 | King Iohn And Matilda |  |
Actus I.
Scœna I.
Enter King, Queen, and Oxford.King.
They will not come?
Ox.
They will not.
King.
They bad been better—
What was their answer?
Ox.
Thus said Fitzwater, father of the faction,
That was Generall for the Barrons against your Majestie:
Tell John,
Ki.
John!
Ox.
That was his Epithite;
(Alledging how you stood at Rome, put from
Your Kingly office.) Tell John, quoth he, (and frown'd)
That here at Baynards Castle, we intend
Of conceiv'd injuries, which by the peace
The King made with us, were not throughly search'd,
But like green wounds, clos'd with too swift a salve,
(Upon your private ends) are with more danger
Doubts and distracted difficulties again
Broke forth; but having drawn them to a head,
They would send them to you to be ratified,
And then give their attendance.
King.
This is brave;
Who was there else?
Ox.
Richmond, imperious Leister, and old Bruce.
(The second in this revolt,) who sent the same return.
K.
A nest of Rebels; to try the truth of these fine florishes,
You with Lord Mowbray, post unto Guilford,
And being there, (pretending a visite unto Bruces Lady,)
Wind into observation of the Castle; so from her,
(The engine upon which these factions move,)
Discover the intent of their disignes.
Queen.
Sure sir, the Lady is noble; but your Majesties
Injunction shall be obey'd.
Exit.
Enter Chester,
K.
This not onely advantages
Our meeting with Fitzwaters Daughter,
(O how the thought startles my blood)
But likewise furthers our resolv'd proceedings:
Chester the news?
Chest.
Conceal your selfe sir,
I have trapt her with a snare.
K.
Agen, then I shall see her—
Exit.
Enter Matilda.
Ma.
You told me Chester,
That the Queen did earnestly request my attendance:
You said she was here i'th Garden,
But it seems you were mis-inform'd.
Ches.
Excellent innocence how art thou trapt!
I must attend the King; please you walk Madam
But towards the Grove, I was told the Queen and Ladies
Retyred there for shade.
Mat.
I shall.
And I must vanish
Exit Chest.
Ent. King.
Mat.
Oh heaven, the King!
K.
Thy friend.
Mat.
False Chester!
K.
Fair Matilda,
Mistresse of youth and beauty, sweet as a spring,
And comely as the holy shining Priest
Deckt in his glorious sacerdotall vestment;
Yet heare the passions of a love sick Prince,
And crown thy too too cruell heart with pitty.
Mat.
Yet let fall your too too passionate pleadings,
And crown your royall heart with excellent reason.
K.
Hear me.
Mat.
The Queen will heare you.
K.
Speak but a word that—
Mat.
What?
K.
That may sound like something,
That may but busie my strong labouring heart,
With hope that thou wilt grant, and every morning
I will walk forth and watch the early Lark,
And at her sweetest note I will protest,
Matilda spake a word was like that note.
Mat.
Oh how you tempt: remember pray your vows
To my betroth'd Earl Robert Huntington;
Did you not wish just as the poyson toucht
His manly heart, if ever you again
Laid battery to the fair fort of my unvanquish'd
Vertue, your death might be like his untimely,
And be poyson'd. Oh take heed sir,
Saints stand upon heavens silver battlements,
When Kings make vows, and lay their
Listening ears to Princes Protestations.
K.
So did Matilda swear to live and die a maid,
At which fair Nature like a Snail shrunck back,
As loath to hear from one so fair, so foul
A wound: my vow was vain, made without
Recollection of my reason; and yours, Oh madnesse!
For Huntington, he like a heap of summers
Dust into his Grave is swept; and bad vows
Still are better broke then kept.
Mat.
Alas great sir, your Queen you cannot make me;
What is it then instructs your tongue? Oh sir!
In things not right,
Lust is but loves well languag'd hypocrite.
K.
Words shall convert to deeds then; I am the King.
Mat.
