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TWO FRENCH ROYAL STANDARDS, and STANDARD OF BRETAGNE, accompanying Prince Arthur,-Herbe's "National Costumes."

TWO KNIGHTS OF BRETAGNE.-Ditto.

SIX FRENCH KNIGHTS, in suits of mail, carrying green shields, with gold crosses, are from Montfaucon.

LEOPOLD, DUKE OF AUSTRIA.-The introduction of Leopold, Duke of Austria, in this play. Constance's addressing him by the title of Limoges, and the repeated allusions to his having killed Richard Coeur-de-Lion, &c., are errors sufficiently notorious. There is no positive authority for the costume of this character, further than the general representations and descriptions of contemporary warriors and crusaders. Shakspeare, however, has made the lion's hide too particular to be dispensed with. The battle axe in his hand is from a drawing of one kept in the Belfort tower, at Ghent, weighing about 18 pounds, and said to have belonged to Baldwin Bras de Fer, Earl of Flanders. Leopold VII., second Duke of Austria, bore, originally, azure, sir larks, or; but in consequence of his surcoat, which was cloth of silver, being covered with blood, with the exception of the belt, at the siege of Ptolemais, (Acre,) he assumed the device displayed on his shield, namely, Gules, a Fess, Argent. He died A. D. 1194. Vide Henninge's "Theatrum Genealogicum," vol. 3., Camden's "Remains," Nisbett's "System of Heraldry," etc.

CITIZENS OF ANGIERS.-Herbe's "Costumes."

CITIZEN SOLDIERS, from a transcript of Matthew Paris, in Bennett College Library, Cambridge, marked C. V. XVI.

CARDINAL PANDULPH.-Picart informs us, that "cardinals wore only the common vestments of priests, which were like the monkish habit till the time of Innocent IV.", (A. D. 1243), who gave them the red hat, in the council of Lyons; but they first used it, according to De Curbio, the year after the council, that is, in 1246, on occasion of an interview between the Pope and Lewis IX. of France. "That the cardinals were allowed," however, "to wear red shoes and red garments, in the time of Innocent III., raised to the see A. D. 1198, appears from several writers who flourished at that time; but by what pope that privilege was granted them is uncertain."-Vide_Picart's "Religious Ceremonies," Bower's "Lives of the Popes," etc. As King John died A. D. 1216, and the red hat was not given to the cardinals until A. D. 1243, it is an error to introduce it in this play. The entire dress is from the authority of Planche.

THE GRAND MASTER OF THE TEMPLARS.-Copied from the print in Dugdale's "Warwickshire," page 963. The same will be found in Charles Hamilton Smith's "Ancient Costumes of Great Britain."

THE EIGHT KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.-From the Temple church, London. The Knights Templar are introduced, as we read that two companies of that order preceded Cardinal Pandulph "to arrange a meeting between the legate and King John, at Dover." Vide Matthew of Westminster, page 271.

NOTARIUS APOSTOLICUS.-From Williment.

TWO GENTLEMEN IN ATTENDANCE.-Williment.

ARCHBISHOP.-An official habit of an archbishop in the 13th century.-1st. vol Strutt's "English Dresses," plate 68.

SIX BISHOPS.-From Heylesdon church, Norfolk. Also found in the "Ecclesiastical Habits of the 12th century," by Strutt, plate 48.

TWO MITRED ABBOTS.-From St. Alban's Abbey.

TWO PRIESTS.-From the Hospital of St. Cross, near Winchester. Also in Strutt plate 48.

SIX MONKS.-From Dugdale's Monasticon.

TWO KNIGHTS HOSPITALLERS.-From Edmonson's "Knighthood."

TWO PRIESTS carrying Temple bannners-one with banner of the Trinity, and one with banner of the Host.-From Dugdale's Monasticon.

FEMALE COSTUME.

QUEEN ELINOR, widow of King Henry II.-From the Queen's effigy in the Abbey of Fontevraud, Normandy. A similar robe, covered with crescents, is also mentioned as having been worn by Richard I. Cœur-de-Lion. Vide "History of British Costume," in the "Library of Entertaining Knowledge," page 82.

TWO LADIES IN ATTENDANCE.--Designed from costumes of the period, vide Montfaucon.

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AUTHORITIES FOR THE COSTUMES.

