Edward II

so pert,
And riot it with the treasure of the realm,
While soldiers mutiny for want of pay.
He wears a lord’s revenue on his back,
And, Midas-like, he jets it in the court,
With base outlandish cullions at his heels,
Whose proud fantastic liveries make such show
As if that Proteus, god of shapes, appeared.
I have not seen a dapper Jack so brisk:
He wears a short Italian hooded cloak,
Larded with pearl, and in his Tuscan cap
A jewel of more value than the crown.
While others walk below, the king and he,
From out a window, laugh at such as we,
And flout our train, and jest at our attire.
Uncle, ’tis this that makes me impatient. Elder Mortimer But, nephew, now you see the king is changed. Younger Mortimer

Then so I am, and live to do him service:
But, whiles I have a sword, a hand, a heart,
I will not yield to any such upstart.
You know my mind: come, uncle, let’s away.

Exeunt.

Act II

Scene I

A hall in Gloucester’s house.

	Enter the Younger Spenser and Baldock.
Baldock	Spenser, Seeing that our lord the Earl of Gloucester’s dead, Which of the nobles dost thou mean to serve?
Younger Spenser	Not Mortimer, nor any of his side, Because the king and he are enemies. Baldock, learn this of me: a factious lord Shall hardly do himself good, much less us; But he that hath the favour of a king May with one word advance us while we live. The liberal Earl of Cornwall is the man On whose good fortune Spenser’s hope depends.
Baldock	What, mean you, then, to be his follower?
Younger Spenser	No, his companion; for he loves me well, And would have once preferred me to the king.
Baldock	But he is banished; there’s small hope of him.
Younger Spenser	Ay, for a while; but, Baldock, mark the end. A friend of mine told me in secrecy That he’s repealed and sent for back again; And even now a post came from the court With letters to our lady from the king; And, as she read, she smiled; which makes me think It is about her lover Gaveston.
Baldock	’Tis like enough; for, since he was exiled, She neither walks abroad nor comes in sight. But I had thought the match had been broke off, And that his banishment had changed her mind.
Younger Spenser	Our lady’s first love is not wavering; My life for thine, she will have Gaveston.
Baldock	Then hope I by her means to be preferred, Having read unto her since she was a child.
Younger Spenser	Then, Baldock, you must cast the scholar off, And learn to court it like a gentleman. ’Tis not a black coat and a little band, A velvet-caped cloak, faced before with serge, And smelling to a nosegay all the day, Or holding of a napkin in your hand, Or saying a long grace at a table’s end, Or making low legs to a nobleman, Or looking downward, with your eyelids close, And saying, “Truly, an’t may please your honour,” Can get you any favour with great men: You must be proud, bold, pleasant, resolute, And now and then stab, as occasion serves.
Baldock	Spenser, thou know’st I hate such formal toys, And use them but of mere hypocrisy. Mine old lord, whiles he lived, was so precise, That he would take exceptions at my buttons, And, being like pins’ heads, blame me for the bigness; Which made me curate-like in mine attire, Though inwardly licentious enough, And apt for any kind of villainy. I am none of these common pedants, I, That cannot speak without propterea quod.
Younger Spenser	But one of those that saith quando-quidem, And hath a special gift to form a verb.
Baldock	Leave off this jesting; here my lady comes.
	Enter King Edward’s Niece.
Niece	The grief for his exile was not so much As is the joy of his returning home. This letter came from my sweet Gaveston: What need’st thou, love, thus to excuse thyself? I know thou couldst not come and visit me. Reads. “I will not long be from thee, though I die.” This argues the entire love of my lord;⁠—Reads. “When I forsake thee, death seize on my heart”: But stay thee here where Gaveston shall sleep. Puts the letter into her bosom. Now to the letter of my lord the king: He wills me to repair unto the court, And meet my Gaveston: why do I stay, Seeing that he talks thus of my marriage day?⁠— Who’s there? Baldock! See that my coach be ready; I must hence.
Baldock	It shall be done, madam.
Niece	And meet me at the park-pale presently.
	Exit Baldock.
	Spenser, stay you, and bear me company, For I have joyful news to tell thee of; My lord of Cornwall is a-coming over, And will be at the court as soon as we.
Younger Spenser	I knew the king would have him home again.
Niece	If all things sort out, as I hope they will, Thy service, Spenser, shall be thought upon.
Younger Spenser	I humbly thank your ladyship.
Niece	Come, lead the way: I long till I am there.
	Exeunt.

Scene II

Before Tynemouth Castle.

	Enter King Edward, Queen Isabella, Kent, Lancaster, the Younger Mortimer, Warwick, Pembroke, and Attendants.
King Edward	The wind is good; I wonder why he stays: I fear me he is wrecked upon the sea.
Queen Isabella	Look, Lancaster, how passionate he is, And still his mind runs on his minion!
Lancaster	My lord⁠—
King Edward	How now! what news? is Gaveston arrived?
Younger Mortimer	Nothing but Gaveston! what means your grace? You have matters of more weight to think upon: The King of France sets foot in Normandy.
King Edward	A trifle! we’ll expel him when we please. But tell me, Mortimer, what’s thy device Against the stately triumph we decreed?
Younger Mortimer	A homely one, my lord, not worth the telling.
King Edward	Pray thee, let me know it.
Younger Mortimer	But, seeing you are so desirous, thus it is; A lofty cedar tree, fair flourishing, On whose top branches kingly eagles perch, And by the bark a canker creeps me up, And gets unto the highest bough of all; The motto, Aeque tandem.
King Edward	And what is yours, my Lord of Lancaster?
Lancaster	My lord, mine’s more obscure than