KING JOHN. Here, till our Navy of a thousand sail Have made a breakfast to our foe by Sea, Let us encamp, to wait their happy speed.— Lorraine, what readiness is Edward in? How hast thou heard that he provided is Of marshall furniture for this exploit? LORRAINE. To lay aside unnecessary soothing, And not to spend the time in circumstance, Tis bruited for a certainty, my Lord, That he’s exceeding strongly fortified; His subjects flock as willingly to war, As if unto a triumph they were led. CHARLES. England was wont to harbour malcontents, Blood thirsty and seditious Catelynes, Spend thrifts, and such as gape for nothing else But changing and alteration of the state; And is it possible That they are now so loyal in them selves? LORRAINE. All but the Scot, who solemnly protests, As heretofore I have informed his grace, Never to sheath his Sword or take a truce. KING JOHN. Ah, that’s the anchorage of some better hope! But, on the other side, to think what friends King Edward hath retained in Netherland, Among those ever-bibbing Epicures, Those frothy Dutch men, puft with double beer, That drink and swill in every place they come, Doth not a little aggravate mine ire; Besides, we hear, the Emperor conjoins, And stalls him in his own authority; But, all the mightier that their number is, The greater glory reaps the victory. Some friends have we beside domestic power; The stern Polonian, and the warlike Dane, The king of Bohemia, and of Sicily, Are all become confederates with us, And, as I think, are marching hither apace. [Drum within.] But soft, I hear the music of their drums, By which I guess that their approach is near. [Enter the King of Bohemia, with Danes, and a Polonian Captain, with other soldiers, another way.] KING OF BOHEMIA. King John of France, as league and neighborhood Requires, when friends are any way distrest, I come to aide thee with my country’s force. POLONIAN CAPTAIN. And from great Musco, fearful to the Turk, And lofty Poland, nurse of hardy men, I bring these servitors to fight for thee, Who willingly will venture in thy cause. KING JOHN. Welcome, Bohemian king, and welcome all: This your great kindness I will not forget. Besides your plentiful rewards in Crowns, That from our Treasury ye shall receive, There comes a hare brained Nation, decked in pride, The spoil of whom will be a treble gain. And now my hope is full, my joy complete: At Sea, we are as puissant as the force Of Agamemnon in the Haven of Troy; By land, with Zerxes we compare of strength, Whose soldiers drank up rivers in their thirst; Then Bayardlike, blind, overweaning Ned, To reach at our imperial diadem Is either to be swallowed of the waves, Or hacked a pieces when thou comest ashore. [Enter Mariner.]