V. iii.

70

80

90

Bore the Commiffion of my place and perfon,

The which immediacie may well stand vp,
And call it felfe your Brother.

Gon. Not fo hot:

In his owne grace he doth exalt himselfe,
More then in your addition.

Reg. In my rights,

By me inuefted, he compeeres the best.

Alb. That were the most, if he should husband you.
Reg. Iefters do oft proue Prophets.

Gon. Hola, hola,

That eye that told you fo, look'd but a fquint.

Rega. Lady I am not well, elfe I fhould answere

From a full flowing stomack. Generall,

Take thou my Souldiers, prifoners, patrimony,
Difpofe of them, of me, the walls is thine:

Witneffe the world, that I create thee heere
My Lord, and Master.

Gon. Meane you to enioy him?

Alb. The let alone lies not in your good will.
Baft. Nor in thine Lord.

Alb. Halfe-blooded fellow, yes.

Reg. Let the Drum strike, and proue my title thine.

Alb. Stay yet, heare reafon: Edmund, I arreft thee

On capitall Treafon; and in thy arrest,

This guilded Serpent: for your claime faire Sifters,

I bare it in the intereft of my wife,

'Tis fhe is fub-contracted to this Lord,

And I her husband contradict your Banes.
If you will marry, make your loues to me,
My Lady is bespoke.

Gon. An enterlude.

Alb. Thou art armed Glofter,

Let the Trmpet found:

If none appeare to proue vpon thy perfon,
Thy heynous, manifeft, and many Treasons,
There is my pledge: Ile make it on thy heart
Ere I tafte bread, thou art in nothing leffe
Then I haue heere proclaim'd thee.

Reg. Sicke, O ficke.

Gon. If not, Ile nere truft medicine.

Baft. There's my exchange, what in the world hes

That names me Traitor, villain-like he lies,

[307b

V. iii.

Call by thy trumpet, he that dares approach, 100 On him, on you, who not, I will maintaine My truth and honour firmely.

110

Alb. A Herald ho.

Baft. A Herald ho, a Herald.
Alb. Truft to thy fingle vertue, for thy fouldiers
All leuied in my name, haue in my name tooke their

Reg. This ficknes growes vpon me.
Alb. She is not well, conuey her to my tent,

Come hether Herald, let the trumpet found,
And read out this.

Cap. Sound trumpet?

(difcharge.

Her. If any man of qualitie or degree, in the hoast of the army, will maintaine vpon Edmund fuppofed Eearle of Glofter, that he's a manifold traitour, let him appeare at the third found of the trumpet, he is bold in his defence.

120

Enter Edgar at the third found, a trumpet before him.
Alb. Aske him his purposes why he appeares

Vpon this call oth' trumpet.

Her. What are you? your name and qualitie?
And why you anfwere this prefent fummons.

Edg. O know my name is loft by treafons tooth.
Bare-gnawne and canker-bitte; yet are I mou't
Where is the aduerfarie I come to cope with all.

Alb. Which is that aduerfarie?

(Glofter,

Edg. What's he that fpeakes for Edmund Earle of

Bast Him felfe, what faieft thou to him?

Edg. Draw thy fword.

That if my fpeech offend a noble hart, thy arme

May do thee Iuftice, here is mine.

Behold it is the priuiledge of my tongue,

130 My oath and my profeffion, I protest,

Maugure thy ftrength, youth, place and eminence,
Defpight thy victor, fword and fire new fortun'd,
Thy valor and thy heart thou art a traytor.

V. iii.

Call by the Trumpet: he that dares approach; 100 On him, on you, who not, I will maintaine

110

I

Herald reads.

A Tumpet founds.

F any man of qualitie or degree, within the lifts of the Army, will maintaine vpon Edmund, fuppofed Earle of Glofter, that he is a manifold Traitor, let him appeare by the third found of the Trumpet: he is bold in his defence.

1 Trumpet

Alb. Aske him his purposes, why he appeares

Vpon this Call o'th'Trumpet.

Her. What are you?

120 Your name, your quality, and why you answer

This prefent Summons?

Edg. Know my name is loft

By Treafons tooth: bare-gnawne, and Canker-bit,

Yet am I Noble as the Aduerfary

I come to cope.

Alb. Which is that Aduerfary?

