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
neuer had bin flattered more Enter the King Baldock and Spencer the sonne flying about the stage Spe. Fly fly my Lord the Queene is ouerstrong Her friends doe multiply and yours doe fayle Shape we our course to Ireland there to breath Edw. What was I borne to flye and runne away And leaue the Mortimers conquerers behind Giue me my horse and le ts r'enforce our troupes And in this bed of honor die with fame Bal. O no my lord this princely resolution Fits not the time away we are pursu'd Edmund alone with a sword and target Edm. This way he fled but I am come too late Edward alas my hart relents for thee Proud traytor Mortimer why doost thou chase Thy lawfull king thy soueraigne with thy sword Vilde wretch and why hast thou of all vnkinde Borne armes against thy brother and thy king Raigne showers of vengeance on my cursed head Thou God to whom in iustice it belongs To punish this vnnaturall reuolt Edward this Mortimer aimes at thy life O fly him then but Edmund calme this rage Dissemble or thou diest for Mortimer And Isabell doe kisse while they conspire And yet she beares a face of loue forsooth Fie on that loue that hatcheth death and hate Edmund away Bristow to Longshankes blood Is false be not found single for suspect Proud Mortimer pries neare into thy walkes Enter the Queene Mortimer the young Prince and Sir Iohn of Henolt Qu. Succesfull battells giues the God of kings To them that fight in right and feare his wrath Since then succesfully we haue preuayled Thankes be heauens great architect and you Ere farther we proceede my noble lordes We heere create our welbeloued sonne Of loue and care vnto his royall person Lord warden of the realme and sith the fates Haue made his father so infortunate Deale you my lords in this my louing lords As to your wisdomes fittest seemes in all Edm. Madam without offence if I may aske How will you deale with Edward in his fall Prince Tell me good vnckle what Edward doe you meane Edm. Nephew your father I dare not call him king Mor. My lord of Kent what needes these questions T is not in her controulment nor in ours But as the realme and parlement shall please So shall your brother be disposed of I like not this relenting moode in Edmund Madam t is good to looke to him betimes Qu. My lord the Maior of Bristow knows our mind Mor. Yea madam and they scape not easilie That fled the feeld Qu. Baldock is with the king A goodly chauncelor is he not my lord S. Ioh. So are the Spencers the father and the sonne Edm. This Edward is the ruine of the realme Enter Rice ap Howell and the Maior of Bristow with Spencer the father Rice God saue Queene Isabell her princely sonne Madam the Maior and Citizens of Bristow In signe of loue and dutie to this presence Present by me this traitor to the state Spencer the father to that wanton Spencer That like the lawles Catiline of Rome Reueld in Englands wealth and treasurie Qu. We thanke you all Mor. iu. Your louing care in this Deserueth princelie fauors and rewardes But where 's the king and the other Spencer fled Rice Spencer the sonne created earle of Gloster Is with that smoothe toongd scholler Baldock gone And shipt but late for Ireland with the king Mort. iu. Some whirle winde fetche them backe or sincke them all They shal be started thence I doubt it not Prin. Shall I not see the king my father yet Edmund Vnhappie Edward chaste from Englands bounds S. Ioh. Madam what resteth why stand ye in a muse Qu. I rue my lords ill fortune but alas Care of my countrie cald me to this warre Mort. Madam haue done with care sad complaine Your king hath wrongd your countrie and himselfe And we must seeke to right it as we may Meane while haue hence this rebell to the blocke Your lordship cannot priuiledge your head Spen. pa. Rebell is he that fights against his prince So fought not they that fought in Edwards right Mort. Take him away he prates you Rice ap howell Shall do good seruice to her Maiestie Being of countenance in your countrey here To follow these rebellious runnagates We in meane while madam must take aduise How Baldocke Spencer and their complices May in their fall be followed to their end Exeunt omnes Enter the Abbot Monkes Edward Spencer and Baldocke Abbot Haue you no doubt my Lorde haue you no feare As silent and as carefull will we be To keepe your royall person safe with vs Free from suspect and fell inuasion Of such as haue your maiestie in chase Your selfe and those your chosen companie As daunger of this stormie time requires Edwa. Father thy face should harbor no deceit O hadst thou euer beene a king thy hart Pierced deeply with sence of my distresse Could not but take compassion of my state Stately and proud in riches and in traine Whilom I was powerfull and full of pompe But what is he whome rule and emperie Haue not in life or death made miserable Come Spencer come Baldocke come sit downe by me Make triall now of that philosophie That in our famous nurseries of artes Thou suckedst from Plato and from Aristotle Father this life contemplatiue is heauen O that I might this life in quiet lead But we alas are chaste and you my friends Your liues and my dishonor they pursue Yet gentle monkes for treasure golde nor fee Do you betray vs and our companie Monks Your grace may sit secure if none but wee doe wot of your abode Spen. Not one aliue but shrewdly I suspect A gloomie fellow in a meade belowe A gaue a long looke after vs my lord And all the land I know is vp in armes Armes that pursue our liues with deadly hate Bald. We were imbarkt for Ireland wretched we With awkward windes and sore tempests driuen To fall on shoare and here to pine in feare Of Mortimer and his confederates Edw. Mortimer who