If I be cruel and grow tyrannous,

Now let them thank themselves, and rue too late.
KENT. My lord, I see your love for Gaveston
Will be the ruin of the realm and

you,
For now the wrathful nobles threaten wars,
And therefore, brother, banish him for ever.
Edw. Art thou an enemy to my Gaveston?
KENT. Aye, and it grieves me that I favoured him.
EDW. Traitor, begone! whine thou with Mortimer.
KENT. So will I, rather than with Gaveston.

EDW. Out of my sight, and trouble me no more! KENT. No marvel that thou scorn thy noble peers,

When I thy brother am rejected thus.

[Exit. EDW. Away! poor Gaveston, that has no friend

but me;

Do what they can, we'll live in Tinmouth here,
And, so I walk with him about the walls,
What care I though the earls begirt us round-
Here cometh she that's cause of all these jars.
Enter the QUEEN, three LADIES, GAVESTON, Bal-
DOCK, and Young SPENCER.

QUEEN. My lord, 'tis thought the earls are up

arms.

in

EDW. Aye, and it is likewise thought you favour them.

QUEEN. Thus do you still suspect me without cause?

LADY. Sweet uncle! speak more kindly to the

queen.

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GAV. My lord, dissemble with her, speak her fair. EDW. Pardon me, sweet, I had forgot myself. QUEEN. Your pardon is quickly got of Isabel. 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? EDW. I dare not, for the people love him well. GAV. Why then we'll have him privily made

away.

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.

LADY. Two of my father's servants whilst he liv'd, May't please your grace to entertain them now. 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.

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.

EDW. Knowest thou him, Gaveston?

GAV. Aye, my lord; his name is Spencer, he is

well allied;

For my sake, let him wait upon your grace;
Scarce shall you find a man of more desert.
EDW. Then, Spencer, wait upon me, for his sake
I'll grace thee with a higher style e'er long.
Y. SPEN. No greater titles happen unto me,

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Than to be favoured of your majesty.

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 Glou'ster late deceas'd.

Gav. I know, my lord, many will stomach me, But I respect neither their love nor hate.

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!

[Exeunt omnes.

SCENE III.

Enter LANCASTER, MORTIMER, WARWICK, PEMBROKE, and KENT.

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 shew of love.

WAR. He is you other, 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.

PEм. 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, That Gaveston is secretly arriv'd,

And here in Tinmouth frolicks with the king.
Let us with these our followers scale the walls,
And suddenly surprize them unawares.

Y. MOR. I'll give the onset.

WAR. And I'll follow thee.

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!

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

SCENE IV.

[Exeunt.

Enter the KING and SPENCER, to them GAVESTON,

&c.

EDW. O tell me, Spencer, where is Gaveston? SPEN. I fear me he is slain gracious lord. EDW. No, here he comes; now let them spoil and

kill.

Fly, fly, my lords, the earls have got the hold,
Take shipping and away to Scarborough,
Spencer and I will post away by land.

GAV. O stay, my lord, they will not injure you.
EDW. I will not trust them; Gaveston, away!
GAV. Farewell, my lord.

EDW. Lady, farewell.

LADY. Farewell, sweet uncle, till we meet again.
EDW. Farewell, sweet Gaveston, and farewell, niece.
QUEEN. No farewell to poor Isabel thy queen ?
EDW. Yes, yes, for Mortimer, your lover's sake.
[Exeunt all but Isabel.

QUEEN. Heaven 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.

LAN. I wonder how he 'scap'd!

Y. MOR. Who's this, the Queen?

QUEEN. Aye, 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, fn wicked Gaveston, And all in vain; or, 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?

QUEEN. What would you with the king, is't him you seek?

VOL. II.

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