Confirm his banishment with our hands and seals. Y. MOR. Content. ARCHBISH. And, in the mean time, I'll intreat To cross to Lambeth, and there stay with me. 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. SCENE III. [Exeunt. Enter GAVESTON and the EARL of KENT. GAV. 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. 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. MOR. Their downfall is at hand, their forces down: We will not thus be fac'd and over-peer'd. 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. MOR. 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, And wander to the unfrequented Inde. ARCHBISH. You know that I am legate to the pope; Y. MOR. Curse him, if he refuse; and then may we EDW. Aye, there it goes-but yet I will not yield: LAN. Then linger not, my lord, but do it straight. EDw. It boots me not to threat-I must speak fair: [Aside. The legate of the pope will be obey'd. ARCHBISH. Nothing shall alter us-we are resolv'd. Y. MOR. Why should you love him 1 Whom the world hates so? EDW. Because he loves me more than all the world. Ah, none but rude and savage-minded men, Would seek the ruin of my Gaveston; You that are noble born should pity him. WAR. You that are princely born should shake him off: For shame, subscribe, and let the loon depart. ARCHBISH. Are you content to banish him the realm? EDW. I see I must, and therefore am content: Instead of ink I'll write it with my tears. Y. MOR. The king is love-sick for his minion. EDW. 'Tis done-and now, accursed hand! fall off! LAN. Give it me-I'll have it publish'd in the streets. Y. MOR. I'll see him presently dispatch'd away. ARCHBISH. Now is my heart at ease. WAR. And so is mine. PEM. This will be good news to the common sort. E. MOR. Be it or no, he shall not linger here. [Exeunt Nobles. EDW. How fast they run to banish him I love! They would not stir, were it to do me good. Why should a king be subject to a priest? Proud Rome! that hatchest such imperial grooms, With these thy superstitious taper-lights, Wherewith thy antichristian churches blaze, I'll fire thy crazed buildings, and enforce |