prince Our plots and stratagems will soone be dasht Queen Vse Edmund friendly as if all were well Mor. iu. How fares my honorable lord of Kent Edmun. In health sweete Mortimer how fares your grace Queene Well if my Lorde your brother were enlargde Edm. I heare of late he hath deposde himselfe Queen The more my greefe Mortim. iu. And mine Edmun. Ah they do dissemble Queen Sweete sonne come hither I must talke with thee Mortim. iu. Thou being his vnckle and the next of bloud Doe looke to be protector ouer the prince Edm. Not I my lord who should protect the sonne But she that gaue him life I meane the Queene Prin. Mother perswade me not to weare the crowne Let him be king I am too yong to raigne Queene But bee content seeing it his highnesse pleasure Prin. Let me but see him first and then I will Edmund I do sweete Nephew Quee. Brother you know it is impossible Prince Why is he dead Queen No God forbid Edmun. I would these wordes proceeded from your heart Mort. iu. Inconstant Edmund doost thou fauor him That wast a cause of his imprisonment Edm. The more cause haue I now to make amends Mort. iu. I tell thee t is not meet that one so false Should come about the person of a prince My lord he hath betraied the king his brother And therefore trust him not Prince But hee repents and sorrowes for it now Queen Come sonne and go with this gentle Lorde and me Prin. With you I will but not with Mortimer Mort. iu. Why yongling sodainst thou so of Mortimer Then I will carrie thee by force away Prin. Helpe vnckle Kent Mortimer will wrong me Quee. Brother Edmund striue not we are his friends Isabell is neerer then the earle of Kent Edm. Sister Edward is my charge redeeme him Queen Edward is my sonne and I will keepe him Edmu. Mortimer shall know that he hath wrongd mee Hence will I haste to Killingworth castle And rescue aged Edward from his foes To be reuengde on Mortimer and thee Exeunt omnes Enter Matreuis and Gurney with the king Matr. My lord be not pensiue we are your friends Men are ordaind to liue in miserie Therefore come dalliance dangereth our liues Edw. Friends whither must vnhappie Edward go Will hatefull Mortimer appoint no rest Must I be vexed like the nightly birde Whose sight is loathsome to all winged fowles When will the furie of his minde asswage When will his hart be satisfied with bloud If mine will serue vnbowell straight this brest And giue my heart to Isabell and him It is the chiefest marke they leuell at Gurney Not so my liege the Queene hath giuen this charge To keepe your grace in safetie Your passions make your dolours to increase Edw. This vsage makes my miserie increase But can my ayre of life continue long When all my sences are annoy with stenche Within a dungeon Englands king is kept Where I am staru'd for want of sustenance My daily diet is heart breaking sobs That almost rents the closet of my heart Thus liues old Edward not relieu'd by any And so must die though pitied by many O water gentle friends to coole my thirst And cleare my bodie from foule excrements Matr. Heere 's channell water as our charge is giuen Sit downe for wee le be Barbars to your grace Edw. Traitors away what will you murther me Or choake your soueraigne with puddle water Gurn. No but wash your face and shaue away your beard Least you be knowne and so be rescued Matr. Why striue you thus your labour is in vaine Edward The Wrenne may striue against the Lions strength But all in vaine so vainely do I striue To seeke for mercie at a tyrants hand They wash him with puddle water and shaue his beard away Immortall powers that knowes the painfull cares That waites vpon my poore distressed soule O leuell all your lookes vpon these daring men That wronges their liege and soueraigne Englands king O Gaueston it is for thee that I am wrongd For me both thou and both the Spencers died And for your sakes a thousand wronges I le take The Spencers ghostes where euer they remaine Wish well to mine then tush for them I le die Matr. Twixt theirs and yours shall be no enmitie Come come away now put the torches out Wee le enter in by darkenes to Killingworth Enter Edmund Gurn. How now who comes there Matr. Guarde the king sure it is the earle of Kent Edw. O gentle brother helpe to rescue me Matr. Keepe them a sunder thrust in the king Edm. Souldiers let me but talke to him one worde Gur. Lay hands vpon the earle for this assault Edmu. Lay downe your weapons traitors yeeld the king Matr. Edmund yeeld thou thy self or thou shalt die Edmu. Base villaines wherefore doe you gripe mee thus Gurney Binde him and so conuey him to the court Edm. Where is the court but heere heere is the king And I will visit him why stay you me Matr. The court is where lord Mortimer remaines Thither shall your honour go and so farewell Exeunt Matr. and Gurney with the king Manent Edmund and the souldiers Edm. O miserable is that commonweale where lords Keepe