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“supernal judge”) who has made him Arthur’s guardian. John responds that he usurps his authority but Philip replies that preventing usurping is a good enough excuse. Elinor demands to know who he is accusing of usurping and Constance replies Elinor’s usurping son, John. Elinor accuses Constance of wanting to make her bastard king so that she can rule. Constance replies that she was never unfaithful to Geoffrey and that her son’s less likely to be a bastard than Elinor’s. The two women continue to insult each other. Austria calls for peace. The Bastard (Richard) demands to know who speaks and threatens to take the lion-skin, which belonged to King Richard Coeur-de-lion, from his back.
    Lines 151–205: Lewis demands that the “women and fools” keep quiet. He claims “England and Ireland, Anjou, Touraine, Maine” for Arthur and asks John to resign his claim and lay down his arms. John refuses but adds that if Arthur yields to him, he’ll give him more than France can win by fighting. Elinor tells Arthur to come to her. Constance mocks her offer saying, in exchange for the kingdom, his “grandam” will give Arthur “a plum, a cherry and a fig.” Arthur tells his mother to be quiet: he wishes he were dead, he’s not worth all this “coil” (fuss). Elinor blames Constance for making Arthur weep and Constance blames Elinor and they resume their slanging match. King John and then King Philip call for peace. Philip suggests that they should ask the men of Angiers which of the two claimants they support—“Whose title they admit, Arthur’s or John’s.” A trumpet is sounded.
    Lines 206–306: A Citizen enters upon the walls and demands to know who has summoned them. The two kings each state their case and demand that the men of Angiers should judge between the rival claimants. John says that the French were about to lay siege to the town to destroy it until the English arrived but are now prepared to talk. Philip advances the legitimacy of Arthur’s claim to the English crown and says that if the men of Angiers will recognize this, they will leave them in peace. The Citizen claims that the people of Angiers are loyal to the English king. They ask him to say who that is but he is unable to. They must decide between themselves who the rightful king is and Angiers will then be loyal to him. The kings decide they’ll have to fight and set their armies in the field. The two armies start fighting.
    Lines 307–423: They cease and the French Herald demands that Angiers open the gates to receive Arthur. On the other side the English Herald claims victory for John. The Citizen claims that they have been watching all this while and judge the armies equally matched, that neither has achieved victory; they are not prepared to recognize either—“We hold our town for neither, yet for both.” The two kings meet, both still determined to fight on. The Bastard is keen to return to battle till one side has vanquished the other. The kings again appeal to the citizens of Angiers to recognize their right and are again refused. The Bastard then suggests that the two armies join together and turn their power against Angiers for defying them both.
    Lines 424–544: The kings agree and are deciding on their positions when the Citizen’s spokesperson suggests they can be reconciled peacefully by the marriage of John’s niece, “the lady Blanche,” and the King of France’s son, “Lewis the dauphin.” The Bastard is disgusted by the Citizen’s long speech in favor of the match. Elinor, however, advises John to accept and to offer a large dowry with Blanche, which will make the French king his ally rather than his enemy. John says that if the dauphin can love Blanche and agree to the match, he will give France all the English lands in France, apart from Angiers, including Anjou, Touraine, Maine and Poitiers. The dauphin looks at Blanche and seeing his own reflection “Drawn in the flattering table of her eye,”