talkes of Mortimer Who wounds me with the name of Mortimer That bloudy man good father on thy lap Lay I this head laden with mickle care O might I neuer open these eyes againe Neuer againe lift vp this drooping head O neuer more lift vp this dying hart Spen. son Looke vp my lord Baldock this drowsines Betides no good here euen we are betraied Enter with Welch hookes Rice vp Howell a Mower and the Earle of Leicester Mower Vpon my life those be the men ye see Rice Fellow enough my lord I pray be short A faire commission warrants what we do Lei. The Queenes commission vrgd by Mortimer What cannot gallant Mortimer with the Queene Alas see where he sits and hopes vnseene T' escape their hands that seeke to reaue his life Too true it is quem dies vidit veniens superbum Hunc dies vidit fugiens iacentem But Leister leaue to growe so passionate Spencer and Baldocke
looke my lord drops downe a teare Seeing I must go do not renew my sorrow Edwa. The time is little that thou hast to stay And therefore giue me leaue to looke my fill But come sweete friend I le beare thee on thy way Gau. The peeres will frowne Edw. I passe not for their anger come le ts go O that we might as well returne as goe Enter Edmund and Queen Isabell Qu. Whether goes my lord Edw. Fawne not on me French strumpet get thee gone Qu. On whom but on my husband should I fawne Gau. On Mortimer with whom vngentle Queene I say no more iudge you the rest my lord Qu. In saying this thou wrongst me Gaueston I st not enough that thou corrupts my lord And art a bawd to his affections But thou must call mine honor thus in question Gau. I meane not so your grace must pardon me Edw. Thou art too familiar with that Mortimer And by thy meanes is Gaueston exilde But I would wish thee reconcile the lords Or thou shalt nere be reconcild to me Qu. Your highnes knowes it lies not in my power Edw. Away then touch me not come Gaueston Qu. Villaine t is thou that robst me of my lord Gau. Madam t is you that rob me of my lord Edw. Speake not vnto her let her droope and pine Qu. Wherein my lord haue I deserud these words Witnesse the teares that Isabella sheds Witnesse this hart that sighing for thee breakes How deare my lord is to poore Isabell Edw. And witnesse heauen how deere thou art to me There weepe for till my Gaueston be repeald Assure thy selfe thou comst not in my sight Exeunt Edward and Gaueston Qu. O miserable and distressed Queene Would when I left sweet France and was imbarkt That charming Circes walking on the waues Had chaungd my shape or at the mariage day The cup of Hymen had beene full of poyson Or with those armes that twind about my neck I had beene stifled and not liued to see The king my lord thus to abandon me Like frantick Iuno will I fill the earth With gastlie murmure of my sighes and cries For neuer doted Ioue on Ganimed So much as he on cursed Gaueston But that will more exasperate his wrath I must entreat him I must speake him faire And be a meanes to call home Gaueston And yet hee le euer dote on Gaueston And so am I for euer miserable Enter the Nobles to the Queene Lanc. Looke where the sister of the king of Fraunce Sits wringing of her hands and beats her brest Warw. The king I feare hath ill intreated her Pen. Hard is the hart that iniures such a saint Mor. iu. I know t is long of Gaueston she weepes Mor. se. Why he is gone Mor. iu. Madam how fares your grace Qu. Ah Mortimer now breaks the kings hate forth And he confesseth that he loues me not Mor. iu. Crie quittance Madam then loue not him Qu. No rather will I die a thousand deaths And yet I loue in vaine hee le nere loue me Lan. Feare ye not Madam now his minions gone His wanton humor will be quicklie left Qu. O neuer Lancaster I am inioynde To sue vnto you all for his repeale This wils my lord and this must I performe Or else be banisht from his highnesse presence Lan. For his repeale Madam he comes not back Vnlesse the sea cast vp his shipwrack body War And to behold so sweete a sight as that There 's none here but would run his horse to death Mor. iu. But madam would you haue vs cal him home Qu. I Mortimer for till he be restorde The angrie king hath banished me the court And therefore as thou louest and tendrest me Be thou my aduocate vnto these peeres Mor. iu. What would ye haue me plead for Gaueston Mor. se. Plead for him he that will I am resolude Lan. And so am I my lord diswade the Queene Qu. O Lancaster let him diswade the king For t is against my will he should returne War Then speake not for him let the pesant go Qu. T is for my selfe I speake and not for him Pen. No speaking will preuaile and therefore cease Mor. iu. Faire Queene forbeare to angle for the fish Which being caught strikes him that takes it dead I meane that vile Torpedo Gaueston That now I hope flotes on the Irish seas Qu. Sweete Mortimer sit downe by me a while And I will tell thee reasons of such waighte As thou wilt soone subscribe to his repeale Mor. iu. It is impossible but speake your minde Qu. Then thus but none shal heare it but our selues Lanc. My Lords albeit the Queen winne Mortimer will you be resolute and hold with me Mor. se. Not I against my nephew Pen. Feare not the queens words cannot alter him War No doe but marke how earnestly she pleads Lan. And see how coldly his lookes make deniall War She smiles now for my life his mind is changd Lanc. I le rather loose his friendship I then graunt Mor. iu. Well of necessitie it must be so My Lords that I abhorre base Gaueston I hope your honors make no question And therefore though I pleade for his repeall T is not for his sake but for our auaile Nay for the realms behoofe and for the kings Lanc. Fie Mortimer dishonor not thy selfe Can this be true t was good to banish him And