SCENE: Partly in England, and partly in France. ACT I. SCENE I. KING JOHN's palace. Enter KING JOHN, QUEEN ELINOR, PEMBROKE, ESSEX, SALISBURY, and others, with CHATILLON. 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. Eli. A strange beginning: borrow'd majesty!" K. John. Silence, good mother; hear the embassy. Chat. Philip of France, in right and true behalf Of thy deceased brother Geffrey's son, Arthur Plantagenet, lays most lawful claim To this fair island and the territories, 10 To Ireland, Poictiers, Anjou, Touraine, Maine, Which sways usurpingly these several titles, And put the same into young Arthur's hand, K. John. What follows if we disallow of this? K. John. Here have we war for war and blood for blood, Controlment for controlment: so answer France. Chat. Then take my king's defiance from my mouth, The farthest limit of my embassy. K. John. Bear mine to him, and so depart in peace: Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France; For ere thou canst report I will be there, The thunder of my cannon shall be heard: 20 30 [Exeunt Chatillon and Pembroke. This might have been prevented and made whole 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 a Sheriff. Essex. My liege, here is the strangest controversy Come from the country to be judged by you K. John. Let them approach. Our abbeys and our priories shall pay This expedition's charge. 41 Enter ROBERT FAULCONBRIDGE, and PHILIP his bastard brother. What men are you? |