The troublesome raigne and lamentable death of Edward the second King of England with the tragicall fall of proud Mortimer As it was sundrie times publiquely acted in the honourable citie of London by the right honourable the Earle of Pembrooke his seruants Written by Chri Marlow Gent. Imprinted at London for William Iones dwelling neere Holbourne conduit at the signe of the Gunne 1594 The troublesome raigne and lamentable death of Edward the second king of England with the tragicall fall of proud Mortimer Enter Gauestone reading on a letter that was brought him from the king MY father is deceast come Gaueston And share the kingdom with thy deerest friend Ah words that make me surfet with delight What greater blisse can hap to Gaueston Then liue and be the fauorit of a king Sweete prince I come these these thy amorous lines Might haue enforst me to haue swum from France And like Leander gaspt vpon the sande So thou wouldst smile and take me in thy armes The sight of London to my exiled eyes Is as Elizium to a new come soule Not that I loue the citie or the men But that it harbors him I hold so deare The king vpon whose bosome let me die And with the world be still at enmitie What neede the artick people loue star-light To whom the sunne shines both by day and night Farewell base stooping to the lordly peeres My knee shall bowe to none but to the king As for the multitude that are but sparkes Rakt vp in embers of their pouertie Tauti I le fanne first on the winde That glaunceth at my lips and flieth away But how now what are these Enter three poore men Poore men Such as desire your worships seruice Gauest. What canst thou doe 1. poore I can ride Gauest. But I haue no horses What art thou 2. poore A traueller Gauest. Let me see thou wouldst do well To waite at my trencher tell me lies at dinner time And as I like your discoursing I le haue you And what art thou 3. poore A souldier that hath seru'd against the Scot Gauest. Why there are hospitals for such as you I haue no warre and therefore sir be gone Seld. Farewell and perish by a souldiers hand That wouldst reward them with an hospitall Gau. I I these wordes of his moue me as much As if a Goose should play the Porpintine And dart her plumes thinking to pierce my brest But yet it is no paine to speake men faire I le flatter these and make them liue in hope You know that I came lately out of France And yet I haue not viewd my Lord the king If I speed well I le entertaine you all Omnes We thanke your worship Gauest. I haue some busines leaue me to my selfe Omnes We will wait heere about the court Exeunt Gauest. Do these are not men for me I must haue wanton Poets pleasant wits Musitians that with touching of a string May draw the pliant king which way I please Musicke and poetrie is his delight Therefore I le haue Italian maskes by night Sweete speeches comedies and pleasing showes And in the day when he shall walke abroad Like Siluian Nimphes my pages shall be clad My men like Satyres grazing on the lawnes Shall with their Goate feete daunce an antick hay Sometime a louelie boye in Dians shape With haire that gilds the water as it glides Crownets of pearle about his naked armes And in his sportfull hands an Oliue tree To hide those parts which men delight to see Shall bathe him in a spring and there hard by One like Actaeon peeping through the groue Shall by the angrie goddesse be transformde And running in the likenes of an Hart By yelping hounds puld downe and seeme to die Such things as these best please his maiestie My lord heere comes the king and the nobles From the parlament I le stand aside Enter the King Lancaster Mortimer senior Mortimer iunior Edmund Earle of Kent Guie Earle of Warwicke c. Edward Lancaster Lancast. My Lorde Gauest. That Earle of Lancaster do I abhorre Edw. Will you not graunt me this in spight of them I le haue my will and these two Mortimers That crosse me thus shall know I am displeasd Mor. se. If you loue vs my lord hate Gaueston Gauest. That villaine Mortimer I le be his death Mor. iu. Mine vnckle heere this Earle I my selfe Were sworne to your father at his death That he should nere returne into the realme And know my lord ere I will breake my oath This sword of mine that should offend your foes Shall sleepe within the scabberd at thy neede And vnderneath thy banners march who will For Mortimer will hang his armor vp Gauest. Mort dieu Edw. Well Mortimer I le make thee rue these words Beseemes it thee to contradict thy king Frownst thou thereat aspiring Lancaster The sworde shall plane the furrowes of thy browes And hew these knees that now are growne so stiffe I will haue Gaueston and you shall know What danger t is to stand