Chapter XXII: Act V: Scene I.581 (2)

_K. Edw._ That you have parley’d with your Mortimer!

_Q. Isab._ That Gaveston, my lord, shall be repeal’d.

_K. Edw._ Repeal’d! The news is too sweet to be true?

_Q. Isab._ But will you love me, if you find it so?

_K. Edw._ If it be so, what will not Edward do? 325

_Q. Isab._ For Gaveston, but not for Isabel.

_K. Edw._ For thee, fair queen, if thou lov’st Gaveston,
I’ll hang a golden tongue about thy neck,
Seeing thou hast pleaded with so good success. 329

_Q. Isab._ No other jewels hang about my neck
Than these, my lord; nor let me have more wealth
Than I may fetch from this rich treasury.
O how a kiss revives poor Isabel!

_K. Edw._ Once more receive my hand; and let this be
A second marriage ’twixt thyself and me. 335

_Q. Isab._ And may it prove more happy than the first!
My gentle lord, bespeak these nobles fair,
That wait attendance for a gracious look,
And on their knees salute your majesty.

_K. Edw._ Courageous Lancaster, embrace thy king! 340
And, as gross vapours perish by the sun,
Even so let hatred with thy sovereign’s smile.
Live thou with me as my companion.

_Lan._ This salutation overjoys my heart.

_K. Edw._ Warwick shall be my chiefest counsellor: 345
These silver hairs will more adorn my court
Than gaudy silks, or rich embroidery.
Chide me, sweet Warwick, if I go astray.

_War._ Slay me, my lord, when I offend your grace.

_K. Edw._ In solemn triumphs, and in public shows, 350
Pembroke shall bear the sword before the king.

_Pem._ And with this sword Pembroke will fight for you.

_K. Edw._ But wherefore walks young Mortimer aside?
Be thou commander of our royal fleet;
Or, if that lofty office like thee not, 355
I make thee here Lord Marshal of the realm.

_Y. Mor._ My lord, I’ll marshal so your enemies,
As England shall be quiet, and you safe.

_K. Edw._ And as for you, Lord Mortimer of Chirke, 360
Whose great achievements in our foreign war
Deserves no common place nor mean reward,
Be you the general of the levied troops,
That now are ready to assail the Scots.

_E. Mor._ In this your grace hath highly honoured me,
For with my nature war doth best agree. 365

_Q. Isab._ Now is the King of England rich and strong,
Having the love of his renowned peers.

_K. Edw._ Ay, Isabel, ne’er was my heart so light.
Clerk of the crown, direct our warrant forth
For Gaveston to Ireland:
[_Enter_ BEAUMONT _with warrant._]
Beaumont, fly 370
As fast as Iris or Jove’s Mercury.

_Beau._ It shall be done, my gracious lord.
[_Exit._]

_K. Edw._ Lord Mortimer, we leave you to your charge.
Now let us in, and feast it royally. 374
Against our friend the Earl of Cornwall comes,
We’ll have a general tilt and tournament;
And then his marriage shall be solemnis’d.
For wot you not that I have made him sure[628]
Unto our cousin, the Earl of Gloucester’s heir?

_Lan._ Such news we hear, my lord. 380

_K. Edw._ That day, if not for him, yet for my sake,
Who in the triumph will be challenger,
Spare for no cost; we will requit your love.

_War._ In this, or aught, your highness shall command us.

_K. Edw._ Thanks, gentle Warwick: come, let’s in and revel. 385
_Exeunt all except the_ MORTIMERS.

_E. Mor._ Nephew, I must to Scotland; thou stayest here.
Leave now t’ oppose thyself against the king.
Thou seest by nature he is mild and calm,
And seeing his mind so dotes on Gaveston,
Let him without controlment have his will, 390
The mightiest kings have had their minions:
Great Alexander loved Hephestion;
The conquering Hercules[629] for Hylas wept;
And for Patroclus stern Achilles droopt:
And not kings only, but the wisest men: 395
The Roman Tully lov’d Octavius;
Grave Socrates, wild Alcibiades.
Then let his grace, whose youth is flexible,
And promiseth as much as we can wish,
Freely enjoy that vain, light-headed earl; 400
For riper years will wean him from such toys.

_Y. Mor._ Uncle, his wanton humour grieves not me;
But this I scorn, that one so basely born
Should by his sovereign’s favour grow so pert,
And riot it with the treasure of the realm. 405
While soldiers mutiny for want of pay,
He wears a lord’s revenue on his back,
And Midas-like, he jets[630] it in the court,
With base outlandish cullions[631] at his heels, 409
Whose proud fantastic liveries make such show
As if that Proteus, god of shapes, appear’d.
I have not seen a dapper Jack so brisk;
He wears a short Italian hooded cloak
Larded with pearl, and, in his Tuscan cap,
A jewel of more value than the crown. 415
While others walk below, the king and he
From out a window laugh at such as we,
And flout our train, and jest at our attire.
Uncle, ’tis this that makes me impatient.

_E. Mor._ But, nephew, now you see the king is chang’d. 420

_Y. Mor._ Then so am I, and live to do him service:
But whiles I have a sword, a hand, a heart,
I will not yield to any such upstart.
You know my mind; come, uncle, let ’s away.
_Exeunt._

[ACT II]

[SCENE I.][632]

_Enter_ [Young] SPENCER _and_ BALDOCK.

_Bald._ Spencer, seeing that our lord th’ Earl of Gloucester’s dead,
Which of the nobles dost thou mean to serve?

_Y. Spen._ Not Mortimer, nor any of his side,
Because the king and he are enemies.
Baldock, learn this of me, a factious lord 5
Shall hardly do himself good, much less us;
But he that hath the favour of a king,
May with one word advance us while we live.
The liberal Earl of Cornwall is the man 9
On whose good fortune Spencer’s hope depends.

_Bald._ What, mean you then to be his follower?

_Y. Spen._ No, his companion; for he loves me well,
And would have once preferr’d me to the king.[633]

_Bald._ But he is banish’d; there’s small hope of him.

_Y. Spen._ Ay, for a while; but, Baldock, mark the end. 15
A friend of mine told me in secrecy
That he’s repeal’d, and sent for back again;
And even now a post came from the court
With letters to our lady from the king;
And as she read she smil’d, which makes me think 20
It is about her lover Gaveston.

_Bald._ ’Tis like enough; for since he was exil’d
She neither walks abroad, nor comes in sight.
But I had thought the match had been broke off, 24
And that his banishment had chang’d her mind.

_Y. Spen._ Our lady’s first love is not wavering;
My life for thine, she will have Gaveston.

_Bald._ Then hope I by her means to be preferr’d,
Having read unto her since she was a child.

