LEICESTER
Who was it, then, my queen,
Who saved you? Was it Burleigh? Did he know
The dangers which surrounded you? Did he
Avert them from your head? Your faithful Leicester
Was your good angel.
BURLEIGH
This same Mortimer
Died most conveniently for you, my lord.
ELIZABETH
What I should say I know not. I believe you,
And I believe you not. I think you guilty,
And yet I think you not. A curse on her
Who caused me all this anguish.
LEICESTER
She must die;
I now myself consent unto her death.
I formerly advised you to suspend
The sentence, till some arm should rise anew
On her behalf; the case has happened now,
And I demand her instant execution.
BURLEIGH
You give this counsel? You?
LEICESTER
Howe'er it wound
My feelings to be forced to this extreme,
Yet now I see most clearly, now I feel
That the queen's welfare asks this bloody victim.
'Tis my proposal, therefore, that the writ
Be drawn at once to fix the execution.
BURLEIGH (to the QUEEN)
Since, then, his lordship shows such earnest zeal,
Such loyalty, 'twere well were he appointed
To see the execution of the sentence.
LEICESTER
Who? I?
BURLEIGH
Yes, you; you surely ne'er could find
A better means to shake off the suspicion
Which rests upon you still, than to command
Her, whom 'tis said you love, to be beheaded.
ELIZABETH (looking steadfastly at LEICESTER)
My lord advises well. So be it, then.
LEICESTER
It were but fit that my exalted rank
Should free me from so mournful a commission,
Which would indeed, in every sense, become
A Burleigh better than the Earl of Leicester.
The man who stands so near the royal person
Should have no knowledge of such fatal scenes:
But yet to prove my zeal, to satisfy
My queen, I waive my charge's privilege,
And take upon myself this hateful duty.
ELIZABETH
Lord Burleigh shall partake this duty with you.
[To BURLEIGH.
So be the warrant instantly prepared.
[BURLEIGH withdraws; a tumult heard without.
SCENE VII
The QUEEN, the EARL OF KENT.
ELIZABETH
How now, my Lord of Kent? What uproar's this
I hear without?
KENT
My queen, it is thy people,
Who, round the palace ranged, impatiently
Demand to see their sovereign.