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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, Baftard Son to Richard the Firft.
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 Austria.

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 Niece 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

(1) The LIFE and DEATH of

KING JOHN.

ACT

I.

SCENE, The Court of England.

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 Majefty!
K. John. Silence, good mother; hear the embaffie.

(1) The Life and Death- -] Tho' this Play have this Title, yet the Action of it begins at the thirty-fourth Year of his Life; and takes in only fome Transactions of his Reign to the Time of his Demife, being an Interval of about feventeen Years.

Chat. Philip of France, in right and true behalf
Of thy deceased brother Geffry's fon,
Artbur Plantagenet, lays lawful claim
To this fair ifland, and the territories:
To Ireland, Poitiers, Anjou, Touraine, Maine:
Defiring thee to lay afide the sword,

Which fways ufurpingly thefe feveral 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 thefe 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 cease,
'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 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.