I Thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany then Cornwell .

It did allwaies seeme so to vs , but now in the diuision of the kingdomes , it appeares not which of the Dukes he values most , for equalities are so weighed , that curiositie in neither , can make choise of eithers moytie .

Is not this your sonne my Lord ?

His breeding sir hath beene at my charge , I haue so often blusht to acknowledge him , that now I am braz'd to it .

I cannot conceiue you .

Sir , this young fellowes mother Could , wherupon shee grew round wombed , and had indeed Sir a sonne for her cradle , ere she had a husband for her bed , doe you smell a fault ?

I cannot wish the fault vndone , the issue of it being so proper .

But I haue sir a sonne by order of Law , some yeare elder then this , who yet is no deerer in my account , though this knaue came something sawcely into the world before hee was sent for , yet was his mother faire , there was good sport at his makeing & the whoreson must be acknowledged , do you know this noble gentleman Edmund ?

My Lord of Kent , remember him hereafter as my honorable friend ..

My seruices to your Lordship .

I must loue you , and sue to know you better .

Sir I shall study deseruing .

Hee hath beene out nine yeares , and away hee shall againe , the King is comming .

Attend my Lords of France and Burgundy , Gloster .

I shall my Leige .

Vnhappie that I am , I cannot heaue my heart into my mouth , I loue your Maiestie according to my bond , nor more nor lesse .

You see how full of changes his age is the obseruation we haue made of it hath not bin little ; hee alwaies loued our sister most , and with what poore iudgement hee hath now cast her off , appeares too grosse .

T is the infirmitie of his age , yet hee hath euer but slenderly knowne himselfe .

The best and soundest of his time hath bin but rash , then must we looke to receiue from his age not alone the imperfection of long ingrafted condition , but therwithal vnruly waywardnes , that infirme and cholericke yeares bring with them .

Such vnconstant starts are we like to haue from him , as this of Kents banishment .

There is further complement of leaue taking betweene France and him , pray le ts hit together , if our Father cary authority with such dispositions as he beares , this last surrender of his , will but offend vs ,

We shall further thinke on 't .

We must doe something , and i t'h heate .

Thou Nature art my Goddesse , to thy law my seruices are bound , wherefore should I stand in the plague of custome , and permit the curiositie of nations to depriue me , for that I am some twelue or 14. mooneshines lag of a brother , why bastard ? wherfore base , when my dementions are as well compact , my mind as generous , and my shape as true as honest madams issue , why brand they vs with base , base bastardie ? who in the lusty stealth of nature , take more composition and feirce quality , then doth within a stale dull lyed bed , goe to the creating of a whole tribe of fops got tweene a sleepe and wake ; well the legitimate Edgar , I must haue your land , our Fathers loue is to the bastard Edmund , as to the legitimate , well my legitimate , if this letter speede , and my inuention thriue , Edmund the base shall tooth'legitimate : I grow , I prosper , now Gods stand vp for Bastards .

Kent banisht thus , and France in choller parted , and the King gone to night , subscribd his power , confined to exhibition , all this donne vpon the gadde ; Edmund how now what newes ?

So please your Lordship , none .

Why so earnestly seeke you to put vp that letter ?

I know no newes my Lord .

What paper were you reading ?

Nothing my Lord ,

I beseech you Sir pardon me , it is a letter from my brother , that I haue not all ore read , for so much as I haue perused , I find it not fit for your liking .

Giue me the letter sir.

I shall offend either to detaine or giue it , the contents as in part I vnderstand them , are too blame .

Let s see , le ts see ?

I hope for my brothers iustification , he wrot this but as an essay , or tast of my vertue .

This policie of age makes the world bitter to the best of our times , keepes our fortunes from vs till our oldnes cannot relish them , I begin to find an idle and fond bondage in the oppression of aged tyranny , who swaies not as it hath power , but as it is suffered , come to me , that of this I may speake more , if our father would sleepe till I wakt him , you should inioy halfe his reuenew for euer , and liue the beloued of your brother Edgar .

