As Leicester that had charge of him before.
ISAB. Then let some other be his guardian.
Y. MOR. Let me alone; here is the privy-seal.—
[Exit the BISH. OF WIN.*
Who's there? Call hither Gurney and Matrevis.-
[To Attendants within.

To dash the heavy-headed Edmund's drift,
Berkeley shall be discharg'd, the king remov'd,
And none but we shall know where he lieth.

ISAB. But, Mortimer, as long as he survives,
What safety rests for us or for my son?

Y. MOR. Speak, shall he presently be despatch'd and die?

ISAB. I would he were, so 't were not by my means!

Enter MATREVIS and GURney.

Y. MOR. Enough.-Matrevis, write a letter presently

Unto the Lord of Berkeley from ourself,

That he resign the king to thee and Gurney;
And, when 'tis done, we will subscribe our name.
MAT. It shall be done, my lord.

Y. MOR. Gurney.

GUR. My lord?

[Writes.

Y. MOR. As thou intend'st to rise by Mortimer, Who now makes Fortune's wheel turn as he please, Seek all the means thou canst to make him droop,

* Exit the Bish. of Win.] The old eds. do not mark the exit (nor indeed the entrance) of the Bishop. But it seems necessary that he should quit the stage here.

And neither give him kind word nor good look.
GUR. I warrant you, my lord.

Y. MOR. And this above the rest: because we hear That Edmund casts to work his liberty,

Remove him still from place to place by night,
Till at the last he come to Killingworth,
And then from thence to Berkeley back again;
And by the way, to make him fret the more,
Speak curstly to him; and in any case
Let no man comfort him, if he chance to weep,
But amplify his grief with bitter words.

MAT. Fear not, my lord; we'll do as you command.

Y. MOR. So, now away! post thitherwards amain. ISAB. Whither goes this letter? to my lord the king?

Commend me humbly to his majesty,

And tell him that I labour all in vain

To ease his grief and work his liberty;

And bear him this as witness of my love. [Gives ring. MAT. I will, madam. [Exit with GURney. Y. MOR. Finely dissembled! do so still, sweet

queen.

Here comes the young prince with the Earl of Kent.

ISAB. Something he whispers in his childish ears. Y. MOR. If he have such access unto the prince, Our plots and stratagems will soon be dash'd. ISAB. Use Edmund friendly, as if all were well.

*casts] i. e. plans, plots.

+ curstly] i. e. crossly.

Enter PRINCE EDWARD, and KENT talking
with him.

Y. MOR. How fares my honourable Lord of Kent? KENT. In health, sweet Mortimer.-How fares

your grace?

ISAB. Well, if my lord your brother were enlarg'd. KENT. I hear of late he hath depos'd himself. ISAB. The more my grief.

Y. MOR. And mine.

KENT. Ah, they do dissemble!

[Aside.

ISAB. Sweet son, come hither; I must talk with

thee.

Y. MOR. You, being his uncle, and the next of blood,

Do look to be protector o'er the prince.

KENT. Not I, my lord: who should protect the son, But she that gave him life? I mean the queen.

P. Edw. Mother, persuade me not to wear the

crown:

Let him be king; I am too young to reign.

ISAB. But be content, seeing 'tist his highness' pleasure.

P. Edw. Let me but see him first, and then I will. KENT. Ay, do, sweet nephew.

ISAB. Brother, you know it is impossible.

P. EDW. Why, is he dead?

t'tis] 2to 1598 "it."-2tos 1612, 1622," it is."

ISAB. No, God forbid !

KENT. I would those words proceeded from your heart!

Y. MOR. Inconstant Edmund, dost thou favour

him,

That wast a cause of his imprisonment?

KENT. The more cause have I now to make

amends.

Y. MOR. I tell thee, 'tis not meet that one so false Should come about the person of a prince.My lord, he hath betray'd the king his brother, And therefore trust him not.

P. Edw. But he repents, and sorrows for it now. ISAB. Come, son, and go with this gentle lord and

me.

P. EDW. With you I will, but not with Mortimer. Y. MOR. Why, youngling, 'sdain'st thou so of Mortimer?

Then I will carry thee by force away.

P. Edw. Help, uncle Kent! Mortimer will wrong

me.

ISAB. Brother Edmund, strive not; we are his

friends;

Isabel is nearer than the Earl of Kent.

KENT. Sister, Edward is my charge; redeem him. ISAB. Edward is my son, and I will keep him. KENT. Mortimer shall know that he hath wrongèd

me.

Hence will I haste to Killingworth-Castle,

And rescue agèd Edward from his foes,

To be reveng'd on Mortimer and thee.

[Aside. [Exeunt, on one side, QUEEN ISABELLA, PRINCE EDWARD, and the younger MORTIMER; on the other, KENT.

Enter MATREVIST, GURNEY, and Soldiers,
with KING Edward.

MAT. My lord, be not pensive; we are your friends: Men are ordain'd to live in misery;

Therefore, come; dalliance dangereth our lives.
EDW. Friends, whither must unhappy Edward go?
Will hateful Mortimer appoint no rest?

Must I be vexèd like the nightly bird,

Whose sight is loathsome to all winged fowls?
When will the fury of his mind assuage?
When will his heart be satisfied with blood?

If mine will serve, unbowel straight this breast,
And give my heart to Isabel and him:

It is the chiefest mark they level at.

GUR. Not so, my liege: the queen hath given this charge,

To keep your grace in safety:

Your passions make your dolours to § increase.
EDW. This usage makes my misery increase.

But can my air of life || continue long,

Enter Matrevis, &c.] Before Killingworth [Kenilworth] Castle.

+ To keep] Qy." Only to keep"?

to] So 4tos 1598, 1612.-Not in 4to 1622.

air of life] A Latinism, aura vitæ.