_Y. Spen._ Then, Baldock, you must cast the scholar off, 30
And learn to court it like a gentleman.
’T is not a black coat and a little band,
A velvet-cap’d coat, fac’d before with serge,
And smelling to a nosegay all the day,
Or holding of a napkin in your hand, 35
Or saying a long grace at a table’s end,
Or making low legs[634] to a nobleman,
Or looking downward with your eyelids close,
And saying, “Truly, an’t may please your honour,”
Can get you any favour with great men; 40
You must be proud, bold, pleasant, resolute,
And now and then stab, as occasion serves.

_Bald._ Spencer, thou know’st I hate such formal toys,
And use them but of mere hypocrisy.
Mine old lord whiles he liv’d was so precise, 45
That he would take exceptions at my buttons,
And being like pin’s heads, blame me for the bigness;
Which made me curate-like in mine attire,
Though inwardly licentious enough
And apt for any kind of villainy. 50
I am none of these common pedants, I,
That cannot speak without _propterea quod_.[635]

_Y. Spen._ But one of those that saith _quandoquidem_,[636]
And hath a special gift to form a verb.

_Bald._ Leave off this jesting, here my lady comes. 55

_Enter the Lady_ [KING EDWARD’S Niece.]

_Niece._ The grief for his exile was not so much
As is the joy of his returning home.
This letter came from my sweet Gaveston:—
What need’st thou, love, thus to excuse thyself?
I know thou couldst not come and visit me. 60
[_Reads._] “I will not long be from thee, though I die.”
This argues the entire love of my lord;
[_Reads._] “When I forsake thee, death seize on my heart:”
But stay thee here where Gaveston shall sleep.
[_Puts the letter into her bosom._]
Now to the letter of my lord the king.— 65
He wills me to repair unto the court,
And meet my Gaveston. Why do I stay,
Seeing that he talks thus of my marriage-day?
Who’s there? Baldock!
See that my coach be ready, I must hence. 70

_Bald._ It shall be done, madam.

_Niece._ And meet me at the park-pale presently.
_Exit_ BALDOCK.
Spencer, stay you and bear me company,
For I have joyful news to tell thee of.
My lord of Cornwall is a-coming over, 75
And will be at the court as soon as we.

_Y. Spen._ I knew the king would have him home again.

_Niece._ If all things sort[637] out as I hope they will,
Thy service, Spencer, shall be thought upon.

_Y. Spen._ I humbly thank your ladyship. 80

_Niece._ Come, lead the way; I long till I am there. [_Exeunt._]

[SCENE II.][638]

_Enter_ KING EDWARD, QUEEN ISABELLA, KENT, LANCASTER, Young MORTIMER, WARWICK, PEMBROKE, _and_ Attendants.

_K. Edw._ The wind is good, I wonder why he stays;
I fear me he is wrack’d upon the sea.

_Q. Isab._ Look, Lancaster, how passionate[639] he is,
And still his mind runs on his minion!

_Lan._ My lord,— 5

_K. Edw._ How now! what news? Is Gaveston arriv’d?

_Y. Mor._ Nothing but Gaveston!—What means your grace?
You have matters of more weight to think upon;
The King of France sets foot in Normandy.

_K. Edw._ A trifle! we’ll expel him when we please. 10
But tell me, Mortimer, what’s thy device
Against the stately triumph we decreed?

_Y. Mor._ A homely one, my lord, not worth the telling.

_K. Edw._ Pray thee let me know it.

_Y. Mor._ But, seeing you are so desirous, thus it is: 15
A lofty cedar-tree, fair flourishing,
On whose top-branches kingly eagles perch,
And by the bark a canker[640] creeps me up,
And gets into the highest bough of all:
The motto, _Aeque tandem_.[641] 20

_K. Edw._ And what is yours, my lord of Lancaster?

_Lan._ My lord, mine’s more obscure than Mortimer’s.
Pliny reports there is a flying fish
Which all the other fishes deadly hate,
And therefore, being pursued, it takes the air:
No sooner is it up, but there’s a fowl 26
That seizeth it; this fish, my lord, I bear:
The motto this: _Undique mors est_.[642]

_K. Edw._ Proud Mortimer! ungentle Lancaster!
Is this the love you bear your sovereign? 30
Is this the fruit your reconcilement bears?
Can you in words make show of amity,
And in your shields display your rancorous minds!
What call you this but private libelling
Against the Earl of Cornwall and my brother?

_Q. Isab._ Sweet husband, be content, they all love you. 36

_K. Edw._ They love me not that hate my Gaveston.
I am that cedar, shake me not too much;
And you the eagles; soar ye ne’er so high,
I have the jesses[643] that will pull you down; 40
And _Aeque tandem_ shall that canker cry
Unto the proudest peer of Britainy.
Though thou compar’st him to a flying fish,
And threatenest death whether he rise or fall,
’T is not the hugest monster of the sea, 45
Nor foulest harpy that shall swallow him.

_Y. Mor._ If in his absence thus he favours him,
What will he do whenas he shall be present?

_Lan._ That shall we see; look where his lordship comes.

_Enter_ GAVESTON.

_K. Edw._ My Gaveston! 50
Welcome to Tynemouth! Welcome to thy friend!
Thy absence made me droop and pine away;
For, as the lovers of fair Danae,
When she was lock’d up in a brazen tower,
Desir’d her more, and wax’d outrageous, 55
So did it fare[644] with me; and now thy sight
Is sweeter far than was thy parting hence
Bitter and irksome to my sobbing heart.

_Gav._ Sweet lord and king, your speech preventeth[645] mine,
Yet have I words left to express my joy: 60
The shepherd nipt with biting winter’s rage
Frolics not more to see the painted spring,
Than I do to behold your majesty.

_K. Edw._ Will none of you salute my Gaveston?

_Lan._ Salute him? yes. Welcome, Lord Chamberlain! 65

_Y. Mor._ Welcome is the good Earl of Cornwall!

_War._ Welcome, Lord Governor of the Isle of Man!

_Pem._ Welcome, Master Secretary!

_Kent._ Brother, do you hear them?

_K. Edw._ Still will these earls and barons use me thus. 70

_Gav._ My lord, I cannot brook these injuries.

_Q. Isab._ [_Aside._] Aye me, poor soul, when these begin to jar.

_K. Edw._ Return it to their throats, I’ll be thy warrant.

_Gav._ Base, leaden earls, that glory in your birth,
Go sit at home and eat your tenants’ beef; 75
And come not here to scoff at Gaveston,
Whose mounting thoughts did never creep so low
As to bestow a look on such as you.

_Lan._ Yet I disdain not to do this for you.
[_Draws his sword and offers to stab_ GAVESTON.]

_K. Edw._ Treason! treason! where’s the traitor? 80

_Pem._ Here! here!

_K. Edw._ Convey hence Gaveston; they’ll murder him.

_Gav._ The life of thee shall salve this foul disgrace.