Doe but touch me,
And as I graspe steel in my trembling hand,
Offers violence, she drawes a knife.
So sure the King shall see Matilda fall
A sacrifice to vertue.
K.
Cruell Maid,
Crueller then the Kid that eanes her young
On the rough bosome of a ragged flint:
Go get thee to the woods, for thou art wild
As flame, or winter; where so e're thou walk'st
May wild winds chide thee, and the reeling Trees
Like a confus'd fall of many waters
Rail on thy rudeness, may the birds that build
Among the wanton branches, stead of teaching
Notes to their young, sing something like thy niceness:
And lastly, may the Brooks when thou shalt lie
And cast a pair of cruell busie eyes
Upon their subtill slydings, may the water,
The troubled image of my passions war
With the stones, the matter of thy heart, that thou maist learn
Thy hardnesse and my sufferings to discern;
And so whilst I (if it be possible) study to forget you,
May beasts, and bird, and brooks, and trees, and wind,
Hear me, and call Matilda too unkind.
Exit.
Mat.
Ile unto Baynards Castle to my father,
Oh she had a violent need of Castles, where a King
Layes such violent seige; but Oh truth,
Thou art (whilst tenant in a noble brest,)
A crown of Christall in an Ivory chest.
Exit.
K.
Shall I be dazled with effeminate darings?
Ches.
With a womans ward, a knife too.
K.
Here I left her.
Ch.
But here she is not now sir.
K.
Oh Chester run, run as thou lov'st my peace,
Feather thy feet with lovers wishes, let but my desires
Dwel in thy eyes, thou'lt find her, were she compast
With a Cimerian mist.
Ch.
I will do my best sir.
Exit.
K.
Thy best; do every thing, do any thing,
Do all things that may find her; whether Love
Leads thy dark Labyrinth; cannot Kings be free
From thy impetuous buffets? I have desir'd
A heardned heart, obdurate to thy shafts,
And some times am so, when in the very minute
Calling to mind Matilda's tears, like drops
Continued upon marble, they pierce through,
And I am soft again. Hast found her?
Ent. Chester
Ch.
No sir, she is by this in Baynards Castle,
Where her Father and the Lords—
K.
Command our Barge, wee'l after her like lightning:
We must have pledges Chester for their faiths; if they refuse,
Thunder shall meet with thunder, and each eye
Shall see strange Comets in this troubled skie.
Exeunt.
Enter Fitzwater, old Bruise, young Bruise, Richmond and Leister, as in Baynards Castle.
Fitz.
My noble Lords, and honourable friends,
Not to particularlize (what need plain dealing
Be apparelled in particulars?) to a short supper,
Or a poor pittance rather, ye are all
Heartily welcome, very heartily, I must tell truth still.
O Br.
Brother we thank you.
Eitz.
I would we had my sister your wife, at Guilford with us.
Rich.
Where are the Ladies?
Comforting Matilda, sad return'd from Court.
Y. Bru.
Betraid by Chester, and again escap'd
Like a chaste Dove out of the fowlers Net,
The lustfull King.
Fitz.
Oh John, John, wilt thou never
Leave thy wags tricks? but let it passe, tis best
Because indeed tis past.
Leis.
I wonder how he receiv'd our resolv'd answer.
Y Bru.
No matter how, he's like to have no other;
Now by my blood, you vext my very soul
That you sent any.
O. Bru.
Sonne, have a tamer spirit.
Y Bru.
Yes, and like horses,
Be held by'th nose by frivilous respect,
Whilst he casts Copperis into our sores, and searches
Past honours patience.
Fitz.
Nephew, Nephew, hear me,
Lets bear a little; faith he is the King,
And though at Rome he does stand interdicted,
Yet now and then takes a good start or two
Towards regularity, till the fit comes on him;
And for your neat horse simile observe me,
Richmond and you are young men, we three old,
But not too old to tell truth; the horse that will not
Stard till and endure searching, how e're in summer
With warmth and pasture, he may strike at flies,
And play the wanton in a wealthy meadow,
For all his summer pastime, yet tis said,
Winter will leave him but a lean scal'd jade;
Come, come, y'ar fooles, y'ar fooles.
