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:

Tell us where he remains, and he shall die.
QUEEN. 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 are parted?

QUEEN. 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.

Y. MOR. Here in the river rides a Flemish hoy ; 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. Madam, stay you within this castle here.

QUEEN. No, Mortimer, I'll to my lord the king. Y. MOR. Nay, rather sail with us to Scarborough. QUEEN. 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.

*Forslow no time-Lose no time.

Y, MOR. Madam, I cannot stay to answer you, But think of Mortimer as he deserves.

[Exeunt Barons.

QUEEN. Sowell hast thou-deserv'd, 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:
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.

SCENE IV.

Enter GAVESTON, pursued.

[Exit.

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

Enter the NOBLES.

WAR. Upon him, soldiers, take away his weapons. Y. MOR. Thou proud disturber of thy country's peace,

Malgrado, Ital.-maugre, in despite of.

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 shouldst thou fall,
And welter in thy gore.

LAN. Monster of men! that like the Greekish

strumpet,

Train'd to arms 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? 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.

GAV. My lords!—

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..

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,

Intreateth you by me, but that he may

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.

WAR. How now?

GAV. Renowned 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 these delays beget me any hopes?

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

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, And on 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
For Gaveston, will, if he seize him once,
Violate any promise to possess him.

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

Y. MOR. 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 thief.

GAV. How meanest thou, Mortimer? this is overbase.

Y.MOR. Away, base groom, robber of king's renown, Question with thy companions and thy mates.

PEм. 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

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,
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, and let him go?

PEM. My lords, I will not over-woo your honours, But if you dare trust Pembroke with the prisoner,