_Y. Mor._ Villain! thy life, unless I miss mine aim.
[_Wounds_ GAVESTON.]

_Q. Isab._ Ah! furious Mortimer, what hast thou done? 85

_Y. Mor._ No more than I would answer, were he slain.
[_Exit_ GAVESTON _with_ Attendants.]

_K. Edw._ Yes, more than thou canst answer, though he live.
Dear shall you both abye[646] this riotous deed.
Out of my presence! Come not near the court.

_Y. Mor._ I’ll not be barr’d the court for Gaveston. 90

_Lan._ We’ll hale him by the ears unto the block.

_K. Edw._ Look to your own heads; his is sure enough.

_War._ Look to your own crown, if you back him thus.

_Kent._ Warwick, these words do ill beseem thy years.

_K. Edw._ Nay, all of them conspire to cross me thus; 95
But if I live, I’ll tread upon their heads
That think with high looks thus to tread me down.
Come, Edmund, let’s away and levy men,
’T is war that must abate these barons’ pride.

_Exeunt_ KING [EDWARD, QUEEN ISABELLA and KENT].

_War._ Let’s to our castles, for the king is mov’d. 100

_Y. Mor._ Mov’d may he be, and perish in his wrath!

_Lan._ Cousin, it is no dealing with him now,
He means to make us stoop by force of arms;
And therefore let us jointly here protest,
To persecute that Gaveston to the death. 105

_Y. Mor._ By heaven, the abject villain shall not live!

_War._ I’ll have his blood, or die in seeking it.

_Pem._ The like oath Pembroke takes.

_Lan._ And so doth Lancaster.
Now send our heralds to defy the king; 110
And make the people swear to put him down.

_Enter a_ Messenger.[647]

_Y. Mor._ Letters! From whence?

_Mess._ From Scotland, my lord.
[_Giving letters to_ MORTIMER.]

_Lan._ Why, how now, cousin, how fares all our friends?

_Y. Mor._ My uncle’s taken prisoner by the Scots. 115

_Lan._ We’ll have him ransom’d, man; be of good cheer.

_Y. Mor._ They rate his ransom at five thousand pound.
Who should defray the money but the king,
Seeing he is taken prisoner in his wars?
I’ll to the king. 120

_Lan._ Do, cousin, and I’ll bear thee company.

_War._ Meantime, my lord of Pembroke and myself
Will to Newcastle here, and gather head.[648]

_Y. Mor._ About it then, and we will follow you.

_Lan._ Be resolute and full of secrecy: 125

_War._ I warrant you. [_Exit with_ PEMBROKE.]

_Y. Mor._ Cousin, and if he will not ransom him,
I’ll thunder such a peal into his ears,
As never subject did unto his king.

_Lan._ Content, I’ll bear my part—Holla! who’s there? 130

[_Enter_ Guard.]

_Y. Mor._ Ay, marry, such a guard as this doth well.

_Lan._ Lead on the way.

_Guard._ Whither will your lordships?

_Y. Mor._ Whither else but to the king. 134

_Guard._ His highness is dispos’d to be alone.

_Lan._ Why, so he may, but we will speak to him.

_Guard._ You may not in, my lord.

_Y. Mor._ May we not?

[_Enter_ KING EDWARD _and_ KENT.]

_K. Edw._ How now!
What noise is this? Who have we there?
Is’t you? [_Going._] 140

_Y. Mor._ Nay, stay, my lord, I come to bring you news;
Mine uncle’s taken prisoner by the Scots.

_K. Edw._ Then ransom him.

_Lan._ ’T was in your wars; you should ransom him.

_Y. Mor._ And you shall ransom him, or else— 145

_Kent._ What! Mortimer, you will not threaten him?

_K. Edw._ Quiet yourself, you shall have the broad seal,
To gather for him thoroughout the realm.

_Lan._ Your minion Gaveston hath taught you this.

_Y. Mor._ My lord, the family of the Mortimers 150
Are not so poor, but, would they sell their land,
’T would levy men enough to anger you.
We never beg, but use such prayers as these.

_K. Edw._ Shall I still be haunted thus?

_Y. Mor._ Nay, now you’re here alone, I’ll speak my mind. 155

_Lan._ And so will I, and then, my lord, farewell.

_Y. Mor._ The idle triumphs, masques, lascivious shows,
And prodigal gifts bestow’d on Gaveston,
Have drawn thy treasury dry, and made thee weak;
The murmuring commons, overstretched, [break].[649] 160

_Lan._ Look for rebellion, look to be depos’d.
Thy garrisons are beaten out of France,
And, lame and poor, lie groaning at the gates,
The wild O’Neill, with swarms of Irish kerns,[650]
Lives uncontroll’d within the English pale. 165
Unto the walls of York the Scots made road,
And unresisted drave away rich spoils.

_Y. Mor._ The haughty Dane commands the narrow seas,
While in the harbour ride thy ships unrigg’d.

_Lan._ What foreign prince sends thee ambassadors? 170

_Y. Mor._ Who loves thee, but a sort[651] of flatterers?

_Lan._ Thy gentle queen, sole sister to Valois,
Complains that thou hast left her all forlorn.

_Y. Mor._ Thy court is naked, being bereft of those 174
That make a king seem glorious to the world;
I mean the peers, whom thou should’st dearly love.
Libels are cast again thee in the street;
Ballads and rhymes made of thy overthrow.

_Lan._ The Northern borderers seeing their houses burnt,
Their wives and children slain, run up and down, 180
Cursing the name of thee and Gaveston.

_Y. Mor._ When wert thou in the field with banner spread,
But once? and then thy soldiers marcht like players,
With garish robes, not armour; and thyself,
Bedaub’d with gold, rode laughing at the rest,
Nodding and shaking of thy spangled crest, 186
Where women’s favours hung like labels down.

_Lan._ And therefore came it, that the fleering[652] Scots,
To England’s high disgrace, have made this jig;
“Maids of England, sore may you mourn,— 190
For your lemans[653] you have lost at Bannocksbourn,—[654]
With a heave and a ho!
What weeneth the King of England,
So soon to have won Scotland?—
With a rombelow” 195

_Y. Mor._ Wigmore[655] shall fly, to set my uncle free.

_Lan._ And when ’t is gone, our swords shall purchase more.
If ye be mov’d, revenge it as you can;
Look next to see us with our ensigns spread.
_Exit_ [_with_ Young MORTIMER].

_K. Edw._ My swelling heart for very anger breaks! 200
How oft have I been baited by these peers,
And dare not be reveng’d, for their power is great!
Yet, shall the crowing of these cockerels
Affright a lion? Edward, unfold thy paws,
And let their lives’ blood slake thy fury’s hunger. 205
If I be cruel and grow tyrannous,
Now let them thank themselves, and rue too late.

