Edward II - Christopher Marlow
[alert-success] Edward II [/alert-success]
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[alert-primary] Act-wise Summary [/alert-primary]
Scene 1 of Act 1
Piers Gaveston walks in and starts to read a personal letter from King Edward II. The letter tells him that the old king has died and that he can go back to England. He greets this message with great joy. Gaveston is then approached by three poor men who ask for help. He tells them to come back later after he has talked to the king. Gaveston moves out of the way, and the king and the lords come in from Parliament. The Mortimers, the Earl of Lancaster, and others are upset that Gaveston has been brought back from exile and is getting so much favour from the king. Only the king's brother, the Earl of Kent, stands up for the king. Edward II doesn't care what the lords say, and he tells them that he has no plans to send Gaveston away. In anger, the lords leave and threaten open war if Gaveston is not kicked out. Gaveston then walks up to the king, who is very happy to see him. The king makes him lord chamberlain, royal secretary, and Earl of Cornwall, and he promises to protect him from his enemies in any way he needs. The Bishop of Coventry comes in next. He is the one who sent Gaveston away, so he is upset to see the man who was sent away back in England. Coventry says that those who break the law will be punished, so the king takes away the bishop's possessions, gives them to Gaveston, and puts the bishop in jail
Scene 2 of Act 1
The Earls of Lancaster and Warwick and the Mortimers talk about how they will get rid of Gaveston. They are upset that he has been given new titles and positions and that the Bishop of Conventry's property now belongs to Gaveston. The Archbishop of Canterbury comes in and, like the bishop, is unhappy with how the bishop has been treated. He agrees to work with the lords against Gaveston, but not with the king. Then Queen Isabella comes in and complains that the king doesn't care about her but does care about Gaveston. The lords reassure her that Gaveston will be taken care of. Isabella begs them not to take up arms against the king, but Mortimer says he must if words don't work.
Scene 3 of Act 1
Kent is told by Gaveston that the lords have gone to Lambeth.
Scene 4 of Act 1
The lords have made a new document to kick Gaveston out of England, and they want the king to sign it. As soon as Kent, Gaveston, and the king walk in, the lords start making their case. They send Gaveston and Kent away and tell the king to get rid of Gaveston. Even though the king offers them high positions, the lords still want to get rid of Gaveston. Mortimer even threatens to get rid of the king if he doesn't. In the end, Edward signs the document, which makes the lords happy. Gaveston comes in, and he and the king have a tearful goodbye before Edward sends his friend into exile in Ireland. But not before the queen arrives and gets into a heated argument with Gaveston about the king's love and the queen's inappropriate relationship with Mortimer. When the two men leave, the queen feels sad about her situation and decides that the best way to win the king's love is to stand up for Gaveston. The lords come and try to cheer up the queen, who is sad. She tells them that she wants Gaveston to stay in England to make the king happy. Most of the lords are against this, but Isabella pulls Mortimer aside and tries to convince him that Gaveston should stay so he can be killed. Based on this argument, the lords agree to end Gaveston's banishment. The king then comes in, sad, and the queen tells him that Gaveston will not be sent away. When he hears this, Edward is very happy. He says nice things to the queen and all the lords who are there, and they all kneel down before him. The king says that tournaments will be held to celebrate his friend's return, and that Gaveston will marry his cousin, the heiress to the Earl of Gloucester. Everyone leaves except the Mortimers. Mortimer the elder says that he has to go to Scotland and that his nephew should take care of things at court. He tells his nephew not to worry too much about Gaveston because every king and great ruler has a favourite. The younger Mortimer is worried that a lowborn man has so much power over the king, but he promises to stay loyal to him anyway.
Scene 1 of Act 2 - At Gloucester's house.
Spencer Junior is asked by Baldock who he will work for now that the Earl of Gloucester has died. Spencer says he wants to work for Gaveston, who has just returned from exile, so he can get the king's favour. He then teaches Baldock how to act in a courtly way. They talk about how happy the king's niece must be that Gaveston is coming back, and then a woman comes in, reading with joy a letter that tells her that her love is coming back. After that, Margaret and Spencer go to see Gaveston.