courts and kings are lockt in prison Sould. Wherefore stay we on sirs to the court Edm. I load me whether you will euen to my death Seeing that my brother cannot be releast Exeunt omnes Enter Mortimer alone Mort. iu. The king must die or Mortimer goes downe The commons now begin to pitie him Yet he that is the cause of Edwards death Is sure to pay for it when his sonne is of age And therefore will I do it cunninglie This letter written by a friend of ours Containes his death yet bids them saue his life Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est Feare not to kill the king t is good he die But read it thus and that 's an other sence Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est Kill not the king t is good to feare the worst Vnpointed as it is thus shall it goe That being dead if it chaunce to be found Matreuis and the rest may beare the blame And we be quit that causde it to be done Within this roome is lockt the messenger That shall conueie it and performe the rest And by a secret token that he beares Shall he be murdered when the deed is done Lightborn come forth art thou as resolute as thou wast Light What else my lord and farre more resolute Mort. iu. And hast thou cast how to accomplish it Light I I and none shall know which way he died Mortim. iu. But at his lookes Lightborne thou wilt relent Light Relent ha ha I vse much to relent Mort. iu. Well do it brauely and be secret Light You shall not need to giue instructions T is not the first time I haue killed a man I learnde in Naples how to poison flowers To strangle with a lawne thrust through the
away his weapons Mor. Thou proud disturber of thy countries peace Corrupter of thy king cause of these broiles Base flatterer yeeld and were it not for shame Shame and dishonour to a souldiers name Vpon my weapons point here shouldst thou fall And welter in thy goare Lan. Monster of men that like the Greekish strumpet Traind to armes and bloudie warres So many valiant knights Looke for no other fortune wretch then death Kind Edward is not heere to buckler thee War Lancaster why talkst thou to the slaue Go souldiers take him hence For by my sword his head shall off Gaueston short warning shall serue thy turne It is our countries cause That here seuerelie we will execute Vpon thy person hang him at a bough Gau. My Lord War Souldiers haue him away But for thou wert the fauorit of a King Thou shalt haue so much honor at our hands Gau. I thanke you all my lords then I perceiue That heading is one and hanging is the other And death is all Enter earle of Arundell Lan. How now my lord of Arundell Arun. My lords king Edward greetes you all by me War Arundell say your message Aru. His maiesty hearing that you had takē Gaueston Intreateth you by me yet but he may See him before he dies for why he saies And sends you word he knowes that die he shall And if you gratifie his grace so farre He will be mindfull of the curtesie Warw. How now Gau. Renowmed Edward how thy name Reuiues poore Gaueston War No it needeth not Arundell we will gratifie the king In other matters he must pardon vs in this Souldiers away with him Gauest. Why my Lord of VVarwicke Will not these delaies beget my hopes I know it lords it is this life you aime at Yet graunt king Edward this Mor. iu. Shalt thou appoint what we shall graunt Souldiers away with him Thus wee le gratifie the king Wee le send his head by thee let him bestow His teares on that for that is all he gets Of Gaueston or else his sencelesse trunck Lan. Not so my Lord least he bestow more cost In burying him then he hath euer earned Arun. My lords it is his maiesties request And in the honor of a king he sweares He will but talke with him and send him backe War When can you tell Arundell no we wot He that the care of realme remits And driues his nobles to these exigents For Gaueston will if he zease him once Violate any promise to possesse him Arun. Then if you will not trust his grace in keepe My lords I will be pledge for his returne Mor. iu. It is honourable in thee to offer this But for we know thou art a noble gentleman We will not wrong thee so To make away a true man for a theefe Gaue. How meanst thou Mortimer that is ouer base Mor. Away base groome robber of kings renowme Question with thy companions and thy mates Pen. My lord Mortimer and you my lords each one To gratifie the kings request therein Touching the sending of this Gaueston Because his maiestie so earnestlie Desires to see the man before his death I will vpon mine honor vndertake To carrie him and bring him back againe Prouided this that you my lord of Arundell Will ioyne with me War Penbrooke what wilt thou do Cause yet more bloudshed is it not enough That we haue taken him but must we now Leaue him on had-I wist and let him go Pen. My lords I will not ouer wooe your honors But if you dare trust Penbrooke with the prisoner Vpon mine oath I will