The Bodleian First Folio

The life and death of King Iohn.

[460]

Thy sinnes are visited in this poore childe, The Canon of the Law is laide on him, Being but the second generation Remoued from thy sinne‑conceiuing wombe. Iohn. Bedlam haue done. Con.

[465]

I haue but this to say, That he is not onely plagued for her sin, But God hath made her sinne and her, the plague On this remoued issue, plagued for her, And with her plague her sinne: his iniury

[470]

Her iniurie the Beadle to her sinne, All punish'd the person of this childe, And all for her, a plague vpon her. Que. Thou vnaduised scold, I can produce A Will, that barres the title of thy sonne. Con.

[475]

I who doubts that, a Will: a wicked will, A womans will, a cankred Grandams will. Fra. Peace Lady, pause, or be more temperate, It ill beseemes this presence to cry ay me To these ill tuned repetitions:

[480]

Some Trumpet summon hither to the walles These men of Angiers, let vs heare them speake, Whose title thery admit, Arthurs or Iohns. Trumpet sounds. Enter a Citizen vpon the walles. Cit. Who is it that hath warn'd vs to the walles? Fra. 'Tis France, for England. Iohn.

[485]

England for it selfe: You men of Angiers, and my louing subiects. Fra. You louing men of Angiers, Arthurs subiects Our Trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle. Iohn. For our aduantage, therefore heare vs first:

[490]

These flagges of France that are aduanced heere Before the eye and prospect of your Towne, Haue hither march'd to your endamagement. The Canons haue their bowels full of wrath, And ready mounted are they to spit forth

[495]

Their Iron indignation 'gainst your walles: All preparation for a bloody siedge And merciles proceeding, by these French. Comfort yours Citties eies, your winking gates: And but for our approach, those sleeping stones,

[500]

That as a waste doth girdle you about By the compulsion of their Ordinance, By this time from their fixed beds of lime Had bin dishabited, and wide hauocke made For bloody power to rush vppon your peace.

[505]

But on the sight of vs your lawfull King, Who painefully with much expedient march Haue brought a counter‑checke before your gates, To saue vnscratch'd your Citties threatned cheekes: Behold the French amaz'd vouchsafe a parle,

[510]

And now insteed of bulletts wrapt in fire To make a shaking feuer in your walles, They shoote but calme words, folded vp in smoake, To make a faithlesse errour in your eares, Which trust accordingly kinde Cittizens,

[515]

And let vs in. Your King, whose labour'd spirits Fore‑wearied in this action of swift speede, Craues harbourage within your Citie walles. France. When I haue saide, make answer to vs both. Loe in this right hand, whose protection

[520]

Is most diuinely vow'd vpon the right Of him it holds, stands yong Plantagenet, Sonne to the elder brother of this man,

And King ore him, and all that he enioyes: For this downe‑troden equity, we tread

[525]

In warlike march, these greenes before your Towne, Being no further enemy to you Then the constraint of hospitable zeale, In the releefe of this oppressed childe, Religiously prouokes. Be pleased then

[530]

To pay that dutie which you truly owe, To him that owes it, namely, this yong Prince, And then our Armes, like to a muzled Beare, Saue in aspect, hath all offence seal'd vp: Our Cannons malice vainly shall be spent

[535]

Against th'involuerable clouds of heauen, And with a blessed and vn‑vext retyre, With vnhack'd swords, and Helmets all vnbruis'd, We will beare home that lustie blood againe, Which heere we came to spout against your Towne,

[540]

And leaue your children, wiues, and you in peace. But if you fondly passe our proffer'd offer, 'Tis not the rounder of your old‑fac'd walles, Can hide you from our messengers of Warre, Though all these English, and their discipline

[545]

Were harbour'd in their rude circumference: Then tell vs, Shall your Citie call vs Lord, In that behalfe which we haue challeng'd it? Or shall we giue the signall to our rage, And stalke in blood to our possession? Cit.

[550]

In breefe, we are the King of Englands subiects For him, and in his right, we hold this Towne. Iohn. Acknowledge then the King, and let me in. To him will we proue loyall, till that time Haue we ramm'd vp our gates against the world. Iohn.

[555]

Doth not the Crowne of England, prooue the King ? And if not that, I bring you Witnesses Twice fifteene thousand hearts of Englands breed. Bast. Bastards and else. Iohn. To verifie our title with their liues. Fran.

[560]

As many and as well‑borne bloods as those. Bast. Some Bastards too. Fran. Stand in his face to contradict his claime. Cit. Till you compound whose right is worthiest, We for the worthiest hold the right from both. Iohn.

[565]

Then God forgiue the sinne of all those soules, That to their euerlasting residence, Before the dew of euening fall, shall fleete In dreadfull triall of our kingdomes King. Fran. Amen, Amen, mount Cheualiers to Armes. Bast.

[570]

Saint George that swindg'd the Dragon, And ere since sit's on's horsebacke at mine Hostesse dore At your den sirrah, with your Lionnesse, I would set an Oxe‑head to your Lyons hide: And make a monster of you. Aust.

[575]

Peace, no more. Bast. O tremble: for you heare the Lyon rore. Iohn. Vp higher to the plaine, where we'l set forth In best appointment all our Regiments. Bast. Speed then to take aduantage of the field. Fra.

[580]

It shall be so, and at the other hill Command the rest to stand, God and our right, Exeunt Heere after excursions, Enter the Herald of France with Trumpets to the gates. F. Her. You men of Angiers open wide your gates, And let yong Arthur Duke of Britaine in, Aa3 Who