember well,</l>
<l n="2119">Vpon your oath of seruice to the Pope,</l>
<l n="2120">Goe I to make the<hi rend="italic">French</hi>lay downe their Armes.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
<sp who="#F-jn-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2121">Is this Ascension day? did not the Prophet</l>
<l n="2122">Say, that before Ascension day at noone,</l>
<l n="2123">My Crowne I should giue off? euen so I haue:</l>
<l n="2124">I did suppose it should be on constraint,</l>
<l n="2125">But (heau'n be thank'd) it is but voluntary.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Bastard.</stage>
<sp who="#F-jn-phi">
<speaker rend="italic">Bast.</speaker>
<l n="2126">All Kent hath yeelded: nothing there holds out</l>
<l n="2127">But Douer Castle: London hath receiu'd</l>
<l n="2128">Like a kinde Host, the Dolphin and his powers.</l>
<l n="2129">Your Nobles will not heare you, but are gone</l>
<l n="2130">To offer seruice to your enemy:</l>
<l n="2131">And wilde amazement hurries vp and downe</l>
<l n="2132">The little number of your doubtfull friends.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2133">Would not my Lords returne to me againe</l>
<l n="2134">After they heard yong<hi rend="italic">Arthur</hi>was aliue<c rend="italic">?</c>
</l>
</sp>
<cb n="2"/>
<sp who="#F-jn-phi">
<speaker rend="italic">Bast.</speaker>
<l n="2135">They found him dead, and cast into the streets,</l>
<l n="2136">An empty Casket, where the Iewell of life</l>
<l n="2137">By some damn'd hand was rob'd, and tane away.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2138">That villaine<hi rend="italic">Hubert</hi>told me he did liue.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-phi">
<speaker rend="italic">Bast.</speaker>
<l n="2139">So on my soule he did, for ought he knew:</l>
<l n="2140">But wherefore doe you droope? why looke you sad?</l>
<l n="2141">Be great in act, as you haue beene in thought:</l>
<l n="2142">Let not the world see feare and sad distrust</l>
<l n="2143">Gouerne the motion of a kinglye eye:</l>
<l n="2144">Be stirring as the time, be fire with fire,</l>
<l n="2145">Threaten the threatner, and out‑face the brow</l>
<l n="2146">Of bragging horror: So shall inferior eyes</l>
<l n="2147">That borrow their behauiours from the great,</l>
<l n="2148">Grow great by your example, and put on</l>
<l n="2149">The dauntlesse spirit of resolution.</l>
<l n="2150">Away, and glister like the god of warre</l>
<l n="2151">When he intendeth to become the field:</l>
<l n="2152">Shew boldnesse and aspiring confidence:</l>
<l n="2153">What, shall they seeke the Lion in his denne,</l>
<l n="2154">And fright him there? and make him tremble there<c rend="italic">?</c>
</l>
<l n="2155">Oh let it not be said: forrage, and runne</l>
<l n="2156">To meet displeasure farther from the dores,</l>
<l n="2157">And grapple with him ere he come so nye.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2158">The Legat of the Pope hath beene with mee,</l>
<l n="2159">And I haue made a happy peace with him,</l>
<l n="2160">And he hath promis'd to dismisse the Powers</l>
<l n="2161">Led by the Dolphin.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-phi">
<speaker rend="italic">Bast.</speaker>
<l n="2162">Oh inglorious league:</l>
<l n="2163">Shall we vpon the footing of our land,</l>
<l n="2164">Send fayre‑play‑orders, and make comprimise,</l>
<l n="2165">Insinuation, parley, and base truce</l>
<l n="2166">To Armes Inuasiue<c rend="italic">?</c>Shall a beardlesse boy,</l>
<l n="2167">A cockred‑silken wanton braue our fields,</l>
<l n="2168">And flesh his spirit ihn a warre‑like soyle,</l>
<l n="2169">Mocking the ayre with colours idlely spred,</l>
<l n="2170">And finde no checke? Let vs my Liege to Armes:</l>
<l n="2171">Perchance the Cardinall cannot make your peace;</l>
<l n="2172">Or if he doe, let it at least be said</l>
<l n="2173">They saw we had a purpose of defence.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2174">Haue thou the ordering of this present time.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-phi">
<speaker rend="italic">Bast.</speaker>
<l n="2175">Away then with good courage: yet I know</l>
<l n="2176">Our partie may well meet a prowder foe.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>