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.

235

Niece. Two of my father's servants whilst he liv'd,— May't 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 fetch from Oxford, not from heraldry.

K. Edw. The fitter art thou, Baldock, for my turn. Wait on me, and I'll see thou shalt not want.

Bald. I humbly thank your majesty.

K. Edw.

Gav.

Knowest thou him, Gaveston?

240

Ay, my lord;

245

His name is Spenser; he is well allied;
For my sake, let him wait upon your grace;
Scarce shall you find a man of more desert.

K. Edw. Then, Spenser, 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 favour'd of your majesty!

250

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 Glocester late deceas'd.

255

Gav. I know, my lord, many will stomach me;

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!

260

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. The Barons' Camp before Tynmouth Castle.

Enter KENT, LANCASTER, the younger 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,
To undermine us with a show of love.

War. He is your brother; therefore have we cause To cast the worst, and doubt of your revolt.

Kent. Mine honour shall be hostage of my truth: If that will not suffice, farewell, my lords.

Y. Mor. Stay, Edmund; never was Plantagenet False of his word, and therefore trust we thee.

5

10

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 Tynmouth frolics with the king.

Let us with these our followers scale the walls,
And suddenly surprise them unawares.

Y. Mor. I'll give the onset.

War.

And I'll follow thee.

20

Y. Mor. This totter'd ensign of my ancestors, Which swept the desert shore of that Dead Sea, Whereof we got the name of Mortimer,

Will I advance upon this castle's walls.

Drums, strike alarum, raise them from their sport,
And ring aloud the knell of Gaveston!

25

Lan. None be so hardy as to touch the king; But neither spare you Gaveston nor his friends. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV. Within Tynmouth Castle.

Enter, severally, KING EDWARD and the younger SPENSER.

K. Edw. O tell me, Spenser, where is Gaveston?
Spen. I fear me 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;
Spenser 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.

5

ΙΟ

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 except QUEEN ISABELLA. Q. Isab. Heavens can witness, I love none but you. 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,

That when I had him we might never part!

· Enter LANCASTER, WARWICK, the younger MORTIMER, and others. Alarums within.

Lan. I wonder how he scap'd!

Y. Mor.

15

20

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:
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.

25

Y. Mor. Cease to lament, and tell us where's the king?

Q. Isab. What would you with the king? is 't him you seek?

30

Lan. No, madam, but that cursèd Gaveston.

Far be it from the thought of Lancaster
To offer violence to his sovereign!

We would but rid the realm of Gaveston :

Tell us where he remains, and he shall die.

35

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. Forslow no time, sweet Lancaster; let's march. Y. Mor. How comes it that the king and he is parted? Q. Isab. That thus your army, going several ways, 41 Might be of lesser force, and with the power

That he intendeth presently to raise,

Be easily suppress'd; therefore be gone.

Y. Mor.

Here in the river rides a Flemish hoy; 45

Let's all aboard, and follow him amain.

Lan. The wind that bears him hence will fill our sails: Come, come aboard, 'tis but an hour's sailing.

Y. Mor.

Q. Isab.

Madam, stay you within this castle here.
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;
And therefore, gentle Mortimer, be gone.

50

55

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 deserved, sweet Mortimer, As Isabel could live with thee for ever.

In vain I look for love at Edward's hand,
Whose eyes are fix'd on none but Gaveston.

60

Yet once more I'll importune him with prayer;
If he be strange and not regard my words,
My son and I will over into France,
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.

65

[Exit.

SCENE V. Country near Scarborough Castle.

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,
Breathing, in hope (malgrado all your beards,
That muster rebels thus against your king)
To see his royal sovereign once again.

5

Enter WARWICK, LANCASTER, PEMBROKE, the younger 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,
Base flatterer, yield! and, were it not for shame,
Shame and dishonour to a soldier's name,

Upon my weapon's point here should'st thou fall,
And welter in thy gore.

10