returne him back Arun. My lord of Lancaster what say you in this Lan. Why I say let him go on Penbrookes word Pen. And you lord Mortimer Mor. iu. How say you my lord of Warwick War Nay do your pleasures I know how t will prooue Pen. Then giue him me Gau. Sweete soueraigne yet I come To see thee ere I die Warw. Yet not perhaps If Warwickes wit and policie preuaile Mor. iu. My lord of Penbrooke we deliuer him you Returne him on your honor sound away Exeunt Manent Penbrooke Mat. Gauest Penbrookes men foure souldiers Pen. My Lord you shall go with me My house is not farre hence out of the way A little but our men shall go along We that haue prettie wenches to our wiues Sir must not come so neare and balke their lips Mat. T is verie kindlie spoke my lord of Penbrooke Your honor hath an adamant of power To drawe a prince Pen. So my lord come hether Iames I do commit this Gaueston to thee Be thou this night his keeper in the morning We will discharge thee of thy charge be gon Gau. Vnhappie Gaueston whether goest thou now Exit cum seruis Pen Horse boy My lord wee le quicklie be at Cobham Exeunt ambo Enter Gaueston moorning and the earle of Penbrookes men Gaue. O treacherous Warwicke thus to wrong thy friend Iames. I see it is your life these armes pursue Gau. Weaponles must I fall and die in bands O must this day be period of my life Center of all my blisse and yee be men Speede to the king Enter Warwicke and his companie War My lord of Penbrookes men Striue you no longer I will haue that Gaueston Iam. Your lordship doth dishonor to your selfe And wrong our lord your honorable friend War No Iames it is my countries cause I follow Goe take the villaine soldiers come away Wee l make quick worke cōmend me to your maister My friend and tell him that I watcht it well Come let thy shadow parley with king Edward Gau. Treacherous earle shall I not see the king War The king of heauen perhaps no other king Away Exeunt Warwike and his men with Gauest Manet Iames cum caeteris Come fellowes it booted not for vs to striue We will in hast go certifie our Lord Exeunt Enter king Edward and Spencer with Drummes and Fifes Edw. I long to heare an answer from the Barons Touching my friend my deerest Gaueston Ah Spencer not the riches of my realme Can ransome him ah he is markt to die I know the malice of the yonger Mortimer VVarwick I know is roughe and Lancaster Inexorable and I shall neuer see My louely Pierce my Gaueston againe The Barons ouerbeare me with their pride Spencer Were I king Edward Englands soueraigne Sonne to the louelie Elenor of Spaine Great Edward Longshankes issue would I bear These braues this rage and suffer vncontrowld These Barons thus to beard me in my land In mine owne realme my lord pardon my speeche Did you retaine your fathers magnanimitie Did you regard the honor of your name You would not suffer thus your maiestie Be counterbuft of your nobilitie Strike off their heads and let them preach on poles No doubt such lessons they will teach the rest As by their preachments they will profit much And learne obedience to their lawfull king Edw. Yea gentle Spencer we haue beene too milde Too kinde
they appoint their soueraigne His sports his pleasures and his companie Yet ere thou go see how I do deuorce Embrace Spencer Spencer from me now get thee to thy lords And tell them I will come to chastise them For murthering Gaueston hie thee get thee gone Edward with fire and sword followes at thy heeles My lord perceiue you how these rebels swell Souldiers good harts defend your soueraignes right For now euen now we marche to make them stoope Away Exeunt Alarums excursions a great fight and a retreate Enter the king Spencer the father Spencer the sonne and the noblemen of the kings side Edw. Why do we sound retreat vpon them lords This day I shall powre vengeance with my sword On those proud rebels that are vp in armes And do confront and countermaund their king Spen. son I doubt it not my lord right will preuaile Spen. fa. T is not amisse my liege for eyther part To breathe a while our men with sweat and dust All chockt well neare begin to faint for heate And this retire refresheth horse and man Spen. son Heere come the rebels Enter the Barons Mortimer Lancaster Warwick Penbrooke cum caeteris Mor. Looke Lancaster yonder is Edward among his flatterers Lan. And there let him bee till hee pay deerely for their companie War And shall or Warwicks sword shal smite in vaine Edw. What rebels do you shrinke and sound retreat Mor. iu. No Edward no thy flatterers faint and flie Lan. Th 'ad best betimes forsake thee and their trains For thei le betray thee traitors as they are Spen. so Traitor on thy face rebellious Lancaster Pen. Away base vpstart brau'st thou nobles thus Spen. fa. A noble attempt and honourable deed Is it not trowe ye to assemble aide And leuie armes against your lawfull king Edw. For which ere long their