is this true to call him home againe Such reasons make white blacke and darke night day Mor. iu. My Lord of Lancaster marke the respect Lan. In no respect can contraries be true Qu. Yet good my lord heare what he can alledge War All that he speakes is nothing we are resolu'd Mor. iu. Do you not wish that Gaueston were dead Pen. I would he were Mor. iu. Why then my lord giue me but leaue to speak Mor. se. But nephew do not play the sophister Mor. iu. This which I vrge is of a burning zeale To mend the king and do our countrie good Know you not Gaueston hath store of golde Which may in Ireland purchase him such friends As he will front the mightiest of vs all And whereas he shall liue and be beloude T is hard for vs to worke his ouerthrow War Marke you but that my lord of Lancaster Mor. iu. But were he here detested as he is How easilie might some base slaue be subbornd To greet his lordship with a poniard And none so much as blame the murtherer But rather praise him for that braue attempt And in the Chronicle enrowle his name For purging of the realme of such a plague Pen. He saith true Lan. I but how chance this was not done before Mor. iu. Because my lords it was not thought vpon Nay more when he shall know it lies in vs To banish him and then to call him home T will make him vaile the topflag of his pride And feare to offend the meanest noble man Mor. se. But how if he do not Nephew Mor. iu. Then may we
himselfe good much lesse vs But he that hath the fauour of a king May with one word aduaunce vs while we liue The liberall earle of Cornewall is the man On whose good fortune Spencers hope depends Bald. What meane you then to be his follower Spen. No his companion for he loues me well And would haue once preferd me to the king Bald. But he is banisht there 's small hope of him Spen. I for a while but Baldock marke the end A friend of mine told me in secrecie That hee s repeald and sent for back againe And euen now a poast came from the court With letters to our ladie from the King And as she red she smild which makes me thinke It is about her louer Gaueston Bald. T is like enough for since he was exild She neither walkes abroad nor comes in sight But I had thought the match had beene broke off And that his banishment had changd her minde Spen. Our Ladies first loue is not wauering My life for thine she will haue Gaueston Bald. Then hope I by her meanes to be preferd Hauing read vnto her since she was a childe Spen. Then Balduck you must cast the scholler off And learne to court it like a Gentleman T is not a black coate and a little band A Veluet cap'de cloake fac'st before with Serge And smelling to a Nosegay all the day Or holding of a napkin in your hand Or saying a long grace at a tables end Or making lowe legs to a noble man Or looking downeward with your eye lids close And saying trulie an t may please your honor Can get you any fauour with great men You must be proud bold pleasant resolute And now and then stab as occasion serues Bald. Spencer thou knowest I hate such formall toies And vse them but of meere hypocrisie Mine old lord whiles he liude was so precise That he would take exceptions at my buttons And being like pins heads blame me for the bignesse Which made me curate-like in mine attire Though inwardly licentious enough And apt for any kinde of villanie I am none of these common pendants I That cannot speake without propterea quod Spen. But one of those that saith quandoquidem And hath a speciall gift to forme a verbe Bald. Leaue of this iesting here my lady comes Enter the Ladie Lady The greefe for his exile was not so much As is the ioy of his returning home This letter came from my sweete Gaueston VVhat needst thou loue thus to excuse thy selfe I know thou couldst not come and visit me I will not long be from thee though I die This argues the entire loue of my Lord VVhen I forsake thee death seaze on my heart But rest thee here where Gaueston shall sleepe Now to the letter of my Lord the King He wils me to repaire vnto the court And meete my Gaueston why do I stay Seeing that he talkes thus of my mariage day VVhos 's there Balduck See that my coache be readie I must hence Bald. It shall be done madam Exit Lad. And meete me at the parke pale presentlie Spencer stay you and beare me companie For I haue ioyfull newes to tell thee of My lord of Cornewall is a comming ouer And will be at the court as soone as we Spen. I knew the King would haue him home againe Lad. If all things sort out as I hope they will Thy seruice Spencer shal be thought vpon Spen. I humbly thanke your Ladieship Lad. Come lead the way I long till I am there Enter Edward the Queene Lancaster Mortimer Warwicke Penbrooke Kent attendants Edw. The winde is good I wonder why he stayes I feare me he is wrackt vpon the sea Queen Looke Lancaster how passionate he is And still his minde runs on his minion Lan. My Lord Edw. How now what newes is Gaueston arriude Mor. i. Nothing but Gaueston what means your grace You haue matters of more waight to thinke vpon The King of Fraunce sets foote in Normandie Edw. A triflle wee le expell him when we please But tell me Mortimer what 's thy deuise Against the stately triumph we decreed Mor. A homely one my lord not worth the telling Edw. Prethee let me know it Mor. iu. But seeing you are so desirous thus it is A loftie Cedar tree faire flourishing On whose top-branches Kinglie Eagles pearch And by the barke a canker creepes me vp And gets vnto the highest bough of all The motto Aeque tandem Edw. And what is yours my lord of Lancaster Lan. My lord mines more obscure then Mortimers Plinie reports there is a flying Fish Which all the other fishes deadly hate And therefore being pursued it takes the aire No sooner