Hum , conspiracie , slept till I wakt him , you should enioy halfe his reuenew , my sonne Edgar , had hee a hand to write this , a hart , and braine to breed it in , when came this to you , who brought it ?

It was not brought me my Lord , ther 's the cunning of it , I found it throwne in at the casement of my closet .

You know the Caractar to be your brothers ?

If the matter were good , my Lord I durst sweare it were his but in respect , of that I would faine thinke it were not ,

It is his ?

It is his hand my Lord , but I hope his heart is not in the contents .

Hath he neuer heretofore sounded you in this busines ?

Neuer my Lord , but I haue often heard him maintaine it to be fit , that sons at perfit age , & fathers declining , his father should be as ward to the sonne , and the sonne mannage the reuenew .

I doe not well know my Lord , if it shall please you to suspend your indignation against my brother , til you can deriue from him better testimony of this intent : you should run a certaine course , where if you violently proceed against him , mistaking his purpose , it would make a great gap in your owne honour , & shake in peeces the heart of his obedience , I dare pawn downe my life for him , he hath wrote this to feele my affection to your honour , and to no further pretence of danger .

Thinke you so ?

If your honour iudge it meete , I will place you where you shall heare vs conferre of this , and by an aurigular assurance haue your satisfaction , and that without any further delay then this very euening .

He cannot be such a monster .

Nor is not sure .

To his father , that so tenderly and intirely loues him , heauen and earth ! Edmund seeke him out , wind mee into him , I pray you frame your busines after your own wisedome , I would vnstate my selfe to be in a due resolution .

I shall seeke him sir presently , conuey the businesse as I shall see meanes , and acquaint you withall .

These late eclipses in the Sunne and Moone portend no good to vs , though the wisedome of nature can reason thus and thus , yet nature finds it selfe scourg'd by the sequent effects , loue cooles , friendship fals off , brothers diuide , in Citties mutinies , in Countries discords , Pallaces treason , the bond crackt betweene sonne and father ; find out this villaine Edmund , it shal loose thee nothing , doe it carefully , and the noble and true harted Kent banisht , his offence honest , strange strange !

This is the excellent foppery of the world , that when we are sicke in Fortune , often the surfeit of our owne behauiour , we make guiltie of our disasters , the Sunne , the Moone , and the Starres , as if we were Villaines by necessitie , Fooles by heauenly compulsion , Knaues , Theeues , and Trecherers by spirituall predominance , Drunkards , Lyars and Adulterers by an enforst obedience of planitary influence , and all that wee are euill in , by a diuine thrusting on , an admirable euasion of whoremaster man , to lay his gotish disposition to the charge of Starres : my Father compounded with my Mother vnder the Dragons taile , and my natiuitie was vnder Vrsa maior , so that it followes , I am rough and lecherous , Fut , I should haue beene that I am , had the maidenlest starre of the Firmament twinckled on my bastardy Edgar ; and out hee comes like the Catastrophe of the old Comedy , mine is villanous melancholy , with a sith like them of Bedlam ; O these eclipses doe portend these diuisions .

How now brother Edmund , what serious contemplation are you in ?

I am thinking brother of a prediction I read this other day , what should follow these Eclipses .

Doe you busie your selfe about that ?

I promise you the effects he writ of , succeed vnhappily , as of vnnaturalnesse betweene the child and the parent , death , dearth , dissolutions of ancient amities , diuisions in state , menaces and maledictions against King and nobles , needles diffidences , banishment of friends , dissipation of Cohorts , nuptial breaches , and I know not what .

How long haue you beene a sectary Astronomicall ?

Come , come , when saw you my father last ?

Why , the night gon by .

Spake you with him ?

Two houres together .

Parted you in good tearmes ? found you no displeasure in him by word or countenance ?

None at all .

Bethinke your selfe wherein you may haue offended him , and at my intreatie , forbeare his presence , till some little time hath qualified the heat of his displeasure , which at this instant so rageth in him , that with the mischiefe , of your parson it would scarce allay .

Some villaine hath done me wrong .

That s my feare brother , I aduise you to the best , goe arm'd , I am no honest man if there bee any good meaning towards you , I haue told you what I haue seene & heard , but faintly , nothing like the image and horror of it , pray you away ?