Scene 2 of Act 2: Tynemouth
As he waits for Gaveston to come back, Edward II irritates the lords by talking about his friend all the time and ignoring Mortimer when he tries to talk about important matters of state. Then, Mortimer and Lancaster use poetic hints to tell the king how much they hate Gaveston, which makes him very angry. Gaveston then comes, which makes the king very happy. The lords, on the other hand, only give him a sarcastic and fake welcome, which makes the king even more angry and starts a fight in which Mortimer hurts Gaveston and then leads him away. Edward scolds the lords for what they did and threatens to gather an army to take them down. He then storms off in a rage. The lords then decide that they have to do everything they can to kill Gaveston. Mortimer Senior has been taken by the Scots, a messenger comes to tell the lords. Mortimer says right away that the king should pay his uncle's ransom because he was taken prisoner while fighting in the king's war. Mortimer tells the king that his uncle has been captured and suggests that he pay the ransom. When the king comes back in, he refuses right away. Edward's refusal to pay Mortimer Senior's ransom sets off Mortimer Junior and Lancaster, who then go on a long rant about all the bad things the king has done for the kingdom. They say that Scotland, Ireland, France, and northern England are out of control because he doesn't pay attention to them. They also say that the queen is ignored and neglected, the people are rebelling, and the one army the king led (against the Scots at Bannockburn) was a total failure. Mortimer and Lancaster leave after saying what they think, threatening to rebel. The king tells his brother Kent how angry he is, and Kent tells him that the lords are right about Gaveston. This makes the king even more angry, and Kent is fired. Gaveston, the queen, Spencer, and other people come in. The king talks about how Mortimer and the lords are acting like rebels and promises Spencer and Baldock a promotion. Edward says that Gaveston and Margaret are getting married, and then he swears revenge against the lords to end the scene.
Scene 3 of Act 2 : Near Tynemouth Castle.
Kent wants to help the lords fight Gaveston with them. Even though they are wary at first because he is the king's brother, they end up welcoming him. The lords then get ready to fight until the end with their enemy, Gaveston and his followers, and say again that they don't want to hurt the king.
Scene 4 of Act 2 Near Tynemouth Castle.
The lords chase after the king, Gaveston, Spencer, and Margaret, and they run away in a panic (but not before the king, once again, accuses the queen of lusting over Mortimer). At this point, the lords come in and try to comfort the queen. She then tells them the king's plan and where he and Gaveston have run away to. The lords chase the king and his followers by boat, and the queen is left behind to complain about her sad situation. She says that if Edward doesn't start giving her the attention she deserves, she and her son will leave England and go to France, where her brother is king.
Scene 5 of Act 2
The scene starts with the lords catching Gaveston and telling him that he will be killed right away for tricking the king. The Earl of Arundel shows up and tells the lords that the king knows Gaveston has been captured. He begs them to let him see his friend one last time before he is put to death. At first, the lords are determined not to let Gaveston out of their sight until he is dead. However, the Earl of Pembroke swears on his honour that he will take Gaveston to the king so that they can have one last meeting and then quickly give him back to the lords so that he can be put to death. The lords agree with this, and James, Pembroke's servant, is left in charge of Gaveston.
Scene 1 of Act 3
Warwick comes to stop Pembroke's men from taking Gaveston. When the earl is criticised for being a traitor, he says he is doing what is best for his country and takes Gaveston with him.
Scene 2 of Act 3
Edward is sad that Gaveston is not there, and Spencer tells the king that he needs to be tougher with the rebels, which Edward agrees with. Spencer Senior then shows up with armed men to help the king. When Edward finds out who he is, he makes Spencer Senior Earl of Wiltshire as a reward for his loyalty. When the queen and Prince Edward arrive, Edward is told that the King of France has taken over the English lands in Normandy. To deal with the situation, Edward sends the queen and the prince to France. The Earl of Arundel comes in and tells the king that Gaveston is dead because the Earl of Warwick took him away from Pembroke's care. The news breaks the king's heart, and he vows to get even with all the rebel lords. He then makes Spencer Junior Earl of Gloucester and Lord Chamberlain. The lords send a messenger to the king to tell him that they now want him to get rid of Spencer if he wants peace to return to his kingdom. The king tells the herald to go away and tells the lords to get ready to fight him.