against your king Gauest. Well doone Ned Lan. My lord why do you thus incense your peeres That naturally would loue and honour you But for that base and obscure Gaueston Foure Earldomes haue I besides Lancaster Darbie Salsburie Lincolne Leicester These will I sell to giue my souldiers paye Ere Gaueston shall stay within the realme Therefore if he be come expell him straight Edm. Barons Earls your pride hath made me mute But now I le speake and to the proofe I hope I do remember in my fathers dayes Lord Percie of the North being highly mou'd Brau'd Mowberie in presence of the king For which had not his highnes lou'd him well He should haue lost his head but with his looke The vndaunted spirit of Percie was appeasd And Mowberie and he were reconcild Yet dare you braue the king vnto his face Brother reuenge it and let these their heads Preach vpon poles for trespasse of their tongues Warwicke O our heads Edw. I yours and therefore I would wish you graunt Warw. Bridle thy anger gentle Mortimer Mor. iu. I cannot nor I will not I must speake Cosin our hands I hope shall fence our heads And strike off his that makes you threaten vs Come vnckle let vs leaue the brainsick king And henceforth parle with our naked swords Mor. se. Wilshire hath men enough to saue our heads Warw. All Warwickshire will loue him for my sake Lanc. And Northward Gaueston hath many friends Adew my Lord and either change your minde Or looke to see the throne where you should sit To floate in bloud and at thy wanton head The glozing head of thy base minion throwne Exeunt Nobiles Edw. I cannot brooke these hautie menaces Am I a king and must be ouer rulde Brother displaie my ensignes in the field I le bandie with the Barons and the Earles And eyther die or liue with Gaueston Gau. I can no longer keepe me from my lord Edw.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
with some colour rise in armes For howsoeuer we haue borne it out T is treason to be vp against the king So shall we haue the people of our side Which for his fathers sake leane to the king But cannot brooke a night growne mushrump Such a one as my Lord of Cornewall is Should beare vs downe of the nobilitie And when the commons and the nobles ioyne T is not the king can buckler Gaueston Wee le pull him from the strongest hould he hath My lords if to performe this I be slack Thinke me as base a groome as Gaueston Lan. On that condition Lancaster will graunt War And so will Penbrooke and I Mor. se. And I Mor. iu. In this I count me highly gratified And Mortimer will rest at your commaund Qu. And when this fauour Isabell forgets Then let her liue abandond and forlorne But see in happie time my lord the king Hauing brought the Earle of Cornewall on his way Is new returnd this newes will glad him much Yet not so much as me I loue him more Then he can Gaueston would he lou'd me But halfe so much then were I treble blest Enter king Edward moorning Edw. Hee s gone and for his absence thus I moorne Did neuer sorrow go so neere my heart As dooth the want of my sweete Gaueston And could my crownes reuenew bring him back I would freelie giue it to his enemies And thinke I gaind hauing bought so deare a friend Qu. Harke how he harpes vpon his minion Edw. My heart is as an anuill vnto sorrow Which beates vpon it like the Cyclops hammers And with the noise turnes vp my giddie braine And makes me frantick for my Gaueston Ah had some bloudlesse furie rose from hell And with my kinglie scepter stroke me dead When I was forst to leaue my Gaueston Lan. Diablo what passions call you these Qu. My gratious lord I come to bring you newes Edw. That you haue parled with your Mortimer Qu. That Gaueston my Lord shal be repeald Edw. Repeald the newes is too sweet to be true Qu. But will you loue me if you finde it so Edw. If it be so what will not Edward do Qu. For Gaueston but not for Isabell Edw. For thee faire Queene if thou louest Gaueston I le hang a golden tongue about thy neck Seeing thou hast pleaded with so good successe Qu. No other iewels hang about my neck Then these my lord nor let me haue more wealth Then I may fetch from this ritch treasurie O how a kisse reuiues poore Isabell Edw. Once more receiue my hand and let this be A second mariage twixt thy selfe and me Qu. And may it prooue more happie then the first My gentle lord be these nobles faire That waite attendance for a gratious looke And on their knees salute your maiestie Edw. Couragious Lancaster imbrace thy king And as grosse vapours perish by the sunne Euen so let hatred with thy soueraigne smile Liue thou with me as my companion Lan. This salutation ouerioyes my heart Edw. Warwick shal be my chiefest counseller These siluer haires