John, John, bad King John <br />Shamed the throne that he sat on; <br />Not a scruple, not a straw, <br />Cared this monarch for the law; <br />Promises he daily broke; <br />None could trust a word he spoke; <br />So the Barons brought a Deed; <br />Down to rushy Runnymede, <br />Magna Carta was it hight, <br />Charter of the People's Right, <br />Framed and fashioned to correct <br />Kings who act with disrespect - <br />And with stern and solemn air, <br />Pointing to the parchment there, <br />"Sign! Sign! Sign!" they said <br />"Sign, King John, or resign instead!" <br /> <br />John, John, turning pale, <br />Ground his teeth and bit his nail; <br />Chewed his long moustache; and then <br />Ground and bit and chewed again. <br />"Plague upon the People!" he <br />Muttered, "What are they to me? <br />Plague upon the Barons, too!" <br />(Here he had another chew,) <br />But the Barons, standing by, <br />Eyed him with a baleful eye; <br />Not a finger did they lift; <br />Not an eyelash did they shift; <br />But with one tremendous roar, <br />Even louder than before, <br />"Sign! Sign! Sign!" they said, <br />"SIGN, KING JOHN, OR RESIGN INSTEAD!"<br /><br />Eleanor Farjeon<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/bad-king-john/
