KING JOHN. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. Northampton. A Room of State in the Palace. Enter King JOHN, Queen ELINor, Pembroke, ESSEX, SALISBURY, and others, with CHATIL LON. 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 ; To Ireland, Poictiers, Anjou, Touraine, Maine : Desiring thee to lay aside the sword, Which sways usurpingly these several titles; In the manner. I now do. And put the same into young Arthur's hand, K. John. What follows, if we disallow of this? war, To enforce these rights so forcibly withheld. 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 furthest limit of my embassy. K. John. Bear mine to him, and so depart in peace: Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France? An honourable conduct let him have: [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; 2 Which now the manage of two kingdoms must 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: Enter the Sheriff of Northamptonshire, who whispers ESSEX. Essex. My liege, here is the strangest contro versy, Come from the country to be judg'd by you, [Exit Sheriff. Re-enter Sheriff, with ROBERT FAULCONBRIdge, and PHILIP, his Bastard Brother. This expedition's charge. What men are you? Rob. The son and heir to that same Faulconbridge. 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, And wound her honour with this diffidence. VOL. IV. 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. And were our father, and this son like him ;- I give heaven thanks, I was not like to thee. Eli. He hath a trick3 of Coeur-de-lion's face, 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, like my father: With that half-face would he have all my land: Your brother did employ my father much ;- 3 Trace, outline, Where how he did prevail, I shame to speak: K. John. Sirrah, your brother is legitimate; In sooth, good friend, your father might have kept him; In sooth, he might: then, if he were my brother's, My brother might not claim him; nor your father, Being none of his, refuse him: This concludes, Your father's heir must have your father's land. Rob. Shall then my father's will be of no force, To dispossess that child which is not his? Bast. Of no more force to dispossess me, sir, Than was his will to get me, as I think. Eli. Whether hadst thou rather, be a Faulcon- And like thy brother, to enjoy thy land; Bast. Madam, an if my brother had my shape, And I had his, sir Robert his, like him; |