_Kent._ My lord. I see your love to Gaveston
Will be the ruin of the realm and you,
For now the wrathful nobles threaten wars, 210
And therefore, brother, banish him for ever.

_K. Edw._ Art thou an enemy to my Gaveston?

_Kent._ Ay, and it grieves me that I favoured him.

_K. Edw._ Traitor, begone! whine thou with Mortimer. 214

_Kent._ So will I, rather than with Gaveston.

_K. Edw._ Out of my sight, and trouble me no more!

_Kent._ No marvel though thou scorn thy noble peers,
When I thy brother am rejected thus.

_K. Edw._ Away! _Exit_ KENT.
Poor Gaveston, that has no friend but me, 220
Do what they can, we’ll live in Tynemouth here,
And, so I walk with him about the walls,
What care I though the earls begirt us round?—
Here comes she that is cause of all these jars.

_Enter_ QUEEN ISABELLA _with_ [KING EDWARD’S Niece, _two_] Ladies, [GAVESTON,] BALDOCK _and_ Young SPENCER.

_Q. Isab._ My lord, ’tis thought the earls are up in arms. 225

_K. Edw._ Ay, and ’tis likewise thought you favour ’em.

_Q. Isab._ Thus do you still suspect me without cause?

_Niece._ Sweet uncle! speak more kindly to the queen.

_Gav._ My lord, dissemble with her, speak her fair.

_K. Edw._ Pardon me, sweet, I forgot myself. 230

_Q. Isab._ Your pardon is quickly got of Isabel.

_K. Edw._ The younger Mortimer is grown so brave,
That to my face he threatens civil wars.

_Gav._ Why do you not commit him to the Tower?

_K. Edw._ I dare not, for the people love him well. 235

_Gav._ Why, then we’ll have him privily made away.

_K. Edw._ Would Lancaster and he had both carous’d
A bowl of poison to each other’s health!
But let them go, and tell me what are these?

_Niece._ Two of my father’s servants whilst he liv’d,— 240
Mayst please your grace to entertain them now.

_K. Edw._ Tell me, where wast thou born?
What is thine arms?

_Bald._ My name is Baldock, and my gentry
I fetcht from Oxford, not from heraldry.

_K. Edw._ The fitter art thou, Baldock, for my turn. 245
Wait on me, and I’ll see thou shalt not want.

_Bald._ I humbly thank your majesty.

_K. Edw._ Knowest thou him, Gaveston?

_Gav._ Ay, my lord;
His name is Spencer, he is well allied;
For my sake, let him wait upon your grace; 250
Scarce shall you find a man of more desert.

_K. Edw._ Then, Spencer, wait upon me; for his sake
I’ll grace thee with a higher style ere long.

_Y. Spen._ No greater titles happen unto me,
Than to be favoured of your majesty. 255

_K. Edw._ Cousin, this day shall be your marriage-feast.
And, Gaveston, think that I love thee well
To wed thee to our niece, the only heir
Unto the Earl of Gloucester late deceas’d.

_Gav._ I know, my lord, many will stomach[656] me, 260
But I respect neither their love nor hate.

_K. Edw._ The headstrong barons shall not limit me:
He that I list to favour shall be great.
Come, let’s away; and when the marriage ends,
Have at the rebels, and their ’complices! 265
_Exeunt._

[SCENE III.][657]

_Enter_ KENT, LANCASTER, Young MORTIMER, WARWICK, PEMBROKE, [_and others_].

_Kent._ My lords, of love to this our native land
I come to join with you and leave the king;
And in your quarrel and the realm’s behoof
Will be the first that shall adventure life.

_Lan._ I fear me, you are sent of policy, 5
To undermine us with a show of love.

_War._ He is your brother, therefore have we cause
To cast[658] the worst, and doubt of your revolt.

_Kent._ Mine honour shall be hostage of my truth;
If that will not suffice, farewell, my lords. 10

_Y. Mor._ Stay, Edmund; never was Plantagenet
False to his word, and therefore trust we thee.

_Pem._ But what’s the reason you should leave him now?

_Kent._ I have inform’d the Earl of Lancaster.

_Lan._ And it sufficeth. Now, my lords, know this, 15
That Gaveston is secretly arriv’d,
And here in Tynemouth frolics with the king.
Let us with these our followers scale the walls,
And suddenly surprise them unawares. 19

_Y. Mor._ I’ll give the onset.

_War._ And I’ll follow thee.

_Y. Mor._ This tottered[659] ensign of my ancestors,
Which swept the desert shore of that dead sea
Whereof we got the name of Mortimer,
Will I advance upon these castle-walls.
Drums, strike alarum, raise them from their sport, 25
And ring aloud the knell of Gaveston!

_Lan._ None be so hardy as to touch the king;
But neither spare you Gaveston nor his friends.
_Exeunt._

[SCENE IV.][660]

_Enter_ KING EDWARD _and_ Young SPENCER.

_K. Edw._ O tell me, Spencer, where is Gaveston?

_Spen._ I fear he is slain, my gracious lord.

_K. Edw._ No, here he comes; now let them spoil and kill.
[_Enter_ QUEEN ISABELLA, KING EDWARD’S Niece, GAVESTON, _and Nobles_.]
Fly, fly, my lords, the earls have got the hold;
Take shipping and away to Scarborough; 5
Spencer and I will post away by land.

_Gav._ O stay, my lord, they will not injure you.

_K. Edw._ I will not trust them; Gaveston, away!

_Gav._ Farewell, my lord.

_K. Edw._ Lady, farewell. 10

_Niece._ Farewell, sweet uncle, till we meet again.

_K. Edw._ Farewell, sweet Gaveston; and farewell, niece.

_Q. Isab._ No farewell to poor Isabel thy queen?

_K. Edw._ Yes, yes, for Mortimer, your lover’s sake.
_Exeunt all but_ QUEEN ISABELLA.

_Q. Isab._ Heavens can witness I love none but you! 15
From my embracements thus he breaks away.
O that mine arms could close this isle about,
That I might pull him to me where I would!
Or that these tears that drizzle from mine eyes
Had power to mollify his stony heart, 20
That when I had him we might never part.

_Enter_ the Barons, [LANCASTER, WARWICK, Young MORTIMER, _and others_]. _Alarums._

_Lan._ I wonder how he scap’d!

_Y. Mor._ Who’s this? The queen!

_Q. Isab._ Ay, Mortimer, the miserable queen.
Whose pining heart her inward sighs have blasted,
And body with continual mourning wasted. 25
These hands are tir’d with haling of my lord
From Gaveston, from wicked Gaveston,
And all in vain; for, when I speak him fair,
He turns away, and smiles upon his minion.

_Y. Mor._ Cease to lament, and tell us where’s the king? 30

_Q. Isab._ What would you with the king?
Is’t him you seek?