Shall I heare from you anon ?

Did my Father strike my gentleman for chiding of his foole ?

Yes Madam .

Hee 's coming Madam I heare him .

Put on what wearie negligence you please , you and your fellow seruants , i 'de haue it come in question , if he dislike it , let him to our sister , whose mind and mine I know in that are one , not to be ouerruld ; idle old man that still would manage those authorities that hee hath giuen away , now by my life old fooles are babes again , & must be vs'd with checkes as flatteries , when they are seene abusd , remember what I tell you .

Very well Madam .

And let his Knights haue colder looks among you , what growes of it no matter , aduise your fellowes so . I would breed from hence occasions , and I shall , that I may speake , i le write straight to my sister to hould my very course , goe prepare for dinner .

If but as well I other accents borrow , that can my speech defuse , my good intent may carry through it selfe to that full issue for which I raz'd my likenes , now banisht Kent , if thou canst serue where thou dost stand condem'd , thy maister whom thou louest shall find the full of labour .

Let me not stay a iot for dinner , goe get it readie , how now , what art thou ?

A man Sir .

What dost thou professe ? what would'st thou with vs ?

I doe professe to be no lesse then I seeme , to serue him truly that will put me in trust , to loue him that is honest , to conuerse with him that is wise , and sayes little , to feare iudgement , to fight when I cannot chuse , and to eate no fishe .

What art thou ?

A very honest harted fellow , and as poore as the king .

If thou be as poore for a subiect , as he is for a King , thar' t poore enough , what would'st thou ?

Seruice .

Who would'st thou serue ?

You.

Do'st thou know me fellow ?

No sir , but you haue that in your countenance , which I would faine call Maister .

What s that ?

Authoritie .

What seruices canst doe ?

I can keepe honest counsaile , ride , run , mar a curious tale in telling it , and deliuer a plaine message bluntly , that which ordinarie men are fit for , I am qualified in , and the best of me , is diligence .

How old art thou ?

Not so yong to loue a woman for singing , nor so old to dote on her for any thing , I haue yeares on my backe fortie eight .

Follow mee , thou shalt serue mee , if I like thee no worse after dinner , I will not part from thee yet , dinner , ho dinner , wher 's my knaue , my foole , goe you and call my foole hether , you sirra , wher s my daughter ?

So please you ,

What say's the fellow there , call the clat-pole backe , wher s my foole , ho I thinke the world's asleepe , how now , wher 's that mungrel ?

He say's my Lord , your daughter is not well .

Why came not the slaue backe to mee when I cal'd him ?

Sir , hee answered mee in the roundest maner , hee would not .

A would not ?

My Lord , I know not what the matter is , but to my iudgement , your highnes is not entertained with that ceremonious affection as you were wont , ther 's a great abatement , apeer's as well in the generall dependants , as in the Duke himselfe also , and your daughter .

Ha , say'st thou so ?

I beseech you pardon mee my Lord , if I be mistaken , for my dutie cannot bee silent , when I thinke your highnesse wrong'd .

Thou but remember'st me of mine owne conception , I haue perceiued a most faint neglect of late , which I haue rather blamed as mine owne ielous curiositie , then as a very pretence & purport of vnkindnesse , I will looke further into 't , but wher 's this foole ? I haue not seene him this two dayes .

Since my yong Ladies going into France sir , the foole hath much pined away .

No more of that , I haue noted it , goe you and tell my daughter , I would speake with her , goe you cal hither my foole , O you sir , you sir , come you hither , who am I sir ?

My Ladies Father .

My Ladies father , my Lords knaue , you horeson dog , you slaue , you cur .

I am none of this my Lord , I beseech you pardon me .

Doe you bandie lookes with me you rascall ?

I le not be struck my Lord ,

Nor tript neither , you base football player .

I thanke thee fellow , thou seru'st me , and i le loue thee .

Come sir i le teach you differences , away , away , if you will measure your lubbers length againe , tarry , but away , you haue wisedome .

Now friendly knaue I thanke thee , their 's earnest of thy seruice .

