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
looke my lord drops downe a teare Seeing I must go do not renew my sorrow Edwa. The time is little that thou hast to stay And therefore giue me leaue to looke my fill But come sweete friend I le beare thee on thy way Gau. The peeres will frowne Edw. I passe not for their anger come le ts go O that we might as well returne as goe Enter Edmund and Queen Isabell Qu. Whether goes my lord Edw. Fawne not on me French strumpet get thee gone Qu. On whom but on my husband should I fawne Gau. On Mortimer with whom vngentle Queene I say no more iudge you the rest my lord Qu. In saying this thou wrongst me Gaueston I st not enough that thou corrupts my lord And art a bawd to his affections But thou must call mine honor thus in question Gau. I meane not so your grace must pardon me Edw. Thou art too familiar with that Mortimer And by thy meanes is Gaueston exilde But I would wish thee reconcile the lords Or thou shalt nere be reconcild to me Qu. Your highnes knowes it lies not in my power Edw. Away then touch me not come Gaueston Qu. Villaine t is thou that robst me of my lord Gau. Madam t is you that rob me of my lord Edw. Speake not vnto her let her droope and pine Qu. Wherein my lord haue I deserud these words Witnesse the teares that Isabella sheds Witnesse this hart that sighing for thee breakes How deare my lord is to poore Isabell Edw. And witnesse heauen how deere thou art to me There weepe for till my Gaueston be repeald Assure thy selfe thou comst not in my sight Exeunt Edward and Gaueston Qu. O miserable and distressed Queene Would when I left sweet France and was imbarkt That charming Circes walking on the waues Had chaungd my shape or at the mariage day The cup of Hymen had beene full of poyson Or with those armes that twind about my neck I had beene stifled and not liued to see The king my lord thus to abandon me Like frantick Iuno will I fill the earth With gastlie murmure of my sighes and cries For neuer doted Ioue on Ganimed So much as he on cursed Gaueston But that will more exasperate his wrath I must entreat him I must speake him faire And be a meanes to call home Gaueston And yet hee le euer dote on Gaueston And so am I for euer miserable Enter the Nobles to the Queene Lanc. Looke where the sister of the king of Fraunce Sits wringing of her hands and beats her brest Warw. The king I feare hath ill intreated her Pen. Hard is the hart that iniures such a saint Mor. iu. I know t is long of Gaueston she weepes Mor. se. Why he is gone Mor. iu. Madam how fares your grace Qu. Ah Mortimer now breaks the kings hate forth And he confesseth that he loues me not Mor. iu. Crie quittance Madam then loue not him Qu. No rather will I die a thousand deaths And yet I loue in vaine hee le nere loue me Lan. Feare ye not Madam now his minions gone His wanton humor will be quicklie left Qu. O neuer Lancaster I am inioynde To sue vnto you all for his repeale This wils my lord and this must I performe Or else be banisht from his highnesse presence Lan. For his repeale Madam he comes not back Vnlesse the sea cast vp his shipwrack body War And to behold so sweete a sight as that There 's none here but would run his horse to death Mor. iu. But madam would you haue vs cal him home Qu. I Mortimer for till he be restorde The angrie king hath banished me the court And therefore as thou louest and tendrest me Be thou my aduocate vnto these peeres Mor. iu. What would ye haue me plead for Gaueston Mor. se. Plead for him he that will I am resolude Lan. And so am I my lord diswade the Queene Qu. O Lancaster let him diswade the king For t is against my will he should returne War Then speake not for him let the pesant go Qu. T is for my selfe I speake and not for him Pen. No speaking will preuaile and therefore cease Mor. iu. Faire Queene forbeare to angle for the fish Which being caught strikes him that takes it dead I meane that vile Torpedo Gaueston That now I hope flotes on the Irish seas Qu. Sweete Mortimer sit downe by me a while And I will tell thee reasons of such waighte As thou wilt soone subscribe to his repeale Mor. iu. It is impossible but speake your minde Qu. Then thus but none shal heare it but our selues Lanc. My Lords albeit the Queen winne Mortimer will you be resolute and hold with me Mor. se. Not I against my nephew Pen. Feare not the queens words cannot alter him War No doe but marke