_Lan._ No, madam, but that cursed Gaveston.
Far be it from the thought of Lancaster
To offer violence to his sovereign.
We would but rid the realm of Gaveston: 35
Tell us where he remains, and he shall die.

_Q. Isab._ He ’s gone by water unto Scarborough;
Pursue him quickly, and he cannot scape;
The king hath left him, and his train is small.

_War._ Foreslow[661] no time, sweet Lancaster; let’s march. 40

_Y. Mor._ How comes it that the king and he is parted?

_Q. Isab._ That thus your army, going several ways,
Might be of lesser force; and with the power
That he intendeth presently to raise,
Be easily suppress’d; therefore be gone. 45

_Y. Mor._ Here in the river rides a Flemish hoy;[662]
Let’s all aboard, and follow him amain.

_Lan._ The wind that bears him hence will fill our sails.
Come, come aboard, ’t is but an hour’s sailing.

_Y. Mor._ Madam, stay you within this castle here. 50

_Q. Isab._ No, Mortimer, I’ll to my lord the king.

_Y. Mor._ Nay, rather sail with us to Scarborough.

_Q. Isab._ You know the king is so suspicious,
As if he hear I have but talk’d with you,
Mine honour will be call’d in question; 55
And therefore, gentle Mortimer, be gone.

_Y. Mor._ Madam, I cannot stay to answer you,
But think of Mortimer as he deserves.
[_Exeunt all except_ QUEEN ISABELLA.]

_Q. Isab._ So well hast thou deserv’d sweet Mortimer,
As Isabel could live with thee for ever! 60
In vain I look for love at Edward’s hand,
Whose eyes are fix’d on none but Gaveston;
Yet once more I’ll importune him with prayers.
If he be strange and not regard my words,
My son and I will over into France, 65
And to the king my brother there complain,
How Gaveston hath robb’d me of his love:
But yet I hope my sorrows will have end,
And Gaveston this blessed day be slain. _Exit._

[SCENE V.][663]

_Enter_ GAVESTON, _pursued_.

_Gav._ Yet, lusty lords, I have escap’d your hands,
Your threats, your ’larums, and your hot pursuits;
And though divorced from King Edward’s eyes,
Yet liveth Pierce of Gaveston unsurpris’d,[664]
Breathing, in hope (_malgrado_[665] all your beards, 5
That muster rebels thus against your king),
To see his royal sovereign once again.

_Enter_ the Nobles, [WARWICK, LANCASTER, PEMBROKE, Young MORTIMER, Soldiers, JAMES, _and other_ Attendants of PEMBROKE].

_War._ Upon him, soldiers, take away his weapons.

_Y. Mor._ Thou proud disturber of thy country’s peace,
Corrupter of thy king, cause of these broils, 10
Base flatterer, yield! and were it not for shame,
Shame and dishonour to a soldier’s name,
Upon my weapon’s point here shouldst thou fall,
And welter in thy gore.

_Lan._ Monster of men!
That, like the Greekish strumpet,[666] train’d[667] to arms 15
And bloody wars so many valiant knights;
Look for no other fortune, wretch, than death!
King Edward is not here to buckler thee.

_War._ Lancaster, why talk’st thou to the slave? 19
Go, soldiers, take him hence, for, by my sword,
His head shall off. Gaveston, short warning
Shall serve thy turn; it is our country’s cause
That here severely we will execute
Upon thy person. Hang him at a bough. 24

_Gav._ My lord!—

_War._ Soldiers, have him away;—
But for thou wert the favourite of a king,
Thou shalt have so much honour at our hands—

_Gav._ I thank you all, my lords: then I perceive,
That heading is one, and hanging is the other,
And death is all. 30

_Enter Earl of_ ARUNDEL.

_Lan._ How now, my lord of Arundel?

_Arun._ My lords, King Edward greets you all by me.

_War._ Arundel, say your message.

_Arun._ His majesty,
Hearing that you had taken Gaveston,
Entreateth you by me, yet but he may 35
See him before he dies; for why, he says,
And sends you word, he knows that die he shall;
And if you gratify his grace so far,
He will be mindful of the courtesy. 39

_War._ How now?

_Gav._ Renowmed Edward, how thy name
Revives poor Gaveston!

_War._ No, it needeth not;
Arundel, we will gratify the king
In other matters; he must pardon us in this.
Soldiers, away with him!

_Gav._ Why, my lord of Warwick,
Will not these delays beget my hopes? 45
I know it, lords, it is this life you aim at,
Yet grant King Edward this.

_Y. Mor._ Shalt thou appoint
What we shall grant? Soldiers, away with him!
Thus we’ll gratify the king:
We’ll send his head by thee; let him bestow 50
His tears on that, for that is all he gets
Of Gaveston, or else his senseless trunk.

_Lan._ Not so, my lords, lest he bestow more cost
In burying him than he hath ever earn’d.

_Arun._ My lords, it is his majesty’s request, 55
And in the honour of a king he swears,
He will but talk with him, and send him back.

_War._ When? can you tell? Arundel, no; we wot
He that the care of his realm remits,
And drives his nobles to these exigents[668] 60
For Gaveston, will, if he sees[669] him once,
Violate any promises to possess him.

_Arun._ Then if you will not trust his grace in keep,
My lords, I will be pledge for his return. 64

_Y. Mor._ ’T 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 thief.

_Gav._ How mean’st thou, Mortimer? That is over-base.

_Y. Mor._ Away, base groom, robber of king’s renown! 70
Question with thy companions and thy mates.

_Pem._ My Lord Mortimer, and you, my lords, each one,
To gratify the king’s request therein,
Touching the sending of this Gaveston,
Because his majesty so earnestly 75
Desires to see the man before his death,
I will upon mine honour undertake
To carry him, and bring him back again;
Provided this, that you my lord of Arundel 79
Will join with me.

_War._ Pembroke, what wilt thou do?
Cause yet more bloodshed? Is it not enough
That we have taken him, but must we now
Leave him on “had I wist,”[670] and let him go?

_Pem._ My lords, I will not over-woo your honours,
But if you dare trust Pembroke with the prisoner, 85
Upon mine oath, I will return him back.

_Arun._ My lord of Lancaster, what say you in this?

_Lan._ Why, I say, let him go on Pembroke’s word.

_Pem._ And you, Lord Mortimer? 89

_Y. Mor._ How say you, my lord of Warwick?

_War._ Nay, do your pleasures, I know how ’t will prove.

_Pem._ Then give him me.

_Gav._ Sweet sovereign, yet I come
To see thee ere I die.

_War._ Yet not perhaps,
If Warwick’s wit and policy prevail. [_Aside._]

_Y. Mor._ My lord of Pembroke, we deliver him you; 95
Return him on your honour. Sound, away!

