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
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
What Gaueston welcome kis not my hand Embrace me Gaueston as I do thee Why shouldst thou kneele Knowest thou not who I am Thy friend thy selfe another Gaueston Not Hilas was more mourned of Hercules Then thou hast beene of me since thy exile Gau. And since I went from hence no soule in hell Hath felt more torment then poore Gaueston Edw. I know it brother welcome home my friend Now let the treacherous Mortimers conspire And that high minded earle of Lancaster I haue my wish in that I ioy thy sight And sooner shall the sea ore whelme my land Then beare the ship that shall transport thee hence I heere create thee Lord high Chamberlaine Cheefe Secretarie to the state and me Earle of Cornewall king and lord of Man Gauest. My lord these titles far exceed my worth Kent Brother the least of these may well suffice For one of greater birth then Gaueston Edw. Cease brother for I cannot brooke these words Thy woorth sweet friend is far aboue my guifts Therefore to equall it receiue my hart If for these dignities thou be enuied I le giue thee more for but to honour thee Is Edward pleazd with kinglie regiment Fearst thou thy person thou shalt haue a guard Wants thou gold go to my treasurie Wouldst thou be loude and fearde receiue my seale Saue or condemne and in our name commaund What so thy minde affectes or fancie likes Gaue. It shall suffice me to enioy your loue Which whiles I haue I thinke my selfe as great As Caesar riding in the Romaine streete With captiue kings at his triumphant Carre Enter the Bishop of Couentrie Edw. Whether goes my Lord of Couentrie so fast Bish. To celebrate your fathers exequies But is that wicked Gaueston returnd Edw. I priest and liues to be reuengd on thee That wert the onely cause of his exile Gaue. T is true and but for reuerence of these robes Thou shouldst not plod one foote beyond this place Bish. I did no more then I was bound to do And Gaueston vnlesse thou be reclaimd As then I did incense the parlement So will I now and thou shalt back to France Gaue. Sauing your reuerence you must pardon me Edw. Throwe of his golden miter rend his stole And in the channell christen him a new Kent Ah brother lay not violent hands on him For hee le complaine vnto the sea of Rome Gaue. Let him complaine vnto the sea of hell I le be reuengd on him for my exile Edw. No spare his life but seaze vpon his goods Be thou lord bishop and receiue his rents And make him serue thee as thy chaplaine I giue him thee here vse him as thou wilt Gaue. He shall to prison and there die in boults Edw. I to the tower the fleete or where thou wilt Bish. For this offence be thou accurst of God Edw. Whos 's there conueie this priest to the tower Bish. True true Edw. But in the meane time Gaueston away And take possession of his house and goods Come follow me and thou shalt haue my guarde To see it done and bring thee safe againe Gaue. What should a priest do with so faire a house A prison may be his holinesse Enter both the Mortimers Warwicke and Lancaster War T is true the Bishop is in the tower And goods and body giuen to Gaueston Lan. What will they tyrannize vpon the Church Ah wicked king accurssed Gaueston This ground which is corrupted with their steps Shall be their timeles sepulcher or mine Mor. iu. Wel let that peeuish Frenchmā guard him sure Vnlesse his brest be sword proofe he shall die Mor. se. How now why droops the earle of Lancaster Mor. iu. Wherfore is Guy of Warwicke discontent Lan. That villaine Gaueston is made an Earle Mortim. sen. An Earle War I and besides lord Chamberlaine of the realme And secretary to and lord of Man Mor. se. We may not nor we will not suffer this Mor. iu. Why post we not from hence to leuie men Lan. My lord of Cornewall now at euery worde And happie is the man whom he vouchsafes For vailing of his bonnet one good looke Thus arme in arme the king and he dooth marche Nay more the guarde vpon his lordship waites And all the court begins to flatter him War Thus leaning on the shoulder of the king He nods and scornes and smiles at those that passe Mor. se. Doth no man take exceptions at the slaue Lan. All stomack him but none dare speake a word Mor. iu. Ah that bewraies their basenes Lancaster Were all the Earles and Barons of my minde Wee le hale him from the bosome of the king And at the court gate hang the pessant vp Who swolne with venome of ambitious pride Will be the ruine of the realme and vs Enter the Bishop of Canterburie War Here comes my lord of Canterburies grace Lan. His countenance bewraies he is displeasd Bish. First were his sacred garments rent and torne Then laide they violent hands vpon him next Himselfe imprisoned and his goods asceasd This certifie the Pope away take horsse Lan. My lord will you take armes against the king Bish. What neede I