TheStationersRegister

The Works of Christopher Marlowe

Edward II

Act: 1 Scene: 1

Lancaster

My Lorde.

Lancaster

My lord, why do you thus incense your peeres,

That naturally would love and honour you,

But for that base and obscure Gaveston :

Foure Earldomes have I besides Lancaster,

Darbie, Salsburie, Lincolne, Leicester,

These will I sell to give my souldiers paye,

Ere Gaveston shall stay within the realme.

Therefore if he be come, expell him straight.

Lancaster

And Northward Gaveston hath many friends.

Adew my Lord, and either change your minde,

Or looke to see the throne where you should sit,

To floate in bloud, and at thy wanton head,

The glozing head of thy base minion throwne.

Act: 1 Scene: 2

Lancaster

What? will they tyrannize upon the Church?

Ah wicked king, accurssed Gaveston,

This ground which is corrupted with their steps,

Shall be their timeles sepulcher, or mine.

Lancaster

That villaine Gaveston is made an Earle.

Lancaster

My lord of Cornewall now, at every worde,

And happie is the man, whom he vouchsafes

For vailing of his bonnet one good looke.

Thus arme in arme, the king and he dooth marche:

Nay more, the guarde upon his lordship waites:

And all the court begins to flatter him.

Lancaster

All stomack him, but none dare speake a word.

Lancaster

His countenance bewraies he is displeasd.

Lancaster

My lord, will you take armes against the king?

Lancaster

No, but weele lift Gaveston from hence.

Lancaster

What we confirme the king will frustrate.

Lancaster

Come then lets away.

Act: 1 Scene: 4

Lancaster

Here is the forme of Gavestons exile:

May it please your lordship to subscribe your name.

Lancaster

Quick quick my lorde, I long to write my name.

Lancaster

Your grace doth wel to place him by your side,

For no where else the new earle is so safe.

Lancaster

My lord, you may not thus disparage us,

Away I say with hatefull Gaveston.

Lancaster

Learne then to rule us better and the realme.

Lancaster

Then linger not my lord but do it straight.

Lancaster

Come, come, subscribe.

Lancaster

Give it me, ile have it published in the streetes.

Lancaster

Looke where the sister of the king of Fraunce,

Sits wringing of her hands, and beats her brest.

Lancaster

Feare ye not Madam, now his minions gone,

His wanton humor will be quicklie left.

Lancaster

For his repeale, Madam! he comes not back,

Unlesse the sea cast up his shipwrack body.

Lancaster

And so am I my lord, diswade the Queene.

Lancaster

My Lords,albeit the Queen winne Mortimer,

Will you be resolute and hold with me?

Lancaster

And see how coldly his lookes make deniall.

Lancaster

Ile rather loose his friendship I, then graunt.

Lancaster

Fie Mortimer, dishonor not thy selfe,

Can this be true twas good to banish him,

And is this true to call him home againe?

Such reasons make white blacke, and darke night day.

Lancaster

In no respect can contraries be true.

Lancaster

I, but how chance this was not done before?

Lancaster

On that condition Lancaster will graunt.

Lancaster.

Diablo, what passions call you these?

Lancaster

This salutation overjoyes my heart.

Lancaster

Such newes we heare my lord.

Act: 2 Scene: 2

Lancaster

My Lord.

Lancaster

My lord, mines more obscure then Mortimers.

Plinie reports, there is a flying Fish,

Which all the other fishes deadly hate,

And therefore being pursued, it takes the aire:

No sooner is it up, but thers a foule,

That seaseth it: this fish my lord I beare,

The motto this: Undique mors est.

Lancaster

That shall wee see, looke where his lordship comes.

Lancaster

Salute him? yes: welcome Lord Chamberlaine.

Lancaster

Yet I disdaine not to doe this for you.

Lancaster

Weele haile him by the eares unto the block.

Lancaster

Cosin it is no dealing with him now,

He meanes to make us stoope by force of armes,

And therefore let us jointlie here protest,

To prosecute that Gaveston to the death.

Lancaster

And so doth Lancaster:

Now send our Heralds to defie the King,

And make the people sweare to put him downe.

Lancaster

Why how now cosin, how fares all our friends?

Lancaster

Weel have him ransomd man, be of good cheere.

Lancaster

Do cosin, and ile beare thee companie.

Lancaster

Be resolute, and full of secrecie.

Lancaster

Content, ile beare my part, holla whose there?

Lancaster

Lead on the way.

Lancaster

Why, so he may, but we will speake to him.

Lancaster

Twas in your wars, you should ransome him.

Lancaster

Your minion Gaveston hath taught you this.

Lancaster

And so will I, and then my lord farewell.

Lancaster

What forraine prince sends thee embassadors?

Lancaster

Thy gentle Queene, sole sister to Valoys,

Complaines, that thou hast left her all forlorne.

Lancaster

The Northren borderers seeing their houses burnt,

Their wives and children slaine, run up and downe,

Cursing the name of thee and Gaveston.

Lancaster

And thereof came it, that the fleering Scots,

To Englands high disgrace, have made this Jig,

Lancaster

And when tis gone, our swordes shall purchase more.

If ye be moov'de, revenge it as you can,

Looke next to see us with our ensignes spred.

Act: 2 Scene: 3

Lancaster

I feare me you are sent of pollicie,

To undermine us with a showe of love.

Lancaster

And it sufficeth: now my lords know this,

That Gaveston is secretlie arrivde,

And here in Tinmoth frollicks with the king.

Let us with these our followers scale the walles,

And sodenly surprize them unawares.

Lancaster

None be so hardie as to touche the King,

But neither spare you Gaveston, nor his friends.

Act: 2 Scene: 4

Lancaster

I wonder how he scapt.

Lancaster

No madam, but that cursed Gaveston.

Farre be it from the thought of Lancaster,

To offer violence to his soveraigne,

We would but rid the realme of Gaveston,

Tell us where he remaines, and he shall die.

Lancaster.

The wind that bears him hence, wil fil our sailes,

Come, come aboord, tis but an houres sailing.

Act: 2 Scene: 5

Lancaster

Monster of men,

That like the Greekish strumpet traind to armes

And bloudie warres, so many valiant knights,

Looke for no other fortune wretch then death,

King Edward is not heere to buckler thee.

Warwicke. Lancaster, why talkst thou to the slave ?

Go souldiers take him hence, for by my sword,

His head shall off: Gaveston, short warning

Shall serve thy turne: it is our countries cause,

That here severelie we will execute

Upon thy person: hang him at a bough.

Lancaster

How now my lord of Arundell?

Lancaster

Not so my Lord, least he bestow more cost,

In burying him, then he hath ever earned.

Arundell My lords, it is his majesties request,

And in the honor of a king he sweares,

He will but talke with him and send him backe.

Lancaster

Why I say, let him go onPenbrookes word.

Act: 3 Scene: 1

Lancaster

And there let him bee,

Till hee pay deerely for their companie.

Lancaster

Th'ad best betimes forsake them and their trains,

For theile betray thee, traitors as they are.

Lancaster

The worst is death, and better die to live,

Then live in infamie under such a king.

Lancaster

Sweete Mortimer farewell.