Come the three corners of the world in arms

What's the origin of the phrase 'Come the three corners of the world in arms'?

From Shakespeare’s King John, 1595:

Now these her princes are come home again,
Come the three corners of the world in arms,
And we shall shock them. Nought shall make us rue,
If England to itself do rest but true.

Related phrases and meanings

Browse more Phrases

About the Author

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Come the three corners of the world in arms

Phrases & Meanings

A-Z

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T UV W XYZ