Scene 3 takes place on the battlefield at Boroughbridge, in the county of Yorkshire.
After fighting the rebels, Edward and the Spencers take a break. Then the lords come in and tell the king off for ignoring the nobles and surrounding himself with low-class flatterers. In response, the king says he will fight until he dies and will get the traitors' heads in the end.
Scene 4 of Act 3: At the battleground in Boroughbridge, Yorkshire.
The king has won the Battle of Boroughbridge and taken all the lords, including his brother Kent, as prisoners. He scolds them for being traitors and for killing Gaveston in a sneaky way. He then fires his brother, orders the executions of Lancaster and Warwick and the imprisonment of Mortimer, and leaves in victory. Then, Spencer Junior, Baldock, and Levune talk about a plan to get rid of the queen, who is apparently making a deal with her brother, the French king, to help him get rid of King Edward. In order to stop this from happening, Levune goes to France.
Scene 1 of Act 4 : near the Tower of London
Kent says that he will go to France to help the queen because of his brother's actions against the nobility and his preference for flatterers. Mortimer then gets out of the tower, and he and the other man go to the continent.
Scene 2 of Act 4 : Paris, France
The queen tells Prince Edward that her brother won't help them in France. The prince suggests that they go back to England. Sir John of Hainault then comes and comforts the queen by telling her that she and the prince can join him in Hainault, where they will find a lot of support for their cause. Then Kent and Mortimer come in, and the queen is glad they made it through the rebel defeat. Mortimer says he will get rid of the king and put Prince Edward in his place. The prince doesn't agree with this plan. Before leaving for Hainault, everyone there except the prince swears to do whatever it takes to get rid of the king and his supporters and bring good government back to England.
Scene 3 of Act 4
The king and Spencer talk about how they beat the rebels, and it is said that Mortimer will be caught and punished if he stays in England. A messenger comes in and tells the king that the queen, prince, Mortimer, and Kent are in Hainault getting help to support the prince's claim to the throne. Edward is upset by this news and sad that his young son is in the middle of it, but he promises to fight the rebels again.
Scene 4 of Act 4 : near Harwich
When the rebel group gets to England, the queen and Mortimer talk about how they will get rid of the king and all of his followers and put Prince Edward on the throne.
Scene 5 of Act 4 : near Bristol.
The rebels force the king and his party to run away. Spencer suggests that they run away to Ireland, but the king keeps insisting that they stay and fight their enemies. Even so, they have to go back. Kent walks in and gives a long speech about how he regrets leaving his brother the king to join the rebels. When the rebels show up, they are proud of their victory over the royal army and name Prince Edward Lord Warden of the realm. Kent asks what will happen to the king, which makes Mortimer and the queen suspicious. Mortimer tells Kent that Parliament will decide the king's fate. Rice ap Howell comes in with Spencer Senior in his hands, and the rebels thank him for helping them. Then they hear that the king, Spencer Junior, and the rest of the royal party have fled to Ireland. Spencer Senior is to be killed by order of Mortimer, and the rebels talk about their plan.
Scene 6 of Act 4 : at the abbey of Neath.
The king, Spencer, and Baldock are all dressed as monks and in an abbey. Before Rice and the Earl of Leicester come to have Spencer and Baldock arrested for high treason, they talk about how sad their situation is and how they wish they could live like the monks. Before the king is led away, Leicester also tells him that he will be taken to Killingworth. Then, Rice sends Spencer and Baldock on their way.
Scene 1 of Act 5 : a room at Kenilworth Castle
Leicester, Trussell, and the Bishop of Winchester are with King Edward. They are trying to get the king to give up his crown in favour of his son. The king gives a long, sad speech about how he is going to lose his power. In it, he admits that Mortimer, not Prince Edward, will really be running the country. He then tells the men that he won't give them his crown. The men start to leave to tell Parliament what he said. Leicester convinces the king to call them back because the prince will lose his inheritance if the king doesn't resign on his own. Edward calls the men back, gives up the crown, and gives his wife, the queen, a handkerchief. The men leave with the handkerchief. Then, Lord Berkeley comes in with orders from Mortimer that the king should be given to him. This is what happens.