how earnestly she pleads Lan. And see how coldly his lookes make deniall War She smiles now for my life his mind is changd Lanc. I le rather loose his friendship I then graunt Mor. iu. Well of necessitie it must be so My Lords that I abhorre base Gaueston I hope your honors make no question And therefore though I pleade for his repeall T is not for his sake but for our auaile Nay for the realms behoofe and for the kings Lanc. Fie Mortimer dishonor not thy selfe Can this be true t was good to banish him And is this true to call him home againe Such reasons make white blacke and darke night day Mor. iu. My Lord of Lancaster marke the respect Lan. In no respect can contraries be true Qu. Yet good my lord heare what he can alledge War All that he speakes is nothing we are resolu'd Mor. iu. Do you not wish that Gaueston were dead Pen. I would he were Mor. iu. Why then my lord giue me but leaue to speak Mor. se. But nephew do not play the sophister Mor. iu. This which I vrge is of a burning zeale To mend the king and do our countrie good Know you not Gaueston hath store of golde Which may in Ireland purchase him such friends As he will front the mightiest of vs all And whereas he shall liue and be beloude T is hard for vs to worke his ouerthrow War Marke you but that my lord of Lancaster Mor. iu. But were he here detested as he is How easilie might some base slaue be subbornd To greet his lordship with a poniard And none so much as blame the murtherer But rather praise him for that braue attempt And in the Chronicle enrowle his name For purging of the realme of such a plague Pen. He saith true Lan. I but how chance this was not done before Mor. iu. Because my lords it was not thought vpon Nay more when he shall know it lies in vs To banish him and then to call him home T will make him vaile the topflag of his pride And feare to offend the meanest noble man Mor. se. But how if he do not Nephew Mor. iu. Then may we
himselfe good much lesse vs But he that hath the fauour of a king May with one word aduaunce vs while we liue The liberall earle of Cornewall is the man On whose good fortune Spencers hope depends Bald. What meane you then to be his follower Spen. No his companion for he loues me well And would haue once preferd me to the king Bald. But he is banisht there 's small hope of him Spen. I for a while but Baldock marke the end A friend of mine told me in secrecie That hee s repeald and sent for back againe And euen now a poast came from the court With letters to our ladie from the King And as she red she smild which makes me thinke It is about her louer Gaueston Bald. T is like enough for since he was exild She neither walkes abroad nor comes in sight But I had thought the match had beene broke off And that his banishment had changd her minde Spen. Our Ladies first loue is not wauering My life for thine she will haue Gaueston Bald. Then hope I by her meanes to be preferd Hauing read vnto her since she was a childe Spen. Then Balduck you must cast the scholler off And learne to court it like a Gentleman T is not a black coate and a little band A Veluet cap'de cloake fac'st before with Serge And smelling to a Nosegay all the day Or holding of a napkin in your hand Or saying a long grace at a tables end Or making lowe legs to a noble man Or looking downeward with your eye lids close And saying trulie an t may please your honor Can get you any fauour with great men You must be proud bold pleasant resolute And now and then stab as occasion serues Bald. Spencer thou knowest I hate such formall toies And vse them but of meere hypocrisie Mine old lord whiles he liude was so precise That he would take exceptions at my buttons And being like pins heads blame me for the bignesse Which made me curate-like in mine attire Though inwardly licentious enough And apt for any kinde of villanie I am none of these common pendants I That cannot speake without propterea quod Spen. But one of those that saith quandoquidem And hath a speciall gift to forme a verbe Bald. Leaue of this iesting here my lady comes Enter the Ladie Lady The greefe for his exile was not so much As is the ioy of his returning home This letter came from my sweete Gaueston VVhat needst thou loue thus to excuse thy selfe I know thou couldst not come and visit me I will not long be from thee though I die This argues the entire loue of my Lord VVhen I forsake thee death seaze on my