Leis.
Well let us—bear then.
Y Bru.
Let us? Oh my blood!
Besides, our injuries in his breach of promise,
He made by stains and publique grievances,
How in the flames of his adulterate heart
Pursues he my chaste Cousin, by flights gets her
Within his tallon, and but this afternoon,
Even in the face of heaven, in his own Garden
He would have ravish'd her.
O. Bru.
Bro her, we are bound in honour not to bear it.
Leis.
Let him know our griefs, and if—
Fitz.
Well, well, with ifs and ands
Mad men leave Rocks, and leap into the Sands;
But something shall be thought on.
Ent. Richmond.
Rich.
The King attended
Onely with the Earle of Chester, Oxford, and some
Other Gentlement, is new landed on the Stairs.
Om.
The King!
Y Bru.
Shut the stairs Gate.
Fitz.
Twere better Gate and stairs
Were floating through bridg; we are safe my cholerick cousin,
As in a Sanctuary; tis enough
(A man would think,) to see a great Prince thus,
Cause wee'd not go to him, to come to us,
Ent. King, Oxford, Chester. and other Lords.
Indeed, indeed, you speak unkindly.
K.
Behold great Lords,
The Cedars of the Kingdome, how the King
(A shrub) shrincks out of majestie,
And comes to you; here's a fine Conventicle,
Are ye blowing up new sires? and must Fitzwaters
(Plain-breasted as his unaffected habite,)
Be Generall again, again be call'd
The Marshall of Heavens Army and the Churches?
Are you Planet struck! you cannot talke.
Fitz.
Your pardon sir,
I led the Barrons, but twas when they could not choose
But choose a leader, and then me they chose;
And why so think ye? they all lov'd your Grace,
And grieve, grieve very heartily, I tell you,
To see you by some state mice so misled:
This state mice that nibble so upon the Lands impaired freedom
That would not so play in the Lyons eare,
But that by tickling him themselves to advantage;
And this we sought to mend; I tell truth John, I,
We are thy friends John, and if ye take from friendship
The liberty of modest admonition,
Ye leave no mark whereby to distinguish it
From the fawning passion of a Dog-base flattery;
If I speak plain, this truth be my defence,
A good mans comfort is his Conscience:
And so much for plain Robin.
K.
Fitzwater, Bruce, Richmond, and stubborn Leister,
This is the last of our admonitions,
Either lay by those Arms, those lawlesse arms,
Which you have listed 'gainst your Lord the King,
And give such pledges as we shall accept
For settling of your loyalties, or here
By the abused sufferings of a King,
And by the unkind scars with which you have
Deform'd the face of England; misery
Shall over take you in a shape shall fright
The Iron heart of faction, and the King
Shall come no more acquainted with compassion,
But call the bloodiest ends a righteous vengeance.
Leis.
I will not leave mine arms,
Nor break my word to you;
Unlesse provok'd, and justly; you have my faith,
If you mislike that pledge—
K.
We do.
Leis.
And I reply that I can spare no nother.
Ches.
D'ee hear sir?
O Bru.
Already we have pawn'd the now scorn'd gage
Of our afflicted honours, which refus'd
Flies back again, and so we stand discharg'd.
Fitz.
