Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Sonia Massai
Not Peer Reviewed

Edward III (Quarto 1, 1596)

The Raigne king
Wele wake him with our Marshall harmonie. Exeunt.

1040Enter King Iohn of Fraunce, his
two sonnes, Charles of Nor-
mandie, and Phillip, and the
Duke of Lorraine.
King Iohn.
1045Heere till our Nauie of a thousand saile,
Haue made a breakfast to our foe by Sea,
Let vs incampe to wait their happie speede:
Lorraine what readines is Edward in?
How hast thou heard that he prouided is
1050Of marshiall furniture for this exployt.
Lo: To lay aside vnnecessary soothing,
And not to spend the time in circumstaunce,
Tis bruted for a certenty my Lord,
That hees exceeding strongly fortified,
1055His subiects flocke as willingly to warre,
As if vnto a tryumph they were led.
Ch: England was wont to harbour malcontents,
Blood thirsty, and seditious Catelynes,
Spend thrifts, and such as gape for nothing else,
1060But changing and alteration of the state,
And is it possible,
That they are now so loyall in them selues?
Lo: All but the Scot, who sollemnly protests,
As heeretofore I haue enformd his grace,
1065Neuer to sheath his Sword, or take a truce.
Io: Ah, thats the anchredge of some better hope,
But on the other side, to thinke what friends,
King Edward hath retaynd in Netherland,
Among those euer-bibbing Epicures:
Those
Edward the third.
1070Those frothy Dutch men, puft with double beere,
That drinke and swill in euery place they come,
Doth not a little aggrauate mine ire,
Besides we heare the Emperor conioynes,
And stalls him in his owne authoritie:
1075But all the mightier that their number is,
The greater glory reapes the victory,
Some friends haue we beside drum stricke power,
The sterne Polonian and the warlike Dane:
The king of Bohemia, and of Cycelie.
1080Are all become confederates with vs,
And as I thinke are marching hither apace,
But soft I heare the musicke of their drums.
By which I gesse that their approch is neare.

Enter the King of Bohemia with
1085 Danes, and a Polonian Captaine
with other soldiers another way.
King of Boheme.
King Iohn of Fraunce, as league and neighborhood,
Requires when friends are any way distrest,
1090I come to aide thee with my countries force,
Pol. Cap. And from great Musco fearefull to the Turke,
And lofty Poland, nurse of hardie men,
I bring these seruitors to fight for thee,
Who willingly will venture in thy cause.
1095K. Io: Welcome Bohemian king, and welcome all,
This your great kindnesse I will not forget.
Besides your plentiful rewards in Crownes,
That from our Treasory ye shall receiue,
There comes a hare braind Nation deckt in pride,
1100The spoyle of whome wiil be a trebble game,
And now my hope is full, my ioy complete,
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