will more adorne my court Then gaudie silkes or rich imbrotherie Chide me sweete Warwick if I go astray War Slay me my lord when I offend your grace Edw. In sollemne triumphes and in publike showes Penbrooke shall beare the sword before the king Pen. And with this sword Penbrooke wil fight for you Edw. But wherefore walkes yong Mortimer aside Be thou commaunder of our royall fleete Or if that loftie office like thee not I make thee heere lord Marshall of the realme Mor. iu. My lord I le marshall so your enemies As England shall be quiet and you safe Edw. And as for you lord Mortimer of Chirke Whose great atchiuements in our forrain warre Deserues no common place nor meane reward Be you the generall of the leuied troopes That now are readie to assaile the Scots Mor. se. In this your grace hath highly honoured me For with my nature warre doth best agree Qu. Now is the king of England riche and strong Hauing the loue of his renowned peeres Edw. I Isabell nere was my heart so light Clarke of the crowne direct our warrant forth For Gaueston to Ireland Beamont flie As fast as Iris or Ioues Mercurie Beam It shal be done my gratious Lord Edw. Lord Mortimer we leaue you to your charge Now let vs in and feast it roiallie Against our friend the earle of Cornewall comes Wee le haue a generall tilt and turnament And then his mariage shal be solemnized For wot you not that I haue made him sure Vnto our cosin the earle of Glosters heire Lan. Such newes we heare my lord Edw. That day if not for him yet for my sake Who in the triumphe will be challenger Spare for no cost we will requite your loue Warwick In this or ought your highnes shall commaund vs Edward Thankes gentle Warwick come le ts in and reuell Exeunt Manent Mortimers Mor. se. Nephue I must to Scotland thou staiest here Leaue now to oppose thy selfe against the king Thou seest by nature he is milde and calme And seeing his minde so dotes on Gaueston Let him without controulement haue his will The mightiest kings haue had their minions Great Alexander loude Ephestion The conquering Hector for Hilas wept And for Patroclus sterne Achillis droopt And not kings onelie but the wisest men The Romaine Tullie loued Octauis Graue Socrates wilde Alcibiades Then let his grace whose youth is flexible And promiseth as much as we can wish Freely enioy that vaine light-headed earle For riper yeares will weane him from such toyes Mor. iu. Vnckle his wanton humor greeues not me But this I scorne that one so baselie borne Should by his soueraignes fauour grow so pert And riote it with the treasure of the realme While souldiers mutinie for want of paie He weares a lords reuenewe on his back And Midas like he iets it in the court With base outlandish cullions at his heeles Whose proud fantastick liueries make such show As if that Proteus god of shapes appearde I haue not seene a dapper lack so briske He weares a short Italian hooded cloake Larded with pearle and in his tuskan cap A iewell of more value then the crowne Whiles other walke below the king and he From out a window laugh at such as we And floute our traine and iest at our attire Vnckle t is this that makes me impatient Mor. se. But nephew now you see the king is changd Mor. iu. Then so am I and liue to do him seruice But whiles I haue a sword a hand a hart I will not yeeld to any such vpstart You know my minde come vnckle le ts away Exeunt Enter Spencer and Balduck Bald. Spencer seeing that our Lord th' earle of Glosters dead Which of the nobles dost thou meane to serue Spen. Not Mortimer nor any of his side Because the king and he are enemies Baldock learne this of me a factious lord Shall hardly do
Gaueston Whose mounting thoughts did neuer creepe so low As to bestow a looke on such as you Lan. Yet I disdaine not to doe this for you Edw. Treason treason wher 's the traitor Pen. Heere here King conuey hence Gaueston thai le murder him Gau. The life of thee shall salue this foule disgrace Mor. iu. Villaine thy life vnlesse I misse mine aime Qu. Ah furious Mortimer what hast thou done Mor. No more then I would answere were he slaine Ed. Yes more then thou canst answer though he liue Deare shall you both abie this riotous deede Out of my presence come not neere the court Mor. iu. I le not be barde the court for Gaueston Lan. Wee le haile him by the eares vnto the block Edw. Looke to your owne heads his is sure enough War Looke to your owne crowne if you back him thus Edm. Warwicke these words do ill beseeme thy yeares Edw. Nay all of them conspire to crosse me thus But if I liue I le tread vpon their heads That thinke with high lookes thus to tread me down Come Edmund le ts away and leuie men T is warre that must abate these