heads shall satisfie T' appeaze the wrath of their offended king Mor. iu. Then Edward thou wilt fight it to the last And rather bathe thy sword in subiects bloud Then banish that pernicious companie Edw. I traitors all rather then thus be braude Make Englands ciuill townes huge heapes of stones And plowes to go about our pallace gates War A desperate and vnnaturall resolution Alarum to the fight saint George for England And the Barons right Edw. S. George for England and king Edwards right Enter Edward with the Barons captiues Edw. Now lustie lords now not by chance of warre But iustice of the quarrell and the cause Vaild is your pride me thinkes you hang the head But wee le aduance them traitors now t is time To be auengd on you for all your braues And for the murther of my deerest friend To whome right well you knew our soule was knit Good Pierce of Gaueston my sweet fauoret A rebels recreants you made him away Edm. Brother in regard of thee and of thy land Did they remooue that flatterer from thy throne Edw. So sir you haue spoke away auoid our presence Accursed wretches wa st in regard of vs When we had sent our messenger to request He might be spared to come to speake with vs And Penbrooke vndertooke for his returne That thou proud Warwicke watcht the prisoner Poore Pierce and headed him against lawe of armes For which thy head shall ouer looke the rest As much as thou in rage out wentst the rest War Tyrant I scorne thy threats and menaces T is but temporall that thou canst inflict Lan. The worst is death and better die to liue Then liue in infamie vnder such a king Edw. Away with them my lord of Winchester These lustie leaders Warwicke and Lancaster I charge you roundly off with both their heads away War Farewell vaine worlde Lan. Sweete Mortimer farewell Mor. iu. England vnkinde to thy nobilitie Grone for this greefe behold how thou art maimed Edw. Go take that haughtie Mortimer to the tower There see him safe bestowed and for the rest Do speedie execution on them all be gon Mor. iu. What Mortimer can ragged stonie walle ensure thy vertue that aspires to heauen No Edward Englands scourge it may not be Mortimers hope surmounts his fortune farre Edw. Sound drums and trumpets marche with me my friends Edward this day hath crownd him king a new Exit Manent Spencer filius Lewne Baldock Spen. Lewne the trust that we repose in thee Begets the quiet of king Edwards land Therefore be gon in hast and with aduice Bestowe that treasure on the lords of Fraunce That therewith all enchaunted like the guarde That suffered Ioue to passe in showers of golde To Danae all aide may be denied To Isabell the Queene that now in France Makes friends to crosse the seas with her yong sonne And step into his fathers regiment Lew. That 's it these Barons and the subtill Queene Long leuied at Bald. Yea but Lewne thou seest These Barons lay their heads on blocks together What they intend the hangman frustrates cleane Lewn Haue you no doubts my lords I le claps close Among the lords of France with Englands golde That Isabell shall make her plaints in vaine And Fraunce shall be obdurat with her teares Spen. Then make for Fraunce amaine Lewne away Proclaime king Edwards warres and victories Exeunt omnes Enter Edmund Edm. Faire blowes the winde for Fraunce blowe gentle gale Till Edmund be arriude for Englands good Nature yeeld to my countries cause in this A brother no a butcher of thy friends Proud Edward doost thou banish me thy presence But I le to Fraunce and cheere the wronged Queene And certifie what Edwards loosenes is Vnnaturall king to slaughter noble men And cherish flatterers Mortimer I stay Thy sweet escape stand gratious gloomie night to his deuice Enter Mortimer disguised Mor. iu. Holla who walketh there i st you my lord Edm. Mortimer t is I but hath thy potion wrought so happilie Mor. iu. It hath my lord the warders all a sleepe I thanke them gaue me leaue to passe in peace But hath your grace got shipping vnto Fraunce Edm. Feare it not Exeunt Enter the Queene and her sonne Qu. A boye our friends do faile vs all in Fraunce The lords are cruell and the king vnkinde What shall we doe Prince Madam returne to England And please my father well and then a Fig For all my vnckles frienship here in Fraunce I warrant you I le winne his highnes quicklie A loues me better than a thousand Spencers Qu. A boye thou art deceiude at least in this To thinke that we can yet be tun'd together No no we warre too farre vnkinde Valoys Vnhappie Isabell when Fraunce reiects Whether O whether doost thou bend thy steps Enter sir Iohn of Henolt S. Ioh. Madam what cheere Qu. A good sir Iohn of Henolt Neuer so cheereles nor so farre distrest S. Ioh. I heare sweete lady of the kings vnkindenes But droope not madam noble mindes contemne Despaire will your grace with me to Henolt And there stay times aduantage with your sonne How say you my Lord will