in 1 The Troublesome Reign of King John — Anonymous (?)
Metadata
Play
1 The Troublesome Reign of King John
Author
Anonymous (?)
Year (catalogued)
1591
First performance
1591
Decade
1590s
Genre
History
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
Queen Elizabeth's Men
Speech prefix(es)
Mother. | Mother
Words
413
Characters
2211
Typicality
0.39 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A68278.1
BritDrama no.
824
Cluster
Cluster 1 — Wives, widows & intimate counsel
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 1 (nony, tailors, butler, mall, jesu, massinissa…). Matches are highlighted.
Fauconbridge. What headstrong fury does enchant my son? Whats the matter Philip. I think your suit in secret, tends to some money matter, which you suppose burns in the bottom of my chest. A Gods name let us hear it. Yet more ado to haste me to my graven, And wilt thou too become a Mother's cross? Must I accuse myself to close with you?
Full speech
My gracious Lord, & you thrice reverend Dame, That see the tears distilling from mine eyes, And scalding sighs blown from a rented heart: For honour and regard of womanhood, Let me entreat to be commanded hence. Let not these ears receive the hissing found Of such a viper, who with poisoned words Does masserate the bowels of my soul. Please it your Majesty, Sir Robert Fauconbridge. What headstrong fury does enchant my son? Whats the matter Philip. I think your suit in secret, tends to some money matter, which you suppose burns in the bottom of my chest. A Gods name let us hear it. Yet more ado to haste me to my graven, And wilt thou too become a Mother's cross? Must I accuse myself to close with you? Slander myself to quiet your affects: Thou mooust me Philip with this idle talk, Which I remit, in hope this mood will die. Let mother's tears quench out thy anger's fire, And urge no further what thou dost require. Unhappy task: must I recount my shame, Blab my misdeeds, or y concealing die? Some power strike me speechless for a time Or take from him awhile his hearings use, Why wish I so, unhappy as I am? The fault is mine, and he the faulty fruit, I blush, I faint, o would I might be mute. And longing die to shroud thy Mother's shame. Then Philip hear thy fortune and my grief, My honours lose by purchase of thy self, My shame, thy name, and husbands secret wrong, All mained and stained by youths unruly sway. And when thou knowest from whence thou art extraught, Or if thou knewest what suits, what threats, what fears, To move by love, or massacre by death. To yield with h love, or end by loves contempt. The mightiness of him that courted me, Who tempered terror with his wanton talk, That something may extenuate the gilded. But let it not advantage me so much: Upbraid me rather with the Roman Dame That shed her blood to wash away her shame. Why stand I to expostulate the crime With pro & contra, now the deed is done, When to conclude two words may tell the tale, That Philips Father was a Princes Son, Rich England's rule, words only terror he, For honours lose left me with child of thee: Whose Son thou art, then pardon me the rather, For fair King Richard was thy noble Father.
Plot summary
Plot — 1 The Troublesome Reign of King John
Jel becomes King of England; but young Prince (Athi son of his elder brother, also has title to the throne, and his claim is supported by Philip of France. John refuses to give up his kingdom and prepares to invade France. Before he goes, he has to settle a dispute between the brothers Falconbridge: the younger brother RObéft alleges the bastardy of the elder, PHilip} thereby establishing Philip as the natural, if illegitimate, son of King Richard and Robert as rightful heir of Falconbridge. Philip is impelled to accept royal parentage, the better to pursue his ambitions, and he joins King John’s expedition to France. The Kings of England and France confront one another outside the English-held town of Angers. When the citizens refuse to yield to either John or Arthur until one or the other is proven the rightful King, the bastard suggests that the warring kings should join forces against the town, and cement the alliance with a marriage between fh@§Daphin and John’s niece, Blai@He (even though he covets Blanche for himself). John and King Philip agree terms: Blanche’s dowry is to include a substantial part of England’s French possessions, and King Philip transfers his support from Arthur to John. Seeking vengeance for his father, King Richard, the bastard challenges Allisttid to a duel, but Austria will not accept even when John creates the bastard a duke. Cardinal Pandulphiéxcommunicates John for his interference in ecclesiastical affairs. John refuses to submit to papal authority, so King Philip switches his allegiance back 1589 to Arthur and war resumes. The bastard kills Austria in’ battle and England is victorious: Arthur is taken | prisoner and committed to Hubert’s custody. John does his best to break the Pope’s power in England, and has himself crowned again. The bastard: ransacks ecclesiastical establishments, and discovers the wealth and sexual corruption of the Catholic . church. H@BG#t is ordered to blind Arthur, but Arthur. persuades him that God’s commands have priority. over the King’s, and Hubert spares him. The barons ask John for Arthur’s release, since he is no longer a threat; but Hubert reports that the boy was blinded and has died of his injuries. The barons are outraged, the King discomfited; Hubert admits the truth, but Arthur throws himself from the castle walls, and the barons find his body. Recognizing that the papal interdict absolves them of their duty of obedience to John, they invite Louis the Dauphin to invade England.…