Art thou an enemy to my Gaveston?
KENT. Ay, and it grieves me that I favoured him.
EDWARD. Traitor, be gone! Whine thou with Mortimer.
KENT. So will I, rather than with Gaveston.
EDWARD. Out of my sight, and trouble me no more!
KENT. No marvel though thou scorn thy noble peers,
When I thy brother am rejected thus.
Exit.
EDWARD. Away! Poor Gaveston, thou hast no friend but me,
Do what they can, we'll live in Tynemouth here;
And, so I walk with him about the walls,
What care I though the earls begirt us round?
Here comes she that is cause of all these jars.
Enter the Queen, Margaret de Clare, Baldock, Spencer, Gaveston and 2 Ladies-in-Waiting.
ISABELLA. My lord, 'tis thought the earls are up in arms.
EDWARD. Ay, and 'tis likewise thought you favour 'em.
ISABELLA. Thus do you still suspect me without cause.
LADY MARGARET. Sweet uncle, speak more kindly to the Queen.
GAVESTON. My lord, dissemble with her; speak her fair.
EDWARD. Pardon me, sweet; I forgot myself.
ISABELLA. Your pardon is quickly got of Isabel.
EDWARD. The younger Mortimer is grown so brave,
That to my face he threatens civil wars.
GAVESTON. Why do you not commit him to the Tower?
EDWARD. I dare not, for the people love him well.
GAVESTON. Why, then, we'll have him privily made away.
EDWARD. Would Lancaster and he had both caroused
A bowl of poison to each other's health!
But let them go, and tell me what are these.
LADY MARGARET. Two of my father's servants whilst he lived:
May't please your grace to entertain them now.
EDWARD. Tell me, where wast thou born?
What is thine arms?
BALDOCK. My name is Baldock, and my gentry
I fetch'd from Oxford, not from heraldry.
EDWARD. The fitter art thou, Baldock, for my turn.
Wait on me, and I'll see thou shalt not want.
BALDOCK. I humbly thank your majesty.
EDWARD. Knowest thou him, Gaveston?
GAVESTON. Ay, 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.
EDWARD. Then, Spencer, wait upon me. For his sake
I'll grace thee with a higher style ere long.
SPENCER. No greater titles happen unto me
Than to be favoured of your majesty!
EDWARD. 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 Gloucester late deceased.
GAVESTON. I know, my lord, many will stomach me;
But I respect neither their love nor hate.
EDWARD. 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.
ACT TWO, SCENE THREE
Enter Lancaster, Mortimer, Warwick, Pembroke, 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.
LANCASTER. I fear me, you are sent of policy,
To undermine us with a show of love.
WARWICK. He is your brother; 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.
MORTIMER. Stay, Edmund: never was Plantagenet
False of his word; and therefore trust we thee.
PEMBROKE. But what's the reason you should leave him now?
KENT. I have informed the Earl of Lancaster.
LANCASTER. And it sufficeth. Now, my lords, know this,
That Gaveston is secretly arrived,
And here in Tynemouth frolics with the King.
Let us with these our followers scale the walls,
And suddenly surprise them unawares.
MORTIMER. I'll give the onset.
WARWICK.