Act III, Scene iii of King John takes place following the battle near Angiers. King John speaks privately with his nephew, the Bastard (Philip Faulconbridge), instructing him to return to England and extract money from the monasteries and the clergy to fund the ongoing war effort. John then turns his attention to his mother, Queen Eleanor, leaving her in France under protective guard while he prepares to return to England. He also speaks briefly with young Arthur’s mother, Constance, though the weight of the scene shifts quickly to John’s darker designs. John pulls aside Hubert de Burgh, a loyal follower, and through a series of increasingly veiled and sinister hints, makes clear that he wishes Arthur — his young nephew and a rival claimant to the throne — to be killed. John never states his intention outright, instead speaking in circles until Hubert understands and agrees to carry out the deed.

The scene is notable for the cold, manipulative manner in which John engineers his request, never committing his murderous intent to plain language. He flatters Hubert, speaks warmly of his trust in him, and draws out a written note — presumably naming Arthur — which he presses into Hubert’s hand. Hubert, understanding the implication, confirms that the act will be done. John, satisfied, departs with a sense of grim resolution, having arranged what he believes will secure his throne by eliminating the boy whose claim to the crown continues to threaten his reign.

King John opens with King Philip of France supporting Arthur, the young son of John’s deceased brother Geoffrey, as the rightful heir to the English throne. John’s mother, Queen Eleanor, and the French court engage in heated disputes over legitimacy. Meanwhile, the Bastard (Philip Faulconbridge), illegitimate son of Richard the Lionheart, joins John’s cause after being legitimized. War breaks out between England and France, with the strategic town of Angiers caught between the two armies.

The conflict temporarily resolves when John’s niece Blanche marries the French Dauphin Lewis, uniting the two kingdoms. However, Cardinal Pandulph arrives from Rome and excommunicates John for refusing to accept Stephen Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury. The Cardinal persuades France to break the peace and resume war against the excommunicated English king. In the ensuing battle, Arthur is captured by John’s forces.

John orders Hubert to kill the young Arthur, but Hubert cannot bring himself to murder the child and instead hides him. When Arthur later dies attempting to escape from his prison tower, the English nobles believe John has murdered him and defect to join the invading French forces led by the Dauphin. As John faces rebellion from within and invasion from without, he submits to the Pope’s authority to regain legitimacy. However, he falls ill and is poisoned by a monk at Swinstead Abbey.

The Bastard rallies the remaining English forces and discovers that the French nobles plan to kill their English allies after victory. This intelligence helps reconcile the English lords to their king. John dies, and his young son Henry is crowned King Henry III. The Dauphin withdraws his forces, and Cardinal Pandulph negotiates peace. The play concludes with the Bastard delivering a patriotic speech about England’s strength when united against foreign threats.