is it vp but ther 's a foule That seaseth it this fish my lord I beare The motto this Vndique mors est Edw. Proud Mortimer vngentle Lancaster Is this the loue you beare your soueraigne Is this the fruite your reconcilement beares Can you in words make showe of amitie And in your shields display your rancorous minds What call you this but priuate libelling Against the Earle of Cornewall and my brother Qu. Sweete husband be content they all loue you Edw. They loue me not that hate my Gaueston I am that Cedar shake me not too much And you the Eagles sore ye nere so high I haue the gresses that will pull you downe And Aeque tandem shall that canker crie Vnto the proudest peere of Britanie Though thou comparst him to a flying Fish And threatenest death whether he rise or fall T is not the hugest monster of the sea Nor fowlest Harpie that shall swallow him Mor. iu. If in his absence thus he fauors him What will he do when as he shall be present Lan. That shall wee see looke where his lordship comes Enter Gaueston Edw. My Gaueston welcome to Tinmouth welcome to thy friend Thy absence made me droope and pine away For as the louers of faire Danae When she was lockt vp in a brasen tower Desirde her more and waxt outragious So did it sure with me and now thy sight Is sweeter farre then was thy parting hence Bitter and irkesome to my sobbing heart Gau. Sweet Lord and King your speech preuenteth mine Yet haue I words left to expresse my ioy The sheepeherd nipt with biting winters rage Frolicks not more to see the paynted springe Then I doe to behold your Maiestie Edw. Will none of you salute my Gaueston Lan. Salute him yes welcome Lord Chamberlaine Mor. iu. Welcome is the good Earle of Cornewall War Welcome Lord gouernour of the I le of man Pen. Welcome maister secretarie Edw. Brother doe you heare them Edw. Stil wil these Earles and Barrons vse me thus Gau. My Lord I cannot brooke these iniuries Qu. Aye me poore soule when these begin to iarre Edw. Returne it to their throtes I le be thy warrant Gau. Base leaden Earles that glorie in your birth Goe sit at home and eate your tenants beefe And come not here to scoffe at
to them but now haue drawne our sword And if they send me not my Gaueston Wee le steele it on their crest and powle their tops Bald. This haught resolue becomes your maiestie Not to be tied to their affection As though your highnes were a schoole boy still And must be awde and gouernd like a child Enter Hugh Spencer an old man father to the yong Spencer with his trunchion and soldiers Spen. pa. Long liue my soueraigne the noble Edward In peace triumphant fortunate in warres Edw. Welcome old man comst thou in Edwards aide Then tell thy prince of whence and what thou art Spen. pa. Loe with a band of bowmen and of pikes Browne bils and targetiers 400 strong Sworne to defend king Edwards royall right I come in person to your maiestie Spencer the father of Hugh Spencer there Bound to your highnes euerlastinglie For fauors done in him vnto vs all Edw. Thy father Spencer Spen. filius True and it like your grace That powres in lieu of all your goodnes showne His life my lord before your princely feete Edw. Welcome ten thousand times old man againe Spencer this loue this kindnes to thy King Argues thy noble minde and disposition Spencer I heere create thee earle of Wilshire And daily will enrich thee with our fauour That as the sun-shine shall reflect ore thee Beside the more to manifest our loue Because we heare Lord Bruse dooth sell his land And that the Mortimers are in hand withall Thou shalt haue crownes of vs t' out the Barons And Spenser spare them not but lay it on Souldier 's a largis and thrice welcome all Spen. My lord here comes the Queene Enter the Queene and her sonne and Lewne a Frenchman Edw. Madam what newes Qu. Newes of dishonor lord and discontent Our friend Lewne faithfull and full of trust Informeth vs by letters and by words That lord Valoyes our brother king of Fraunce Because your highnesse hath beene slack in homage Hath seazed Normandie into his hands These be the letters this the messenger Edw. Welcome Lewne tush Sib if this be all Valoys and I will soone be friends againe But to my Gaueston shall I neuer see Neuer behold thee now Madam in this matter We will employ you and your little sonne You shall go parley with the king of Fraunce Boye see you beare you brauelie to the king And do your message with a maiestie Prin. Commit not to my youth things of more waigh Then fits a prince so yong as I to beare And feare not lord and father heauens great beames On Atlas shoulder shall not lie more safe Then shall your charge committed to my trust Qu. A boye this towardnes makes thy mother feare Thou art not markt to many daies on earth Edw. Madam we will that you with speed be shipt And this our sonne Lewne shall follow you With all the hast we can dispatch him hence Choose of our lords to beare you companie And go in peace leaue vs in warres at home Qu. Vnnatural wars where subiects braue their king God end them once my lord I take my leaue To make my preparation for Fraunce Enter lord Matre Edw. What lord Matre dost thou come alone Mat. Yea my good lord for Gaueston is dead Edw. Ah traitors haue they put my friend to death Tell me Matre died he ere thou camst Or didst thou see my friend to take his death Matr. Neither my lord for as he was surprizd Begirt with weapons and with enemies round I did your highnes message to them all Demanding him of them entreating rather And said vpon the honour of my name That I would vndertake to carrie him Vnto your highnes and to bring him back Edw. And tell me would the rebels denie me that Spen. Proud recreants Edw. Yea Spencer traitors all Matr. I found them at the first