heart But rest thee here where Gaueston shall sleepe Now to the letter of my Lord the King He wils me to repaire vnto the court And meete my Gaueston why do I stay Seeing that he talkes thus of my mariage day VVhos 's there Balduck See that my coache be readie I must hence Bald. It shall be done madam Exit Lad. And meete me at the parke pale presentlie Spencer stay you and beare me companie For I haue ioyfull newes to tell thee of My lord of Cornewall is a comming ouer And will be at the court as soone as we Spen. I knew the King would haue him home againe Lad. If all things sort out as I hope they will Thy seruice Spencer shal be thought vpon Spen. I humbly thanke your Ladieship Lad. Come lead the way I long till I am there Enter Edward the Queene Lancaster Mortimer Warwicke Penbrooke Kent attendants Edw. The winde is good I wonder why he stayes I feare me he is wrackt vpon the sea Queen Looke Lancaster how passionate he is And still his minde runs on his minion Lan. My Lord Edw. How now what newes is Gaueston arriude Mor. i. Nothing but Gaueston what means your grace You haue matters of more waight to thinke vpon The King of Fraunce sets foote in Normandie Edw. A triflle wee le expell him when we please But tell me Mortimer what 's thy deuise Against the stately triumph we decreed Mor. A homely one my lord not worth the telling Edw. Prethee let me know it Mor. iu. But seeing you are so desirous thus it is A loftie Cedar tree faire flourishing On whose top-branches Kinglie Eagles pearch And by the barke a canker creepes me vp And gets vnto the highest bough of all The motto Aeque tandem Edw. And what is yours my lord of Lancaster Lan. My lord mines more obscure then Mortimers Plinie reports there is a flying Fish Which all the other fishes deadly hate And therefore being pursued it takes the aire No sooner is it vp but ther 's a foule That seaseth it this fish my lord I beare The motto this Vndique mors est Edw. Proud Mortimer vngentle Lancaster Is this the loue you beare your soueraigne Is this the fruite your reconcilement beares Can you in words make showe of amitie And in your shields display your rancorous minds What call you this but priuate libelling Against the Earle of Cornewall and my brother Qu. Sweete husband be content they all loue you Edw. They loue me not that hate my Gaueston I am that Cedar shake me not too much And you the Eagles sore ye nere so high I haue the gresses that will pull you downe And Aeque tandem shall that canker crie Vnto the proudest peere of Britanie Though thou comparst him to a flying Fish And threatenest death whether he rise or fall T is not the hugest monster of the sea Nor fowlest Harpie that shall swallow him Mor. iu. If in his absence thus he fauors him What will he do when as he shall be present Lan. That shall wee see looke where his lordship comes Enter Gaueston Edw. My Gaueston welcome to Tinmouth welcome to thy friend Thy absence made me droope and pine away For as the louers of faire Danae When she was lockt vp in a brasen tower Desirde her more and waxt outragious So did it sure with me and now thy sight Is sweeter farre then was thy parting hence Bitter and irkesome to my sobbing heart Gau. Sweet Lord and King your speech preuenteth mine Yet haue I words left to expresse my ioy The sheepeherd nipt with biting winters rage Frolicks not more to see the paynted springe Then I doe to behold your Maiestie Edw. Will none of you salute my Gaueston Lan. Salute him yes welcome Lord Chamberlaine Mor. iu. Welcome is the good Earle of Cornewall War Welcome Lord gouernour of the I le of man Pen. Welcome maister secretarie Edw. Brother doe you heare them Edw. Stil wil these Earles and Barrons vse me thus Gau. My Lord I cannot brooke these iniuries Qu. Aye me poore soule when these begin to iarre Edw. Returne it to their throtes I le be thy warrant Gau. Base leaden Earles that glorie in your birth Goe sit at home and eate your tenants beefe And come not here to scoffe at
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
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
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
