Edward II

age;
And therefore will I do it cunningly.
This letter, written by a friend of ours,
Contains his death, yet bids then save his life.
Reads. “Edwardum occidere nolite timere, bonum est,
Fear not to kill the king, ’tis good he die.”
But read it thus, and that’s another sense;
“Edwardum occidere nolite, timere bonum est,
Kill not the king, ’tis good to fear the worst.”
Unpointed as it is, thus shall it go.
That, being dead, if it chance to be found,
Matrevis and the rest may bear the blame,
And we be quit that caused it to be done.
Within this room is locked the messenger
That shall convey it, and perform the rest;
And, by a secret token that he bears,
Shall he be murdered when the deed is done.⁠—
Lightborn, come forth! Enter Lightborn. Art thou so resolute as thou wast? Lightborn What else, my lord? and far more resolute. Younger Mortimer And hast thou cast how to accomplish it? Lightborn Ay, ay; and none shall know which way he died. Younger Mortimer But at his looks, Lightborn, thou wilt relent. Lightborn Relent! ha, ha! I use much to relent. Younger Mortimer Well, do it bravely, and be secret. Lightborn

You shall not need to give instructions;
’Tis not the first time I have killed a man:
I learned in Naples how to poison flowers;
To strangle with a lawn thrust down the throat;
To pierce the wind pipe with a needle’s point;
Or, whilst one is asleep, to take a quill,
And blow a little powder in his ears;
Or open his mouth, and pour quicksilver down.
But yet I have a braver way than these.

Younger Mortimer What’s that? Lightborn Nay, you shall pardon me; none shall know my tricks. Younger Mortimer

I care not how it is, so it be not spied.
Deliver this to Gurney and Matrevis: Gives letter.
At every ten-mile end thou hast a horse:
Take this: Gives money. away, and never see me more!

Lightborn No? Younger Mortimer No; unless thou bring me news of Edward’s death. Lightborn That will I quickly do. Farewell, my lord. Exit. Younger Mortimer

The prince I rule, the queen do I command,
And with a lowly congé to the ground
The proudest lords salute me as I pass;
I seal, I cancel, I do what I will.
Feared am I more than loved;⁠—let me be feared,
And, when I frown, make all the court look pale.
I view the prince with Aristarchus’ eyes,
Whose looks were as a breeching to a boy.
They thrust upon me the protectorship,
And sue to me for that that I desire;
While at the council-table, grave enough,
And not unlike a bashful puritan,
First I complain of imbecility,
Saying it is onus quam gravissimum;
Till, being interrupted by my friends,
Suscepi that provinciam, as they term it;
And, to conclude, I am Protector now.
Now all is sure: the queen and Mortimer
Shall rule the realm, the king; and none rule us.
Mine enemies will I plague, my friends advance;
And what I list command who dare control?
Major sum quam cui possit fortuna nocere:
And that this be the coronation-day,
It pleaseth me and Isabel the queen. Trumpets within.
The trumpets sound; I must go take my place.

Enter King Edward III, Queen Isabella, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Champion, and Nobles. Archbishop of Canterbury

Long live King Edward, by the grace of God
King of England and Lord of Ireland!

Champion

If any Christian, Heathen, Turk, or Jew,
Dares but affirm that Edward’s not true king,
And will avouch his saying with the sword,
I am the Champion that will combat him.

Younger Mortimer None comes: sound, trumpets! Trumpets. King Edward III Champion, here’s to thee. Gives purse. Queen Isabella Lord Mortimer, now take him to your charge. Enter Soldiers with Kent prisoner. Younger Mortimer What traitor have we there with blades and bills? First Soldier Edmund, the Earl of Kent. King Edward III What hath he done? First Soldier

’A would have taken the king away perforce,
As we were bringing him to Killingworth.

Younger Mortimer Did you attempt his rescue, Edmund? speak. Kent

Mortimer, I did: he is our king,
And thou compell’st this prince to wear the crown.

Younger Mortimer Strike off his head: he shall have martial law. Kent Strike off my head! base traitor, I defy thee! King Edward III My lord, he is my uncle, and shall live. Younger Mortimer My lord, he is your enemy, and shall die. Kent Stay, villains! King Edward III

Sweet mother, if I cannot pardon him,
Entreat my Lord Protector for his life.

Queen Isabella Son, be content: I dare not speak a word. King Edward III

Nor I; and yet methinks I should command:
But, seeing I cannot, I’ll entreat for him.⁠—
My lord, if you will let my uncle live,
I will requite it when I come to age.

Younger Mortimer

’Tis for your highness’ good and for the realm’s.⁠—
How often shall I bid you bear him hence?

Kent Art thou king? must I die at thy command? Younger Mortimer At our command.⁠—Once more, away with him! Kent

Let me but stay and speak; I will not go:
Either my brother or his son is king,
And none of both them thirst for Edmund’s blood:
And therefore, soldiers, whither will you hale me?

Soldiers hale Kent away, and carry him to be beheaded. King Edward III

What safety may I look for at his hands,
If that my uncle shall be murdered thus?

Queen Isabella

Fear not, sweet boy; I’ll guard thee from thy foes:
Had Edmund lived, he would have sought thy death.
Come, son, we’ll ride a-hunting in the park.

King Edward III And shall my uncle Edmund ride with us? Queen Isabella He is a traitor; think not on him: come. Exeunt.

Scene V

Berkeley Castle.

	Enter Matrevis and Gurney.
Matrevis	Gurney, I wonder the king dies not, Being in a vault up to the knees in water, To which the channels of the castle run, From whence a damp continually ariseth, That were enough to poison any man, Much more a king, brought up so tenderly.
Gurney	And so do I, Matrevis: yesternight I opened but the door to throw him meat, And I was almost stifled with the savour.
Matrevis	He hath