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The Works of Christopher Marlowe

Edward II

Act: 5 Scene: 2

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.

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 ?

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.

Speake, shall he presently be dispatch'd and die?

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.

Gurney.

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.

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.

So now away, post thither wards amaine.

Finely dissembled, do so still sweet Queene.

Heere comes the yong prince, with the Earle of Kent.

If he have such accesse unto the prince,

Our plots and stratagems will soone be dasht.

How fares my honorable lord of Kent?

And mine.

Thou being his unckle, and the next of bloud,

Doe looke to be protector over the prince?

Inconstant Edmund, doost thou favor him,

That wast a cause of his imprisonment?

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.

Why yongling, s'dainst thou so of Mortimer?

Then I will carrie thee by force away.