_Exeunt all except_ PEMBROKE, ARUNDEL, GAVESTON, [JAMES, _and other_] Attendants of PEMBROKE.

_Pem._ My lord [Arundel,] you shall go with me.
My house is not far hence; out of the way
A little, but our men shall go along.
We that have pretty wenches to our wives, 100
Sir, must not come so near and baulk their lips.

_Arun._ ’T is very kindly spoke, my lord of Pembroke;
Your honour hath an adamant of power
To draw a prince.

_Pem._ So, my lord. Come hither, James:
I do commit this Gaveston to thee, 105
Be thou this night his keeper; in the morning
We will discharge thee of thy charge. Be gone.

_Gav._ Unhappy Gaveston, whither goest thou now?
_Exit with_ [JAMES _and the other_] Attendants.

_Horse-boy._ My lord, we’ll quickly be at Cobham. _Exeunt._

[ACT III]

[SCENE I.][671]

_Enter_ GAVESTON _mourning_, [JAMES _and other_] Attendants _of_ PEMBROKE.

_Gav._ O treacherous Warwick! thus to wrong thy friend.

_James._ I see it is your life these arms pursue.

_Gav._ Weaponless must I fall, and die in bands?
O! must this day be period of my life?
Centre of all my bliss! An ye be men, 5
Speed to the king.

_Enter_ WARWICK _and his company_.

_War._ My lord of Pembroke’s men,
Strive you no longer—I will have that Gaveston.

_James._ Your lordship does dishonour to yourself,
And wrong our lord, your honourable friend.

_War._ No, James, it is my country’s cause I follow. 10
Go, take the villain; soldiers, come away.
We’ll make quick work. Commend me to your master,
My friend, and tell him that I watch’d it well.
Come, let thy shadow[672] parley with King Edward.

_Gav._ Treacherous earl, shall I not see the king? 15

_War._ The king of Heaven, perhaps; no other king.
Away! _Exeunt_ WARWICK _and his men with_ GAVESTON.

_James._ Come, fellows, it booted not for us to strive.
We will in haste go certify our lord. _Exeunt._

[SCENE II.][673]

_Enter_ KING EDWARD _and_ [Young] SPENCER, [BALDOCK, _and_ Nobles _of the_ KING’S _side, and_ Soldiers] _with drums and fifes_.

_K. Edw._ I long to hear an answer from the barons
Touching my friend, my dearest Gaveston.
Ah! Spencer, not the riches of my realm
Can ransom him! Ah, he is mark’d to die!
I know the malice of the younger Mortimer, 5
Warwick I know is rough, and Lancaster
Inexorable, and I shall never see
My lovely Pierce, my Gaveston again!
The barons overbear me with their pride.

_Y. Spen._ Were I King Edward, England’s sovereign, 10
Son to the lovely Eleanor of Spain,
Great Edward Longshanks’ issue, would I bear
These braves, this rage, and suffer uncontroll’d
These barons thus to beard me in my land,
In mine own realm? My lord, pardon my speech: 15
Did you retain your father’s magnanimity,
Did you regard the honour of your name,
You would not suffer thus your majesty
Be counterbuff’d of[674] your nobility.
Strike off their heads, and let them preach on poles! 20
No doubt, such lessons they will teach the rest,
As by their preachments they will profit much,
And learn obedience to their lawful king.

_K. Edw._ Yea, gentle Spencer, we have been too mild,
Too kind to them; but now have drawn our sword, 25
And if they send me not my Gaveston,
We’ll steel it[675] on their crest, and poll their tops.

_Bald._ This haught[676] resolve becomes your majesty,
Not to be tied to their affection,
As though your highness were a schoolboy still,
And must be aw’d and govern’d like a child. 31

_Enter the_ Elder SPENCER, _with his truncheon and_ Soldiers.

_E. Spen._ Long live my sovereign, the noble Edward,
In peace triumphant, fortunate in wars!

_K. Edw._ Welcome, old man, com’st thou in Edward’s aid?
Then tell thy prince of whence, and what thou art. 35

_E. Spen._ Lo, with a band of bowmen and of pikes,
Brown bills and targeteers, four hundred strong,
Sworn to defend King Edward’s royal right,
I come in person to your majesty,
Spencer, the father of Hugh Spencer there, 40
Bound to your highness everlastingly,
For favour done, in him, unto us all.

_K. Edw._ Thy father, Spencer?

_Y. Spen._ True, an it like your grace,
That pours, in lieu of all your goodness shown,
His life, my lord, before your princely feet. 45

_K. Edw._ Welcome ten thousand times, old man, again.
Spencer, this love, this kindness to thy king,
Argues thy noble mind and disposition.
Spencer, I here create thee Earl of Wiltshire,
And daily will enrich thee with our favour, 50
That, as the sunshine, shall reflect o’er thee.
Beside, the more to manifest our love,
Because we hear Lord Bruce doth sell his land,
And that the Mortimers are in hand[677] withal,
Thou shalt have crowns of us t’ outbid the barons: 55
And, Spencer, spare them not, but lay it on.
Soldiers, a largess, and thrice welcome all!

_Y. Spen._ My lord, here comes the queen.

_Enter_ QUEEN [ISABELLA,] _and her son_ [PRINCE EDWARD,] _and_ LEVUNE, a Frenchman.

_K. Edw._ Madam, what news?

_Q. Isab._ News of dishonour, lord, and discontent. 60
Our friend Levune, faithful and full of trust,
Informeth us, by letters and by words,
That Lord Valois our brother, King of France,
Because your highness hath been slack in homage,
Hath seized Normandy into his hands. 65
These be the letters, this the messenger.

_K. Edw._ Welcome, Levune. Tush, Sib, if this be all
Valois and I will soon be friends again.—
But to my Gaveston; shall I never see,
Never behold thee now?—Madam in this matter, 70
We will employ you and your little son;
You shall go parley with the king of France.—
Boy, see you bear you bravely to the king,
And do your message with a majesty.

_P. Edw._ Commit not to my youth things of more weight 75
Than fits a prince so young as I to bear,
And fear not, lord and father, Heaven’s great beams
On Atlas’ shoulder shall not lie more safe,
Than shall your charge committed to my trust.

_Q. Isab._ Ah, boy! this towardness makes thy mother fear 80
Thou art not mark’d to many days on earth.

_K. Edw._ Madam, we will that you with speed be shipp’d,
And this our son; Levune shall follow you
With all the haste we can despatch him hence.
Choose of our lords to bear you company, 85
And go in peace; leave us in wars at home.

_Q. Isab._ Unnatural wars, where subjects brave their king;
God end them once! My lords, I take my leave,
To make my preparation for France. [_Exit with_ PRINCE EDWARD.]

_Enter_ [ARUNDEL].[678]

_K. Edw._ What, Lord [Arundel,] dost thou come alone? 90

_Arun._ Yea, my good lord, for Gaveston is dead.