Barons pride Exit the King War Le ts to our castels for the king is mooude Mor. iu. Moou'd may he be and perish in his wrath Lan. Cosin it is no dealing with him now He meanes to make vs stoope by force of armes And therefore let vs iointlie here protest To prosecute that Gaueston to the death Mor. iu. By heauen the abiect villaine shall not liue War I le haue his bloud or die in seeking it Pen. The like oath Penbrooke takes Lan. And so doth Lancaster Now send our Heralds to defie the King And make the people sweare to put him downe Enter a Poast Mor. iu. Letters from whence Messen. From Scotland my lord Lan. Why how now cosin how fares all our friends Mor. iu. My vnckles taken prisoner by the Scots Lā. Wee l haue him ransomd man be of good cheere Mor. They rate his ransome at fiue thousand pound Who should defray the money but the King Seeing he is taken prisoner in his warres I le to the King Lan. Do cosin and I le beare thee companie War Meane time my lord of Penbrooke and my selfe Will to Newcastell heere and gather head Mor. iu. About it then and we will follow you Lan. Be resolute and full of secrecie War I warrant you Mor. iu. Cosin and if he will not ransome him I le thunder such a peale into his eares As neuer subiect did vnto his King Lan. Content I le beare my part holl a whos 's there Mor. iu I marry such a garde as this dooth well Lan. Lead on the way Guard Whither will your lordships Mor. iu. Whither else but to the King Guar. His highnes is disposde to be alone Lan. Why so he may but we will speake to him Guard You may not in my lord Mor. iu. May we not Edw. How now what noise is this Who haue we there i st you Mor. Nay stay my lord I come to bring you newes Mine vnckles taken prisoner by the Scots Edw. Then ransome him Lan. T was in your wars you should ransome him Mor iu. And you shall ransome him or else Edm. What Mortimer you will not threaten him Edw. Quiet your self you shall haue the broad seale To gather for him thoroughout the realme Lan. Your minion Gaueston hath taught you this Mor. iu. My lord the familie of the Mortimers Are not so poore but would they sell their land Would leuie men enough to anger you We neuer beg but vse such praiers as these Edw. Shall I still be haunted thus Mor. iu. Nay now you are heere alone I le speake my minde Lan. And so will I and then my lord farewell Mor. The idle triumphes maskes lasciuious showes And prodigall gifts bestowed on Gaueston Haue drawne thy treasure drie and made thee weake The murmuring commons ouerstretched hath Lan. Looke for rebellion looke to be deposde Thy garrisons are beaten out of Fraunce And lame and poore lie groning at the gates The wilde Oneyle with swarmes of Irish Kernes Liues vncontroulde within the English pale Vnto the walles of Yorke the Scots made rode And vnresisted draue away riche spoiles Mor. iu. The hautie Dane commands the narrow seas While in the harbor ride thy ships vnrigd Lan. What forraine prince sends thee embassadors Mor. Who loues thee but a sort of flatterers Lan. Thy gentle Queene sole sister to Valoys Complaines that thou hast left her all forlorne Mor. Thy court is naked being bereft of those That makes a king seeme glorious to the world I meane the peeres whom thou shouldst dearly loue Libels are cast againe thee in the streete Ballads and rimes made of thy ouerthrow Lan. The Northren borderers seeing the houses burnt Their wiues and children slaine run vp and downe Cursing the name of thee and Gaueston Mor. When wert thou in the field with banner spred But once and then thy souldiers marcht like players With garish robes not armor and thy selfe Bedaubd with golde rode laughing at the rest Nodding and shaking of thy spangled crest Where womens fauors hung like labels downe Lan. And thereof came it that the fleering Scots To Englands high disgrace haue made this Iig Maids of England sore may you moorne For your lemmons you haue lost at Bannocks borne With a heaue and a ho VVhat weeneth the king of England So soone to haue woone Scotland With a rombelow Mor. Wigmore shall flie to set my vnckle free Lan. And when t is gone our swordes shall purchase more If ye be moou'de reuenge it as you can Looke next to see vs with our ensignes spred Exeunt Nobiles Edwa. My swelling hart for very anger breakes How oft haue I beene baited by these peeres And dare not be reuengde for their power is great Yet shall the crowing of these cockerels Affright a Lion Edward vnfolde thy pawes And let their liues bloud slake thy furies hunger If I be cruell and growe tyrannous Now let them thanke themselues and rue too late Kent My lord I see your loue to Gaueston VVill be the ruine of the realme and you For now the wrathfull nobles threaten warres And therefore brother banish him for euer Edw. Art thou an enemie to my Gaueston Kent I and it greeues me that I fauoured him Edw. Traitor be gone whine thou with Mortimer Kent So will I rather then with Gaueston Edw. Out of my sight and trouble me no more Kent No maruell though thou scorne thy noble peeres VVhen I thy brother am reiected thus Exit Edw. Away poore Gaueston that hast no friend but me Do what they can wee le liue in Tinmoth here And so I walke with him about the walles VVhat care I though the Earles be girt vs round Heere comes she that 's cause of all these iarres Enter the Queene Ladies 3 Baldock and Spencer Qu. My lord t is thought the Earles are vp in armes
