The Argument of the Fourth Act.
1. In the first scene Gildas and Conan confer of the state of Britain.
2. In the second scene Nuntius maketh report of the whole battle, with the death of Mordred, and Arthur’s and Cador’s deadly wound.
3. In the third scene Gildas and Conan lament the unfortunate state of the country.
The Argument and Manner of the Fourth Dumb Show.
During the music appointed after the third act, there came in a Lady courtly attired with a counterfeit child in her arms, who walked softly on the stage. From another place there came a king crowned, who likewise walked on another part of the stage. From a third place there came four soldiers all armed who, spying this Lady and King, upon a sudden pursued the Lady, from whom they violently took her child, and flung it against the walls; she, in mournful sort wringing her hands, passed her way. Then in like manner they set on the king, tearing his crown from his head, and casting it in pieces under feet, drave him by force away, and so passed themselves over the stage. By this was meant the fruit of war, which spareth neither man, woman, nor child, with the end of Mordred’s usurped crown.
THE FOURTH ACT AND FIRST SCENE.
Gildas, Conan.
Gildas. Lord Conan, though I know how hard a thing
It is for minds train’d up in princely thrones,