throte To pierce the wind-pipe with a needles point Or whilst one is a sleepe to take a quill And blowe a little powder in his eares Or open his mouth and powre quick siluer downe But yet I haue a brauer way then these Mort. iu. What 's that Light Nay you shall pardon me none shall knowe my trickes Mort. iu. I care not how it is so it be not spide Deliuer this to Gurney and Matreuis At euery ten miles end thou hast a horse Take this away and neuer see me more Lightborne No Mort. iu. No vnlesse thou bring me newes of Edwards death Light That will I quicklie do farewell my lord Mor. The prince I rule the queene do I commaund And with a lowly conge to the ground The proudest lords salute me as I passe I seale I cancell I do what I will Feard am I more then lou'd let me be feard And when I frowne make all the court looke pale I view the prince with Aristorchus eyes Whose lookes were as a breeching to a boye They thrust vpon me the Protectorship And sue to me for that that I desire While at the councell table graue enough And not vnlike a bashfull paretaine First I complaine of imbecilitie Saying it is onus quam grauissimum Till being interrupted by my friends Suscepi that prouinciam as they terme it And to conclude I am Protector now Now is all sure the Queene and Mortimer Shall rule the realme the king and none rule vs Mine enemies will I plague my friends aduance And what I list commaund who dare controwle Maior sum quam cui possit fortuna nocere And that this be the coronation day It pleaseth me and Isabell the Queene The trumpets sound I must go take my place Enter the yong King Bishop Champion Nobles Queene Bish. Long liue king Edward by the grace of God King of England and lorde of Ireland Cham. If any Christian Heathen Turke or Iew Dares but affirme that Edwards not true king And will auouche his saying with the sworde I am the Champion that will combate him Mort. iu. None comes sound trumpets King Champion heere 's to thee Qu. Lord Mortimer now take him to your charge Enter Souldiers with the Earle of Kent prisoner Mor. iu. What traitor haue wee there with blades and billes Sould. Edmund the Earle of Kent King What hath he done Sould. A would haue taken the king away perforce As we were bringing him to Killingworth Mortimer iu. Did you attempt his rescue Edmund speake Edm. Mortimer I did he is our king And thou compelst this prince to weare the crowne Mort. iu. Strike off his head he shall haue marshall lawe Edm. Strike of my head base traitor I defie thee King My lord he is my vnckle and shall liue Mor. iu. My lord he is your enemie and shall die Edmund Staie villaines King Sweete mother if I cannot pardon him Intreate my lord Protector for his life Qu. Sonne be content I dare not speake a worde King Nor I and yet me thinkes I should commaund But seeing I cannot I le entreate for him My lord if you will let my vnckle liue I will requite it when I come to age Mort. iu. T is for your highnesse good and for the realmes How often shall I bid you beare him hence Edm. Art thou king must I die at thy commaund Mort. iu. At our commaund once more away with him Edm. Let me but stay and speake I will not go Either my brother or his sonne is king And none of both then thirst for Edmunds bloud And therefore soldiers whether will you hale me They hale Edmund away and carie him to be beheaded King What safetie may I looke for at his hands If that my Vnckle shall be murthered thus Queen Feare not sweete boye I le garde thee from thy foes Had Edmund liu'de he would haue sought thy death Come sonne wee le ride a hunting in the parke King And shall my Vnckle Edmund ride with vs Queene He is a traitor thinke not on him come Exeunt omnes Enter Matr. and Gurney Matr. Gurney I wonder the king dies not Being in a vault vp to the knees in water To which the channels of the castell runne From whence a dampe continually ariseth That were enough to poison any man Much more a king brought vp so tenderlie Gurn. And so do I Matreuis yesternight I opened but the doore to throw him meate And I was almost stifeled with the sauor Matr. He hath a body able to endure More then we can enflict and therefore now Let vs assaile his minde another while Gurn. Send for him out thence and I will anger him Matr. But stay whos 's this Enter Lightborne Light My lord protector greetes you Gurn. What 's heere I know not how to conster it Matr. Gurney it was left vnpointed for the nonce Edwardum occidere nolite timere That 's his meaning Light Know you this token I must haue the king Matr. I stay a while thou shalt haue answer straight This villain 's sent to make away the king Gurney I thought as much Matr. And when the murders done