they appoint their soueraigne His sports his pleasures and his companie Yet ere thou go see how I do deuorce Embrace Spencer Spencer from me now get thee to thy lords And tell them I will come to chastise them For murthering Gaueston hie thee get thee gone Edward with fire and sword followes at thy heeles My lord perceiue you how these rebels swell Souldiers good harts defend your soueraignes right For now euen now we marche to make them stoope Away Exeunt Alarums excursions a great fight and a retreate Enter the king Spencer the father Spencer the sonne and the noblemen of the kings side Edw. Why do we sound retreat vpon them lords This day I shall powre vengeance with my sword On those proud rebels that are vp in armes And do confront and countermaund their king Spen. son I doubt it not my lord right will preuaile Spen. fa. T is not amisse my liege for eyther part To breathe a while our men with sweat and dust All chockt well neare begin to faint for heate And this retire refresheth horse and man Spen. son Heere come the rebels Enter the Barons Mortimer Lancaster Warwick Penbrooke cum caeteris Mor. Looke Lancaster yonder is Edward among his flatterers Lan. And there let him bee till hee pay deerely for their companie War And shall or Warwicks sword shal smite in vaine Edw. What rebels do you shrinke and sound retreat Mor. iu. No Edward no thy flatterers faint and flie Lan. Th 'ad best betimes forsake thee and their trains For thei le betray thee traitors as they are Spen. so Traitor on thy face rebellious Lancaster Pen. Away base vpstart brau'st thou nobles thus Spen. fa. A noble attempt and honourable deed Is it not trowe ye to assemble aide And leuie armes against your lawfull king Edw. For which ere long their heads shall satisfie T' appeaze the wrath of their offended king Mor. iu. Then Edward thou wilt fight it to the last And rather bathe thy sword in subiects bloud Then banish that pernicious companie Edw. I traitors all rather then thus be braude Make Englands ciuill townes huge heapes of stones And plowes to go about our pallace gates War A desperate and vnnaturall resolution Alarum to the fight saint George for England And the Barons right Edw. S. George for England and king Edwards right Enter Edward with the Barons captiues Edw. Now lustie lords now not by chance of warre But iustice of the quarrell and the cause Vaild is your pride me thinkes you hang the head But wee le aduance them traitors now t is time To be auengd on you for all your braues And for the murther of my deerest friend To whome right well you knew our soule was knit Good Pierce of Gaueston my sweet fauoret A rebels recreants you made him away Edm. Brother in regard of thee and of thy land Did they remooue that flatterer from thy throne Edw. So sir you haue spoke away auoid our presence Accursed wretches wa st in regard of vs When we had sent our messenger to request He might be spared to come to speake with vs And Penbrooke vndertooke for his returne That thou proud Warwicke watcht the prisoner Poore Pierce and headed him against lawe of armes For which thy head shall ouer looke the rest As much as thou in rage out wentst the rest War Tyrant I scorne thy threats and menaces T is but temporall that thou canst inflict Lan. The worst is death and better die to liue Then liue in infamie vnder such a king Edw. Away with them my lord of Winchester These lustie leaders Warwicke and Lancaster I charge you roundly off with both their heads away War Farewell vaine worlde Lan. Sweete Mortimer farewell Mor. iu. England vnkinde to thy nobilitie Grone for this greefe behold how thou art maimed Edw. Go take that haughtie Mortimer to the tower There see him safe bestowed and for the rest Do speedie execution on them all be gon Mor. iu. What Mortimer can ragged stonie walle ensure thy vertue that aspires to heauen No Edward Englands scourge it may not be Mortimers hope surmounts his fortune farre Edw. Sound drums and trumpets marche with me my friends