Each one demand, and answer to his part [Exeunt. Lords, Ladies, Citizens of Angiers, Sheriff, Heralds, Officers, SCENE, sometimes in England, and sometimes in France. ACT I. SCENE I. Northampton. A Room of State in the Palace. Enter King JOHN, Queen ELINOR, PEMBROKE, ESSEX, K. John. Now, say, Chatillon, what would France with us? In my behaviour, to the majesty, The borrow'd majesty, of England here. Eli. A strange beginning! -borrow'd majesty? Arthur Plantagenet, lays most lawful claim To Ireland, Poictiers, Anjou, Touraine, Maine; Which sways usurpingly these several titles, K. John. What follows, if we disallow of this? 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 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. An honourable conduct let him have: [Exeunt CHATILLON and PEMbroke. Eli. What now, my son? have I not ever said, 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. Or else it must go wrong with you, and me: Which none but heaven, and you, and I, shall hear. Enter the Sheriff of Northamptonshire, who whispers ESSEX. That e'er I heard: shall I produce the men? Our abbeys, and our priories, shall pay [Exit Sheriff. Re-enter Sheriff, with ROBERT FAULCONBRIDGE, and PHILIP, his bastard Brother. This expedition's charge. What men are you? Bast. Your faithful subject I; a gentleman Born in Northamptonshire, and eldest son, Rob. The son and heir to that same Faulconbridge.' Bast. Most certain of one mother, mighty king; That is well known, and, as I think, one 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 for it: That is my brother's plea and none of mine; At least from fair five hundred pound a-year. Heaven guard my mother's honour, and my land! K. Joh. 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. That still I lay upon my mother's head; And were our father, and this son like him I give heaven thanks, I was not like to thee. K. John. Why, what a madcap hath heaven lent us here! 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; Rob. My gracious liege, when that my father liv'd, Bast. Well, Sir; by this you cannot get my land: Rob. And once despatch'd him in an embassy |