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DURATION OF ACTION

The time of the play occupies seven days, with intervals comprising in all not more than three or four months. The historical time covers the whole of King John's reign.

THE LIFE AND DEATH

OF KING JOHN

KING JOHN

DRAMATIS PERSONE

PRINCE HENRY, son to the king

ARTHUR, Duke of Bretagne, nephew to the king

The Earl of PEMBROKE

The Earl of ESSEX

The Earl of SALISBURY

The Lord BIGOT

HUBERT DE BURGH

ROBERT FAULCON BRIDGE, son to Sir Robert Faulconbridgc
PHILIP the Bastard, his half-brother

JAMES GURNEY, servant to Lady Faulconbridge

PETER of Pomfret, a prophet

PHILIP, king of France

LEWIS, the Dauphin

Lymoges, Duke of AUSTRIA

CARDINAL PANDULPH, the Pope's legate

MELUN, a French lord

CHATILLON, ambassador from France to King John

QUEEN ELINOR, mother to King John

CONSTANCE, mother to Arthur

BLANCH of Spain, niece to King John

LADY FAULCON BRIDGE

Lords, Citizens of Angiers, Sheriff, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers,

Messengers, and other Attendants

SCENE: Partly in England, and partly in France

SYNOPSIS

By J. ELLIS BURDICK

ACT I

When Richard Coeur-de-Lion died, the crown of England should have come to his son, Prince Arthur, but his brother John usurped it. Philip of France supports the claims of Arthur and threatens to make war on England. In return John plans an invasion of France and appoints a natural son of Richard as one of the generals under the name and title of Sir Richard Plantagenet.

ACT II

An indecisive battle is fought between the English and French before Angiers in France and afterward a treaty of peace is concluded between the two kings. Blanche, niece to King John, is married to Lewis, Dauphin of France, and for her dowry the English king relinquishes certain English provinces.

ACT III

John refuses to obey a mandate of the Pope and is excommunicated. The papal legate demands that Philip refuse to abide by the terms of the treaty "on peril of a curse." John and Philip again take up arms and the French are defeated in battle. The prince Arthur is taken prisoner and John gives instructions for his murder.

ACT IV

Hubert, an English courtier, is commissioned by John to burn out Arthur's eyes; but the boy's entreaties weaken

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