inexorable The earle of Warwick would not bide the hearing Mortimer hardly Penbrooke and Lancaster Spake least and when they flatly had denyed Refusing to receiue me pledge for him The earle of Penbrooke mildlie thus bespake My lords because our soueraigne sends for him And promiseth he shall be safe returnd I will this vndertake to haue him hence And see him redeliuered to your hands Edw. Well and how fortunes that he came not Spen. Some treason or some villanie was cause Mat. The earle of Warwick seazde him on his way For being deliuered vnto Penbrookes men Their lord rode home thinking his prisoner safe But ere he came Warwick in ambush laie And bare him to his death and in a trenche Strake off his head and marcht vnto the campe Spen. A bloudie part flatly against law of armes Edw. O shall I speake or shall I sigh and die Spen. My lord referre your vengeance to the sword Vpon these Barons harten vp your men Let them not vnreuengd murther your friends Aduaunce your standard Edward in the field And marche to sire them from their starting holes Edward kneeles and saith By earth the common mother of vs all By heauen and all the moouing orbes thereof By this right hand and by my fathers sword And all the honors longing to my crowne I will haue heads and liues for him as many As I haue manors castels townes and towers Tretcherous Warwicke traiterous Mortimer If I be Englands king in lakes of gore Your headles trunkes your bodies will I traile That you may drinke your fill and quaffe in bloud And staine my roiall standard with the same That so my bloudie colours may suggest Remembrance of reuenge immortallie On your accursed traiterous progenie You villaines that haue slaine my Gaueston And in this place of honor and of trust Spencer sweet Spencer I adopt thee heere And meerely of our loue we do create thee Earle of Gloster and lord Chamberlaine Despite of times despite of enemies Spen. My lord here 's is a messenger from the Barons Desires accesse vnto your maiestie Edw. Admit him neere Enter the Herald from the Barons with his coate of armes Messen. Long liue king Edward Englands lawful lord Edw. So wish not they I wis that sent thee hither Thou comst from Mortimer and his complices A ranker route of rebels neuer was Well say thy message Messen. The Barons vp in armes by me salute Your highnes with long life and happines And bid me say as plainer to your grace That if without effusion of bloud You will this greefe haue ease and remedie That from your princely person you remooue This Spencer as a putrifying branche That deads the royall vine whose golden leaues Empale your princelie head your diadem Whose brightnes such pernitious vpstarts dim Say they and louinglie aduise your grace To cherish vertue and nobilitie And haue old seruitors in high esteeme And shake off smooth dissembling flatterers This graunted they their honors and their liues Are to your highnesse vowd and consecrate Spen. A traitors will they still display their pride Edw. Away tarrie no answer but be gon Rebels will
will Their bloud and yours shall seale these treacheries Bish. This answer wee le returne and so farewell Leist. Call them againe my lorde and speake them faire For if they goe the prince shall lose his right Edward Call thou them back I haue no power to speake Lei. My lord the king is willing to resigne Bish. If he be not let him choose Edw. O would I might but heauens earth conspire To make me miserable heere receiue my crowne Receiue it no these innocent hands of mine Shall not be guiltie of so foule a crime He of you all that most desires my bloud And will be called the murtherer of a king Take it what are you mooude pitie you me Then send for vnrelenting Mortimer And Isabell whose eyes beene turnd to steele Will sooner sparkle fire then shed a teare Yet stay for rather then I will looke on them Heere heere now sweete God of heauen Make me despise this transitorie pompe And sit for aye inthronized in heauen Come death and with thy fingers close my eyes Or if I liue let me forget my selfe Enter Bartley Bartley My lorde Edw. Call me not lorde Away out of my sight ah pardon me Greefe makes me lunatick Let not that Mortimer protect my sonne More safetie is there in a Tigers iawes This his imbrasements beare this to the queene Wet with my teares and dried againe with sighes If with the sight thereof she be not mooued Returne it backe and dip it in my bloud Commend me to my sonne and bid him rule Better then I yet how haue I transgrest Vnlesse it be with too much clemencie Tru. And thus most humbly do we take our leaue Edward Farewell I know the next newes that they bring Will be my death and welcome shall it be To wretched men death is felicitie Leist. An other poast what newes bringes he Edw. Such newes as I expect come Bartley come And tell thy message to my naked brest Bart. My lord thinke not a thought so villanous Can harbor in a man of noble birth To do your highnes seruice and deuoire And saue you from your foes Bartley would die Leist. My lorde the counsell of the Queene commaunds That I resigne my charge Edw. And who must keepe mee now must you my lorde Bart. I my most gratious lord so t is decreed Edw. By Mortimer whose name is written here Well may I rent his name that rends my hart This poore reuenge hath something easd my minde So may his limmes be torne as is this paper Heare me immortall loue and graunt it too Bart. Your grace must hence with mee to Bartley straight Edw. Whether you will all places are alike And euery earth is fit for buriall Leist. Fauor him my lord as much as lieth in you Bart. Euen so betide my soule as I vse him Edw. Mine enemie hath pitied my estate And that 's the cause that I am now remooude Bartley And thinkes