King John, King John,
Perform but the seal'd Covenants you are fled from,
The Charter running thus, given by our hand
The seventeenth day of June, and in the year
215 (the whole Realm being sworn to't,)
To the execution (who if you fail) are perjur'd
Do this, and like a plat of Osier wands
We shall bow any way, and you shall work us
Into what fashion you shall fancy; but
if you be melancholly, love-sick John,
Or Lyon, unyoak'd Heifer, head-strong John,
(As in the matter of the Losse of Normandie,
When Anjou, Brittain, Main, Poictou, and Turwin,
Were deliver'd up to Philip) you'l find your friends
Not facile Willowes, but abrupt brambles,
Whose intricate irregularity
Whilst you shall go about to rectifie,
They'l prick your fingers, and with unkind scratches,
Expose you to a late deplor'd experience:
Come, come, know this, when love in our side sings,
The unkindest wounds are those we take from Kings;
I am plain Robin.
K.
A down right Rebell.
Fitz.
Rebell!
K.
So are ye all.
Om.
Rebells!
K.
Traytors.
Om.
Traytors!
K.
Rebels and Traytors; Chester, Oxford, Gentlemen,
Stand on your guards, there's danger in the room.
O. Bru.
You ate too passionate, perform with us,
You shall walk over us, if not, we stand
Our injur'd Countries Justicers.
K.
Proud boaster.
This night shall raise a storme: Brav'd? with you
Bruce aside
We will begin; and yet he is the Brother
Unto Matilda's Father, but his insolence,
Oh love; a little while let revenge raigne,
This night shall beget passages shall prove
Your King a Lyon (vext) as (pleas'd) a Dove.
Exit
Ox.
Lights for the King, there Gentlemen.
Kings party.
What will you do? a tempest curl'd his forehead
Into the fashion of an angry Ocean,
Made wild with winds.
Rich.
We must resolve on something.
Ol. Bru.
And suddenly, for in his executions
He is swift as lightning, ayr is not more light.
Leis.
Pandulph the Popes stern Legate, 'tis divulg'd,
Is againe come over from the Pope, to proffer
The King his readmission into the Church,
And take off his six years interdiction
Upon some propositions yet conceal'd,
And this may busie the King yet.
Y. Bru.
This? the Greyhound
Is not more eager at his flying game,
Then I know King John is in his passions
Gf love or anger.
Ol. Bru.
Why Brother, is this a time to study?
Fitz.
Troth I was thinking of—stay, stay, I hav't,
I was thinking brother Bruce,—now tis gone again,
And farewell it, lets ply our businesse now:
If you mark't, he said he would begin with you;
I Would have you to night (stay not for the Sun,
which sure will rise blushing at this nights brawling)
Do you and Richmond, with some score of men
Post to your house, tis but an hours riding,
And something more; there fortifie your selves,
Your Ladie, and your pretty little Sonnne,
Poor knave he dreams not of these Thunderbolts:
You my young mad cap, with your Cuz my daughter,
Shall unto Hartford Castle, she is the brand
I feare will fire our Troy; Leister and I
Will gather Powers, and thither after you;
You two for Guilford, you two for Hartford,
And we two, wheither wast we two must go?
Leis.
Go? we two must stay i'th City.
Fitz.
Passion of me, where was my memory;
We leave to look on them, and go by'th Sun:
Lights, lights, good Gentlemen:
Exeunt.
Enter Queene, Lady, Bruce, and Hubert.
Qu.
Good Lady take not on so, Oxford sayes all
Is very well at London.
Lady.
Yes, very well;
Why then follow'd he your Grace with a Troop of horse,
A band of men? why hath he seizd the Castle,
Cashierd my Servants? Oh Madam can it be,
Your Grace (the Alter where I ever paid
A Subjects devout Love,) should by a slight,
a fained accidentall visite make,
An entrance for hostility and terror.
Qu.
Hubert, redeem you in this Ladies faith,
And relate the truth.
Hub.
Only upon mine honour
Was I sent to seize this Ladies young Son George,
As a pledge to'th King for her Lords loyalty.
Lady.
No Hubert, my Son is far enough from thee,
Thou fatall keeper of poor Boys.
Hub.
You mean
Concerning Arthur, the unfortunate Sonne
Of Jeffery Plantaganet; Oh mad rumour!
Who would trust thee but with so much reputation
An honest begger boasts of?
