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
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
you go with your friends And shake off all our fortunes equallie Prin. So pleaseth the Queene my mother me it likes The king of England nor the court of Fraunce Shall haue me from my gratious mothers side Till I be strong enough to breake a staffe And then haue at the proudest Spencers head Sir Iohn Well said my lord Qu. Oh my sweet hart how do I mone thy wrongs Yet triumphe in the hope of thee my ioye Ah sweete sir Iohn euen to the vtmost verge Of Europe or the shore of Tanaise Will we with thee to Henolt so we will The Marques is a noble Gentleman His grace I dare presume will welcome me But who are these Enter Edmund and Mortimer Edm. Madam long may you liue Much happier then your friends in England do Qu. Lord Edmund and lord Mortimer aliue Welcome to Fraunce the newes was heere my lord That you were dead or very neare your death Mor. iu. Lady the last was truest of the twaine But Mortimer reserude for better hap Hath shaken off the thraldome of the tower And liues t' aduance your standard good my lord Prin. How meane you and the king my father liues No my lord Mortimer not I I trow Qu. Not sonne why not I would it were no worse But gentle lords friendles we are in Fraunce Mor. iu. Mounsier le Grand a noble friend of yours Tould vs at our arriuall all the newes How hard the nobles how vnkinde the king Hath shewed himself but madam right makes roome Where weapons want and though a many friends Are made away as Warwick Lancaster And others of our partie and faction Yet haue we friends assure your grace in England Would cast vp cappes and clap their hands for ioy To see vs there appointed for our foes Edm. Would all were well and Edward well reclaimd For Englands honor peace and quietnes Mort. But by the sword my lord it must be deseru'd The king will nere forsake his flatterers S. Ioh. My Lords of England sith the vngentle king Of Fraunce refuseth to giue aide of armes To this distressed Queene his sister heere Go you with her to Henolt doubt yee not We will finde comfort money men and friends Ere long to bid the English king a base How say yong Prince what thinke you of the match Prin. I thinke king Edward will out run vs all Qu. Nay soune not so and you must not discourage Your friends that are so forward in your aide Edm. Sir Iohn of Henolt pardon vs I pray These comforts that you giue our wofull queene Binde vs in kindenes all at your commaund Qu. Yea gentle brother and the God of heauen Prosper your happie motion good sir Iohn Mor. iu. This noble gentleman forward in armes Was borne I see to be our anchor hold Sir Iohn of Henolt be it thy renowne That Englands Queene and nobles in distresse Haue beene by thee restored and comforted S. Iohn Madam along and you my lord with me That Englands peeres may Henolts welcome see Enter the king Matr. the two Spencers with others Edw. Thus after many threats of wrathfull warre Triumpheth Englands Edward with his friends And triumph Edward with his friends vncontrould My lord of Gloster do you heare the newes Spen. iu. What newes my lord Edw. Why man they say there is great execution Done through the realme my lord of Arundell You haue the note haue you not Matr. From the lieutenant of the tower my lord Edw. I pray let vs see it what haue we there Read it Spencer Spencer reads their names Why so they barkt a pace a month a goe Now on my life thei le neither barke nor bite Now sirs the newes from Fraunce Gloster I trowe The lords of Fraunce loue Englands gold so well As Isabell gets no aide from thence What now remaines haue you proclaimed my lord Reward for them can bring in Mortimer Spen. iu. My lord we haue and if he be in England A will be had ere long I doubt it not Edw. If doost thou say Spencer as true as death He is in Englands ground our port-maisters Are not so careles of their kings commaund Enter a Poaste How now what newes with thee from whence come these Post Letters my lord and tidings foorth of Fraunce To you my lord of Gloster from Lewne Edward Reade Spencer reades the letter My dutie to your honor promised c. I haue according to instructions in that behalfe dealt with the king of Fraunce his lords and effected that the Queene all discontented and discomforted is gone whither if you aske with sir Iohn of Henolt brother to the Marquesse into Flaunders with them are gone lord Edmund and the lord Mortimer hauing in their company diuers of your nation and others and as constant report goeth they intend to giue king Edward battell in England sooner then he can looke for them this is all the newes of import Your honors in all seruice Lewne Edw. A villaines hath that Mortimer escapt With him is Edmund gone associate And will sir Iohn of Henolt lead the round Welcome a Gods name Madam and your sonne England shall welcome you and all your route Gallop a pace bright Phoebus through the skie And duskie night in rustie iron carre Betweene you both shorten the time I pray That I may see that most desired day When we may meet these traitors in the field Ah nothing greeues me but my little boye Is thus misled to countenance their ils Come friends to Bristow there to make vs strong And windes as equall be to bring them in As you iniurious were to beare them foorth Enter the Queene her sonne Edmund Mortimer and sir Iohn Qu. Now lords our louing friends and countrimen Welcome to England all with prosperous windes Our kindest friends in Belgia haue we left To cope with friends at home a heauie case When force to force is knit and sword and gleaue In ciuill broiles makes kin and country men Slaughter themselues in others and their sides With their owne weapons gorde but what 's the helpe Misgouerned kings are cause of all this wrack And Edward thou art one among them all Whose loosnes hath betrayed thy land to spoyle And made the channels ouerflow with blood Of thine own people patrō shouldst thou be but thou Mor. iu. Nay madam if you be a warriar Ye must not grow so passionate in speeches Lords sith that we are by sufferance of heauen Arriude and armde in this princes right Heere for our countries cause sweare we to him All homage fealtie and forwardnes And for the open wronges and iniuries Edward hath done to vs his Queene and land We come in armes to wrecke it with the swords That Englands queene in peace may reposesse Her dignities and honors and withall We may remooue these flatterers from the king That hauocks Englands wealth and treasurie S. Io. Sound trūpets my lord forward let vs martch Edward will thinke we come to flatter him Edm. I would he