None comes. Sound, trumpets!
EDWARD III. Champion, here's to thee.
ISABELLA. Lord Mortimer, now take him to your charge.
Enter soldiers with the Earl of Kent prisoner.
MORTIMER. What traitor have we there with blades and bills?
SOLDIER. Edmund, the Earl of Kent.
EDWARD III. What hath he done?
SOLDIER. 'A would have taken the King away perforce,
As we were bringing him to Killingworth.
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.
MORTIMER. Strike off his head! He shall have martial law.
KENT. Strike off my head! Base traitor, I defy thee!
EDWARD III. My lord, he is my uncle, and shall live.
MORTIMER. My lord, he is your enemy, and shall die.
KENT. Stay, villains!
EDWARD III. Sweet mother, if I cannot pardon him,
Entreat my Lord Protector for his life.
ISABELLA. Son, be content; I dare not speak a word.
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.
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?
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?
they hale Kent away, and carry him to be beheaded.
EDWARD III. What safety may I look for at his hands,
If that my uncle shall be murdered thus?
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.
EDWARD III. And shall my uncle Edmund ride with us?
ISABELLA. He is a traitor; think not on him. Come.
Exeunt
ACT FIVE, SCENE FIVE
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 a body able to endure
More than we can inflict, and therefore now
Let us assail his mind another while.
GURNEY. Send for him out thence, and I will anger him.
MATREVIS. But stay, who's this?
Enter Lightborn.
LIGHTBORN. My Lord Protector greets you.
GURNEY. What's here? I know not how to conster it.
MATREVIS. Gurney, it was left unpointed for the nonce;
'Edwardum occidere nolite timere,'
That's his meaning.
LIGHTBORN. Know you this token? I must have the King.
MATREVIS. Ay, stay a while; thou shalt have answer straight.
This villain's sent to make away the King.
GURNEY. I thought as much.
MATREVIS. And when the murder's done,
See how he must be handled for his labour.
Pereat iste! Let him have the King.
What else? Here is the keys, this is the lake.
Do as you are commanded by my lord.
LIGHTBORN. I know what I must do. Get you away,
Yet be not far off; I shall need your help.
See that in the next room I have a fire,
And get me a spit, and let it be red-hot.
MATREVIS. Very well.
GURNEY. Need you anything besides?
LIGHTBORN. What else? A table and a feather bed.
GURNEY. That's all?
LIGHTBORN. Ay, ay: so, when I call you, bring it in.
MATREVIS. Fear not you that.
GURNEY. Here's a light to go into the dungeon.
Exeunt Matrevis and Gurney.