God himselfe is vp in armes When violence is offered to the church Mor. iu. Then wil you ioine with vs that be his peeres To banish or behead that Gaueston Bish. VVhat els my lords for it concernes me neere The Bishoprick of Couentrie is his Enter the Queene Mor. iu. Madam whether walks your maiestie so fast Que. Vnto the forrest gentle Mortimer To liue in greefe and balefull discontent For now my lord the king regardes me not But dotes vpon the loue of Gaueston He claps his cheekes and hanges about his neck Smiles in his face and whispers in his eares And when I come he frownes as who should say Go whether thou wilt seeing I haue Gaueston Mor. se. Is it not straunge that he is thus bewitcht Mor. iu. Madam returne vnto the court againe That slie inueigling Frenchman wee le exile Or lose our liues and yet ere that day come The king shall lose his crowne for we haue power And courage to to be reuengde at full Bish. But yet lift not your swords against the king Lan. No but wee le lift Gaueston from hence War And war must be the meanes or hee le stay stil Queen Then let him stay for rather then my lord Shall be opprest by ciuill mutinies I wil endure a melancholie life And let him frollick with his minion Bish. My lords to eaze all this but heare me speake VVe and the rest that are his counsellers VVill meete and with a generall consent Confirme his banishment with our handes and seales Lan. VVhat we confirme the king will frustrate Mor. iu. Then may we lawfully reuolt from him War But say my lord where shall this meeting bee Bish. At the new temple Mor. iu. Content And in the meane time I le intreat you all To crosse to Lambeth and there stay with me Lan. Come then le ts away
Mor. iu. Madam farewell Qu. Farewell sweet Mortimer and for my sake Forbeare to leuie armes against the king Mor. iu. I if words will serue if not I must Enter Gaueston and the earle of Kent Gau. Edmund the mightie prince of Lancaster That hath more earldomes then an asse can beare And both the Mortimers two goodly men VVith Guie of VVarwick that redoubted knight Are gone towards Lambeth there let them remaine Exeunt Enter Nobiles Lan. Here is the forme of Gauestons exile May it please your lordship to subscribe your name Bish. Giue me the paper Lan. Quick quick my lorde I long to write my name War But I long more to see him banisht hence Mor. iu. The name of Mortimer shall fright the king Vnlesse he be declinde from that base pesant Enter the King and Gaueston Edw. VVhat are you mou'd that Gaueston sits heere It is our pleasure we will haue it so Lan. Your grace doth wel to place him by your side For no where else the new earle is so safe Mor. se. VVhat man of noble birth can brooke this sight Quam male conueniunt See what a scornfull looke the pesant casts Penb. Can kinglie Lions fawne on creeping Ants War Ignoble vassaile that like Phaeton Aspir'st vnto the guidance of the sunne Mor. iu. Their downfall is at hand their forces downe VVe will not thus be facst and ouerpeerd Edw. Lay hands on that traitor Mortimer Mor. se. Lay hands on that traitor Gaueston Kent Is this the dutie that you owe your king War VVe know our duties let him know his peeres Edw. Whether will you beare him stay or ye shall die Mor. se. VVe are no traitors therefore threaten not Gau. No threaten not my lord but pay them home VVere I a king Mor. iu. Thou villaine wherfore talkes thou of a king That hardly art a gentleman by birth Edw. VVere he a peasant being my minion I le make the prowdest of you stoope to him Lan. My lord you may not thus disparage vs Away I say with hatefull Gaueston Mort. se. And with the earle of Kent that fauors him Edw. Nay then lay violent hands vpon your king Here Mortimer sit thou in Edwards throne Warwicke and Lancaster weare you my crowne VVas euer king thus ouer rulde as I Lan. Learne then to rule vs better and the realme Mor. iu. VVhat we haue done our hart bloud shall maintaine War Think you that we can brooke this vpstart pride Edw. Anger and wrathfull furie stops my speech Bish. VVhy are you moou'd be patient my lord And see what we your councellers haue done Mor. iu. My lords now let vs all be resolute And either haue our wils or lose our liues Edw. Meete you for this proud ouerdaring peeres Ere my sweete Gaueston shall part from me This I le shall fleete vpon the Ocean And wander to the vnfrequented Inde Bish. You know that I am legate to the Pope On your allegeance to the sea of Rome Subscribe as we haue done to his exile Mor. iu. Curse him if he refuse and then may we Depose him and elect an other king Edw. I there it goes but yet I will not yeeld Curse me depose me doe the worst you can Lan. Then linger not my lord but do it straight Bish. Remember how the Bishop was abusde Either banish him that was the cause thereof Or I will presentlie discharge these lords Of dutie and allegeance due to thee Edw. It bootes me not