KING JO H N. ACT I. SCENE I. Northampton. A Room of State in the Palace. Enter King JOHN, Queen ELINOR, PEMBROKE, ESSEX, SALISBURY, and Others, with CHA TILLON. K. John. Now, say, Chatillon, what would France with us? Chat. Thus, after greeting, speaks the King of France, In my behaviour, to the majesty, The borrow'd majesty of England here. borrow'd majesty! K. John. Silence, good mother; hear the embassy Chat. Philip of France, in right and true behalf Of thy deseased brother Geffrey's son, To Ireland, Poictiers, Anjou, Touraine, Desiring thee to lay aside the sword, K. John. What follows, if we disallow of this? Chat. The proud control of fierce and bloody war, To enforce these rights so forcibly withheld. Controlment for controlment; so answer France. K. John. Bear mine to him, and so depart Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France; [Exeunt CHATILLON and PEMBROKE. Eli. What now, my son? have I not ever said, How that ambitious Constance would not cease, Till she had kindled France, and all the world, Upon the right and party, of her son? This might have been prevented, and made whole, With very easy arguments of love; Which now the manage of two kingdoms must With fearful bloody issue arbitrate. K. John. Our strong possession, and our right, for us. Eli. Your strong possession, much more than your right; Or else it must go wrong with you, and me: So much my conscience whispers in your ear; Which none but heaven, and you, and I, shall hear, Enter the Sheriff of Northamptonshire, who whispers ESSEX, Essex. My liege, here is the strangest controversy, Come from the country to be judg'd by you That e'er I heard: Shall I produce the men? K. John, Let them approach. Our abbies, and our priories, [Exit Sheriff. shall pay Re-enter Sheriff, with ROBERT FAULCON BRIDGE, and PHILIP, his bastard brother. This expedition's charge. What men are you? A Of Coeur-de- lion knighted in the field, Rob. The son and heir to that same Faulcon bridge. K. John. Is that the elder, and art thou the heir? You came not of one mother then, it seems. Bast. Most certain of one mother, mighty King, That is well known; and, as I think, onc father: But, for the certain knowledge of that truth, I put you o'er to heaven, and to my mother; Of that I doubt, as all men's children may. Eli. Out on thee, rude man! thou dost shame thy mother, And wound her honour with this diffidence. Bast. I, Madam? no, I have no reason That is my brother's plea, and none of mine; The which if he can prove, a pops me out At least from fair five hundred pound a year: Heaven guard my mother's honour, and my land! K. John. A good blunt fellow:- Why, being younger born, Doth he lay claim to thine inheritance? Bast. I know not why, except to get the land. But once he slander'd me with bastardy: But whe'r I be as true begot, or no, And were our father, and this son like him;- Eli. He hath a trick of Coeur-de-lion's face, The accent of his tongue affecteth him: Do you not read some tokens of my son In the large composition of this man? K. John. Mine eye hath well examined his parts, And finds them perfect Richard.—Sirrah, speak, What doth move you to claim your brother's land? Bast. Because he hath a half-face, father; like my With that half-face would he have all my land: A half-faced groat five hundred pound a year! Rob. My gracious Liege, when that my father liv'd, Your brother did employ my father much; Bast. Well, Sir, by this you cannot get my land; Your tale must be, how he employ'd my mother. (As I have heard my father speak himself,) Fall fourteen weeks before the course of time. Then, good my Liege, let me have what is mine, My father's land, as was my father's will. |