The Bodleian First Folio

The life and death of King Iohn. Who by the hand of France, this day hath made

[585]

Much worke for teares in many an English mother, Whose sonnes lye scattered on the bleeding ground: Many a widdowes husband groueling lies, Coldly embracing the discoloured earrh earth , And victorie with little losse doth play

[590]

Vpon the dancing banners of the French, Who are at hand triumphantly displayed To enter Conquerors, and to proclaime Arthur of Britaine, Englands King, and yours. Enter English Herald with Trumpet. E. Har. Reioyce you men of Angiers, ring your bels,

[595]

King Iohn, your king and Englands, doth approach, Commander of this hot malicious day, Their Armours that march'd hence so siluer bright, Hither returne all gilt with Frenchmens blood: There stuck no plume in any English Crest,

[600]

That is remoued by a staffe of France. Our colours do returne in those same hands That did display them when we first marcht forth: And like a iolly troope of Huntsmen come Our lustie English, all with purpled hands,

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Dide in the dying slaughter of their foes, Open your gates, and giue the Victors way. Hubert. Heralds, from off our towres we might behold From first to last, the on‑set and retyre An ink mark follows the end of this line.l Of both yo nr Armies, whose equality

[610]

By our best eyes cannot be censured: Blood hath bought blood, and blowes haue answerd (blowes: Strength matcht with strength, and power confronted power, Both are alike, and both alike we like: One must proue greatest. While they weigh so euen,

[615]

We hold our Towne for neither: yet for both. Enter the two Kings with their powers, at seuerall doores. Iohn. France, hast thou yet more blood to cast away? Say, shall the currant of our right rome on, Whose passage vext with thy impediment, Shall leaue his natiue channell, and ore‑swell

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with course disturb'd euen thy confining shores, Vnlesse thou let his siluer Water, keepe A peacefull progresse to the Ocean. Fra. England thou hast not sau'd one drop of blood In this hot triall more then we of France,

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Rather lost more. And by this hand I sweare That swayes the earth this Climate ouer‑lookes, Before we will lay downe our iust‑borne Armes, Wee'l put thee downe, 'gainst whom these Armes wee beare, Or adde a royall number to the dead:

[630]

Gracing the scroule that tels of this warres losse, With slaughter coupled to the name of kings. Bast. Ha Maiesty: how high thy glory towres, When the rich blood of kings is set on fire: Oh now doth death line his dead chaps with steele,

[635]

The swords of souldiers are his teeth, his phangs, And now he feasts, mousing the flesh of men In vndetermin'd differences of kings. Why stand these royall fronts amazed thus: Cry hauocke kings, backe to the stained field

[640]

You equall Potents, fierie kindled spirits, Then let confusion of one part confirm The others peace: till then, blowes, blood, and death. Iohn. Whose party do the Townesmen yet admit?

Fra. Speake Citizens for England, whose your king. Hub.

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The king of England, when we know the king. Fra. Know him in vs, that heere hold vp his right. Iohn. In Vs, that are our owne great Deputie, And beare possession of our Person heere, Lord of our presence Angiers, and of you. Fra.

[650]

A greater powre then We denies all this, And till it be vndoubted, we do locke Our former scruple in our strong barr'd gates: Kings of our feare, vntill our feares resoul'd Be by some certaine king, purg'd and depos'd. Bast.

[655]

By heauen, these scroyles of Angiers flout you (kings, And stand securely on their battelments, As in a Theater, whence they gape and point At your industrious Scenes and acts of death. Your Royall presences be rul'd by mee,

[660]

Do like the Mutines of Ierusalem, Be friends a‑while, and both conioyntly bend Your sharpest Deeds of malice on this Towne. By East and West let France and England mount. Their battering Canon charged to the mouthes,

[665]

Till their soule‑fearing clamours haue braul'd downe The flintie ribbes of this contemptuous Citie, I'de play incessantly vpon these Iades, Euen till vnfenced desolation Leaue them as naked as the vulgar ayre:

[670]

That done, disseuer your vnited strengths, And part your mingled colours once againe, Turne face to face, and bloody point to point: Then in a moment Fortune shall cull forth Out of one side her happy Minion,

[675]

And kisse him with a glorious victory: How like you this wilde counsell mighty States, Smackes it not something of the policie. Iohn. Now by the sky that hangs aboue our heads, I like it well. France, shall we knit our powres,

[680]

And lay this Angiers euen with the ground, Then after fight who shall be king of it? Bast. And if thou hast the mettle of a king, Being wrong'd as we are by this peeuish Towne: Turne thou the mouth of thy Artillerie,

[685]

As we will ours, against these sawcie walles, And when that we haue dash'd them to the ground, Why then defie each other, and pell‑mell, Make worke vpon our selues, for heauen or hell. Fra. Let it be so: say, where will you assault? Iohn.

[690]

We from the West will send destruction Into this Cities bosome. Aust. I from the North. Fran. Our Thunder from the South, Shall raine their drift of bullets on this Towne. Bast.

[695]

O prudent discipline! From North to South: Austria and France shoot in each others mouth. Ile stirre them to it: Come, away, away. Hub. Heare vs great kings, vouchsafe awhile to stay And I shall shew you peace, and faire‑fac'd league:

[700]

Win you this Citie without stroke, or wound, Rescue those breathing liues to dye in beds, That heere come sacrifices for the field. Perseuer not, but heare me mighty kings. Iohn. Speake on with fauour, we are bent to heare. Hub.

[705]

That daughter there of Spaine, the Lady Blanch Is neere to England, looke vpon the yeeres Of Lewes the Dolphin, and that louely maid. If lustie loue should go in quest of beautie, Where