SCENE I. Northampton. A Room of State in the Palace. Enter KING JOHN, QUEEN ELINOR, PEMBROKE, ESSEX, SALISBURY, and others, with CHATILLION. King John. OW, say, Chatillion, what would France Chat. Thus, after greeting, speaks the In my behaviour, to the Majesty, 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, Anjowe, Toraine, Maine: Desiring thee to lay aside the sword, Which sways usurpingly these several titles; And put the same into young Arthur's hand, Thy nephew and right royal sovereign. 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. 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. So, hence! Be thou the trumpet of our wrath, And sullen presage of your own decay.An honourable conduct let him have. Pembroke, look to't; farewell, Chatillion. [Exeunt CHAT. and PEMB. 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, Which now the manage of two kingdoms must K. John. Our strong possession, and our right for us. right; Or else it must go wrong with you, and me: Enter the Sheriff of Northamptonshire, who whispers 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.— [Exit Sheriff. Our abbies and our priories shall pay Re-enter Sheriff, with ROBERT FAULCONBRIDGE, and 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, 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. pops me out At least from fair five hundred pound a year. 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, That still I lay upon my mother's head; But, that I am as well begot, my liege, -Fair fall the bones that took the pains for me!— 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? Eli. He hath a trick of Coeur-de-lion's face, K. John. Mine eye hath well examined his parts, 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; -As I have heard my father speak himself— K. John. Sirrah, your brother is legitimate; ... -Who, as you say, took pains to get this son- Bast. Of no more force to dispossess me, sir, Eli. Whether hadst thou rather be a Faulconbridge, And like thy brother, to enjoy thy land; Or the reputed son of Coeur-de-lion, Lord of thy presence, and no land beside? Bast. Madam, an if my brother had my shape, And I had his, Sir Robert his, like him; Lest men should say, Look, where three-farthings goes! And, to his shape, were heir to all this land, I would not be Sir Nob in any case. Eli. I like thee well. Wilt thou forsake thy fortune, Bequeath thy land to him, and follow me? I am a soldier, and now bound to France. Bast. Brother, take you my land, I'll take my chance. Your face hath got five hundred pounds a year, Eli. Nay, I would have you go before me thither. |