KING JOHN. The Historical Tragedy of King John must have been written by Shakespeare in 1594 or 1595; at least, before 1598; as it is, in that year, included in the list given by Francis Meres, in his "Palladis Tamia, or Wits Treasury." 2 In the composition of the series of English Historical Plays, Shakespeare usually referred, for the events he depicted, to the "Chronicles" of Raphael Holinshed, published in 1577; but, with regard to the Tragedy of King John, he appears to have referred to two old Plays; the first (standing, as it were, midway between the Moralities and the Historical Drama), written in the reign of Edward the Sixth, by John Bale, Bishop of Ossory (1495-1563) under the title of " Kynge Johan"; and the second-a very popular anonymous play (printed in 1591) named "The Troublesome Raigne of King John." Shakespeare's play, though frequently performed, was not printed till in the folio edition of 1623. The story of this drama is, in some important respects, at variance with recognized history; in fact, the events of John's confused, weak, and wicked reign are not well calculated for dramatic representation. If the reader is not previously acquainted with the facts, he will in vain seek for a knowledge of them from the progress of the scene alone. The main-spring of all the "trouble" is nowhere clearly shown;-whether the Barons took up arms against the King, in defence of their own feudal authority? or—whether, as the tools of Philip of France, and the partisans of his son Lewis the Dauphin, they supported the claims of the Pope? Besides, throughout the play (in which Shakespeare closely follows "The Troublesome Raigne ") the great historical events of the armed meeting at Runnymede, and the signature of Magna Charta, are wholly omitted. King Henry the Second, who died in 1189, had four sons: (1) Henry, who was accidentally drowned; (2) Geffrey, who,—either by the secret order, or by the connivance of his father, was trampled to death, soon after his marriage to the Lady Constance, Duchess of Brittany-having a son, Prince Arthur, whose fate is involved in the Tragedy before us; (3) Richard, who, for his personal bravery during the Holy Wars in Palestine, was surnamed Cœur-de-lion ;and (4) John, known as Sans Terre, or Lackland-a King who degraded England to the lowest depth of historical infamy. Richard Coeur-de-lion died childless in 1199: and his younger brother John-who had been to him a traitor and a rebel-succeeded to the throne of England: notwithstanding the superior claims of Prince Arthur, the son of his elder brother. This boy's title was supported by Philip King of France, by many of the French nobility, and (naturally) by his mother Lady Constance, Duchessregnant of Brittany. In this play Shakespeare chronicles and connects events, in defiance of the dramatic unities of Time, Place, and Action; but 2 See page 8. simile of Coleridge:-"The histories of our ar events of their reigns, I mean--are like stars in th the real inter-spaces may be, and however great, t each other. The stars-the events-strike us, a or o eye, little modified by the difference of dates," our great dramatic poet often connects and unif similar events: JOHN, King of England. PRINCE HENRY, his Son. ARTHUR, Duke of Bretagne, WILLIAM MARESHALL, Earl of GEFFREY FITZ-PETER, Earl of WILLIAM LONGSWORD, Earl of ROBERT BIGOT, Earl of Norfolk. RORERT FAULCONBRIDGE, Son of The Scene is sometimes in England, and someti The Time extends from the beginning of the rei in 1199, till his death in 1216. We are to suppose before us, in the palace o King John and his mother Queen Elinor, and Co with Chatillon, ambassador from the French F Second (or, as some historians prefer to call him, F because he was born in the month of August). Kir K. John. Now, say, Chatillon, what would F Chat. Thus,-after greeting,-speaks the Ki In my behaviour, to the majesty, The borrowed majesty,-of England he Q. El. A strange beginning!"'Borrowed n K. John. Silence, good mother; hear the en Chat. Philip of France,-in right and true b Of thy deceased brother Geffrey's son, Arthur Plantagenet,-lays most lawful c To this fair island, and the territories; To Ireland, Poictiers, Anjou, Touraine, Maine; Which sways, usurpingly, these several titles; K. John. What follows if 'we 'dis-allow of this? K. John. Here have we war 'for war, and blood for blood, Chat. Then take my King's 'defiance from my mouth- K. John. Bear mine to 'him, and so 'depart in peace. Pembroke, look to 't. Farewell, Chatillon. [Ex. Chat. & Pem. Q. El. 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, K. John. Our strong possession and our right for 'us. The Sheriff of Northampton has been in conversation with Lord Essex, who now addresses the King: Ess. My liege, here is the strangest controversy, Come from the country to be judged by you, K. John. 'Let them approach. Our abbeys, and our priories, shall 'pay [Exit Sheriff. The Sheriff returns, followed by two young men, sons of the deceased Sir Robert Faulconbridge; the one robust and noble in appearance, the other mean and contemptible. The King inquires: 4Armed power. 2 Compulsion. 3 Escort, guard. K. John. What men a Fuul. Your faithful subject I, a gentleman Born in Northamptonshire; and 'eldes (As I suppose,) to Robert Faulconbrid A 'soldier; by the honour-giving hand Of Coeur-de-lion knighted in the 'field. K. John. What art 'thou? Rob. The son and 'heir to that same Faulc K. John. Is that the 'elder? and art 'thou You came not of one 'mother then, it s Faul. Most certain of one 'mother, mighty That is well known; and, as I think, or But that I 'doubt,-as all 'men's childr Q. El. Out on thee, rude man! thou dost 'sha And wound her honour with this diffid Faul. I, madam? no, I have no 'reason for That is my 'brother's plea, and none of The which if he can 'prove, a' pops me At least from fair five hundred pound a Heaven guard my mother's honour-an K. John. A good blunt fellow.-Why, 'being Doth he lay claim to 'thine inheritance" Faul. I know not why,-except to get the 1 But once he jeered me as King Richard And that I am as 'nobly born as he, Compare our faces and be judge yourse If old Sir Robert's sons were needs like O, old Sir Robert, father, on my knee I give heaven thanks 'I was not like to K. John. Why, what a madcap hath heaven Q. El. He hath a trick' of Coeur-de-lion's fa Do you not read some tokens of 'my so In the large composition of this man? K. John. Mine eye hath well examinéd his I And finds them 'perfect 'Richard.-Sirr What doth move 'you to claim your 'bro Rob. My gracious liege, when that my fathe Your brother did employ my father muc Upon his death-bed, he, by will bequeath His lands to 'me; and took it, on his des That this-my 'mother's son-was none Then, good my liege, let me 'have what i My father's 'land, as was my father's 'wi K. John. Sirrah, your brother is 'legitimate Your father's 'heir must have your fathe Rob. Shall then my father's 'will be of no force Queen Elinor's grandmotherly shrewdness anticipates the royal decision: She addresses the robust claimant : Q. El. Whether hadst thou rather be a 'Faulconbridge, ... Lord of thy presence,' and 'no land beside? 'I would not be "Sir Nob" in any case! Q. E. 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. Q. El. Nay, I would have you go 'before me thither. Faul. Philip, my liege; so is my name 'begun; Philip. good old Sir Robert's wife's eldest son. K. John. From henceforth bear his 'name whose 'form thou bear'st: Kneel thou down 'Philip, but 'arise more great ;- Faul. Brother by the mother's side, give me your hand: 'My father gave me 'honour, yours gave land. [To Robert K. John. Go, Faulconbridge: now hast thou thy 'desire: We must now imagine ourselves in France, before the gates of Angiers, the capital of the province of Anjou. Outside the gates stand-the Arch-duke of Austria (wearing the lion's skin, which he had taken as a spoil from King Richard Cœur-de-lion, now the 2 Of thy own person only. 3 Modern name, Angers (in Maine and Loire). |