Act Five, Scene Two
Enter Mortimer, and Queene Isabell.Mortimer
Faire Isabell now have we our desire,
The proud corrupters of the light-brainde king,
Have done their homage to the loftie gallowes,
And he himselfe lies in captivitie.
Be rulde by me, and we will rule the realme,
In any case, take heed of childish feare,
For now we hould an old Wolfe by the eares,
That if he slip will seaze upon us both,
And gripe the sorer being gript himselfe.
Thinke therefore madam that imports us much,
To erect your sonne with all the speed we may,
And that I be protector over him,
For our behoofe will beare the greater sway
When as a kings name shall be under writ.
Queene
Sweet Mortimer, the life of Isabell
Be thou perswaded, that I love thee well,
And therefore so the prince my sonne be safe,
Whome I esteeme as deare as these mine eyes,
Conclude against his father what thou wilt,
And I my selfe will willinglie subscribe.
Mortimer
First would I heare newes that hee were deposde,
And then let me alone to handle him.
Enter Messenger [and then Bishop of Winchester with the crown].
Letters from whence ?
Messenger
From Killingworth my lorde.
Queene
How fares my lord the king ?
Messenger
In health madam, but full of pensivenes.
Queene
Alas poore soule, would I could ease his greefe.
Thankes gentle Winchester: sirra, be gon.
[Exit Messenger.]
Bishop
The king hath willingly resignde his crowne.
Queene
O happie newes, send for the prince my sonne.
Bishop
Further, or this letter was sealed, Lord Bartley came,
So that he now is gone from Killingworth,
And we have heard that Edmund laid a plot,
To set his brother free, no more but so.
The lord of Bartley is so pitifull,
As Leicester that had charge of him before.
Queene
Then let some other be his guardian.
[Exit Winchester.]
Mortimer
Let me alone, here is the privie seale,
Whose there? call hither Gurney and Matrevis.
To dash the heavie headed Edmunds drift,
Bartley shall be dischargd, the king remoovde,
And none but we shall know where he lieth.
Queene
But Mortimer, as long as he survives
What safetie rests for us, or for my sonne?
Mortimer
Speake, shall he presently be dispatch'd and die?
Queen
I would hee were, so it ere not by my meanes.
Enter Matrevis and Gurney.
Mortimer
Inough.
Matrevis, write a letter presently
Unto the Lord of Bartley from our selfe,
That he resigne the king to thee and Gurney,
And when tis done, we will subscribe our name.
Matrevis
It shall be done my lord.
Mortimer.
Gurney.
Gurney
My Lorde.
Mortimer
As thou intendest to rise by Mortimer,
Who now makes Fortunes wheele turne as he please,
Seeke all the meanes thou canst to make him droope,
And neither give him kinde word, nor good looke.
Gurney
I warrant you my lord.
Mortimer
And this above the rest, because we heare
That Edmund casts to worke his libertie,
Remoove him still from place to place by night,
Till at the last, he come to Killingworth,
And then from thence to Bartley back againe:
And by the way to make him fret the more,
Speake curstlie to him, and in any case
Let no man comfort him, if he chaunce to weepe,
But amplifie his greefe with bitter words.
Matrevis
Feare not my Lord, weele do as you commaund.
Mortimer
So now away, post thither wards amaine.
Queene
Whither goes this letter, to my lord the king?
Commend me humblie to his Majestie,
And tell him, that I labour all in vaine,
To ease his greefe, and worke his libertie:
And beare him this, as witnesse of my love.
A ring.
Matrevis
I will madam.
Exeunt Matrevis and Gurney. Manent Isabell and Mortimer.
Enter the yong Prince, and the Earle of Kent talking with him.
Mortimer
Finely dissembled, do so still sweet Queene.
Heere comes the yong prince, with the Earle of Kent.
Queene
Some thing he whispers in his childish eares.
Mortimer.
If he have such accesse unto the prince,
Our plots and stratagems will soone be dasht.
Queene
Use Edmund friendly, as if all were well.
Mortimer
How fares my honorable lord of Kent?
Kent
In health sweete Mortimer, how fares your grace?
Queene
Well, if my Lorde your brother were enlargde.
Kent
I heare of late he hath deposde himselfe.
Queene
The more my greefe.
Mortimer
And mine.
Kent
Ah they do dissemble.
[Aside.]
Queene
Sweete sonne come hither, I must talke with thee.
Mortimer
Thou being his unckle, and the next of bloud,
Doe looke to be protector over the prince?
Kent
Not I my lord: who should protect the sonne,
But she that gave him life, I meane the Queene?
Prince
Mother, perswade me not to weare the crowne,
Let him be king, I am too yong to raigne.
Queene
But bee content, seeing it his highnesse pleasure.
Prince
Let me but see him first, and then I will.
Kent
I, do sweete Nephew.
Queene
Brother, you know it is impossible.
Prince
Why, is he dead ?
Queene
No, God forbid.
Kent
I would those wordes proceeded from your heart.
Mortimer
Inconstant Edmund, doost thou favor him,
That wast a cause of his imprisonment?
Kent
The more cause have I now to make amends.
Mortimer
I tell thee tis not meet, that one so false
Should come about the person of a prince.
My lord, he hath betraied the king his brother,
And therefore trust him not.
Prince
But hee repents, and sorrowes for it now.
Queene
Come sonne, and go with this gentle Lorde and me.
Prince
With you I will, but not with Mortimer.
Mortimer
Why yongling, s'dainst thou so of Mortimer?
Then I will carrie thee by force away.
Prince
Helpe unckle Kent, Mortimer will wrong me.
Queene
Brother Edmund, strive not, we are his friends,
Isabell is neerer then the earle of Kent.
Kent
Sister, Edward is my charge, redeeme him.
Queene.
Edward is my sonne, and I will keepe him. [Is going off]
Kent.
Mortimer shall know that he hath wrongde mee.
Hence will I haste to Killingworth castle,
And rescue aged Edward from his foes,
To be revengde on Mortimer and thee.
Exeunt omnes [severally].