MAT. And thou art welcome; even the welcom'st man That ever came unto a woful maid. Be brief, good fellow: I have in the world No goods to give, no will at all to make; But God's will and the king's on me be done! A little money, kept to give in alms, I have about me: deathsman, take it all; Thou art the last poor almsman I shall see. Come, come, despatch! What weapon will death wear, When he assails me? Is it knife or sword, A strangling cord, or sudden flaming fire? BRAND. Neither, thou manly maid. Look here, look here: A cup of poison. Wherefore dost thou smile? MAT. O God! in this the king is merciful: My dear-lov'd Huntington by poison died. Good fellow, tell the king I thank his grace, And do forgive his causeless cruelty. I do forgive thee too, but do advise Thou leave this bloody course, and seek to save Thy soul immortal, closed in thy breast: [_He gives it her_. Be brief, I pray you. Now, to King John's health A full carouse:[358] and, God, remember not The curse he gave himself at Robin's death, Wishing by poison he might end his life, If ever he solicited my love. Farewell, good fellow. Now thy medicine works. And with the labour I am forc'd to rest. BRAND. 'Zounds! she cares not: she makes death a jest. MAT. The guiltless fear not death. Farewell, good friend; I pray thee, be no trouble in my end. [_He stands staring and quaking_. _Enter_ OXFORD, QUEEN, ABBESS, _Attendants_. OX. And say you, Lady Abbess, that there came One from the king unto her? what was he? ABB. Yonder he stands: I know not what he is. [_Still he stands staring_. QUEEN. Jesus have mercy! Oxford, come not nigh him. OX. Not nigh him, madam? yes: keep you away. ABB. Come in, good queen; I do not mean to stay. [_Exit_ ABBESS. QUEEN. Nor I to stir before I see the end.[359] OX. Why star'st thou thus? speak, fellow: answer me. Who art thou? BRAND. A bloody villain and a murderer! A hundred have I slain with mine own hands. 'Twas I that starv'd the Lady Bruce to death And her young son at Windsor Castle late: 'Tis I have slain Matilda, blessed maid, And now will hurry to damnation's mouth, Forc'd by the gnawing worm of conscience. [_Runs in_. OX. Hold him, for God's sake! stay the desperate wretch. MAT. O, some good pitying man compassionate That wretched man, so woful desperate: Save him, for God's sake! he hath set me free From much world's woe, much wrong, much misery. QUEEN. I hear thy tongue, true perfect charity! Chaste maid, fair maid, look up and speak to me. MAT. Who's here? My gracious sovereign Isabel! I will take strength and kneel. QUEEN. Matilda, sit; I'll kneel to thee. Forgive me, gentle girl, My most ungentle wrongs. MAT. Fair, beauteous queen, I give God thanks I do not think on wrongs. OX. How now, Fitzwater's child! How dost thou, girl?