K. John. England for itself; You men of Angiers and my loving fubjects K. Phil. You loving men of Angiers, Arthur's fubjects, Our trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle K. John. For our advantage; therefore hear us first. * h; And merciless proceeding, by these French, By the compulfion of their ordinance By this time from their fixed beds of lime They fhoot but calm words folded up in fmoak, Which truft accordingly, kind citizens; And let in us, your King, whofe labour'd spirits, Crave harbourage within your city-walls. K. Phil. When I have faid, make answer to us both. Lo! in this right-hand, whofe protection *Winking, a metaphor for half open, In In warlike march these greens before your town: With unhack'd fwords, and helmets all unbruis'd, Cit. In brief, we are the King of England's fubjects; For him, and in his right, we hold this town. K. John. Acknowledge then the King, and let me in. Cit. That can we not; but he that proves the King, To him will we prove loyal; till that time, Have we ramm'd up our gates against the world. K. John. Doth not the crown of England prove the King? And if not that, I bring you witneffes, Twice fifteen thousand hearts of England's breed -Faulc. (Baftards, and elfe). K. John. To verify our title with their lives. K. Phil. As many, and as well-born bloods as thofe Faulc. (Some bastards too). K. Phil. Stand in his face to contradict his claim. * i, e. cicle. Cit. Till you compound whofe right is worthiest, We for the worthiest hold the right from both. K. John. Then God forgive the fin of all thofe fouls, That to their everlasting refidence, Before the dew of evening fall, fhall fleet, In dreadful trial of our kingdom's King! K. Phil. Amen, Amen. arms! -Mount, Chevaliers, te Faulc. Saint George that fwinge'd the dragon, and e'er fince Sits on his horseback at mine hoftefs' door, Teach us fome fence. Sirrah, were I at home I'd fet an ox-head to your lion's hide Auft. Peace, no more. [To Auftria. Faulc. O, tremble; for you hear the lion roar. K. John. Up higher to the plain, where we'll fet forth In beft appointment all our regiments. Faulc. Speed then to take th' advantage of the field. K. Phil. It fhall be fo; and at the other hill Command the reft to ftand. God, and our right! [Exeunt. A long charge founded: then, after excurfions, enter the Herald of France with trumpets to the gates. F. Her. You men of Angiers, open wide your gates, And let young Arthur Duke of Bretagne in; Who by the hand of France this day hath made Much work for tears in many an English mother, Whofe fons lie fcatter'd on the bleeding ground: And many a widow's husband groveling lies, Coldly embracing the difcolour'd earth; While victory with little lofs doth play Upon the dancing banners of the French; Who are at hand triumphantly difplay'd, * The Archduke wore a lion's hide which had belonged to Richard Cœur-de-lion. To enter conquerors; and to proclaim Arthur of Bretagne, England's King, and yours. E. Her. Rejoice, you men of Angiers; ring your bells; King John, your King and England's, doth approach, Their armours, that march'd hence fo filver-bright, Our colours do return in those fame hands, That did display them when we first march'd forth; Cit. Heralds, from off our tow'rs we might behold, From first to laft, the onset and retire Of both your armies, whofe equality Blood hath bought blood, and blows have answer'd blows; Strength match'd with strength, and power confronted power. Both are alike, and both alike we like; One must prove greateft. While they weigh fo even, We hold our town for neither; yet for both. Enter the two Kings with their powers, at feveral doors. K. John. France, haft thou yet more blood to caft Say, fhall the current of our right run on? A peaceful progrels to the ocean. K. Phil. K. Phil. England, thou haft not fav'd one drop of blood In this hot trial, more than we of France; Rather loft more. And by this hand I swear, We'll put thee down, 'gainst whom these arms we bear; Gracing the fcroul that tell's of this war's lofs, Faulc. Ha! Majesty, how high thy glory towers, When the rich blood of Kings is fet on fire! Oh, now doth Death line his dead chaps with steel; Why ftand thefe royal fronts amazed thus? The other's peace; till then, blows, blood, and death. King? Cit. The King of England, when we know the King. K. Phil. Know him in us, that here hold up his right. K. John. In us, that are our own great deputy, And bear poffeffion of our perfon here; Lord of our presence, Angiers, and of you. Cit. A greater pow'r than ye denies all this; And till it be undoubted, we do lock Our former fcruple in our ftrong-barr'd gates *. And ftand fecurely on their battlements, As in a theatre, whence they gape and point ftrong-barr'd gates, Kings are our fears until our fears refolv'd At |