King JohnShakespeare’s First Folio

Scans: Bodleian Libraries, Arch. G c.7.

About this play
Opening the Bodleian's First Folio…

The First Folio

Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Original pages. A closer look.

Reading King John

Histories · First Folio, 1623

King John places a contested succession at the centre of a conflict between England and France. Arthur's claim threatens John's position, while the Bastard's own uncertain inheritance exposes another way that blood, names, and property can fail to align. Public arguments about lawful rule have direct consequences for bodies that powerful adults can endanger. Read the Folio with attention to changes of allegiance and to the language used to justify them. The play is especially useful for asking how an apparently settled title depends on other people continuing to recognise it.

The French ambassador's first address challenges John's possession of the throne before delivering the demand on Arthur's behalf. Eleanor immediately notices the insult. Watch how an exchange governed by diplomatic form becomes a contest over the words that establish, or refuse, a king's legitimacy.

Context: King John at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Scans and transcription: Bodleian Libraries, Arch. G c.7.

On the opening page

King John in the Bodleian First Folio, fol. a1r
fol. a1r · Image 325. Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. CC BY-NC 4.0.
The life and death of King Iohn.

Actus Primus, Scæna Prima.

[Act 1, Scene 1]

Enter King Iohn, Queene Elinor, Pembroke, Essex, and Sa­
lisbury, with the Chattylion of France.

King Iohn.

NOw say Chatillion, what would France with vs?

Chat.

Thus (after greeting) speakes the King
of France,

In my behauior to the Maiesty,

The borrowed Maiesty of England heere.

Elea.

A strange beginning: borrowed Maiesty?

K. Iohn.

Silenced (good mother) heare the Embassie.

Chat.

Philip of France, in right and true behalfe

Of thy deceased brother, Geffreyes sonne,

Arthur Plantaginet, laies most lawfull claime

To this faire Iland, and the Territories:

To Ireland, Poyctiers, Aniowe, Torayne, Maine,

Desiring thee to lay aside the sword

Which swaies vsurpingly these seuerall titles,

And put the same into young Arthurs hand,

Thy Nephew, and right royall Soueraigne.

K. Iohn.

What followes if we disallow of this?

Chat.

The proud controle of fierce and bloudy warre,

To inforce these rights, so forcibly with‑held,

K. Io.

Heere haue we war for war, & bloud for bloud,

Controlement for controlement: so answer France.

Chat.

Then take my Kings defiance from my mouth,

The farthest limit of my Embassie.

K. Iohn.

Beare mine to him, and so depart in peace,

Be thou as lightning in the eies of France;

For ere thou canst report, I will be there:

The thunder of my Cannon shall be heard,

So hence: be thou the trumpet of our wrath,

And sullen presage of your owne decay:

An honourable conduct let him haue,

Pembroke looke too't: farewell Chattillion.

Exit Chat. and Pem.

Ele.

An opening excerpt from the Bodleian transcription, with original spelling retained. Continue in the reader. Text CC BY 3.0.

Richard IIHenry IV, Part 1Henry IV, Part 2

Browse all 36 plays or read the First Folio questions and answers.

The plays

Thirty-six plays, in their printed order.

Examine the original

100%Source page

Scroll to explore the page. Use + and − to change magnification.

A book, opened.

This reader presents the Bodleian Libraries' digitized copy of Shakespeare's First Folio, published in 1623 (shelfmark Arch. G c.7). It contains 36 plays.

Original page images: Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, under CC BY-NC 4.0. Transcriptions: Bodleian First Folio, under CC BY 3.0.

Images are resized and framed for the book view, removing photographic margins where possible. Select a page or choose Full scans to see the complete photograph, including its original edges and measurement scale. Reading text retains original spelling. Editorial notes and running headers are omitted; [gap] marks missing text in the source. Stray encoding fragments are removed from the reading text. Image numbers follow the digitized volume, including covers and blank pages. They are not the book's printed page numbers.

This is an independent, noncommercial reading room for Sydney Shamblin Anderson's website. It does not imply endorsement by the University of Oxford or the Bodleian Libraries.

Make yourself at home

Use the arrow keys to turn pages, or open the contents to choose a play. Full scans removes perspective and shows the uncropped photographs. Reduced-motion preferences disable the page-turn animation.

Drag the space around the book to gently change its angle. Select a page to examine the scan.