your grace that Bartley will bee cruell Edw. I know not but of this am I assured That death ends all and I can die but once Leicester farewell Leicester Not yet my lorde I le beare you on your waye Exeunt omnes Enter Mortimer and Queene Isabell Mor. iu. Faire Isabell now haue we our desire The proud corrupters of the light-brainde king Haue done their homage to the loftie gallowes And he himselfe lies in captiuitie Be rulde by me and we will rule the realme In any case take heed of childish feare For now we hould an old Wolfe by the eares That if he flip will seaze vpon vs both And gripe the sorer being gript himselfe Thinke therefore madam that imports as much To erect your sonne withall the speed we may And that I be protector ouer him For our behoofe will beare the greater sway When as a kings name shall be vnder writ Qu. Sweet Mortimer the life of Isabell Be thou perswaded that I loue thee well And therefore so the prince my sonne be safe Whome I esteeme as deare as these mine eyes Conclude against his father what thou wilt And I my selfe will willinglie subscribe Mort. iu. First would I heare newes that hee were deposde And then let me alone to handle him Enter Messenger Mor. iu. Letters from whence Messen. From Killing worth my lorde Qu. How fares my lord the king Messen. In health madam but full of pensiuenes Queene Alas poore soule would I could ease his greefe Thankes gentle Winchester sirra be gon Winchester The king hath willingly resignde his crowne Qu. O happie newes send for the prince my sonne Bish. Further or this letter was sealed Lord Bartley came So that he now is gone from Killingworth And we haue heard that Edmund laid a plot To set his brother free no more but so The lord of Bartley is so pitifull As Leicester that had charge of him before Qu. Then let some other be his guardian Mor. iu. Let me alone here is the priuie seale Whos 's there call hither Gurney and Matreuis To dash the heauie headed Edmunds drift Bartley shall be dischargd the king remooude And none but we shall know where he lieth Qu. But Mortimer as long as he suruiues What safetie rests for vs or for my sonne Mort. iu. Speake shall he presently be dispatch'd and die Queene I would hee were so it were not by my meanes Enter Matreuis and Guruey Mortim. iu. Inough Matreuis write a letter presently Vnto the Lord of Bartley from our selfe That he resigne the king to thee and Gurney And when t is done we will subscribe our name Matr. It shall be done my lord Mort. iu. Gurney Gurn. My Lorde Mort. iu. As thou intendest to rise by Mortimer Who now makes Fortunes wheele turne as he please Seeke all the meanes thou canst to make him droope And neither giue him kinde word nor good looke Gurn. I warrant you my lord Mort. iu. And this aboue the rest because we heare That Edmund casts to worke his libertie Remooue him still from place to place by night And at the last he come to Killingworth And then from thence to Bartley back againe And by the way to make him fret the more Speake curstlie to him and in any case Let no man comfort him if he chaunce to weepe But amplifie his greefe with bitter words Matre. Feare not my Lord wee le do as you commaund Mor. iu. So now away post thither wards amaine Qu. Whither goes this letter to my lord the king Commend me humblie to his Maiestie And tell him that I labour all in vaine To ease his greefe and worke his libertie And beare him this as witnesse of my loue Matre. I will madam Exeunt Matreuis and Gurney Manent Isabell and Mortimer Enter the yong Prince and the Earle of Kent talking with him Mor. iu. Finely dissembled do so still sweet Queene Heere comes the yong prince with the Earle of Kent Qu. Some thing he whispers in his childish eares Mort. iu. If he haue such accesse vnto the
throte To pierce the wind-pipe with a needles point Or whilst one is a sleepe to take a quill And blowe a little powder in his eares Or open his mouth and powre quick siluer downe But yet I haue a brauer way then these Mort. iu. What 's that Light Nay you shall pardon me none shall knowe my trickes Mort. iu. I care not how it is so it be not spide Deliuer this to Gurney and Matreuis At euery ten miles end thou hast a horse Take this away and neuer see me more Lightborne No Mort. iu. No vnlesse thou bring me newes of Edwards death Light That will I quicklie do farewell my lord Mor. The prince I rule the queene do I commaund And with a lowly conge to the ground The proudest lords salute me as I passe I seale I cancell I do what I will Feard am I more then lou'd let me be feard And when I frowne make all the court looke pale I view the prince with Aristorchus eyes Whose lookes were as a breeching to a boye They thrust vpon me the Protectorship And sue to me for that that I desire While at the councell table graue enough And not vnlike a bashfull paretaine First I complaine of imbecilitie Saying it is onus quam grauissimum Till being interrupted by my friends Suscepi that prouinciam as they terme it And to conclude I am Protector now Now is all sure the Queene and Mortimer Shall rule the realme the king and none rule vs Mine enemies will I plague my friends aduance And what I list commaund who dare controwle Maior sum quam cui possit fortuna nocere And that this be the coronation day It pleaseth me and Isabell the Queene The trumpets sound I must go take my place Enter the yong King Bishop Champion Nobles Queene Bish. Long liue king Edward by the grace of God King of England and lorde of Ireland Cham. If any Christian Heathen Turke or Iew Dares but affirme that Edwards not true king And will auouche his saying with the sworde I am the Champion that will combate him Mort. iu. None comes sound trumpets King Champion heere 's to thee Qu. Lord