Renaissance Drama — Topics · seed 42

1 The Troublesome Reign of King John · chunk 9 of 27

Anonymous · published 1591 · first performed or written 1591 (Annals)
history · Queen Elizabeth's Men
T43 York and Lancaster: dynastic claims and typicality 0.81 · 460 words

← previous chunkall chunks of this editionnext chunk →

Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T43: henry, king, richard, warwick, york, edward, father, duke, crown, son.

Me seemeth Iohn an overdaring spirit Effect some frenzy in thy rash approach, Treading my Confines with thy armed Troops. I rather looked for some submiss reply Touching the claim thy Nephew Arthur makes To that which thou unjustly dost usurp. For that Chattilion can discharge you all, I list not plead my Title with my tongue. Nor came I hither with intent of wrong To France or thee, or any right of thine; But in defence and purchase of my right, The Town of Angiers: which thou dost begirt In the behalf of Lady Constance Son, whereto nor he nor she can lay just claim. Yes (false intruder) if that just be just, And headstrong usurpation put apart, Arthur my Son, heir to thy elder Brother, Without ambiguous shadow of descent, Is Sovereign to the substance thou withholdst. Misgoverned Gossip, stain to this resort, Occasion of these undecided jars, I say (that know) to check thy vain suppose, Thy Son hath nought to do with that he claims. For proof whereof, I can infer a Will, That barr●s the way he urgeth by descent. A Will indeed, a crabbed Woman's will, Wherein the Devil is an overseer, And proud dame Elinor sole Executress: More wills than so, on peril of my soul, Were never made to hinder Arthur's right. But say there was, as sure there can be none, The law intends such testaments as void, Where right descent can no way be impeached. Peace Arthur peace, thy mother makes thee wings To soar with peril after Icarus, And trust me youngling for the Father's sake, I pity much the hazard of thy youth. Beshrew you else how pitiful you are, Ready to weep to hear him ask his own; Sorrow betid such Grandames and such grief, That minister a poison for pure love. But who so blind, as cannot see this beam, That you forsooth would keep your cousin down, For fear his Mother should be used too well? I there's the grief, confusion catch the brain, That hammer's shifts to stop a Prince's reign. Impatient, frantic, common slanderer, Immodest Dame, unnurtred quarreler, I tell thee I, not envy to thy Son, But justice makes me speak as I have done. But here's no proof that shows your son a King. What wants, my sword shall more at large set down. But that may break before the truth be known. Then this may hold till all his right be shown. Good words sir sauce, your betters are in place. Not you sir doughty with your Lion's case. Ah joy betid his soul, to whom that spoil belonged Ah Richard how thy glory hate is wronged. Me 〈...〉 pride, & Richard's fall, Should be a precedent t'affright you all.
← previous chunkall chunks of this editionnext chunk →

Details

Metadata, position in the edition, topic in the other seeds
Play1 The Troublesome Reign of King John
AuthorAnonymous
Publication year (edition)1591
First performance / composition (Annals)1591
First performance (BritDrama)1589 [1587-1591]
Company (BritDrama)Queen Elizabeth's Men
Genre (British Drama)history
Play typeAdult Professional;Professional
Edition / TCP / DEEPedition 170 · TCP A68278 · DEEP 5021.01
Edition roleRepresentative edition — used in the analysis
Positionnodes 466–525 (positions in the processed text, not lines of the printed book) · chunk 9 of 27 in this edition
Length460 words · 623 tokens
Topic (seed 42)T43 — York and Lancaster: dynastic claims and conflict cross-work theme (confirmed, in the genre comparison) · typicality 0.812 (cosine to the topic centroid)
Other seedsseed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T13 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Me ſeemeth Iohn an ouer-daring ſpirit Effecte ſome frenzie in thy raſh approach, Treading my Confines with thy armed Troupes. I rather lookt for ſome ſubmiſſe reply Touching the claime thy Nephew Arthur makes To that which thou vniuſtly doſt vſurpe. For that Chattilion can diſcharge you all, I liſt not plead my Title with my tongue. Nor came I hether with intent of wrong To Fraunce or thee, or any right of thine; But in defence and purchaſe of my right, The Towne of Angiers: which thou dooſt begirt In the behalfe of Ladie Conſtance Sonne, Wheretoo nor he nor ſhe can lay iuſt claime. Yes (falſe intruder) if that iuſt be iuſt, And headſtrong vſurpation put apart, Arthur my Sonne, heire to thy elder Brother, Without ambiguous ſhadow of diſcent, Is Soueraigne to the ſubſtance thou withholdſt. Miſgouernd Goſſip, ſtaine to this reſort, Occaſion of theſe vndecided iarres, I ſay (that know) to check thy vaine ſuppoſe, Thy Sonne hath naught to doo with that he claymes. For proofe whereof, I can inferre a Will, That barrs the way he vrgeth by diſcent. A Will indéede, a crabbed Womans will, Wherein the Diuell is an ouerſéer, And proud dame Elnor ſole Executreſſe: More wills than ſo, on perill of my ſoule, Were neuer made to hinder Arthurs right. But ſay there was, as ſure there can be none, The law intends ſuch teſtaments as voyd, Where right diſcent can no way be impeacht. Peace Arthur peace, thy mother makes thee wings To ſoare with perill after Icarus, And truſt me yongling for the Fathers ſake, I pitie much the hazard of thy youth. Beſhrew you els how pitifull you are, Readie to weepe to heare him aſke his owne; Sorrow betide ſuch Grandames and ſuch griefe, That miniſter a poyſon for pure loue. But who ſo blinde, as cannot ſee this beame, That you forſooth would kéepe your couſin downe, For feare his Mother ſhould be vſde too well? I theres the grieſe, confuſion catch the braine, That hammers ſhifts to ſtop a Princes raigne. Impatient, frantike, common ſlanderer, Immodeſt Dame, vnnurtred quarreller, I tell thée I, not enuie to thy Son, But iuſtice makes me ſpeake as I haue don. But heres no proof that ſhowes your ſon a King. What wants, my ſword ſhal more at large ſet down. But that may breake before the truth be knowne. Then this may hold till all his right be ſhowne. Good wors ſir ſauce, your betters are in place. Not you ſir doughtie with your Lions caſe. Ah ioy betide his ſoule, to whom that ſpoile belōgd Ah Richard how thy glorie hate is wrongd. Me pride, & Richards fall, Should be a preſident t'affright you all.