Q.
In that beleeve me Madam, report hath wronged him,
Which I can witnesse Lady.
Enter King and Chester.
Lady.
The King come to,
Oh my sweet George, my joy; what wilt thou do?
K.
All is to our desire; where's Bruces Sonne?
Hub.
Convey'd to Wales she affirms Sir.
Lady.
Where thou shalt never see him John.
K.
Good Madam,
Wee'l speak with you anon, Queene Isabell,
Me and my Kingdome, straight with the Earl of Chester;
Post thou to Hartford Castle, whither we are certifi'd
Young Bruce is fled with old Fitzwaters daughter,
Try if by fair means thou canst win her to
Attend on thee at Court; if we have not her
A pledge, (as this) for her Fathers faith, we stand
The food of faction, get her any way;
If she deny, Chester with forces ready,
Of from the Castle, shall give them fierce assault,
And force them past entreaties; go my love
And play the Amazon, with her surprisall,
Secure a Kingdome.
Qu.
This craves hast and care; come noble Chester
You shall along; but good my Lord forget not
That Ladies kindnesse to me.
K.
Oh my sweet.
Kisse.
Exit.
Hu.
What a fine thing he makes the Queen; Oh lust,
With what smooth craft thou creeptst to things unjust.
K.
Oh my Matilda, if power or policy
may get thee once more in these arms, I will hazard
Even to a Kingdom for thee; come Madam fear not
I wear no frowns, I am all mirth, lets see your pretty Son.
La.
I fear your mirth is like the Porpoist pastimes,
My Son hath been in Wales this moneth.
K.
Hubert, see the Gates lock'd, a guard upon the Walls,
Whilst we take some to search.
La.
Where will you search King John?
For heavens sake do not search.
Hu.
Nay and't be come to that.
Exit.
K.
Let me go,
In these proceedings the Kings safety rests,
The Lyon must not bend to baser breasts.
Exit.
La.
Heaven to thee I kneel, who affrighted Mother am,
Oh from this Lyons claws keep my poor Lambe.
Exit.
Ol. Bru.
The Castle Gates are shut, swift footed Tyranie,
That canst when thou pursu'st thy wild desires,
Out run the wantan Roe; Oh Richmond, Richmond,
I fear our stay all night, ha's made me witness
Of a day darker then night.
Rich.
Your fears and your afflictions
Meet in one Center, for it seems the King
Sent Oxford in the night on the walls;
Behold where Oxford stands, I fear they have seiz'd
Your Sonne, your Wife and Castle.
Ol. Bru.
Oxford, thou signe
Set up to shew me where my sorrows dwell,
Martyr me not with circumstances; but tell me,
Is it (as from thy ominous presence there)
We may conjecture.
Ox.
Because you request brevity,
Then by my ominous presence here great Lords
You conjecture that you come too late.
Rich.
Let force our entrance,
We have twenty men of spirit to dare.
Ol. Bru.
A score of Cowards, Oxford,
Dar'st thou be honourable?
Ox.
An other time,
But now I have no leisure, the King is here.
Rich.
In person.
Ox.
Yes, and power;
And if the Queen and Chester speed as the King has,
We shall have a pledget too for Fitzwaters loyalty,
And so good day, ye meet the proverb here,
Ye both are early up but near the neare.
Exit.
Rich.
We strongly may conclude from their intelligence
Of your Son, and fair Matilda's flight to Hartford,
Thither the Queen and Chester are repair'd,
Either by force or policy to obtaine her,
Is to post back to London, and to hasten
Her Father thither with his powers, and so
Secure your Sonne, his Daughter, and it may be,
Surprise the Queen and Chester.
Ol. Bru.
If we do,
If but a hair of my betrayed wife,
Or my poor boy do perish, a head royall
Shall be sent back, slight scratches leave no scars
But deep wounds are seeds of Civill wars.
Exit.
| King Iohn And Matilda | |