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.

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

Gav. Farewell, my lord.

K. Edw. Lady, farewell.

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!

From my embracements thus he breaks

To offer violence to his sovereign. We would but rid the realm of Gaveston: 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. Forslow 50 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,

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; 51

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.

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 honor will be call'd in question; 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! In vain I look for love at Edward's hand, Whose eyes are fix'd on none but Gaves

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,
Entreateth you by me, yet but 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.
How now!

War.

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

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 in the honor of a king he swears

He will but talk with him, and send him back.

War. When, can you tell? Arundel, no; we wot

53 "in spite of."

We that have pretty wenches to our wives,

Sir, must not come so near and baulk their lips.

Arun. 'Tis very kindly spoke, my lord of
Pembroke;

Your honor hath an adamant of power
To draw a prince.

Pem. So, iny lord. Come hither, James:
I do commit this Gaveston to thee,
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.

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, her son Prince Edward, and Levune, a Frenchman.

K. Edw. Madam, what news?

Q. Isab. News of dishonor, lord, and dis

content.

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. 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,

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

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

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, And go in peace; leave us in wars at home.

Q. Isab. Unnatural wars, where subjects brave their king;

God end them once! My lord, I take my leave,

To make my preparation for France. Exit with Prince Edward. Enter Arundel.

K. Edw. What, Lord Arundel, dost thou come alone?

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 surpris'd,

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 honor of my name, That I would undertake to carry him 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 inexor-
able:

The Earl of Warwick would not bide the hearing,

Mortimer hardly; Pembroke and Lancas