Scene 2 of Act 5: at the Royal Palace.
Mortimer tells Queen Isabella that the flatterers of the king have been killed and that he will be in charge of England while her son is king after the king is deposed. When the Bishop of Winchester and a messenger come to tell Isabella that the king has given up his crown, she agrees to go along with whatever plans he may have. The bishop also tells Mortimer that Kent has tried to get his brother out of prison, and that Berkeley is just as kind to the king as Leicester was, which makes Mortimer sad. As a safety measure, Mortimer calls in Matrevis and Gurney and tells them to take care of the king. He tells them to be mean to him and to move him around so that he can't be found. Isabella feels sorry for her husband, so she gives the men a ring to give to the king before they leave. Then Kent and Prince Edward show up, and Mortimer agrees to be nice to Kent even though Kent tried to free the king. Mortimer says that Kent should be the prince's regent, but the earl says that the job should go to his mother. Kent can see that Mortimer is lying, and Mortimer then scolds Kent for liking a man he helped put in jail. Mortimer is trying to get the prince to turn against his uncle. Prince Edward is upset about the situation and wants his father to stay king so that he doesn't have to rule at such a young age. Mortimer then takes the prince away by force, and Kent says he will save the king.
Scene 3 of Act 5 : at Kenilworth Castle
Matrevis and Gurney take the king to a different place while they wash him with water from the channel and shave his beard. Then Kent goes in to try to save his brother, but instead he is taken prisoner and led away.
Scene 4 of Act 5 : at the Royal Palace.
Mortimer gives a speech in which he says that the king must die if he wants to keep his position. He then tells them about a plan he has to kill the king and make it look like someone else did it (Matrevis and Gurney). Then Mortimer calls Lightborne, the man he hired to kill the king. Lightborne is told that it doesn't look like anything bad happened to the king. The king then tells Mortimer that he is good at killing people before leaving. Mortimer then brags about how he and the queen will rule the king and the country when Prince Edward, now King Edward III, comes back from his coronation. Soon after that, Kent is brought in and accused of trying to free his brother from prison again. Even though the new king begs, Mortimer gives the order for Kent to be killed. The queen does nothing to stop Kent from being killed, and she even tries to persuade her son that it was the right thing to do.
Scene 5 of Act 5 : at Berkeley Castle
Matrevis and Gurney both wonder how the king has been able to live in poisonous filth for more than a week without dying. When Lightborne comes in and tells them what his job is, they are both shocked. He tells the men that he will soon need a table, a featherbed, and a red hot poker before going into the king's room to talk to him. Edward knows right away that Lightborne is there to kill him, but the bad guy still acts like the king's friend and a messenger from the queen who wants to check on Edward's health. After Edward cries for a long time and his killer pretends to feel sorry for him, Lightborne brings Matrevis and Gurney the things he asked for. Then, he kills the king by putting the hot poker up his rear end. Gurney then kills Lightborne and throws his body into the moat. He then goes to get the king's body and bring it to Mortimer.
Scene 6 of Act 5 : at the Royal Palace.
Matrevis tells Mortimer that both the king and Lightborne have been killed, but that he already regrets killing the king and that Gurney has already run away and plans to tell everyone about the plot. The queen comes in and tells Mortimer that her son already knows that they killed Edward and that they are to blame. Mortimer doesn't think much of this until the king walks in and accuses them directly of killing his father. Even though Mortimer denied it and the queen begged him not to, the king showed them the letter Mortimer wrote to order the murder and told Mortimer he would be killed right away. Mortimer is then taken to be killed while the queen keeps begging her son not to kill him. Before his mother is taken away, the king feels sorry for her, but he also tells her that she will be punished if she is found to have done anything to kill the previous king. The play ends when a lord walks in with Mortimer's head and Edward III gives a heartfelt speech about his dead father.
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