Scene + 

II + 

The Royal Palace, London. + 

Enter Queen Isabella and the Younger Mortimer. + 

Younger Mortimer + 

Fair Isabel, now have we our desire; + 

The proud corrupters of the light-brained king + 

Have done their homage to the lofty gallows, + 

And he himself lies in captivity. + 

Be ruled by me, and we will rule the realm: + 

In any case take heed of childish fear, + 

For now we hold an old wolf by the ears, + 

That, if he slip, will seize upon us both, + 

And gripe the sorer, being griped himself. + 

Think therefore, madam, that imports us much + 

To erect your son with all the speed we may, + 

And that I be protector over him: + 

For our behoof, ’twill bear the greater sway + 

Whenas a king’s name shall be under-writ. + 

Queen Isabella + 

Sweet Mortimer, the life of Isabel, + 

Be thou persuaded that I love thee well; + 

And therefore, so the prince my son be safe, + 

Whom I esteem as dear as these mine eyes, + 

Conclude against his father what thou wilt, + 

And I myself will willingly subscribe. + 

Younger Mortimer + 

First would I hear news he were deposed, + 

And then let me alone to handle him. + 

Enter Messenger. + 

Letters! from whence? + 

Messenger + 

From Killingworth, my lord. + 

Queen Isabella + 

How fares my lord the king? + 

Messenger + 

In health, madam, but full of pensiveness. + 

Queen Isabella + 

Alas, poor soul, would I could ease his grief! + 

Enter the Bishop of Winchester with the crown. + 

Thanks, gentle Winchester.⁠— + 

Sirrah, be gone. + 

Exit Messenger. + 

Bishop of Winchester + 

The king hath willingly resigned his crown. + 

Queen Isabella + 

O, happy news! send for the prince my son. + 

Bishop of Winchester + 

Further, or this letter was sealed, Lord Berkeley came, + 

So that he now is gone from Killingworth; + 

And we have heard that Edmund laid a plot + 

To set his brother free; nor more but so. + 

The Lord of Berkeley is so pitiful + 

As Leicester that had charge of him before. + 

Queen Isabella + 

Then let some other be his guardian. + 

Younger Mortimer + 

Let me alone; here is the privy-seal. + 

Exit the Bishop of Winchester. + 

To Attendants within. Who’s there? Call hither, Gurney and Matrevis.⁠— + 

To dash the heavy-headed Edmund’s drift, + 

Berkeley shall be discharged, the king removed, + 

And none but we shall know where he lieth. + 

Queen Isabella + 

But, Mortimer, as long as he survives, + 

What safety rests for us or for my son? + 

Younger Mortimer + 

Speak, shall he presently be despatched and die? + 

Queen Isabella + 

I would he were, so ’twere not by my means! + 

Enter Matrevis and Gurney. + 

Younger Mortimer + 

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. + 

Matrevis + 

It shall be done, my lord. Writes. + 

Younger Mortimer + 

Gurney⁠— + 

Gurney + 

My lord? + 

Younger Mortimer + 

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, + 

And neither give him kind word nor good look. + 

Gurney + 

I warrant you, my lord. + 

Younger Mortimer + 

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. + 

Matrevis + 

Fear not, my lord; we’ll do as you command. + 

Younger Mortimer + 

So, now away! post thitherwards amain. + 

Queen Isabella + 

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. + 

Matrevis + 

I will, madam. Exit with Gurney. + 

Younger Mortimer + 

Finely dissembled! do so still, sweet queen. + 

Here comes the young prince with the Earl of Kent. + 

Queen Isabella + 

Something he whispers in his childish ears. + 

Younger Mortimer + 

If he have such access unto the prince, + 

Our plots and stratagems will soon be dashed. + 

Queen Isabella + 

Use Edmund friendly, as if all were well. + 

Enter Prince Edward, and Kent talking with him. + 

Younger Mortimer + 

How fares my honourable Lord of Kent? + 

Kent + 

In health, sweet Mortimer.⁠—How fares your grace? + 

Queen Isabella + 

Well, if my lord your brother were enlarged. + 

Kent + 

I hear of late he hath deposed himself. + 

Queen Isabella + 

The more my grief. + 

Younger Mortimer + 

And mine. + 

Kent + 

Aside. Ah, they do dissemble! + 

Queen Isabella + 

Sweet son, come hither; I must talk with thee. + 

Younger Mortimer + 

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. + 

Prince Edward + 

Mother, persuade me not to wear the crown: + 

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

Queen Isabella + 

But be content, seeing ’tis his highness’ pleasure. + 

Prince Edward + 

Let me but see him first, and then I will. + 

Kent + 

Ay, do, sweet nephew. + 

Queen Isabella + 

Brother, you know it is impossible. + 

Prince Edward + 

Why, is he dead? + 

Queen Isabella + 

No, God forbid! + 

Kent + 

I would those words proceeded from your heart! + 

Younger Mortimer + 

Inconstant Edmund, dost thou favour him, + 

That wast a cause of his imprisonment? + 

Kent + 

The more cause now have I to make amends. + 

Younger Mortimer + 

Aside to Queen Isabella. I tell thee, ’tis not meet that one so false + 

Should come about the person of a prince.⁠— + 

My lord, he hath betrayed the king his brother, + 

And therefore trust him not. + 

Prince Edward + 

But he repents, and sorrows for it now. + 

Queen Isabella + 

Come, son, and go with this gentle lord and me. + 

Prince Edward + 

With you I will, but not with Mortimer. + 

Younger Mortimer + 

Why, youngling, ’sdain’st thou so of Mortimer? + 

Then I will carry thee by force away. + 

Prince Edward + 

Help, uncle Kent! Mortimer will wrong me. + 

Queen Isabella + 

Brother Edmund, strive not; we are his friends; + 

Isabel is nearer than the Earl of Kent. + 

Kent + 

Sister, Edward is my charge; redeem him. + 

Queen Isabella + 

Edward is my son, and I will keep him. + 

Kent + 

Aside. Mortimer shall know that he hath wronged me. + 

Hence will I haste to Killingworth Castle, + 

And rescue aged Edward from his foes, + 

To be revenged on Mortimer and thee. + 

Exeunt, on the one side, Queen Isabella, Prince Edward, and the Younger Mortimer; on other other, Kent. + 