Mortimer now take him to your charge Enter Souldiers with the Earle of Kent prisoner Mor. iu. What traitor haue wee there with blades and billes Sould. Edmund the Earle of Kent King What hath he done Sould. A would haue taken the king away perforce As we were bringing him to Killingworth Mortimer iu. Did you attempt his rescue Edmund speake Edm. Mortimer I did he is our king And thou compelst this prince to weare the crowne Mort. iu. Strike off his head he shall haue marshall lawe Edm. Strike of my head base traitor I defie thee King My lord he is my vnckle and shall liue Mor. iu. My lord he is your enemie and shall die Edmund Staie villaines King Sweete mother if I cannot pardon him Intreate my lord Protector for his life Qu. Sonne be content I dare not speake a worde King Nor I and yet me thinkes I should commaund But seeing I cannot I le entreate for him My lord if you will let my vnckle liue I will requite it when I come to age Mort. iu. T is for your highnesse good and for the realmes How often shall I bid you beare him hence Edm. Art thou king must I die at thy commaund Mort. iu. At our commaund once more away with him Edm. Let me but stay and speake I will not go Either my brother or his sonne is king And none of both then thirst for Edmunds bloud And therefore soldiers whether will you hale me They hale Edmund away and carie him to be beheaded King What safetie may I looke for at his hands If that my Vnckle shall be murthered thus Queen Feare not sweete boye I le garde thee from thy foes Had Edmund liu'de he would haue sought thy death Come sonne wee le ride a hunting in the parke King And shall my Vnckle Edmund ride with vs Queene He is a traitor thinke not on him come Exeunt omnes Enter Matr. and Gurney Matr. Gurney I wonder the king dies not Being in a vault vp to the knees in water To which the channels of the castell runne From whence a dampe continually ariseth That were enough to poison any man Much more a king brought vp so tenderlie Gurn. And so do I Matreuis yesternight I opened but the doore to throw him meate And I was almost stifeled with the sauor Matr. He hath a body able to endure More then we can enflict and therefore now Let vs assaile his minde another while Gurn. Send for him out thence and I will anger him Matr. But stay whos 's this Enter Lightborne Light My lord protector greetes you Gurn. What 's heere I know not how to conster it Matr. Gurney it was left vnpointed for the nonce Edwardum occidere nolite timere That 's his meaning Light Know you this token I must haue the king Matr. I stay a while thou shalt haue answer straight This villain 's sent to make away the king Gurney I thought as much Matr. And when the murders done See how he must be handled for his labour Pereat iste let him haue the king What else heere is the keyes this is the lake Doe as you are commaunded by my lord Light I know what I must do get you away Yet be not farre off I shall need your helpe See that in the next roome I haue a fier And get me a spit and let it be red hote Matre. Very well Gurn. Neede you any thing besides Light What else a table and a fetherbed Gurn. That 's all Light I I so when I call you bring it in Matre. Feare not you that Gurn. Heere 's a light to go into the dungeon Lightbor. So now must I about this geare nere was there any So finely handled as this king shal be Foh heere 's a place in deed with all my hart Edward VVhos 's there what light is that wherefore comes thou Light To comfort you and bring you ioyfull newes Edward Small comfort findes poore Edward in thy lookes Villaine I know thou comst to murther me Light To murther you my most gratious lorde Farre is it from my hart to do you harme The Queene sent me to see how you were vsed For she relents at this your miserie And what eyes can refraine from shedding teares To see a king in this most pittious state Edw. VVeepst thou already list a while to me And then thy heart were it as Gurneys is Or as Matreuis hewne from the Caucasus Yet will it melt ere I haue done my tale This dungeon where they keepe me is the sincke Wherein the filthe of all the castell falles Light O villaines Edw. And there in mire and puddle haue I stood This ten dayes space and least that I should sleepe One plaies continually vpon a Drum They giue me bread and water being a king So that for want of sleepe and sustenance My
mindes distempered and my bodies numde And whether I haue limmes or no I know not O would my bloud dropt out from euery vaine As doth this water from my tattered robes Tell Isabell the Queene I lookt not thus VVhen for her sake I ran at tilt in Fraunce And there vnhorste the duke of Cleremont Light O speake no more my lorde this breakes my heart Lie on this bed and rest your selfe a while Edw. These lookes of thine can harbor nought but death I see my tragedie written in thy browes Yet stay a while forbeare thy bloudie hande And let me see the stroke before it comes That and euen then when I shall lose my life My minde may be more stedfast on my God Light VVhat meanes your highnesse to mistrust me thus Edwa. What meanes thou to dissemble with me thus Light These handes were neuer stainde with innocent bloud Nor shall they now be tainted with a kings Edward Forgiue my thought for hauing such a thought One iewell haue I left receiue thou this Still feare I and I know not what 's the cause But euerie iointe shakes as I giue it thee O if thou harborst murther in thy hart Let this gift change thy minde and saue thy soule Know that I am a king oh at that name I feele a hell of greefe where is my crowne Gone gone and doe I remaine aliue Light Your ouer watchde my lord lie downe and rest Edw. But that greefe keepes me waking I shoulde sleepe For not these ten