[his] hand as deep / Into the purse of rich prosperity” as Lewis will himself. The Cardinal enters and Lewis thinks he has come to authorize their actions. Pandulph greets him and immediately says that John is now reconciled with Rome so the French should pack up their gear and go home. Lewis refuses, claiming that it’s too late and he’s “too high-born” to be told what to do. The Cardinal started this war and taught him what was right and he now intends to go on. Now that Arthur’s dead, by virtue of his marriage to Blanche, he claims the throne of England for himself. It’s he not Rome who has done and paid for everything and he believes he can win easily. The Cardinal complains this is a superficial view of things. They hear a trumpet sound.
Lines 119–183: The Bastard enters wanting to know if the Cardinal has succeeded in persuading the dauphin. Pandulph says the dauphin refuses to lay down his arms. Richard is delighted and makes a stirring speech on John’s behalf saying that they are prepared. Recalling how they defeated the French in France he asks whether it’s not more likely they’ll be successful here on their own land. He has special words of anger and scorn for the rebel lords, “you degenerate, you ingrate revolts, / You bloody Neroes …,” who would destroy their own land and telling them to blush for shame. Lewis is dismissive, saying he knows the Bastard can “outscold us” but he hasn’t got time to listen to “such a brabbler.” Richard taunts him that he will be beaten like his drums and claims that John used the Cardinal for “sport” rather than “need.” He threatens them that “warlike John” is at hand with “bare-ribbed Death” at his “forehead” who will feast upon “thousands of the French.” Each defies the other and they prepare to fight.
ACT 5 SCENE 3
To the sounds of battle, John asks Hubert for news. Hubert thinks it’s going badly for the English and John reports feeling ill. A messenger enters from Richard telling John to leave the battlefield and to tell him which way he’s going. John replies to Swinstead Abbey. The messenger tells him to cheer up; the French supplies have been shipwreckedon the Goodwin Sands and they’re retreating. John repeats how ill he feels and tells them to take him straight to Swinstead.
ACT 5 SCENE 4
Salisbury, Bigot, and Pembroke on the battlefield are surprised by how much support John has but have learned that he’s ill. The English success, though, is down to Richard: “That misbegotten devil Falconbridge.” Melun enters and warns them that they have been betrayed, that if the French win the dauphin has sworn to cut off their heads and he advises them to make peace with John. They cannot believe it but Melun asks why, since he is facing death himself, he should lie to them. He begs them to remove his body to some quiet place to die. They believe him and are glad that they need be traitors no longer but can return to King John.
ACT 5 SCENE 5
Lewis is reflecting on French successes of a long day of battle when a messenger arrives to say that count Melun is dead, the English rebel lords have returned to John, and French supplies have been lost on Goodwin Sands. Lewis is dismayed by the turn of events but promises to be up before dawn to continue the fight in the morning.
ACT 5 SCENE 6
Hubert seeks Richard with bad news: John has been poisoned by a monk. Richard asks who’s left to tend the king and Hubert tells him Prince Henry with the rebel lords who have returned to John. Prince Henry has asked for them to be pardoned. Richard says that he has lost half his army in the Wash and barely escaped himself and asks Hubert to take him to the king.
ACT 5 SCENE 7
Lines 1–51: Prince Henry is discussing his father’s serious condition with Salisbury and Bigot. Pembroke enters, saying that John wishesto be brought out into the cool air. He asks if his father is still raging and Pembroke replies that he is calmer now
Lines 119–183: The Bastard enters wanting to know if the Cardinal has succeeded in persuading the dauphin. Pandulph says the dauphin refuses to lay down his arms. Richard is delighted and makes a stirring speech on John’s behalf saying that they are prepared. Recalling how they defeated the French in France he asks whether it’s not more likely they’ll be successful here on their own land. He has special words of anger and scorn for the rebel lords, “you degenerate, you ingrate revolts, / You bloody Neroes …,” who would destroy their own land and telling them to blush for shame. Lewis is dismissive, saying he knows the Bastard can “outscold us” but he hasn’t got time to listen to “such a brabbler.” Richard taunts him that he will be beaten like his drums and claims that John used the Cardinal for “sport” rather than “need.” He threatens them that “warlike John” is at hand with “bare-ribbed Death” at his “forehead” who will feast upon “thousands of the French.” Each defies the other and they prepare to fight.
ACT 5 SCENE 3
To the sounds of battle, John asks Hubert for news. Hubert thinks it’s going badly for the English and John reports feeling ill. A messenger enters from Richard telling John to leave the battlefield and to tell him which way he’s going. John replies to Swinstead Abbey. The messenger tells him to cheer up; the French supplies have been shipwreckedon the Goodwin Sands and they’re retreating. John repeats how ill he feels and tells them to take him straight to Swinstead.
ACT 5 SCENE 4
Salisbury, Bigot, and Pembroke on the battlefield are surprised by how much support John has but have learned that he’s ill. The English success, though, is down to Richard: “That misbegotten devil Falconbridge.” Melun enters and warns them that they have been betrayed, that if the French win the dauphin has sworn to cut off their heads and he advises them to make peace with John. They cannot believe it but Melun asks why, since he is facing death himself, he should lie to them. He begs them to remove his body to some quiet place to die. They believe him and are glad that they need be traitors no longer but can return to King John.
ACT 5 SCENE 5
Lewis is reflecting on French successes of a long day of battle when a messenger arrives to say that count Melun is dead, the English rebel lords have returned to John, and French supplies have been lost on Goodwin Sands. Lewis is dismayed by the turn of events but promises to be up before dawn to continue the fight in the morning.
ACT 5 SCENE 6
Hubert seeks Richard with bad news: John has been poisoned by a monk. Richard asks who’s left to tend the king and Hubert tells him Prince Henry with the rebel lords who have returned to John. Prince Henry has asked for them to be pardoned. Richard says that he has lost half his army in the Wash and barely escaped himself and asks Hubert to take him to the king.
ACT 5 SCENE 7
Lines 1–51: Prince Henry is discussing his father’s serious condition with Salisbury and Bigot. Pembroke enters, saying that John wishesto be brought out into the cool air. He asks if his father is still raging and Pembroke replies that he is calmer now
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