How now my prety knaue , how do'st thou ?

Sirra , you were best take my coxcombe .

Why Foole ?

Why for taking on 's part , that 's out of fauour , nay and thou can'st not smile as the wind sits , thou 't catch cold shortly , there take my coxcombe ; why this fellow hath banisht two on 's daughters , and done the third a blessing against his will , if thou follow him , thou must needs weare my coxcombe , how now nuncle , would I had two coxcombes , and two daughters .

Why my boy ?

If I gaue them any liuing , i d'e keepe my coxcombs my selfe , ther 's mine , beg another of thy daughters .

Take heede sirra , the whip .

Truth is a dog that must to kenell , hee must bee whipt out , when Ladie oth'e brach may stand by the fire and stincke .

A pestilent gull to mee .

Sirra i le teach thee a speech .

Doe .

Marke it vncle , haue more then thou shewest , speake lesse then thou knowest , lend lesse then thou owest , ride more then thou goest , learne more then thou trowest , set lesse then thou throwest , leaue thy drinke and thy whore , and keepe in a doore , and thou shalt haue more , then two tens to a score .

This is nothing foole .

Then like the breath of an vnfeed Lawyer , you gaue me nothing for 't , can you make no vse of nothing vncle ?

Why no boy , nothing can be made out of nothing .

Preethe tell him so much the rent of his land comes to , he will not beleeue a foole .

A bitter foole .

Doo'st know the difference my boy , betweene a bitter foole , and a swecte foole .

No lad , teach mee .

Do'st thou call mee foole boy ?

This is not altogether foole my Lord .

No faith , Lords and great men will not let me , if I had a monopolie out , they would haue part an 't , and lodes too , they will not let me haue all the foole to my selfe , they 'l be snatching ; giue me an egge Nuncle , and i le giue thee two crownes .

What two crownes shall they be ?

Why , after I haue cut the egge in the middle and eate vp the meate , the two crownes of the egge ; when thou clouest thy crowne i t'h middle , and gauest away both parts , thou borest thy asse at 'h backe or'e the durt , thou had'st little wit in thy bald crowne , when thou gauest thy golden one away , if I speake like my selfe in this , let him be whipt that first finds it so .

Fooles had nere lesse wit in a yeare ,

For wise men are growne foppish ,

They know not how their wits doe weare ,

Their manners are so apish .

When were you wont to be so full of songs sirra ?

I haue vs'd it nuncle , euer since thou mad'st thy daughters thy mother , for when thou gauest them the rod , and put'st downe thine own breeches , then they for sudden ioy did weep , and I for sorrow sung , that such a King should play bo-peepe , and goe the fooles among , prethe Nunckle keepe a schoolemaster that can teach thy foole to lye , I would faine learne lye .

And you lye , wee le haue you whipt .

I maruell what kin thou and thy daughters are , they 'l haue me whipt for speaking true , thou wilt haue mee whipt for ●●ing , and sometime I am whipt for holding my peace , I had rather be any kind of thing then a foole , and yet I would not bee thee Nuncle , thou hast pared thy wit a both sides , & left nothing in the middle , here comes one of the parings .

How now daughter , what makes that Frontlet on , Me thinks you are too much alate i t'h frowne .

Thou wast a prettie fellow when thou had'st no need to care for her frowne , thou , thou art an O without a figure , I am better then thou art now , I am a foole , thou art nothing , yes forsooth I will hould my tongue , so your face bids mee , though you say nothing .

Mum , mum , he that keepes neither crust nor crum ,

Wearie of all , shall want some . That 's a sheald pescod .

Not onely sir this , your all-licenc'd foole , but other of your insolent retinue do hourely carpe and quarrell , breaking forth in ranke & ( not to be indured riots , ) Sir I had thought by making this well knowne vnto you , to haue found a safe redres , but now grow fearefull by what your selfe too late haue spoke and done , that you protect this course , and put on by your allowance , which if you should , the fault would not scape censure , nor the redresse , sleepe , which in the tender of a wholsome weale , might in their working doe you that offence , that else were shame , that then necessitie must call discreet proceedings .