Edward this day hath crownd him king a new Exit Manent Spencer filius Lewne Baldock Spen. Lewne the trust that we repose in thee Begets the quiet of king Edwards land Therefore be gon in hast and with aduice Bestowe that treasure on the lords of Fraunce That therewith all enchaunted like the guarde That suffered Ioue to passe in showers of golde To Danae all aide may be denied To Isabell the Queene that now in France Makes friends to crosse the seas with her yong sonne And step into his fathers regiment Lew. That 's it these Barons and the subtill Queene Long leuied at Bald. Yea but Lewne thou seest These Barons lay their heads on blocks together What they intend the hangman frustrates cleane Lewn Haue you no doubts my lords I le claps close Among the lords of France with Englands golde That Isabell shall make her plaints in vaine And Fraunce shall be obdurat with her teares Spen. Then make for Fraunce amaine Lewne away Proclaime king Edwards warres and victories Exeunt omnes Enter Edmund Edm. Faire blowes the winde for Fraunce blowe gentle gale Till Edmund be arriude for Englands good Nature yeeld to my countries cause in this A brother no a butcher of thy friends Proud Edward doost thou banish me thy presence But I le to Fraunce and cheere the wronged Queene And certifie what Edwards loosenes is Vnnaturall king to slaughter noble men And cherish flatterers Mortimer I stay Thy sweet escape stand gratious gloomie night to his deuice Enter Mortimer disguised Mor. iu. Holla who walketh there i st you my lord Edm. Mortimer t is I but hath thy potion wrought so happilie Mor. iu. It hath my lord the warders all a sleepe I thanke them gaue me leaue to passe in peace But hath your grace got shipping vnto Fraunce Edm. Feare it not Exeunt Enter the Queene and her sonne Qu. A boye our friends do faile vs all in Fraunce The lords are cruell and the king vnkinde What shall we doe Prince Madam returne to England And please my father well and then a Fig For all my vnckles frienship here in Fraunce I warrant you I le winne his highnes quicklie A loues me better than a thousand Spencers Qu. A boye thou art deceiude at least in this To thinke that we can yet be tun'd together No no we warre too farre vnkinde Valoys Vnhappie Isabell when Fraunce reiects Whether O whether doost thou bend thy steps Enter sir Iohn of Henolt S. Ioh. Madam what cheere Qu. A good sir Iohn of Henolt Neuer so cheereles nor so farre distrest S. Ioh. I heare sweete lady of the kings vnkindenes But droope not madam noble mindes contemne Despaire will your grace with me to Henolt And there stay times aduantage with your sonne How say you my Lord will
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
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
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
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
Edw. I and t is likewise thought you fauour him Qu. Thus do you still suspect me without cause La. Sweet vnckle speake more kindly to the queene Gau. My lord dissemble with her speake her faire Edw. Pardon me sweet I forgot my selfe Qu. Your pardon is quicklie got of Isabell Edw. The yonger Mortimer is growne so braue That to my face he threatens ciuill warres Gau. VVhy do you not commit him to the tower Edw. I dare not for the people loue him well Gau. Why then wee le haue him priuilie made away Edw. VVould Lancaster and he had both carroust A bowle of poison to each others health But let them go and tell me what are these Lad. Two of my fathers seruants whilst he liu'de Mai t please your grace to entertaine them now Edw. Tell me where wast thou borne VVhat is thine armes Bald. My name is Baldock and my gentrie I fetcht from Oxford not from Heraldrie Edw. The fitter art thou Baldock for my turne VVaite on me and I le see thou shalt not want Bald. I humblie thanke your maiestie Edw. Knowest thou him Gaueston Gau. I my lord his name is Spencer he is well alied For my sake let him waite vpon your grace Scarce shall you finde a man of more desart Edw. Then Spencer waite vpon me for his sake I le grace thee with a higher stile ere long Spen. No greater titles happen vnto me Then to be fauoured of your maiestie Edw. Cosin this day shal be your mariage feast And Gaueston thinke that I loue thee well To wed thee to our neece the onely heire Vnto the Earle of Gloster late deceased Gau. I know my lord many will stomack me But I respect neither their loue nor hate Edw. The head-strong Barons shall not limit me He that I list to fauour shall be great Come le ts away and when the mariage ends Haue at the rebels and their complices Exeunt omnes Enter Lancaster Mortimer Warwick Penbrooke Kent Kent My lords of loue