See how he must be handled for his labour Pereat iste let him haue the king What else heere is the keyes this is the lake Doe as you are commaunded by my lord Light I know what I must do get you away Yet be not farre off I shall need your helpe See that in the next roome I haue a fier And get me a spit and let it be red hote Matre. Very well Gurn. Neede you any thing besides Light What else a table and a fetherbed Gurn. That 's all Light I I so when I call you bring it in Matre. Feare not you that Gurn. Heere 's a light to go into the dungeon Lightbor. So now must I about this geare nere was there any So finely handled as this king shal be Foh heere 's a place in deed with all my hart Edward VVhos 's there what light is that wherefore comes thou Light To comfort you and bring you ioyfull newes Edward Small comfort findes poore Edward in thy lookes Villaine I know thou comst to murther me Light To murther you my most gratious lorde Farre is it from my hart to do you harme The Queene sent me to see how you were vsed For she relents at this your miserie And what eyes can refraine from shedding teares To see a king in this most pittious state Edw. VVeepst thou already list a while to me And then thy heart were it as Gurneys is Or as Matreuis hewne from the Caucasus Yet will it melt ere I haue done my tale This dungeon where they keepe me is the sincke Wherein the filthe of all the castell falles Light O villaines Edw. And there in mire and puddle haue I stood This ten dayes space and least that I should sleepe One plaies continually vpon a Drum They giue me bread and water being a king So that for want of sleepe and sustenance My
mindes distempered and my bodies numde And whether I haue limmes or no I know not O would my bloud dropt out from euery vaine As doth this water from my tattered robes Tell Isabell the Queene I lookt not thus VVhen for her sake I ran at tilt in Fraunce And there vnhorste the duke of Cleremont Light O speake no more my lorde this breakes my heart Lie on this bed and rest your selfe a while Edw. These lookes of thine can harbor nought but death I see my tragedie written in thy browes Yet stay a while forbeare thy bloudie hande And let me see the stroke before it comes That and euen then when I shall lose my life My minde may be more stedfast on my God Light VVhat meanes your highnesse to mistrust me thus Edwa. What meanes thou to dissemble with me thus Light These handes were neuer stainde with innocent bloud Nor shall they now be tainted with a kings Edward Forgiue my thought for hauing such a thought One iewell haue I left receiue thou this Still feare I and I know not what 's the cause But euerie iointe shakes as I giue it thee O if thou harborst murther in thy hart Let this gift change thy minde and saue thy soule Know that I am a king oh at that name I feele a hell of greefe where is my crowne Gone gone and doe I remaine aliue Light Your ouer watchde my lord lie downe and rest Edw. But that greefe keepes me waking I shoulde sleepe For not these ten daies haue these eye lids closd Now as I speake they fall and yet with feare Open againe O wherefore sits thou heare Light If you mistrust me I le be gon my lord Edw. No no for if thou meanst to murther me Thou wilt returne againe and therefore stay Light He sleepes Edw. O let me not die yet stay O stay a while Light How now my Lorde Edw. Something still busseth in mine eares And tels me if I sleepe I neuer wake This feare is that which makes me tremble thus And therefore tell me wherefore art thou come Light To rid thee of thy life Matreuis come Edw. I am too weake and feeble to resist Assist me sweete God and receiue my soule Light Runne for the table Edw. O spare me or dispatche me in a trice Light So lay the table downe and stampe his body But not too hard least that you bruse his body Matreuis I feare mee that this crie will raise the towne And therefore let vs take horse and away Light Tell me sirs was it not braue lie done Gurn. Excellent well take this for thy rewarde Then Gurney stabs Lightborne Come let vs cast the body in the more And beare the kings to Mortimer our lord away Exeunt omnes Enter Mortimer and Matreuis Mortim. iu. I st done Matreuis and the murtherer dead Matr. I my good Lord I would it were vndone Mort. iu. Matreuis if thou now growest penitent I le be thy ghostly father therefore choose Whether thou wilt be secret in this Or else