to threat I must speake faire The Legate of the Pope will be obayd My lord you shal be Chauncellor of the realme Thou Lancaster high admirall of our fleete Yong Mortimer and his vnckle shal be earles And you lord VVarwick president of the North And thou of VVales if this content you not Make seuerall kingdomes of this monarchie And share it equally amongst you all So I may haue some nooke or corner left To frolike with my deerest Gaueston Bish. Nothing shall alter vs wee are resolu'd Lan. Come come subscribe Mor. iu. VVhy should you loue him whome the world hates so Edw. Because he loues me more then all the world Ah none but rude and sauage minded men VVould seeke the ruine of my Gaueston You that be noble borne should pitie him Warwicke You that are princely borne should shake him off For shame subscribe and let the lowne depart Mor. se. Vrge him my lord Bish. Are you content to banish him the realme Edw. I see I must and therefore am content In steede of inke I le write it with my teares Mor. iu. The king is loue-sick for his minion Edw. T is done and now accursed hand fall off Lan. Giue it me I le haue it published in the streetes Mor. in I le see him presently dispatched away Bish. Now is my heart at ease Warw. And so is mine Penb. This will be good newes to the common sort Mor. se. Be it or no he shall not linger here Exeunt Nobiles Edw. How fast they run to banish him I loue They would not stir were it to do me good Why should a king be subiect to a priest Proud Rome that hatchest such imperiall groomes For these thy superstitious taperlights Wherewith thy antichristian churches blaze I le fire thy crased buildings and enforce The papall towers to kisse the lowlie ground With slaughtered priests may Tibers channell swell And bankes raisd higher with their sepulchers As for the peeres that backe the cleargie thus If I be king not one of them shall liue Enter Gaueston Gau. My lord I heare it whispered euery where That I am banishd and must flie the land Edw. T is true sweete Gaueston oh were it false The Legate of the Pope will haue it so And thou must hence or I shall be deposd But I will raigne to be reueng'd of them And therefore sweete friend take it patiently Liue where thou wilt I le send thee gould enough And long thou shalt not stay or if thou doost I le come to thee my loue shall neare decline Gaue. Is all my hope turnd to this hell of greefe Edw. Rend not my hart with thy too piercing words Thou from this land I from my selfe am banisht Gau. To go from hence greeues not poore Gaueston But to forsake you in whose gratious lookes The blessednes of Gaueston remaines For no where else seekes he felicitie Edw. And onely this torments my wretched soule That whether I will or no thou must depart Be gouernour of Ireland in my stead And there abide till fortune call thee home Here take my picture and let me weare thine O might I keepe thee heere as I doe this Happie were I but now most miserable Gauest. T is something to be pitied of a king Edw. Thou shalt not hence I le hide thee Gaueston Gau. I shal be found and then t wil greeue me more Edwa. Kinde wordes and mutuall talke makes our greefe greater Therefore with dum imbracement let vs part Stay Gaueston I cannot leaue thee thus Gau. For euery
by no other names I arrest you of high treason here Stand not on titles but obay th' arrest T is in the name of Isabell the Queene My lord why droope you thus Edw. O day the last of all my blisse on earth Center of all misfortune O my starres Why do you lowre vnkindly on a king Comes Leister then in Isabellas name To take my life my companie from me Here man rip vp this panting brest of mine And take my heart in reskew of my friends Rice Away with them Spen. iu. It may be come thee yet To let vs take our farewell of his grace Abb. My heart with pittie earnes to see this sight A king to beare these words and proud commaunds Edw. Spencer a sweet Spencer thus then must we part Spen. iu. We must my lord so will the angry heauens Edw. Nay so will hell and cruell Mortimer The gentle heauens haue not to do in this Bald. My lord it is in vaine to greeue or storme Here humblie of your grace we take our leaues Our lots are cast I feare me so is thine Edwa. In heauen wee may in earth neuer shall wee meete And Leister say what shall become of vs Leist. Your maiestie must go to Killingworth Edw. Must t is somwhat hard when kings must go Leist. Here is a Litter readie for your grace That waites your pleasure and the day growes old Rice As good be gon as stay and be benighted Edw. A litter hast thou lay me in a hearse And to the gates of hell conuay me hence Let Plutos bels ring out my fatall knell And hags howle for my death at Charons shore For friends hath Edward none but these and these And these must die vnder a tyrants sword Rice My lord be going care not for these For we shall see them shorter by the heads