to this our natiue land I come to ioine with you and leaue the king And in your quarrell and the realmes behoofe VVill be the first that shall aduenture life Lan. I feare me you are sent of pollicie To vndermine vs with a showe of loue Warw. He is your brother therefore haue we cause To cast the worst and doubt of your reuolt Edm. Mine honor shal be hostage of my truth If that will not suffice farewell my lords Mor. iu. Stay Edmund neuer was Plantagenet False of his word and therefore trust we thee Pen. But what 's the reason you should leaue him now Kent I haue enformd the Earle of Lancaster Lan. And it sufficeth now my lords know this That Gaueston is secretlie arriude And here in Tinmoth frollicks with the king Let vs with these our followers scale the walles And sodenly surprize them vnawares Mor. iu. I le giue the onset War And I le follow thee Mor. iu. This tottered ensigne of my auncesters Which swept the desart shore of that dead sea Whereof we got the name of Mortimer Will I aduaunce vpon this castell walles Drums strike alarum raise them from their sport And ring aloude the knell of Gaueston Lanc. None be so hardie as to touche the King But neither spare you Gaueston nor his friends Exeunt Enter the king and Spencer to them Gaueston c. Edw. O tell me Spencer where is Gaueston Spen. I feare me he is slaine my gratious lord Edw. No here he comes now let them spoile and kill Flie flie my lords the earles haue got the holde Take shipping and away to Scarborough Spencer and I will post away by land Gau. O stay my lord they will not iniure you Edw. I will not trust them Gaueston away Gau. Farewell my Lord Edw. Ladie farewell Lad. Farewell sweete vnckle till we meete againe Edw. Farewell sweete Gaueston and farewell Neece Qu. No farewell to poore Isabell thy Queene Edw. Yes yes for Mortimer your louers sake Exeunt omnes manet Isabella Qu. Heauens can witnesse I loue none but you From my imbracements thus he breakes away O that mine armes could close this I le about That I might pull him to me where I would Or that these teares that drissell from mine eyes Had power to mollifie his stonie hart That when I had him we might neuer part Enter the Barons alarums Lan. I wonder how he scapt Mor. iu. Whos 's this the Queene Qu. I Mortimer the miserable Queene Whose pining heart her inward sighes haue blasted And body with continuall moorning wasted These hands are tir'd with haling of my lord From Gaueston from wicked Gaueston And all in vaine for when I speake him faire He turnes away and smiles vpon his minion Mor. iu. Cease to lament and tell vs where 's the king Qu. What would you with the king i st him you seek Lan. No madam but that cursed Gaueston Farre be it from the thought of Lancaster To offer violence to his soueraigne We would but rid the realme of Gaueston Tell vs where he remaines and he shall die Qu. Hee s gone by water vnto Scarborough Pursue him quicklie and he cannot scape The king hath left him and his traine is small War Forslowe no time sweet Lancaster le ts march Mor. How comes it that the king and he is parted Qu. That this your armie going seuerall waies Might be of lesser force and with the power That he intendeth presentlie to raise Be easilie supprest and therefore be gone Mor. Heere in the riuer rides a Flemish hoie Le ts all aboord and follow him amaine Lan. The wind that bears him hence wil fil our sailes Come come aboord t is but an houres sailing Mor. Madam stay you within this castell here Qu. No Mortimer I le to my lord the king Mor. Nay rather saile with vs to Scarborough Qu. You know the king is so suspitious As if he heare I haue but talkt with you Mine honour will be cald in question And therefore gentle Mortimer be gone Mor. Madam I cannot stay to answer you But thinke of Mortimer as he deserues Qu. So well hast thou deseru'de sweete Mortimer As Isaebell could liue with thee for euer In vaine I looke for loue at Edwards hand Whose eyes are fixt on none but Gaueston Yet once more I le importune him with praiers If he be straunge and not regarde my wordes My sonne and I will ouer into France And to the king my brother there complaine How Gaueston hath robd me of his loue But yet I hope my sorrowes will haue end And Gaueston this blessed day be slaine Exeunt Enter Gaueston pursued Gau. Yet lustie lords I haue escapt your handes Your threats your larums and your hote pursutes And though deuorsed from king Edwards eyes Yet liueth Pierce of Gaueston vnsurprizd Breathing in hope malgrado all your beards That muster rebels thus against your king To see his royall soueraigne once againe Enter the Nobles War Vpon him souldiers take
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