Edg. What's he that fpeakes for Edmund Earle of Glo

That if my fpeech offend a Noble heart,

Thy arme may do thee Iuftice, heere is mine:
Behold it is my priuiledge,

The priuiledge of mine Honours,

130 My oath, and my profeffion. I proteft,

Maugre thy ftrength, place, youth, and eminence,
Despise thy victor-Sword, and fire new Fortune,
Thy valor, and thy heart, thou art a Traitor:

(fter?

V. iii.

140

150

160

Falfe to thy Gods thy brother and thy Father,
Confpicuate gainst this high illustrious prince,
And from the'xtreameft vpward of thy head,
To the defcent and duft beneath thy feet,
A moft toad-fpotted traytor fay thou no
This fword, this arme, and my best spirits,

As bent to proue vpon thy heart whereto I fpeake thou lieft,

Baft. In wifdome I fholud aske thy name,

But fince thy outside lookes fo faire and warlike,
And that thy being fome fay of breeding breathes,

By right of knighthood, I difdaine and spurne
Heere do I toffe thofe treafons to thy head.
With the hell hatedly, oreturnd thy heart,
Which for they yet glance by and scarcely bruse,
This fword of mine fhall giue them inftant way
Where they shall reft for euer, trumpets fpeake.

Alb. Saue him, faue him,

Gon. This is meere practife Glofter by the law of armes
Thou art not bound to anfwere an vnknowne opposite,

Thou art not vanquifht, but coufned and beguild,

Alb. Stop your mouth dame, or with this paper shall I stople it, thou worse then any thing, reade thine owne euill, nay no tearing Lady, I perceiue you know't.

(me for't.

Gon. Say if I do, the lawes are mine not thine, who shal arraine

Alb. Moft monftrous know'ft thou this paper?

Aske me not what I know.

Exit. Gonorill.

Gon.
Alb. Go after her, shee's desperate, gouerne her.

Baft. What you haue chargd me with, that haue I don

And more, much more, the time will bring it out.

Tis paft, and fo am I, but what art thou

That haft this fortune on me? if thou bee'ft noble

I do forgiue thee.

Edg. Let's exchange charity,

I am no leffe in bloud then thou art Edmond,

If more, the more thou haft wrongd me.

My name is Edgar, and thy fathers fonne,

170 The Gods are iuft, and of our pleasant vertues.

[77

V. iii.

Falfe to thy Gods, thy Brother, and thy Father,
Confpirant 'gainst this high illuftirous Prince,
And from th'extremeft vpward of thy head,
To the difcent and duft below thy foote,
A moft Toad-fpotted Traitor. Say thou no,

This Sword, this arme, and my beft fpirits are bent
140 To proue vpon thy heart, whereto I speake,
Thou lyeft.

150

160

Baft. In wifedome I should aske thy name,
But fince thy out-fide lookes fo faire and Warlike,
And that thy tongue (fome fay) of breeding breathes,
What fafe, and nicely I might well delay,

By rule of Knight-hood, I disdaine and spurne:
Backe do I toffe thefe Treafons to thy head,
With the hell-hated Lye, ore-whelme thy heart,
Which for they yet glance by, and fcarely bruife,
This Sword of mine fhall giue them inftant way,
Where they shall reft for euer. Trumpets fpeake.
Alb. Saue him, faue him.
Alarums. Fights.

Gon. This is practise Gloster,

By th❜law of Warre, thou waft not bound to answer
An vnknowne opposite: thou art not vanquish'd,
But cozend, and be guild.

Alb. Shut your mouth Dame,

Or with this paper fhall I ftop it: hold Sir,

Thou worse then any name, reade. thine owne euill:
No tearing Lady, I perceiue you know it.

Gon. Say if I do, the Lawes are mine not thine,
Who can araigne me for't?

Alb. Most monstrous! O, know'st thou this paper?
Baft. Aske me not what I know.

Alb. Go after her, fhe's defperate, gouerne her.
Baft. What you haue charg'd me with,

That haue I done,

And more, much more, the time will bring it out.

'Tis paft, and fo am 1: But what art thou

That haft this Fortune on me? If thou'rt Noble,
I do forgiue thee.

Edg. Let's exchange charity:

I am no leffe in blood then thou art Edmond,
If more, the more th'haft wrong'd me.
My name is Edgar and thy Fathers. Sonne,
170 The Gods are iuft, and of our pleafant vices.

Exit.

[308a