Edw. Well that shal be shal be part we must Sweete Spencer gentle Baldocke part we must Hence fained weeds vnfained are my woes Father farewell Leister thou staist for me And go I must life farewell with my friends Exeunt Edward and Leicester Spen. iu. O is he gone is noble Edward gone Parted from hence neuer to see vs more Rent sphere of heauen and fier forsake thy orbe Earth melt to ayre gone is my soueraigne Gone gone alas neuer to make returne Bald. Spencer I see our soules are fleeted hence We are depriude the sun-shine of our life Make for a new life man throw vp thy eyes And hart and hand to heauens immortall throne Pay natures debt with cheerefull countenance Reduce we all our lessons vnto this To die sweet Spencer therefore liue wee all Spencer all liue to die and rise to fall Rice Come come keepe these preachments till you come to the place appointed You and such as you are haue made wise worke in England Will your Lordships away Mower Your worship I trust will remember me Rice Remember thee fellow what else Follow me to the towne Enter the king Leicester with a Bishop for the crowne Lei. Be patient good my lord cease to lament Imagine Killingworth castell were your court And that you lay for pleasure here a space Not of compulsion or neceissitie Edw. Leister if gentle words might comfort me Thy speeches long agoe had easde my sorrowes For kinde and louing hast thou alwaies beene The greefes of priuate men are soone allayde But not of kings the forrest Deare being strucke Runnes to an herbe that closeth vp the wounds But when the imperiall Lions flesh is gorde He rends and teares it with his wrathfull pawe Highly scorning that the lowly earth Should drinke his bloud mounts vp into the ayre And so it fares with me whose dauntlesse minde The ambitious Mortimer would seeke to curbe And that vnnaturall Queene false Isabell That thus hath pent and mu'd me in a prison For such outragious passions cloye my soule As with the wings of rancor and disdaine Full often am I sowring vp to heauen To plaine me to the gods against them both But when I call to minde I am a king Me thinkes I should reuenge me of the wronges That Mortimer and Isabell haue done But what are kings when regiment is gone But perfect shadowes in a sun-shine day My nobles rule I beare the name of king I weare the crowne but am contrould by them By Mortimer and my vnconstant Queene Who spots my nuptiall bed with infamie Whilst I am lodgd within this caue of care Where sorrow at my elbow still attends To companie my hart with sad laments That bleedes within me for this strange exchange But tell me must I now resigne my crowne To make vsurping Mortimer a king Bish. Your grace mistakes it is for Englands good And princely Edwards right we craue the crowne Edw. No t is for Mortimer not Edwards head For hee s a lambe encompassed by Woolues Which in a moment will abridge his life But if proud Mortimer do weare this crowne Heauens turne it to a blaze of quenchelesse fier Or like the snakie wreathe of Tisiphon Engirt the temples of his hatefull head So shall not Englands Vines be perished But Edwards name suruiues though Edward dies Lei. My lord why waste you thus the time away They stay your answer will you yeeld your crowne Edw. Ah Leister way how hardly I can brooke To loose my crowne and kingdome without cause To giue ambitious Mortimer my right That like a mountaine ouerwhelmes my blisse In which extreame my minde here murthered is But what the heauens appoint I must obaye Here take my crowne the life of Edward too Two kings in England cannot raigne at once But stay a while let me be king till night That I may gaze vpon this glittering crowne So shall my eyes receiue their last content My head the latest honor dew to it And ioyntly both yeeld vp their wished right Continue euer thou celestiall sunne Let neuer silent night possesse this clime Stand still you watches of the element All times and seasons rest you at a stay That Edward may be still faire Englands king But dayes bright beames dooth vanish fast away And needes I must resigne my wished crowne In humaine creatures nurst with Tigers milke Why gape you for your soueraignes ouerthrow My diadem I meane and guiltlesse life See monsters see I le weare my crowne againe What feare you not the furie of your king But haplesse Edward thou art fondly led They passe not for thy frownes as late they did But seekes to make a new elected king Which fils my mind with strange despairing thoughts Which thoughts are martyred with endles torments And in this torment comfort finde I none But that I feele the crowne vpon my head And therefore let me weare it yet a while Tru. My Lorde the parlement must haue present newes And therefore say will you resigne or no The king rageth Edw. I le not resigne but whilst I liue Traitors be gon and ioine you with Mortimer Elect conspire install do what you