![]() Nullus liber homo capiatur vel imprisonetur aut disseisiatur aut utlagetur aut exuletur aut aliquot modo destruatur, nec super eum ibimus, nec super eum mittemus, nisi per legale judicium parium suorum vel per legem terrae. ![]() Just on the point of signing, the unhappy king considers what he has consented to: the famous chapter 39 of King John’s Magna Carta, which reads: This occurs onstage with great pageantry and ceremony. Horrified by his depredations, they take their new king captive and force him to sign Magna Carta. The barons of the kingdom suddenly make their move against John. What happens next is too good to be believed. Now nothing seems to stand in the way of John’s plan to kill Robin Hood and force Maid Marian to the altar. John, consumed by his desire for the throne, stabs Richard to death with a knife and claims the crown for himself. The plot thickens when Richard returns to England and seeks to relieve John of his regency. When John discovers that in addition to these crimes Robin Hood has also stolen the affections of the woman he intends to marry (Marian Lea), the insult to his pride becomes too much to bear and he resolves to have Robin Hood put to death. Meantime, Robin Hood and his men, who view Prince John as a usurper, go about making John’s life miserable by robbing the rich and giving to the poor – a campaign that generally prevents John from collecting his precious taxes. John’s excessive taxation has led many men who were loyal to Richard to talk about revolt. It begins the way that several nineteenth century romances of Robin Hood began: Prince John who serves as the regent of England while Richard the Lionhearted is off fighting the crusades is busy mismanaging the kingdom in the absence of his heroic brother. Harrison condenses the events of a twenty year span into a matter of days, beginning with Richard’s return from the crusades and ending with John’s granting of Magna Carta in 1215. Because of the liberties the author takes with the historical events of the time, the exact year the action of the play takes place is hard to pin down. The play is set in the last days of the reign of King Richard the Lionheart (1157-1199) and centers around the activities of Robin Hood and King Richard’s younger brother, Prince John. The image on the left is reproduced from a promotional poster for a theater piece called Runnymede created about a hundred twenty years ago by a San Francisco man named William Greer Harrison (d.1916). (Courtesy of the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress) ![]() The Great Charter can be seen draped over the edge of a table in the background. Squeeze every last drop out of those insolent musical peasants.Frederick Warde played Robin Hood in this loosely historical drama about how the birth of the rule of law saved the life of the prince of thieves. ![]() Oh, they are, are they? Well, they'll be singing a different tune. The Sniveling, Groveling, Measly, Weaseling.īut, but Sire, it's a big hit. The Fabulous, Marvelous, Merciful, Chivalrous. Too late to be known as John the First, he's sure to be known as John the Worst! He throws an angry tantrum if he cannot have his way / He calls for Mom and sucks his thumb and doesn't want to play / Too late to be known as John the First, he's sure to be known as John the Worst!
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