NORTHAMPTON. A Room of State in the Palace. Enter KING JOHN, QUEEN ELINOR, PEMBROKE, ESSEX, SALISBURY, and others, with CHATILLON. K. John. Now, say, Chatillon, what would France with us? Chat. Thus, after greeting, speaks the king of France, 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? Chat. The proud coutrol of fierce and bloody war, To enforce these rights so forcibly withheld. [blood, K. John. Here have we war for war, and blood for 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 sullen presage of your own decay.An honourable conduct let him have: Pembroke, look to't: Farewell, Chatillon.. [Exeunt Chatillon and Pembroke. 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. Eli. Your strong possession, much more than your Or else it must go wrong with you and me: [right; So much my conscience whispers in your ear; 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. Our abbies, and our priories, shall pay [Exit Sheriff. Re-enter Sheriff, with ROBERT FAULCONBRIDGE, 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, Eli. Out on thee, rude man! thou dost shame thy mother, And wound her honour with this diffidence. Doth he lay claim to thine inheritance? Bast. I know not why, except to get the land. But whe'r I be as true begot, or no, [here! K. John, Why, what a madcap hath heaven fent us Eli. He hath a trick of Coeur-de-lion's face, my son K. John. Mine eye hath well examined his parts, And finds them perfect Richard.-Sirrah, speak, What doth move you to claim your brother's land? Bast. Because he hath a half-face, like my father; With that half-face would he have all my land: A half-faced groat five hundred pound a year! 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; In sooth, he might: then, if he were my brother's, 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! 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: Eli. Nay, I would have you go before me thither. Bast. Philip, my liege; so is my name begun; K. John. From henceforth bear his name whose form Kneel thou down, Philip, but arise more great; Bast. Brother, by the mother's side, give me your My father gave me honour, yours gave land :- [hand; |