QUEEN CONSTANCE.-From the effigy of Queen Berengaria, wife of Richard I. Cœur-de-Lion, in the Abbey of Fontevraud, Normandy, with the exception of the

coronet.

BLANCH OF CASTILE.-From a drawing favoured me by Charles Hamilton Smith of an unmarried lady of rank of the 13th century.

TWO LADIES IN ATTENDANCE.-Designed from costumes of the period, vide Montfaucon.

LADY FAULCONBRIDGE.-MS. in Harlean Library, B. M. marked 1627.

The litter of King John, introduced in Act 5th, is from a MS. in the British Museum, Royal 16, G. VI. Gestes de Rois de France, jusqu'a la Mort de St. Louis. This MS. belonged to Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. A most interesting description, together with a drawing, will be found in Charles Hamilton Smith's work of Ancient Costume of Great Britain. The lions on the curtains are introduced from King John's shield.

The machines and engines of war introduced before the walls of Angiers, will be found described in Meyrick's Ancient Armour, 1st vol., 26th plate. Shakespeare makes King John speak of the "thunder of his cannon." This is an anachronism, as artillery was not introduced until the 14th century, according to Grose; and Sir L. R. Meyrick thus confirms it, saying, "there is reason to conclude that it was known as early as the time of King Edward II." Vide Fosbroke's Encyclopædia of Antiquities; page 907, Vol. 2nd.

Charles Kean

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KING JOHN.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-A Room of State in the Palace.

KING JOHN, QUEEN ELINOR, PEMBROKE, ESSEX, SALISBURY and others, discovered. John on Dais, c., seated; Queen Elinor seated on a stool on the King's R.; De WARRENE seated on the edge of Dais, R.; ARCHBISHOP seated do. L; Heralds on each side; the Barons, Bishops, and Knights form a large circle round the dais. NORFOLK, who is discovered in the act of speaking to the King, exits L., with two Knights and Herald, and returns immediately, ushering in French Herald, six French Barons, and CHATILLON. A flourish of Trumpets is kept up till the King is ready to speak.

K. John. Now say, Chatillon, what would France with us ?

Chat. (L.) Thus, after greeting, speaks the king of France,

In my behavior, to the majesty,

The borrowed majesty, of England here.

Eli. A strange beginning!-borrowed majesty ?
K. John. Silence, good mother: hear the embassy.
Chat. Philip of France, in right and true belief
Of thy deceased brother Geoffrey'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,

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 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;
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 sudden presage of your own decay.—
An honourable conduct let him have:
Pembroke, look to't. Farewell, Chatillon.

[Pembroke and two Lords cross from R. to L., and con-
duct Chatillon and suite off, L.

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,

Which now the manage of two kingdoms must

With fearful bloody issue arbitrate.

Enter SHERIFF of NORTHUMBERLAND, L. who speaks to

ESSEX.

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.
Essex. My liege, here is the strangest controversy,
Come from the country to be judged by you,

That e'er I heard: shall I produce the men?
K. John. Let them approach.—
Our abbeys, and our priories, shall pay

[Exit Sheriff, L.

Re-enter SHERIFF, L., with FAULCONBRIDGE and ROBERT FAULCONBRIDGE, who advance c., and both kneel in front of the King.

This expedition's charge.-What men are you ?
Faulc. (L.) Your faithful subject I; a gentleman
Born in Northamptonshire, and eldest son,
As I suppose, to Robert Faulconbridge,
A soldier, by the honour-giving hand
Of Coeur-de-lion knighted in the field.
K. John. What art thou?

Rob. (R.) 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.

Faule. 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.

Faulc. I, madam? no, I have no reason for it: That is my brother's plea, and none of mine; The which if he can prove, 'a pops me out At least from fair five hundred pound a year. Heaven guard my mother's honour, and my land! K. John. A good blunt fellow.-Why, being younger born,

Doth he lay claim to thine inheritance?

Faule. I know not why, except to get the land. But once he slandered me with bastardy :

But whe'er 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 oones that took the pains for me!)
Compare our faces, and be judge yourself.
If old Sir Robert did beget us both,
And were our father, and this son like him ;-
Oh! old Sir Robert, father, on my knee

I give heaven thanks, I was not like to thee.

K. John. Why, what a madcap hath heaven lent us here!

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