daies haue these eye lids closd Now as I speake they fall and yet with feare Open againe O wherefore sits thou heare Light If you mistrust me I le be gon my lord Edw. No no for if thou meanst to murther me Thou wilt returne againe and therefore stay Light He sleepes Edw. O let me not die yet stay O stay a while Light How now my Lorde Edw. Something still busseth in mine eares And tels me if I sleepe I neuer wake This feare is that which makes me tremble thus And therefore tell me wherefore art thou come Light To rid thee of thy life Matreuis come Edw. I am too weake and feeble to resist Assist me sweete God and receiue my soule Light Runne for the table Edw. O spare me or dispatche me in a trice Light So lay the table downe and stampe his body But not too hard least that you bruse his body Matreuis I feare mee that this crie will raise the towne And therefore let vs take horse and away Light Tell me sirs was it not braue lie done Gurn. Excellent well take this for thy rewarde Then Gurney stabs Lightborne Come let vs cast the body in the more And beare the kings to Mortimer our lord away Exeunt omnes Enter Mortimer and Matreuis Mortim. iu. I st done Matreuis and the murtherer dead Matr. I my good Lord I would it were vndone Mort. iu. Matreuis if thou now growest penitent I le be thy ghostly father therefore choose Whether thou wilt be secret in this Or else die by the hand of Mortimer Matr. Gurney my lord is fled and will I feare Betray vs both therefore let me slie Mort. iu. Flie to the Sauages Matr. I humblie thanke your honour Mor. iu. As for my selfe I stand as Ioues huge tree And others are but shrubs compard to me All tremble at my name and I feare none Le ts see who dare impeache me for his death Enter the Queene Queen A Mortimer the king my sonne hath news His father 's dead and we haue murdered him Mor. iu. What if he haue the king is yet a childe Queene I I but he teares his haire and wrings his handes And vowes to be reuengd vpon vs both Into the councell chamber he is gone To craue the aide and succour of his peeres Aye me see where he comes and they with him Now Mortimer begins our tragedie Enter the king with the lords Lords Feare not my lord know that you are a king King Villaine Mort. iu. How now my lord King Thinke not that I am frighted with thy words My father 's murdered through thy treacherie And thou shalt die and on his mournefull hearse Thy hatefull and accursed head shall lie To witnesse to the world that by thy meanes His kingly body was too soone interrde Qu. Weepe not sweete sonne King Forbid not me to weepe he was my father And had you lou'de him halfe so well as I You could not beare his death thus patiently But you I feare conspirde with Mortimer Lords Why speake you not vnto my lord the king Mor. iu. Because I thinke scorne to be accusde Who is the man dare say I murderedd him King Traitor in me my louing father speakes And plainely saith t was thou that murdredst him Mort. iu. But hath your grace no other proofe then this King Yes if this be the hand of Mortimer Mortim. iu. False Gurney hath betraide me and himselfe Queen I feard as much murther cannot be hid Mort. iu. T is my hand what gather you by this King That thither thou didst send a murtherer Mort. iu. What murtherer bring foorth the man I sent King A Mortimer thou knowest that he is slaine And so shalt thou be too why staies he heere Bring him vnto a hurdle drag him foorth Hang him I say and set his quarters vp But bring his head back presently to me Queen For my sake sweete sonne pittie Mortimer Mort. iu. Madam intreat not I will rather die Then sue for life vnto a paltrie boye King Hence with the traitor with the murderer Mort. iu. Base fortune now I see that in thy wheele There is a point to which when men aspire They tumble hedlong downe that point I touchte And seeing there was no place to mount vp higher Why should I greeue at my declining fall Farewell faire Queene weepe not for Mortimer That scornes the world and as a traueller Goes to discouer countries yet vnknowne King What suffer you the traitor to delay Queen As thou receiuedst thy life from me Spill not the bloud of gentle Mortimer King This argues that you spilt my fathers bloud Els would you not intreate for Mortimer Queen I spill his bloud no King I madam you for so the rumor runnes Queen That rumor is vntrue for louing thee Is this report raisde on poore Isabell King I doe not thinke her so vnnaturall Lords My lord I feare me it will prooue too true King Mother you are suspected for his death And therefore we commit you to the Tower Till further triall may be made thereof If you be guiltie though I be your sonne Thinke not to finde me slack or pitifull Qu Nay to my death for too long haue I liued When as my sonne thinkes to abridge my daies King Awaye with her her wordes inforce these teares And I shall pitie her if she speake againe Queen Shall I not moorne for my beloued lord And with the rest accompanie him to his graue Lords Thus madam t is the kings will you shall hence Quee. He hath forgotten me stay I am his mother Lords That bootes not therefore gentle madam goe Queen Then come sweete death and rid me of this greefe Lords My lord here is the head of Mortimer King Goe fetche my fathers hearse where it shall lie And bring my funerall robes accursed head Could I haue rulde thee then as I do now Thou hadst not hatcht this monstrous treacherie Heere comes the hearse helpe me to moorne my lords Sweete father heere vnto thy murdered ghost I offer vp this wicked traitors head And let these teares distilling from mine eyes Be witnesse of my greefe and innocencie FINIS Imprinted at London for William Ihones and are to be solde at his shop neere vnto Houlburne Conduit 1694