Chapter JOHN o' Groat of J by Brewer's Readers Handbook

(Of course, this is a satire of what are called Christian or religious wars.)

John (King), a tragedy by Shakespeare (1598). This drama is founded on The First and Second Parts of the Troublesome Raigne of John King of England, etc. As they were sundry times publickly acted by the Queenes Majesties players in the Honourable Citie of London (1591).

The tale is this: King John usurped the crown of England from Arthur, the rightful heir, who thus became hateful to the usurper. King John induced his chamberlain, Hubert, to murder the young prince, and Hubert employed two men to put out the prince’s eyes, which would prevent his being a king. (See Kingship, Disqualification for.) Hubert relented and saved the boy, but the rumour of his death got wind, and the nobles rose in rebellion. John accused Hubert as the cause of this, but Hurbert informed the king that prince Arthur was alive. Unknown to Hubert, the prince was found dead, the pope put John under an interdict, and gave his kingdom to the French dauphin. When the dauphin landed with his army, king John gave his kingdom to the pope, who removed the interdict, and commanded the dauphin to return to France. However, a monk poisoned the king, who died, and the crown of England passed in regular succession to Henry III.

In “Macbeth,” “Hamlet,” “Wolsey,” “Coriolanus,” and “king John,” he [Edmund Kean, 1787–1833] never approached within any measurable distance of the learned, philosophical, and majestic Kemble.—Quarterly Review (1835).

W. C. Macready [1793–1873], in the scene where he suggests to “Hubert” the murder of “Arthur,” was masterly, and his representation of death by poison was true, forcible, and terrific.—Talfourd.

Kynge Johan, a drama of the transition state between the moralities and tragedy. Of the historical persons introduced we have king John, pope Innocent, cardinal Pandulphus, Stephen Langton, etc.; and of allegorical personages we have Widowed Britannia, Imperial Majesty Nobility, Clergy, Civil Order, Treason, Verity, and Sedition. This play was published in 1838 by the Camden Society, under the care of Mr. Collier (about 1550).

John (Little), one of the companions of Robin Hood.—Sir W. Scott: The Talisman (time, Richard I.).

John (Prester). According to Mandeville, Prester John was a lineal descendant of Ogier the Dane. This Ogier penetrated into the north of India with fifteen barons of his own country, among whom he divided the land. John was made sovereign of Teneduc, and was called Prester because he converted the natives.

Another tradition says he had seventy kings for his vassals, and was seen by his subjects only three times a year.

Marco Polo says that Prester John was the khan Ung, who was slain in battle by Jenghiz Khan, in 1202. He was converted by the Nestorians, and his baptismal name was John. Gregory Bar-Hebræus’ says that God forsook him because he had taken to himself a wife of the Zinish nation, called Quarakhata.

Otto of Freisingen is the first author who makes mention of Prester John. His chronicle is brought down to the year 1156, and in it we are assured that this most mysterious personage was of the family of the Magi, and ruled over the country of these Wise Men. “He used” (according to Otto) “a sceptre made of emeralds.”

Bishop Jordanus, in his description of the world, sets down Abyssinia as the kingdom of Prester John. At one time Abyssinia went by the name of Middle India.

Maimonidês mentions Prester John, and calls him Preste-Cuan. The date of Maimondês is 1135–1204.