ARCHBISH. What else, my lords? for it concerns

me near;

The bishoprick of Coventry is his.

Enter the QUEFN.

Y. MOR. Madam, whither walks your majesty so fast?
QUEEN. Unto the forest, gentie Mortimer,

To live in grief and baleful discontent;
For now, my lord, the king regards me not,
But doats upon the love of Gaveston.

He claps his cheek, and hangs about his neck,
Smiles in his face, and whispers in his ears;
And when I come he frowns, as who should say,
Go whither thou wilt, seeing I have Gavestón.
E.MOR. Is it not strange, that he is thus bewitch'd?
Y. MOR. Madam, return unto the court again:
That sly inveigling Frenchman we'll exile,
Or lose our lives; and yet ere that day come
The king shall lose his crown; for we have power,
And courage too, to be reveng'd at full.

ARCHBISH. But yet lift not your swords against the
king.

LAN. No; but we'll lift Gaveston from hence. WAR. And war must be the means, or he'll stay still. QUEEN. Then let nim stay; for rather than my lord Shall be oppress'd with civil mutiníes,

I will endure a melancholy life,

And let him frolick with his minion.

ARCHBISI. My lords, to ease all this, but hear me
speak :-

We and the rest, that are his counsellors,
Will meet, and with a general consent

Confirm his banishment with our hands and seals.
LAN. What we confirm the king will frustrate.
Y. MOR. Then may we lawfully revolt from him.
WAR. But say, my lord, where shall this meeting be?
ARCHBISH. At the New Temple.

Y. MOR. Content.

ARCHBISH. And, in the mean time, I'll intreat

you all

To cross to Lambeth, and there stay with me.
LAN. Come then, let's away.

Y. MOR. Madam, farewell!

QUEEN. Farewell, sweet Mortimer; and, for my sake.

Forbear to levy arms against the king.

Y. MOR. Aye, if words will serve, if not, I must.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Enter GAVESTON and the EARL of Kent. GAY. Edmund, the mighty prince of Lancaster, That hath more earldoms than an ass can bear, And both the Mortimers, two goodly men, With Guy of Warwick, that redoubted knight, Are gone toward Lambeth-there let them remain. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

Enter NOBLES, and the ARCHBISHOP of CAN

TERBURY.

LAN. Here is the form of Gaveston's exile;

May it please your lordship to subscribe your name.

ARCHBISH. Give me the paper.
LAN. Quick, quick, my lord;

I long to write my name.

WAR. But I long more to see him banish'd hence. Y. MOR. The name of Mortimer shall fright the king,

Unless he be declin'd from that base peasant.

Enter the KING and GAVESTON.

EDW. What, are you moved that Gaveston sits here ?

It is our pleasure, we will have it so.

LAN. Your grace doth well to place him by your side,

For no where else the new earl is so safe.

E. MOR. What man of noble birth can brook this

sight?

Quam male conveniunt !

See what a scornful look the peasant casts!

PEM. Can kingly lions fawn on creeping ants? WAR. Ignoble vassal, that like Phaeton, Aspir❜st unto the guidance of the sun.

Y. Mon. Their downfall is at hand, their forces down:

We will not thus be fac'd and over-peer'd.
EDW. Lay hands on that traitor Mortimer!
E. Mon. Lay hands on that traitor Gaveston!
KENT. Is this the duty that you owe your king?
WAR. We know our duties-let him know his

peers.

VOL. II.

2

EDW. Whither will you bear him? Stay, or ye

shall die.

E. MOR. We are no traitors, therefore threaten not. GAV. No, threaten not, my lord, but pay them home!

Were I a king

Y. Mon. Thou villain, wherefore talk'st thou of a

king,

That hardly art a gentleman by birth?

EDW. Were he a peasant, being my minion, I'll make the proudest of you stoop to him.

LAN. My lord, you may not thus disparage us. Away, I say, with hateful Gaveston.

E.MOR. And with the earl of Kent that favours him. EDW. Nay, then, lay violent hands upon your king, Here, Mortimer, sit thou on Edward's throne: Warwick and Lancaster, wear you my crown: Was ever king thus over-rul'd as I?

LAN. Learn then to rule us better, and the realm. Y. MOR. What we have done,

Our heart-blood shall maintain.

WAR. Think you that we can brook this upstart pride?

EDW. Anger and wrathful fury stops my speech. ARCHBISH. Why are you mov'd? be patient, my lord,

And see what we your counsellors have done.

Y. MOR. My lords, now let us all be resolute, And either have our wills, or lose our lives.

Edw. Meet you for this? proud over-daring peers!

Ere my sweet Gaveston shall part from me,
This isle shall fleet upon the ocean,
And wander to the unfrequented Inde.

ARCHBISH. You know that I am legate to the pope; On your allegiance to the see of Rome, Subscribe, as we have done, to his exile.

Y. MOR. Curse him, if he refuse; and then may we Depose him, and elect another king.

Edw. Aye, there it goes-but yet I will not yield: Curse me, depose me, do the worst you can.

LAN. Then linger not, my lord, but do it straight. ARCHBISH. Remember how the bishop was abus'd! Either banish him that was the cause thereof, Or I will presently discharge these lords Of duty and allegiance due to thee.

Edw. It boots me not to threat-I must speak

fair:

[Aside.

The legate of the pope will be obey'd.
My lord, you shall be chancellor of the realm;
Thou, Lancaster, high-admiral of our fleet;
Young Mortimer and his uncle shall be earls;
And you, lord Warwick, president of the North;
And thou of Wales. If this content you not,
Make several kingdoms of this monarchy,
And share it equally amongst you all,
So I may have some nook or corner left,
To frolick with my dearest Gaveston.

ARCHBISH. Nothing shall alter us-we are resolv'd.
LAN. Come, come, subscribe.

Y. MOR. Why should you love him