ve.
_Y. Mor._ My lord, he is your enemy, and shall die.
_Kent._ Stay, villains!
_K. Edw. Third._ Sweet mother, if I cannot pardon him,
Entreat my Lord Protector for his life.
_Q. Isab._ Son, be content: I dare not speak a word.
_K. Edw. Third._ 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.
_Y. Mor._ '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?
_Y. Mor._ 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._
_K. Edw. Third._ What safety may I look for at his hands,
If that my uncle shall be murder'd thus?
_Q. Isab._ Fear not, sweet boy; I'll guard thee from thy foes:
Had Edmund liv'd, he would have sought thy death.
Come, son, we'll ride a-hunting in the park.
_K. Edw. Third._ And shall my uncle Edmund ride with us?
_Q. Isab._ He is a traitor; think not on him: come. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ MATREVIS _and_ GURNEY.

_Mat._ 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.
_Gur._ And so do I, Matrevis: yesternight
I open'd but the door to throw him meat,
And I was almost stifled with the savour.
_Mat._ He hath a body able to endure
More than we can inflict: and therefore now
Let us assail his mind another while.
_Gur._ Send for him out thence, and I will anger him.
_Mat._ But stay; who's this?

_Enter_ LIGHTBORN.

_Light._ My Lord Protector greets you. [_Gives letter._
_Gur._ What's there? I know not how to construe it.
_Mat._ Gurney, it was left unpointed for the nonce;
_Edwardum occidere nolite timere,_
That's his meaning.
_Light._ Know you this token? I must have the king. [_Gives token._
_Mat._ Ay, stay a while; thou shalt have answer straight.--
This villain's sent to make away the king.
_Gur._ I thought as much.
_Mat._ And, w