_K. Edw._ Ah, traitors! have they put my friend to death?
Tell me, Arundel, died he ere thou cam’st.
Or didst thou see my friend to take his death?

_Arun._ Neither, my lord; for as he was surprised, 95
Begirt with weapons and with enemies round,
I did your highness’ message to them all;
Demanding him of them, entreating rather,
And said, upon the honour of my name,
That I would undertake to carry him 100
Unto your highness, and to bring him back.

_K. Edw._ And tell me, would the rebels deny me that?

_Y. Spen._ Proud recreants!

_K. Edw._ Yea, Spencer, traitors all.

_Arun._ I found them at the first inexorable;
The Earl of Warwick would not bide the hearing, 105
Mortimer hardly; Pembroke and Lancaster
Spake least: and when they flatly had denied,
Refusing to receive me pledge for him,
The Earl of Pembroke mildly thus bespake;
“My lords, because our sovereign sends for him, 110
And promiseth he shall be safe return’d,
I will this undertake, to have him hence,
And see him re-delivered to your hands.”

_K. Edw._ Well, and how fortunes [it] that he came not?

_Y. Spen._ Some treason, or some villainy, was cause. 115

_Arun._ The Earl of Warwick seiz’d him on his way;
For being delivered unto Pembroke’s men,
Their lord rode home thinking his prisoner safe;
But ere he came, Warwick in ambush lay,
And bare him to his death; and in a trench 120
Strake off his head, and march’d unto the camp.

_Y. Spen._ A bloody part, flatly ’gainst law of arms!

_K. Edw._ O shall I speak, or shall I sigh and die!

_Y. Spen._ My lord, refer your vengeance to the sword
Upon these barons; hearten up your men; 125
Let them not unreveng’d murder your friends!
Advance your standard, Edward, in the field,
And march to fire them from their starting holes.

_K. Edw._ (kneeling.) By earth, the common mother of us all,
By Heaven, and all the moving orbs thereof, 130
By this right hand, and by my father’s sword,
And all the honours ’longing to my crown,
I will have heads and lives for him, as many
As I have manors, castles, towns, and towers!—[_Rises._]
Treacherous Warwick! traitorous Mortimer! 135
If I be England’s king, in lakes of gore
Your headless trunks, your bodies will I trail,
That you may drink your fill, and quaff in blood,
And stain my royal standard with the same,
That so my bloody colours may suggest 140
Remembrance of revenge immortally
On your accursed traitorous progeny.
You villains, that have slain my Gaveston!
And in this place of honour and of trust,
Spencer, sweet Spencer, I adopt thee here: 145
And merely of our love we do create thee
Earl of Gloucester, and Lord Chamberlain,
Despite of times, despite of enemies.

_Y. Spen._ My lord, here’s a messenger from the barons,
Desires access unto your majesty. 150

_K. Edw._ Admit him near.

_Enter the_ Herald _from the Barons with his coat of arms._

_Her._ Long live King Edward, England’s lawful lord!

_K. Edw._ So wish not they, I wis, that sent thee hither.
Thou com’st from Mortimer and his ’complices,
A ranker rout of rebels never was. 155
Well, say thy message.

_Her._ The barons up in arms, by me salute
Your highness with long life and happiness;
And bid me say, as plainer to your grace,
That if without effusion of blood 160
You will this grief have ease and remedy,
That from your princely person you remove
This Spencer, as a putrifying branch,
That deads the royal vine, whose golden leaves
Empale your princely head, your diadem, 165
Whose brightness such pernicious upstarts dim,
Say they; and lovingly advise your grace,
To cherish virtue and nobility,
And have old servitors in high esteem,
And shake off smooth dissembling flatterers. 170
This granted, they, their honours, and their lives,
Are to your highness vow’d and consecrate.

_Y. Spen._ Ah, traitors! will they still display their pride?

_K. Edw._ Away, tarry no answer, but be gone!
Rebels, will they appoint their sovereign 175
His sports, his pleasures, and his company?
Yet, ere thou go, see how I do divorce
_Embraces_ SPENCER.
Spencer from me.—Now get thee to thy lords,
And tell them I will come to chastise them
For murdering Gaveston; hie thee, get thee gone! 180
Edward with fire and sword follows at thy heels.
[_Exit_ Herald.]
My lords, perceive you how these rebels swell?
Soldiers, good hearts, defend your sovereign’s right,
For now, even now, we march to make them stoop.
Away! _Exeunt. Alarums, excursions, a great fight, and a retreat
[sounded, within]._

[SCENE III.][679]

_Re-enter_ KING EDWARD, _the_ Elder SPENCER, Young SPENCER, _and_ Noblemen _of the_ KING’S _side_.

_K. Edw._ Why do we sound retreat? Upon them, lords!
This day I shall pour vengeance with my sword
On those proud rebels that are up in arms
And do confront and countermand their king.

_Y. Spen._ I doubt it not, my lord, right will prevail. 5

_E. Spen._ ’Tis not amiss, my liege, for either part
To breathe awhile; our men, with sweat and dust
All chokt well near, begin to faint for heat;
And this retire refresheth horse and man.

_Y. Spen._ Here come the rebels. 10

_Enter the_ Barons, Young MORTIMER, LANCASTER, WARWICK, PEMBROKE, _and others_.

_Y. Mor._ Look, Lancaster, yonder is Edward
Among his flatterers.

_Lan._ And there let him be
Till he pay dearly for their company.

_War._ And shall, or Warwick’s sword shall smite in vain.

_K. Edw._ What, rebels, do you shrink and sound retreat? 15

_Y. Mor._ No, Edward, no; thy flatterers faint and fly.

_Lan._ Thou’d best betimes forsake them, and their trains,[680]
For they’ll betray thee, traitors as they are.

_Y. Spen._ Traitor on thy face, rebellious Lancaster!

_Pem._ Away, base upstart, brav’st thou nobles thus? 20

_E. Spen._ A noble attempt and honourable deed,
Is it not, trow ye, to assemble aid,
And levy arms against your lawful king!

_K. Edw._ For which ere long their heads shall satisfy,
T’ appease the wrath of their offended king. 25

_Y. Mor._ Then, Edward, thou wilt fight it to the last,
And rather bathe thy sword in subjects’ blood,
Than banish that pernicious company?

_K. Edw._ Ay, traitors all, rather than thus be brav’d,
Make England’s civil towns huge heaps of stones, 30
And ploughs to go about our palace-gates.

_War._ A desperate and unnatural resolution!
Alarum! to the fight!
St. George for England, and the barons’ right!

_K. Edw._ Saint George for England, and King Edward’s right! 35
[_Alarums. Exeunt the two parties severally._]

[SCENE IV.][681]

_Enter_ KING EDWARD [_and his followers_,] _with the_ Barons [_and_ KENT], _captives_.