die by the hand of Mortimer Matr. Gurney my lord is fled and will I feare Betray vs both therefore let me slie Mort. iu. Flie to the Sauages Matr. I humblie thanke your honour Mor. iu. As for my selfe I stand as Ioues huge tree And others are but shrubs compard to me All tremble at my name and I feare none Le ts see who dare impeache me for his death Enter the Queene Queen A Mortimer the king my sonne hath news His father 's dead and we haue murdered him Mor. iu. What if he haue the king is yet a childe Queene I I but he teares his haire and wrings his handes And vowes to be reuengd vpon vs both Into the councell chamber he is gone To craue the aide and succour of his peeres Aye me see where he comes and they with him Now Mortimer begins our tragedie Enter the king with the lords Lords Feare not my lord know that you are a king King Villaine Mort. iu. How now my lord King Thinke not that I am frighted with thy words My father 's murdered through thy treacherie And thou shalt die and on his mournefull hearse Thy hatefull and accursed head shall lie To witnesse to the world that by thy meanes His kingly body was too soone interrde Qu. Weepe not sweete sonne King Forbid not me to weepe he was my father And had you lou'de him halfe so well as I You could not beare his death thus patiently But you I feare conspirde with Mortimer Lords Why speake you not vnto my lord the king Mor. iu. Because I thinke scorne to be accusde Who is the man dare say I murderedd him King Traitor in me my louing father speakes And plainely saith t was thou that murdredst him Mort. iu. But hath your grace no other proofe then this King Yes if this be the hand of Mortimer Mortim. iu. False Gurney hath betraide me and himselfe Queen I feard as much murther cannot be hid Mort. iu. T is my hand what gather you by this King That thither thou didst send a murtherer Mort. iu. What murtherer bring foorth the man I sent King A Mortimer thou knowest that he is slaine And so shalt thou be too why staies he heere Bring him vnto a hurdle drag him foorth Hang him I say and set his quarters vp But bring his head back presently to me Queen For my sake sweete sonne pittie Mortimer Mort. iu. Madam intreat not I will rather die Then sue for life vnto a paltrie boye King Hence with the traitor with the murderer Mort. iu. Base fortune now I see that in thy wheele There is a point to which when men aspire They tumble hedlong downe that point I touchte And seeing there was no place to mount vp higher Why should I greeue at my declining fall Farewell faire Queene weepe not for Mortimer That scornes the world and as a traueller Goes to discouer countries yet vnknowne King What suffer you the traitor to delay Queen As thou receiuedst thy life from me Spill not the bloud of gentle Mortimer King This argues that you spilt my fathers bloud Els would you not intreate for Mortimer Queen I spill his bloud no King I madam you for so the rumor runnes Queen That rumor is vntrue for louing thee Is this report raisde on poore Isabell King I doe not thinke her so vnnaturall Lords My lord I feare me it will prooue too true King Mother you are suspected for his death And therefore we commit you to the Tower Till further triall may be made thereof If you be guiltie though I be your sonne Thinke not to finde me slack or pitifull Qu Nay to my death for too long haue I liued When as my sonne thinkes to abridge my daies King Awaye with her her wordes inforce these teares And I shall pitie her if she speake againe Queen Shall I not moorne for my beloued lord And with the rest accompanie him to his graue Lords Thus madam t is the kings will you shall hence Quee. He hath forgotten me stay I am his mother Lords That bootes not therefore gentle madam goe Queen Then come sweete death and rid me of this greefe Lords My lord here is the head of Mortimer King Goe fetche my fathers hearse where it shall lie And bring my funerall robes accursed head Could I haue rulde thee then as I do now Thou hadst not hatcht this monstrous treacherie Heere comes the hearse helpe me to moorne my lords Sweete father heere vnto thy murdered ghost I offer vp this wicked traitors head And let these teares distilling from mine eyes Be witnesse of my greefe and innocencie FINIS Imprinted at London for William Ihones and are to be solde at his shop neere vnto Houlburne Conduit 1694
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