_K. Edw._ Now, lusty lords, now, not by chance of war,
But justice of the quarrel and the cause.
Vail’d[682] is your pride; methinks you hang the heads,
But we’ll advance[683] them, traitors. Now’t is time
To be aveng’d on you for all your braves, 5
And for the murder of my dearest friend,
To whom right well you knew our soul was knit,
Good Pierce of Gaveston, my sweet favourite.
Ah, rebels! recreants! you made him away.

_Kent._ Brother, in regard of thee, and of thy land, 10
Did they remove that flatterer from thy throne.

_K. Edw._ So, sir, you have spoke; away, avoid our presence!
[_Exit_ KENT.]
Accursed wretches, was’t in regard of us,
When we had sent our messenger to request
He might be spar’d to come to speak with us,
And Pembroke undertook for his return, 15
That thou, proud Warwick, watch’d the prisoner,
Poor Pierce, and headed him ’gainst law of arms?
For which thy head shall overlook the rest,
As much as thou in rage outwent’st the rest. 20

_War._ Tyrant, I scorn thy threats and menaces;
It is but temporal that thou canst inflict.

_Lan._ The worst is death, and better die to live
Than live in infamy under such a king.

_K. Edw._ Away with them, my lord of Winchester! 25
These lusty leaders, Warwick and Lancaster,
I charge you roundly—off with both their heads!
Away!

_War._ Farewell, vain world!

_Lan._ Sweet Mortimer, farewell.

_Y. Mor._ England, unkind to thy nobility, 30
Groan for this grief, behold how thou art maim’d!

_K. Edw._ Go take that haughty Mortimer to the Tower,
There see him safe bestow’d; and for the rest,
Do speedy execution on them all.
Begone! 35

_Y. Mor._ What, Mortimer! can ragged stony walls
Immure thy virtue that aspires to Heaven?
No, Edward, England’s scourge, it may not be;
Mortimer’s hope surmounts his fortune far.
[_The captive_ Barons _are led off_.]

_K. Edw._ Sound drums and trumpets! March with me, my friends, 40
Edward this day hath crown’d him king anew.
_Exeunt all except_ Young SPENCER, LEVUNE, _and_ BALDOCK.

_Y. Spen._ Levune, the trust that we repose in thee,
Begets the quiet of King Edward’s land.
Therefore begone in haste, and with advice
Bestow that treasure on the lords of France, 45
That, therewith all enchanted, like the guard
That suffered Jove to pass in showers of gold
To Danaë, all aid may be denied
To Isabel, the queen, that now in France
Makes friends, to cross the seas with her young son, 50
And step into his father’s regiment.[684]

_Levune._ That’s it these barons and the subtle queen
Long levell’d at.

_Bal._ Yea, but, Levune, thou seest
These barons lay their heads on blocks together;
What they intend, the hangman frustrates clean. 55

_Levune._ Have you no doubt, my lords, I’ll clap so close
Among the lords of France with England’s gold,
That Isabel shall make her plaints in vain,
And France shall be obdurate with her tears.

_Y. Spen._ Then make for France amain; Levune, away! 60
Proclaim King Edward’s wars and victories.
_Exeunt._

[ACT IV]

[SCENE I.][685]

_Enter_ KENT.

_Kent._ Fair blows the wind for France; blow gentle gale,
Till Edmund be arriv’d for England’s good!
Nature, yield to my country’s cause in this.
A brother? No, a butcher of thy friends!
Proud Edward, dost thou banish me thy presence? 5
But I’ll to France, and cheer the wronged queen,
And certify what Edward’s looseness is.
Unnatural king! to slaughter noblemen
And cherish flatterers! Mortimer, I stay 9
Thy sweet escape: stand gracious, gloomy night,
To his device.

_Enter_ Young MORTIMER, _disguised_.

_Y. Mor._ Holla! who walketh there?
Is ’t you, my lord?

_Kent._ Mortimer, ’tis I;
But hath thy potion wrought so happily?

_Y. Mor._ It hath, my Lord; the warders all asleep,
I thank them, gave me leave to pass in peace. 15
But hath your grace got shipping unto France?

_Kent._ Fear it not. _Exeunt._

[SCENE II.][686]

_Enter_ QUEEN [ISABELLA] _and her son_ [PRINCE EDWARD].

_Q. Isab._ Ah, boy! our friends do fail us all in France.
The lords are cruel, and the king unkind;
What shall we do?

_P. Edw._ Madam, return to England,
And please my father well, and then a fig
For all my uncle’s friendship here in France. 5
I warrant you, I’ll win his highness quickly;
’A loves me better than a thousand Spencers.

_Q. Isab._ Ah, boy, thou art deceiv’d, at least in this,
To think that we can yet be tun’d together;
No, no, we jar too far. Unkind Valois! 10
Unhappy Isabel! when France rejects,
Whither, oh! whither dost thou bend thy steps?

_Enter_ SIR JOHN _of_ HAINAULT.

_Sir J._ Madam, what cheer?

_Q. Isab._ Ah! good Sir John of Hainault,
Never so cheerless, nor so far distrest.

_Sir J._ I hear, sweet lady, of the king’s unkindness; 15
But droop not, madam; noble minds contemn
Despair. Will your grace with me to Hainault,
And there stay time’s advantage with your son?
How say you, my lord, will you go with your friends,
And share of[687] all our fortunes equally? 20

_P. Edw._ So pleaseth the queen, my mother, me it likes.
The King of England, nor the court of France,
Shall have me from my gracious mother’s side,
Till I be strong enough to break a staff; 24
And then have at the proudest Spencer’s head.

_Sir J._ Well said, my lord.

_Q. Isab._ O, my sweet heart, how do I moan thy wrongs,
Yet triumph in the hope of thee, my joy!
Ah, sweet Sir John! even to the utmost verge
Of Europe, or the shore of Tanais, 30
Will we with thee to Hainault—so we will:—
The marquis is a noble gentleman;
His grace, I dare presume, will welcome me.
But who are these?

_Enter_ KENT _and_ Young MORTIMER.

_Kent._ Madam, long may you live,
Much happier than your friends in England do!

_Q. Isab._ Lord Edmund and Lord Mortimer alive! 35
Welcome to France! The news was here, my lord,
That you were dead, or very near your death.

_Y. Mor._ Lady, the last was truest of the twain;
But Mortimer, reserv’d for better hap, 40
Hath shaken off the thraldom of the Tower,
And lives t’ advance your standard, good my lord.

_P. Edw._ How mean you? An[688] the king, my father, lives?
No, my Lord Mortimer, not I, I trow.

_Q. Isab._ Not, son! why not? I would it were no worse. 45
But, gentle lords, friendless we are in France.